Friday, August 26, 2022

Inner Sound

The inner sound has also been developed as a spiritual path or reference point in almost all the religions, traditions and philosophies worldwide. It has been said that it goes by the following names in these various scriptures and philosophical works:

  • AUM, Naad, Akash Bani and Sruti in the Vedas
  • Nada and Udgit in the Upanishads
  • Akshar in the Bhagavad Gita
  • The music of the spheres taught by Pythagoras
  • Sraosha by Zoroaster
  • Kalma and Kalam-i-Qadim in the Qur’an
  • Word and Water of Life in the Bible
  • The Divine Wine and HU by the Sufis
  • Hari Ras and Amrit by Saints and Mystics
  • Naam, Akhand Kirtan and Sacha Shabd in the Guru Granth Sahib
  • Logos in Greek and Hebrew metaphysics, the unifying principle of the world.

It is called variously as Sruti or Shruti (that which is heard), Shabd (word) or Akash bani (voice from the heaven), Sraosha (music of the beyond), Harmony, Logos, Kalma or Bang-i-Ilahi (call from God) or Nida-i-Asmani (heavenly sound).  

Aum is the universal sound, and is not religious in nature. Armaic used by Jews including Christianity they close it with Amen said as Aaammeeennnn (take off n and say), in US it's said A-Man and Islam says Ameen.

When Ram came to South, people called him Rama, Raman. Krishn became Krishna and Krishnan. Infliction of  'N'

A , U , Mm - Do not need the use of the tongue.  Just like in clour television there are only three basic colours - Red, blue and Green. Tongue is helping to mix these sounds in different ways. 

Om is basically a monosyllabic word, as compared to Aum, which is tri-syllabic. Om is simply pronounced the way it is written as opposed to Aum, which is pronounced aa-uu-eemm. In Sanskrit, 'O' is a diphthong sound. This means that it is formed by combining the two sounds 'A' and 'U'.

Daily utterance of AUM will have a phenomenal difference in your existence. 

Friday, August 19, 2022

Manage Your Work Day - Emails

My growth is my responsibility. 

Growth Value - 

Vision - 


What really does it mean to be organised

  •  Putting things in order, 
  • Efficient and orderly approach to handle task
  • Every sphere of your life
  • deeply impacted by history & environment - Life agreements - (can be anything - like commitment)
  • It's a skill, you can learn - There are three things - Core talent what makes you , your strengths; knowledge is what you learn and can be acquired; skill can be learned - driving, communication 

How to organise your thoughts

  • Know yourself - vision, value, 
  • Mindcontrol - unclutter
  • Focus & Clarity
  • Manage distractions & diversions
  • Meditation and time in solitude - Me time

  •  

How to manage a busy day 

  • It's all about routine. Big success with tiny steps
  • Quarterly goals - Monthly goals, weekly goals, daily to-do's
  • Review the To do list every morning and before finishing the work (To Do list in paper if the mantra of peaceful life)
  • Mind is relaxed when you put things in paper
  • Target to achieve at least 3 critical things every day morning - don't go with the flow, be the flow.
  • Reflection & Gratitude
  • Avoid mobile at least 1 our before going to bed and in the golden hour (1st hour in the morning)

Staying on top of your emails 


  • Allocate email time in calender
  • Flag send items
  • Create folders/labels/categories
  • Touch it once - Only handle it once (OHIO) method
  • Read Top down, Write bottom up - Read emails by threads in reverse chronological order and respond them in chronological order
  • Follow the 2 minutes rule
  • Knowing when to send emails - or use chats/calls

The 5s concept to create new habits 



Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Go, Goa, Girls.....Happy Souls Abundance

Thanks to Rashmi, met a group of aspiring coaches online. As Coaches it's one of our primary pre-requisites to provide a safe space to our clients, where they can open up and be themselves, enabling us to help them through their challenges and struggles in the best way possible. As we understand the significance and depth of a safe space in real terms, we sometimes tend to develop a longing for one for ourselves too. Being a safe space provider does not exclude us from the need of wanting one for ourselves too. :)

A couple of months after our online meetings and sessions we went to Goa to be part of a spiritual retreat with fellow coaches  where we hoped to strengthen our connections and elevate our spiritual awareness. But, in addition, we came back with loving friendships and authentic connections for a lifetime. ❤

Real connections are the ones where you feel seen, supported, loved, understood and accepted wholly for who you are. Thank you to each one of you for checking each of those boxes so remarkably. More power to you all !


