It is easier to Criticize, but difficult to improve

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course under disciplehood of a great painter. This young artist decided to assess his skills of skills so he decided to give his best strokes on
the canvass. He took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind and he decided to display it on a busy street-square of that small town he was resident of. He wanted people's
opinion about his caliber and painting skills..

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board which read–

"Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs (crosses) and some people had even written their comments on the painting.

Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his masters place and burst into tears. Sobbing and crying inconsolably he told his master about what happened and showed the pathetic state of his creation which was filled with marks everywhere. Such was the state that colors were not visible, only things one could see were crosses and correction remarks. This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying "I'm useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I'm not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely.. I feel like dying"

Master smiled and suggested "My Son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt a flawless painting."

Young disciple couldn't believe it and said "I have lost faith in me and I don't think I am good enough.. don't make false hopes.."

"Do as I say without questioning it.. It WILL work." Master interrupted him.

"Just paint exactly similar painting once again for me and give it to me. Will you do that for your master?.." Master instructed.

Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early morning he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.

"Come with me." master said.

They reached the same street-square early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read – "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

Master and disciple walked back home.

They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. But master wasn't satisfied as yet and he told his disciple "May be one day was too little a time for people to come up with ideas and take out time out of their busy schedules to correct it so let us keep it here for one more day. Tomorrow is Sunday, so we can expect some corrections coming in."

Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched..

They say the painting was kept there for a month for no correction came in!

Moral of the Story: It is easier to criticize, but difficult to improve

Attitude is always Part of Gratitude!

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he Got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.

From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which Conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied: "The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million Learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 ,Reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'

And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?' "

"Happiness keeps you Sweet,

Trials keep you Strong,

Sorrow keeps you Human,

Failure keeps you humble and Success keeps you glowing, but only Faith & Attitude keeps you going... " - Arthur Ashe

Remember that "attitude is always part Gratitude"

Learn from your grandfather

A haryanavi jaat hat-seller who was passing by a forest decided to take a nap under one of the trees, so he left his whole basket of hats by the side.

A few hours later, he woke up and realized that all his hats were gone.

He looked up and to his surprise, the tree was full of monkeys and they had taken all his hats. The jaat sits down and thinks of how he can get the hats down.

While thinking he started to scratch his head. The next moment, the monkeys were doing the same.

Next, he took down his own hat, the monkeys did exactly the same.

An idea came to him... he took his hat and threw it on the floor and the monkeys did that too. So he finally managed to get all his hats back.

Fifty years later, his grandson, Sukhwinder, also became a hat-seller and had heard this monkey story from his grandfather. One day, just like his grandfather, he passed by the same forest. It was very hot, and he took a nap under the same tree and left the hats on the floor.

He woke up and realized that all his hats were taken by the monkeys on the tree.

He remembered his grand father's words, started scratching his head... the monkeys followed. He took down his hat and fanned himself and again the monkeys followed.

Now, very convinced of his grandfather's idea, Sukhwinder threw his hat on the floor,........

but to his surprise, the monkeys still held on to all the hats.

Then one monkey climbed down the tree.... grabbed the hat on the floor.... gave him a slap and said........

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

"You think only you have a grandfather?"

How leaders should manage failure?

(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum , Philadelphia , March 22,2008 )

Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India 's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India 's 'Rohini' satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big failure.

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish D hawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am , and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India ]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed.. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, 'You conduct the press conference today.'

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

Nice Repay

Harry was a poor tailor whose shop was next door a 2 Star Restaurant.

Every day for lunch, Harry would eat his black bread and herring in the small garden at the back of his shop. He would always smell the wonderful odours emanating from the next door restaurant's kitchen.

One day, the restaurant sent Harry an invoice. Harry went to see the manager to ask why.

The manager replied, "You're enjoying my food, so you should pay for it."

Harry refused to pay and the restaurant sued him. At the hearing, the judge asked the restaurant to present their side of the story.

They said, "Every day, this man comes and sits near our kitchen and visibly smells our food whilst eating his. We are obviously adding value to his cheap food and we deserve to be recompensed for it."

The judge then asked Harry, "And what do you have to say about that?"

Harry said nothing but stuck his hand in his pocket and rattled around the coins he had inside.

The judge asked him, "What's the meaning of that?"

Harry replied, "I am paying for the smell of his food with the sound of my money."

Three Wishes

An Arab had spent many days crossing the desert without finding a source of water. It got so bad that his camel died of thirst.

He crawled through the sands, certain that he was breathing his last breath, when suddenly, he saw a shiny object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him.

He crawled to the object, pulled it out of the sand, and discovered that he had a Manischewitz wine bottle.

It appeared that there may be a drop or two left in the bottle, so he unscrewed the top, and out popped a genie. BUT this was no ordinary genie. This genie appeared to be a Chasidic Rabbi, complete with black alpaca coat, black hat, side curls, and tzitzis.

"Vell kid," said the genie, "you know how it voiks. You got three vishes."

"I'm not going to trust you,' says the Arab. "I'm not going to trust a Jewish genie!"

"Vott'ya you got to lose? Looks ta me - you're a gonner anyvay!"

The Arab thought about this for a minute, and decided that the genie was right. "Okay, I wish I were in a lush oasis, with plentiful food and drink."

** * * * * * * P O O F * * * * * * * * *

The Arab found himself in the most beautiful oasis he had ever seen and he was surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies.

"Okee-dokee kiddo, vat's your second vish?"

"My second wish is that I were rich beyond my wildest dreams."

** * * * * * P O O F * * * * * * * * *

The Arab found himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare old coins and precious gems.

"Okay kid, you got just vone more vish. Better you should make it a good vone!"

