Character

What is ‘character’? Character is the most fundamental definition of any person. It is what differentiates us as humans. It is our very essence. It is what guides us in our journey from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’.

How then does one build character? Character building begins with our thoughts. Thoughts translate into words. Acting on our words forms habits. And over time, habits shape character.

Character development is a continuous process and is so important in our lives. Be it the business of life or the business of work, the reality is, our journey is all about relationships and teamwork. Remember, you are the leader of the team you build. And if you seek to build a team that lasts, as is the goal of every leader, it is important to have a rock solid foundation of good character.

True, every person is unique. We are all born under different circumstances; go through different life experiences, all of which contribute to shaping our character. While some take on leadership roles effortlessly, there are many who feel they lack in the qualities of a good leader. This is where character building helps.

Generally, every human being is unconsciously attracted to people with good qualities. Virtue, compassion, goodness... these are just some of the qualities people seek in others.

Remember, whether we want it or not, our character comes across clearly and transparently to anyone tuning into us, consciously or otherwise. So avoid falling into the trap of pretentious behavior just to impress someone or achieve short term gains. To be really successful, be honest to yourself, and to your team.

To be a successful leader, build that character in yourself that you would like to see in your leader. Ask yourself, “Would I actually like to follow a leader like myself?”, “Am I not a leader?”, and “Should I not have the qualities that make one?”

Your character determines your destination. If you don’t like where you are headed today, create your path towards your desired destiny. Character is what will help shape that path.

It is no secret. There are many ways to build your character. One way is to conquer your fears. It is one of the biggest tumbling blocks in developing character. Be confident!

Talking about a good thing also leads to it. Constantly associate with people who carry good qualities or are successful. Learn, adopt and absorb their positivity. Refrain from doing what is not good for you. Control your senses. Weak morals point to a weak character. If you allow yourself to be swayed by simple things, how can you expect to be trusted? Practise strict discipline. If a person is not hard on himself, the world will be hard on him; if he is hard on himself, the world will be easy on him.

Last but not the least, in your journey from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’, find someone who will be a contrarian to you; someone who will challenge you just when you think you have found the easy way to success. By doing so, you will find yourself sharpening your skills, wanting to learn, focusing on building yourself and making the necessary changes to be better. This is the fastest way to build your character.

Please take a moment to ponder… Character building is not a one-off attempt. It is a continuous process in the cycle of life. Once we have traveled the path from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’, we have to start all over again. We have to step back into the shoes of other ‘nobodies’ in our team and lead them through the same journey. And that is the true test of character.

Courtesy: Joseph Bismark, Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

The legendary of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

A recent spat with my friend has provoked me to write about this genius. Everybody who knows cricket would know who this person is. A new era in cricket was born when he set his foot into this sport. In fact, this sport has more fame because of this little master than anything else. Yes, it is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar who has achieved more than any cricketer could ever do.

Sachin has been incredible throughout his career. He has been the leader in terms of runs scored and centuries at a better strike rate. He's one of the few Indian players who was able to maintain the same level of consistency both at home and away. Also his average being better in matches where India won would tell us his match winning performances. He has also scored consistently against the World Champions and indeed, his batting average against Australia is slightly higher than his overall career average. Sachin has left no stones unturned and have set many records in the history of cricket.

If at all there's one thing that is missing in Sachin's achievement would be the World Cup. He has made 5 appearances in the World tournament so far but yet the team has not won a single time. Is that we do not have better players since cricket is not a single man's game that we lose every time? We had "On the off-side, first there is God, then there is Ganguly." We had "If cricket is religion, then Sachin is God". We had "The Wall" Rahul Dravid. We did have the greatest cricketer of all times but then why did we still fail?

Australia never had an off side God, a Wall or a cricketing God but they have managed to win it more than once and once under the very nose of India. What one cricketing GOD could not achieve was achieved by 11 cricketing mortals.

I am not into pondering the answers for these questions. My question is simple: What is the use of having so much money, if one could get what he wants? What is the use of having the best bedroom in the whole world, if one could not have a peaceful sleep? What is the use of having so much great cricketers in our country, if we could not win one World Cup after 1983?

Statistics Courtesy: CricBuzz

Flash of Genius

The title of the movie "Flash of Genius" actually refers to a test or a doctrine that refers to this test for patentability used in the United States Federal Courts. This doctrine states that the inventive act should come into the mind of an inventor in a "flash of genius" and not as a result of tinkering. "The new device, however useful it may be, must reveal the flash of creative genius, not merely the skill of the calling. If it fails, it has not established its right to a private grant on the public domain."

That's the concept of the movie around which the story moves. Dr. Robert Kearns is an engineering college professor, legally blind in his left eye. While driving his family of six kids and his wife on a rainy season, the constant movement of the windshield wipers blades irritates his troubled vision. Being an engineer, his minds hits upon an idea that why the wiper blades cannot work like the human eye, blinking every few seconds and not continuously. This inspires him to invent the intermittent wiper blades and he takes his invention thru his friend to the Ford Motor Company. The company which embraces Bob's creation unceremoniously shuns the man who invented it. Bob decides to fight against the company legally but it costs him his family and his future.