Delighted to be a part of the Happy Souls where we provide each other the safe space we need and recharge each other with our beautiful loving energies. Much love and deep gratitude to each one of you. We were all delighted to see each other at the airport. Had hotel bookings done at Raddisons. But seems there was some goof up with them getting a huge corporate booking, our expected rooms were not there. I was dead tired. Majority of them was assertively handling the situation, and then suddenly came a dialogue from Rashmi 'My dear friend ' very politely - 'I have the recordings of all our chats, which we are going to upload in all social media sites', then on there was no looking back. In one word, the trip turned out to be one of 'Abundance'. 

Though we had booked two rooms, we got three at lesser cost, and complimentary dinner.  Complimentary breakfast was already part of the deal. One day we went around hiring a car, and the next day we did our 'SAVERS' and was in Pool.

Of the four day trip - two days went in going and returning, and the other two day, just got over like a dream. Indeed it was a dream come true to meet the wonderful Happy Souls in person. 


Friday, July 15, 2022

Reaction Vs Response

 



Event + Response = Outcome.


Of the three we can control only Response.

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Excel Tips - Skill Nation

 Thanks to Jitin Shan, amazing 23 year old CEO from skill nation for teaching these:

After the Excel update in 2019, Excel is no longer what it used to be. A lot has changed, and an important one is excels calculation engine that allows us to input one formula and get many results – earlier it was one formula: one result. It affects not just the advanced but all users of excel. 

It works best when the data range is converted to a table. When the source data is an excel table, the spilled array automatically expands as new data rows are added to the table.

Typing in a new cell, the range of the table, and pressing enter gives us a spilled array of all source cells. Click anywhere inside the range, and you see the blue border where the "spill" has occurred.

- Formula is editable only in the 1st cell.

- Blue border helps you see till what cell has the formula been spilled

- You do not copy the formatting of your data

- If you have something blocking the spill, you will get the #SPILL error.


The Awakening - Sidra Jafri

What is my purpose? How can I invite more love into my life? Why do my finances go up and down?

Ready to change your life?



Are you searching for more from life... a new way of being? Have you tried everything to shift those issues; the relationship problems, family drama, money woes or health concerns, and yet it still feels like life hasn’t shifted?

Sidra Jafri is here to guide you through an incredible nine-step journey – The Awakening. She will empower you to let go of the past and your pre-programmed beliefs, and build the happy and fulfilling life of your dreams. Offering practical exercises and real-life case studies, each step is based on one of Sidra’s principles:

  1. Ask Quality Questions
  2. Work On You
  3. Awareness Is The Key
  4. Knowing Versus Owning
  5. Energy Is Everything
  6. No Judgment
  7. It Takes One To See One
  8. Nothing Is Missing
  9. Growth Is Inevitable

The Principles of Awakening have already helped thousands of people from all walks of life create the life they want – now you can do it, too!

Sidra Jafri is an author, medium and psychic. Her global event The Awakening has moved thousands of people from the undercurrents that create challenges and issues in their lives. Sidra transforms people’s out-dated core programming and the beliefs in their lives that have been keeping them stuck in areas such as wealth, relationships and wellbeing.

It's sad to know she passed away after her rental apartment in Mumbai caught fire in March 2020. 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

THE WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR BODY IS AGING TOO FAST AND HOW TO FIGHT BACK.

 Courtesy Futurrisk Health Tip


For those of you in your 40s, 50s, and even your early 60s, here are some signs to watch out for. They’re telling you that your body may be aging faster than it should.

