Lifestyle disease called Internet

How many times per day, do you check your personal email account(s) ? How often you meaninglessly check Facebook for new notifications and friend's updates? 

If the answer is multiple times you could be addicted to Internet.Please read this article to understand this new age lifestyle disease called Inernet.

The Addiction called Internet

What is internet addiction ? 

If you think that remaining connected 24x7 to office, family and friends through e mails , social networking sites, phone apps is normal then there is a problem. If you have feel that your virtual personality is more important than your real presence then there is a problem.

Signs of Internet Addiction

• Spending plenty of time on gaming sites, porn sites and gambling etc.
• Signing in and Signing out on email accounts and facebook multiple times a day.
• Peeping into others virtual lives without any purpose
• Meetings and communication with family and friends, happening only on internet
• Insecurity that your world will crash if you are on not connected to the virtual world
• Unfounded curiosity that something new is waiting for you on your web address.
• Internet becomes the first place to spend even the last minute of your free time. 

Why do people get addicted to the Internet ?

What starts as a source of information and a tool for work turns into an escapade to manage stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. A world that is virtual, that is unreal provides a jungle to get lost and helps us forget our pressing worries. Most of us sitting in a lonely corner of our houses, dally with this unreal world and expect it to relieve our pain and/or provide pleasure . We look for fun , satisfaction ,understanding, advice , help from a laptop screen. Is it not foolish , is it not abnormal ? We condition our mind to believe that the internet is answer to all our ailments and strengthen this premise by considering  the benefits of it. Where as the reality is, fruitful time spent on net is fraction of the time engaged in futile activities. Slowly and gradually this habit builds on us and we get addicted to this demon called 'Internet', where our virtual existence takes control of our habits and our lives.

Lifestyle diseases due to excess use of Internet

• Backache
• Hypertension
• Strained Eyes
• Sleep Disorders
• Weight Gain or Loss
• Personality Disorders

How to strike a new balance ?

To break free of this addiction one has to differentiate between the real and unreal world. The reasons for an unhappy mind have to be listed out and answers for them to be sought or discussed with the real people. Our support system, family, friends have to be given their importance and more investment has to go into making our relationships more stronger and richer. Let's agree on one simple thought and this is " Person to person interaction , a touch, eye to eye contact, a hug , a smile, a caring hand cannot be replaced by any of the virtual niceties."

Self Help Tips to get rid of Internet Addiction

• In the first place agree that this addiction is growing on you and it has the potential to harm in the long run.
• Fall in love again with mother nature. Choose morning walks , evening strolls , weekend picnics, camping, rafting or any outdoor activity that can be pursued regularly.
• Make it a practice to pick up phone and call your old friends , relatives and renew your ties. Ensure you create small occasions to catch up with them.
• Start the old practice of sending hand written letters and greeting cards. Trust you me it means a lot.
• Pick up old hobbies , interests and channelize them into something more prominent and more visible.
• Set a fixed duration for internet usage and clearly define what is work and what is non work.
• Spend quality time with family . Dining together , playing games with kids, going for a walk, outings , simple moments to laugh and cry together will cement our ties and make our life richer by priceless happiness.
• Ultimately reviewing that your dependency and over reliance on internet as a means for happiness is unrealistic and absurd. With time you will realize that Internet is just a tool , a technology to aid your growth, to progress your career and only a small bit to remain connected with family and friends.

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Fallen Feather Flying High (55 Fiction)

Feather Flying in the Sky

Fallen feather ends on a high. Traveled across the oceans, seen the mountain tops, flew across the valleys and kissed the blue skies.

How many of us are useful in our second lives? The feather will tell us how fortunate it is, to be a paint brush or a pen describing its own thrilled life.

P.S. - I have written 55 word fiction for the first time ever and this post has been inspired by Valli's Blog. Read her 55 word fiction titled "Fallen Feather (55 Fiction) here".

