Stress Sufferings and Spirituality A View Point of a Priest

Stress

Sufferings and Spirituality

A View Point of a Priest

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.

                                                                   - Peter Marshall

Sufferings are the other side of the coin of life; first being peace, pleasure, love and happiness. It has been endeavor, since the beginning of civilization; man made millions of discoveries and inventions, to make living easy. At individual level man is always after the best of life and facilities; still life is not always a most delicious cake. Problems, suffering difficulties, maladjustments say by whatever name one likes, happen without notice to everyone without exception the difference is only in the perception. When in trouble an individual tries to seek solution and solace from two great institutions, parents and the Lord.

Despite so many beliefs and controversies most believe He (the Uparwala) is very near to us and most powerful: can do everything and anything. Even Albert Einstein said, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.”

How to convince Him the Lord to help us; a big question. Pilgrimages, offerings, prayers, religious gathering, chanting name, satang – collective singing of His praise and prayers, poor feeding, free community kitchen, free service in religious places, people do whatever they like to invoke his blessings that would relieve them  of miseries. Still there are others always engrossed in Him, without any specific motive, but just to feel Him, do deep meditation and follow rigorous routine. 

Once in a prayer meeting; priest narrated a couplet below (Verse 21 of Uttarkand) from Shri Ramcharitmanas (Ramayana) by Poet Tulsi Das

दैहिक दैविक भौतिक तापा।

 राम राज नहिं काहुहि ब्यापा।।

सब नर करहिं परस्पर प्रीती।

 चलहिं स्वधर्म निरत श्रुति नीती।।

daihika daivika bhautika tåpå,

råma råja nahi kåhuhi byåpå |

saba nara karahi paraspara priti,

calahi svadharma nirata sruti niti ||1||

                                       Meaning

During Rama's rule no one suffered from pain of any kind whether (daihik) caused by one's body or mind; (daivik) divinely caused like floods and drought or (bhautik) caused by other living and non-living like money, family, relations, failures so on. All humans constantly loved one another and intently followed their ethical duties as upheld in scriptures.   

How to get rid of these three types of suffering is a big question. The Priest explained a view based on spirituality and faith in divinity:

Daivik Tapas-suffering caused by Divine: The Lord does not cause any suffering to man-his creation and his replica- is always benevolent. But still many people in India believe in Pitra Dosh the suffering caused by ancestors, and some times they are made to believe that mishappenings are the result of having promised something to Divine but not performed and also that a person is under the influence of certain stars-Grahs as per Indian astrology: this is perhaps accepted by science also that life on earth is effected by other stars. People also believe and are made to believe in bad sprites widely known as ghosts. Commonly known acts of nature like floods, droughts, earthquakes are also termed as Daivik Tapas-pains. 

How to take care of such suffering. The priest expressed that man should remain attached to God, always remember him, be God fearing, be grateful to him, do everything as if one is doing it in the presence of God, feel His presence near and around. Keep one’s conscious clear, above board, beyond doubt and with the truth-the best way to defend oneself always. One should talk to himself sincerely as often as possible-the self-audit: then the corrections must follow like not to repeat activities or perform penance.  This would save one from all suffering caused by the acts of God- Daivik Tapas.

Dehik Tapas – Bodily Sufferings

Dehik Tapas bodily sufferings many of which emanates from type of food we eat. Food is the primary source of satisfaction, maintenance, health and immunity. Every process right from earning till the first bite rather, till we ease it out, is important.

Money spent for food be well earned not grabbed or unearned, that enhances your respect for the food. Pride is the offshoot of hard work that satisfies the human soul. Food purchased with hard earned money is very dear to an individual. Whosoever leaves food in plate after satisfying his hunger does not display wisdom nor regards for the food

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

                                                                                    John 6:27

Preparation of food for eating is next step: food should be prepared with good mood, positive energy, must feel pride, without any ill feeling or grumble. The ingredient of love gets added at home only not in hotel where is can be best of crockery, presentation, master chefs and all quality ingredients. But a Rar-slowly roasted chapatti with crystalized butter and simple salt and red chilies prepared by mother, wife, sister with love is far superior in taste and satisfaction. An old saying is, “Jaisa Khaoigai ann visahoga mun” (Your thinking will as your food).