1. Slow walking. There are fast walkers and there are s-l-o-w walkers. But it turns out that this isn’t just a matter of preference. An astounding study showed that slow walkers at age 45 are more likely to show accelerated signs of aging, especially in the lungs, teeth, and immune system. They’re also more likely to show decreased cognitive function sooner than fast walkers. But new research has found brisk walking is key to slower aging because of the effects on our telomeres.

Start a walking program. Begin with just five minutes a day and build up to thirty minutes. Try to work up to a pace of 100 steps a minute.

2. Sun spots. Sun spots are most common once you’ve reached 50 years old. They’re brown spots that appear most often on the face, hands, and arms. Most sun spots are harmless, but you should see your doctor if they are black instead of brown, or if they change shape or bleed.

Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is strongest. And always wear sunscreen. But be aware that some sunscreens pose a danger. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s list for safer sunscreens.  Eating an abundance of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, especially those high in polyphenols, like grapes,  can help boost your skin’s sun protection.

3. Easy bruising. As you age, your skin gets thinner and loses fat. This is especially true after 60, and especially if you’re a woman. Your blood vessels are also more fragile. And certain medications make it worse.

Vitamin C and two other natural supplements- RUTIN- Most people have never even heard of rutin but it’s a powerhouse when it comes to maintaining the strength of your capillaries and overcoming easy bruising. Rutin is found in apple peel, citrus fruit, black tea, and even buckwheat bran. HESPERIDIN- Like rutin, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in the peels of citrus fruits. Along with rutin and Vitamin C, taking hesperidin can dramatically reduce bruising and strengthen your capillaries. To get the most benefits from all three of these skin savers, you may want to try 400 to 500 mg of vitamin C and a combination of hesperidin and rutin, equating to a total of 400 mg, to your routine. By taking Vitamin C, rutin, and hesperidin you will make your blood vessels stronger and stop the bruising that leaves you with unsightly marks. Your skin will look younger and healthier and you’ll feel more confident. Just remember if you are on medications for blood conditions, it’s a good idea to discuss any supplements with your doctor that may have an effect. In one study, patients suffering from pigmented purpura — those deep purple bruises that get progressively worse — that took 50 mg of rutin two times per day along with 500 mg of Vitamin C twice a day were completely healed of their bruising within just four weeks. can strengthen your blood vessels, stop the bruising and help skin look younger and healthier.

4. Decreasing hand strength. Your grip strength may start to drop when you reach your 50s. You might find it harder to open a jar or keep your grip on the steering wheel. So much of what we do these days is automated. The push of a key on the keyboard or the tap of a Smartphone can accomplish a task that used to take effort. One study found that hand strength among millennials is nearly twenty percent weaker than it is in people thirty years their senior. This may not seem like a big concern. But studies have shown that grip strength is statistically connected to your lifespan, as well as to your risk of dementia, heart attack and stroke. You need to exercise your hands, just like you exercise the rest of your body. Studies have shown that grip strength is statistically connected to your: Lifespan, Risk for heart attack and stroke,  Dementia risk,  Mobility, Loss of overall muscle mass (sarcopenia), Chance of survival if you get cancer, etc.

Grip strength has even been revealed as a more reliable gauge of your biological age (how old your body seems based on certain biological and physical markers) than the number of candles on your last birthday cake. Here are eight simple things you can do to keep your hands strong, whatever your age.

  • Playing with clay. Smash it, squeeze it, roll it, pinch it — It will all lead to better grip strength.
  • Wringing out a wet cloth. Moisten a cloth or towel and wring it out with your hand. You can even do some cleaning while you’re at it.
  • Making a fist. Squeeze your hand tightly into a fist, hold it for a few seconds and then release. Doing repetitions of this exercise whenever you have a few minutes to spare will increase your grip strength over time.
  • Doing some gardening. Pulling weeds is a great way to strengthen your grip.
  • Practicing opening tight jars. Not only will this strengthen your grip, but it will prevent you from future frustration at not being able to open that jar of salsa you really want to snack on.
  • Trying rock climbing. If you start visiting your local climbing wall, your grip strength is sure to improve in no time.
  • Playing tug of war. Grab a rope or a TheraBand and encourage a friend or family member to strengthen their grip with you by playing one of your favorite childhood games.
  • Kneading some dough.

