Day 218

Out of the Maze

Twenty years ago, Dr.Spencer Johnson gave us the story of two mouse-sized people trapped in a maze. Who Moved My Cheese? swept the world with its powerfully useful wisdom about fear and change.

According to the author-"Many people who read the original story wanted to know more about why and how. Why do we adapt sometimes and do well in changing times, while at other times we don't? And how can we adapt in a changing world sooner and more easily, so we're happier and more successful, however we define was 'success' is for us?"

Twenty-eight million copies later, Dr. Johnson has finally returned to his most beloved characters. This stunning sequel will help you unlock the riddle of whatever mazes you may be facing in your own life.

Who Moved My Cheese? showed its readers a pathway for adapting to change in their lives and work. Who Moved My Cheese? offered millions of readers’ relief for an evergreen problem: unanticipated and unwelcome change. Now its long-awaited sequel digs deeper, to show how readers can adapt their beliefs and achieve better results in any field.

Johnson's theme is that all of our accomplishments are due to our beliefs: whether we're confident or insecure, cynical or positive, open-minded or inflexible. But it's difficult to change your beliefs - and with them, your outcomes. Find out how Hem, Haw, and the other characters from Who Moved My Cheese? deal with this challenge.  (Source_ Internet)

The book is simple and brief as it comes (Pages 79 only).

·       But the contents are really path breaking. How many of the people got entangled in the maze and remained there.

·       How many kept on lamenting about the width and depth of the maze repeatedly and ad infinitum and refused to take any concrete steps as shown in the book.

·        Who to blame for one’s own path? The book is aimed at all those who could not reach their chosen goals and who kept on finding alibis for non-achievement.

·       As non-achievers are more in number such people always got ready ears to hear their side of the story. But what is the outcome for them and listeners?

 

 Out of the Maze provides some needed answers to such questions.

·       Is there a way out of the maze at all? Can all come out of the maze?, What prevents from venturing?, What happened to those who tried to venture out? All very relevant and useful questions indeed.

·        A very useful sequel to the master fable-Who moved my cheese?

 

Recommended for reading to one and all.

Book will provide further motivation, whatever be the level of achievement as of date, say, and from CEO to the ordinary worker- the book holds some vital keys/suggestions.

वन्दे मातरम्

ॐ शान्ति

8 45 AM

Day 217

 Who Moved My Cheese?-

Dr.Spencer Johnson,

Who moved my cheese is a fictional story/parable of four characters -2 mice and two people.

·        It is an amusing and meaningful story of these characters who lived in a maze and look for cheese to nourish and make them happy.

·         Cheese is a metaphor for what one wants to have in life- whether good job, loving relationship, money, possession, health or peace of mind.

·         And the maze is the place where each looks for what one wants- the organization in which one works, the family or the society at large.

·         Story is about the consequences of action and also complacency.

All are aiming for success in different directions and many succeed and at the same time, many may not.

·        Take the case of the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo. Results are before us. Only those who worked relentlessly could succeed at that level.

·         Mere wishing and prayers did not succeed in bringing medals.

·         In a way for finding the right cheese much effort will be needed.

·        By being complacent even in the proverbial Hare and Tortoise race, the Hare loses.

·         No short cut exists which the book also reiterates.

The book has been discussed in many fora over the years and it is quoted often to convey the message of motivation, self-effort, determination, execution, leadership skill etc. all relevant to the present day organizations and the employees who are part of the same. Many companies have become extinct due complacency and later they had to ask the question, Who moved my cheese? meaning, who took away the customers etc.

Book therefore advocates-

·      The need to- anticipate change, adapt quickly, enjoy change and be ready to change quickly, again and again.

·        In order to remain in a fast changing world of expectations and demand one will have to move fast, very fast –in thought and action. Just take the case of landline telephone vs. mobile in our country. Again, how many airline companies have folded up in the last few years?

·        All such companies have not been able to anticipate the change or move fast, when the scenario started shifting.

·        The moral of the story in the book is that one has to be alert all the time such that one is able to ride the waves of change sweeping across or else, as stated in the book, the cheese would have moved away and one will be left in the lurch.

