FAILURE SEEMS TO BE NATURES’S PLAN FOR PREPARING US FOR GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES.
If everything we attempted in life were achieved with a minimum of effort and came out exactly as planned, how little we would learn-and how boring life would be! And how arrogant we would become if we succeeded at everything we attempted. Failure allows us to develop the essential quality of humility. It is not easy-when you are the person experiencing failure-to accept it philosophically, serene in the knowledge that this is one of life’s great learning experiences. But it is. Nature’s ways are not always easily understood, but they are repetitive and therefore predictable. You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.
Napoleon Hill's thought of the day Dec 7, 2010
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motivation. Show all posts
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Internet has given a new life to a 95-year-old blogger
Maria Amelia, the lively 95-year-old Spanish grandmother has achieved global fame as the oldest of the world's 63.2 million bloggers.
She was introduced to the world of blogging by one of her grandchildren just eight months ago, and now she receives posts in languages as strange and impossible for her to understand as Russian, Japanese and Arabic.
At 95 years old and with a worldwide following that has seen more than 340,000 hits on her blog, Spaniard María Amelia López has achieved the kind of status that millions of younger internet chroniclers can only dream of.
"My name is Amelia and I was born in Muxía (A Coruña - Spain) on December the 23rd of 1911," she wrote as her first post on amis95.blogspot.com. "Today it's my birthday and my grandson, who is very stingy, gave me a blog."
With a mix of humour, warmth, optimism, nostalgia and feisty outbursts of leftwing polemic, she has won a regular readership of people keen to find out just what this Spanish great-grandmother is going to say or do next.
"You have to live life," the silver-haired blogger said in her most recent post. "Not sit around in an armchair waiting for death."
Her blog tracks not just a nonagenarian's day-to-day battles against aches, but offers musings on everything from politics and religion to broadband and death.
Among her chief hates are old people's homes, which she criticises for drugging their clients so they spend their final days snoozing quietly in front of the television.
"I blame the children, who don't want to help them," she said yesterday from the house beside the Atlantic Ocean in Muxía, in the rugged north-western corner of Spain, where she stays during the summer.
Some of her own words
"Old people need to wake up a bit. Get your act together!"
"Life has to be lived. Don't take pills and fall asleep in the armchair."
"Scientists and inventors should try to create something to help the workers rather than inventing cannons and machines that kill and destroy."
She was introduced to the world of blogging by one of her grandchildren just eight months ago, and now she receives posts in languages as strange and impossible for her to understand as Russian, Japanese and Arabic.
At 95 years old and with a worldwide following that has seen more than 340,000 hits on her blog, Spaniard María Amelia López has achieved the kind of status that millions of younger internet chroniclers can only dream of.
"My name is Amelia and I was born in Muxía (A Coruña - Spain) on December the 23rd of 1911," she wrote as her first post on amis95.blogspot.com. "Today it's my birthday and my grandson, who is very stingy, gave me a blog."
With a mix of humour, warmth, optimism, nostalgia and feisty outbursts of leftwing polemic, she has won a regular readership of people keen to find out just what this Spanish great-grandmother is going to say or do next.
"You have to live life," the silver-haired blogger said in her most recent post. "Not sit around in an armchair waiting for death."
Her blog tracks not just a nonagenarian's day-to-day battles against aches, but offers musings on everything from politics and religion to broadband and death.
Among her chief hates are old people's homes, which she criticises for drugging their clients so they spend their final days snoozing quietly in front of the television.
"I blame the children, who don't want to help them," she said yesterday from the house beside the Atlantic Ocean in Muxía, in the rugged north-western corner of Spain, where she stays during the summer.
Some of her own words
"Old people need to wake up a bit. Get your act together!"
"Life has to be lived. Don't take pills and fall asleep in the armchair."
"Scientists and inventors should try to create something to help the workers rather than inventing cannons and machines that kill and destroy."
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Success secrets from India's top entreprenur Ambani
Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani, one of India's top entrepreneur, a rags-to-riches story, reveals on Rediff the secrets of how he built the Reliance Industries.
* True entrepreneurship comes only from risk-taking.
* Pursue your goal, even in the face of difficulties. Convert difficulties into opportunities. Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks. At the end you are bound to succeed.
