By Martin Haworth
1)Talk to Your People Often
By building a great relationship with your people you will bring trust, honesty and information. This gives you a head start in Performance Management of your people.
2)Build Feedback In
On the job two-way feedback processes gets rid of the nasty surprises that gives Performance Management such a bad name. By building it in as a natural activity, you take the edge away.
3)Be Honest
By being frank and honest, which the preparation work in building a great relationship has afforded you, both parties treat each other with respect and see each other as working for everyone’s benefit.
4)Notice Great Performance
When you see good stuff, shout about it! Let people know. Celebrate successes and filter this into formal processes.
5)Have a System
Performance Management is a process and needs some formality - especially for good personnel practice and record. This need not be complicated, but it needs to be organised and have timescales.
6)Keep it Simple
But do keep it simple. If you have a relationship with your people that is strong anyway, you already know what they are about. Formal discussions can be friendly and simple, with formality kept to a minimum.
7)Be Very Positive
Celebrate great performance! Focus on what’s going well. It's about successes and building on strengths, not spending ages on their weaknesses - that serves no-one. Go with the positives!
8)Achieve Their Needs
Remember that we all have needs that we want fulfilling. By working with your people to create outcomes that will do this, you will strengthen your relationships and channel effort in a constructive direction.
9)Tackle Discipline
Whilst it often happens, Performance Management is not about managing indiscipline. That has to be managed in a different way. By setting clear standards in your business that everyone understands and signs up to, discipline becomes much, much easier.
10)Learn from Mistakes
As part of regular on-the-job and informal review, mistakes will come to light; things will go wrong. By using the ‘What went well? And ‘What could you do differently?’ format, the unsatisfactory performance becomes controllable and a positive step.
Try these ten out, maybe not all together, but one at a time. Have fun! There are other benefits apart from just improving the performance of your people - can you spot them?
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Ten Top Performance Management Tips !!!
By Martin Haworth
1)Talk to Your People Often
By building a great relationship with your people you will bring trust, honesty and information. This gives you a head start in Performance Management of your people.
2)Build Feedback In
On the job two-way feedback processes gets rid of the nasty surprises that gives Performance Management such a bad name. By building it in as a natural activity, you take the edge away.
3)Be Honest
By being frank and honest, which the preparation work in building a great relationship has afforded you, both parties treat each other with respect and see each other as working for everyone’s benefit.
4)Notice Great Performance
When you see good stuff, shout about it! Let people know. Celebrate successes and filter this into formal processes.
5)Have a System
Performance Management is a process and needs some formality - especially for good personnel practice and record. This need not be complicated, but it needs to be organised and have timescales.
6)Keep it Simple
But do keep it simple. If you have a relationship with your people that is strong anyway, you already know what they are about. Formal discussions can be friendly and simple, with formality kept to a minimum.
7)Be Very Positive
Celebrate great performance! Focus on what’s going well. It's about successes and building on strengths, not spending ages on their weaknesses - that serves no-one. Go with the positives!
8)Achieve Their Needs
Remember that we all have needs that we want fulfilling. By working with your people to create outcomes that will do this, you will strengthen your relationships and channel effort in a constructive direction.
9)Tackle Discipline
Whilst it often happens, Performance Management is not about managing indiscipline. That has to be managed in a different way. By setting clear standards in your business that everyone understands and signs up to, discipline becomes much, much easier.
10)Learn from Mistakes
As part of regular on-the-job and informal review, mistakes will come to light; things will go wrong. By using the ‘What went well? And ‘What could you do differently?’ format, the unsatisfactory performance becomes controllable and a positive step.
Try these ten out, maybe not all together, but one at a time. Have fun! There are other benefits apart from just improving the performance of your people - can you spot them?
1)Talk to Your People Often
By building a great relationship with your people you will bring trust, honesty and information. This gives you a head start in Performance Management of your people.
2)Build Feedback In
On the job two-way feedback processes gets rid of the nasty surprises that gives Performance Management such a bad name. By building it in as a natural activity, you take the edge away.
3)Be Honest
By being frank and honest, which the preparation work in building a great relationship has afforded you, both parties treat each other with respect and see each other as working for everyone’s benefit.
4)Notice Great Performance
When you see good stuff, shout about it! Let people know. Celebrate successes and filter this into formal processes.
5)Have a System
Performance Management is a process and needs some formality - especially for good personnel practice and record. This need not be complicated, but it needs to be organised and have timescales.
6)Keep it Simple
But do keep it simple. If you have a relationship with your people that is strong anyway, you already know what they are about. Formal discussions can be friendly and simple, with formality kept to a minimum.
7)Be Very Positive
Celebrate great performance! Focus on what’s going well. It's about successes and building on strengths, not spending ages on their weaknesses - that serves no-one. Go with the positives!
8)Achieve Their Needs
Remember that we all have needs that we want fulfilling. By working with your people to create outcomes that will do this, you will strengthen your relationships and channel effort in a constructive direction.
9)Tackle Discipline
Whilst it often happens, Performance Management is not about managing indiscipline. That has to be managed in a different way. By setting clear standards in your business that everyone understands and signs up to, discipline becomes much, much easier.
10)Learn from Mistakes
As part of regular on-the-job and informal review, mistakes will come to light; things will go wrong. By using the ‘What went well? And ‘What could you do differently?’ format, the unsatisfactory performance becomes controllable and a positive step.
Try these ten out, maybe not all together, but one at a time. Have fun! There are other benefits apart from just improving the performance of your people - can you spot them?
CORPORATE LESSON
CORPORATE LESSON - 1
There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, an American and a French, who found this small genie bottle.
When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared.
Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish.
When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water to become,and your wish will come true."
The French wanted to start first.He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted WINE".
The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine.The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool.
Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same and shouted, "VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka.The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER".
He was so contented with His beer pool.
The last is the American.He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel.
He slipped towards the pool and shouted, "SHIT!!!!!!!........."
MORAL OF THE STORY:> Mind your language, you never know what it will Land you in.
CORPORATE LESSON - 2
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower & the doorbell rings.
After a few seconds of arguing over who should go and answer the doorbell,the wife gives up, quickly wraps herself up in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next door neighbor.
Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $ 800 just to drop that towel that you have
on". After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob. Bob has a close look at her for a few seconds, hands over $800 and quietly leaves.
Confused, but excited about her good fortune,the woman wraps back up in the towel and goes upstairs. When she gets back to the bathroom, her husband asks from the shower "Who was that?" "It was Bob the next door neighbour," she replies. "Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the $! 800 he owes me?"
MORAL OF THE STORY: Share critical credit information with your stakeholders to prevent avoidable exposure!
There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, an American and a French, who found this small genie bottle.
When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared.
Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish.
When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water to become,and your wish will come true."
The French wanted to start first.He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted WINE".
The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine.The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool.
Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same and shouted, "VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka.The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER".
He was so contented with His beer pool.
The last is the American.He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel.
He slipped towards the pool and shouted, "SHIT!!!!!!!........."
MORAL OF THE STORY:> Mind your language, you never know what it will Land you in.
CORPORATE LESSON - 2
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower & the doorbell rings.
After a few seconds of arguing over who should go and answer the doorbell,the wife gives up, quickly wraps herself up in a towel and runs downstairs.
When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next door neighbor.
Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $ 800 just to drop that towel that you have
on". After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob. Bob has a close look at her for a few seconds, hands over $800 and quietly leaves.
Confused, but excited about her good fortune,the woman wraps back up in the towel and goes upstairs. When she gets back to the bathroom, her husband asks from the shower "Who was that?" "It was Bob the next door neighbour," she replies. "Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the $! 800 he owes me?"
MORAL OF THE STORY: Share critical credit information with your stakeholders to prevent avoidable exposure!
Making Effective Oral Presentation Home
An Oral Presentation is explained as a talk given to a group in which an individual presents his/her view on an issue or a topic based on their reading or research. It is a life blood of any business.
Employee needs good communication skills to interact effectively with their superiors / subordinates; to convey their information effectively in business meetings / presentations / seminars; for proper organizational planning, organizing, co-ordination, leadership, motivation and controlling.
Here are few tips which a presenter needs to follow for a powerful oral communication: - 1. Before the Presentation: -
Know your objective, audiences, the total time allotted the message to be conveyed and the resources available to convey the message. Systematically and logically frame the three main parts of the presentation which are introduction, main body and the conclusion.
o Rehearse and practice the entire presentation.
o Anticipate few questions and prepare their answers.
o Prepare a contingency plan.
2. During the Presentation: -
? Check the equipments, room arrangements and the lay-out.
? Use proper visual aids, diagrams, pictures, graphs, facts, figures, over head projector and power point presentation (templates, design and font).
? Take deep breathing.
? Stay confident, relaxed and be enthusiastic.
? Keep it simple, be concise, to the point and avoid repetition.
? Explain the key points with appropriate stories, examples, anecdotes and demonstrations.
? Emphasize on the key points.
? Never read continuously from the script.
? Use appropriate humour.
? Avoid using too many technical details.
? Emphasize on proper body movement, tone, eye contact, posture and gestures.
? Conclude on time.
? Leave time for discussion and for clarification of points.
3. After the Presentation: -
? Allow question and answer session.
? If you don’t know the answer, don’t lie.
? Take proper audience feedback.
? Find out areas of improvement.
Finally, Australian Research has found that the important elements of communication identified by small, medium and large enterprises are:
• listening and understanding;
• speaking clearly and directly;
• writing to the needs of the audience;
• negotiating responsively;
• reading independently;
• empathizing;
• using numeracy effectively;
• understanding the needs of internal and external customers;
• persuading effectively;
• establishing and using networks;
• being assertive; • sharing information; and
• speaking and writing in languages other than English.==========
Promotional Practices In Business
Promotion is defined as “The marketing function concerned with persuasively communicating to target audiences the contents of the marketing programme in order to facilitate exchange between the marketer and the consumer and to help them to satisfy the objectives of both”.
Promotion is one of the key aspects of the marketing mix (the other three elements are Product, Price, and Place). However, according to Neil. H. Borden’s Marketing Mix; Marketing Communications has its own “promotional mix”, which includes advertising, public relations, personal selling, publicity, direct mail, internet, sponsorship, trade fairs and exhibitions.
Thus, the company needs to effectively utilise all its promotional mix in a manner that a strength of one is use to offset the weakness of other to achieve its organisational goals and objectives, this can be done through appropriate promotional strategy/plan.
Advertising is a from of non-personal, mass communication with the public; Sales Promotion involves the use of special short-term techniques to boost the sales of the company; Public Relations is formally defined as, any form of non-paid commercial significant news or editorial comment about ideas, products and institutions; Publicity is done by the company to enhance its image in the eyes of various social groups; Direct Mail is a focused form of communication with the target audiences through Internet;
The purpose of the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions is to increase the awareness of the product, encourage trial, create new customers and retain the existing ones; whereas, when an organisation associates itself with an event, a cause, a programme to enhance its goodwill is known as Sponsorship.
There are different methods of allocating promotional budget like arbitrary method (where budget is decided by the top management) , percentage of sales method (the company allocates sales budget on the current/anticipated sales or the sales price), unit percentage method (the budget is set for each product/ brand after detailed cost analysis), competitive parity method (the budget is based on the competitors expenses), objective and task method (the budget is determined by the organisational objectives, task and the estimated cost) as well as composite method (all techniques mentioned above are used to derive the promotional budget).