Monday, July 11, 2022

21 Day Challenge - Possibility Thinking : Dharaneetharan

 Understand

  1 - Life Happiness Purpose & Water Therapy 

 2 - Here to Where? - Decide & Goals for 7 areas of your life 

 3 - Bucket Lists - 101 List 

4 - Vision Boards & LoA 

5 - Declutter - Objects, Space & Mind 

 6 - Self Concept and Affirmations 

 7 - The Value System 

Manage

 8 - Decluttering Mails 

 9 - To Do Lists 

 10 - Social Media Persona 

 11 - Chrome Extns 

 12 - Money Tools 

 13 - Social Media Content 

 14 - Professional Networking 

Accelerate

 15 - 13 Factors of Growth 

 16 - 4 Circles 

 17 - 3 Layers of Sale 

 18 - FCC 

 19 - Hope Trust Genuine Approach 

 20 - Energy Ball 

21 - Life is a Marathon 

Coaching.

 You are here to make a difference, and you are going to Make a difference in this world.

You will be the light to many who are unaware of what to do in their life. 

You will be able to uplift and touch many lives and make a difference.

More Power to you dear 

Yes, you will do amazingly well both in your job and in uplifting the lives of those around us. 

Your dad, MIL, Cousins, aunt, Sajeev's parents and my grandparents are all sending their blessings. 

Help each of the family members first. 

----------------

Be Consistent, 

Have courage to break your resistance and 

Remain curious. 

-------------

Let the world know you have arrived. Update social medias. 

Breath and Dance.

Energy is the currency of the Coaching Industry. 




Friday, July 08, 2022

Mindfulness Techniques - Yoga

 Four key practices.

 Asanas  15 mins  

Simple standing and sitting yoga postures.

 Pranayama  15 mins 

Practice controlling the breath to aid in proper functioning of respiratory, circulatory, digestive, endocrine 

and nervous systems. This also helps in spiritual development allowing your mind to be still.  

 Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) 15 mins 

This guided meditation on your yoga mat takes you through the Pancha Maya Kosha (five layers of self) leaving you with a sense of wholeness by promoting deep rest and relaxation. 

 Sound healing  15 mins 

Finally, you’ll experience the magic of sound healing with brass chimes, gong, crystal bowls, Koshi chimes and rain sticks. These sound waves balance and heal your energy, allowing you to let go of any cellular level stress.

 

Thursday, July 07, 2022

Finance Market and Personal Investments in India

Thanks to Sarita for sharing this: 


The quarter gone by has been a challenging one with several global & domestic factors at play. Equity markets across the world have seen a volatile period arising from the Ukraine – Russia war, commodity price rise & subsequent rise in inflation. The discussion of stagflation & recession fears has taken over the narrative of growth momentum making a comeback.

In this edition of the podcast, I have highlighted the global factors impacting markets & my thoughts on the Indian economy going forward.

Equities have been volatile in recent times with the return of inflation which in turn has led to increased cost & lower profitability for companies. However, I do expect some stability going forward in the overall momentum of the market.

India has been a relative outperformer due to the following reasons as per A. Balasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited



Monday, July 04, 2022

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect



False acquisitions and labels so easy to be made,  destroying not just the person but the whole family. It's sad that  the real perpetrators roam around freely. This is what Madhavan has brought out in not just another bio-pic but something that all should be aware of and need to know. The message also is - Don't give up the fight for right.  Come what may. A must watch movie.

The whole movie has messages at various stages, whether it is doing whatever is needed to chase your goals, patriotism, in the beginning, the fight for right, and misunderstandings, but the best as always is saved to the end, when actual Nambi Sir takes over, and the climax scene where the interviewer Sharuk/Surya  apologises to Nambi Narayanan it just feels soo raw & realistic. This is not just a movie. This is not definitely entertainment. It is an apology from the heart of the people of India to a great son of India, a visionary technologist and a patriot - Nambi Narayanan, for the crimes against him committed by a few heartless men using the state machinery of India. A film on ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan who was arrested in an alleged espionage case in 1994 for selling vital secrets to Pakistan and being involved in Sex Scandel with Mariam Rashida. 