* My advice to young entrepreneurs is not to accept defeat in the face of odds. Challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. I believe that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneur will be the key to India's transformation in the new millennium.
* Dhirubhai will go one day. But Reliance's employees and shareholders will keep it afloat. Reliance is now a concept in which the Ambanis have become irrelevant.
* I have trusted people and they have put their trust in me. I have encouraged youth, and they have never let me down. I have asked my people to take initiative and to take risks. It has paid me rich dividends. I insist on excellence. This helps us to be leaders. Reliance is built on some of these principles.
* The secret of Reliance's success was to have ambition and to know the minds of men.
* Growth has no limit at Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it you can do it.
* True entrepreneurship comes only from risk-taking.
* Pursue your goal, even in the face of difficulties. Convert difficulties into opportunities. Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks. At the end you are bound to succeed.
* My advice to young entrepreneurs is not to accept defeat in the face of odds. Challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. I believe that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneur will be the key to India's transformation in the new millennium.
* Dhirubhai will go one day. But Reliance's employees and shareholders will keep it afloat. Reliance is now a concept in which the Ambanis have become irrelevant.
* I have trusted people and they have put their trust in me. I have encouraged youth, and they have never let me down. I have asked my people to take initiative and to take risks. It has paid me rich dividends. I insist on excellence. This helps us to be leaders. Reliance is built on some of these principles.
* The secret of Reliance's success was to have ambition and to know the minds of men.
* Growth has no limit at Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it you can do it.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Competing with the richest cricket organisation
The Board of Control for Cricket in India,or BCCI is among the richest sporting organizations in the world, and the richest cricketing body by far.
The immense popularity of the game in India as well as the continuous growth of the Indian economy have armed BCCI with some of the most lucrative TV and sponsorship contracts in world sports.
The global media rights for international cricket to be held in India between March 2006 and March 2010 were awarded to production house Nimbus for a mind-boggling sum of US$612 Million.
The BCCI's membership generally includes the State cricket associations, though some states have more than one association. Maharashtra state, for instance, has Maharashtra cricket association, Mumbai Cricket Association and Vidarbha cricket association and Gujarat state has Gujarat cricket association, Baroda cricket association and Saurashtra cricket association. Railways and Services are also members.
Now the richest league BCCI is under threat, following the disappointment of Indian cricket fans with the poor performance of their cricket team in the World cup and the South African tour prior to that.
Indian team's failure in World Cup has led to lower earnings to Cricket broadcasters, advertisers, cricket sponsors and; tour operators. These defeats also caused massive disappointment to India's millions of fanatical cricket fans.
A new private cricket league, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been formed that will run parallel to the existing cricket league managed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The format of ICL will be Twenty20.
Australia's national cricket team captain, Ricky Ponting who is the highest ranked Test batsman and the highest ranked ODI batsman in the International Cricket Council, or ICC ratings has come out against the nascent ICL league.
"It's only a concern if there is huge money involved in it," Ponting said. "If this sort of stuff gets off the ground, these guys won't even be playing with their mates, they'll be thrown into made-up teams. You'll be out there by yourself and trying to win some money," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
Ponting's fear and apprehensions, while understandable is quite off the mark. Whether it is cricket or any other sport, it is the capitalist's big money that drives the game and motivates players. So having more competition cannot be bad for the game. If the ICI can poach contracted players of BCCI, it shows that ICCI is superior to BCCI. In a free market it bound to happen and it is part of the game.
The super star players who are under performing, yet having a cushy life are called to wake up.
The immense popularity of the game in India as well as the continuous growth of the Indian economy have armed BCCI with some of the most lucrative TV and sponsorship contracts in world sports.
The global media rights for international cricket to be held in India between March 2006 and March 2010 were awarded to production house Nimbus for a mind-boggling sum of US$612 Million.
The BCCI's membership generally includes the State cricket associations, though some states have more than one association. Maharashtra state, for instance, has Maharashtra cricket association, Mumbai Cricket Association and Vidarbha cricket association and Gujarat state has Gujarat cricket association, Baroda cricket association and Saurashtra cricket association. Railways and Services are also members.
Now the richest league BCCI is under threat, following the disappointment of Indian cricket fans with the poor performance of their cricket team in the World cup and the South African tour prior to that.