The objective of Promotion is to build awareness, create interest, provide information, boost demand, create brand awareness, brand loyalty and preferences. It can be for the dealer, reseller, salesmen or the consumer/buyer.
Promotions in books are divided into 2 main categories namely Below the Line and Above the Line Promotion.
1. Below the Line: - It includes in-house offers like vouchers, schemes, loyalty card offers, sponsorship, direct mails, personal selling and public relations.
2. Above the Line: - This method includes promotion in press, television, radio, cinema, posters, billboards, internet etc. Whereas, Mid Line Promotion is for the internal staff and employees of the organisation.
Hence, Promotion is rightly defined as “communicating with the public in an attempt to influence them towards buying your products and services.
Promotion is one of the key aspects of the marketing mix (the other three elements are Product, Price, and Place). However, according to Neil. H. Borden’s Marketing Mix; Marketing Communications has its own “promotional mix”, which includes advertising, public relations, personal selling, publicity, direct mail, internet, sponsorship, trade fairs and exhibitions.
Thus, the company needs to effectively utilise all its promotional mix in a manner that a strength of one is use to offset the weakness of other to achieve its organisational goals and objectives, this can be done through appropriate promotional strategy/plan.
Advertising is a from of non-personal, mass communication with the public; Sales Promotion involves the use of special short-term techniques to boost the sales of the company; Public Relations is formally defined as, any form of non-paid commercial significant news or editorial comment about ideas, products and institutions; Publicity is done by the company to enhance its image in the eyes of various social groups; Direct Mail is a focused form of communication with the target audiences through Internet;
The purpose of the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions is to increase the awareness of the product, encourage trial, create new customers and retain the existing ones; whereas, when an organisation associates itself with an event, a cause, a programme to enhance its goodwill is known as Sponsorship.
There are different methods of allocating promotional budget like arbitrary method (where budget is decided by the top management) , percentage of sales method (the company allocates sales budget on the current/anticipated sales or the sales price), unit percentage method (the budget is set for each product/ brand after detailed cost analysis), competitive parity method (the budget is based on the competitors expenses), objective and task method (the budget is determined by the organisational objectives, task and the estimated cost) as well as composite method (all techniques mentioned above are used to derive the promotional budget).
The objective of Promotion is to build awareness, create interest, provide information, boost demand, create brand awareness, brand loyalty and preferences. It can be for the dealer, reseller, salesmen or the consumer/buyer.
Promotions in books are divided into 2 main categories namely Below the Line and Above the Line Promotion.
1. Below the Line: - It includes in-house offers like vouchers, schemes, loyalty card offers, sponsorship, direct mails, personal selling and public relations.
2. Above the Line: - This method includes promotion in press, television, radio, cinema, posters, billboards, internet etc. Whereas, Mid Line Promotion is for the internal staff and employees of the organisation.
Hence, Promotion is rightly defined as “communicating with the public in an attempt to influence them towards buying your products and services.
Product Management Strategies
Product Management is explained as an organisational function within a company dealing with the planning or marketing of product/products at all stages of the product lifecycle (i.e. introduction, growth, maturity and decline),
It includes two major activities :-
Product Planning and Product Marketing; Strategy according to Henry Mitzberg is a plan, “a how”, a means of getting from here to there; whereas Product Strategy is defined as a marketing plan for a product based on the characteristics of the target market, market share objectives, desired product positioning within the market, and profit objectives.
Strategic Plans for a product are based on decisions regarding the four P’s (product, price, place and promotion), financial targets and budgets and tactical plans. The top management of an organisation frames the product strategy to gain a competitive edge by understanding their perspective, mission, vision, values, beliefs, attitude and norms.
For effective Product Strategy the company evaluates its strengths and weaknesses to maximise the opportunities and minimize the threats which can be done by answering the following questions: -
1. What is their total production, financial, marketing, selling, personnel and operational capabilities?
2. How they can fulfill their customers’ expectations?
3. Where is the market?
4. When is the right time for product launch?
5. Why will the buyers prefer my product? By answering the above questions an organisation can determine various techniques for appropriate product positioning, effective branding and packaging and also to reduce wastages, cut expenditures, develop market for new product, select most appropriate distribution channel, upgrade their technologies, decide promotional tools, maximize customer satisfaction to enhance their goodwill which will help in retaining the existing customers as well a getting new ones thus increasing organisation’s productivity as well as profitability.
Thus, Product Strategy is rightly, defined as the element of a firm’s decision-making concerned with developing the most appropriate products for its target market.
It includes two major activities :-
Product Planning and Product Marketing; Strategy according to Henry Mitzberg is a plan, “a how”, a means of getting from here to there; whereas Product Strategy is defined as a marketing plan for a product based on the characteristics of the target market, market share objectives, desired product positioning within the market, and profit objectives.
Strategic Plans for a product are based on decisions regarding the four P’s (product, price, place and promotion), financial targets and budgets and tactical plans. The top management of an organisation frames the product strategy to gain a competitive edge by understanding their perspective, mission, vision, values, beliefs, attitude and norms.
For effective Product Strategy the company evaluates its strengths and weaknesses to maximise the opportunities and minimize the threats which can be done by answering the following questions: -
1. What is their total production, financial, marketing, selling, personnel and operational capabilities?
2. How they can fulfill their customers’ expectations?
3. Where is the market?
4. When is the right time for product launch?
5. Why will the buyers prefer my product? By answering the above questions an organisation can determine various techniques for appropriate product positioning, effective branding and packaging and also to reduce wastages, cut expenditures, develop market for new product, select most appropriate distribution channel, upgrade their technologies, decide promotional tools, maximize customer satisfaction to enhance their goodwill which will help in retaining the existing customers as well a getting new ones thus increasing organisation’s productivity as well as profitability.
Thus, Product Strategy is rightly, defined as the element of a firm’s decision-making concerned with developing the most appropriate products for its target market.
U DI BABA'S POWERFUL PRASAD
Within a very short passage of time, Shirdi Sai Baba's spiritual name has spread throughout the nook and corner of the country like the fragrance of early morning breeze. In Delhi and adjoining areas, quite a good number of beautifully constructed Sai Temples with Baba's full-size marble idols blessing his ever - growing devotees on the principles of Shirdi Sai Sansthan are coming up progressively well. Thousands of devotees, of various castes and creeds, irrespective of sex or age, collect in these temples on every Thursday rendering morning to evening arties before the Lord of Lords.
In addition, Sai Bhajans which have always played a vital role in spreading Baba's name and fame, are regularly held in several homes of the devotees, particularly in the major towns, including NOTDA. Large number of people participate in such bhajans and yearn for perpetual mental and spiritual peace.
Customarily, at the end of bhajans and keertans, Baba's blessings in the shape of "prasad" is distributed amongst one and all participants. Prasad is invariablly in the form of eatables, normally sweets, either bazar made like "ladoos", or "barfi" or home-cooked like "halwa" or "puri-sabzi", on the wishes and resources of the sponsorer-house holders. But the most appropriate "prasad" on all such occasions should be "UDI" which cost practically nothing and is easily affordable even by a poor devotee. On the other hand, it is the most sacred Sai-blessing.
Udi was originated by Baba himself. It was not just the ashes produced as a result of burning fuel which Baba used to throw in the "Dhuni" — the sacred fire which he kept ever burning. It was blessed and freely distributed by Baba himself, not only as a cure for many physical and mental maladies but also to spread deep, thought-provoking spiritual lessons which the "faqir" had for the worldly people.
UDI was inter-aliameant to convey as a forceful reminder of the universal truth that our bodies are composed of elements wood and would eventually be reduced to ashes in due course. It was, thus, Baba's sacred prasad which He gave His devotees in their hands and besmeared some of it on their foreheads placing His boon-conferring hand on their heads.
Shri Sai Satcharita, particularly the Chapters 33 and 34, is rich with miracles explaining the greatness of UDI. It is very difficult to ignore any one of them while recollecting them all. Even now, when Sai Baba is physically not present with us in Shirdi sans than, UDI obtained by perpetual burning of Dhuni day in and day out at Shirdi Mandir, continues to be pious as ever. Sai devotees make it a convenient practice to keep enough of it with them and use it regularly in the Puja as Sai Blessing to get over sundry ailments.
It is said that in the case of non-availability of UDI, ash obtains from any other source and utilised with prayers serves the same purpose. The incident of Bubonic Plague case quoted in Shri Sai Satcharita is a vivid explanation of this factual statement. A similar incident occurred to me a few years ago which I like to share with my Sai-devotee friends :-
While on deputation to Bhutan Engineering Service, I was posted to Chukha, an out-of-way, inaccessible, lonely and remote area place on the bank of river Chukha, by my Chief Engineer, probably to teach me a lesson. But it proved to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to concentrate myself daily by perching over and meditating for hours together on the big boulders lying majestically within the river torrents.
There was a small contigent of office employees staying in tents or other make-shift accommodation. There was otherwise no trace of any human presence in or near that area. Everyone wanted to get rid of that god-forsaken place by hook or crook. After my posting there, the Chief Engineer started transferring them abruptly to better places, one by one, ordering me to take over the respective charge. In the process, he also transferred the compounder-cum-doctor making me, as usual, to take charge of his so-called medical chest. However, I used to apply Baba's UDI as and when any body fell ill. In fact, the "patients’' would always turn to me for UDI instead of any other available medicine.
Once, while returning to the camp late in the evening from the river bed, my companion, the head clerk, fell down about 10' in a ditch. He suffered several injuries, not serious but painful enough to stand up and walk. Unfortunately," at that time I did not have UDI which generally I used to keep with me. Recollecting Shri Sai Satcharita I took some sand in my hand, prayed to Baba and applied it on his forehead as well at the injuries. Practically within no time, the injured head clerk was able to get up and started limping to the camp where he was given other possible treatment too. UDI IS GREAT.
The Greatness of UDI is due to greatness of Baba.
MYSTERY OF BIRTH
1. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi helps those who help themselves with faith in HIM independently surrender, dedicate and meditate on HIM with purified devotion.
2. Every one knows that a man or woman, born or dropped into this universe, is from an atom of Brahman, the GREATER. But what for? You should know it is only to think of HIM, meditate on HIM and surrender to HIM with purified devotion, so that you can go back to HIM. Yes, to go back and rejoin HIM is the purpose for which you have come into this mundane world. To pray HIM and reach HIM back, you should pray. To pray, you should possess sufficient physical energy, strength and concentration to meditate and dedicate and thus surrender at HIS LOTUS FEET. To obtain this strength, you should eat but not live to eat. To eat you should have food and to get food you should earn. To earn you should toil hard honestly.
3. Thus you have been given a test in the world to see how far you are firm and faithful to Brahman, and to see how you stand the vigour of test-an acid test - indeed and how you can attain the goal by vanishing or killing temptation for material benefit without any attachment to the mundane objects. That is the cause of your birth but not to forget this purpose and get lost in the mundane world, manifest with the illusion shadowing around with a veil, challenging you with all wicked forces dragging and drifting you away from good. Thus make a victim of situation, circumstances and environments in the filthy atmosphere for worldly desires of amassing illgottom wealth. Power, pomp, false glory and lust with an ego, which is transient are mainfest in man.