It's not easy being both the lead actor and the director but Madhavan achieves the desired trajectory on both fronts. 

Coming to the film the script is well written stitched with perfect timeline of events, detailing on technical & scientific aspects and a well balance storyline of personal as well as professional life of scientist Nambi Narayanan. This film is a journey in itself , you feel intense emotions, patriotism, you feel proud of Indian scientists at the same time you feel sad at what a scientist of a caliber like Nambi had to go through from being called a traitor for always keeping nation  & his duty towards nation first , there are scenes that break you down as audience , its hard to imagine the feelings of Scientist Nambi in real life . R Madhavan has lived the character and has done justice to the role , the young avatar to the present avatar of scientist Nambi all has been aced to the best . Overall  this is a film that should not be missed , its a must watch for all of us Indians . This film is not a commecial entertainer so do not expect masala and over exaggeration ,this film is plain , simple & to the point which is sure to make you feel emotional, its a niche film showcasing India's scientific capability and how it was tried to be sabotaged. 

May nobody go throw what Nami Sir, had to. May the real perpetrators come to light. 

Future of FP&A and BP - Anders Liu-Lindberg

 You may be looking at FP&A for the first time through the long lens of taxation, audit, and other disciplines. You may be coming from a non-financial background and considering the best route to take in a new career. You may be established on the FP&A career path and weighing your options for advancement. Wherever you find yourself now, what should your next steps be?

“We are a valuable Business Partner, delivering efficient & world class financial processes & activities through a highly engaged team by focusing on process improvements & implementation of best practices.”

Get interested in the numbers

When you’re sampling transactions for audit or running to tight monthly reporting deadlines that leave you little room to breathe, it’s easy to process the numbers without thinking through in detail what they are telling you.

Be curious. 

Develop an interest in where the numbers come from instead of just producing them. Follow the audit trails and discover the people and the stories behind the transactions.

Show and tell

Take any and every opportunity to analyze those numbers. Build your skills using analytical tools and learn the tricks of the financial modeling trade. Look for the key trends and indicators that your models reveal. Dig deeper into the data sets, too. Getting an insight into what is and isn’t reported and what biases exist will help to build richer data for decision-making.

Don’t keep this work to yourself. Demonstrate what you're doing and share your findings. Collaboration and communication lie at the heart of a successful FP&A career, and by working together with financial and operation colleagues you build your skills as a professional and as a leader. Helping others to succeed is one part of the mindset of success.

Find the right mindset

That mindset is all-important as you develop your career. You need to focus on driving business value, generating insights, and supporting vital strategic decision-making so that management takes the right risks to grow the business.

This is a paradigm shift in focus that characterizes the most successful FP&A professionals. Planning and analysis have to deliver the breadth and depth of information needed to keep the organization on a steady path towards its goals.

Maintaining that trajectory requires a holistic view of the whole business and a clear understanding of how operations fit together and where the organization sits in the market and wider economy.

Consider certification

Not every FP&A leader has trodden the path of professional certification, but there is a clear thread of continuous learning that runs through all the accounts we hear. Certification - whether that’s CMA, CGMA,  FPAC, MBA, or similar - offers more than just letters.

It helps you to develop new skills and broaden your outlook, challenging you to deeper thinking and exploration of concepts and ideas that you may not be exposed to in your working life. It helps you to stay focused as you dare to take risks and opens the door to a network of like-minded professionals and opportunities to further your career.

