PPs

Is Policies packs your happiness off???


Dear policy makers and policy marketers, good to meet you on different occasions. I and roommate always have a point of contention about the theme called policies and procedures. He believes P&P are not important; where as I stand on the other side. Where do you stand…?

Is it really important to have P&P? Does it have any impact on the growth of the organization OR on the individual? When I asked the same question, the audience poll is more interested to have Britannia 50:50.

Few months back I had a meeting with HR concern of India’s largest construction company regarding my research data survey (L&T). After appreciating about my endevours, the answer was “Ravi…we cannot consider your request since our policy does not allow / no provision to collect the information from employees”; similar answers are keeping popping-up in my inbox and phone calls.

In other occasion, I met an interesting company who does lot of surveys for global organizations, when they approached us for filling customer information survey for one sector, we could help to the maximum extent to finish the project. Surprisingly, when I approached same organization today, they have turned-down my request since policy does not permit to take the pie from it (E&Y). You might assume that I expressed out of biased feeling but definitely not. It is my own experience. It may not be true in other cases.

Polices &Procedures document is basically a navigator of organizations. But ironically it has become a CERTIFICATE OF FEAR & CERTIFICATE OF CONFUSION. We are fear of what happens if we follow, fear of consequences, fear of uncertainty and finally it is packing your happiness off from the individual to a large extent.

To my little knowledge and experience, I feel the policies and procedures are important but at the same time it needs flexibility in it. At macro level it required in protecting organization and at micro level it requires to support of individual.

Packing Happiness in our lives or packing off from us is decided by P&P???

Loneliness locks happiness

Loneliness locks happiness

My dear blogger and blog readers…I am back with a new streak after a long time. It striked me after so many additions / deletions of various themes. Suddenly... I was feeling 'lonely' for quite some time…may be for the last few years. But if you see, I was not. I have a comp at home, music player in hand, room-mate at room…classmates at various intervals, family members, friends and well-wishers at various wishes. But still feels lonely. I was confused…one day I asked my friend, he/she inferred it as “it’s your mind-set”. I have tuned and trying to various frequencies to find out what is the loneliness all about. But I am not able to buy the statement “mind-set”. Do you???

Initially, I was thinking may be he / she is right, but suddenly one day, I was in a place where everything is available to eat, lots of people to talk, so many devises to engage and in fact I was operating all simultaneously. But still something I was missing. Then suddenly I remembered the so called ‘mind-set’…and laughed myself, though I was setting my mind to eat, talk and listen…but still something was bothering me. That gave me the answer…that I am alone. So went back and shared the same with my friend, again the same sound knocked to my ears. It is your mind-set.

I realized, often we use this word to compromise in our lives. But to the best of my opinion, it is not your mind-set; it is what your heart (feeling / concern(s)) consumes and what not. Our modern thinkers say do what your heart says…that gives you maximum satisfaction in life. But still we don’t, because you we are in a fear. Fear of ourselves, fear of others, fear of society, fear of job, and finally fear of survival. If you see all these are subjective. That is your state of mind. We are so subjective, that tunes our minds and turns off our hearts. In fact we have set our minds to the hook of fear and call it as reality. When we portray reality…the heart start feeling wish I could have done…

Thanks to this mechanical life, our mind machine overloaded with lots of commitments and responsibilities and heart hardly gets it share to express his/her wishes. Then we start feeling we are alone. That is when we get attack…on our heart(s) and say bye-bye to present state of mind.

In fact, today I had a very heated argument with my guys / gals here, there all are in mindset called reality, but reality is being tuned by your mind. You can change the way you wanted.

Dhirubhai Ambani gave birth to 3, one his heart called Reliance, two, his two sons called A&M Ambanis, A & M are the two different mind-sets, but reality is they did not leave their fathers’ one ambition. that is Make it larger than shareholders expectation (Reliance).

It is not Philosophy, but a psychological chemical. Mind and Heart both are required to Engage for a success of human being.