4. Man least realises, though he is endowed with the power of realisation and discretion that the mundane objects and acquirements are illusion and that the body decays and dies (the Atom leaves) or the Atom casts off its Kavacba or covering and takes a new form or creation according to its past Karma. Your possessions and your self perish but not the INNER SOUL, THE ATHMAN, which is ever glowing Sacred, sublime and supreme light, since the Athman is from Brahman, which is ever existing and never ending; and so, the Athman seeks to go back and join the Brahman, when its mission is finally over in the world. Like the water of the sacred rivers, where much of impurity is mixed, but their water remains pure.
5. What is the mistery behind the man's birth - everyone knows, but no one realises - just imagine that out of a drop of Dhatu Bindnu, a liquid fluid drop - a figure is carved out of a human feminine body as also other creatures in the universe with different shapes, description - all but a mass of flesh with bones and nerves, suiting different climates, food and conditions in water, land and air. The figure of a man is shaped and set with different organs, each to function its duty independently with nine outlets. Each organ is endowed with separate exclusive power to function on its own without any inter-linking or inter-dependence between them. What one organ does, the other cannot. They are of course connected to each other by instinct to one central box - the brain, which is endowed with the power of thinking, discriminating and directing.
6. Who on earth can tell, may not even the latest advanced modern Scientist, with all his exhaustive research for space and atom, what this miracle is. Take the organ "THE EYE" which is also out of the same dhatu bindhu - has the power to see - only good things - but not bad ones-so is the case with every other organ.
7. Could the modern advanced Scientist, a Research Scholar, a Moon goer or an atom blaster make a human form with the functioning of the organ from any other material, chemical liquid or fluids? He must be first born, created by God and by accident of birth as ordained by the Lord, man can then become a Scientist and carry on research on the Moon, Star or any planet or even go nearer to Sun, blast an atom or a Hydrogen bomb and destroy the world, but can he win God? Become God himself? That is the divine Supreme and super-power the creator - the Brahman - a mystery - since one cannot see or know where and how it is.
8. A man of flesh developed into a body with bones, nerves, lungs, heart etc. etc. with joints to facilitate movement as desired and this structure covered to shape the body with skin with no fire or grinder inside; but the food, solid or liquid, you take is ground and some part of it is changed into blood and marrow, to give strength to the body and thus automatically pump it with its own mysterious God made mechanism - a wonder - but once it stops functioning no one can revive it and that is the end of a human being. Even the body does not retain any excess food but rejects the same as excreta and water (urine).
9. The Supreme Power - the universal Divine Power - God has not made the human being only from the sexual mating or by congugal bliss, but has also made several millions of creatures on the earth, in different ways even under water and air by His Supreme power of creation, with conditions suited to their areas.
10. Now it should be accepted without dispute, by common sense that God is above man. It may be noted here, as you all know, that a frog lives within a solid rock - how it breathes -where is the air, water and food for this creature - particularly a creature mostly inclined to live in water. Can man make such creations? Is it possible for our revered and learned scientists to do such things? No - it is impossible. Apart from such living creatures, there are forests, vegetation, plants, food products for human beings and other creatures to exist, in addition to water, air and heat the necessities without which no living being can or will survive. If it is not God - the Omnipotent, the Omnipresent -who can do these miracles?
11. Here lies the hidden Secret - the mystery - the miracle of man's birth, which we should ponder over, since this cannot be realised, known or revealed by any one. It is only here that one should realise the existence of God - the Unseen Power. It is sheer accident of birth ordained by the Lord according to one's past Karma that we are born in different environments, society and status and as such are we not bound to be indebted, to be grateful to realise and repay our gratitude to that Almighty – God - Omnipotent and Omnipresent The Brahman? Should we not therefore struggle, strain, exert and endeavour to get back to HIM our father - from where we came humans endowed with sense organs, with discretionary powers, as loyal and dutiful children of God the Universal Father?
12. The Law of evolution and revolution is a fundamental principle in anything and everything. Any object, creature or man that moves from one particular place, should in the natural routine course go back, rejoin, or reach the starting point or place. That is the law of nature. To quote a simple example - a man goes out on work from his house, a bird from its nest, a beast or an animal from its dwelling place for food etc. will naturally return to its dwelling place by night. Even the planets, the Sun, Moon and Stars appear according to their set times disappear and reappear. Similarly in our birth, we came from Brahman and we should go to HIM. Unless and until one knows and realises this theory he cannot understand the purpose of his existence or the goal of his life and birth-
13. Are the mundane, materialistic and artificial objects illgot wealth, power, prompts ego-and status eternal and permanent? No, not at al.l In your existence in the world, eternal or the mundane objects, you love, adore and admire do not come with you, when you leave this world. Those are materially acquired, artificially got by wicked and foul means by egoism, selfishness, hatred, pride and threat by brutal and barbaric acts of violences as a wild and ferocious beast pouncing on an innocent weak creature for its prey. Man is endowed with some sense of understanding and discretory realising and feeling capacity. He is not supposed to resort to such acts for acquiring temporary glory, pomp, power and status - which is nothing but ego.
14. Granting that a man has acquired all, is he to enjoy, possess them eternally and do they accompany him when he dies? Why should they be acquired at all? How far and what for is this temporary desire? It is on the contrary. The more one possesses, the more worries, anxiety, mental agony, bodily ills will haunt him. So that is not worth possessing. Why should one possess that and what for?
15. To quote an example - take the case of a materialistic, great, big or rich man and a spiritually disposed great saint or seer. Both are men. Both live - the former in a mansion with all luxuries, the latter all alone, solitary, secluded and isolated in an Ashram - a hut - with no luxuries or men to attend on him -all % self help - self served. The former wades through in the storm of wicked world with all vicious surroundings, thoughts, desires, deeds with no goal in sight for salvation or God realisation - for Moksham or Mukti. Only this man's name and fame will echo in public, only for a temporary period so long he is in lime light with some position or status. The moment he is pulled down from his position or status, none will recognise or even look at him. He dies a miserable death with all wicked ideas, thoughts and deeds of past, surrounding him. Some may die in harness. Although they might have lived a luxurious life with pomp and power and some even a most exciting life still what a contrast? The same man if he were a saint, a seer, spiritually devoted, dedicated, living and meditating in an ashram (hermitage) away and unconcerned of the wicked and vicious world, detached from the mundane objects, surrendered to the LOTUS FEET of the ALMIGHTY for God realisation, salvation, Mukti or Moksha contented and satisfied, with his hermitage life, he is loved and revered and respected by all. This saint or seer is enemy to none. He is striving to guide the people and steering them to the path of divinity. This saint or seer has no anxieties, worries or ambitions. His food even is restricted. His only aim in life or the goal is to reach Brahman from where he came. To that place he seeks to go back. That should be the aim of a man. Only such soul finally reaches the goal by rejoining Brahman and gets rid of the wretched birth in the world again, not to live a tempting, dodging, deceitful, purposeless and vicious worldly life.
16. History repeats itself. Great men come and go. Their greatness is inscribed on their epitaphs - none to read - men who conquered the world materially for pomp and power and there is none among them who conquered HIM - the Almighty. But those saints, sages and seers with no pomp or power, left behind them, the Vedic rituals, philosophy religious and scientific teaching for people, to attain Moksha, Mukti or salvation to spread in the world are remembered. A sacred task, for man's salvation is performed by them for which we have to express gratitude, feel grateful and bow to such seers in reverence.
17. Should every one observe or follow this path or principle? This world will not be as wicked as existing. That depends on them - as a test by the Creator - of course all cannot acquire and pass as in the School examination - some fail and some pass.
18. But should a man with moral binding, integrity and mental firmness seek this path of dedication, devotion, meditation and surrender to the Almighty, atleast, sooner or later after his Gnhasthasrram, in this mundane world, after attaining maturity of mind and body by gaining worldly experience in this material life, there is the chance to get the status, power and sense of realisation, provided his change towards salvation is firm, realising and repenting for his past actions, when the Almighty will certainly pardon and give him remission as in the imprisonment to a prisoner with a view, henceforth to purify him, from further misdeeds or sins, from this mundane world and thus grant him salvation, Mukti or Moksha.
19. Who on earth can say that a drop of Dhathu Bhindu will make or mar a man's career? It all depends on his past karma and accident of birth. It lies in him to make the best of himself with his discriminary and discreteful powers endowed to him and brought into the world - and as such he is not to get lost in the dark woods of the world, forgetting the very object and the purpose he has to fulfil. He should therefore strive, strain, exert every nerve to attain Moksham, Mukti or Salvation or God realisation.
20. Here again a man by mere reading, preaching, propagating or advocating (without himself adhering) gospels of vedanta, spiritual scriptures hymns and slogans, without the inner voice and sense (Glow) set firmly for spiritual attainment seriously and sincerely with all his heart, will not, cannot and shall not attain Mukti as it would only be a show or imitation, with his ego and pride for false fame and honour, in the garb of a saint or philosopher by dress and talk.
21. The saints or sages in jungles or in Himalayan mountain caves, who do tapas or meditation, do not know or like to know the mundane world. They never go out for any preaching or propagating the
God-cult. They strive and strain to solve their own problems of attaining Moksha - as the proverb goes charity begins at home-each man for himself and no man for any man. But since the saint or the sage is a pure and holy man, while his prayers are for himself, they are for all too, since his is a selfless service and sacrifice, without any show, egoism or worldly false fame or notion. Since, such a change in the mind will only scumble, tumble and perish one's own progress towards attaining Moksha or Mukti, he is away from it.
22. The illustration given below will explain a man's lust, craze and greed for power, pomp and prosperity and material glory, which are all unreal and transitory illusions as a mirage in a sandy scorching desert, as compared and equated to the action of a man as said hereunder.
23. A frog interested and concentrated in its attention on its prey in front of it, is unaware of the fate awaiting ahead of it, where a snake concentrating in swallowing the frog is closely following, crawling at its back. The snake in its turn is ignorant of its fate ahead, while a vulture or a kite howering over in the sky is closely following the snake. The bird concentrated in carrying away the snake, is ignorant of its fate ahead while a hunter, down below, with his arrow set at the bird is waiting to shoot it down, and this hunter in his turn is ignorant of the fate ahead of him, where a snake under the grass is crawling across to bite him. The hunter lets his arrow out and hits the kite which falls dead, at the same time the hunter, bitten by the snake, falls dead to the ground. Thus neither the kite nor the hunter survive in this chain as the destiny rules. It is interesting to note here that each one did not know- its own fate but was only anxious to attain its object, meet its own, end foolishly, blindly and ignorantly trying to conquer for its individual benefit, least realising where how and when its end comes.
24. From this illustration, it could he seen similarly that a man veiled by ego, pride and haughtiness, foolishly, blindly both in mind and eyes though placed in high position and status, for acquiring worldly benefits, pleasures, fame and honor (which are transitory illusions), drowned in the storm of mundane world, stoops to such vicious and nefarious and wicked acts, by destroying and distressing the innocent and weak persons without allowing them to live in peace and comfort. In ripe time when it cannot be tolerated by the Almighty, the egoism of a proud man meets its end.