Indian team's failure in World Cup has led to lower earnings to Cricket broadcasters, advertisers, cricket sponsors and; tour operators. These defeats also caused massive disappointment to India's millions of fanatical cricket fans.
A new private cricket league, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been formed that will run parallel to the existing cricket league managed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The format of ICL will be Twenty20.
Australia's national cricket team captain, Ricky Ponting who is the highest ranked Test batsman and the highest ranked ODI batsman in the International Cricket Council, or ICC ratings has come out against the nascent ICL league.
"It's only a concern if there is huge money involved in it," Ponting said. "If this sort of stuff gets off the ground, these guys won't even be playing with their mates, they'll be thrown into made-up teams. You'll be out there by yourself and trying to win some money," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.
Ponting's fear and apprehensions, while understandable is quite off the mark. Whether it is cricket or any other sport, it is the capitalist's big money that drives the game and motivates players. So having more competition cannot be bad for the game. If the ICI can poach contracted players of BCCI, it shows that ICCI is superior to BCCI. In a free market it bound to happen and it is part of the game.
The super star players who are under performing, yet having a cushy life are called to wake up.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Brazil's soccer losing the samba
Brazil has won the Copa America by defeating arch rivals Argentina 3-0 on Sunday's final played in the searing heat of Venezuela.
The Brazilians have won four of the last five Copa titles -- the exception was when Colombia won at home in 2001 -- and eight in all.
Argentina, the favourites to win had its top players and appeared unstoppable throughout most of the tournament. Brazil was missing the stars Ronaldinho and Kaka. The Brazilians edged Uruguay by 5-4 on penalty kicks in the semifinals after a 2-2 tie.
Brazil played the final with ruthless efficiency, the European concept that emphasizes the economics of efficiency to score goals.
Brazil's soccer is a spectacle of beautiful passing and flawless rhythm that resonates with the drum beat of the samba music famous in Brazil. This year Brazil has won the championship, but the beautiful game was missing.
The samba boys have won with a shrewd strategy. Brazil's coach Dunga, a defensive midfielder when he captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, changed the system to employ three players in the holding role. The decision was controversial for a country used to the attack, attack, attack philosophy.
To Dunga what matters is the trophy. If this style continues, the beautiful game that has made Brazil so famous- even when they lose- will become a thing of the past.
The Brazilians have won four of the last five Copa titles -- the exception was when Colombia won at home in 2001 -- and eight in all.
Argentina, the favourites to win had its top players and appeared unstoppable throughout most of the tournament. Brazil was missing the stars Ronaldinho and Kaka. The Brazilians edged Uruguay by 5-4 on penalty kicks in the semifinals after a 2-2 tie.
Brazil played the final with ruthless efficiency, the European concept that emphasizes the economics of efficiency to score goals.
Brazil's soccer is a spectacle of beautiful passing and flawless rhythm that resonates with the drum beat of the samba music famous in Brazil. This year Brazil has won the championship, but the beautiful game was missing.
The samba boys have won with a shrewd strategy. Brazil's coach Dunga, a defensive midfielder when he captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, changed the system to employ three players in the holding role. The decision was controversial for a country used to the attack, attack, attack philosophy.
To Dunga what matters is the trophy. If this style continues, the beautiful game that has made Brazil so famous- even when they lose- will become a thing of the past.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Ian Botham, the charity walker knighted
England's legendary cricket all rounder has been knighted by the Queen in her Birthday Honours.
Congratulations Sir Botham.
Botham has joined another cricketing great, Sir Viv Richards of West Indies; both close friends and they dominated the golden era of cricket.
After he retired from playing cricket, Botham has also been a prominent fundraiser for charity undertaking a total of 11 long-distance charity walks. His first, in 1985, was a 900-mile trek from John O'Groats to Land's End.
His efforts ere inspired after a visit to a Taunton hospital for treatment on a broken toe. He stumbled into a children's ward and was shocked to learn that some of the children had only weeks to live. He has since raised more than ten million pounds.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Liverpool chasing the elites
As the Liverpool fans peer through the tears of defeat to AC Milan in Athens, Rafa Benitez- the Liverpool manager has started the post-mortem examination.
Benitez had already asked the club's new owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to match the kind of transfer fees routinely made available at Old Trafford for Manchester United and Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.
