Book Review

My hubby has said so many times to me that he loves reading this book and he also shares some of the points he came through in this book. Wish to share the review of this book which I came through in web page.

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell's The Tipping Point has quite a few interesting twists on the subject.
For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.
Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods of Sesame Street and Blue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling, The Tipping Point is one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages.

Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude!

A gentleman once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby. Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?" "No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked. "There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work.

"Where are you going to install the idol?" The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high. "If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked. The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I know it and God knows it!"

Moral - The desire to excel should be exclusive of the fact whether someone appreciates it or not. Excellence is a drive from inside, not outside. Excel at a task today - not necessarily for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction.

Listen to your spouse

More important than saying, is listening. It’s very easy for people to hear, but listening is a different matter. When you listen, you’re all ears. You’re focused and sincere. You’ll know the importance of listening when you understand or remember just how annoying it is when people keep interrupting you when you talk. Being a good listener will pave the way to a great communication process between you and your partner. And when you achieve this, there’s no conflict you can’t resolve by talking things out.

Swami Vivekananda's Quote

“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.”

Existence alone is not success! It is a lot more!

Do more than exist - live

Do more than touch - feel

Do more than look - observe

Do more than read - absorb

Do more than hear - listen

Do more than listen - understand

- John H. Rhoades

Next CEO!

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to chose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different.He called all the young executives in his company together."It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO," he said. "Ihave decided to choose one of you."

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.Six months went by - still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the boardroom...

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back.” My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Here is your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said? Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers."When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what u will reaplater.

Which one you are?

There are three types of people in the world:

Minimizers do as little as possible;

Maintainers do what they need to get by;

Maximizers give it their all.

Which one are you?

Book Review once again

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

I read this book long back but not wholly. Still I was inspired with this book and I wish to complete this book next time. I am here sharing you the Editorial Review I found in some web page.

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks. --Joan Price

We walk by faith, not by sight

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him.Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him. Moral of the story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean that he is not there."For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Belief

As extract from a web page.

Lack of belief in oneself is a killer. It doesn’t help you at all. And you need no one else but yourself to turn things around. Here are a few encouraging words to help you put a little faith into yourself.
Think of your dream and imagine yourself reaching that. Always thinking that you’re capable of succeeding can help the thought sink into your subconscious. Remember, failure begins with disbelief.
Stop thinking of what you can’t do but begin to be think of the things that you can do. Be a “yes” type of person. At least to yourself.
When grabbing opportunities, place your heart into it. Again, believe that you’ll make things happen this time around.
Think BIG, believe BIG. As that realistic proverb says, “Aim for the roof, you fall on the floor. Aim for the sky and you fall on the roof.” But just concentrate on soaring upwards.
As you can see, it’s all in the mind. Start with positive thoughts and the rest will follow.

Piggy Bank

Extracted from a web site.

What’s the one talk kids try to evade from their willing parents? Well this isn’t that talk but it’s just as important. Get your kids around the living room and get them into the money talk. Now that’s something they can really use in the future. Since you won’t always be around, you might wanna pass down on your kid your secrets on how to be good with money.
Some people think that teaching their kids early on about money is bad. This is because money is supposed to be an adult’s problem. But your kids don’t necessarily have to face money problems when they grow up to be adults. If they learn from you while they’re still young, they have a better chance to achieve stable finances later on.
If you had the chance to tell your kid about the essence of savings, will you take advantage of that chance? Suppose your kid got some cash from his grandparents. You take him to a store, and he wants to spend it all on an action figure. What do you do?
Like any other value you want to teach your child, personal finance is just as important, and probably the most practical. You only have to teach them the basics of finance - how to budget, the importance of a piggy bank, and of course, self-discipline.
Teach your kids to account for their spending. People who are financially irresponsible usually don’t know where their money went. And don’t fix their deficit for them. Instead, let them learn how to budget their allowance the hard way.

Do good things.

It can be as simple as smiling at the doorman, or complementing an employee’s good work.

Help a lady cross the street, or a stressed mother carrying a child pick-up a fallen apple from her grocery bag.

You can even volunteer at the city shelter, or tell stories to children at the public library. You can go to a blind school and help those kids in learning their lessons.

Help an elder person to fill in their bank slips or any forms.