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Stop being a sheep in the herd

Perfection is a Journey

Flocking with the herd might not serve any purpose and even a horse in the crowd will be called a sheep. A very handful of us would ever say that they fight every moment for their honour. Strange isn't it ?? Ask successful men or women,what drives them to strive for success in fields of their occupation? Some wish to be rich, some powerful, others want illustrious positions in life and some seek name and fame. Unless and until the end result puts us high on the societal pedestal and we progress as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs it means nothing.  It's the end result that becomes the connoisseur of all eyes. Never have i seen the society nor its citizens asking for excellence,perfection or honor in the task. Do we recognize services , deeds ,jobs ,vocations that only want the best to serve them and have we created avenues for those illustrious people to pursue their tasks with unrelenting passion?Are we accepting with pride and without prejudice that one has the right to pursue dreams that can set us apart from lesser mortals ? Have we ever thought of adopting a culture that allows exceptional hard work ,unrelenting perseverance , unparalleled  passion ,impeccable  integrity and  mighty visions to nurture ?

These attributes might seem strange and even frivolous to some but let me tell you , there exists a mass that finds virtue in them.Their will is to improve and incrementally improve every moment and gradually reach a plane where only honour matters, only satisfaction returns, only self pride exists and only beaming eyes sparkle.For me as an individual these virtues hold great esteem and may be some of you reading this post would empathize with me. It is the confidence of my parents , the expectation of my wife , the faith of my son , the vindication of my colleagues and my self respect for my own work. It is this personal intangible that i  prize , i defend and that drives me to slog . If this is the reason why i work like crazy then my definition of being successful might not be same as for others. Well if this world would not have defined the end result of all endeavors and laid an aspiration map for us i would have never run this rat race. Since i am there with everyone else i am governed with same set of rules and will get measured with the same 'materialistic yardstick'. Given a chance i will be a part of the different world i mentioned above.

I will propagate and  promote a culture that gives freedom to think , to question , to learn and unlearn , to improve and to set new standards. A learning that does not comes entirely from books but the practical and stark realities of life. A vision that is overwhelming , a task that is daunting and the desire that is all consuming and the search for knowledge that is never ending. My quest to seek solace in whatever little i do continues and my wish to break free from conventions will survive.

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The Newspaper Boy

There are certain events that intrinsically become part and parcel of our daily lives. Ever imagined start of a day without sipping a cup of hot tea while scouring a fresh newspaper ?? The answer will be a resounding NO. This premise will gradually change and get diluted, as Mr. Amitabh Bachaan says in his recent tweets.
Amitabh Bachchan ‏@SrBachchan

T 1007 -I felt incomplete without reading all the morning papers. Not any more. Days go by without them. I get what I want from the net !!

Gadgets, Smart phones and PDA's will bombard us with news, news and news not leaving people with enough interest to savoir the paper format of the same. Before that happens and we enter big time into the internet era let me for the sake of this article assume that my readers are avid newspaper consumers.

Morning Newspaper is sweet wait

I am an early riser from my school days and  from the moment i woke up, my ears waited for that 'thud' signalling the arrival of the newspaper. There was curiosity,excitement and an expectation for some or the other surprise. This ritual of my wait and the affair that started with the newspaper carries on till today and i must admit i am in love with this daily occurrence. One thing that has only changed in this cycle of events is ' The Newspaper Boy'. Out of all boys ,one in particular i remember is in my hometown who must be of my age and he has been hurtling the paper at my house for the past 20 years or so. Though he works as an agent in some insurance company he still starts his day by touching 200-250 households everyday An amazing feat by all standards!!

 Ever wondered what is takes to be a newspaper boy, let me try and give a perspective to it. For him to be on roads at 5 30 AM and start delivery he has to get up at 4 AM nearly and collect and arrange his stock by 5 AM. Not only this task requires discipline , dedication but also precision and commitment. Day after day , season after season he toils to put smile on your faces and give a boost to your mornings. Be it chilling winters , merciless rains , scorching summers he consistently delivers his services without fail. Never have we thought of granting him a routine off , festival  or a privilege leave; though we find time to relax and rejuvenate during holidays, relishing our bundle of paper. Nor have we ever considered giving him a gift as a token of appreciation for his hard work.

