Difference between Focusing on Problems and Focusing on
Solutions
Case 1
When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out
that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the
writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12
million. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down,
underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range
from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
And what did the Russians do...?? They used a pencil.
Case 2
One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the
case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan's biggest
cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought
a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the
problem to the assembly! line, which transported all the packaged boxes of
soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through
the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the
problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with
high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the
soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No
doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a whoopee amount
to do so.
But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the
same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but
instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial
electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan
on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out
of the line.
Moral : Always look for simple solutions.
Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems
Always Focus on solutions & not on problems
So at the end of the day the thing that really matters is HOW ONE LOOKS INTO THE PROBLEM,
mere perceptions can solve the tough probs....
Friday, March 25, 2011
"A successful relationship requires love"
Is it true every time!!!!!!
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open.
He was late for work so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and fascinated by its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died.
The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.
QUESTIONS:
1. What were the four words?
2. What is the implication of this story?
Scroll down to read....
ANSWER:
The husband just said "I Love You Darling" The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not happen.
No one to be blamed. She had lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your
envies, jealousies, unforgiving attitude, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
"A successful relationship requires falling in love many times -----with the same person."
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open.
He was late for work so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and fascinated by its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died.
The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.
QUESTIONS:
1. What were the four words?
2. What is the implication of this story?
Scroll down to read....
ANSWER:
The husband just said "I Love You Darling" The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not happen.
No one to be blamed. She had lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your
envies, jealousies, unforgiving attitude, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
"A successful relationship requires falling in love many times -----with the same person."
Monday, March 14, 2011
Cost Proposal Analysis.
A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.
Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.
Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.
'What?!' the owners exclaimed. 'He hardly did anything!'
So they wrote the old man a note saying, 'Please send us an itemized bill.'
The man sent a bill that read:
Tapping with a hammer...... ......... ........ $ 2..00
Knowing where to tap.......... .......... ...... $ 9,998.00
Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference .
Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.
Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.
'What?!' the owners exclaimed. 'He hardly did anything!'
So they wrote the old man a note saying, 'Please send us an itemized bill.'
The man sent a bill that read:
Tapping with a hammer...... ......... ........ $ 2..00
Knowing where to tap.......... .......... ...... $ 9,998.00
Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference .
Two Tough questions..
Two Tough questions..
===Question 1===
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who
were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had
syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?
Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.
===Question 2===
It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts.
Here are the facts about the three candidates.
Candidate A. Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with
astrologers. He's had two mistresses.
He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a
day.
Candidate B He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used
opium
in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every
evening.
Candidate C He is a decorated war hero.
He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an
occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.
Which of these candidates would be your choice?
Lets give a shot and try deciding first...
Hope there is no peeking…..
Now if you have decided on your answers, scroll down for the response.
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Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.
And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question:
If you said YES . . .
. . . you just killed Beethoven - Gr8 musician
Pretty interesting isn't it?
Thats world
===Question 1===
If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who
were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had
syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?
Read the next question before looking at the response for this one.
===Question 2===
It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts.
Here are the facts about the three candidates.
Candidate A. Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with
astrologers. He's had two mistresses.
He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a
day.
Candidate B He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used
opium
in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every
evening.
Candidate C He is a decorated war hero.
He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an
occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.
Which of these candidates would be your choice?
Lets give a shot and try deciding first...
Hope there is no peeking…..
Now if you have decided on your answers, scroll down for the response.
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Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Candidate B is Winston Churchill.
Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.
And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question:
If you said YES . . .
. . . you just killed Beethoven - Gr8 musician
Pretty interesting isn't it?
Thats world
My Mom
A touching story...........
My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, 'EEEE, your mom only has one eye!' I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ' If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?' My mom did not respond... I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own.. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, 'How dare you come to my house and scare my children!' GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!' And to this, my mother quietly answered, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,' and she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
'My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your mother."
* Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day will be their last, or your own.
* Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure.
* And closure usually brings Peace...
My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, 'EEEE, your mom only has one eye!' I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, ' If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?' My mom did not respond... I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own.. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, 'How dare you come to my house and scare my children!' GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!' And to this, my mother quietly answered, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,' and she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
'My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your mother."
* Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day will be their last, or your own.
* Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure.
* And closure usually brings Peace...
Time waits for no one.
To realize
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident...
To! realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
The value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
who has given birth to
A premature baby.
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident...