Why am I shedding light on this movie is because the way Bob fought for his right is admirable. When he files a lawsuit against the motor company thru a lawyer, the company offers money for settlement but Bob refuses it in spite of his lawyer and his wife wants him to take the deal. Consequently, his lawyer resigns the case and his wife demands a divorce, taking all the children into her protection. Being left alone, Bob does not flinch but it makes his decision to represent himself in the lawsuit stronger. By this time, four years passes away. For a year, all Bob is does apart from teaching at the college is reading lawsuits to prepare himself for the case.

All those know him thinks that he would never win the case against the might Ford Corporation and pities on him. Even his children especially his eldest son believes that his dad will never change in spite of what all happened to him (since Bob was out of his home for two months during which professional treatment is provided for his nervous break-down). Finally all his children help him in the case and he wins.

Bob's stand to fight for what he believes in inspires. When his lawyer asks him to accept the settlement money and says that this is how justice is dispensed in the country, Bob decides to thinks that is not the justice that he believes in.

To stand up for what you believe - no matter what happens, whoever tells anything - takes real courage. It does test the persistence of a man. Bob fights and fights till he succeeds. I find the same thread running in the movie "Horton hears a Who!" Till the end, Horton believes in the existence of the Who generation in spite of his whole neighborhood comes against him.

Very few movies leave a lasting effect on the viewers and 'Flash of Genius' is one among them.

Sun Direct DTH

After reading reviews after reviews about different DTH services (Tatasky, AirTel, DishTV and Sun Direct) and comparing which one is better, I finally chose Sun Direct. Now don't say that I made a wrong decision. Lemme justify my decision.

Pros:

1) Being in the southern part of the country, majority of the channels I would subscribe would be the regional ones. Since SUN Direct originates from the southern part, they can cater to the needs of the southerners in a better way.

2) On comparing with the first time fee (includes installation, cost of STB and free subscrption), Sun Direct offered 5 months free subscription to an amount almost touching the rates of other service providers.

Cons:

1) On reading numerous reviews, the first black mark I came across against Sun Direct is their poor customer service. It is because of the estimated time the IVRS provides - sometimes it is more than 20 minutes just to speak to a service personnel either for an enquiry or a recharge/addon. However, when I started experimenting it, I found their 1800 number is quicker. Also, there were numerous complaints about their web site not loading properly. Also, they do not have an option to recharge thru Credit/Debit card. So you need to purchase the recharge coupon from its retail outlet and end up waiting on the call to its customer service. So why I did chose in spite of these many after sales-service complaints? Its because the recharge, add-on packages and checking balance options are available thru the SMS option which is better and faster than their customer service.

2) Yes, few of their channels like Star Cricket, Ten Sports, etc. lack the quality where you can experience shadowing of images on screen but it is tolerable when the service comes cheaper.

To conclude, if you are from the southern part, better opt for Sun Direct. Remember, every thing in this world has its own pros and cons. Better way would be to know how to overcome it than regretting for it.

IPL II 2009: Rajasthan Royals

In its first season, not even the owners of Rajasthan Royals would have had hoped that their team would secure a berth in the semi-finals as they were regarded as the minnows. However, under the captaincy of the legendary leg spinner, the young team won the inaugural title of IPL. And they deserved it. What Chennai Super Kings could not achieve with their legends like Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Suresh Raina, L Balaji and MS Dhoni, was achieved by the Rajasthan Royals with the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Sohail Tanvil and Shane Watson. CSK had players who had already found the cricketer in them and because of that they were brought to IPL but RR had players who had only then discovered a cricketer in themselves and that too which can win titles. It was a revelation to most of the youngsters.

Let's put the past to the past. In the season II, RR could not win big apart from one or two last ball thrillers. It always lacked one more batsman or a bowler. Shane Warne and his men lost the winning rhythm when one of its strike player fails. May be it was nothing to lose for Shane as he said in a post match session but for the youngsters like Swapnit Adonkar and Naman Ohja it was an opportunity. They could not make better out of it. Yet, Ravindra Jadeja made it to the Indian T20 team but would be given a chance in the much settled and comfortable Indian team is a big question.

Why Rajasthan Royals still remains my favourite team in spite of it not making to the semi this season is the captaincy of Shane Warne. He brings the best of his players who discover a different person inside them. The way he puts his faith on the youngsters and guides them is really tremendous. He has got that gift. Keeping his head cool, talking to the players every time they've been hit to boundaries or in the death overs really brings out the best. He does drive the passion of the game in the youngsters. May be that's the stuff the legends are made up of.

I pray that they regain in the next season what they lost this season.