Take the first step

What will you do today to move your career forward? Look at those numbers again, in a new light. Tell your colleagues what you’ve noticed, and start the conversation. Consider how that insight might contribute towards driving value in the business. With that simple shift in focus, you have already made progress towards your goals.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-get-started-your-fpa-career-anders-liu-lindberg/?trk=eml-email_series_follow_newsletter_01-hero-1-title_link&midToken=AQGywg-9foVlzw&fromEmail=fromEmail&ut=0995XjAFHUoak1

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Tomb of Sand Vs. Reth Samadhi - Geethanjali Sree

 This is the first attempt in reading a Hindi and an English Book together. Was fascinated for couple of reasons:

1. First person to get Booker prize in Hindi

2. The English Novel, has pages almost twice that of Hindi.


Geetanjali Shree also known as Geetanjali Pandey, is an Indian Hindi-language novelist and short-story writer based in New Delhi and the translation was done by Daisy Rockwell


English has Introduction, chapter names, and 20th page in Hindi book was the 40th in English. So no wonder. 



KK - The singer

Born in Delhi on 23 August 1968 to Malayali parents, Krishnakumar Kunnath made is Career in Mumbai, and died in Calcutta on 31st May 2022, doing what he loved the best - Singing - live performance. This  live music concert was at the Gurudas College festival at Nazrul Mancha auditorium, in South Kolkata. He sang 3,500 jingles before breaking into Bollywood. 

The last song he sang was:

Pal (Moments)

Whether we are there tomorrow or not,

These moments will nevertheless be remembered.

Moments - these are moments of love,

Come, come along with me.

Come, what are you thinking,

Life is short

If we do get a tomorrow, it would be good fortune.

Not many knew him, as a person, but loved his songs - current generation grew up listening to his songs. He made an appearance in the song "Josh of India", released to support the Indian Cricket Team during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

KK married Jyothy in 1991, and has a son Nakul Krishna Kunnath and a daughter Thamara. For his funeral we could see them and many singers from Bollywood, but did not see his parents - nor did we see him much in malayalam - inspite of his songs being a huge hit in many other languages, including Tamil and Marathi. He was from Thrissur. 

The Vedas and Upanishads -Roopa Pai

Vedas are the most ancient, Sanskrit texts ever, also the most ancient Indian texts in any Indo - European language. It is a vast and random, collection of Sanskrit poetry, philosophical stories, spells, incantations, mantras, musical notations, how-to guides for all kinds of rituals, and more.  

Each of the four Vedas, i.e. the Rig, The Yajur, The Sama and The Atharva, is organized into four sections - the Samhita, the Brahmana (say braah-mana), the Aranyaka (say aa-ranyaka) and the Upanishad. Well there is a fifth Veda too called Panchama Veda. 

Vyasa is regarded by tradition as the compiler of the mantras of the Vedas into four Vedas, as well as the author of the eighteen Puranas and the Brahma Sutras. 

While the Arya worshipped all different deities, they believed that all of them were only manifestations of one Supreme Being, the formless, nameless one they called Ishvara. In the Upanishads, which were composed 1,000 years after the Vedas, this Supreme Being came to be called Brahman. 

Upanishad literally translates to sitting close to someone, at a lower level. They were meant to be heard, like the Vedas, as these were communicated orally. They were sacred sounds. Often structured as a dialogue between a teacher and a student. 

While the Vedas describe rituals and invoke gods of one particular culture or people, the Upanishads talk about universal truths that anyone from any culture can relate to and live by.  Bu perhaps what is even more wonderful about the latter is that they allow for several interpretations, including some seriously contradictory ones - the debate is never over, the jury is always out. 

There are 108+Upanishad's but this covers the main 10 namely:

  1. Isha: The Upanishad of the Sameness of All things
  2. Kena: The Upanishad of 'Whence - Came - IT- All'?
  3. Katha: The Upanishad of the Secret of Eternal life
  4. Prashna: The Upanishad of the Peepul Tree Sage
  5. Mundaka: The Upanishad of the Big Shave
  6. Mandukya: The Upanishad of the Frog
  7. Taittiriya: The Upanishad of the Partridges
  8. Aitarey: The Upanishad of the Glory of Being Human
  9. Chandogya: The Upanishad of the Sacred Metre
  10. Brihadaranyaka: The Great Forest Upanishad.
Comming soon and the next is 'The Upanishads' by Swami Nikhilananda. 

Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul - Jack Canfield


 Yes Vs. No

The inner voice. You decide when to say Yes, and when to say No. 

Poem - No. Story - Yes . If you try, you succeed, if you don't you can try again. 

Be a Queen

EDITORS' NOTE: Over the years, we have been inspire by messages about love and the power of choice that great women of the world have given us. One of the most inspiring messages has come through the words, actions, and examples of one of the world's most loved and respected women, Oprah Winfrey. Continually she reminds us that within every woman lies a queen, waiting to claim her glory.

Referring to a theme used by Marianne Williamson in her book A Woman's Worth, Oprah said the following in a commencement address to the graduates of all-female Spelman College in 1993:

Be a queen. Dare to be different. Be a pioneer. Be a leader. Be the kind of woman who in the face of adversity will continue to embrace life and walk fearlessly toward the challenge. Take it on! Be a truth seeker and rule your domain, whatever it isyour home, your office, your familywith a loving heart.

Be a queen. Be tender. Continue to give birth to new ideas and rejoice in your womanhood ... My prayer is that we will stop wasting time being mundane and mediocre ... We are daughters of Godhere to teach the world how to love ...

It doesn't matter what you've been through, where you come from, who your parents arenor your social or economic status. None of that matters.

What matters is how you choose to love, how you choose to express that love through your work, through your family, through what you have to give to the world ...

Be a queen. Own your power and your glory!

Oprah Winfrey

Mrs. Smith had an opportunity to ask the little boy what had happened to his eye. He considered her question for a long moment, then replied, lifting the patch, "There's nothing wrong with my eye. I'm a pirate!" Then he returned to his game.

Ruby's arms. "Grandma, I've spilled my honey all over your brand new carpet."

Grandma Ruby knelt down, looked tenderly into Sheena's tearful eyes and said, "Don't worry sweetheart, we can get you more honey."

Lynn Robertson - Page 71

Angela's Word

When Angela was very young,

Age two or three or so,

Her mother and her father

Taught her never to say NO.

They taught her that she must agree

With everything they said,

And if she didn't, she was spanked

And sent upstairs to bed.

So Angela grew up to be

A most agreeable child;

She was never angry

And she was never wild;

She always shared, she always cared,

She never picked a fight,

And no matter what her parents said,

She thought that they were right.

.

.

.

.

But one cold night near Christmastime

When her family was in bed,

She lay awake as awful thoughts went spinning through her head;

She didn't know why, and she didn't know how,

But she wanted her life to end;

So she begged Whoever put her here

To take her back again.

And then she heard, from deep inside,

A voice that was soft and low;

It only said a single word

And the word it said was ... NO.

From that moment on, Angela knew

Exactly what she had to do.

Her life depended on that word,

So this is what her loved ones heard:

.

.

.

.

Today Angela's a person first, then a mother and a wife.

She knows where she begins and ends,

She has a separate life.

She has talents and ambitions,

She has feelings, needs and goals.

She has money in the bank and

An opinion at the polls.

And to her boy and girl she says,

"It's nice when we agree;

But if you can't say NO, you'll never grow

To be all you're meant to be.

Because I know I'm sometimes wrong

And because I love you so,

You'll always be my angels

Even when you tell me NO."

Barbara K. Bassett - Page 80/140


Just Say Yes

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

Helen Keller

I'm a standup comic. I was working at a radio station in New York, doing the weather as this character called June East (Mae West's longlost sister). One day, a woman from The Daily News called and said she wanted to do an article on me. When she had finished interviewing me for the article, she asked, "What are you planning to do next?"

Well, at the time, there was absolutely nothing I was planning on doing next, so I asked her what she meant, stalling for time. She said she really wanted to follow my career. Here was a woman from The

Daily News telling me she was interested in me! So I thought I'd better tell her something. What came out was, "I'm thinking about breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for Fastest-Talking Female."

I tell them

I live my life by this simple philosophy: I always say yes first; then I ask, Now, what do I have to do to accomplish that?

Then I ask myself, What is the worst thing that can happen if I don't succeed? The answer is, I simply don't succeed! And what's the best thing that can happen? I succeed!