I would thank my 'Newspaper Boy' for his tireless, 'not so tangible effort' in giving a wonderful start to my day. I will also pick up and imbibe from him the quality of rising early, keeping hale and hearty by cycling for some good distance and spreading joy with simple acts of his. Who knows i might be your next 'Newspaper Boy ' :)

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Visit to Delhi Zoo

I visited Delhi Zoo last Sunday i.e. 6th of Jan ,2013 and the interesting thing about the day was the temperature. The mercury dipped to 1.9 deg and this was the lowest in the last 21 years during winters in Delhi.  The outing was great and got an opportunity to see many animals in real, after quite a long time. I clicked these pictures with my blackberry curve and sharing it with friends to register this event on my blog as opportunities like these, do not arise that often.

Delhi Zoo Location - Google Maps

Enjoy !!

Guide for the Visitors

Water Birds

Black Buck

Deer

Bear

Hippopotamus

Crocodile

Emu

Elephants

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Happy New Year 2013

Never has been the time and tide more opportune,

For a bright, bigger and better future than today.

Never have we been more skillful,

To prove our mettle to the world, than today.

Nor have we been ever more blessed,

With families, friends and well-wishers, than today.

Entering a fresh and New Year will you all,

I feel excited to witness this day.

There is so much hope and positivity,

Smiling faces would be seen every day.

We will grow from strength to strength,

Year will be defined by the progress of each day

May all your dreams and wishes be granted,

Even before to the lord you could pray.

May you be richer with wealth and good health,

More than my words could even convey.

May the year bring to you and your family,

Happiness and prosperity all along the way !!

Best Wishes

Vivek

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Dented and Painted Women

Nirbhaya Rape Case in New Delhi

"Women who are participating in candle-light vigils and those who are protesting have no connection with ground reality. These pretty ladies coming out to protest are 'highly dented and painted'."

What a sensible,sensitive and significant observation from Mr. Abhijeet Mukherjee (Member of Parliament) and highly intellectual son of our president Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. I am impressed that one intelligent person out of thousands, just sat watching the protests to only notice the glam quotient in these recent uprisings. To top it up he even publicly compliments (in fewer words) the women folk for their dressing style, sense of fashion and their non serious motives. So from his perception all these women who came out of their houses , offices , schools ,colleges did so to garner TV footage and attention for their pretty personalities.Wonderful !

Mr. Abhijeet has really made me forget the ordeal and fight of the 23 year old girl but notice his uncanny sense of a roving eye. I am sure he has a Plasma TV and a DTH connection at home because nuances like colour of lipstick , make up , jewellery , clothes can be viewed best in that set up. This remark has come after a considerable 7-10 days and seems to be well thought off. Kudos to the son of our President for not only achieving instant fame but also ensuring his father also shares the pride. It's anyways holidays and both can bask in the glory of the adulation that the 'Mango People' and specially the women will bestow upon both of them.

I must say the present day MP's and MLA's are witty , humorous , intelligent and observant. The economy and state of affairs of the country are anyways downhill so conversations like these keep people warm and engaged. Otherwise we might witness similar uprising for unemployment , corruption , murder , poverty etc.. and then more events like 'India Gate- Fashion Week'. The economic growth and overall sentiment of the country is bleak and if such fashion events are more regularly organised men will find it very tough to pay for the high maintenance of their spouses,sisters and friends. Mr. Abhijeet also knows in hindsight that women don't like to pose with the same set of clothes more than once. This is the most logical and convincing reason for not holding protests because to look 'Dented and Painted' every time, you will have to shell a fortune. Didn't i tell you these politicians are so very much intelligent ??

So women folk, next time when you decide to support a 'frivolous' cause like Women Safety , Rape , Molestation etc. make sure you all are well dressed and make up is in place . Our Politicians are connoisseurs of fun, fashion and beauty !! 

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Astrology Predictions for 2013

Astrology Predictions for 2013

Aries (March 21 - April 20)

2013 is predicted to be a rewarding year for Aries. You will get desired success in your efforts at the work front. Some major obstacles in your path to success will be wiped out with the right solutions. Passionate nature of Aries will also see them get happiness when taking up their personal affairs. Health will remain good but they will have to pay more attention to love life in 2013.