Book is enlightening and motivating. Youngsters should read the book at the earliest and imbibe the lessons contained there-in for their growth and that of the organizations’ in which they are engaged.

Book will surely help to discover the secrets of success and help  to deal with change so that one will be able to enjoy more success in work and life.

 वन्दे मातरम्

ॐ शान्ति: 

8 10 AM

Day 216

 The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems 

 Stephen Covey.

The 3rd Alternative principles  could be applied in situations including work, home, school, law, society, and  world at large. The book gives details and real-world examples and ends with explaining that the 3rd Alternative is "a way of life". Covey  gives his personal insights into how this could be done.

·       The book focuses on a process of conflict resolution that is distinct from compromise.

·        In any conflict, the first alternative is my way and the second alternative is your way.

·       The 3^rd alternative transcends traditional solutions to conflict by forging a path  which allows both parties to emerge from debate or even heated conflicts, in far better place than either had thought off.

There are many methods of conflict resolution but most involve compromise, a low level accommodation that stops the fight without breaking through to  new results.

·       With third alternative, nobody has to give up anything and everyone wins. This is significant.

·       We see around mostly a win-lose approach to a debate. Like in a game one has to necessarily emerge as a winner.

·         Naturally the other sulks and does not  co-operate to the desired extent.

The  3rd Alternative thinking involves applying four paradigms: "I See Myself", "I See You", "I Seek You Out", and "I Synergize With You”. 

• The first step or paradigm is about coming to know oneself. 
• The second paradigm instructs readers to see others with the same respectfulness as they now see themselves.
•  The next step is to understand others and their views. 
• The final  describes the process of arriving at synergy to arrive at  our way while settling issues.

·       Readers’ attention is specially invited to Talking Stick tradition covered in chapter 2, which is very relevant in office situations.

·       The talking stick is a symbol of communication in native American tradition.

·        So long as the speaker holds the stick in hand  no one may interrupt  until the speaker feels heard and understood.

·       Contrast in live situations today where interruptions’ galore as people are so impatient to offer their views.

Covey has observed very correctly that when engaged in a negotiation or confronted with a problem, most people aren't aware that a 3rd Alternative even exists. 

• They are so bent on either my way or highway attitude, only problems will remain. 
• The book is a must read for all, whatever be the station in life . Coming from an author who was a mentor to many heads of nations for decades, the contents will be of great value to readers

The book is specially recommended to

• Faculty members
• HR heads
• Customer service personnel
• Newly married
• CEOs 
• Senior Citizens
• Highly recommended for reading to one and all.

 वन्दे मातरम्

   ॐ शान्ति: 

7 40 AM

Day 215

 Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!

Name your problem, and you name your possibility! That's the message in Dr. Robert H. Schuller's new bestseller, Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!

 Whether it's unemployment, poor health, loneliness, fear or anything else that blocks your success, you can turn your negative into a positive. No matter how tough times get, you have the potential to achieve the best of life.

·       In the final analysis, the tough people who survive do so because, they have learnt to react positively to their predicament.

· They don’t give up. They manage their problems creatively and constructively and succeed.

·    Tough people think positively. Positive thinking will get positive support, says the author, the originator of Possibility thinking.it is an exercise in dynamic and creative imagination. It provokes you to dream.

·       It inspires you to execute your dreams and succeed. Hence the author adds- ‘when you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t’.

·    Persons who are prone to give up fast than trying to the last will be specially benefitted.

·     Many are those who do not begin at all for variety of reasons. They have no disappointment as they have not started anything at all.

·       But for those who have started and left in the middle or still struggling to complete, the sage advice in the book will be highly helpful.

The possibility thinking is often missed by many. But survivors of great tragedies and events in history always recount sagas of holding on to hope even when there was nothing left to do so. Yet many have come out of such events and narrated the living hell they had undergone under war and peace conditions. The book will be a beacon of light to strugglers who doubt about their success possibilities. 

A reading of the book will show that what is planned can be fully achieved, if one applies the methods outlined in the book. The author has given many personal and relevant anecdotes to drive home his arguments. 

A must read for the go getters.

