Why only 1% succeed?

 

Sundar Pichai...What ties did you break this week?

 

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says His Mentor Asked Him This Question Over and Over--and It Changed the Way He Leads

As CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai is responsible for making sure his companies continue to move forward, continue to evolve to keep up with the demands of millions of users and customers around the world.

That's no easy job. But Pichai once shared with me a single question that helps him to remember his role. He learned the question from his mentor, former Columbia University football coach turned business coach Bill Campbell.

Whenever they met, says Pichai, Campbell would ask him:

"What ties did you break this week?"

Campbell wasn't speaking about breaking ties as in cutting off relationships. Rather, he was teaching Pichai that he needed to break stalemates. 

Pichai got the point.

Oftentimes, when an issue makes it to a leader, there are (at least) two good options available with which to move forward. Both options will have pros and cons, and both will have their share of supporters. Making a decision could alienate the leader from half of their team--at least temporarily.

But, as a leader, Pichai's job isn't to keep everyone happy. Nor should he allow things to stay still, hoping that one half of the team will change their minds or that the "right" path forward will miraculously become obvious. Rather, his job is to move things forward. 

There's a major lesson here for new leaders, and some longtime ones:

If you attempt to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. 

So, how do you combat the tendency to be a people pleaser, and become a better leader? 

Here are three suggestions.

Prioritize those whom you want to please.

If you can't please everyone, whom should you focus on pleasing?

That's a complex question. And like all complex questions, the answer is ...

It depends.

In the business context, the answer depends on circumstances such as what stage your company is in, your role at the company, and the company's short- and long-term goals. 

For example, for decades, fellow CEO Jeff Bezos bucked the norm and refused to please Amazon shareholders by reinvesting large amounts of money, in hopes of refining company strategy and getting really good at more than one thing. 

That strategy made a lot of people unhappy, but it also transformed Amazon into one of the most valuable companies in the world--and led to major profits in the long run. At the same time, though, Amazon has been criticized for the way it treats employees, especially those working in entry-level positions.

When deciding whom to prioritize, consider the following groups of people:

• Your employees 
• Your customers
• Company ownership, including shareholders
• Your superiors
• Other primary stakeholders

In addition, you should also consider yourself and your family. Not just because it's the "right" thing to do, but because achieving balance and a stable home environment will make you a better leader, too.

Pursue progress. Not perfection.

With an organization as large as Google (and its parent company, Alphabet, which has more than 130,000 employees), it's easy for issues to get stuck. Meeting after meeting. Discussion after discussion. 

But leaders must remember that the goal isn't perfection. The goal is to move things forward, and learn from mistakes.

"There are very few decisions that are extremely high stakes, where mistakes are going to have major consequences," explains Pichai. "It's the incremental decisions that lead to progress."

See the big picture.

Leading others requires giving them feedback they need to hear but don't want to hear. At times, it means pushing them outside of their comfort zone. Challenging them to do something they haven't done before, and may not even believe they're capable of (but you know they are).

And if your tendency is still to try and please everyone, ask yourself this question:

If my team fails, or if the company goes out of business, who will be happy?

Nobody, that's who.

So, if you want to be a better leader, take a page out Sundar Pichai's playbook and ask yourself:

"What ties did I break this week?"

Then, remember to:

• Prioritize those you want to please
• Pursue progress, not perfection
• See the big picture

Because leadership is moving things forward.

Inner happiness

 True inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world

Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy

Eat your food as medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food 

The ones who love you will never leave you for another because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he will find one reason to hold on

There is a big difference between being a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it

You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between you have to manage

If you want to walk fast walk alone. But if you want to walk far walk together

Greatest Gift...

 The greatest gift you can give someone is your time,

because 

when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.

Take wise decisions

 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 a 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 $10,000

"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.. . $ 1/-

Knowing where to tap... $ 9,999/-

Moral of the story:

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life, makes all the difference.

"Life doesn't change in ONE MINUTE, but taking decision after thinking for ONE MINUTE can change life."

Leave a good heritage...

 A beautiful message...

At the point of death, a man, Tom Smith, called his children and he advised them to follow his footsteps so that they can have peace of mind in all that they do..

His daughter, Sara, said,

"Daddy, its unfortunate you are dying without a penny in your bank..

Other fathers' that you tag as being corrupt, thieves of public funds left houses and properties for their children; even this house we live in is a rented apartment..

Sorry, I can't emulate you, just go, let's chart our own course..

Few moments later, their father gave up the spirit..

Three years later, Sara went for an interview in a multinational company..

At interview the Chairman of the committee asked,

"Which Smith are you..??"

Sara replied,

"I am Sara Smith. My Dad Tom Smith is now late.."

Chairman cuts in,

"O my God, you are Tom Smith's daughter..?"

He turned to the  other members and said, "This Smith man was the one that signed my membership form into the Institute of Administrators and his recommendation earned me where I am today. He did all these free. I didn't even know his address, he never knew me. He just did it for me.."

