HUMAN MIND

A village landlord, one day after returning from the market saw the crowd at the house. He went near and got shocked seeing his big farmhouse on fire. He sat down in despair about his loss. He was planning to sell his farmhouse and move to the city to stay with his children. He had also talked with one party who showed interest in buying it. So, now was feeling sad over the loss as the property can’t be sold now.

His elder son came and told him, he has finalized the deal and signed papers for the exchange of properties. Hearing the good news, the smile came back to the landlord’s face. He along with his elder son became a part of the crowd observing the fire. Suddenly, his second son comes and informs that the news of fire is being relayed on the news channel, so the buyer will know about the fire accident. With this landlord again gets sad and again starts worrying about the property and his loss.

Later his youngest son comes and informs the landlord, “I have spoken with the buyer and they are ready to buy our property.” They said, “It’s not your fault and anyhow we wanted to bring the house down, which the fire has now done, thus saving our cost.” Listening this landlord became happy again and watched the fire engulfing the farmhouse with his 3 sons.

From this story, we observe the change in behavior of the landlord according to the various situations. This all was about the human mind reacting to those situations. In our lifetime we also might have reacted similarly in different situations.

To know more about the human mind, I will be sharing a few extracts from a book that I found interesting.

Keep watching for my post…

13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck – 10. Goodness

“Happiness is the only thing when you give it, you get it in return.”

Indian Actor Aamir Khan, shared his interaction with the activist Anna Hazare, during the agitation on Lokpal Bill.

The author Ashwin Sanghi in his book “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck” speaks about, Lucky people understanding the power of Goodness. Being happy and positive about life is a key factor in attracting luck. He has shared the events of JRD Tata, Ratan Tata, Mahatma Gandhi, Socrates, Indian actor Rajnikanth, Winston Churchill which showed their humility, humble nature, and goodness being spread in the world. This has made them more popular and gets more opportunities.

There is value in positive reinforcement and in being nice. This is illustrated in the following story –
Many years ago at the University of Wisconsin, there was a group of literary men, all extremely creative in their use of the English language; would-be poets, novelists, and dramatists. Meeting each week to read and ruthlessly critique each other’s works, they called themselves the Stranglers.

As a reaction, a group of upcoming women writers also started a club in Wisconsin. Deciding to call themselves the Wranglers, they too met regularly to read and critique each other’s work, but they tended to encourage and praise rather than criticise.

Two decades later, when an alumnus carried out a study of his classmates’ careers, he observed a significant difference between the careers of the Stranglers vis-à-vis the Wranglers. Not a single Strangler had been able to attain stature in the literary world, while the Wranglers had produced more than 6 women writers of national and international renown.

The above story says, if we can’t find something good in other people’s work, how can we expect others to find something good in ours? Generosity in spirit and actions is a key element in furthering opportunities.

An old Chinese proverb goes, “A bit of fragrance always cling to the hands that give roses.” Most of us are not billionaires, but that should not prevent us from doing something good for others.

13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck – 9. Information

“How is your father’s health?”

This is the question asked by Dhirubhai Ambani to a person, who had come for interview for senior post in Reliance. The person had attended other companies’ interview with Reliance as last option.

As we all know, Dhirubhai Ambani was one step ahead with his competitors. This was possible due to the information he gathered from known and unknown source. The author Ashwin Sanghi in his book “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck” has highlighted the information as an important steps to become lucky. He has shared few stories of great personality like, Dhirubhai Ambani (above example), Premchand Roychand, Mahatma Gandhi, Hasmukhbhai Parekh, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. These people became great, lucky as they notice things, got information. They hang on the ideas, absorbed stuff to become lucky.

The story which enthralled me is – In 1903, when Gandhi aged thirty-four years was leaving Durban, his friend Henry Polak saw him off at Johannesburg railway station and gave him Ruskin’s book for the journey. Gandhi read the book from Cover to cover during the 24 hour train journey, and the Gandhi who stepped off the train at Durban was a transformed man. Gandhi had decided to change his entire life to match the ideals prescribed by John Ruskin.

Many year later, examining what he owed to Great Britain, Gandhi wrote, “Great Britain gave me Ruskin, whose Unto This Last, essays on principles of political economy, transformed me overnight from a lawyer, city dweller into a rustic, living away from Durban station.”

Had he not read Ruskin, Gandhi would have probably remained a lawyer and the great transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma would never have happened.

The channel is unimportant, but staying informed and absorbing ideas seems to be one of the key traits of lucky people.

#subodhanjal #bloodygoodluck

13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck – 8. Confidence

“Let me tell you, very honestly, whatever happened to me, happened because I ‘m really scared of failure. I don’t want as much to succeed, as much as I don’t want to fail.”

