Thought for the day

An Article on "Power of Prayer" shared by Shri P C Jhawar

Interesting insight on Managerial skills shared by Shri Alok Moroliya.

HOW TO BE A BETTER MANAGER

Interesting Story shared by Shri Varun Mudgal

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of these pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot only arrived half-full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer only delivering one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.'  'Why?' asked the bearer. 'What are you ashamed of?'

'I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,' the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, 'As we return to the house, I want you to notice all of the beautiful flowers along the path.'

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half of its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, 'Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my table. Without you being just the way you are, I would not have this beauty to grace my house.

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots in some respect. But if we allow ourselves to take advantage of our flaws, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and your flaws too can be the cause of beauty.
 
Know that in our weaknesses we find our strengths.

Nice Thought shared by Shri C R Biyani Sir.

Topic: The Difference between Focusing on Problems and Focusing on Solutions
 
Case 1: When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.

And what did the Russians do...?? They used a pencil.


Case 2: One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan 's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty.
Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a whoopee amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.


Moral : Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems.

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." - James Joyce

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"A focused mind is one of the most powerful forces in the universe." -                 Anonymous

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True achievement
Most of the highest achievers in this world are people you've never heard of. Because achievement is much more than amassing fame or material wealth.

Achievement is living fully in a way that is meaningful to you and in line with the values you feel most deeply. Achievement is expressing the unique purpose that is at the center of your being.

Achievement does not require the approval, permission or recognition of anyone else. Achievement is following the desires of your most authentic self, not merely satisfying the shallow impulses of your ego.

The vast majority of achievements that come to life every day are quiet and peaceful and immensely fulfilling. Do not confuse true achievement with meaningless spectacles that make a lot of noise but have no lasting value.

In the smallest moments there is the potential for great achievement. For what true achievement is, is living with purpose and love, with thankfulness and joy.

Remember always that achievement is more than merely constructing great edifices. The most valuable achievement is building a meaningful life that makes a positive contribution.

February 5, 2008
 
I am quoting below a quote of Mr. Norman Vincent Peale which can be of help in our day to day life.
 
With best wishes,
 
M.K. Singhi
 
 
"WHEN A PROBLEM COMES ALONG, STUDY IT UNTIL YOU ARE COMPLETELY KNOWLEDGEABLE.  THEN FIND THAT WEAK SPOT, BREAK THE PROBLEM APART, AND THE REST WILL BE EASY"
 
- NORMAN VINCENT PEALE -

Please find such more inspiring thoughts at "Thoughts for the day"