What more can life ask of you? Be yourself, and have a good time!

Fran Capo

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Unconscious Bias

 Unconscious bias refers to biases or shortcuts our brains make, that we are unaware of and which happen outside of our control. Our brain scan assess what feels safe, familiar, valuable and likable, all behind the curtain of our conscious mind. In general, it's a good thing we're not conscious of everything our brain does, we're able to make quick judgments and assessments of people in situations, and this is integral to our day-to-day function, yet it comes at a cost, particularly when left unexamined. These snap judgments don't just kick in the moment you're in danger, or need to react with an urgency, there always present leading us to draw conclusions based on partial or incomplete information. No matter what we actually believe or think, consciously, these little unconscious biases can hurt other people. So since losing this important brain function isn't really an option, what can you do to stop it from causing harm? First, recognize that accepting your own unconscious bias isn't easy. It takes a particular level of comfort, even bravery to take responsibility for choices that by definition, you've had no conscious, part in. It takes effort to even find out what these biases are. By accepting that they exist, you can uncover the unconscious, you can question those snap decisions and immediate conclusions. Examine your impulses and instincts. Once you have a handle on how your unconscious biases manifest themselves, you'll be ready to start managing the impact your biases have on your decisions.



Why do ambitious women have flat heads? Dame Stephanie Shirley

 Surround yourself with first class people and people you like, choose your partner very very carefully.

Successful women are flat at top, because of constant tapping - with appreciation for well done, and long legs to walk away from the kitchen sink. 

There is beauty in work, if we enjoy and do it humility. We live our life forward. Welcome change. 

Questions to ask yourself before you lead a discussion:

In the spirit of fostering dynamic conversations in which all voices are respected and heard, here ar questions to consider before you lead a discussion on this idea:

1. What is your comfort level or prior experience with this topic?

2. What is your comfort level or prior experience facilitating a conversation with other people on this topic?

3. What are your hopes for the outcome of the conversation — both for yourself and for others involved?

4. Likewise, what are your concerns?

5. What resources in your organization are available to help you have a successful conversation? If you think you need additional resources, how will you seek them out?

6. What is the ideal group size for this conversation?

7. How well do participants already know each other? What is the level of engagement and trust of this group? What level of engagement or trust do they have in your organization?

8. What is the ideal setting and context for this conversation?

Reminders

• You don’t have to be an expert on a topic to lead a discussion! Sharing with the group up front that you are there to listen and facilitate (more than contribute) helps level the playing field.

• Don’t shy away from discomfort.

• Recognize that there’s no one right way to participate. Instead of talking, some participants may choose to take notes and reflect on the discussion afterwards, and that’s OK.

• Avoid singling anyone out: no one should be expected to represent a group or idea.

Setting up the conversation

• Welcome the group and acknowledge participants’ shared purpose.

• Help create a safe space by agreeing to shared values and group norms. Here’s language you can use as inspiration:

 “The spirit of this discussion is one that values curiosity, debate, inclusion and impact. As a group, we’ll ensure everyone can participate in the way that is meaningful and comfortable for them, while remaining present, and showing respect.”

• You can set ground rules to help put these norms into action. For example:

- Let’s try to stick to “I” statements.

- All contributions will be valued, and no one will be called out.

- Everyone can decide what participation looks like to them (for example, by taking notes  and reflecting individually).





Monday, June 20, 2022

Fear - Overcome

 Fear:

  • The scenario of unknown creates a feeling and that is fear
  • I do not have the skill. Lack of skill creates uncertainty of the outcome.
  • The current belief system.

Believing something much before it has actually happen, is the faith. 

Belief System - Outside Forces Vs. Inside Forces. 

Outside Force:

  • Your mentor
  • Your Training and Development (Books, Programs, Audio learning)
  • Your Company
  • Your Team

Inside Force:


These are like vaccines.

Faith -

  • Fuel to actin
  • Face Rejection
  • Face Disappointment

But will not allow you to quit in the middle

Let your faith be bigger than your fear. 

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve" - Napolean Hill