To! realize
The value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
One Moment listen please
The Moment you are in Tension
You will lose your Attention
Then you are in total Confusion
And you will feel Irritation
Then you will spoil personal Relation
Ultimately, you won't get Co - Operation
Then you will make things Complication
Then your blood pressure may raise Caution
And you may have to take Medication
Instead, understand the Situation
And try to think about the Solution
Many problems will be solved by Discussion
This will work out better in your Profession
Don't think it's my free Suggestion
It's only for your Prevention
If you understand my Intention
You will never come again to Tension
- Bill Gates
You will lose your Attention
Then you are in total Confusion
And you will feel Irritation
Then you will spoil personal Relation
Ultimately, you won't get Co - Operation
Then you will make things Complication
Then your blood pressure may raise Caution
And you may have to take Medication
Instead, understand the Situation
And try to think about the Solution
Many problems will be solved by Discussion
This will work out better in your Profession
Don't think it's my free Suggestion
It's only for your Prevention
If you understand my Intention
You will never come again to Tension
- Bill Gates
10 COMMANDS - FOR A HAPPY MARRIED LIFE
1. You Shall Never Both Be Angry At The Same Time
2. You Shall Never Yell At Each Other Unless The House Is On Fire
3. You Shall Let Your Mate Win The Argument, If Ever You Have Any Disagreement
4. If You Have To Criticize, You Shall Do It Lovingly
5. You Shall Never Bring Up Mistakes Of The Past
6. You Shall Neglect The Whole World Rather Than Each Other
7. You Shall Never Go To Sleep With An Argument Unsettled
8. At Least Once Every Day You Shall Try To Say One Kind Or Complimentary Word To Your Life's Partner
9. When You Have Done Something Wrong, You Shall Be Ready To Admit It And Ask For Forgiveness.
10. You Shall Always Remember That It Takes Two To Make A Quarrel, And The One In The Wrong Is The One Who Does The Most Talking.
"OUR DAYS ARE HAPPIER WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE A BIT OF OUR HEART RATHER THAN A PIECE OF OUR MIND”
2. You Shall Never Yell At Each Other Unless The House Is On Fire
3. You Shall Let Your Mate Win The Argument, If Ever You Have Any Disagreement
4. If You Have To Criticize, You Shall Do It Lovingly
5. You Shall Never Bring Up Mistakes Of The Past
6. You Shall Neglect The Whole World Rather Than Each Other
7. You Shall Never Go To Sleep With An Argument Unsettled
8. At Least Once Every Day You Shall Try To Say One Kind Or Complimentary Word To Your Life's Partner
9. When You Have Done Something Wrong, You Shall Be Ready To Admit It And Ask For Forgiveness.
10. You Shall Always Remember That It Takes Two To Make A Quarrel, And The One In The Wrong Is The One Who Does The Most Talking.
"OUR DAYS ARE HAPPIER WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE A BIT OF OUR HEART RATHER THAN A PIECE OF OUR MIND”
Mistakes and Mistakes
If a barber makes a mistake,
It’s a New style
If a driver makes a mistake,
It is a New path
If a engineer makes a mistake,
It is a New Venture
If parents makes a mistake,
It is a New generation
If a politician makes a mistake,
It is a New Law
If a scientist makes a mistake,
It is a New Law
If a tailor makes a mistake,
It is a New fashion
If a teacher makes a mistake,
It is a theory
If our boss makes a mistake,
It is a New idea
If an employee makes a mistake,
It is a Mistake Only
It’s a New style
If a driver makes a mistake,
It is a New path
If a engineer makes a mistake,
It is a New Venture
If parents makes a mistake,
It is a New generation
If a politician makes a mistake,
It is a New Law
If a scientist makes a mistake,
It is a New Law
If a tailor makes a mistake,
It is a New fashion
If a teacher makes a mistake,
It is a theory
If our boss makes a mistake,
It is a New idea
If an employee makes a mistake,
It is a Mistake Only
Shake it off and take a step up
THE DONKEY
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,
he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up
over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,
he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up
over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
Essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond
Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, “Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.” The little girl said, “No, Dad. You hold my hand.” “What’s the difference?” Asked the puzzled father. “There’s a big difference,” replied the little girl. “If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.”
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.
So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting them to hold yours…
This message is too short……but carries a lot of Feelings.
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.
So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting them to hold yours…
This message is too short……but carries a lot of Feelings.
Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd
One Change, all of us need.
Very interesting and inspiring article that I want to share with you all. Hope you will like it.
No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'
My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'
Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day.
He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called 'You'll See It When You Believe It'.
Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.
He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''
'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
Very interesting and inspiring article that I want to share with you all. Hope you will like it.
No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'
My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'
Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'
Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.'
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day.
He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called 'You'll See It When You Believe It'.
Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.
He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''
'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Is your water purifier safe ?
A recent report claiming that most water purifiers in India do not completely eliminate water- borne viruses like Hepatitis E has aroused concern. But experts say that the chemical poisoning caused by prolonged use of water purifiers is a greater health threat. We check the facts
IF THERE'S one thing we Indians should be afraid of, it's drinking the water in our own country. Like it or not, the reality is that the water that comes out of our taps is laden with chemicals and microorganisms. One casual sip of unprocessed water can result in an episode of typhoid, jaundice or amoebic dysentery. Despite our awareness of the consequences of drinking ' impure' water, most of us are confused about how we should process water to make it safe and healthy for drinking.
It's this very confusion that manufacturers of water purifiers cash in on. There are half a dozen of branded players such as Eureka Forbes, Hindustan Unilever, Ion Exchange India, Usha Shriram Brita, Tata Chemicals and Kent RO System competing with each other for the biggest share in the market.
Every brand of water purifier claims to be better than its competitor. " Don't get swayed by marketing gimmicks. Buy a water purifier based on your needs and the quality of water in your area," says virologist Dr A K Prasad.
One way to keep your water contaminant-free is to boil it. " Boiling water is an ideal way to remove both microbes and viruses, which most purifiers don't do," says Dr Narendra Saini, consultant, Global Hygiene Council.
The trouble is that today's hectic lifestyle doesn't allow the luxury of time needed to boil water. Also, a concern raised by experts is that though boiling frees water of microbial impurities, it cannot completely remove hazardous pesticides such as lindane, malathion, solvents, etc. Therefore, to protect yourself and your family from water- borne diseases, water purifiers have become inevitable.
Nowadays, most water purifiers in the market run on reverse osmosis (RO), ultra- violet (UV) treatment and filtration or chemical purification. Here we help you in finding a water purifier that suits your needs.
CHEMICAL BASED PURIFIERS
THE cheapest of the lot, storage water purifiers are becoming hot selling items as they do not require electricity or running water to operate and don't pinch the purse. In fact, last year Tata launched a storage water purifier 'Swach' priced at Rs 999. However, despite their advantages these storage water purifiers have run into controversies because of the chemicals they rely on to disinfect water.
According to experts, there is an overdose of these. The residues of these chemicals are toxic and could cause chemical poisoning in the long run, which is becoming a concern in the developing world where many deaths have been reported from it.
Some months ago, Healthy You Foundation, a consumer health organisation, raised concerns over storage water purifiers which use an overdose of chemicals such as chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses. All the five popular brands which were studied in its report failed to disclose the form of chemicals used and the residues of chemicals the purification process leaves behind in their product to consumers.
"Some of the brands use chemicals which aren't meant for disinfecting drinking water whereas others use the right chemicals but in doses much higher than necessary," says Bejon Mishra of Healthy You Foundation.
Experts say that there is no absolute way to determine the safety of storage water purifiers as most companies don't disclose the chemicals used in the process. For instance, the popular brand PureIt has been accused of using a form of chlorine known as TCCA which is used worldwide predominantly for sanitising swimming pools and is not approved as drinking water disinfectant in a water purifier.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
One way to ensure if the purifier is capable of removing chemicals, which were used in the purification process is to check the taste of water after the filtration.
Nowadays purifiers come with ' auto shut off ' feature which means it gets switched off when the chemical which disinfects the water finishes.
However, what most brands won't tell you is the expiry date of the ' polisher' which washes off the toxic dosage of chemicals and its residues. " Get your polisher changed in time as it protects you from toxic residuals of the chemicals," says an industry expert.
Although chemical- based water purifiers such as PureIt, AquaSure and Swach claim to kill viruses, the same can't be said about purifiers such as Kent Gold which use non- chemical filtration technology such as hollow fibre based filtration technology. " Such technologies wouldn't pose a chemical safety issue as the underlying technology does not use germ- killing chemicals but at the same time it won't protect you from viruses either," says Mishra.
ELECTRIC WATER PURIFIERS
THE more expensive the water purifier, the better it is, or so most of us believe. Many Indians are going for high- end RO and UV based water purifiers without considering the quality of water in the area they reside in.
Both RO and UV based purification systems have their own benefits and downsides and it's best to figure out whether they are likely to suit your requirements.