Benitez has never been afraid to challenge a club's hierarchy. Benitez maintains a ruthless attitude to win. Looking back on his career, it is not surprising that he has called on his owners to put up the money even before the dust settled at the Olympic Stadium.
"If we don't change things now and understand how crucial this moment is, we will waste one month, maybe three months and then we will only be in a position to sign third-choice players," Benitez said. "Then, we will only be contenders for the top four."
Benitez drives a hard bargain with his players who are expected to deliver the results on the field. He showed no sentiment when breaking up the team that overcame AC Milan two years ago and he will show none now. The difference is that this time Benitez wants the reform to be fundamental and to affect every area of the club.
After three years of hard work Benitez is deeply disappointed that his team did not catch up with EPL champions Manchester United and failed to defend the European Championship.
Benitez had already asked the club's new owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to match the kind of transfer fees routinely made available at Old Trafford for Manchester United and Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.
Benitez has never been afraid to challenge a club's hierarchy. Benitez maintains a ruthless attitude to win. Looking back on his career, it is not surprising that he has called on his owners to put up the money even before the dust settled at the Olympic Stadium.
"If we don't change things now and understand how crucial this moment is, we will waste one month, maybe three months and then we will only be in a position to sign third-choice players," Benitez said. "Then, we will only be contenders for the top four."
Benitez drives a hard bargain with his players who are expected to deliver the results on the field. He showed no sentiment when breaking up the team that overcame AC Milan two years ago and he will show none now. The difference is that this time Benitez wants the reform to be fundamental and to affect every area of the club.
After three years of hard work Benitez is deeply disappointed that his team did not catch up with EPL champions Manchester United and failed to defend the European Championship.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Milan dazzle over Liverpool in sweet revenge
AC Milan celebrate a 2-1 win over the English flag holders Liverpool. AC Milan's revenge mission was in sight of being averted making another Greek tragedy come true between these two teams when the referee's watch ran out of time some 20 seconds earlier.
Two years after losing a 3-0 lead, AC Milan lost on penalties to Liverpool in what is considered as the most gut-wrenching final of the European Champions league.
There was no rude shock for AC Milan this time and there was no miracle for Liverpool to claim the the biggest prize in European club soccer in the Olympic stadium of Athens.
In a tightly contested match, it was spurts of sheer brilliance from Kaka and Inzaghi that made the difference for Milan.
On the night that belonged to Italy, Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrad did everything right except find the opponent's net.
Paolo Maldini, wearing the captain's armband for AC Milan set an important milestone last night.
The AC Milan captain appeared in his eighth European Cup final, matching the record of Francisco Gento - Real Madrid's legendary winger of the Fifties and Sixties.
This win proves that Kaka is the best player in the world.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Cold War between Manchester United and Chelsea
An interesting article in the BBC carries the title, "The Glazer family v Roman Abramovich."
Manchester United have won over Chelsea in the English Premier League, an event being referred to as the English football's own version of the Cold War.
American-owned Manchester United has fought with Russian-backed Chelsea in a conflict full ideological differences and tension reminiscent of the superpower rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union.
The United States has the capitalist economy and a free and open society while the Soviet Union was the one-party communist state with a controlled economy.
These differences are apparent in the style of management between American Glazers who own the Manchester United and the the tighter control imposed by the Russian Roman Abramovich over Chelsea.
Both owners are out to make money using the EPL as a robust product. The American approach of supporting one of the best football manager's with the financial resources and trusting him to do the job has won the day.
Chelsea's uninspiring football played with ruthless efficiency has lost out in the battle of winning the hearts and minds of passionate supporters.
Manchester United have won over Chelsea in the English Premier League, an event being referred to as the English football's own version of the Cold War.
American-owned Manchester United has fought with Russian-backed Chelsea in a conflict full ideological differences and tension reminiscent of the superpower rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union.
The United States has the capitalist economy and a free and open society while the Soviet Union was the one-party communist state with a controlled economy.
These differences are apparent in the style of management between American Glazers who own the Manchester United and the the tighter control imposed by the Russian Roman Abramovich over Chelsea.
Both owners are out to make money using the EPL as a robust product. The American approach of supporting one of the best football manager's with the financial resources and trusting him to do the job has won the day.
Chelsea's uninspiring football played with ruthless efficiency has lost out in the battle of winning the hearts and minds of passionate supporters.