To quote narrow-minded, wicked, jealous and selfish a man is, although born for a superior magnanimous, sacred and selfless service and how he is bent upon in such nefarious activities by his egoism, emotion with the mind set at acquiring power, pomp fame, prosperity and false honor stoops to an act of disgrace and disrepute brutally instead of expanding his mind with his ideals with morals for puritv, sincerity and honesty with cherished ideals towards the uplift of humanity, is well depicted and explained in the following quotation.
An eagle, a far sighted bird (an eagle-eye) though gifted fly so high in the sky, from such a high level, only casts its eyes on ugly, stinking carcasses and corpses but does not set its attention on superior and good things with its sharp eyes, thus misusing the, gifted sight, towards ugly things instead of lofty high ideals.
The curiosity of the nature created by the Almighty is in that how ugly, wicked and unwanted creatures and things are more abundantly made in the world, than useful and good things which are comparatively far and few, is explained by the realistic fact that in the jungles ferocious, ravaging, and wild beasts like tiger, cheeta, jackals which live on other weak, innocent and harmless creatures like deer, stag, hare etc. are more in number, only to terrorise, frighten and destroy the beauty and calm of the jungle, filled with pretty, pleasant and harmless creatures. So is the man with his ill-got wealth and power, who destroys the weak and innocent persons.
These timers and cheetas etc. bring forth three or four young ones at a time, what for, only to destroy the innocent not to speak of the pigs in towns, bringing forth dozens at a time ugly, nasty ones - the natural scavengers. You may see a wide contrast here that the good, pretty, pleasing, entertaining, beautifying and useful creatures like pigeons, peacocks, parrots etc. and the swan of course a rare specimen are not as abundant as those unwanted ones - to make a particular mention of a quadruped cow, worshipped as sacred and holy Kamadhenu- a most vital and useful cow to mankind by its milk, so essential for humans, whose usefulness is beyond description as ordained by the Lord, delivers only one calf at a time. He or she - both equally useful for mankind.
25. From the above narration, it could be judged and a conclusion drawn, how evil is abundant in this mundane world and how limited and few are good ones. This also reflects on the theory that good men are few and the bad are more. That is the creation of the Almighty for the man to realise and discriminate between good and bad and to choose the right path for his salvation and pious living-this path he should seek to live and lead both to help the humanity and himself attain salvation or Mukthi.
26. It will be interesting to note how a generous, pious, good man and a wicked and jealous man are compared, is illustrated by the fact that a lion-the jungle king-though living on the ground-not like birds in air looks forward for its hunger, an elephant for its prey but never stoops low to ugly and meek creatures, as the vulture or a kite though high in the sky, with its sharp sight droops down upon ugly and nasty carcasses, corpses etc. but not at good and superior things.
27. In just manner endowed with decretory and discriminating power between good and bad and blessed with the position and status occupying highest pedestal in life, instead of viewing things broad-mindedly and magnanimously with sympathy and reason and redress the grievances and problems on humanitarian grounds, by uplifting the poor and needy and thus follow the path of give and take policy -forget and forgive - the mother of virtue of an ideal man realises and feels the pulses and difficulties of others as his own; but not develop paired with narrow selfish, ugly jealous mind, only aiming at individual self progess and prosperity, pomp, power and fame acquired by ill-got wealth and honour at the cost of others which are transitory illusions not eternal. He should have perspective view on higher ideals with a bent of mind and a determined effort to help humanity, as Abobenatham said, "Love your fellow men and I will love you - as service to man is service to God or humanity is servitude."
28. From this narration it could be seen and it is evident that all scriptures of all religions will speak alike. One theory, one philosophy which lead to one and the same goal and for the whole universe the Almighty is one and that there is that Almighty. Different saints at different times and in different parts of the world made their own individual scriptures on philosophy and religion to their own group of followers with a perspective idology as inspired in them by God but all leading to one and the same goal.
29. That is LIFE- That is BIRTH- living and aim, the beginning and the end. That is man's living and aim, the beginning and the end.
30. I am Saidas the writer or the author of this article - an insignificant man-an atom of Brahman brought into this world by HIM with a purpose to fulfill my mission and thus made to seek HIS LOTUS FEET, to meditate, dedicate and surrender to HIM to attain salvation, Mukthi or Moksha.
31. With the intuition given by HIM, the power and strength to write (by Shirdi Sri Sai Baba), I place these few lines for the information, guidance, if need be, of Sri Sai Devotees and those like-minded persons, Bhaktas and devotees which is open for corrections, suggestions, wherever felt necessary.
32. This is the EYE of the man. This miracle of birth or creation which cannot be artificially or scientifically done.
B. Ramanadha Rao
Madras, Tamil Nadu,
Pin Code 600 011
Faith and Patience are the two Paths to Reach God Sai Baba
Sai Baba, the sage of Shirdi, has been pouring out his divine love and blessings to thousands and hundreds of thousands since 1845. The unending stream of devotees at Shirdi day in and day out is but a manifestation of divine Love, Compassion and Pitv. Sai Baba is the most powerfull sage, who bears all the burdens of humanity.
Like all great teachers Sai Baba has rightly been claimed as the Mother of all virtues. Baba often told his devotees ''Your servant's servant l am. lam your debtor". I am purified by your darshan. It is a great grace on your part to have given Me the sight of your feet".
Lord Sai Baba often preached that the attitude of "I" and "Mine'' are the result of ignorance. The right attitude born of knowledge is that God is the Master and that all things belongs to Him - Once Rama asked Hanuman "How do you like on me? Hanuman replied. "0 Rama, as long as I have the feeling of "I", I see that you are the whole and I am a part, you are the Master and I am you". Thus the first step in the life of a devotee is humility.
Self surrender marks the next step of a devotee. A devotee has to surrender to God himself wholly and exclusively, including his five senses-Then he becomes a personal servant of God. The entire responsibility for his Maintenance and protection is taken up by the Lord. In BHAQVAD GlTA Lord Kriehna said
"0 Arjuna. take refuge in Me. I shall deliver you from all sins". Lord Sai Baba also said, "Cast all your burdens on Me and I shall bear them',. Also as preached by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, Baba also said, "Do your duty and leave the rest to me" Because once the devotee becomes free from sin and misery, as all his actions are performed as divine duty without a thought for the result. Let all the works be God's works all the thoughts, words and deeds are centered in God. Everyone should see God in every thing and every thing in God, loves all beings in the universe as manifestation of God. Thus, the natural results of this self surrender are intense devotion towards God and love towards all beings in the universe, such a devotee has no disappointments in life and has no fear of death.
BABA often used to say that once a person has faith in God, he has achieved everything. There is nothing greater than faith. The devotee's heart is full of virtues like forgiveness, spirit of non-violence, Compassion and love. Thus, these are the virtues of the hero and the characteristic of a true devotee is a courageous patience or Saburi as Sai Baba has put it. Sainath said "surrender yourself completely your body and soul to God.'' One, who has abundant faith (Nishta) and courageous patience (Saburi), will achieve anything what they want through the attainment of God Sai Baba
Hence, Faith, Patience and Love are the ways to fulfill our Material goals as well as to reach 'Moksha'
Self Development Tips !
As long as you are still alive, you are capable of changing and growing. You can do anything you want to do, be anything you want to be. Listen to some positive thoughts on how to continue your self development and then apply them in your own life.
Accept personal responsibility for your own growth; no one can do it for you. What you do today will determine your readiness for tomorrow. Take time every day to do something for yourself. Take classes to stay current in your field of expertise. The world is changing rapidly and you must learn to manage change to avoid obsolescence. The way Will Rogers put this was that "Even if you are on the right track, if you just sit there you will get run over."
Listen to cassette tapes on personal and professional growth topics. Never look back to the past-you only can control your actions in this instant, so what should you be doing right now? Learn from "other people's experience" rather then having to try everything for yourself. It shortens the time needed to learn. Dealing with a problem helps you learn patience and strengthens your management skills; it is good mental exercise. Analyze, in a non-judgmental way, mistakes in which you were involved. It will help you to prevent these in the future. Reward yourself when you catch yourself working on the most important priorities. Never say something can't or won't be done. Keep looking for ways to do it.
After attending a seminar, report to your boss or other people in your organization, what the most important things are that you learned from the program.
For all learning experiences, whether it is reading, seeing, thinking or attending, apply the R squared, A squared formula: Recognize, Relate, Assimilate, and Apply.
These actions will help you grow in the direction of your goals.
Eliminate one time waster a week from your life.
Read a minimum of one chapter of a book a day.
Read a minimum of one book a month.
Be hungry for what life has to offer and go for it.
Decide what you really desire to do-then do it.
When you have the option of reading a book or listening to the cassette tape version of the program, listen to the tape. It will be more to the point and can be done while you are driving, jogging/walking, or getting other routine things done.
Develop a "master mind" group of four or five people with whom you can openly discuss ideas in a nonjudgmental way.
Develop yourself as a resource for others by networking. Find out who does what, when, and for whom. You may find excellent contacts for your future needs and for the needs of others you meet.
Work for balance in your life goals: family, financial, professional, social, spiritual, recreational.
Always keep your goals in mind as you start a new activity.
If you do a lot of work with the calculator, run the machine with the hand you don't use for writing.
Do not be afraid of failing at something. You can learn and change as a result of it.
The most difficult projects are opportunities for your biggest successes just as the most difficult people could become your strongest allies.
Put up pictures of your dreams and goals where you will see them frequently. They will remind you and aid you in focusing and visualizing your goal.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Learn from those people who get more done than you do. Perhaps you can find a way to improve what you are doing.
Find a nonjudgmental mentor who will help you by providing feedback, suggestions, challenges and support.
Identify some "models" and observe their style and actions. Do not copy them but learn from their experiences.
Learn from the errors you see others make as well as from their successes.
Fill your mind with positive ideas, thoughts and inspirations and you will have no room left for the negative.
Trade jobs with someone so you gain additional experience.
Ask for and accept lateral moves in the organization so you learn more about the entire operation.
Do more than your "self doubts" say you can.
Have confidence that you can get through and learn from anything and everything you experience.
Reward yourself with a treat when you have completed a learning objective.
Keep a daily journal, recording your thoughts, ideas, feelings and personal growth progress.
Ask questions, listen, then ask more questions. You will learn as well as help others learn. Ask yourself, "How can I manipulate my fate?" Do things with someone you respect. They will be supportive of you and you will learn from interacting with them.
Seek new information on projects for which you have responsibility. Look for new "ah ha" ideas all the time.
Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.
Remain flexible and constantly adaptable.
Be open to others and sincerely interested in them. You can learn from everyone you meet.
Mentally rehearse a new skill. Your subconscious does not know the difference between actual practice and mental rehearsal.
Keep a record of what you accomplished the previous day(s)/week. If you did not accomplish as much as you wanted, it gives you extra incentive to do better in the next time period.
Make notes of the questions you want answered. Then as the answers come to you, jot them down next to the question.
Work on overcoming personal, nonproductive habits; for example: overeating, smoking, gossip.
Keep an "Idea File" ring binder or notebook in which you record all new ideas. At least once a week in a standing appointment with yourself, review your ideas.
( Author not known )
Ten Keys for Success !!!
