7 habits of highly effective people

1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
3. Put first thing first
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek first to understand then to be understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the saw

Procrastination & Putting first things first

    I always struggle doing things which I should be doing it first. This problem is simply called 'PROCRASTINATION'. I'm sure many others do face this problem but only those who realize it early in their life will achieve greater heights in their life. Read both career & personal lives.
    Note that 95% of the time if your personal life is in doldrums then it becomes difficult to concentrate in your career. So here comes a point which I want to put forward. "Putting first things first". Somebody said it right that 'family comes first'. Family brings stability to life. No matter how much you earn and how good you are doing in your career, if your family is not bound together then it won't provide you the feeling of achievement. Hence, keep your family first, and never procrastinate any task related to your family. Attend & complete your personal/family tasks first and get back to office with a smiling face. Be it helping your wife, dropping your kids to school, taking your parents for a walk etc etc.
    Grab every opportunity to please your family members. As they are the ones who are going to be with you for life long not your colleagues or boss. I guarantee the output of your work at office will be colorful once you have showered your affection onto your loved ones.
    Coming back to procrastination problem on the whole. The only solution is 'Prioritize'. Ask yourself which things can wait and which things can't. The latter comes first on your to-do list. This is reminder to myself first.

A habit is a habit if done everyday

Hello folks. Been away for long time but had to return. "Old habits die hard" as most of them say.

Speaking of which, how do we define a 'HABIT'. When I looked up to the definition in wordweb dictionary I got this, "an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition".

We all tend to have good intentions of "not doing" or "doing" certain tasks every day or every moment but end up repeating the same the next day. Only to feel sad about how sticking to our promises that we made to ourselves is a failed attempt every time.

Don't you remember the promises that you made to yourself and broke them in the next second. Well, let me remind some of them:

• I'll quit alcohol/cigarette.
• I'll stop/limit having junk food.
• I'll stop wasting time on facebook/twitter and do something important instead.
• I'll start reading books.
• And finally, the one most common promise which everyone had broke in the recent past. I'll take care of my health.

Now you remember these promises. Don't you!! Well you can lie to me but not yourself :). Well the point that I am making here is you are not alone. As we lead life day by day we often indulge into bad habits. Not that we had planned for it or created a determined intention to do it. 

Bad habits are something which are easily doable. It grows in you as you had felt no additional physical or emotional stress in doing it. These are as easy as doing involuntary actions. On the other side, good habits are difficult to put into action. It requires determined, emotionally strong mind to stick to. These are actions that we force our mind to do with will.

Going back to the definition of habit which I specified at the beginning of this post, to put in other words, if an action is done repeatedly it becomes part of our routine in day to day life. And it will be called a 'HABIT'.

To inculcate a new 'good' habit we need to build only three attributes. Motivation, First-step and Repetition. Let me explain these three attributes. For example, take the last failed promise regarding taking care of our health. It is very easy to spoil our health considering the so called modern lifestyle we lead where everything else around us is latest and hi-tech except our body. But make sure you don't see a day where a technology (medical) keeps you alive while you are just lying motionless on hospital bed.

So what is 'Motivation' - the first attribute. Its something which makes you feel GO. There are many ways and places from where you can draw motivation. When it comes to keeping good health some of them are below:

• Visit a hospital. You will only see sad faces lying on beds. Who wants to be in this situation.
• Check out the amount of money a patient spends.
• Have an athlete/celebrity pic as your desktop wallpaper. A David Beckham. A Brad Pitt. A Angelina Jolie.
• Feel your tummy.
• Or Just stand naked before a mirror. LOL. I am sure you just want to put on those new jogging shoes that you bought ages ago and start running.

Motivation is there everywhere, you just have to see it and feel it. Once you found the motivation the next is to give an action to it. The action is called 'First-step' - the second attribute. All you require to start the work-out is to put on those shoes and take the first step out of your door. That is it. There is no looking backwards. Taking the first step is always the most difficult. So fight it out and take that first step forward.

Does that feel good. Well it should. But don't you want to feel this way every day. Oh yes you do. This gives way to 'Repetition' - the third attribute. A habit is not complete without this attribute. We have to stick to what we have learnt and put into action in repetition. Repeat this action for 30 days and notice that these attributes has grown on you. And it has now become your HABIT.

Hope these few words have given you motivation to create a new habit in you which you have been procrastinating for quite long. I wish you a healthy and stress less life ahead.

The 9-5 Guide to Staying Active

We all work, don't we. Computer has been a stand out invention in the recent past, but in comes other disadvantages with every invention. The disadvantage of staying glued to our seat for long hours adding few more inches as clock clicks.
But now is the time we fight this out.
Follow the link below to know how to stay active while we spend time at our work.