These are the words of Indian greatest romantic hero Shahrukh Khan in the speech given at AIMA’s 40^th National Management Convention, New Delhi in 2013. Overcoming fear, (of any sort) allows one to open up to the flow of opportunities. As Bertrand Russel, British philosopher said, “To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”

The author Ashwin Sanghi in his book “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck” has highlighted, Lucky people are those, who overcame their fear and shyness and grabbed the opportunity, the life had given to them. Confidence is the one quality which helps these people to overcome their fear and grab the opportunities. Communication also plays important role in building confidence and getting lucky.

To illustrate on this steps author has shared few stories like about Warren Buffet, who was shy and ran away from public speaking during school days, at later in life people waited for his speeches. Or of Voltaire, French philosopher with his words, made the angry mob happy and helped in escorting his to his house. He also shared the beautiful story on the iconic song sung by Lata Mangeshkar “Ae Mere Watan ke Logon”, which converted the anger from public and filled it with emotions.

The story which moved me was – A Blind beggar sat at a street corner with a cardboard sign next to his empty tin cup: ‘I am blind. Please help.’ A young writer passing by observed that people were completely unmoved. No one was dropping any alms.

The writer flipped the blind man’s cardboard sign and wrote a new message. Almost magically people began putting money into the cup. Soon the cup was overflowing.

Simply amazed, the blind man asked a stranger to read out the new message to him. The new message read: ‘It’s a beautiful day. You can see it. I cannot.’

A simple change in communication strategy had found a way of harnessing those opportunities.

#subodhanjal #bloodygoodluck

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Continuing on the book summary of “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck” by Ashwin Sanghi.

The author shared a story about his discussion with a friend on Mumbai City Water problem. Mumbai city requires 4200 mld water, while corporation supply only 3400 mld (a shortfall of 800 mld). City receives 2200 mm of rain annually and if 70% of this free rain water is caught would solve water problem (Rain Water Harvesting). But only few societies have implemented it.
On similar grounds, can we catch the opportunities life gives to us? Can we build a system to catch these opportunities?

Answers to the above questions lies in 3 R’s (Raise, Recognize, Respond)
RAISE – Increase your catchment area for opportunity to come your way.
RECOGNIZE – with your experience & knowledge analyze and recognize the right opportunity.
RESPOND – act fast on the right opportunity.

To understand the 3 R’s we can consider the current situation raised due to Covid pandemic and where some are tasting success, while others are mourning.

MY STORY

“Tera kahani tune duniya ko bataya kya?“

Yesterday, while I was having discussion with my friend Asif Ebrahim  on storytelling, he suddenly asked the above question to me. I was speechless and confused on why should I speak about my life story.

The another question he asked was “What is storytelling?” I knew about storytelling but was not able to answer, as kept on recalling various statements to answer it. He explained it in simple language, “Every story has a hero, who faces challenges and with his hard work becomes successful. “

So, true and very simple explanation of storytelling. Whichever story we consider, these 3 elements are –

• a hero
• the challenge
• hero overcoming the challenge

Our life is also a story where we all have gone through our ups & downs in life, and faced each challenges, overcame it with our determination, persistence.

Be the hero of your own story.

#subodhanjal #learnersconclave #storytelling

GOOD LUCK or HARD WORK

“Was it good luck or hard work?“

This is a sentence from the book “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck” by Ashwin Sanghi.

We normally hear people saying, “He is most lucky person!!“, or “Good Luck favors him“.

Is there any such thing called Luck? If it is only Luck than what is hard work?

Don’t these so called Lucky person do hard work?

What is the different they do, which make them apart from others and achieve every time?

The answers to above questions are….

Luck is an opportunity grabbed by the person at right time to his full potential, getting a positive outcome. Let’s consider the example shared by author.

Missing a flight for an important meeting could be Bad Luck. However, if that flight crashes, the missed flight turns out to be very Good Luck.

Bagging a large sales order could be Good Luck. However, if the customer goes bankrupt before settling his bills, the same order becomes Bad Luck.

So, in effect, how we respond to opportunities and how the outcomes pan out determine whether we are lucky or not.

Good Luck is related to our ability to –
• Increase opportunities that come our way
• Recognize the valuable ones among them
• Respond to the recognised opportunities

These are few extract from the book, explaining Luck & Opportunity.

WORK on YOUR STRENGTH

Work on you strength Once there was kid, who wanted to win the Best Karate Champion trophy. So, he went to karate school and informed the master about his dream. Master told him, he will help him fulfilling his dream but only one conditions, trust him. The kid agreed and lessons started. The master was happy with the progress of the kid and his passion towards his dream.