Taurus (Apr 21 - May 21)

Renewed energy will help Taurus to come up with new things and achieve success in their innovative ventures. It is going to be a year that will yield sweet fruits for people born under this zodiac sign. Certain challenging situations might cause obstruction in your success path but you will have to keep patience and perseverance to achieve your goals. Career and love life might take a lot of your time in 2013. You will continue to enjoy a steady health in the months ahead.

Gemini (May 22 - Jun 21)

2013 will be the year to fetch you handsome rewards for the efforts that you had put in last year. Doubts over critical matters will be resolved and you will able to take better decisions without facing anxiety this year. Gemini Yearly Horoscope 2013 predicts more transparency to come up in personal matters. You will enjoy harmony and cooperation of your loved ones in the year ahead. 

Cancer (Jun 22 - Jul 23)

Annual Horoscope for 2013 forecast a positive year filled with happiness and success the year to for Cancer people. Chances of gaining good profits from new opportunities are abundant in the months ahead. Personal affairs and close relationships will offer you comfort. Sharpen your people’s skills to be in the good books of influential people around you. 

Leo (Jul 24 - Aug 23)

You will have to take some practical and difficult decisions in 2013, both on the personal and professional fronts, says the 2013 latest horoscope. Look at things from a positive perspective to come out with good solutions. The social life will keep you engaged during most part of the year ahead.

Virgo (Aug 24 - Sep 23)

The year will see Virgo people being involved in a lot of fun-filled activities. Professionals will enjoy appreciation from seniors and people who matter the most. Conflicts and interest clashes will be sorted out on the personal front, making way for a wonderful time with close ones. You will feel the need to spend more time alone to introspect on critical matters. 

Libra (Sep 24 - Oct 23)

You can look forward to a fabulous year filled with lucrative opportunities. Take prompt decisions in order not to miss out on wonderful chances showered upon you to achieve desired success. Progress on key matters will be made on the work front, thereby paving way for you promotion. Look ahead for rapid changes in relationships and love life as they will have an important impact for the years to come. Libra people will continue to enjoy healthy, fit and fine body.

Scorpio (Oct 24 - Nov 22)

Life in 2013 looks bright with profitable opportunities and great events lined up for the year ahead. Make a head-start in key projects and deliver on the promises made in the previous years to build a good reputation at the work front. Love will endow you with great strength to achieve things that you have not been able to get in the past years. Feelings of passion will be reciprocated in the months ahead. 

Sagittarius (Nov 23 - Dec 21)

Latest horoscope for 2013 suggests Sagittarius to look for new avenues to expand and reach out to wide audience. Laziness and inconsistencies in your behavior might pose a challenge to help you achieve desired results at the professional front. Love will blossom to give you unparalleled happiness in the year ahead.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 20)

2013 horoscope forecasts a good year ahead for Capricorn. Expand your horizon and use opportunities to showcase your talents. Harmony will prevail in love life but give attention to the pressures mounting up at the work sphere.

Aquarius (Jan 21 - Feb 19)

2013 promises to be an eventful year as per latest horoscope. You are likely to take up a new approach at work.  Give your love life the shape you desire by taking good initiatives to win your loved one’s heart. Financial concerns might come up but striking a balance will help.

Pisces (Feb 20 - Mar 20)

Exciting times lie ahead for Pisces people in 2013. Keep a check on your impulsive behavior to avoid falling into troubles. You can expect your health and finances to stay stead during most of the year ahead. 

Source Website: http://www.123newyear.com/2013/horoscope.html

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Internet Generation Demands Justice

The whole of the  last week was consumed by the news of 23 year old girl being molested and inhumanely tortured, in New Delhi. For the past 3-4 days thousands of young children are protesting at India Gate, President House and outside the hospital where the girl is admitted. The news channels,social media, newspapers , tabloids , radio went berserk in reporting the public protest that followed this incident. This response form the masses has been very uncharacteristic of so called 'We The Adjusting and Tolerating Indians'.What really sets it apart is the participation of the youth of our country who came from schools, colleges , workplaces and even their homes. No one has asked them to join this march of protest and demand justice for the poor girl, they all have united by their own will. This is what i intend to point out ! 

