Change

“Change is inevitable. Change is constant.” Benjamin Disraeli.

Continual innovations in technology have ensured that the environment around us changes very fast- ways of doing business, means of communication, lifestyle trends, people’s expectations- and hence, opportunities and threats are continuously changing. Considering this, remaining on top of the knowledge curve in ones chosen vocation is of paramount importance.

Here is a story.

A boy, particularly good at chopping trees, went looking for work, axe on his shoulder. Chancing upon a logging site, he asked the supervisor if there was any work available.

“Well”, said the supervisor, “Chop down that tree, and we shall see.”

The boy completed his task with dexterity and was immediately hired. It was Monday.

At the end of the week, the supervisor called him and told him his services were no longer needed.

The boy was shocked! “I am your most productive worker. You can’t sack me.”

“Well, you were the most productive worker on Monday, but by Thursday you had sunk to the least productive. And you’re doing even less well today.”

“But, I spend all my time chopping down your trees. I start early and finish last. I work through lunch.”

“I agree”, replied the supervisor, “but how much time do you spend sharpening your axe?”

Just the awareness of change and the intent to adapt are not enough for consistent success. In order to adopt new strategies and be more creative, you must keep your mind tools sharpened at all times.

How do you keep your mind tools sharpened? Just three simple tasks!

• Listen: Keep your ears to the ground. Understand feedback objectively .
• Read: Keep abreast of new theories, new laws, new research and new ideas, both specific (to your vocation) and general. The more you read, the more things you will know. There is a saying that goes, "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."
• Write: Capture in writing the insights you have gained through your experience, feedback and your reading. Writing clarifies your thoughts and ideas. It also helps you analyse your learning needs.

At all times, do not lose sight of your goals. Learning can be said to have occured only when you put to use the new insights gained in following your goals. Hence, you must take the time to reflect and fit new knowledge with your strategies so as to enhance achievement.

Remember, mental faculties must always be “Work In Progress”. Being proactive is the only way to stay on top of change, or, in this fast-changing environment, we will quickly be extinct.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Ambanis' Fortunes Plummet

The share prices have been tumbling in recent past for both the Reliance groups, led by the billionaire brothers Mukesh and Anil Ambani, and the analysts put the blame on a string of controversies surrounding them for many months now. On the other hand, a host of Tata group firms have grown stronger, in terms of stock market valuation, while shrugging off overall bearish sentiments in the broader market and even some controversies related to them.

As per the latest market value of individual groups,the Tata group ranks on the top with Rs 4,40,000 crore, and bigger than the combined figure of the two Ambani groups together at about Rs 3,67,000 crore. It is followed by Mukesh-led Reliance group at second position with about Rs 2,85,000 crore. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), which ranked third after the Mukesh-led RIL group and Tatas a year ago, does not figure even among the top 10 groups now.

Source: www.business-standard.com, June 19, 2011

The reason for the downswing in the fortunes of the Ambani brothers is largely because of continual spats between the two, leading to reduced investor confidence in their companies.

After Dhirubhai Ambani’s demise, the long drawn ugly fight for control saw the credibility of the Ambani’s slip in the market. End result, the Reliance group, which always had the interests of ordinary shareholders as its primary focus, took a beating. Not just that, in the years that followed, the two brothers bitterly competed with each other and tried to sully each others images.

Having significant presence in the stock markets, any whisper about the activity between the Ambani brothers or change in their relationship moves markets.

We can only hope that at some point both Mukesh and Anil realise the harm they are causing to the Indian economy. If they could work towards a cordial relationship and have at least a loose working association, they could forge a formidable partnership.

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.

Perseverance

“It is only through labour and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage that we move on to better things.” Theodore Roosevelt.

There cannot be a greater feeling of exultation than to achieve your goals. People often give up their goals because the path to success is painful. However, as much as you try to eliminate pain in life, the fact remains that there can be no gain without pain.

Simply put, ‘pain’ is nothing but the ‘effort’ needed to surmount hurdles in pursuit of a goal.

Achieving all of life's lasting pleasures - good relationships, successful careers, robust health - requires a lot of effort. The first step, hence, is the decision to get out of your comfort zone and take on the bull by its horns. Often, this means grappling with issues like resolving a conflict, gaining a necessary competence or taking on a physical challenge.

Here is a story.

"A museum laid with beautiful marble tiles had a huge marble statue right at the centre of its lobby. It was that of a magnificently beautiful lady, and people all over the world visited the museum just to admire this beautiful marble lady statue.One night, a marble tile started talking to the marble statue.

Marble tile: Marble statue, it’s just not fair! Why does everybody from all over the world come all the way here just to step on me while admiring you? Not fair!
Marble statue: My dear friend, marble tile, do you still remember that we were actually from the same cave?
Marble tile: Yeah! That’s why I feel it is even more unfair. We were born from the same cave and yet we receive different treatment now. Not fair!
Marble statue: Then, do you still remember the day when the designer tried to work on you, but you resisted his tool?
Marble tile: Yes, of course I remember. I hate that guy! How could he use his tool on me, it hurt so much.
Marble statue: That’s right! He couldn’t work on you at all as you resisted being worked on.
Marble tile: So?
Marble statue: When he decided to give up on you and start working on me instead, I knew at once that I would be something different after his efforts. I did not resist his tool; instead, I bore all the painful tools he used on me.
Marble tile: Mmmmmmmmm…………
Marble statue: My friend, there is a price to everything in life. Since you decided to give up half way, you can’t blame anybody who steps on you now."

Most people expect some return on their efforts in a relatively short time period. It takes patience to work on something without immediate returns. There will be point when the path to success seems arduous. This is the time you have to make your decision- whether to put in extraordinary effort in pursuit of the goal or to give up. Finally, it is only you who will be responsible for your decisions.

You want to be successful, and enduring temporary stress is a small price to pay in order to reap lasting pleasure!

© Sujata Khanna. All rights reserved.