Teachers Day Happy Days

It was a pleasant morning on 5th September 2009, got up after I heard my neighbor’s cooker whistle. Immediately looked at my watch, it was around 7ish. I just keyed in my mobile with ‘Happy Teachers Day’ text and immediately sent to my father, I knew I may not get reply back,

felt bad but moved on to next contacts and keep sending to all my teaching fraternity. Surprisingly few contacts are neither my teachers nor into teaching, but felt like I should send and sent it. I know, you have a question here, why did I send to other than teachers??? My answer is, when we

born, not necessary that our parents are from academia. But still they taught (walk in life); whether we like or not, still learning from them. Siblings must have taught us fight with affection; move on to our friends, they must have taught how to live in this complicated and with multifarious (ferocious) society. When we started working, our colleagues must have taught how cope-up with them.

Interestingly, in my contacts, I have few contacts that are younger to me and few are children too. I sent the same message. Again you are wondering why I did. Sometime back when I was in close associate’s home, I was playing with his 2 year old son. Suddenly his ball slipped from his buddy hands and went below the cot. As usual, 24 month old baby made at least 240 attempts to reach below the bed for his ball. When he realized it is out of his reach, his pink cheeks got wet. In his attempts, we can learn his determination, in his cry, we can learn the need for that ball, and it is an alarm for us that baby required a support from us. It is learning for us; for everybody. Similarly, if somebody cries for you, it means they need you. It is better to address their tears rather avoiding them. One quick observation, the present generation kids always teach an elder, they call it as Generation Gap. We observing that for generations, we still don’t want to learn. Learning happens at every stage in our lives. In this life, we meet so many people and pupils. It is always fun to learn from the both. I am missing my School, College and PGP office. What I learnt is missing… Happy Learning…Happy Teachers day

ebank

Banking with E

My dear happy folks, Few days back I was walking through a street and found so many banks in that street. Starting from Allahabad Bank to Yes Bank and almost all banks are on with customers. While stepping-out of the street, I was thinking what is there in Money. Of course it reminded me the barter system I studied, but I felt beyond transactions it has something in it.Again I withdraw the thought process, but surprisingly while I was doing every transaction, something in my mind was counting. Again I deposited my thoughts in it. But this time I started observing others while they do anything with Money.

I started observing my Mother…she wants to present a gift to her grandson on his first birthday and she took every possible step to understand various financial products and finally she zero downed to one with LIC children plan. The day she finished the task, she has great relief with happiness on her face. Similarly, few years back, on my nephew’s birthday, my sister paid few thousands as tip to a restaurant bearer; when I asked her why did you pay so much, her reply was “let him be happy once in a while, hardly people look at him”. Recently my colleague when to Singapore, there she bought something for me…when I asked her…why did you spend so much…her reply and the gift has

lot of interest in it. The other partner of mine, got up early morning around 4.00 and made wonderful sweet, when I asked…why did you spend so much of money and time, her reply relied on happiness of the people who ate. Recently I have received an imported pen drive cum MP3 player from my friend, he warned me before giving; kill you if you don’t use it for yourself. I could see his affection in it.

Few months back I was in five star hotel’s restroom where plasma TV was installed there and I was washing my face, the neighbor of mine was unable to perform his nature’s call duty due to sudden market crash on CNBC share bulletin, he was quite emotional and went away from the conference. From all the examples if you observe, everybody has transacted with some or the other. In order to transact, I am sure, they would have used Cheque/Debit/Credit/epay/ net banking etc what not to withdraw the money for those transactions. When I transact for my loved ones…I feel more than delighted. Can you guess why do we do / are doing?

To the best of my fixed deposits (knowledge), for every transaction, we closely associate with eBank. With this eBank, whatever cash balance you have in your account, whatever difficulties you have, still you will manage to transact. You really don’t bother immediate or any returns from it. Because in this bank you must deposited lifelong money called Emotions and guarantee called heartfelt relations. Without these emotions we may not live and leave.

Now won’t you agree why SBI / ICICI / Axis Bank are India’s largest banks…because they have lot of emotional accounts of individuals and corporates?