The generation of today, that is perceived as 'Internet and Gadget generation' is not accommodating and forgiving like their parents and the society like wise. We have often termed them as spoiled,uncompromising  ,rash,rude,indifferent and non caring but this single incident makes me think otherwise. They could be possessing all the the attributes defined above or none of them but one thing is sure, their thought process is not so immature as perceived to be.  Watch any news channel and hear out to the kids barely of 20 years of age and see their views on molestation , equality , gender bias , governance and their expectations. You will be surprised to learn of their awareness and their rightful demand for the benefits that should come to every citizen of India. What is wrong if they are asking for security ,well being and safety from the elected representatives of the common people ? This untoward event of molestation has triggered the fire that has been shimmering within these young hearts. From the day they were born all they have seen is corruption,  loot , plunder , insecurity , immorality , ineffectiveness and injustice. Enough is Enough !

Nirbhaya Rape Case , New Delhi 

It's time the society and the people in power understand that this India that is young and capable is also equally demanding. This protest might or might not bring immediate justice to the girl but one thing that is out in open is, the kids have come of their age. They don't want your answers in weeks and months but in hours and days. I am personally happy and delighted at this mass uprising of the youth. Every nation's future rests on these young shoulders and if they are bent upon creating a society based on basic tenets of good governance i think they should be heard. All my support to these young voices for their resolution,support, will ,character and most importantly to the victimized girl battling for her life. All my prayers are with her for a speedy recovery and well being.

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Happy Deepawali

Happy Deepawali

This Deepawali I decided to walk around, 

Gather thoughts and register some memories

Be a part of the whole yet be with self,

Celebrating it in a unique style.

Across the road was a colony,

Soaked in milky white

Diyas , lights and crackers,

Combination illuminating the sky.

I entered through one of the streets,

Bustling with activity likewise

Shops loaded with sweets and gifts,

Spirited hearts busy buying.

I passed through few houses,

Decorated with flowers and ribbons

Rangoli at the door steps,

Entire household coming alive.

I turned back with a happy heart,

The view was a feast to the eyes

Seeing others in the festive mood,

I was vicariously enjoying.

Along the bend of the road,

Few lesser mortals lived by

Their kids from a distance,

Watched with silent eyes.

Now I too had to shop,

Sweets and crackers

And reached back,

Where those kids stood by.

Gifting them was so satisfying,

A new meaning I did find

The smile on their faces,

My festival had turned divine.

May this festival bring to all unbound joys , happiness and prosperity . 

Happy Deepawali !!

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Education on Sale

A recent article in TOI read the following "225 B-schools, 52 engineering colleges close in 2 years" . Upon reading it further i made a note of some of the facts presented in the write up and they were startling. 

• Since 2011, 225 B-schools and over 50 engineering colleges across India have downed shutters. 
• For the first time, overall growth of MBA education is negative in the books of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). In 2011-12, 146 new B-schools came up and 124 that were already running closed down. This year so far, 101 management colleges have closed down, only 82 have started.
• Similar is the story with the Master of Computer Application (MCA) course—84 colleges stopped offering the programme this year; only 27 started MCA courses.

Degrees are for namesake

These facts only point out at the number of colleges that went off the radar but it did not touch upon the plight of students who passed off from these colleges. We all can comfortably agree that these institutions downed their shutters because they could not provide quality education , world class infrastructure and most importantly jobs to the students. The hapless students would have chosen these anonymous colleges at that point of time because of myriad reasons. The opportunity to get a job is lost but the grave issue is the opportunity cost. 

The student did spend a good 2-3 years to earn a professional degree but at the end of it this is not sufficient enough to substantiate their claim for the skills learnt and the knowledge acquired. Most importantly we need to understand the cost to fund this education. In today's era this figure has even spiraled northwards, and one needs to muster 10-15 Lakhs to complete a graduation and masters degree. Self funding for these grad courses are decreasing day by day and the trend is to go for education loans that are as easy as buying a new mobile connection. First the authorities approve of these fly by night colleges and then the banks join the party by disbursing loans to their students. The student enrolls himself in a college which has no future and can't even guarantee him or her a future as well. The depressing part of this episode is the financial liability that the poor student undertakes with a hope that this can be paid off, after the job placement. A reality check between the EMI rates for the education loan and the take home salary will clear all confusion. This is a nonviable proposition even if you land a mediocre job. We are creating a workforce that is low on employability , is under financial burden and not even sure of the future ahead.