How you eat food. Do you enjoy every bite, take pride in taking food, be respectful, have time to eat and adopt a respectful posture. Buffet is the modern way of serving our guests; it does not bestow honour and love on the host or the guests. People just eat and go sometimes they do not even say bye to the host. On the other hand Indian style of serving the guests has all the respect and regard both for the guest a well as for the food.

Physical hygiene and purity of ingredients have its own importance-at home it is ensured without any regulations but seldom in hotels despite regulations and inspections. Nature provides us best of the foods-more the processing more the loss of essentials the nature has given.  

Next step is eating. Before you start your lunch, dinner or breakfast or any meal, offer food you are going to eat to the Lord-no need to go to temple or perform some worship- a simple thanks or a remembrance, expression of gratitude to Lord, before you take the first bite that is required. My grandfather had his own style to remember the Lord before taking food: he would dip his right ring finger in the food and would sprinkle a few droplets on the mother earth and then would fold his hands in prayer for a few seconds before taking the first bite.  Food taken like this becomes a Prasad-Blessing from the Lord, helpful to keep away sufferings emanating from food.    

Whenever we make an offering to almighty in a religious place, the priest retains a part of the offering for the deity or say in the name of the diety. Thus the offering is divided into two portions. First portion is retained by the priest and second portion is returned to you as Prasad. In fact, the first part indicates the negativities in our life which are retained by the priest and absorbed by the Almighty. The Prasad returned to us is all positivity, for our prosperity, well-being and development. So continue to make an offering to Almighty as often as you can. Be grateful to Him for what you have, this will keep Dehik Tapas-bodily sufferings miles away from you.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

                                                         Corinthians 10:31 Bible

Bhotik Tapas

Bhotik Tapas relate to the sufferings caused by worldly things like money matters, relationships, family, friends etcetera. Every religion believes that we should give away 10% of our earnings as alms, charity etcetera without expectation of any return. If you have an expectation from the charity given then it is not a charity, it is then give and take, barter, and a trade. Charity given without expectation comes back to you in different forms often with a multiplication factor thus your wealth continues to multiply enabling you to give more and more in alms. This is perhaps the reason that people arrange free community kitchens-in India known as Bhandara and Langer. Charity need not be food alone, it can be service, help, education, clothes, even the space and medical help. In some charitable hospital people go there to serve the patients without any charge. Real charity begins at home take care of your old parents and poor relatives perhaps they deserve most and first. This saves a person from Bhotik Tapas.

A generous person will prosper;

Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

                                                                Proverbs 11:25 | NIV

Fact of the matter is, if you ask Indians, what type of Govt or governance they want; 90% would immediately

say “Ram-Rajya” that is the popularity and satisfaction drawn from the reign of Lord Rama even millions of years after. In fact Raja Ram was incarnation of Lord Vishnu as per the Hindu scriptures, so his reign has to be the best example of Govt and governance. At present although the fundamentals of Govt & governance remain the same, the incumbents are much nearer to vices than virtues.

Above three principles of: chant the name of Lord, earn your salt and give charity are very well imbibed in Sikhism as Nam Jap, (Recite Lord’s name)  Kirit Kar (Earn your food) and Wund Ke Chhak (give charity). So is in Bhagavad Gita which has Bhaktiyog (Recite Lord’s name), Karamyog (do your duty), and Gyanyog (obtain knowledge) along with charity and penance. Fact of the matter is these three pillars are common to all religions and faiths.

You need not cry very loud; he is nearer to us than we think.

                                                                   - Brother Lawrence

Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.