Friday, May 11, 2007
A Quote on Personal Development
Promise Yourself:
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
-Christian D. Larson
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
-Christian D. Larson
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Kim Clijsters hangs up her racket
The former U.S. Open champion and former world no:1 player, Kim Clijsters announced her retirement from international tennis last Sunday.
At the age of 23, Clijsters is one of the youngest tennis players to retire in an era when records, money or the cult of celebrity have driven many athletes to prolong their careers.
With the daily grind of keeping her body match-fit becoming more and more unbearable, she earmarked 2007 as her final season on the tour more than 20 months ago.
Her announcement did not come as a surprise especially since she did not want another injury to ruin her wedding to American basketball player Brian Lynch in July.
Clijsters earned nearly $15 million in prize money, during a ten year career.
Explaining why she decided to quit, the popular player said, "Money is important, but not the most important thing in my life," she added. "Health and a private life are so much more important."
Her glowing smile and friendliness has always drawn her admirers, but it has also led many to say she lacked the killer instinct and the mean attitude needed to win more slams.
She goes into retirement at the top of her game as she is currently ranked fourth in the world. She also has left the 10,000,000 plus inhabitants of Belgium with a lasting legacy after helping the country to win their first Fed Cup title in 2001.
Looking back on her career, commentators say that she believed in a fair go for everybody. She fought hard in every match but would still applaud with her racquet when an opponent hit a great shot.
While she will be remembered for her tennis, it is her courtesy and dignity that place her above many athletes.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Playing mind games
In soccer, the English Premier League or EPL is widely regarded as one of the best leagues in the world along with Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A.
As the EPL season is drawing closer to the end, tensions are rising between the title contenders; defending champion Chelsea following closely on the heels of the current leader Manchester United.
The tensions rose to fever-pitch this week when Chelsea's outspoken manager Jose Mourinho alleged that Manchester United have benefited from refereeing bias this season.
Although Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson gave a pass to Mourinho's barbs, Man United's supremely confident Ronaldo decided to jump in against his countryman.
In a remarkable exchange of insults, Portuguese television viewers were treated to their country's most famous manager accusing their country's most famous player of "lying" and warning Ronaldo that he would never be the best player in the world.
Mourinho was responding to a slight from Ronaldo that the Chelsea manager did not "know how to deal with his failures".
With Chelsea on for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, and United chasing the treble, feelings are understandably running high.
The latest saga began after his Chelsea's draw with Newcastle, when Mourinho announced, tongue-in-cheek, that there were "new rules" that dictated his side would not be awarded penalties and that United would not have penalties awarded against them.
When the competition is this intense, managers of the top teams routinely indulge in playing mind games before the players take to the field, in order to gain a psychological advantage over opponents.
We saw the ugly side of players behaviour in the world cup final of 2006 between France and Italy played in Germany.
Zinedine Zidane, a three-time FIFA world player of the year, who is known to have a temper, was touted throughout the match by the Italian defender Materazzi, calling names and hurling him abusive language.
In the dying minutes of the evenly balanced game , to everyone's surprise, Zidane head-butted Materazzi. Zidane was ejected from the match, unceremoniously ending a glorious career. France lost the match on penalties plunging a nation into mass mourning.
As the EPL season is drawing closer to the end, tensions are rising between the title contenders; defending champion Chelsea following closely on the heels of the current leader Manchester United.
The tensions rose to fever-pitch this week when Chelsea's outspoken manager Jose Mourinho alleged that Manchester United have benefited from refereeing bias this season.
Although Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson gave a pass to Mourinho's barbs, Man United's supremely confident Ronaldo decided to jump in against his countryman.
In a remarkable exchange of insults, Portuguese television viewers were treated to their country's most famous manager accusing their country's most famous player of "lying" and warning Ronaldo that he would never be the best player in the world.
Mourinho was responding to a slight from Ronaldo that the Chelsea manager did not "know how to deal with his failures".
With Chelsea on for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, and United chasing the treble, feelings are understandably running high.
The latest saga began after his Chelsea's draw with Newcastle, when Mourinho announced, tongue-in-cheek, that there were "new rules" that dictated his side would not be awarded penalties and that United would not have penalties awarded against them.
When the competition is this intense, managers of the top teams routinely indulge in playing mind games before the players take to the field, in order to gain a psychological advantage over opponents.