The criteria for opening these professional colleges cannot be limited only to availability of land , mortar and brick structure and political clout .The mushrooming of colleges everyday is a sign of this pact between the policy makers , government bodies and the groups who have deep pockets. Rather than giving these unscrupulous persons a free hand to spoil careers and our nation's future we should identify and shun such establishments. Efforts should be made to discuss this vicious cycle of education with the students community  and the opportunity cost of the same needs to be worked out. The motive should not be, to just earn a college degree but to acquire knowledge , skills and perfection in the chosen field of study. The harder the route to success is the better equipped one is for the future battles.

Students !! The next time when you come across a college advertisement ,their job placement promises and a esteemed degree that will serve you well , just beware and skeptical .

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Don't Rush The Good Things

Relish the moments, don't rush by

Last week while standing at the airport ticket counter i was surprised to see a pile of voter id cards with the airline staff. I was intrigued by this collection and upon inquiring, found out that the travelers forgot these cards at the counter,while getting their tickets issued. This made me wonder what would could have been the  reason for this occurrence. My mind concluded that these people must have been in hurry and in that state of  frenzy they forgot their document at the counter. This event further leads me to choosing between two important things; first catching the flight and the other not losing our valued possessions. By valued possession i would mean mobile phones, wallets , documents , personal belonging etc., because losing any of them while traveling can cause lots of stress and inconvenience. Out of these two choices none of them can happen in isolation and they must mutually co exist for us to carry our day to day work and  travel. The mind has to multitask and be aware of the surroundings while carrying out an intended activity.

So analyzing further, i deduce that these days our minds are stressed , overworked and over burdened. The competition is so tough that being good is not a  option any more, we have to be the best in our fields. If we  don't meet the expectations someone else will, and younger generation is always a  notch better than the former. Since we are living in a knowledge era it is the intellectual capital and grey cells that play the most vital role in conducting ourselves and our businesses. For sure there will be a cap to the limit one can push his or her mind but then again, there are others who will keep on raising the benchmark day by day. The best possible scenario that emerges out is being smart , being aware, remain competitive and paradoxically "GO SLOW". Here i will introduce to you all the concept of ' The Slow Movement'.

From Wikipedia : Professor Guttorm Fløistad summarizes 'The Slow Movement philosophy'

"The only thing for certain is that everything changes. The rate of change increases. If you want to hang on you better speed up. That is the message of today. It could however be useful to remind everyone that our basic needs never change. The need to be seen and appreciated ! It is the need to belong. The need for nearness and care, and for a little love! This is given only through slowness in human relations. In order to master changes, we have to recover slowness, reflection and togetherness. There we will find real renewal."

Traditionally we lived in joint families, communities that had a limited geographical area and spread. The bonds between people were strong and everyone had time to share and care. With the boundaries of our aspirations and available options in life getting bigger and bigger the mad rush has no stopping. There is no time to look back or reach out for things that make up a real and happy life. This hurry to perform and persist is causing lots of stress which is making us poorer by 'Quality Time'.Stress is leading to time crunch which in turn is taking us away from our people, our culture, our places and our relations.We are not only rushing at work but also our food, our family time, our relaxation time and even our leisure time.Probably people would agree with me that we were more happier during the times when means were limited and time was unlimited. 

The good news is there is an option, an approach to reclaim our happiness and lead a stress free life. The only effort that is required from us is changing our attitude and bring a shift in our thinking processes. Let me clarify i am not propagating slow work or slow actions and supporting inefficiency. All i am discussing here is the way to go slow and still be a winner in all walks of life.

Some ways to re look at the way we do things:

1. Travel Slow - Wherever you are connect to the place and persons, take out time to appreciate the difference. Take out time to visit local places , eat local local food and feel at home.