He turned to Sara,

"I have no questions for you, consider yourself as having gotten this job, come tomorrow, your letter will be waiting for you.."

Sara Smith became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two Cars with Drivers, A duplex attached to the office, and a salary of £1,00,000 per month excluding allowances and other costs..

After two years of working in the company, the MD of the company came from America to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, again the company's Consultant nominated Sara Smith..

In an interview, she was asked the secret of her success,,

With tears, she replied, "My Daddy paved these ways for me. It was after he died that I knew that he was financially poor but stinkingly rich in integrity, discipline and honesty".

She was asked again, why she is weeping since she is no longer a kid as to miss her dad still after a long time..

She replied, "At the point of death, I insulted my dad for being an honest man of integrity. I hope he will forgive me in his grave now. I didn't work for all these, he did it for me to just walk in".

So, finally she was asked, "Will you follow your father's foot steps as he requested ?"

And her simple answer was, "l now adore the man, I have a big picture of him in my living room and at the entrance of my house. He deserves whatever I have after God".

Are you like Tom Smith..?

It pays to build a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take and it lasts longer..

Integrity, discipline, self control and fear of God makes a man wealthy, not the fat bank account..

Leave a good heritage for your children...

Life is about giving not just about getting

 Here is an interesting story on two seas with  some interesting lessons.

I had heard of Dead Sea in school. No one ever told me this side of the story. You may find it interesting..

A tale of Two Seas!! As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea.It’s so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. You can almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% - almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals.  Nothing lives in the Dead Sea. And hence the name: Dead Sea.

The other Sea is the Sea of Galilee. Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from river Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.

 

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colorful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the Sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fishes.

Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come?

 

Here’s apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.

 

But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level, that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the river Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over 7 million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day. Leaving it salty. Too full of minerals. And unfit for any marine life.

 

The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give.

 

Result? No life at all.

 

Think about it.

 

Life is not just about getting. Its about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.

We are fortunate to get wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don't learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea.

 The love and the respect, the wealth and the knowledge could all evaporate. Like the water in the Dead Sea.

 

If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more everything the results can be disastrous.

Good idea to make sure that in the sea of your own life, you have outlets. Many outlets. For love and wealth - and everything else that you get in your life. Make sure you don't just get, you give too.

 

Open the taps. And you'll open the floodgates to happiness. Make that a habit 

Experience the magic!

Beautiful words by Ukraine's President

 

Guidelines in your life

 

Decide to be happy regardless of anything else that happens

 During a class at Fresno Pacific University, a speaker asked one of the spouses in the audience:

"Does your husband make you happy?"

At this moment, the husband stood up straighter, showing complete confidence. He knew his wife would say yes, because she had never complained about anything during their marriage.

However, his wife answered the question with a resounding "No." "No, my husband does not make me happy."

The husband was baffled, but his wife continued:

"My husband never made me happy, and he does not make me happy. I am happy."

"Whether I am happy or not is dependent not on him, but on me. I am the only person on whom my happiness depends.

I choose to be happy in every situation and every moment of my life, for if my happiness depended on another person, thing or circumstance, I would be in serious trouble.

Everything that exists in this life constantly changes: the human being, the riches, my body, the climate, my boss, the pleasures, the friends, and my physical and mental health. I could quote an endless list.

I need to decide to be happy regardless of anything else that happens. Whether I own a lot or a little, I am happy! Whether I'm going out or staying home alone, ​​I'm happy! Whether I am rich or poor, I am happy!

I am married, but I was already happy when I was single.

I'm happy for myself.

I love my life not because my life is easier than anyone else's, but because I have decided to be happy as an individual. I am responsible for my happiness.

When I take this obligation from my husband and anyone else, I free them from the burden of carrying me on their shoulders. It makes everyone's life much lighter.

And that's how I've had a successful marriage for so many years."

Never give anyone else the responsibility to control your happiness. Be happy, even if it's hot, even if you're sick, even if you do not have money, even if someone has hurt you, even if someone does not love you and even if you do not value yourself.

That goes for women and men of all ages 

Good deeds, Real happiness

 

Make people feel good by acts of generosity

 

Honesty pays...CV Raman

 _*How the Seven rupees changed the entire life.*_

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Nobel Laureate Prof. C. V. Raman after retirement wished to open a Research Institute in Bangalore. 

So he gave an advertisement in the newspapers for recruiting three physicists. 

Lots of eager Scientists applied thinking that even if they were not selected, they would at least get an opportunity to meet the Nobel Laureate. 

In the preliminary selection, five candidates were selected and the final interview was to be taken by Prof. C V Raman himself. 

Three were selected out of the five. 

Next day Prof. Raman was taking a walk and found one young man waiting to meet him. 

He realized that it was the same man who was not selected. 