We saw the ugly side of players behaviour in the world cup final of 2006 between France and Italy played in Germany.
Zinedine Zidane, a three-time FIFA world player of the year, who is known to have a temper, was touted throughout the match by the Italian defender Materazzi, calling names and hurling him abusive language.
In the dying minutes of the evenly balanced game , to everyone's surprise, Zidane head-butted Materazzi. Zidane was ejected from the match, unceremoniously ending a glorious career. France lost the match on penalties plunging a nation into mass mourning.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The benefit of a positive mental attitude
YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE IS THE MOST DEPENDABLE KEY TO YOUR PERSONALITY.
Your view of yourself will greatly influence how others perceive you. If you are a confident, cheerful, positive person, your co-workers, friends, and family will be attracted to your personality.
If you are unhappy, negative, and always complaining about your situation, others will be repelled. Even when at times you don’t feel very happy, by forcing yourself to behave in a positive fashion, you will find that you soon feel genuinely upbeat, because your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between an artificial emotion and the real thing. When you behave positively, you will positively influence everyone around you-including yourself.
This positive message is by the Napoleon Hill Foundation. http://www.naphill.org/.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Are big egos getting in the way of winning?
I am referring to the sub-continent nations of India and Pakistan whose more than one billion people are obsessed with cricket and have elevated their top players to a god-like status.
They prayed for their success in the present Cricket World Cup at the Caribbean and when Pakistan and India lost in the first round to relatively inexperienced teams and failed to advance to the second round, their cricket-crazy fans just went mad in mass grief.
Now the exercise of reflection, post-mortem and the blame game of finger pointing has started.
It seems the star status accorded to top players and the superstar salaries paid to them have placed them in an elite league. Their fanatical fan following has made them much sought-out commercial product ambassadors.
The weight of expectations to win is exceedingly high on these superstar players. They are expected to maintain a positive workplace, where both the senior and the junior players can bond and create a spirit of camaraderie that can enable everyone to perform to their full potential.
This has clearly not happened and now it is time for questions to be asked and answers to be given.
In his first press conference after his team returned to Pakistan, captain Inzamamul ul Haq hit back at local media and rejected swirling match-fixing claims after his team’s shock World Cup exit and the subsequent murder of coach Bob Woolmer.
Inzamam felt that he was unfairly blamed for the team's poor performance. Surprisingly, Inzamam also criticised the Kingston pitch, saying that it was not suited for a one-day match.
India's batting great Sachin Tendulkar who had a poor tournament went even further to say that India's cricketers would be most disappointed with Greg Chappell, the coach, if he questioned their attitude.
Senior players of both teams of Pakistan and India have failed to do their job. They were required to prepare for the world cup physically and mentally and they did not measure upto the task. It does not help to give lame excuses.
The modern game of cricket, both in its test and one-day form has been developed as an gigantic business venture. During the playing season players and their team managers adopt a nomadic lifestyle hopping from hotel to hotel.
There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and India. The management of the teams need to create a fun and challenging environment. The players will have to cut out the distractions and commit themselves not just in word, but more importantly in deed and show a winning record that can prove the critics wrong.
They prayed for their success in the present Cricket World Cup at the Caribbean and when Pakistan and India lost in the first round to relatively inexperienced teams and failed to advance to the second round, their cricket-crazy fans just went mad in mass grief.
Now the exercise of reflection, post-mortem and the blame game of finger pointing has started.
It seems the star status accorded to top players and the superstar salaries paid to them have placed them in an elite league. Their fanatical fan following has made them much sought-out commercial product ambassadors.
The weight of expectations to win is exceedingly high on these superstar players. They are expected to maintain a positive workplace, where both the senior and the junior players can bond and create a spirit of camaraderie that can enable everyone to perform to their full potential.
This has clearly not happened and now it is time for questions to be asked and answers to be given.
In his first press conference after his team returned to Pakistan, captain Inzamamul ul Haq hit back at local media and rejected swirling match-fixing claims after his team’s shock World Cup exit and the subsequent murder of coach Bob Woolmer.
Inzamam felt that he was unfairly blamed for the team's poor performance. Surprisingly, Inzamam also criticised the Kingston pitch, saying that it was not suited for a one-day match.
India's batting great Sachin Tendulkar who had a poor tournament went even further to say that India's cricketers would be most disappointed with Greg Chappell, the coach, if he questioned their attitude.