Personal effectiveness is a matter of style and substance. It’s also a matter of personal values, character, humanness and confidence in the creativity, initiative and capabilities of others. Above all it’s a matter of ‘engaging’ other human beings. Here are ten keys for effectiveness and success.
1. Develop a vision! Planning for the longer term pays off, and working backwards from a vision of the desired end result creates clarity and purpose. People want to follow someone who knows where he or she is going.
2. Simplify! You need to see the big picture in order to set a course, communicate it and maintain it. Keep the details at bay. You also need to then simplify reality and identify the essential activities and action steps to get there. Keep the incessant ‘busy-ness’ at bay. Focus on what really matters in terms of customers, value added and performance.
3. Trust your people! You can’t expect them to go all out for you if they think you don’t believe in them. And they definitely will not go all out if they don’t trust you. Be trustworthy and build trust by ‘trusting’.
4. Keep your cool! The best leaders show their mettle under fire. Stay ‘in command’ with full attention to all of what’s going on.
5. Be an expert! Everyone had better understand that you know what you’re talking about. And even when you don’t know you’re an expert in finding out.
6. Encourage risk! Encourage individuals to take chances and to accept error and failure as an inherent facet of learning and growth. Encourage and unleash the creativity of those around you.
7. Invite dissent! You’re not getting the best or learning how to lead if people are afraid to speak up and engage themselves in what you’re up to. Heat and friction are natural ingredients of energized and high performing individuals and groups.
8. Remove obstacles! Remove obstacles and barriers, and provide the tools, training, systems and structures to act and to grow.
9. Develop ownership! Stimulate self directed action and transfer responsibility and ownership to those who do the work.
10. Tell the truth! There is no more effective method of engaging individuals and making a difference than telling the truth - about what is happening, what you want, how you want to get there, and what you want, need and expect from others. A ‘ruthless commitment’ to telling the truth is perhaps the most liberating and refreshing approach to effectiveness in any context. All part of ‘the quiet work of leadership.’
Daily Planning
God , give me courage to do what is right . Courage to fight for Honesty , Goodness, Justice and Truth . Courage to choose the good in my youth. Courage to own when i 'm in the wrong and Courage to face the day with a song. Courage to guard my thoughts and my tongue . Courage to choose the right when I'm young ......Quest of Excellence
Life is made up of days and hours.
How do you spend the 24 hours in your day? Do you live like a mere passive spectator allowing your days to slip by as you get older and older ?Or do you take care of your days and thereby your life, like a champion who is in control of the situation?
Is your day a part of your life or just another day that comes and goes like a silent breeze stirring nothing inside as well outside? As you spend the day, do you think you are in charge of your time and working for your goals or feel that you just did nothing ?
Remember, each day must in some way contribute to your over all goals. Each day must in some way be connected to the rest of your life. Each day must in some way should contribute to your general welfare and happiness.
There is no exaggeration in stating that you take care of your days and you will take care of your life. Are you conscious of how the time passes in and our of your life each day? Do you plan your activities?
If you are aware of these things, which normally many are, it is great. You are one of those intelligent persons with an eye towards happiness and success. But if you are not doing it for one reason or the other, perhaps some little rethinking may be required.
The following suggestions are helpful in shaping the day and keeping oneself organized. Remember ultimately it is your responsibility to make things happen or to become one of those highly effective people.
1)Wake up early
2)Start the day with some positive thoughts. Use positive affirmations if necessary.
3)Express gratitude for every thing that has been happening in your life.
4)Affirm your faith in God and in your self.
5)Make a resolution to perform at least three kind acts during the day.
6)Select the most important task for the day and resolve to do it as perfectly as possible.
7)Greet your family members with a warm smile and send them your thoughts of love silently.
8)Chose your food carefully, eating only that which do not cause indigestion or flatulence.
9)Spend some time in prayer or total silence.
10)Resolve to spend some quality time with your family members sometime during the day.
11)Try to learn something new during the day, either about your job, yourself, some new word or skill or some new subject.
12)Find time to perform some tasks that contribute towards achieving your life's primary goals.
13)Spend sometime in serious reading to stretch your mind and improve your thinking.
14)Review the days performance as you close the day. Note the areas where you performed satisfactorily and the areas where you need improvement. Can you recollect the happiest moments of the day? Can you summarize what you have learned newly during the day? Think and analyze.
15)If you are interested or if you have time you can maintain a dairy. and write down the important events of the day.
16)Take adequate rest.
17)Look for tomorrow with a positive mind.
18)And finally consider the following:
If the average life span of a person is 100 years, he has 36500 days only to live. Of this at least for 5000 days (say from the age of 85 onwards) he would be too old to undertake any exerting activity. From the remaining 31500 days subtract the number of days you have already spent.
How many days are then left in your account? And how do you propose to spend them? Just think about it.
Life is made up of days and hours.
How do you spend the 24 hours in your day? Do you live like a mere passive spectator allowing your days to slip by as you get older and older ?Or do you take care of your days and thereby your life, like a champion who is in control of the situation?
Is your day a part of your life or just another day that comes and goes like a silent breeze stirring nothing inside as well outside? As you spend the day, do you think you are in charge of your time and working for your goals or feel that you just did nothing ?
Remember, each day must in some way contribute to your over all goals. Each day must in some way be connected to the rest of your life. Each day must in some way should contribute to your general welfare and happiness.
There is no exaggeration in stating that you take care of your days and you will take care of your life. Are you conscious of how the time passes in and our of your life each day? Do you plan your activities?
If you are aware of these things, which normally many are, it is great. You are one of those intelligent persons with an eye towards happiness and success. But if you are not doing it for one reason or the other, perhaps some little rethinking may be required.
The following suggestions are helpful in shaping the day and keeping oneself organized. Remember ultimately it is your responsibility to make things happen or to become one of those highly effective people.
1)Wake up early
2)Start the day with some positive thoughts. Use positive affirmations if necessary.
3)Express gratitude for every thing that has been happening in your life.
4)Affirm your faith in God and in your self.
5)Make a resolution to perform at least three kind acts during the day.
6)Select the most important task for the day and resolve to do it as perfectly as possible.
7)Greet your family members with a warm smile and send them your thoughts of love silently.
8)Chose your food carefully, eating only that which do not cause indigestion or flatulence.
9)Spend some time in prayer or total silence.
10)Resolve to spend some quality time with your family members sometime during the day.
11)Try to learn something new during the day, either about your job, yourself, some new word or skill or some new subject.
12)Find time to perform some tasks that contribute towards achieving your life's primary goals.
13)Spend sometime in serious reading to stretch your mind and improve your thinking.
14)Review the days performance as you close the day. Note the areas where you performed satisfactorily and the areas where you need improvement. Can you recollect the happiest moments of the day? Can you summarize what you have learned newly during the day? Think and analyze.
15)If you are interested or if you have time you can maintain a dairy. and write down the important events of the day.
16)Take adequate rest.
17)Look for tomorrow with a positive mind.
18)And finally consider the following:
If the average life span of a person is 100 years, he has 36500 days only to live. Of this at least for 5000 days (say from the age of 85 onwards) he would be too old to undertake any exerting activity. From the remaining 31500 days subtract the number of days you have already spent.
How many days are then left in your account? And how do you propose to spend them? Just think about it.
Body Language
Eye contact is the most obvious way you communicate. When you are looking at the other person, you show interest. When you fail to make eye contact, you give the impression that the other person is of no importance. Maintain eye contact about 50% of the time in order to look interested, but not aggressive.
Facial expression is another form of non-verbal communication. A smile sends a positive message and is appropriate in all but a life and death situation. Smiling adds warmth and an aura of confidence. Others will be more receptive if you remember to check your expression.
Your mouth gives clues, too, and not just when you are speaking. Mouth movements, such as pursing your lips or twisting them to one side, can indicate that you are thinking about what you are hearing or that you are holding something back.
The position of your head speaks to people. Keeping your head straight, which is not the same as keeping your head on straight, will make you appear self-assured and authoritative. People will take you seriously. Tilt your head to one side if you want to come across as friendly and open.
How receptive you are is suggested by where you place your arms. Arms crossed or folded over your chest say that you have shut other people out and have no interest in them or what they are saying. This position can also say, "I don't agree with you." You might just be cold, but unless you shiver at the same time, the person in front of you may get the wrong message.
How you use your arms can help or hurt your image as well. Waving them about may show enthusiasm to some, but others see this gesture as one of uncertainty and immaturity. The best place for your arms is by your side. You will look confident and relaxed. If this is hard for you, do what you always do when you want to get better at something - practice. After a while, it will feel natural.
The angle of your body gives an indication to others about what's going through your head. Leaning in says, "Tell me more." Leaning away signals you've heard enough. Adding a nod of your head is another way to affirm that you are listening.
Posture is just as important as your grandmother always said it was. Sit or stand erect if you want to be seen as alert and enthusiastic. When you slump in your chair or lean on the wall, you look tired. No one wants to do business with someone who has no energy.
Control your hands by paying attention to where they are. In the business world, particularly when you deal with people from other cultures, your hands need to be seen. That would mean you should keep them out of your pockets and you should resist the urge to put them under the table or behind your back. Having your hands anywhere above the neck, fidgeting with your hair or rubbing your face, is unprofessional.
Legs talk, too. A lot of movement indicates nervousness. How and where you cross them tells others how you feel. The preferred positions for the polished professional are feet flat on the floor or legs crossed at the ankles. The least professional and most offensive position is resting one leg or ankle on top of your other knee. Some people call this the "Figure Four." It can make you look arrogant.
The distance you keep from others is crucial if you want to establish good rapport. Standing too close or "in someone's face" will mark you as pushy. Positioning yourself too far away will make you seem standoffish. Neither is what you want so find the happy medium. Most importantly, do what makes the other person feel comfortable. If the person with whom you are speaking keeps backing away from you, stop. Either that person needs space or you need a breath mint.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Accomplish Big Goals in Three Steps
When was the last time you ate an elephant? I'm sure you want to know "Why would I do that?" How about something tastier? How do you eat a 1,000 pound marshmallow? Is that better? The answer is the same either way: One bite at a time!
Now, I doubt that you want to eat either an elephant or a 1,000 pound marshmallow. But, do you have a big goal? Does it seem overwhelming but yet something you really want to accomplish? Is the goal so big that you just can't figure out how to "just do it"?
This isn't abnormal, it's more normal than you think. Most of us have some big goals, things we want to accomplish that will take concentrated effort over a long period of time. We all have a 1,000 pound marshmallow to eat from time to time so we'll each need to decide how to eat it one bite at a time! How can we do that?
Step 1: Analyze
The first step is to examine your goal and determine what smaller, more managable goals will lead to the accomplishment of the large goal. Years ago I was working for a computer company that had its own huge goal. (In fact, that's the first time I had heard the question "How do you eat a 1000 pound marshmallow"!) We were going to develop a brand new computer with all new hardware, all new software, all new everything!
Step 1 was very important because we had to know what all the pieces would be before we could plan how to put them together. Your big goal is like that too. What are all the "pieces" that you'll need to accomplish in and of themselves before you can bring everything together to achieve your goal? This is an important part of the process, so do the analysis carefully and get help if you can't answer all the questions yourself.