The 9-5 Guide to Staying Active

How To Buy An Apartment

Follow the following link to understand various terminologies and tips in order to buy a flat. Though some points are specific to Bangalore, you can most often relate to it 100% be in any part of the world.

Simplifying Money Matters: How to buy apartment in Bangalore - I
Simplifying Money Matters: How to buy apartment in Bangalore - II 

10 Questions That Create Success

Want help focusing on what really matters? Ask yourself these on a daily basis.

1. Have I made certain that those I love feel loved?

2. Have I done something today that improved the world?

3. Have I conditioned my body to be more strong flexible and resilient?

4. Have I reviewed and honed my plans for the future?

5. Have I acted in private with the same integrity I exhibit in public?

6. Have I avoided unkind words and deeds?

7. Have I accomplished something worthwhile?

8. Have I helped someone less fortunate?

9. Have I collected some wonderful memories?

10. Have I felt grateful for the incredible gift of being alive?

Here's the thing.  The questions you ask yourself on a daily basis determine your focus, and your focus determines your results.

ALL THE BEST !!!

Courtesy(http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/10-questions-that-create-success.html)

Our Nation needs Us... Fight Against Corruption

Total of All scams in India since 1947 : Rs.910603234300000/-

  See how Lokpal Bill can curb the politicians, Circulate it to create awareness

Existing System	System Proposed by civil society
No politician or senior officer ever goes to jail despite huge evidence because Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and CBI directly come under the government. Before starting investigation or prosecution in any case, they have to take permission from the same bosses, against whom the case has to be investigated.	Lokpal at centre and Lokayukta at state level will be independent bodies. ACB and CBI will be merged into these bodies. They will have power to initiate investigations and prosecution against any officer or politician without needing anyone's permission. Investigation should be completed within 1 year and trial to get over in next 1 year. Within two years, the corrupt should go to jail.
No corrupt officer is dismissed from the job because Central Vigilance Commission, which is supposed to dismiss corrupt officers, is only an advisory body. Whenever it advises government to dismiss any senior corrupt officer, its advice is never implemented.	Lokpal and Lokayukta will have complete powers to order dismissal of a corrupt officer. CVC and all departmental vigilance will be merged into Lokpal and state vigilance will be merged into Lokayukta.
No action is taken against corrupt judges because permission is required from the Chief Justice of India to even register an FIR against corrupt judges.	Lokpal & Lokayukta shall have powers to investigate and prosecute any judge without needing anyone's permission.
Nowhere to go - People expose corruption but no action is taken on their complaints.	Lokpal & Lokayukta will have to enquire into and hear every complaint.
There is so much corruption within CBI and vigilance departments. Their functioning is so secret that it encourages corruption within these agencies.	All investigations in Lokpal & Lokayukta shall be transparent. After completion of investigation, all case records shall be open to public.  Complaint against any staff of Lokpal & Lokayukta shall be enquired and punishment announced within two months.
Weak and corrupt people are appointed as heads of anti-corruption agencies.	Politicians will have absolutely no say in selections of Chairperson and members of Lokpal & Lokayukta. Selections will take place through a transparent and public participatory process.
Citizens face harassment in government offices. Sometimes they are forced to pay bribes. One can only complaint to senior officers. No action is taken on complaints because senior officers also get their cut.	Lokpal & Lokayukta will get public grievances resolved in time bound manner, impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay to be deducted from the salary of guilty officer and award that amount as compensation to the aggrieved citizen.
Nothing in law to recover ill gotten wealth. A corrupt person can come out of jail and enjoy that money.	Loss caused to the government due to corruption will be recovered from all accused.
Small punishment for corruption- Punishment for corruption is minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years.	Enhanced punishment - The punishment would be minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment.

Dear All,   

    Please go through the details carefully & try to be part of this mission against corruption. Things to know about Anna Hazare and Lok pal Bill-:  

1.Who is Anna Hazare?

An ex-army man(Unmarried). Fought 1965 Indo-Pak war.

 

2.What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra.

 

3.This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.                                                                                                                                                                                       

4. This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

 

5. He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

 

6. How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bill, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), bureaucrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds. 

 

7. It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit their theft (corruption).

 

8. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time? The first thing he is asking for is: the govt should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed. Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50%   public participation. Bcoz u can't trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

 

9.What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election   Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished.                                                                                          

 

Pass this on and show your support..                                                                  

 

Spread it like   fire; Our Nation needs us... Please Contribute... This is not just a forward, it's the future of our Nation.