conférence de l’ONU Rio de Janeiro 1992
Watch this and you will find out yourself!
Are we doing enough?!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Are we greedy?
conférence de l’ONU Rio de Janeiro 1992
Watch this and you will find out yourself!
Are we doing enough?!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Compromises...
Hope you would have read my earlier blogs on finance or the need of wealth creation by plan. If not, do take some time to understand why you need those...
While you need to plan your finance, you also need to rejuvenate yourself by holidays. Now saying this, quality what we are going to get is based on the price what we pay for it. The better the quality, the higher the price, however remember while higher the price does not guarantee you a better quality. So, why do you want to buy a product where there is a quality compromise?
Some years ago, while few companies were producing goods in quantity and making profits, few others realised the products that others had produced, where not reliable in the long run. So they created their own standards for higher reliability compared to the existing products which later due to mass acceptance by consumers became a benchmark for other similar products and thus the birth of quality.
Using the benchmarks, that they had created, these companies developed a strategy called BRAND BUILDING, which let the wide acceptance of re-defining Quality as BRAND.
In today's market scenario, if you buy a particular brand, by default you feel that you will have the best quality.
My question is: are you 100% sure that the hard earned you spend, do you really get the quality? If so, then why there are so many upgrades or so many versions available out there?
Remember, every product has shelf life that might be 1 day to 20 years. What I mean, every product you buy has an end or change required. If not today, it might be required, tomorrow.
So, why do you want to get the best quality, when you know that after few days it won't be the best?
We need to learn to compromise, else we will always get into the frustration level with the products they come around and go. Products can be changed or bought, peace of mind & happiness can never be.
Compromises are one of human's best features that make them to learn to live, with what we have. Some will argue that if we started comprising there won't be better quality available.
If you see any product in today's market say from basic phones to smart phones, from bikes to high end cars, from flats to villas, the manufacturer had built them with compromises which are inbuilt with them somewhere or the other.
By compromising, you are not losing anything, but gaining an experience of learning to spend on what you need at that instant with a purpose instead of going by the brands or best which will be replaced tomorrow, because you will be there tomorrow to experience it for much better product.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Do we need Holidays?
When I thought about this topic, I felt, probably it not necessary as most of people get a minimum of 1 day to a 3 day off from their work, depending upon the nature & industry they work in.
To be practical, these are not holidays but these are off's from your regular work, so that you can get some rest from the morning rushes, meetings, deadlines etc….
You are just switching off [however your mind is in pause mood] to resume your work on a Monday but you are still on as you need to cater yourself to your family, probably half minded, as you have your next week work load in your mind!
When I meant Holiday, it means you need to off from your work, family & friends far away, probably with your loved one, where you can enjoy and give some time for yourself & your loved ones a thought!
Holidays are something that TRANSFORMS your LIFE to a different one. It gives you the energy, time and mind to review what you have planned for and what you can achieve further ahead of.
What are the benefits of a holiday?
- It refreshes your mind & body
- It further bonds you with your family / loved ones
- It improves your self-confidence
- It gives new ideas to explore
There are so many other benefits which can be listed …however that needs to felt while doing it!
Now, coming to drawbacks…
- You need to plan it for your stay, travel & food.
- You need to budget your holiday within your financial limitations
Taking off or away from duty is not important, you should be away from your city or place or home where you regularly stay.
Recommendations: Take holiday for a span of 3 to 5 days, twice a year.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Choosing a Life Partner
Today, divorce rates are increasing day by day though it is not or part of our culture. Instead of breaking a bond [marriage] let us try to identify some steps before the bond is made.
During a marriage proposal, most of our groom's family members look into...
Early days : Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society], Beauty, Wealth & Character
Present days : Well educated, Wealth or Working girl, Beauty, Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society] & Character
Compare to early day system and present day system, only two parameters have been added extra [education & working bride] and some have moved places due to economic conditions & generation gaps but the consequences of it is so high the system is slowly coming to a halt.
Education & work gives the individual a recognition of his/her ability in an organisation or work, however the same is reflected in a family or a bond, which increases this rate without understanding each other after making a bond due to the above factors.
If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love" or 'Our horoscope matched' or 'It is arranged marriage'; I believe this is the 1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love or by astrology or by society. Though this may sound "not politically correct", there's a profound truth here.
Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: "You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone"; You need a lot more!!!
Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.
QUESTION-1: Do we share a common life purpose?
Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.
Two things can happen in a marriage: (1) You can grow together, or (2) you can grow apart.
50% of the people out there are growing apart.
To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life!
Bottom line; marry someone who wants the same thing.
QUESTION-2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?
This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship.
Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get "punished"; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.