So, in Step 1 you need to analyze where you are right now. You can't really start working toward the goal until you understand how big the project will be. What, exactly, is the goal you want to achieve? Do you need additional skills or education? How much time and effort will you be able to apply on a regular basis? Are you going to need someone guiding you along the way, or can you create your plan on your own? If you have a big goal, you need to do a thorough analysis of what needs to be done before you start.
Here's a tip. Take your time with this step and do it carefully and you'll gain a lot of time as you progress down the road. The time you spend analyzing and planning the achievement of your goal is not time spent, it's time invested and it will pay great dividends as time passes!
So, step 1 is where you really examine the marshmallow and figure out how you will divide it into bite-sized pieces so you can eat the whole thing!
Step 2: Plan Your Work
Now that you've analyzed your goal and how you can achieve it you can begin planning how and when you're going to accomplish each bite-sized piece. From your analysis, you know what the pieces are and whether there's a particular order in which they should be accomplished.
You need to create a plan that's broken down into those "bite-sized" pieces. By doing this, you will be identifying the incremental steps you will be achieving on your path to the goal. Be sure that each step provides meaningful progress toward your goal, but don't make them so large that they seem insurmountable. If you do this right, you will move from one step to the next with a good attitude because you have accomplished something significant (in the step you just completed); and you will have no problem believing that you can accomplish the next one as well.
As you develop your plan, you'll find Some things will have to be done in a chronological order while others can be done in parallel. When you can work items in parallel, you reduce the total time it will take to reach your goal.
Remember that computer project I told you about? We didn't need to wait for the processor to be completely built and running before we started developing the software. These things could be done at the same time. But, they both had to be done before we could do any testing of the complete product. That step had to wait for the right time in the project before it could be attempted.
How does this apply to your goals? Perhaps you have a career goal that will require additional education but also require that you to obtain specific job experience. You can probably attend college classes at night while you gain your job experience at your job during the day. You can work on these steps concurrently. By doing so, your job experience and your education will both be recent and relavent when you are ready for the next step.
Step 2 is another high-return investment that you are making in your goal achievement. Be sure to give it the time and concentration it deserves.
Step 3: Work Your Plan
Now it's time to start eating that marshmallow! You are now ready to work your plan. You know you have a good plan and that it will take you to your goal. If you've done your plan carefully you will have milestones (or checkpoints) built in that will demonstrate your progress and give you the positive feedback you'll need to keep going.
Remember that marshmallow? Basically, you've marked it up so you'll know how big the pieces need to be as you cut them. If you cut them too large, they'll be too hard to chew. (Can you imagine putting too much marshmallow in your mouth and having to deal with it?) But, if you cut the pieces too small, you'll munch away and never seem to be making any progress.
As you complete each step you're making progress and probably gaining more motivation as you go. Why? Because you are experiencing the good feelings of accomplishment, and you are showing yourself more and more that you really can achieve your goal. As you do this, you are actually increasing your motivation AND your momentum!
So, work your plan, track your progress, and reward yourself as you accomplish significant pieces of your plan.
Go ahead, eat that marshmallow! Just remember what your mother taught you about not putting too much food in your mouth at once and to chew each bite thoroughly before swallowing. Soon your "meal" will be finished and you'll be looking for the next one. (whatever happened to that elephant...maybe you're ready for it next!)
Mastering Your Mind Power: Affirm, Affirm, Affirm!
Armed with a list of the things, conditions, circumstances, and people you truly want in your life, how do you now give the items on your list the best possibility of becoming your new consistent thoughts? Actually, you use the same process you used to make your the items on your DO NOT WANT list your consistent thoughts. The major difference is you are now going to be conscious and aware of the process. You now also have your own clearly defined objectives in mind.
What is the process? If you will think back to your very earliest learning experiences, whether it was learning to crawl, to walk, to master the alphabets, or to read, the process was basically one of spaced repetition. Your parents or caregiver would coax you into the activity and engage you in it for a short while. They would likely affirm how well you were doing, heap lots of praise and positive reinforcement upon you, and leave the activity behind for a time. They would later repeat the pattern of coaxing, engaging, affirming, reinforcing, and leaving the activity behind again.
When it came to learning what is now DO NOT WANT activities and behavior, coaxing, in many cases, gradually became demands. Most of the other components of the process remained intact. Pretty simple, is it not?
You are an adult now, and as your DO NOT WANT list will verify, you have lots of mental baggage to discard if you are going to successfully master your mind power and move yourself more toward the kinds of life experiences you desire. Discarding, in this case, really means developing new consistent thoughts and behavioral patterns that are the exact opposite of those you are leaving behind.
A couple of the components in the process will require a significant shift in emphasis. Repeating affirmations will now take center stage in the process, followed closely by positive reinforcement. In my most humble opinion, the use of affirmations is the most powerful free tool available to you and other people of sound mind to take control of your mind power and put it to use for your ends.
As you begin to use affirmations, I think you will understand why I feel so strongly that at least an overview of the self image (personality, ego, map of reality, etc.) is so important. You should be alerted that particularly early on, the self image is going to be extremely active attempting to convince you that your effort to change your life is a waste of time.
It has an arsenal of fears, doubts, and phobias to inject into your thinking process, and it will regularly attempt to direct you back into the direction of your old familiar DO NOT WANT world. Perhaps the most popular trick it uses is to allow you to repeat your affirmation and just as you are ending it, the self image will then ease a tail-ender into your regimen. A tail-ender is a very subtle thought that is in reality the reverse of the affirmation you just completed.
This I know for sure. You can claim or re-claim control of your own mind power. You are the most miraculous of all living beings on earth. You are the owner of a mind that is so stupendous, that as you truly begin mastering your mind power and consciously using it, there is no dream that you can dream that you cannot achieve.
How to Recognize Your Psychic Ability
More and more people are trying to seek psychic helps for their problems that they think can only be understood by psychic. Besides helping these sufferers, you can make a good income if you learn or to be more exact recognize your psychic abilities and polish them accordingly. Here are some ways that can help you to utilize your psychic abilities like a true genuine psychic.
Try to know who you are
If have the knack to explore yourself and your feeling time by time, you can develop a psychic ability in yourself .Try to peep in tomorrow and then compare your predictions with the current occurrences of that day. One day you will surely be able to predict about future events in a very precise way.
Choose a right guru
You can have best knowledge of your psychic ability if you seek help of a right guru who can guide you about the ups and downs of this way and make you feel confidence about your abilities.
Practice makes man perfect
You must keep in mind that hard work never goes unrewarded and sooner or later you begin to get the reward of your hard work. So, try to do some practice daily with complete devotion and seriousness to develop your psychic abilities.
Test your abilities time by time
You can test your abilities with your friends and family .You get more and more confidence if you begin to help people out with your abilities.
Help others out from distress
Nothing is fairer than to help others out from distress, in this way you not only get satisfaction but also begin to win others respect. So, always try to utilize your abilities for the good of others and soon you will find your psychic abilities at its peak.
Factors that affect your psychic abilities
Meditations, right food, connecting to nature and exercises are those factors that help you a lot to increase your psychic abilities.
Believe in your abilities
Once you get confidence and begin to believe in your abilities, it becomes quite easier for you to cover the rest of the distance that goes towards your psychic goal.
Help others to develop their psychic abilities
The best way to retain or enhance your psychic powers is to teach these abilities to others. Tell the people how did you develop your psychic abilities and how can they develop theirs.
If you find signs in yourself to be a psychic, you must explore your abilities with seriousness and devotion keeping in mind that you have been gifted with these abilities and all you need is to explore them.
Try to know who you are
If have the knack to explore yourself and your feeling time by time, you can develop a psychic ability in yourself .Try to peep in tomorrow and then compare your predictions with the current occurrences of that day. One day you will surely be able to predict about future events in a very precise way.
Choose a right guru
You can have best knowledge of your psychic ability if you seek help of a right guru who can guide you about the ups and downs of this way and make you feel confidence about your abilities.
Practice makes man perfect
You must keep in mind that hard work never goes unrewarded and sooner or later you begin to get the reward of your hard work. So, try to do some practice daily with complete devotion and seriousness to develop your psychic abilities.
Test your abilities time by time
You can test your abilities with your friends and family .You get more and more confidence if you begin to help people out with your abilities.
Help others out from distress
Nothing is fairer than to help others out from distress, in this way you not only get satisfaction but also begin to win others respect. So, always try to utilize your abilities for the good of others and soon you will find your psychic abilities at its peak.
Factors that affect your psychic abilities
Meditations, right food, connecting to nature and exercises are those factors that help you a lot to increase your psychic abilities.
Believe in your abilities
Once you get confidence and begin to believe in your abilities, it becomes quite easier for you to cover the rest of the distance that goes towards your psychic goal.
Help others to develop their psychic abilities
The best way to retain or enhance your psychic powers is to teach these abilities to others. Tell the people how did you develop your psychic abilities and how can they develop theirs.
If you find signs in yourself to be a psychic, you must explore your abilities with seriousness and devotion keeping in mind that you have been gifted with these abilities and all you need is to explore them.
Boost Your Self-Confidence by Just Looking Better
Confidence is a feeling of self reliance, a sentiment that is often associated with self esteem. Confidence is more often related to beauty, especially amongst women. If a person feels beautiful and looks it, while receiving significant attention, this can help to boost up their self confidence immensely.
Everybody likes to look beautiful and graceful and in turn, improve their self confidence. You too can achieve this satisfactory feeling by paying extra attention to your looks. Give it a try and be amazed at the difference it would make in your life.
How do you enhance your natural beauty? Do you have to create a dent in your bank balance and follow very complicated procedures? No, not at all, by following some simple steps on a regular basis, with extra care on your day to day maintenance of yourself, you too can become a noticeable beauty.
Beauty can be categorized as physical beauty and spiritual beauty. If you aim to achieve both aspects, then you will be able to retain your youth and looks for a longer period. Spiritual beauty is the feeling that comes from within, by feeling good about yourself and by practicing good thoughts about your surroundings. It is a cleansing of the body from within, which helps heighten your looks and gives you a healthy glow that will inevitably enhance your physical features.
Physical beauty too can be achieved by following a few simple steps on a routine basis. Learn to practice the following tips in your daily schedule, and you will discover amazing changes in the way you look and present yourself to the world.
1. Take care of your main attributes, your hair, skin and face
Pay individual attention to your hair, skin and face. Maintain the health of your hair and follow a regular routine to keep it shining and beautiful. Style your hair to suit your features and visit a beautician if you need extra help in maintaining your crowning glory.
Sustain the moisture in your skin and avoid wrinkles and sunburns. Use regular moisturizer lotions, day creams, sunscreens and night lotions to retain the youth and elasticity of your skin. Opt for natural ingredients as much as you can, adhering to home remedies and simple procedures known to work wonders.
Take care when applying makeup and make it a point to enhance your features in the most natural manner possible. Use eye makeup carefully, avoiding excess use and applying enough to heighten your best features. Apply foundation only when the need arises, trying to improve your natural color as much as possible. Use a night cream on your face to avoid wrinkles and unwanted lines.
2. Eat healthily and heartily
Watch your diet; eat regular healthy and hearty meals. No, you don’t have to go on strict diet routines to maintain your body shape. 3 healthy meals a day, with enough vitamins and nutrients to give you strength to carry out your daily chores is an important practice to follow. Eat your meals from the heart; let the food digest well by taking time with your meals. Try not to rush your meals, at least have one sit down meal with your family. Include fruits, vegetables and green leaves in your regular meals, all of which helps improve your skin tones.
