SHARED THOUGHTS - 19.07.2014.
As we chase the pot of gold in our rat race, we are bombarded with advise,
lectures and seminars on how to be a better person.. how to increase our
value to the company we work. We also lecture to those working for us, how
to be more productive to the organization. From early days, we are told of
our duties and obligations towards our neighbors, friends, society…et al.
What we forget while we are entrapped in this commercial & social web, is to
ponder how we can become a better person to our parents. If we can develop
this consideration as a matter of habit, we automatically instill in
ourselves the need to be a better person to all..including the organization
and the society. While it may require a whole lot of interpersonal skills
and talents to be appreciated by the boss and friends, what it takes is only
a simple consideration of sparing your precious time to the most precious
people you are most highly indebted to in life.
How I can be a better daughter or a better son?
IT DOES NOT COST MUCH TO BE A BETTER SON OR A DAUGHTER ( from a forward
received )
I was teaching one day a leadership course for a large healthcare company at
the Oakland Convention Center.
There were about a thousand managers and union leaders in the room.
One women sitting near the front, was given the microphone and rose to speak
to me and to the entire room. It takes a lot of courage to speak up in front
of thousands leaders - including top executives-so I was curious to hear
what she was about to say.
"I have read many of the things that you have written and have been to your
course a couple of times before," she said. "There is one thing that you
have always left out in your teaching that I believe you should add."
I leaned forward with interest to learn that what I have been leaving out
for all these years.
You always talk about the value of asking direct reports, 'How can I be a
better manager?'
Or asking co-workers, How can I be a better team player?'
Or asking customers,' How I can be a better supplier?'
And even asking partners or children, How can I be a better partner or
better parent?'
The one thing that you have always left out that you should start teaching
everyone is to ask their parents, *'How I can be a better daughter or a
better son?'"* She went on with her personal story.
"After my last course with you, as you suggested, I asked my daughter, 'What
can I do to be a better mother?
We had a wonderful discussion. Then I thought, why not call my mother? I
called and asked her, 'What can I do to be a better daughter?'
"Mom said 'Now that Dad is dead, I live all alone. Every day I walk up that
long drive to go to the mailbox. Almost every day there is nothing in it.
This makes me feel very lonely. It would mean so much for me if you could
send me some cards; or pictures, or notes.'
"After our talk, I started sending cards, pictures and notes to my mother so
when she walked to the mailbox there would be something there. What did that
cost me? Nothing. What did that mean to my mom? Everything. Please teach the
people you meet to ask their parents, 'What can I do to be a better daughter
or son?"
I still get tears in my eyes when I think about this woman and her mother,
and I have included her story in almost every class I have conducted for the
past year.
This is good advice for three reasons:
1) It is good for them. Even if they say, "There is nothing you can do to be
a better son or daughter," they will be happy that you cared enough to ask.
2) It is good for you. The No.1 regret that children have when their parents
die: "Why didn't I let them know how much I appreciated all that they did
for me?"
3) If you have children, asking your parent(s) how you can be a better child
is good for your children, too.
You know that old person - your parent - whom you're calling on the phone?
============================================================
Assumptions are the termites of relationships.
=============================================================
<http://www.pravsworld.com/content/inspiration/34/don-t-wait-for-tomorrow>
Don't Wait For Tomorrow
Gravity is not responsible for people to fall in love. It just happens.
And when it does happen, don't wait for the right time to express,
because right time is when your heart beats faster.
If you love someone.. don't wait for tomorrow,
or for the other person to make the move.
Agreed 'Tomorrow never dies',
but also remember 'Tomorrow never comes, so live in today.'
=======================================================================\
Given below are two stories.. not a fiction, but true life episodes. One
deals with a parent who decided to cast aside his dark side and come clean
for the sake of his son whom he loved very much … he decided to be a good
parent… so that his son would grow to be a worthy son. Now read on.
Story No.1.