                                                                   - Warren Wiersbe

God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.

                                                                      - Augustine

Snuggle in God's arms. When you are hurting, when you feel lonely, left out, let Him cradle you, comfort you, reassure you of His all-sufficient power and love.

                                                                  - Kay Arthur

Adopt these three His remembrance, earning one’s salt and charity in your daily life and be

Stress free.

Stress and Suicide An Irrational Relationship

Stress and Suicide

An

Irrational Relationship

When somebody kills himself that is called suicide. It is so definite, clear, no confusion, once a liver has been pulled, there is corpse only. Thereafter, there are no ifs and buts the way is clear to the graveyard.  People murmur for sometimes: then the curtain falls: people now and then refer to good deeds but always say that he committed suicide.

Initially life was created by nature, the God, the Creator himself as a replica of Himself of peace, tranquility, love affection, full of joy, happiness, appreciation of beauty, kindness, compassion etcetera. Creation is such a wonderful feeling and more so when a human being happens to be created. Even God felt so amused when he created human. Subsequently, this function was given to male and female species, but even now there are many species beyond sex. Life is love, so beautiful a feeling, man lives for. Great men have described life the way they felt, some as below:

“He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.”                                                                                 – Benjamin Franklin

“I think being in love with life is a key to eternal youth.”                                                                                    —Doug Hutchison

“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”                                                     —Eleanor Roosevelt

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”                                                     —Ralph Waldo Emerson

“All of life is peaks and valleys. Don’t let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.”

                                                                       —John Wooden

However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”

                                                                 —Stephen Hawking

“I enjoy life when things are happening. I don’t care if it’s good things or bad things. That means you’re alive.”                                                                                                          —Joan Rivers

When difficulties and issues, the part of life, occur don’t run or be afraid of; as the great said:

“I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”                                                                                           —Walt Disney

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

                                                                         –Helen Keller

Despite so much said and written, suicides do take.  How is it that a rational mind becomes totally irrational for a few moments that he himself pulls the liver? It has always been split second decision. Many retrace their last step; start life afresh; retracing steps is possible only in normal human beings. Real cause always gets buried with the victim leaving behind the guess and grief.

Man is a part and parcel of the Universe-always expanding and contracting itself. Stars, planets and even their satellites have their influence on life everywhere in the Universe and we are just one of the species. Science has not been able to answer whether the Universe is expanding more or contracting more, or has reached its limits; but it appears it is expanding more as we have seen changes on the earth where everybody is gathering, our behavior has to be in tune with the behavior of the Universe. Nature always continue to expend and vibrant full of life and activity.

Some stars everyday consume their own energy become dark and deep, consuming everything coming in contact and their way, they suck, soak and sever. They are called Black Holes by humans. They have their system - only the destruction and dominance. They destroy, take inside, everything: what further happens, science is still to find an answer. Whosoever living, non-living comes under the influence of such black-holes his behavior changes where everything is turned mysterious; when a human being is influenced, his behavior is mysterious; suicide is one of the manifestations of that erratic influence, when the individual becomes totally introvert-keeping everything to himself and destroying everything even the positive thoughts, like black hole.

Black-hole is one type of destruction. Possibility of other types cannot the ruled out – others might be to burst into pieces as we see at night, still some burn themselves become heaps of ash moving in the Universe. There is lot of haze in between stars, engulfing others whose gravity is strong enough, not even to allow the ash to go away. Water or like; might be moving from one planet to other and Indian scriptures do talk of Indian river Ganga having been brought to sub-continent from space. Once whole of the Earth was engulfed by water destroying whole of the civilization on the planet and this may not be far away once again as the Globe is warming up and if all the ice all over melts than possibility of earth being engulfed again by water can’t be ruled out. Gravity between stars is one type of behaviors, what are the other types is unknown; are stars violent also; do they change their gait and direction: do they fight like animals and men, we have limited knowledge only up to calculable distance but universe has no limit, so are the directions of conduct of the stars.