3. Drink plenty of water
Our body needs water to carry out its functions in a healthy manner. Drinking plenty of water is a known remedy to stay fit and healthy. Make it a practice to drink several glasses of water in the morning, before any meals, as it helps cleanse your digestive system. Drinking enough water helps to clear your skin, giving you a beautiful and smooth complexion.
4. Exercise to stay fit
Whether you are over-weight or thin, exercise is important to your body. It helps maintain your physique as well as improves your fitness level. A fit person will always present a pleasant image and this in turn will help enhance your beauty.
5. Improve your surroundings and mood
Make your surroundings cheerful, associate with happy, friendly people, and improve your disposition. Pleasant temperament will undoubtedly result in enhanced beauty. It is amazing how a positive outlook will help improve the way you present yourself to the world and make people see you in a different light. A pleasant individual always appears beautiful to the beholder.
It is evident that to look beautiful, you needn’t follow any strict or complicated rituals. Good, general practices work much better in improving your looks and boosting your self confidence. Make a pledge to practice a healthy routine from today, pay extra attention to your looks and let the result help improve your self esteem.
Time and Energy Uses
Time to make positive changes in your life? Has life somehow got in the way of your good intensions? Oftentimes we get caught in “the doom loop.” The doom loop is analogous to a recycling bin. Old behaviors and habits get recycled back into our lives and we cannot believe things simply will not change.
Time and energy are our two considerations for this discussion.
Time management leads us to believe we are doing something with our lives because we are busy. The question we must consistently ask ourselves is, “Busy doing what?” Lists are made. We cross tasks off one-by-one. At the end of our daze, we make more lists. When life goes flat, we are caught in the doom loop.
Time plus energy can equal positive changes.
Time is a factor, but not in the sense of managing time. Time cannot be managed. Time manages us. Energy management is a new way of thinking and living. The formula is time plus energy equals all of your life’s possibilities and potential.
Time to check your energy. How is it? Great? Good? Okay? Not so good? Bad? Toxic? Caught in the doom loop? Energy management can take you places you may not have considered. Managing your energy levels is possible regardless of your current situation.
Please consider the five possible ways of using your time and energy:
1. Investing your time and energy
2. Spending your time and energy
3. Wasting your time and energy
4. Losing your time and energy
5. Having your time and energy stolen
Time and energy INVESTING: Investing your time and energy always starts with you. There is just one question to ask yourself regarding any situation: “Am I getting the highest return from my investments of my time and energy? Within the answer is the solution. If you are tired, what are you doing to turn this around? Investing your time and energy in your health will give you great returns. Do you need more education? Investing your time and energy in education also pays high returns. Do you struggle with addictions? Investing your time and energy in getting the help you need pays enormous returns. The good news is everything you need is within reach. By first investing your time and energy in yourself your world becomes bigger not smaller.
Time and energy SPENDING: Spending your time and energy indicates there is an output without input to get something temporary. A parent says, “I spent the weekend with the kids. “What did you do?” “I don’t know? I never saw them.”
Time and energy WASTING: Wasting time and energy has to do with burning up time and energy and accomplishing nothing. This comes in the form of complaining, blaming, judging, criticizing, whining, gossiping, etc.
Time and energy LOST: Losing time and energy has to do with being lost through uncontrolled addictions and behaviors. NEWSBREAK: Programs and people will be waiting for you if you become honest, willing and open... These people have invested their time and energy in getting themselves well and are waiting to assist others.
Time and energy STOLEN: Having your time and energy stolen has to do with hopeless people, places and things which rob the life force from you. Chances are you personally cannot end world hunger. You cannot get the Chinese out of Tibet. You personally cannot bring our troops home from Iraq. Now consider what you can do? Plenty!
Investing your time and energy in yourself (first) is where it all begins. In a world of complex choices, we need something very simple to make sense of it all. Your one, simple, most important choice becomes; investing your time and energy in what will bring you the highest returns – this is you!
Stop wasting time and energy on time management. Time will make significant shifts once a person becomes WHOLE and healed though investing his or her time and energy in what mattersmost.
If things are unpleasant in your life right now, use these poisonous circumstances as motivation to get your energy moving in the right direction. The time is now!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Combating Viruses
Two simple precautions can help keep your computer virus free - install and use software from reliable vendors and avoid opening unexpected e-mail attachments.
Almost all e-mail attachments are potential virus carriers. Some of the most famous viruses were distributed by accessing address books of infected computers and sending e-mail (with attachments) to everyone in the address book.
Even those from known senders should be regarded with suspicion - e-mail addresses can easily be faked to appear to be from someone you know.
The 'Melissa' virus that appeared in 1999, originally posted on an Internet newsgroup, was distributed in a Microsoft Word document. When downloaded and opened the virus accessed the user's address book and sent copies of the document (along with the virus) to the first 50 people in the user's address book.
Every computer that received the virus sent out an additional 50 copies, creating a worldwide slowdown in Internet networks. The effect took only a few hours.
Another widespread virus distributed by e-mail was the 'ILOVEYOU' virus of 2000. When double clicked it sent copies of itself to every e-mail address in the infected computers address book. But far from a problem of the past, viruses are still very much with us.
What to do?
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Antivirus software is available in both commercial and freeware versions with a variety of features and prices, usually from free to less than $50.
Most antivirus software works by examining files as they arrive at the computer and by scanning later at configurable pre-set times. The programs work by examining each e-mail attachment and downloaded file looking for virus 'signatures'.
If a virus is found the user will be alerted and infected programs and attachments can be cleansed of the virus or, if not possible, infected files can be deleted or placed into 'quarantine' where they can't be run.
UPDATES
Whare are signatures? All programs have instructions in a pattern. Computer viruses - like their biological counterparts - come in known, though evolving, patterns. The fact of evolution is the reason virus-checking files need to be regularly updated. Updated files contain lists and the characteristics of new signatures.
Most antivirus software can be configured to alert you when the virus checking files are out of date, and even to automatically refresh signature files with the latest versions.
USER PARTICIPATION
Users can become complacent after installing antivirus software, thinking they're totally protected and don't need to worry about becoming infected.
Apart from the fact that antivirus software is written by humans, who can make errors, vendors can only react to viruses after they're created. By that time, much damage can already have been done. An e-mail attachment or program may be infected with a new type of virus that your software cannot (yet) detect.
Some antivirus software can - to a limited extent - detect virus activity even without being able to identify a particular virus. This is an extra level of protection against the latest viruses, but still shouldn't allow users to become overconfident.
Always use trusted sources for downloading software and treat every e-mail attachment with caution.
OTHER INFECTION ROUTES
Lastly, a special note about CDs and DVDs. While they can't be written to (those that can are called CD-R's, DVD-R/W or some variation), they can still contain viruses. Users who burn their own CDs or DVDs - inexpensive and easy these days - can accidentally copy infected programs onto the disc. Since CDs can contain files that automatically act when the disc is inserted, it's possible - though rare - for viruses to be spread without additional user action.
Once again, the lesson is clear. Only accept material from those you know and trust, and who practice 'safe file sharing'.
Be safe out there, now.
Almost all e-mail attachments are potential virus carriers. Some of the most famous viruses were distributed by accessing address books of infected computers and sending e-mail (with attachments) to everyone in the address book.
Even those from known senders should be regarded with suspicion - e-mail addresses can easily be faked to appear to be from someone you know.
The 'Melissa' virus that appeared in 1999, originally posted on an Internet newsgroup, was distributed in a Microsoft Word document. When downloaded and opened the virus accessed the user's address book and sent copies of the document (along with the virus) to the first 50 people in the user's address book.
Every computer that received the virus sent out an additional 50 copies, creating a worldwide slowdown in Internet networks. The effect took only a few hours.
Another widespread virus distributed by e-mail was the 'ILOVEYOU' virus of 2000. When double clicked it sent copies of itself to every e-mail address in the infected computers address book. But far from a problem of the past, viruses are still very much with us.
What to do?
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Antivirus software is available in both commercial and freeware versions with a variety of features and prices, usually from free to less than $50.
Most antivirus software works by examining files as they arrive at the computer and by scanning later at configurable pre-set times. The programs work by examining each e-mail attachment and downloaded file looking for virus 'signatures'.
If a virus is found the user will be alerted and infected programs and attachments can be cleansed of the virus or, if not possible, infected files can be deleted or placed into 'quarantine' where they can't be run.
UPDATES
Whare are signatures? All programs have instructions in a pattern. Computer viruses - like their biological counterparts - come in known, though evolving, patterns. The fact of evolution is the reason virus-checking files need to be regularly updated. Updated files contain lists and the characteristics of new signatures.
Most antivirus software can be configured to alert you when the virus checking files are out of date, and even to automatically refresh signature files with the latest versions.
USER PARTICIPATION
Users can become complacent after installing antivirus software, thinking they're totally protected and don't need to worry about becoming infected.
Apart from the fact that antivirus software is written by humans, who can make errors, vendors can only react to viruses after they're created. By that time, much damage can already have been done. An e-mail attachment or program may be infected with a new type of virus that your software cannot (yet) detect.
Some antivirus software can - to a limited extent - detect virus activity even without being able to identify a particular virus. This is an extra level of protection against the latest viruses, but still shouldn't allow users to become overconfident.
Always use trusted sources for downloading software and treat every e-mail attachment with caution.
OTHER INFECTION ROUTES
Lastly, a special note about CDs and DVDs. While they can't be written to (those that can are called CD-R's, DVD-R/W or some variation), they can still contain viruses. Users who burn their own CDs or DVDs - inexpensive and easy these days - can accidentally copy infected programs onto the disc. Since CDs can contain files that automatically act when the disc is inserted, it's possible - though rare - for viruses to be spread without additional user action.
Once again, the lesson is clear. Only accept material from those you know and trust, and who practice 'safe file sharing'.
Be safe out there, now.
Choose The Best Password: The Key To Your Account
The password for the various protected internet/computer accounts is a set of characters, in a specific sequence and case sensitive. Together with the unique user name or ID, the password confirms that the user or person trying to access the account is the real one. The user name or ID is normally displayed or shown in the log in box or in the pages of the account but the password is supposed to be known only to the account user or owner and the system that runs the account.
The minimum and maximum number of characters in a password depends also on the system set and it normally consists of letters in upper or lower cases, numbers and other characters.
As the password is entered, it appears only as asterisks in the space provided so that its secrecy is maintained.
The internet has really changed the ways things are done. Very important and secure transactions, like payments for purchases, banking as well as safekeeping and transfer of sensitive documents and other files are processed online. With the increase in online transactions, so are the number of cyber thieves who have developed techniques to crack the passwords. Most of the time, the account owner is to blame because the password isn't strong enough to ward off 'hackers" trying to break it.
Choosing The Best Password
How do you choose the best password that is strong enough to withstand any attempts to access the account? Here are some tips in creating passwords:
1. Don't use a password that is in the dictionary, even the foreign ones. There are password cracking software to determine the exact word in seconds.