 वन्दे मातरम्

ॐ शान्ति: 

8 40 AM

Day-214

 The One Minute Manager

 Ken Blanchard &Spencer Johnson

As the name suggests, the Book deals with the subject of  becoming a one minute manager in  life.

·       The thought itself will appear confusing to many in the beginning, but after going through the book , one will be able to understand that it is really possible to become  a one minute manager in real life situations, if one  so desires.

·        This is a classic for over 30 years and millions of managers around the world  have followed the The One Minute Manager’s techniques, thereby increasing ‘their productivity, job satisfaction and personal Prosperity’.

The book   aims to give the reader the  gift of getting greater results in less time .The authors very rightly state that  contents  of the book  are not new and  the wisdom has been passed on since ages. However, the practitioners have been few and far between. So the ancient wisdom have been recaptured in a simple conversational format for easy understanding.

·       Any manager will be able to be more effective in his/her operations.

·        Many managers are also effective.

·        But none seems happy with their current level of performance and many are looking for methods to enhance their level of productivity and effectiveness.

·       For such persons the book  will throw up some new insights.

·        Briefly , the  book advocates - set goals, praise& reprimand behaviours, encourage people, speak the truth, laugh, work and enjoy and encourage the people you work with to  do the same.

·        Very simple and pragmatic prescriptions. How to put these traits into practice? That is the question.

Book, however, shows the way. In our daily life we are all effective based on our experience and expertise.

·       In the final analysis, the past practice has made the individual  to be effective as seen currently.

·       Hence, we find Usain Bolt dashing 100 meters below 9 seconds. 

·       Many people get wisdom and even see others doing things, but they themselves are finding it difficult to  practice.

·        They do not realize that it is sheer hard work  that has taken the celebrities to  the summit.

The advice of Confucius is cited in the book thus-”The Essence of knowledge is, having it, to use it”. I recall a quote that stated as – knowledge is Power, applied knowledge is wisdom, which all convey that the available knowledge should be put to use to yield fruits.

·     The book emphasises the need for right planning , timely praising and even correcting such that the overall mission is accomplished in time and as envisaged.

·        The book  will make the reader to reflect on their current managerial style and  most probably will help them to chart out new methods in their work life. 

Highly recommended for reading and sharing  with colleagues at work and family.

 वन्दे मातरम्

ॐ शान्ति: 

8 30 AM

Day -213

 Love Your Job

Kerry Hannon, The New York Times columnist , in this  eminently readable book Love  your Job, focuses on the little things that can make a big difference in how one feels about work.

·       It is a fact that over the time, every one experiences some fatigue and boredom in their chosen activities, the extent of which will differ from person to person.

·    Some people will get over the slide fast, while in some others frustrations linger for long.

·        The book deals with such situations faced in career and suggest methods to overcome them effectively and joyfully.

Love Your Job, therefore, is about the routines, habits, and thought patterns that, over the years, may have sometimes turned a dream job into a nightmare.  The book shows how to identify the little things that make work enjoyable and engaging. One can adopt the attitude that will keep one happy and productive, no matter what stage of the career one is  in. The book, inter- alia, helps to :

·         Develop new habits that bring more purpose into every single workday

·         Rekindle your hope and motivation by celebrating small successes

·         Recognize negative patterns that keep you from enjoying your job

·         Craft an entrepreneurial attitude that will get you noticed and enrich your work life

We all deserve to experience happiness and satisfaction every day, at every stage of our careers. We must recognize this early and work towards it.  Kerry Hannon explains that one doesn’t need to make a huge career changes to love work again.

The book, among others, suggest a HOVER approach giving five core ingredients to develop and create change in one’s working life. They are worth repeating viz.

·       H- hope,

·       O-optimism,

·        V-value,

·       E-enthusiasm and

·        R- Resilience.

The last one is very significant to all i.e. the knack of springing back in the face of adversity or failure is indispensable to achieve happiness.

Book is highly recommended for reading as the mere look at the title itself will prompt one to have a new vision, a new quest and curiosity about its contents. LOVING THE JOB IS A NEW CONCEPT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY’S WORLD EVERYTHING IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

 वन्दे मातरम्

 ॐ शान्ति: 

8 30 AM