Senior players of both teams of Pakistan and India have failed to do their job. They were required to prepare for the world cup physically and mentally and they did not measure upto the task. It does not help to give lame excuses.
The modern game of cricket, both in its test and one-day form has been developed as an gigantic business venture. During the playing season players and their team managers adopt a nomadic lifestyle hopping from hotel to hotel.
There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and India. The management of the teams need to create a fun and challenging environment. The players will have to cut out the distractions and commit themselves not just in word, but more importantly in deed and show a winning record that can prove the critics wrong.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A fitting swansong for Larsson
In a highly competitive world that glorifies the virtue of material benefits, loyalty is no longer a prized asset.
It is, therefore, somewhat surprising to hear so much praise of the Swedish footballer Henrik Larsson after he completed ten weeks with Manchester United and declined to extend his contract further.
Larsson provided three valuable goals for United in 12 appearances keeping Alex Fergusion's team in contention for three titles: the English premier league, the FA cup and the European championsip.
Fans and the media are pouring credit to a rare example of a footballer whose sense of loyalty, to both Helsingborg, his Swedish club, and to his family, outweighs even his sense of ambition. It is the 35-year-old’s attitude, as much as his talent, that has so endeared him to Alex Fergusion.
To hear Larsson talk of honouring his contract to his Swedish club and turn his back to the possibilty of treble titles with a great club like Manchester United, is a reflection of the the measure of a great man.
Larsson was given an emotional send-off from the United players in the dressing room after his last game. The Swedish forward ended his brief journey to Manchester United when he played as captain of a European team against United for the charity match played at Old Trafford.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Separating the his-and-her bedroom
A new trend is setting in as usual in the United States, a trend that will soon race across the Atlantic to Britain and Europe and to the rest of the world.
In a survey in February by the National Association of Home Builders, builders and architects predicted that more than 60 percent of custom houses would have dual master bedrooms by 2015, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president of research at the builders association. Many new projects already do.
Couples and sociologists interviewed said this trend has nothing to do with sex. It may have something to do with snoring or children crying. The need for privacy and space is more important when both partners have different careers and independent lifestyles. One may want to sound the alarm clock and rise up for the early morning gym, while the other may want to sleep late after working late into the night.
It started with the his-and-hers closet ... now the demand is for the his-and-hers bedroom. It's a market-driven demand that's catching on fast. It is a sign of the times, a statement of fashion and a reflection of the desires of an affluent society.
In a survey in February by the National Association of Home Builders, builders and architects predicted that more than 60 percent of custom houses would have dual master bedrooms by 2015, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president of research at the builders association. Many new projects already do.
Couples and sociologists interviewed said this trend has nothing to do with sex. It may have something to do with snoring or children crying. The need for privacy and space is more important when both partners have different careers and independent lifestyles. One may want to sound the alarm clock and rise up for the early morning gym, while the other may want to sleep late after working late into the night.
It started with the his-and-hers closet ... now the demand is for the his-and-hers bedroom. It's a market-driven demand that's catching on fast. It is a sign of the times, a statement of fashion and a reflection of the desires of an affluent society.
Monday, March 12, 2007
There's no secret in "The Secret"
This is the latest buzz among people who want guaranteed success in life.
"The Secret" is a rehashed book about the power of positive thinking that has been around for ages. Norman Vincent Peale and many others have written self-books on this concept.
The publisher Rhonda Byrne tells us that in 'The Secret' we can learn how to use every aspect of our life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction there is in the world.
A some what emotional critique of this book points out some very pertinent facts.
The Secret is defined as the law of attraction, which states that like attracts like. The concept says that the energy you put into the world—both good and bad—is exactly what comes back to you. This means you create the circumstances of your life with the choices you make every day.
Does this work in every aspect of our life? If a ntural disaster were to happen, did the person who suffered will it to happen? It is wrong to suggest that it is the case. It is equally wrong to suggest that anyone can do anything if the person thinks, feels and takes action.
What is possible and what is achievable would be the goal a person has thought about and passionately takes action to attain it.
Hence from this book that is promoted as a self-help gospel, we should take what is workable for us and forget about the rest.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Accomplishing goals
This a reccurring theme that we hear over and over again. The capitalistic economic system is dominating the world and we are always competing with one another. Individuals, corporations and nations compete to derive a competitive advantage and increase profitability of business and services.