Everything is there in MONeY, but MONeY is not Everything

Banking with Emotions, Happy Emotions

Brewing Happiness

Brewing Happiness through Brands

Hello Everybody, Being summer, somehow I wasn’t able to sleep since long, here in Chennai. Last year, I was sleeping till I heard the breakfast bell in my guesthouse at Bangalore. Wish the same luxury bolts in again…today got up early and went to the rest room with Oral-B brush, Himalaya toothpaste and came-out after a shower with new Himalaya anti-dandruff shampoo with Cinthol lime soap bath. Searching for a Cycle Agarbathi to say good morning to God and lighting the lamp with Uddayam Oil. Looking for Britannia bread with mother’s recipe pickle, hurly burly ironing the blue stripes The Cottons shirt; namke vaste polishing the woodland shoes and locking the room with Godrej keys….and drive Hero Honda via Women's Christian College to FICCI office and have lunch at Taj Connemera after the seminar. Come back to room and login in my Dell desktop; play Sony Music and have Nestle Curd with Basmathi Rice. In between engaging with my Sony Erickson mobile and express my voices with all my loved ones. This is my routine in a day.

This afternoon while I was in Pothy’s signal...what these names are and why are we so attached to these names starting from Bangalore to loved ones via Sony…

My experience and education says its' called Brand, my heart says something else. I mean if you apply the reverse gear and keep going to my bold and italic words, Bangalore brewed my thought process and the way I look at the things especially in my second stint with more fun in previous stint. Himalaya protected me in bad mouthing, Cinthol allowed me to stand next to you confidently. Blue striped Cotton shirt gave me a better look. Woodland walked through every hinterland without hurting me. Hero Honda despite of its age never stopped me from my punctuality; thanks to WCC and guys for showing me all the possible shortcuts to reach my office. Thanks to FICCI before I getup from the bed, you are in to leading the Nation Northwards. The activity list goes on….and on…finally thanks to my Sony Erickson for being with me in connecting my loved ones despite of my long innings of discussions. Thanks to Good night from the bloody bites. Finally thanking God for being with me (us) in exploring and experimenting. Hmmm…forgot to mention, my Titan watch….thanks for being with me in my tough times and giving breathing time.

If you count on each activity, it is a promise but not a brand. It’s just a promise experienced by you your neighbours, your loved ones. Cannot believe na??

From the above list, the promise is being brewed by my loved ones. Bangalore promised me a better and happy living due to my parents. Himalaya gave me coolness and made me ‘be cool’ due to my sister who suggested me to use. The Cotton shirt that was gifted to me whom I adore larger than life. The Pen I ink it from staples is from my navigator who ad colours to my life. Hero Honda was given by my close associate who directs me often. WCC showed by the Chennaites who smiled at me when I was in hurry to reach office. FICCI is my employer who currently furnishing me all the above ones.

Now don’t you feel it’s a promise brewed by your loved ones and we named it as Brand. To brew the brand, you don’t need brand ambassadors or advertisements; you need a relationship and those relationships that make you happy eternally through these names. Brew your promises and fulfill it. Brew the Relationship, Brands brew your happiness. Just Do it…

Compatibility

CDs:Compatible Dear

Hi Folks,Happy Blogging! Finally my blog has 100 plus hits on happiness.

Hope this summer summarizing all your trips with your family members, but this time my luck didn’t smile at me when I want to meet my intimate on her birthday. The trip was called off due to a sudden regional turmoil of politics.

Few days back, I and my friend logged into a home-appliance showroom to buy a video player. While observing so many brands with confusing tags, my friend picked-up one stylish and a trendy player. As Indian typical customer, we asked the store guy to check the product. The store manager with lots of enthusiasm, happiness on his face made us more curious to hear / see the output of the player. But it was not for a long time, store guy making his best efforts in playing that trendy player, plugged in all the necessary cables, inserted compact disk….every damn possible thing he made. My friend being a software coax, he keyed all possible ways. But all his efforts went in vain. Before we shifted to another brand, I just wanted to make a last attempt to see what could be the reason; we requested the store guy to change the Compact Disk. Hope started beating on us, trust me…it’s a perfect match between the Trendy and Tidy Disk. Finally we just laughed and billed the same.