REVERE OSMOSIS
REVERSE osmosis purifies water by using pressure to force water through a membrane that retains the contaminants on one side and allows pure water to pass to the other side. The high quality semi permeable membrane ensures higher purification of water by trapping 99 per cent impurities and dissolved solids, including salt. " RO is the only purification system which removes hardness as well as total dissolved solids from your drinking water," says an industry expert.
However, this form of filtration process works best where the water is hard or salty in taste.
Also, RO is a slow process and requires more time to purify the water. It wastes a lot of water while it is running. Typically, it wastes nearly four litres of water to produce one litre of pure water.
So, it can be a bad choice for areas where the supply of water is unpredictable.
According to experts, another concern with RO technology is that a lot of essential minerals in water get lost in the purification process. Drinking RO water for a longer period may even lead to a deficiency of natural minerals.
Also, it reduces the pH levels of water which can cause imbalances in the body.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
RO is suitable for areas where the water is hard and saline or where water is sourced from bore wells or deep tube wells.
Experts advise the use of RO systems only where Total Dissolved Solids ( TDS) levels are above 500 mg per litre. Best is to get the quality of water in your area tested by sending it to a laboratory such as Delhi Water & General Test Lab.
Though advanced and efficient, RO purifiers are expensive and require maintenance. Their filters have to be changed to avoid growth of bacteria. So, buy them if it suits your pocket.
The semi permeable membrane used in a reverse osmosis purifier wears off fast if it is of inferior quality. So, choose a brand that is covered by an adequate warranty agreement.
UV PURIFIERS
THE most popular in India, UV system uses UV light to cleanse bacteria and germs without altering the taste of water. The biggest advantage of UV system is that it doesn't introduce any toxic byproducts and doesn't change the chemical composition of water. However, it is essential to choose UV system with an effective carbon filtration. This is because UV system only cleanses biological contaminants and not heavy metals, pesticides, chlorine and other chemical contaminants.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
A UV system is not a good choice in areas with salty or turbid water. It is only meant for places where the water is treated to a certain extent before it reaches homes or where the source of water is a river or lake. This is because UV system is not good at removing dissolved solids.
Buy UV system with activated carbon or other filtration method.
DO THIS
Fibre is the secret to losing weight without going hungry. A recent study says that those who increased their daily fibre intake from 12 grams to 24 absorbed 90 calories lesser per day than those who ate the same amount of food but less fibre. Eating a bowel of oats for breakfast is one way of upping your fibre.
IF THERE'S one thing we Indians should be afraid of, it's drinking the water in our own country. Like it or not, the reality is that the water that comes out of our taps is laden with chemicals and microorganisms. One casual sip of unprocessed water can result in an episode of typhoid, jaundice or amoebic dysentery. Despite our awareness of the consequences of drinking ' impure' water, most of us are confused about how we should process water to make it safe and healthy for drinking.
It's this very confusion that manufacturers of water purifiers cash in on. There are half a dozen of branded players such as Eureka Forbes, Hindustan Unilever, Ion Exchange India, Usha Shriram Brita, Tata Chemicals and Kent RO System competing with each other for the biggest share in the market.
Every brand of water purifier claims to be better than its competitor. " Don't get swayed by marketing gimmicks. Buy a water purifier based on your needs and the quality of water in your area," says virologist Dr A K Prasad.
One way to keep your water contaminant-free is to boil it. " Boiling water is an ideal way to remove both microbes and viruses, which most purifiers don't do," says Dr Narendra Saini, consultant, Global Hygiene Council.
The trouble is that today's hectic lifestyle doesn't allow the luxury of time needed to boil water. Also, a concern raised by experts is that though boiling frees water of microbial impurities, it cannot completely remove hazardous pesticides such as lindane, malathion, solvents, etc. Therefore, to protect yourself and your family from water- borne diseases, water purifiers have become inevitable.
Nowadays, most water purifiers in the market run on reverse osmosis (RO), ultra- violet (UV) treatment and filtration or chemical purification. Here we help you in finding a water purifier that suits your needs.
CHEMICAL BASED PURIFIERS
THE cheapest of the lot, storage water purifiers are becoming hot selling items as they do not require electricity or running water to operate and don't pinch the purse. In fact, last year Tata launched a storage water purifier 'Swach' priced at Rs 999. However, despite their advantages these storage water purifiers have run into controversies because of the chemicals they rely on to disinfect water.