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for
anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything
from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a
good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal
maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money
big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his
family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the
conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire
Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration
to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.
Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education.
Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach
him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't
give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to
rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al
"Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some
semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The
Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely
Chicago Street . But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he
had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from
his p ockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped
from a magazine.
The poem read:
"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just
when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you
own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may
soon be still."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------\
Story No.2.
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander
Butch O'Hare.
He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the
South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he
looked at his fuel gauge and real ized that someone had forgotten to top off
his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his
ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped
out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his
blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the
American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but
defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to
save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There
was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of
Japanese planes. Wing- mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in,
attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out
of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until
all his ammunition was finally spent..
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a
wing or tail in hopes of damaging as m any enemy planes as possible,
rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the
carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.
The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed
the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact,
destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942 , and
for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first
Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home
town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today,
O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great
man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some
thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of
Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
So what do these two stories have to do with each other? Well, you see,
Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son…!! He became a worthy son for his father
.. and in the process, a worthy son for the nation.
==========================================================================\
In my life, the question of how to be a worthy son / daughter .. is most
easily answered, with a simple glance at my wife and her siblings. When my
Father-in-law was lying helpless and in a comatose, the love and care he was
constantly showered with, from his children, made me think, the greatest
wealth a man can earn is unconditional love from children or kith & kin to
the last breath... especially, in the final days. There is no bigger
blessing than being the recipient of genuine love from at least a few .....
to earn, this I believe, we must give unconditional love at all stages in
life to the ones around us.
this alone comes back. This is the guiding principle I have been
following....... and it is Love that I am investing in a few close to me,
untainted, pure and expecting nothing in return.
Dont know who said this.... if a man can have four persons / friends
genuinely grieving for him on his passing away, he then is most blessed.
....
===========================================================================\
Have a blessed week ahead leading to the final days of Ramadan.
MOHANDAS. KP.
http://mohandas-sharedthoughts.blogspot.com/
As we chase the pot of gold in our rat race, we are bombarded with advise,
lectures and seminars on how to be a better person.. how to increase our
value to the company we work. We also lecture to those working for us, how
to be more productive to the organization. From early days, we are told of
our duties and obligations towards our neighbors, friends, society…et al.
What we forget while we are entrapped in this commercial & social web, is to
ponder how we can become a better person to our parents. If we can develop
this consideration as a matter of habit, we automatically instill in
ourselves the need to be a better person to all..including the organization
and the society. While it may require a whole lot of interpersonal skills
and talents to be appreciated by the boss and friends, what it takes is only
a simple consideration of sparing your precious time to the most precious
people you are most highly indebted to in life.
How I can be a better daughter or a better son?
IT DOES NOT COST MUCH TO BE A BETTER SON OR A DAUGHTER ( from a forward
received )
I was teaching one day a leadership course for a large healthcare company at
the Oakland Convention Center.
There were about a thousand managers and union leaders in the room.
One women sitting near the front, was given the microphone and rose to speak
to me and to the entire room. It takes a lot of courage to speak up in front
of thousands leaders - including top executives-so I was curious to hear
what she was about to say.
"I have read many of the things that you have written and have been to your
course a couple of times before," she said. "There is one thing that you
have always left out in your teaching that I believe you should add."
I leaned forward with interest to learn that what I have been leaving out
for all these years.
You always talk about the value of asking direct reports, 'How can I be a
better manager?'
Or asking co-workers, How can I be a better team player?'
Or asking customers,' How I can be a better supplier?'
And even asking partners or children, How can I be a better partner or
better parent?'
The one thing that you have always left out that you should start teaching
everyone is to ask their parents, *'How I can be a better daughter or a
better son?'"* She went on with her personal story.
"After my last course with you, as you suggested, I asked my daughter, 'What
can I do to be a better mother?
We had a wonderful discussion. Then I thought, why not call my mother? I
called and asked her, 'What can I do to be a better daughter?'