As behavior of the some stars is unpredictable so is the behavior of man under the influence of such when he commits suicide.

All living beings are supposed to be made of five elements-Water, Air, Fire, Earth and Space (Akash in Hindi and Sky in English) above where Lord Lives Heaven (Baikunth in Hindi in Indian scriptures) and on death they are supposed merge back with these  five eternal elements. These elements must remain in equilibrium for person to remain healthy and rational. Imbalance of these creates illness and disturbs the mind.

There is another element that is important-Paatal (Hindi word), the deepest place on the earth (literal translation) one may also call it Hell (Narak in Hindi in Indian scriptures) - Core of Earth- scientifically consisting mercury- heaviest of metals and Iron, and as per Indian scriptures Naag Lok –the world of serpents, obviously full of venom. Some venom even on earth crust are so strong that even their smell is fatal, death due to introduction of venom in the blood stream is common.

It is anybody’s guess what we would encounter before reaching this core. As all stars and planets have influence on our health and thinking so the earth and its interior has. People are very well aware about the effect of earth crust on our health, wisdom and living. Whenever a person comes under influence of Paatal his thinking goes dark, deep without clarity as to where he is going, full of venom. The influence of Paatal Lok introduces irrationality adding to negativity and hence extreme step of suicide.

Negative and positive energy: All living things on this earth radiate constantly outward energy. This energy is generated by emotions. Negative Energies are generated by emotions not desirable to people which express; sadness, anger, hate, fear, stress, greed, jealousy, selfishness, pain, etc. The positive energies are creations of emotions like love, happiness, joy, pleasure, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, kindness, gratitude, hope, peace, calmness, silence, romance, solace, prayer, sex etcetera. Negative energies multiply at a pace far more than at which positive energy multiply. They also fail Newton’s law which says action and reactions are equal and opposite. Reactions of negative energies always have a multiplying factor more than one. When a person is under the influence of negative energies he has to be under stress which adds to the suicidal tendencies.

Another reason for suicide is depression. Different people interpret depression differently. Depression is total blockade of rational thinking by irrational thoughts, actions, opinions, negativity and absence of rational men in surroundings. The victim goes down & deep with worst extremes of every move going against him. He discusses, deliberates and concludes himself and alone. He sees only the black, other colours of life get absorbed in it. It is only when the situation is extensive & extreme that he takes the last step he thinks would relieve him. Suicide is often an act committed when emotions are very strong and life stresses extreme, rather than an act of careful consideration.

Depression can emanate from any act in life like ending a romantic relationship, unable to have steady income, loss of social position, academic failure, sexual orientation, bullying, shaming, being arrested or imprisoned and even from losing a simple academic or family discussion. It all depends on how sensitive, irrational, touchy, worldly-wise you are and how you respect others opinions & wisdom. When the mind is dark, it is hard to see any possibility for happiness, but it can and often does – get better; whether through treatment, meditation, exercise, eating well, getting into a routine, or setting goals, romance etcetera. Such steps do help to recover from feelings of depression, and suicidal thoughts. Every one under depression must realize or be made to; that he is complete Universe in himself and so the possibilities are unlimited.

Extreme anger is another cause. When angry some people are really like burning charcoal-that has only two colours that is red and black. Their face, eyes, lips, tongue, ears all are red like fire and their brain and mind irrational signifying black colour. They are ready to do anything, to prove their point apparently wrong one. In a fit of anger they sometime commit suicide.

Love is most important human emotion. Hate and dislikes are opposites. In Indian context for example, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law relations sometimes are marked by excessive hate and are one of reason for increase in old-age homes in the recent years. Hate-extreme coupled with inability to terminate the relationship sometimes leads to spur of a moment action.