Still wondering where went wrong…is the player? or influenced by the player (CD, speakers, screen etc).

Few days back I had been to my relatives' place where I met her after a long time. If I recollect my meeting with her was close to 4-5 years back where she was very calm and living in a reclusive atmosphere. I could make-out there could be 4 to 5 hundred problems knocking at her every day. Assuming that, I was reserved till I knock the door. But the moment, I stepped into their place, believe me, the warmness has coolness in her reception along with her spouse and a kutty Dog. I must say, now she has 4-5 thousand elephants’ strength and smiley faces around her. After spending a good time with the rejuvenate’ couple who track our tradition and customs with love and affection, I re-energized myself to drive down in a traffic ridden area to reach my room.

Thanking God for bringing her smile back. But again one question that stocked in my mind was reasons behind her (our) smile, added to the above Trendy scene which amused me to think further down. How a changed compact Disk can make my friend happy, how a changed spouse can add more glory to her life.

The uncompromised answer is…in our compact lives, the compatibility is something very very important.

Let’s think for a while, if I wouldn’t suggest my friend to change the CD, probably he would have compromised to buy a brand which would have had a toll (loss) on him. Of course, by telling this to God, we would have adjusted with the same for some more time. Similarly, my relative too with more pain and grief till her last breath.

You may also argue that it’s not possible without compromising and adjusting….days can not move in smooth. I totally agree, the same compromise and adjustments has to be a part of compatibility but not act as a force / direct the compatibility of 'two individuals' / among ourselves / or even two products like I mentioned in the above. If it forces you to do against your will, you are adjusting out of fear. You are compromising out of inability or helpless situations.

Life is all about being happy, you have every liberty, right to change the way you wanted to. Let’s not suppress ourselves, our emotions and lives with Adjustments and Compromises buttons. This is precisely we do by looking at the so called society. (We are living with the society and not for society) PRESS THE COMPATIBILITY BUTTON…and CONTINUE TO BE HAPPY.

Liking links to Happiness

Hello Folks, Hope this blog brings you in good health and Cheers! It’s being a long time since I inked my thoughts on my liking – What Makes you Happi In my previous blog, my likings were touched upon Smile. My argument was, the base for Happiness is Smile. After my repeated internal deliberations, I was being persuaded myself that the base for Happiness is not only Smile, but also Liking. Generally Liking will take ways in two directions. One towards living entities like human beings and animals etc, other towards Non living entities which have value in nature, which are independently dependent, dependently independent.

To put it in simple analogy, we see ourselves in mirror and we smile (frequently / occasionally), the nonliving entity called mirror which directs you towards smile and it suggests you to look better than the existing condition. Similarly, you like Music; you may switch on your iPod to hear that music. Your iPod is an item you had purchased because you like to hear from it. Here likeness factor played a primary role on iPod than hearing the music, but both are very important to make you Happy.

Few months back, with holding breath I was with my mother in Saree Shope (doing shopping with women/ girls are…you know better); when I suggested few dress materials for my family members, you should see her, the Happiness Quotient is very high. Her reply is ‘Ravi…you like to give them (her), I love to give the best…to make you Happy and everybody Happy. In this case, liking towards a person made her to choose the best dress material (which is an act). Buying for your loved ones is something you may like to do again and again…I just enjoy in going out to buy for my loved ones. credit card sellers and buyers – be careful :).

So…start liking your surrounding environment, people, animals and things around you…so that exchange of smiles will travel to make happier world…your likings (comments) at ravivoices@gmail.com

Smile

Smile Smells Happiness

I am happy to note that my previous views on ‘Tears’ has got some interesting feedback from my friends and well-wishers. My friend Charan in fact liked it very much and forwarded the blog to my class-mates. I received mails from the mates who sends once in a blue-moon too. The responses were quite encouraging and when I was reading those…just smiled myself.

Then suddenly I asked my self what is this Smile…all about? Simple answer is any one guess is….its just an expression of happiness. But interesting thing is unless you smile…nobody makes out that you are happy???