"Mom said 'Now that Dad is dead, I live all alone. Every day I walk up that
long drive to go to the mailbox. Almost every day there is nothing in it.
This makes me feel very lonely. It would mean so much for me if you could
send me some cards; or pictures, or notes.'
"After our talk, I started sending cards, pictures and notes to my mother so
when she walked to the mailbox there would be something there. What did that
cost me? Nothing. What did that mean to my mom? Everything. Please teach the
people you meet to ask their parents, 'What can I do to be a better daughter
or son?"
I still get tears in my eyes when I think about this woman and her mother,
and I have included her story in almost every class I have conducted for the
past year.
This is good advice for three reasons:
1) It is good for them. Even if they say, "There is nothing you can do to be
a better son or daughter," they will be happy that you cared enough to ask.
2) It is good for you. The No.1 regret that children have when their parents
die: "Why didn't I let them know how much I appreciated all that they did
for me?"
3) If you have children, asking your parent(s) how you can be a better child
is good for your children, too.
You know that old person - your parent - whom you're calling on the phone?
============================================================
Assumptions are the termites of relationships.
=============================================================
<http://www.pravsworld.com/content/inspiration/34/don-t-wait-for-tomorrow>
Don't Wait For Tomorrow
Gravity is not responsible for people to fall in love. It just happens.
And when it does happen, don't wait for the right time to express,
because right time is when your heart beats faster.
If you love someone.. don't wait for tomorrow,
or for the other person to make the move.
Agreed 'Tomorrow never dies',
but also remember 'Tomorrow never comes, so live in today.'
=======================================================================\
Given below are two stories.. not a fiction, but true life episodes. One
deals with a parent who decided to cast aside his dark side and come clean
for the sake of his son whom he loved very much … he decided to be a good
parent… so that his son would grow to be a worthy son. Now read on.
Story No.1.
Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn't famous for
anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything
from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.
Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a
good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal
maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.
To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money
big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his
family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the
conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire
Chicago City block.
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration
to the atrocity that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.
Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education.
Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.
And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach
him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't
give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.
One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to
rectify wrongs he had done.
He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al
"Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some
semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The
Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely
Chicago Street . But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he
had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from
his p ockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped
from a magazine.
The poem read:
"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just
when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you
own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may
soon be still."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------\
Story No.2.
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander
Butch O'Hare.
He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the
South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he
looked at his fuel gauge and real ized that someone had forgotten to top off
his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his
ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped
out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his
blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the
American fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but
defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to
save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There
was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of
Japanese planes. Wing- mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in,
attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out
of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until
all his ammunition was finally spent..
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a
wing or tail in hopes of damaging as m any enemy planes as possible,
rendering them unfit to fly.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the
carrier.
Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.
The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed
the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact,
destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942 , and
for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first
Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home
town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today,
O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great
man.
So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some
thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of
Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.
So what do these two stories have to do with each other? Well, you see,
Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son…!! He became a worthy son for his father
.. and in the process, a worthy son for the nation.
==========================================================================\
In my life, the question of how to be a worthy son / daughter .. is most
easily answered, with a simple glance at my wife and her siblings. When my
Father-in-law was lying helpless and in a comatose, the love and care he was
constantly showered with, from his children, made me think, the greatest
wealth a man can earn is unconditional love from children or kith & kin to
the last breath... especially, in the final days. There is no bigger
blessing than being the recipient of genuine love from at least a few .....
to earn, this I believe, we must give unconditional love at all stages in
life to the ones around us.
this alone comes back. This is the guiding principle I have been
following....... and it is Love that I am investing in a few close to me,
untainted, pure and expecting nothing in return.
Dont know who said this.... if a man can have four persons / friends
genuinely grieving for him on his passing away, he then is most blessed.
....
===========================================================================\
Have a blessed week ahead leading to the final days of Ramadan.
MOHANDAS. KP.
http://mohandas-sharedthoughts.blogspot.com/
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