Psychological disorders do contribute their share to suicides world over. It is law of nature that nobody can be at the top always; he has to climb down to make space for the new generation or they would be forced to climb down. Although this climb down is a natural process, many are unable to absorb it calmly. They become self-centered, isolated, away from social life-which for obvious reasons changes with the climb down and at the same time they are unable to live with or enjoy solitude and hence are dragged to extreme step.

Some suicides remain unexplained no reason just as if it were an act of nature. Sometimes they look like acts of supernatural powers-which many do not believe: still some beliefs are prevalent in almost all countries and civilizations past and present world over.

Violence or cruelty in human nature or in the way one earns his living or being a dictator-not a political one, is also a cause of suicide. The world has seen that many of the political dictators ended their lives in that violent manner. In normal life this refers to being not considerate to others. Some illegal profession use violence to carry on and those who profess are always near to it and many a times end their life in that violent manner.

Deception is another cause of suicide; where in people are lured killed and made to look like suicide so clean and perfect that are termed, treated and closed as cases of suicide.

Self-guilt in other words guilty conscious, when confronted with self in moments of sanity, many a times is the cause of suicide, for example flesh trade, extortion etcetera, it is easy to get in but very difficult rather impossible  to get out and when realization dawns, they suck a person to suicide.    

The strongest wall against suicidal tendencies is the strength of one’s character which a unique culmination of one’s genes and values given, brought up in and acquired.

Another rock solid is the realization that all living being are happy when they are in a group. Now with passage of time, human groups like family, neighbours, relatives, friends, society, village-Indian concept of Mera Gaon etc. are getting smaller and distant hence the stress related issues have multiplied. This has reduced the space to upon up tremendously hence increase of introverts. Modern living has made the man to feel alone in the crowd around. He is surrounded by gadgets, buttons, black mouse, screens, virtuals and all lifelesses: away from nature and his men, hence the gloom.   

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. – Christian D. Larson

Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better. – Unknown

“I am the beginning, middle and the end”

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.

Where is the question of Suicide, NOWHERE?

Productivity The Profit Engine

Productivity 

The Profit Engine

“Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” ~ Franz Kafka

“Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.” ~ Peter Drucker

What is productivity? How it is a profit engine? In our daily life a prudent human being wants to enjoy maximum from his limited resources and that concept is used for utilization of company resources for production purposes: that is what the productivity is. It should be more so because we earn our livelihood from our organization.

In simple words it means to produce at the minimum cost per unit without compromising quality. It is the total cost divide by total production in units that gives us: cost per unit. Thus productivity is ratio of input to output. If a factory is able to produce 12 units today and yesterday it produced only 10 with the same expenditure of resources we can say today productivity was higher by 20% than yesterday. It is elimination of wastages, reducing overheads both fixed and variable to bare minimum, it is an attitude of mind, it is attitude of improvement everyday and always & using every minute for productive purposes.

Product and services that is the output and these days it is a fashion to call even the services as product. Another name for the output being used is “Plan” like mobile plan, interest plan for loans etc.; fundamentals remain the same that whatever is produced is the output. It is easy to measure output for example cars produced, coal mined, mobiles sold, mobile connection given, mobile towers erected, policies sold, loans in Crores sanctioned and so on. Just count and tell.

Input is cumbersome and complex. It embraces everything done within the boundary of a production factory and factory itself to produce the end product.  It includes land & building, plant and machinery, capital & cash, office & staff quarters, management & work force, wages & salaries, overheads-seen & unseen-fixed and variables; marketing & purchases, loans & advances, debitors and creditors, interest paid & received, satisfied labour force & demotivated one, depreciation & maintenance: in fact every single penny spent for the organization. It is very difficult to say what input is. It is only the Profit & Loss account and the Balance Sheet that tells us where a concern stands.

Since calculation of input cost is a cumbersome process, for the purpose of productivity calculation, man hour is taken as the unit because better records exist for man-hours spent to produce and calculation is easy. So total units produced divided by man-hours spent that gives us the units produced in one hour: more the units produced per hour higher is the productivity per man hour.