The Prof.  asked him what was the problem and he replied that there was no problem at all, but after finishing the interview the office had paid him ₹7 extra than his claim and he wanted to return it. 

But because the accounts had closed, they could not take back the amount and asked him to enjoy. 

The man said that it is not right for him to accept the money which did not belong to him. 

Prof. C V Raman told him, so you wish to return the ₹7 and he took the money from him. 

After going few  steps forward the Prof. asked the young man to meet him the next day at 10.30 am. The man was happy that he would get an opportunity to meet the great man again.

When he met the Prof.  next day the Nobel Laureate told the young man "son, you failed in the Physics test but you have passed the honesty test. So I have created another post for you". 

The young man was surprised and very happy to join.

Later on he too became a Nobel Laureate in 1983. This young man was *Prof. Subrahmanyan Chandrashekhar*(US Citizen of Indian Origin)

He has written a book on how the seven rupees changed his life.

*This was how Honesty made a Great Scientist*. 

What is lacking in Talent can most often be made up for, with Hard work, guidance and help from others, BUT, what is lacking in Character and Values can’t be made up for with anything Ever.

Which is why Einstein said, “ *Don’t try to be a person of Success, but always be a Person of Value* “.

Aim high for goal achievement

 Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!

Strange but apt wordings for life!

 

Strange but true !!!!

1 - Inspite of so many colours - White is considered Class.

2 - Inspite of so many voices & sounds - Silence is considered ultimate.

3 - Inspite of so much to eat - Fasting is considered healthy.

4 - Inspite of so much to travel & explore - Meditating under trees & on mountains is considered superior.

5 - Inspite of so much to see - Closing your eyes & looking within is Apex.

6 - Inspite of listening to all the outside world - Voice from inside you is eternal.

7 - Inspite of a sweet charming life - A Peaceful Soul is Solace & Divine.

Trust your Senses. Live a Great Life.

Leadership traits

 Leadership traits beautifully summarized!

Motivation for success...Never give up attitude!

Celebration of your blessings is happiness - Mahatria

It's indeed a joy to watch this descriptive video!

A fantastic concept... Swiss Time bank

*Swiss Time Bank*

A student studying in Switzerland observes:

While studying in Switzerland, I rented a house near the school.

The landlady Kristina is a 67-year-old single 

old lady who had worked as a teacher in a secondary school before she retired.

Switzerland's pension is very good, enough to not worry her about food and shelter in her later years.

However, she actually found "work" - to take care of an 87-year-old single old man.

I asked if she was working for money.

Her answer surprised me:

“I do not work for money, but I put my time in the ‘time bank’, and when I cannot move in my old age, I could withdraw it.”

The first time I heard about this concept of "time bank", I was very 

curious and asked the landlady more.

*The original “Time Bank” was an old-age pension program developed by the Swiss Federal Ministry of Social Security. People saved the 'time' taking care of the elderly when they were younger, and when they were old, ill or needed care could withdraw it.*

Applicants must be healthy, good at communicating and full of love. Everyday they have to look after the elderly who need help.

Their service hours will be deposited into the personal 'time' accounts of the social security system.

She went to work twice a week, spending two hours each time helping the elderly, shopping, cleaning their room, taking them out to sunbathe, chatting with them.

According to the agreement, after one year of her service, *"Time Bank”* will calculate her working hours and issue her a “time bank card”.

When she needs someone to take care of her, she can use her “time bank card” to “time to withdraw “time and time interest”. After the information verification, “Time Bank” will assign other volunteers to take care of her at the hospital or her home.

One day, I was in school and the landlady called and said she fell 

off the stool when she was wiping the window. 

I quickly took leave and sent her to the hospital for treatment.

The landlady broke her ankle and needed to stay in bed for a while.

While I was preparing to apply for a home to take care of her, the landlady told me that I need not worry about her.

She had already submitted a withdrawal request to the “Time Bank”.

Sure enough, in less than two hours "Time Bank" sent a nursing worker to come and care for the landlady.

In the following month, the care worker took care of the landlady everyday, chatted with her and made delicious meals for her.

Under the meticulous care of the carer, the landlady soon recovered her health.

After recovering, the landlady went back to "work". She said that she intends to save more time in the "time bank" while she is still healthy.

Today, in Switzerland, the use of "time banks" to support old age has become a common practice.

This not only saves the country pension expenses, but also solves other social problems.

Many Swiss citizens are very supportive of this kind of old-age pensions.

The survey conducted by the Swiss pension organization shows that more than half of Swiss people also want to participate in this type of old-age care service.

The Swiss government also passed legislation to support the "Time Bank" pension scheme.

At present the number of "empty-nest old people" in Asian countries are increasing and it has gradually become a social problem.

Switzerland style "time bank" pension may be a good option for us too.

*What an interesting concept... hope it gets adapted all over the world soon !!!*

Spiritual - Simplicity!

Four principles of spirituality defined very simply!