2. Don't use passwords that are associated to you like your maiden name, place of birth, Social Security number, children's names, phone numbers. Mix upper and lower case letters with numbers and other symbols allowed by the system like "miG67Ped." This would take a long time to guess and the "hacker" will most likely just leave and go to the next target. However, the account owner should make sure there is a way to remember the password. One way is to associate the words and numbers with easy-to-remember words, dates or names. The password could also be saved on a CD or USB and copied to the log in form. Keep any password record offline.
3. Don't use a password that is used on your other accounts.
4. Don't use commonly used passwords like " 12345678"
5. Use a password generating and auto-filling software. This will solve the problem of keyloggers taking note while the password is being entered and the problem of forgotten passwords.
The password is like the secret key to a secured internet/computer account. Make sure it can really secure the account.
The minimum and maximum number of characters in a password depends also on the system set and it normally consists of letters in upper or lower cases, numbers and other characters.
As the password is entered, it appears only as asterisks in the space provided so that its secrecy is maintained.
The internet has really changed the ways things are done. Very important and secure transactions, like payments for purchases, banking as well as safekeeping and transfer of sensitive documents and other files are processed online. With the increase in online transactions, so are the number of cyber thieves who have developed techniques to crack the passwords. Most of the time, the account owner is to blame because the password isn't strong enough to ward off 'hackers" trying to break it.
Choosing The Best Password
How do you choose the best password that is strong enough to withstand any attempts to access the account? Here are some tips in creating passwords:
1. Don't use a password that is in the dictionary, even the foreign ones. There are password cracking software to determine the exact word in seconds.
2. Don't use passwords that are associated to you like your maiden name, place of birth, Social Security number, children's names, phone numbers. Mix upper and lower case letters with numbers and other symbols allowed by the system like "miG67Ped." This would take a long time to guess and the "hacker" will most likely just leave and go to the next target. However, the account owner should make sure there is a way to remember the password. One way is to associate the words and numbers with easy-to-remember words, dates or names. The password could also be saved on a CD or USB and copied to the log in form. Keep any password record offline.
3. Don't use a password that is used on your other accounts.
4. Don't use commonly used passwords like " 12345678"
5. Use a password generating and auto-filling software. This will solve the problem of keyloggers taking note while the password is being entered and the problem of forgotten passwords.
The password is like the secret key to a secured internet/computer account. Make sure it can really secure the account.
What Is A Computer Virus, Anyway?
Combating infections and removing viruses is now big business. Lesson one is 'knowing the enemy'.
THE ENEMY - Crackers and Hackers
Geeks make a distinction between crackers, who break into systems to do damage, and hackers who enjoy taking programs apart just to see how they tick. We'll stick with the more common, though less accurate, term of hacker. (The term 'hacker' originally meant 'someone who makes furniture' with an axe. Crude, but effective - like most computer viruses.)
Viruses are actually a particular type of computer 'malware' - a general term covering all types of malicious software. The most common types are viruses, worms and Trojan horses.
VIRUSES
A virus is usually hidden inside another program such as an installation program delivered via e-mail attachment. (Biological viruses require a host organism to live and reproduce, hence the name.) When the 'host' program is run, the virus program also runs. Once it's in memory the virus is able to do its dirty work, which usually includes infecting other programs.
After the infection stage of the virus, there's a destructive stage. The virus waits for a pre-determined trigger (such as a specific date or a certain number of times the virus has replicated itself) before delivering its 'payload'. Payloads range from simple messages to file deletion commands to destruction of the core operating system.
When first developed, computer viruses were commonly distributed on floppy disks. With the growth of the Internet downloaded files and e-mail are the preferred delivery mechanisms. E-mail can contain attachments which can be any kind of computer file. Any executable file can be infected with a virus, and shouldn't be run unless you're confident they're virus free.
WORMS
Worms are similar to viruses in that they're self-replicating. They reproduce themselves across networks without human assistance, such as e-mail sending. A worm, though, doesn't need another executable program to be distributed.
Worms usually affect networks more than individual computers on the network. Their self-replicating behavior can overload network resources, causing slowdowns in data transmission by consuming massive bandwidth normally used to forward normal traffic. Network systems that route Internet traffic are just specialized computer hardware and software. They, too, can be affected by malware.
Worms can also be designed to carry a payload, using a 'backdoor' installation program. A backdoor is a hidden access point to a computer that bypasses the normal login procedure. They're commonly used by spammers to distribute junk e-mail, for example.
TROJAN HORSES
Trojan horses are the third common type of malware. A 'trojan' is a program that pretends to do one thing but actually does something different. (The term comes from the story of the Greeks who built a large wooden horse in which to hide. Their enemies, the Trojans persuaded they'd receive a gift, took the horse inside their compound giving the Greeks easy access to wreak havoc.) Unlike viruses or worms, a Trojan doesn't replicate itself.
Trojans may be hidden in otherwise useful software. Once started they can do almost anything including erasing data, corrupting files, installing backdoors and logging keystrokes so that hackers can steal information such as credit card numbers and passwords.
FIGHTING MALWARE
Elsewhere in the series, we'll discuss what is and can be done to combat the spread of malware. In the interim, just remember not to be passive and expect the problem to be solved by others. Fighting viruses requires active participation from vendors, webmasters AND users.
THE ENEMY - Crackers and Hackers
Geeks make a distinction between crackers, who break into systems to do damage, and hackers who enjoy taking programs apart just to see how they tick. We'll stick with the more common, though less accurate, term of hacker. (The term 'hacker' originally meant 'someone who makes furniture' with an axe. Crude, but effective - like most computer viruses.)
Viruses are actually a particular type of computer 'malware' - a general term covering all types of malicious software. The most common types are viruses, worms and Trojan horses.
VIRUSES
A virus is usually hidden inside another program such as an installation program delivered via e-mail attachment. (Biological viruses require a host organism to live and reproduce, hence the name.) When the 'host' program is run, the virus program also runs. Once it's in memory the virus is able to do its dirty work, which usually includes infecting other programs.
After the infection stage of the virus, there's a destructive stage. The virus waits for a pre-determined trigger (such as a specific date or a certain number of times the virus has replicated itself) before delivering its 'payload'. Payloads range from simple messages to file deletion commands to destruction of the core operating system.
When first developed, computer viruses were commonly distributed on floppy disks. With the growth of the Internet downloaded files and e-mail are the preferred delivery mechanisms. E-mail can contain attachments which can be any kind of computer file. Any executable file can be infected with a virus, and shouldn't be run unless you're confident they're virus free.
WORMS
Worms are similar to viruses in that they're self-replicating. They reproduce themselves across networks without human assistance, such as e-mail sending. A worm, though, doesn't need another executable program to be distributed.
Worms usually affect networks more than individual computers on the network. Their self-replicating behavior can overload network resources, causing slowdowns in data transmission by consuming massive bandwidth normally used to forward normal traffic. Network systems that route Internet traffic are just specialized computer hardware and software. They, too, can be affected by malware.
Worms can also be designed to carry a payload, using a 'backdoor' installation program. A backdoor is a hidden access point to a computer that bypasses the normal login procedure. They're commonly used by spammers to distribute junk e-mail, for example.
TROJAN HORSES
Trojan horses are the third common type of malware. A 'trojan' is a program that pretends to do one thing but actually does something different. (The term comes from the story of the Greeks who built a large wooden horse in which to hide. Their enemies, the Trojans persuaded they'd receive a gift, took the horse inside their compound giving the Greeks easy access to wreak havoc.) Unlike viruses or worms, a Trojan doesn't replicate itself.
Trojans may be hidden in otherwise useful software. Once started they can do almost anything including erasing data, corrupting files, installing backdoors and logging keystrokes so that hackers can steal information such as credit card numbers and passwords.
FIGHTING MALWARE
Elsewhere in the series, we'll discuss what is and can be done to combat the spread of malware. In the interim, just remember not to be passive and expect the problem to be solved by others. Fighting viruses requires active participation from vendors, webmasters AND users.
How To Block Pop-Up Ads In Your PC
Numerous online marketers and companies are aiming to maximize the use of the Internet. Because most consumers are getting online nowadays, various businesses are targeting catching the attention of prospective clients. Thus, as a sign of desperation, those marketers are launching pop-up advertisements.
Pop-up ads are very rampant and common. There are always pop-up ads appearing on your computer screen. Often, those unimportant and insignificant ads are annoying because they are hampering and blocking your computer usage. Here are some measures that will help you prevent or block pop-up ads.
- There are numerous pop-up ads blockers that can easily and conveniently be downloaded online. Basically, you should install any one of those blocking programs and run them so that on your next Internet log on, you will be spared form the hassles of pop-up ads. Most pop-up ads blockers are offered to the market for free from giant search engines like Google and Yahoo.
- If you are using Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows XP and Windows 2000, you can effectively block pop-up ads by installing on your personal computer Windows XP's Firewall or by updating into Windows XP SP2. Doing so will automatically block messenger service and messenger spam, which almost always constitutes pop-up ads.
- Download an anti-virus software that will at the same time function to detect and block different forms of pop-up ads arising from Spyware and Ad-ware. Such anti-virus programs aren't just helpful in keeping you protected from software virus. They are also effective in blocking pop-up ads that are most likely coming up with embedded viruses.
- Refrain from connecting to the online media without first running your firewall and your reliable anti-virus software. If you have installed a pop-up blocker, it will automatically function upon logging in to the Internet.
- Don't frequent websites that are known to spread and disseminate unnecessary pop-up ads. Usually, porn sites facilitate wide circulation of such ads.
Overall, pop-up ads can be prevented by being vigilant and by being cautious when checking out different Websites. If you can help it, try to block and prevent such online ads from appearing on your PC screen. Pop-up ads not only disturb you from your online task; they also pose security and virus threats to your PC.
Pop-up ads are very rampant and common. There are always pop-up ads appearing on your computer screen. Often, those unimportant and insignificant ads are annoying because they are hampering and blocking your computer usage. Here are some measures that will help you prevent or block pop-up ads.
- There are numerous pop-up ads blockers that can easily and conveniently be downloaded online. Basically, you should install any one of those blocking programs and run them so that on your next Internet log on, you will be spared form the hassles of pop-up ads. Most pop-up ads blockers are offered to the market for free from giant search engines like Google and Yahoo.
- If you are using Microsoft Corporation's popular Windows XP and Windows 2000, you can effectively block pop-up ads by installing on your personal computer Windows XP's Firewall or by updating into Windows XP SP2. Doing so will automatically block messenger service and messenger spam, which almost always constitutes pop-up ads.
- Download an anti-virus software that will at the same time function to detect and block different forms of pop-up ads arising from Spyware and Ad-ware. Such anti-virus programs aren't just helpful in keeping you protected from software virus. They are also effective in blocking pop-up ads that are most likely coming up with embedded viruses.
- Refrain from connecting to the online media without first running your firewall and your reliable anti-virus software. If you have installed a pop-up blocker, it will automatically function upon logging in to the Internet.
- Don't frequent websites that are known to spread and disseminate unnecessary pop-up ads. Usually, porn sites facilitate wide circulation of such ads.
Overall, pop-up ads can be prevented by being vigilant and by being cautious when checking out different Websites. If you can help it, try to block and prevent such online ads from appearing on your PC screen. Pop-up ads not only disturb you from your online task; they also pose security and virus threats to your PC.
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