Doing good things to others make one feel good about himself too.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for thethings that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked." The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Colourful thought

A good man does not hesitate to admit

he has been in the wrong. He takes comfort in

knowing he is wiser today

than he was yesterday.

A wonderful book that inspires you with stories and theories which helps you to achieve great success is You can win - by Shiv Khera. You can find many things in my blog page extracted from this book. I am so impressed with the stores in this book, which actually teaches even a great thing in a simple way. Enjoy reading this book. It also has some tasks, just try them out. We can even teach our kids with the stories and morals in this book. Its a total life transforming book....you can be able to achieve your dream, vision, goal and passion if you read this book and this book encourages, uplifts a person who want to be successful in life. Though I know this book is very popular and all must be aware since its one of the Best sellers, still want to give my review here. I feel personally very good that Shiv Khera is one such writer who really inspires young minds. Yes Winners don't do different things, but they do things differently.

ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES

What could you think about a child ,who was born three months after the death of his father. Born prematurely, he was a small child; his mother said that he could have fit inside a quart mug.

When He was three, his mother remarried and went to live with her new husband, leaving her son in the care of his maternal grandmother,Began his schooling in the village schools.

When he was 15 yrs, his step father dies and his mother came back & removed him from school and attempted to make a farmer of him. He was, thoroughly unhappy with the work, than one of his high school teacher bring him back to school to complete his education.

At the age of 19 he falls in love, romanced for a year, get engaged to his beloved, as he became engrossed in his studies, the romance cooled & she left him & married someone else and thereafter he never married

Born so unlucky so much hardship for survival & education what can you expect that child to do & achieved in life.

He described universal gravitation (Gravity) and the three laws of motion, invented the reflecting telescope & so many contributions to mathematics Yes we r talking of Sir Isaac NewtonHe did not hide behind the circumstances and become such a great man

Uplifting thoughts..

Many opportunities pass by us. Never let a good opportunity missed. But don’t go jumping in hastily into things Weed out the unrealistic ones. Remember, some schemes, like the get-rich-quick scheme, never work out. Remember as Goethe said, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” Try to make the most out of opportunities. But if you think things aren’t going too well, accept the fact that you might have made a bad decision. Everything will be extremely well or even vise versa and so be prepared even for the worst. Be aware of your strengths and weekness. Kill the word I Can't and upload the word "I Can" in your subconcious mind.

Quotes for the day!

If you think failure and defeat, you invite failure and defeat, you deserve failure and defeat, because you asked for it. If you think success, attainment, fulfilment and achievement, then success indeed it will be. Your life will culminate in fulfilment, in glorious achievements, for you will have invited it. That is what you deserve, and that is what you will receive.-Swami Chidananda

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955).

Parenting Tips

Teach your kids the value of gift-giving. Generally many of us busy with our routine forget such things. Lets teach our child to be excited about giving like receiving. It’s one value they can learn from you.
While you are on shopping take your kid alongwith you and ask her suggestions like, “Will this saree colour looks good on your aunt?”, "shall we but this tie for your dad since he loves wearing this ?”.

Get her involved in such thoughts and accept her comments and get things which she needs to buy for others. Encourge them to buy small gifts for their friends birthday. Don't forget to give your budget as well since they must be aware of your financial limitations too.

Teach her to donate an old toy, dress or some books for less unfortunate kids. Let she know that some people out there doesnot enjoy the comforts she has. If your kid able to see such things she will feel a sense of kindness and caring.

Make sure your kids are in the room when you give your gifts. The fun part of gift-giving is seeing the receiver’s face and the look of happiness and gratitude. It’s rewarding.

Why Peacock Feather in Lord's Crown ???

If you have ever seen the picture of Lord Krishna, you would have noticed that His crown is adorned with a peacock feather.I have heard, that in old times, the peacock feather was considered inauspicious and something that is not very lucky

When Krishna heard that, He just picked up the peacock feather and placed it on His crown.Can you imagine, how important and special the peacock feather must have felt, to know that the Almighty Lord chose it, to become a part of His crown? So now when the feather falls from the peacock, it is happy, as it knows that Krishna will give it, the respect and love that it deserves.