2. Slow Food - Relish the food served on the plate, make a connection to the farm it grew, the effort it took to prepare and feel privileged to share it with your family members. Eat the serving slowly thereby relishing the rich taste and savoring the love and affection of the one who cooked it for us.

3. Slow Work - Strive for excellence in whatever little you do. It is not the quantity that will matter but the quality that will define you work acumen. So, when the only differentiation is excellence why not work slow thereby giving our best and outperforming others. For that to happen our work demands our quality time too and we need to deep dive to ensure perfection and individual satisfaction. 

4.  Slow Living - Choose priorities in life, get away with the clutter and mundane events, work out a plan to make self and others around happy. Look for happiness in small things , rejuvenate your senses with the pristine beauty of things, be childlike and open your arms to a slow yet connected world. Take out time for family, friends, relatives and feel fortunate to have whatever god gave you.

There is a website that talks of this philosophy in much more detail. 

Visit it here http://www.slowmovement.com

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Diversity - Inclusion Inspires Innovation

Diversity Inclusion

Differences in culture, race, ethnicity,

Age, gender and ability

Personal traits and life experiences,

Views, learning's shape our identity

Existences so different and this is diversity.

Promoting people from all walks of life,

Providing an equal opportunity

Creating a workplace and an environment,

That promises fairness and equality

Inclusive growth thrives on diversity.

Differences inform, enrich and empower,

Present entirely new possibility

Together we create a better world,

Building on our collective capacity

The core of our strengths rests in diversity

Coming up with new ideas and better solutions,

Innovating, requires thinking differently.

Benchmarks to be breached, bars to be raised,

Depends on differences as on aggregate ability

Creativity and Innovation is born out of diversity.

Enriching our performances,

Creating client value vastly

We celebrate our work,

Transforming lives collaboratively.

Our growth and progress lies in our diversity !!

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My Video at First Post Website

Accidentally i chanced upon a video of self that is posted on First Post website. This is my second public appearance and thought of posting it on my blog. The first one was when i was interviewed by Zee Business after winning a B Plan contest at one of the B Schools. Per chance i don't have earlier video so enjoy this one !!

Here is the link on first post website 

You can access the video on You Tube too !!

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The faces behind the voices

Every other day we receive ten's of calls from tele-callers selling us policies, bank loans , insurance , medical cover and real estate deals. In business terms this is called  "Cold Calling", the most cheapest and impersonal way of Sales and Marketing of products or services. Companies have definitely succeeded a bit using these tool for sales or else how would we explain the menace of plethora of calls, that we receive everyday.

With technology the world is shrinking

Similarly like above, every other day we call  "Customer Care" or " Help Desk" of companies for which we are a consumer . This support center is the first point of contact that companies set up to provide assistance to its customers. More often than not, we get our queries resolved . Accept it or not the new paradigms have made "Virtual Business" a healthy possibility. Whether you buy online , receive deal offers on phone or call support desk for an answer this virtual communication will definitely form a part of your entire transaction.

So who are the people behind these voices  ??

At times it is a energetic male voice ,  sometimes a girl with a chirpy , bubbly sweet voice and on other instances a heavy pitch or sombre tone. It is remote possibility that you will ever meet these virtual people but what is quite possible is that you and me will surely conduct business with these 'Invisible entities'. The calls do not come on their own or to anyone or everyone for that matter. The companies are smart enough to choose their segment and the set of the targeted audience. So, when we are being sold an idea , a product or service the caller already has a profile in his or her mind. He or she can draw in his mind a caricature of the person being called and uses all his/her capabilities to hear you and make himself /herself heard. All his skills rely on only one tool and that is coming up with a 'Winning Pitch' in less than a minute's time. In fact it is the first 30 secs that decide which way the call will go.Apart from striking a interesting and intelligent conversation what attracts people is your voice. If the texture, smoothness, clarity , tone can make someone stop for a moment he or she will definitely give you time. If you are ultimately successfull there will be a relationship that gets build with your prospect over a series of dialogues.