Productivity is not just a figure; it is much more and requires a searching eye, positive attitude, experimental suggestions and humane approach to each alteration, examination, analysis of the highest order by the management and the men who matter above all a willing work force that listens and implements suggestions. These are the broad parameters to rewrite the existing work culture.

Most important factor to increase productivity is the work-force. They use raw material, produce finished product, waste inputs & overheads, save & use time, talk to the machines, on & off machines, face problems unknown. They intermingle the skill & experience with solid and raw inputs. Work force managed well can do wonders.

But how to manage this ingredient of production: a tedious task- requires, right man for the right job, select men who treat work as hobby, internally motivated, total quality people, devoted dedicated, who feel pride in being part of the organization, satvic people, and temper them with understanding, treating them equally good human beings in the matters of love, affection, respect, regard, human value, praise them when needed, ignore minor mistakes, be helpful to them in difficult days, recognize each employee, when they come to you listen with attention.

Office is another area which requires attention of the management to increase productivity- often neglected as not directly concerned with production-this is a wrong notion. In fact this is place where ideas solidify into plan and then action starts. Here people assume themselves superior to technical staff a wrong notion so they are not bothered about expense which sometimes are easily sanctioned being intimate with the authority. The expenses which require scrutiny are: overtime, honorarium, TA, Training, entertainment, local conveyance, staff requirement particularly the multipurpose staff, stationery particularly the costly one. A searching watch is needed.

Finance is an important area in the matters of productivity which is generally over looked being custodian of finances. Ancient wisdom is take care of pennies pounds would take care of themselves. Excess liquidity is a killer in the long run which leads to relaxed attitude to expenses. Control losses and expenses, profits & stability would trickle.

Technology: Adopt & adept advanced technology and its variants; they help to reduce cost and put you ahead of others. Inertia is fatal in this area be quick and fast otherwise you would be behind by two steps- one you have not adopted the new and others have made the present technology obsolete and entered the next step.

Overheads beyond Office and Work-Force: This is another area of neglect like godowns of obsolete items-these should be disposed of at regular intervals otherwise they consume space, power, guards and would fetch less sale price.   

Company’s own conveyance Keep you own fleet to the minimum. Hired fleet carries no responsibility except payment of hire as and when required. That will reduce fixed overheads like salaries, interest, pension, depreciation, insurance, ESI, EPF etc. in addition mischievous flexible overheads.

Top heavy management is not conducive; then we will have more supervisors than the workers. Cadre pyramid should take care of sentiments of work force. In Govt. in the name of cadre review; top managerial staff is more so the slackness in delivery and disposal.

Managerial Meetings should be kept to the minimum particularly they cost heavy in terms of overheads to the concerns. Preference should always be for online meetings and consultations they cost less time and energy and yield more effective results.

Policy Makers & Executives Consultations between policy makers and the executives are a regular feature of any operational units. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that they are available to each other all times. In an organization they should seat in adjacent rooms so that they can just walk in for consultations. In many Govts, Ministers and Secretaries in Indian context sit in the adjacent rooms to facilitate easy and quick sorting out of the issues. Hence a much cheaper proposition both money and time wise than sitting far away from each other.

Optimum Capacity: What is optimum capacity a debatable term? It is not the maximum capacity. It is the capacity at which a plant, machine or a system gives highest output without breakdowns and the lowest maintenance. Never use the maximum capacity, it is like starching at seams, nobody known when it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back and clothes get torn. So study the capacity of each thoroughly. This is applicable even to workforce and management also. 

Ease of Business Higher the ease of business in a country lessor time is need for compliances whether of certificates or of payment of taxes and hence lesser overheads and litigations. This is the reasons investors go to place with less governmental intervention. Govt. must realize the benefits of ease of business: easier it is lesser is corruption more is compliance.