According to experts, there is an overdose of these. The residues of these chemicals are toxic and could cause chemical poisoning in the long run, which is becoming a concern in the developing world where many deaths have been reported from it.
Some months ago, Healthy You Foundation, a consumer health organisation, raised concerns over storage water purifiers which use an overdose of chemicals such as chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses. All the five popular brands which were studied in its report failed to disclose the form of chemicals used and the residues of chemicals the purification process leaves behind in their product to consumers.
"Some of the brands use chemicals which aren't meant for disinfecting drinking water whereas others use the right chemicals but in doses much higher than necessary," says Bejon Mishra of Healthy You Foundation.
Experts say that there is no absolute way to determine the safety of storage water purifiers as most companies don't disclose the chemicals used in the process. For instance, the popular brand PureIt has been accused of using a form of chlorine known as TCCA which is used worldwide predominantly for sanitising swimming pools and is not approved as drinking water disinfectant in a water purifier.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
One way to ensure if the purifier is capable of removing chemicals, which were used in the purification process is to check the taste of water after the filtration.
Nowadays purifiers come with ' auto shut off ' feature which means it gets switched off when the chemical which disinfects the water finishes.
However, what most brands won't tell you is the expiry date of the ' polisher' which washes off the toxic dosage of chemicals and its residues. " Get your polisher changed in time as it protects you from toxic residuals of the chemicals," says an industry expert.
Although chemical- based water purifiers such as PureIt, AquaSure and Swach claim to kill viruses, the same can't be said about purifiers such as Kent Gold which use non- chemical filtration technology such as hollow fibre based filtration technology. " Such technologies wouldn't pose a chemical safety issue as the underlying technology does not use germ- killing chemicals but at the same time it won't protect you from viruses either," says Mishra.
ELECTRIC WATER PURIFIERS
THE more expensive the water purifier, the better it is, or so most of us believe. Many Indians are going for high- end RO and UV based water purifiers without considering the quality of water in the area they reside in.
Both RO and UV based purification systems have their own benefits and downsides and it's best to figure out whether they are likely to suit your requirements.
REVERE OSMOSIS
REVERSE osmosis purifies water by using pressure to force water through a membrane that retains the contaminants on one side and allows pure water to pass to the other side. The high quality semi permeable membrane ensures higher purification of water by trapping 99 per cent impurities and dissolved solids, including salt. " RO is the only purification system which removes hardness as well as total dissolved solids from your drinking water," says an industry expert.
However, this form of filtration process works best where the water is hard or salty in taste.
Also, RO is a slow process and requires more time to purify the water. It wastes a lot of water while it is running. Typically, it wastes nearly four litres of water to produce one litre of pure water.
So, it can be a bad choice for areas where the supply of water is unpredictable.
According to experts, another concern with RO technology is that a lot of essential minerals in water get lost in the purification process. Drinking RO water for a longer period may even lead to a deficiency of natural minerals.
Also, it reduces the pH levels of water which can cause imbalances in the body.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
RO is suitable for areas where the water is hard and saline or where water is sourced from bore wells or deep tube wells.
Experts advise the use of RO systems only where Total Dissolved Solids ( TDS) levels are above 500 mg per litre. Best is to get the quality of water in your area tested by sending it to a laboratory such as Delhi Water & General Test Lab.
Though advanced and efficient, RO purifiers are expensive and require maintenance. Their filters have to be changed to avoid growth of bacteria. So, buy them if it suits your pocket.
The semi permeable membrane used in a reverse osmosis purifier wears off fast if it is of inferior quality. So, choose a brand that is covered by an adequate warranty agreement.
UV PURIFIERS
THE most popular in India, UV system uses UV light to cleanse bacteria and germs without altering the taste of water. The biggest advantage of UV system is that it doesn't introduce any toxic byproducts and doesn't change the chemical composition of water. However, it is essential to choose UV system with an effective carbon filtration. This is because UV system only cleanses biological contaminants and not heavy metals, pesticides, chlorine and other chemical contaminants.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
A UV system is not a good choice in areas with salty or turbid water. It is only meant for places where the water is treated to a certain extent before it reaches homes or where the source of water is a river or lake. This is because UV system is not good at removing dissolved solids.
Buy UV system with activated carbon or other filtration method.
DO THIS
Fibre is the secret to losing weight without going hungry. A recent study says that those who increased their daily fibre intake from 12 grams to 24 absorbed 90 calories lesser per day than those who ate the same amount of food but less fibre. Eating a bowel of oats for breakfast is one way of upping your fibre.
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