Virtual Teams is the Future

Over the years I have worked with virtual teams across geographies , across nationalities and across diversities . During the course of these prolonged tele - interactions i even made good friends and conducted business successfully. All i knew about the person is the knowledge that he or she presented over the calls followed by some written mails. So having known them for long without seeing them ever i only had a mind map to imagine. The entire relationship hinged on a call that had two voices and two minds working in tandem. With the series of conversations image after image kept on adding to the person's profile and my mind accepted that virtual acquaintance.

At few times i even had the chance to add a face to the name and the voice i knew for so long. I found these people more or less in sync with the information they had provided about themselves. There were some who were better off from what they sounded on phone and some had more about them to be still known. What perplexed me is, i could not really connect the voice and the person. Probably relationships that start in person don't have any false impressions. You meet people, talk to them , understand their views and opinions and decide in some time if you want to carry along. The acquaintance that starts with making an virtual impression of the other person has hardly other parameters to bank upon. The human touch, the warmth , the eyes and the body language is not there to be seen.

If you ask me let the virtual world be virtual only. Let the identity of the person be a secret and the real self be hidden. Enjoy making images in your mind and live with those rosy and pretty imagination of yours than face the reality.The faces behind the voices have only one face and that is their voice !!

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A Good Blog-Post is a Movie well made

Movie Making and Blogging have lots in common

Is anyone of you reading this post  into film making ?? The possibility to find one such person reading my blog post is remotely remote. So i take it that neither you nor me has any idea what making of a movie entails, but what we all know is how to write /blog . Let's start from here and let me try and draw an analogy between my effort ( a good blog post ) and say Anurag Basu's product (a hit movie) . Both the activities being compared are an act of creation , original and are shared in the public domain for people's consumption and fun.

(To inform my readers, Anurag Basu is a filmmaker of repute and his latest effort , the movie ' Barfi '  has  recently hit the theatres and is being widely acclaimed for its direction and acting prowess of Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. You can read the review here - Barfi Review  )

Barfi - A movie that won many hearts

The Start

I am in the look out of a beautiful story to blog and so is Mr Basu in search of a plot for his movie. We both spend hours , days , weeks and even months to freeze upon an idea to crystallize . It can take even years to finalize the core of the entire effort . Many a times we blog and draw references from our own lives and so does a director too, and the cost of such discovery is our learning over years. Not an easy task for one's mind to come up with a bestseller at all times, yet the effort that goes in to make a start is tremendous.

The Casting

Directors go overboard in roping in actors for their flicks as they feel justice to their dream can only be done by a few. Quite Right !! As a writer when i pen a poem or a fiction i have to decide my protagonist , other characters as seriously as him. If the characters in my written piece are not strong they will not be able to strike a chord with the reader.

A movie has songs, dialogues , places , glamour and glitz to sell and i have all of them too, but with the help of a writing pen only. Don't you think my task is harder as compared to a cine maker?? He has aids to depict what he wants , i have only words to weave and perceive.

The Direction

It is often seen that a talented director can squeeze out extraordinary performances from his artists. In other cases his grip on the entire movie is so strong that even ordinary actors look like mavericks and their flaws or avoided by the audience. So in both the scenarios it is the craft of the Director to deliver a hit in the true sense of a commercial success. Blog posts that win contests and take prizes home do meet this pattern too. At times a very ordinary post find judges favour and at other times a brilliant work is duly rewarded. It all depends upon the ability of the writer.

So what is the commonality between these 2 individuals ??

The Director and the Blogger both are keen observers, they have an eye for details and most importantly they know what sells. They both have an  inherent capability of producing a winner ,a passion to raise the bar every time and nothing less than the perfect satisfies them. In this quest of greatness they debate with themselves, seeks answers to all the questions from within and once the mind is calm and quiet they act !!

To end, all i would say is  i am here to celebrate creativity , originality , talent and perfect the art of narrating thoughts. Each one of my  blog posts gives me pleasure and immense satisfaction. My mind's landscape is as wider as a Director's, who works earnestly and tirelessly to live his dream on the celluloid. My canvas is this blogging platform and i intend to deliver a hit after another hit !!

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Also read my post " The Confusion about Truth " http://viveksheel-blog.blogspot.in/2012/09/the-confusion-about-truth.html

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