In this system, setting goals and attaining goals is an important benchmark for success. As individuals we can improve by our own efforts and in collaboration with other people. In order to continue succeeding in this 'fighting for survival' system, we need to be alert to the rapidly changing conditions around us.
We have to focus our energy and our efforts to achieve what we desire by making the choices that can help us advance. We have to associate with people who can positively contribute to us and strenghten our efforts.
We should not worry on things that are inconsequential and we should not try to get even with our enemies, for it will drain us of the much needed energy.
When we do things for other people, we should do them without expecting any gratitude but because it is the right thing to do.
Click here to read on attaining goals.
In this system, setting goals and attaining goals is an important benchmark for success. As individuals we can improve by our own efforts and in collaboration with other people. In order to continue succeeding in this 'fighting for survival' system, we need to be alert to the rapidly changing conditions around us.
We have to focus our energy and our efforts to achieve what we desire by making the choices that can help us advance. We have to associate with people who can positively contribute to us and strenghten our efforts.
We should not worry on things that are inconsequential and we should not try to get even with our enemies, for it will drain us of the much needed energy.
When we do things for other people, we should do them without expecting any gratitude but because it is the right thing to do.
Click here to read on attaining goals.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Defining Moments and Turning points
Most successful people can define the 'turning points' in their lives - single events that eventually shaped their future success.
All of us can probably remember some turning points in our own lives.
It is always difficult to know the most defining moment in one's life, though one can look back and see the different trajectories that extend across the life course. In many instances, a life transition such as getting married, the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one brings out a defining moment.
Life is full of transitions from starting school, graduating school, getting a job and getting retired. Important decisions are made at each of these turning points. The quality of decisions we make can have a profound effect on how we live out our lives.
We do not have to grope in the dark to look for these defining moments and turning points. Life will always throw up unexpected challenges but we can always plan and prepare to face them head on when they occur. We can get a good education, we can be gainfully employed, become a responsible member of the community and live a balanced lifestyle.
By planning to live our best life and setting out achievable goals, we can maximise our chances for success. We can also minimise having to react to external events.
All of us can probably remember some turning points in our own lives.
It is always difficult to know the most defining moment in one's life, though one can look back and see the different trajectories that extend across the life course. In many instances, a life transition such as getting married, the birth of a child or the loss of a loved one brings out a defining moment.
Life is full of transitions from starting school, graduating school, getting a job and getting retired. Important decisions are made at each of these turning points. The quality of decisions we make can have a profound effect on how we live out our lives.
We do not have to grope in the dark to look for these defining moments and turning points. Life will always throw up unexpected challenges but we can always plan and prepare to face them head on when they occur. We can get a good education, we can be gainfully employed, become a responsible member of the community and live a balanced lifestyle.
By planning to live our best life and setting out achievable goals, we can maximise our chances for success. We can also minimise having to react to external events.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Eto'o's ego got the better of him
Buddies again: Ronaldinha hugs Eto’o (back to camera) during Barcelona’s training session on Wednesday. The two had been caught in a war of words since Sunday. –Photo:ReutersThe Cameroon striker and Barcelona player Sameul Eto'o has created a row by blasting both his manager Frank Rijkaard and team-mate Ronaldhino and has revealed he would love to play for Arsenal.
After coming back from a 4 month knee injury, Eto'o was seen warming up but refused to come on when he was asked to do so with 5 minutes of play remaining in Sunday's match.
Eto'o, the top scorer in Spain last season, said: "I don't have to give any explanations to anyone. I will only give an explanation to the club if they ask me to."
Eto'o is sending the wrong message to many youngsters who may aspire to emulate his success. He owes an expalnation to his manager and since he is part of a team, he also has an obligation to his team mates.
In an attempt to close ranks, Barcelona haven’t punished Eto’o and the club is hoping that with the exchange of public hugs, the damaging rift has been diffused.
The top football clubs in the world are multi million dollar businesses and players face enormous competive pressure. Highly paid football agents scout for fresh talent and arrange to move players among clubs making the transfer market a lucrative industry.
With Eto'o publicly expressing discontent some of the super rich clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool may already be working to strike a deal with Barcelona n Eto'o.
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