After thinking for a few minutes, the Arab says, "I wish that no matter where I go, beautiful women will always need and want me!"

** * * * * * * * P O O F * * * * * *

He was turned into a tampon.

AWARENESS

Once upon a time a king had an only son a Prince who was young, courageous, skillful and intelligent. So the king sent his son away to see a Wise Old man to open his mind to

“AWARENESS”

He sent the Prince to meet the Wise Old man. As he met the old man he pleaded “Enlighten me as to the path in life I should take.” The Wise man replied, “My words will only vanish like footsteps in the sand” However, the Wise man said I will give you some instructions on your path; you will come across three Gates. Read the sayings on each of the Gates. Follow the pathway to discovery. You will be overwhelmed during the journey. But do not seek to turn back, for you will be condemned to live again and again that which you had run away from all your life. I can not say any more. It is time you must follow the road, right ahead of you. As the Wise elder departed, and the Prince started walking on his journey on the Path of Life. The Prince soon came across the first large gate on which he read:

“CHANGE THE WORLD”

This is precisely what I intended to do, thought the Prince.  But, he started its first struggle. Driven by ideal, his passion and his strength pushed him to be confronted with the world, he undertook, conquered, replicated reality to his desire.  He experienced the pleasure and the exhilaration of the conqueror, but his heart was not at rest. He managed to change certain things but others would not give way. Long years went by.

One day, he met the Wise Old Man who asked him: "What did you learn on the path?"

The Prince replied. I learned what was in my power and what was beyond my power. Thus I now see what things I had influence in and things beyond my control.  Well done, said the Old Man. Use your strength to act upon on what you can. Forget about what is beyond you. And the old  man vanished. As the Prince continued on his journey. Sometime later, the Prince came across a second gate. One could read on it:

"CHANGE OTHERS"

This is precisely what I intend to do, thought the Prince. And he rose against all that could upset or displease him in his fellow being. But he struggled to alter their minds, and correct their faults. Many more years went by. One day, as he was meditating on the failures of his attempts to change others, he came across the Wise Old man and he asked him: "What did you learn on the path?"  The Prince replied. That other people are not the source of my joys or sorrows, my achievements or failures. They are only there to make me aware. "You are right, said the Wise Man.” Though what they awaken in you, they made you aware of yourself. Be grateful towards those who make you feel joy and pleasure. But be also grateful to these who hurt and frustrate  you for through them Life Teaches you. And the Old Man vanished. A little time after, the  Prince came across a Third Gate. One can read on it:

"CHANGE YOURSELF"

The Prince paused a moment to himself and said…. “If I am myself the   cause of my problems, this is that I have to do." And he started his third struggle. He tried to inflect his character, to fight his imperfections, to remove his defects, and change every thing which didn't correspond to his ideal. After many years of struggle during which he was at times successful at times defeated, the Prince met the Wise man again. The old man asked the Prince  "What did you learn on the path?"

The Prince replied. That there are some things that can be improved, others which resist and can't be changed.""Well done," said the Wise man. The Prince replied “I'm getting weary of fighting against myself. Won’t this ever end? When will I be at rest? I wish to stop fighting and give up and let go."The wise old man said. “This happens to be your next lesson.”

But before going any further, turn around and look back at the way you have already walked And the Old Man vanished. As he looked back, the Prince saw in the distance the 3rd gate and realized that one could read a different message on the back of the gate and it read:

"ACCEPT YOURSELF"

The Prince wondered why he hadn't noticed this inscription when it had crossed the gate the first time, in the opposite direction."When one is fighting, one becomes blind, he said to himself."  He also saw, spread on the ground around him, every thing he had rejected and fought within himself: his faults, his dark side, his fears, his limits, and all his old demons.  He then learnt how to recognize them, accept them and love them. He learnt how to love himself without comparing himself, judging himself, blaming himself. He came across the Wise Old man who asked him: What did you learn along the path? The Prince replied " That to hate or refuse part of myself was to condemn myself never to be at peace within myself. I learned how to accept myself, completely and unconditionally." Well done, said the wise Old Man, it is the first stage of Wisdom. Now you go through the 3rd gate again." Just as he had reached the other side of the gate, the Prince saw the back face of the second gate and it read:

"ACCEPT OTHERS".

All around him he recognized the people he had met in his life; those he had loved, those he had hated, those he had helped, those he had fought. But to his surprise, he was now unable to see their faults, which had disturbed him so much, and against which he had fought so much He came across the Wise Old man who asked him. "What did you learn on your path?" The Prince replied. That if I were in peace with myself, I would have nothing to blame others for, nothing to fear of them I have learned to accept others totally and unconditionally." "Well done, said the Wise Old man, It is the second stage of Wisdom. Now you can go through the 2nd gate again

Just as he had reached the other side of the gate, the Prince saw the back of the first gate and it read:

"ACCEPT THE WORLD."

That is strange, he thought, "Why didn't I see the inscription the first time?“ He looked around him

and recognized the world he had tried to conquer, transform, and change. He was hit by an awe the brightness and the beauty of all things. And yet it was the same world as it used to be. Had the world changed, or his perception of it changed? He came across the Wise Old man and asked him.
"What did you learn on your path?" The Prince replied….. “That the world is the mirror of my soul. That my soul, my heart does not see the world, but sees itself in the world. “…. “…When it is cheerful, the world seems merry. When it is gloomy, the world seems sad. The world is neither merry nor sad. It just is; that is all.” … It was not the world that was troubling me, but the IDEA I had of it. I accepted to accept it without judging it, to reckon, unconditionally This is the 3rd Wisdom, said the Old Man. “You are now at grace within yourself & others in the World." A deep feeling of peace, serenity and fulfillment overwhelmed the Prince. Silence was within him.