365 Exciting Ways to Live: Excitement # 68 : Read and Acquire Knowledge

     Read and Acquire Knowledge

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

– Sir Richard Steele

Fine tune and improve the quality of your ‘reading portfolio’. In an era of infinite and exciting opportunities, we can realise even a very ‘wild’ dream through an effective strategy. Focused knowledge acquisition should be an integral part of our success strategy. Compared to ten years ago, our competition has also grown several times and we should be intelligent enough to survive competition.

The cutting edge which will decide our success is our knowledge base, which will assume great importance in the era of perfect competition. Consider the following:

• Focus on your reading. Do not read everything and anything.
• Read with a purpose. Before reading, decide how it will be useful.
• Set aside specific time and place to read. Even if you skip eating, don’t skip reading!
• Use technology to improve your reading. Use internet, e-books, audio books, iPods etc.

·         Target your reading topic wise, form a discussion group and a study group.

Honestly audit your reading portfolio to check if it is adequate, given your responsibility and ambitions in life. Remember that knowledge acquisition is an important survival strategy and not a luxury anymore!

(From my book '365 Exciting Ways to Live')

NC Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

00000

365 Exciting Ways to Live: Excitement # 67: How do you keep your things?

   How do you keep your things?

I am a big believer that orderliness begets wealth

Suze Orman

Take a look at your computer monitor. Are there scratches or stains? Observe your mobile phone panel. Is it neat? Take a close look at your wrist watch. Do you notice any scratches? Now observe your work table. Is it neat? Is your table cluttered? Carefully observe your car or scooter. Do you maintain them well? When did you clean it yourself last? Take a look at your shoes. When did you last polish it?

The way you keep your things tells volumes about your personality. I have been observing a lot of people from this point of view. I have known some people, who are very meticulous about the things they keep. They take personal care to ensure that the things they use are very clean and neat.

This may appear to be a mere external issue. But beneath this external behaviour is what is called ‘attitude’. If you have the attitude to pay close attention to this factor, you will have the same attitude to your work also. This week, introspect on this aspect of your personality and set a target to improve the same.   You will enjoy the pleasant feeling of an organised person.

(From my book '365 Exciting Ways to Live')

NC Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

00000

365 Exciting Ways to Live: Excitement # 66: Develop People Management Skill

       Develop People Management Skill

Management is nothing more than motivating other people.

-Lee Iacocca

Compared to other resources, human resource is the most sensitive resource to manage since we have to deal with feelings, attitude, ego, values, and sentiments.

How good are you in managing people?  At the highest level of managing an organisation, the ability to manage and motivate human resources becomes very critical.  You will have to take responsibility for not only your actions and behaviours, but also that of others. You should know some important aspects of ‘behaviour management skills’.

Check for the following people management skills in you:

·         The ability to build and maintain a successful team.

·         The ability to communicate powerfully and meaningfully.

·         The ability to empower and motivate people.

·         The ability to assertively disagree.

·         The ability to communicate a different point of view.

·         The ability to manage and lead intellectual people.

·         The ability to be a mentor and guide others.

Honestly evaluate yourself with respect to the above parameters and work out an action plan to improve your people management skills. Take personal responsibility for your people management ability.

(From my book '365 Exciting Ways to Live')

N C Sridharan

www.thetimefoundation.com

00000