But an unfortunate accident made the kid to lose his right hand. Master visited the kid and said, “Do not worry, get well and we will re-start our training for your dream”. Kid got well and visited his master. Master said, “You have left with one left hand, so learn the defense move.”

Like an attentive student, kid obeyed masters order and started practising defense with one left hand. After few days, he went to master and asked to teach him attack move also, as he is learned defense well. But master told him to practice the defense move only. Annoyed, kid kept on practicing defense move.

The tournament days were announced and the day also came when kid would participate in tournament. Seeing, the kid with only one hand participating the tournament, other participants were making fun and laughing. Master told kid “Believe on yourself and not on what others are saying.”

The first match of kid, everyone thought he would not stand the fight for more than 3 minutes. And yes, the fight got finished in 3 minutes, but with the kid winning and opposite participant lying on the ground. There was silence in stadium, as everyone were shocked, how the kid with one left hand won the fight in 3 minutes. Rounds after round kid kept on winning the fight and reached the final.

The final was against 3 times champion who has not lost any fight till date. Now, everybody thought it is final day for kid, and stood no chance in front of the champion. Seeing the kid with one hand, champion also laughed and made fun. The fight began and in next 3 mintues, it got finished with loud noise. The champion was lying on ground with the kid on top. It was unbelievable moment, as the dream of kid was fulfilled.

After the fight, kid asked the master, “How come I won the fight with just 1 move, that too defense?” To which master replied, “The defense move I taught you was locking the opponent. And to unlock it, opponent needed your right arm, which you didn’t had. So you won each fight with your only beat possible defense move.”

The story teaches us to work on your strength and not think on your weakness. By working on strength, your weakness may become strength in long run.

Also trust you master, he is the best person who knows your strength and weakness and knows what is best for you.

#subodhanjal #storytelling #strength

CHOOSE YOUR ECHO

A man was taking his son on a walk in a nearby forest. Suddenly the boy tripped and feeling a sharp pain, he screams “AHHHH !!“

Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “AHHHH !!” He was taken aback as it was his first experience of an echo.

Filled with curiosity, he screams: “Who are you?“, but the only answer he received was , “Who are you?“

This made him angry, so he shouted, “You are a coward !!” and the voice responded back, “You are a coward !!“

He looked at his father and asked “Dad what’s going on. Who is talking back at me?“
“Son,” the man replies, “ pay attention, say something nice to him.“

Then he screams, “I love you !!“. They hear back the sound, “I love you !!“

Realising his son still confused, the man takes over the conversation with nature and shouts “You are wonderful !!” and they get the response, “You are wonderful !!“

The boy is thrilled but still can’t understand what is going on.

The father explains “Son, people call this an ECHO, but truly it is LIFE. LIFE always gives you back what you give to it. It is the mirror of your actions.

If you want more love, give more love. If you want more kindness, give more kindness. If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect. If you want people to be patient with you, then be patient with them.

The happenings in our life is not a coincidence, but a reflections of our own doings. Choose your ECHO ! Send out blessings and receive blessings in return.

My echo is love, peace, good health, happiness and prosperity for everyone.
Stay blessed forever.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

“No Sir, not too close, I spoke with him.“, replied my colleague.

Few days back our HR General Manager called my colleague and asked, “Have you met Mr. X and spoken with him last week?” He replied, “Yes Sir, spoken to him“.

GM continued, “So, did you come in contact with him?” He enquired, “Why Sir?” GM said, “He and his daughter have found COVID19 +ve.” My colleague immediately replied “No Sir, no too close, I spoke with him.“

While informing me about this incident, my colleague was laughing and I also joined him after hearing it. He said, when GM had called, he thought was enquiring about Mr. X, who had just joined us 2 months before. But when he said about COVID19 infection, my colleague with fear immediately replied. He said he feared where he will be home quarantined and how his family will deal in such situation.

Really friends, this disease has developed a lots of fear in everyone’s mind. With this fear, most people are getting isolated by keeping distance. On this Independence Day, let us take an oath that we will fight against this virus and make India free from COVID19.

But in this fight we should keep our diginity and help the people who are infected from virus, not betray them. By following Government instructions, we will be able to keep this virus away from us.

Just follow the following rules –

1. Maintain social distancing 👤✖️👤, by having gap of 3 ft between 2 people.

2. Wear mask whenever you are going out of your house.

3. Wash your hand for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser, whenever you have touch things outside your house.

4. Improve your immunity by eating healthy diet.

5. Try to avoid going in crowded places. If necessary wear mask and carry a sanitiser, when you travel.

Vaccines and Medicines are being tested and trials are going on. It will take time for them to come in market, till then following above rules will help us to fight against this virus and make India 🇮🇳 virus free.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 🇮🇳

Photo by Brijesh Kasat

#subodhanjal #storytelling #learnersconclave #fear