If you observe above picture, it’s a cyclic effect; it means it’s different but not different. Confusion again… Let me put in plain words…

Few weeks back…my team went to meet one of eminent and a loving professor in Bangalore hospital. He was under critical observation. In fact when my team went and wished him on teachers’ day initially, professor did not have strength to lift his hand and say Happy Teachers day, he looked into the eyes of my friend, instead of saying HT, he looked into the eyes of my friend…and smiled!!!

Casually when I made a call to her, as usual…girls (women) keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on…………but told one thing, which made me to write about the smile today. i.e “Ravi….saw his smile, but at one minute smile has millions of meanings in it. That smile conveys…that we went and wished him on teacher’s day!!!That smile conveys…a humble acknowledgement to us (thanks). That smile coincides…with his family members’ cheer!That smile commands…he will be back with courage…but unfortunately the smile was there for a very short period. Professor left this world with his memories :( When she was telling…I just couldn’t make-out that smile has such a power. Being in selfish environment, we only see a smile which has mean in it but not meaning in it.

It has a power of understanding,

It assures you that I am there for you,

It encourages that everything will be good.

Smile even express discomfort in a conditioned environment.

Smile warns you sometimes....cautions you sometimes... Smile expels the fear of loneliness. Smile spells out the cheers in sobered person...

It gives a sense of belongingness around you

It spreads a sense of comfort surrounding you... Smile surrenders to serve humanity.

This could be a main reason why my brother / father always says…Ravi smile…smile…smile, because it gives….Energy, Encouragement and Enthusiasm, if all Es there, SmilE has to be in your heart. I am sure; you all may agree that Smile covets for happiness

So be with smile, understand the smile, it autometically comes in you, that becomes natural smile, which gives more strength to you and around you....Happy smiling...

Tears

Tears…Tangles to Happiness? Good Times! Its being a long time since I inked my happiness in it? This time when I was thinking about what to write in our “whatmakesyouhappi” blog…suddenly few drops fell on my pillow...then I realized it was my tears who dares to drop in.

I am sure…even for you would have similar situation in your lives??? Difficult to pen-down the reasons but why these tears come…that’s the question bothering me at times. Sometimes I myself ask whether tears are important or not? Then the undoubted answer is, YES, its Important. Then your question is HOW and WHY?

The other day, I was having food in a restaurant and where I got the answer for the above question. I ordered menu of my choice and had good feast too. I was alone and suddenly my tears dropped and I could taste it. Obviously it’s salty (that’s GOD’s beauty). If I could fit this into our lives, FOOD is made out of different ingredients but one SALT is very important in that entire bunch of ingredients. If we don’t add proportionally, that day you’re on diet. If it’s perfect, your tummy will be tight (This answers importance of tears)

We come across babies carying in cinema halls,Restaurants, while going to schools, especially in huge marriage gatherings etc. Generally these tears come when your emotional equations are not relatively matching or yet times matching with relatively high accuracy.

In economic terms, it’s a battle between satisfying your Wants & Need.

Scenario 1: WANT = NEED ≈ NO Tears Scenario 2: WANT exceeds in satisfying your NEED ≈ Tears will fall with over joy Scenario 3: WANT does not satisfy your NEED ≈ Tears will fall with unhappiness It may sound you the above equation very philosophical, but it has its meaning in it Fundamentally we all struggle only to make sure the above equation park either at scenario-1 or 2. But due to life congestion we forcibly park at 3 and watch at 1&2.

There were instances where I was taking bath along with my tears, but once I asked my inmate, she told…“let the tears come out, you will feel Happy”. Initially I was not convinced but later it gave me a sense of happiness. When I asked my inmate, her reply was “this is what I do…regularly”. Not only my folks, but every human being in this world does. Whenever we get into this kind, may be we need to outlay expensive tears, so that overheads won’t follow (overheads: anger, frustration, ill health etc). But we need to fight for the reason and make sure causes behind it, people behind it and situations behind it. Achieve what you want, finally you may get it. In fact…I would like to share reasons for my tears, but its difficult to type such a long pages…it reminds our excel sheet total number of rows :)

Let the Tears Go…Happiness lets you In.