The above story teaches us a lesson. It tells us that no one, and nothing is unlucky. It also teaches us that God loves everybody. He also, loves them, who are not loved and respected by others.So next time, you consider someone 'not good enough' in studies, sports etc. Remember that God has a special place for them. If you love and respect them, God will also make a special place for you, in His heart.

It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully,

but a greater man to accept it graciously.

Book Review

Tough Times Never Last, but Tough People Do! by Robert Schuller

No matter how tough times get, you have the potential to achieve the best of life. This is what the basic principle insisted in this book. Through Dr. Schuller's dynamic principles, you can learn:

* 4 ways to evaluate a new idea

* 10 commandments of possibility thinking

* 5 principles for putting problems in a proper perspective

* 18 principles of leadership

* 5 phases necessary for the faith to move mountains

* 5 ways to overcome a 'brownout' and prevent a burnout

* 25 action words to get you started and never let you quit

This book talks about how time passes and ups and downs comes in life. This book gives you those answers in tough times and the greatest lesson, however tough your life it, never quit. This book is a real treassure and will be a great asset your books collection. After reading this book and with this book's motivation I was able to clear my exams at one stretch when I was in a real touch position and realised in my life that Tough times never last but tough people do. This book will surely give you strength and hopes to fulfill your dreams. Get your copy now!

Do you want to change the world?

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

Great words for reflection, we can attempt to change only ourselves!

Speech skills in your child

I came across this in a web page. Hope you will like this.

Speech skills are best developed early on since children have the best capabilities for language learning in their formative years. Some say great speakers are born. Well, part of this is true since. If you want your child to grow up as a great orator , then you may want to develop his skills early.

Here are some pointers on how to aid the child to speak clearly.

In actuality, only 5%-10% of the human population have flawless speech. The rest have some sort of speech disorder like roughness of voice, lisping, or stuttering. So don’t be too alarmed when you child exhibits any of these.

Observe if the child continues to exhibit these traits. If they persist, you may consult a speech therapist. Tackling these issues early on can easily correct the problem.

Don’t stop the child from talking. Initial discouragement can build up as a block for the child. Encourage him to talk but don’t force.

Don’t cut the child short in mid sentence or finish the sentence for him. Let him express what needs to be said and then tell him to start the sentence over again.

It may also help to not to show your disdain or strain in comprehending him because of the disorder. Some children may approximate disorders like stuttering to get attention.

Treat the child as normal. No one wants to be singled out or isolated. Also, it may harbor a thought in the child’s mind that he is flawed.

Some Quotes!

Unless you can do everything through intuitive observation, you will have to be told always what to do and your service will be lacking. There are three types of people, one serves by intuition, by direct inspiration; another must be told or corrected once only and never forgets. A third type must be told again and again and never remembers. Try to belong to the first type."--- Swami Paramananda

When you are inspired by some great purpose, someextraordinary project, all of your thoughts break theirbonds: your mind transcends limitations, yourconsciousness expands in every direction and you findyourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormantforces, faculties and talents become alive and you discoveryourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamedyourself to be.

When one door closes, another opens. But often we look so long, so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us

Live One Day At A Time

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry. Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone!!

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise, whether in splendor or behind a mask of clouds. But it will rise. Until it does we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.This leaves only one day: today.

Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is when you and I add the burdens of two awful eternities – yesterday and tomorrow, that we break down.It is not necessarily the experience of today that disturbs one’s peace of mind. It is oftentime the bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Let us therefore live one day at a time.

The Wise Woman

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.

A Lovely Message

To be successful;

know what you are doing;

love what you are doing;

believe in what you are doing.

Book Review

This is the first motivational book I have read and I am so much inspired with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's writtings. Let have a brief review of this book extracted from a web page.

Editorial Review
The Power of Positive Thinking (minature edition)
by Norman Vince Peale
This condensed version of the most famous self-help book ever written is a pocket-size volume of inspiration that's as relevant today as it was when first published in 1952. It contains the wisdom of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale's best-selling original and Peale's sage advice about developing the mental acumen to surmount obstacles and maintain a positive outlook.

PUPPIES FOR SALE

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about Nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.

As he was driving the last nail into the post, he Felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy. Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?""Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle,"Here,Dolly!" he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared; this One noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. I

n doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself To a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need Someone who understands." The world is full of people who need someone who understands.