Time Management is essence of life and of success in life. Unless we utilize our time properly we cannot accomplish even very small and insignificant targets in life. Time management is in fact attitude towards life. It cannot be developed in a day or so. It is gift of God for some and others can develop it. But those who do not acquire it lose many good things in life. Another name for time management is self-imposed discipline. Fact of the matter is that if we do not manage time, time will manage us. But how to ensure time management for others: very difficult task for the organization. However if we start taking steps work-force and others would realize that we have lot of respect for time. That would save not only the overheads but many headaches for management and earn money for the workers.

“Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed”

                                                          ~ Peter Drucker

Discipline & Decorum the two pillars of a systematic action contribute a lot to productivity by speedy, complete and comprehensive implementation of managerial orders.

For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.                                                                                       Jim Rohn

Discipline and commitment is pathway to reach goals and dreams.                                                     Dr Anil Kr Sinha

Productivity is a treasure, you have to dig down and deep.

How to Be Ahead Of Others in Business

How to Be

Ahead Of Others in Business

You Have the Key

A dream of every CEO to be the name in the market, state, Country and the world, a head of every one. Be the name that occurs to everybody, everywhere, everytime and be the first in Google search.

First requirement of being ahead of others is: what you want to be; what you want to achieve: clarity of thought, only then the action will follow. Half-baked and copied ideas do not help; you should be you, not anybody else. Originality of thought is a great advantage that culminates into congruence of desire and deserve belief-a rock solid of your journey.

“Decide what you want … believe you can have it, believe you deserve it, believe it’s possible for you.”              

                                                  – Rhonda Byrne

Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know, what you want to become.

                                                          Steve Jobs

Optimism key to success. “I shall succeed” attitude is must for achieving something extra than others. 

“I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”                                          

                                         Rabindranath Tagore

Vision statements hang beautifully framed in the receptions of the Organizations. Are they real, no they were got drafted from scholars to show off big. Real vision is thinking of the Owner CEO. Keep your vision simple, straight forward and understandable by those who to have follow it with their toil and tears, make sure they do it. 

You need a very, exceptional clear vision. And to me, a vision is something that you can say in one sentence. The fewer the words the better."                             

                                                      -Ron Johnson

Strategy & Tactics: Strategy is a long term action plan to achieve. Decide what you will never do for example short cuts of dishonesty and bribe. Tactic is younger brother of strategy. Tactics relate to a specific goal.

 “Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.”                                                                           

                                                  Michael Porter

“Strategy without Tactics is the slowest route to victory: and Tactics without Strategy is the noise before defeat.”                                                                                     

                                                            Sun Tzu

Determination firm and solid, is the next important ingredient of success; a clear understanding that difficulties, failures, breakdowns, stumbles, challenges are stepping stones that lay the foundation of success tales.

“Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations.”

                                      - John Seaman Garns

Detailing the object; vein by vein and bone by bone, vitals and ancillaries, blood and water, joints and jerks, step by step, stage by stage; in-depth and exact detailing ensure ease and clarity in achieving the target.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.

                                                                     Mark Twain

Execution is the essence of a goal. Always remembers Mercedes standards, “The Best or nothing”. How to achieve this goal – keep your eyes and ears wide open. See beyond sight and listen what is not audible, walk to odd destination at odd times, do with your hands what the juniors are required to do by giving orders; study the real problems of those who work with hands, no compromises & no concessions for quality whether staff or products. We should have the best of stuffs. TQP and TQM of highest standards.

“Execution is the ability to mesh strategy with reality, align people with goals, and achieve the promised results.”

                                                      Larry Bossidy

Have a system of market intelligence; must know what others are doing – rather one should know before others start- only then one can be ahead of others. Counter check every bit of information coming to you, study seriously the sieved information and see how you can jump ahead of others.

"If you really want the key to success, start by doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing."                                 - Brad Szollose

Technology giant and a magic lamp, adept & adopt, otherwise flight is ready for you. Must know the latest developments, trends and adaptations in and outside your field. It is more important know to what is happening to the relevant technology outside the field. Match product technology with consumer needs, likes and pocket.

Research means to search again what you are doing – in all spheres – technical, administrative, work-force, financial, operational, marketing, methods and procedures. Do not limit this important activity to technical and products variants and new ones. Always have a dedicated research wing: paid and outsourced is always risky and many a times fruitless costly exercise.

Think Tanks sessions within and outside, national & international to generate odd even ideas and thinking without limitations may look alien to many; are source of something new. Keep an eye on the Think Tanks outside your area and not related to your product.

Work Force They are living machine, who see and listen, the circumstances & environment, outsiders & insiders, suppliers and users, goodwill and anger among masses and markets. They are most important assets that give most important inputs: how to get these input that depends on how smart is the management to intermingle with them positively and intuitively.

Motivation: Motivation is spark for action. Why people should work out of the way, go extra mile every time for every job. This is important not only for the work force but the managers also who are the driving force in implementation of decisions and policies. All men must feel pride in being part of the organization. Those who are internally motivated and at peace with themselves are an asset encourage them.

"You get the best efforts from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within."

                                                       - Bob Nelson

Market is a place where our products are examined by rich and poor, knowledgeable and new, interested and causal above all by disinterested and bartered for money and it gives our organization a push to move forward. In fact market is the pivot around which whole economic activity moves. It is study into the thinking of consumers, their needs, values, capacity, and respect for your product. CEOs must go to the market themselves as most ordinary customers to find out what market stands for their product.

Resources include financial and others. Healthy resources free of encumbrances are always a source of strength; create goodwill and enhance credibility among peers and thus create further resources that can help at difficult times. Banks and financial institutions help those who themselves are sound. Never use personal resources for institutional needs that creates administrative indiscipline.

Inventory anywhere, in raw materials, finished products and even cash is a silent killer: these things should be kept to the optimum level as per the scale of production, marketing and capital investment. When situation is beyond control dispose them off quickly otherwise they depreciate as well as become obsolete: a total loss.

Investments normally in fixed assets like land, buildings, Govt Bonds and gilt-edged securities provide stability and a security during emergencies. Some business house create secret reserves by under-valuing assets, the practice has pros and cons, but they do provide safety and security. Prompt payments are the handles that reduce costs by strengthening negotiating powers.

In addition, investment in men is very important; continue to add to the personality of each employee by providing him training in various aspects of his job; even on the job trainings provide employees an insight into intricacies of the job. Keep the employees involved and engrossed. Take care of their dreams and advancement.

 "Job training empowers people to realize their dreams and improve their lives."

                                         Sylvia Mathews Burwell 

"Most of life is on-the-job training. Some of the most important things can only be learned in the process of doing them. You do something and you get feedback - about what works and what doesn't. If you don't do anything for fear of doing it wrong, poorly, or badly, you never get any feedback, and therefore you never get to improve."

                                                              Jack Canfield

C.E.O. Chief Executive Officer, a dream with many; the man who matters, who runs the business with passion:  a driving force: important since the time immemorial and even today: one of the great reason for failure of most of public sector undertakings in India. The Masters said about CEO:

          Yatha Raja Tatha Parja.                      Chankaya

As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."                                                

                                                                 Bill Gates

"Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better."  

                                                                Bill Bradley

"The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign — even as the rest of the world wonders why you're not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag. They understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special."

                                                                          

                                                                        -Bill Taylor

A CEO is liver, load and fulcrum all in one; of every situation. He has to fill up the gap always where one is missing. He must set the ball in motion, move it forward and score the goal too.

CEOs are extraordinary people: they have to be store house of X factors, always ready to solve with integrity, devotion, dedication, smartness and in time:  if you are not than not fit to be a CEO of the category companies look to find.

To me, business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.          

                                                  Sir Richard Branson