QUESTION-3: Is he/she a mensch?
A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ";. So ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.
There are essentially two types of people in the world: (1) People who are dedicated to personal growth and (2) people who are dedicated to seeking comfort. Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.
QUESTION-4: How does he/she treat other people?
The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.
Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self- absorbed?
To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation?
If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone, who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.
QUESTION-5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?
Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve" them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.
In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous.
The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself trouble because you didn't do your homework.
Another perspective...
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention...Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, or appreciate you?
The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye"; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults isn’t really that important.
Do you bring out the best in each other?
Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?
What do you bring to the relationship?
Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?
You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.
If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life"; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.
WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG IS:
1. TRUST
2. COMMUNICATION
3. INTIMACY
4. A SENSE OF HUMOR
5. SHARING TASKS
6. SOME GETAWAY TIME WITHOUT BUSINESS OR CHILDREN
7. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, notes, etc.)
8. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS
9. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE
10. GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT
If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty;
and pain will replace.
In short,
the likes, dislikes, dreams, goals, intimacy, communication of the person should ALSO be considered and discussed by each other before going in for a bond apart from the usual list of education, Character, Beauty, Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society] & wealth or working girl.
Edited & Customised from a forward of 'Golden rules for finding your life partner' by Dov Heller, M.A.
During a marriage proposal, most of our groom's family members look into...
Early days : Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society], Beauty, Wealth & Character
Present days : Well educated, Wealth or Working girl, Beauty, Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society] & Character
Compare to early day system and present day system, only two parameters have been added extra [education & working bride] and some have moved places due to economic conditions & generation gaps but the consequences of it is so high the system is slowly coming to a halt.
Education & work gives the individual a recognition of his/her ability in an organisation or work, however the same is reflected in a family or a bond, which increases this rate without understanding each other after making a bond due to the above factors.
If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love" or 'Our horoscope matched' or 'It is arranged marriage'; I believe this is the 1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love or by astrology or by society. Though this may sound "not politically correct", there's a profound truth here.
Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: "You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone"; You need a lot more!!!
Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.
QUESTION-1: Do we share a common life purpose?
Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.
Two things can happen in a marriage: (1) You can grow together, or (2) you can grow apart.
50% of the people out there are growing apart.
To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life!
Bottom line; marry someone who wants the same thing.
QUESTION-2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?
This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship.
Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get "punished"; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.
QUESTION-3: Is he/she a mensch?
A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ";. So ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.
There are essentially two types of people in the world: (1) People who are dedicated to personal growth and (2) people who are dedicated to seeking comfort. Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.
QUESTION-4: How does he/she treat other people?
The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.
Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self- absorbed?
To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation?
If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone, who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.
QUESTION-5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?
Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve" them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.
In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous.
The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself trouble because you didn't do your homework.
Another perspective...
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention...Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, or appreciate you?
The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye"; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults isn’t really that important.
Do you bring out the best in each other?
Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?
What do you bring to the relationship?
Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?
You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.
If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life"; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.
WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG IS:
1. TRUST
2. COMMUNICATION
3. INTIMACY
4. A SENSE OF HUMOR
5. SHARING TASKS
6. SOME GETAWAY TIME WITHOUT BUSINESS OR CHILDREN
7. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, notes, etc.)
8. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS
9. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE
10. GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT
If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty;
and pain will replace.
In short,
the likes, dislikes, dreams, goals, intimacy, communication of the person should ALSO be considered and discussed by each other before going in for a bond apart from the usual list of education, Character, Beauty, Good Family background [means has good reputation in the society] & wealth or working girl.
Edited & Customised from a forward of 'Golden rules for finding your life partner' by Dov Heller, M.A.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Credit Cards
Every finance needs to be planned, whether it is going to be involved in certain or uncertain times.
Why I am saying that finance needs to be planned is, if you spend without planning, then you will end up in debt.
Certainty is like buying a house, car, mobile phone etc....
Uncertain is like injury, accidents, loss of life etc...
Some can be avoided and some can't.
Credit card is one such tool, if used properly, it does wonders else you will end in debt.
This tool also helps us to manage our own economy. When I mean 'our own economy' it means, the way we buy things, make our payments and ways or channels involved for this payments & credits, transforms as a data feed for our economy in which we live in.
By default, credit card has many advantages, however many don't understand it and for them it becomes a nightmare.
Advantages of having a Credit Card
+ 30 - 60 days of credit period
+ Low interest rates or Interest free periods
+ Reward Points
+ Discounts
+ Balance Transfers
Other factors, that actually work behind are...
+ your purchases becomes legal compared to cash, as your merchant, your credit card provider, payment gateway, merchant's bank are involved in processing this payment.
Purchasing any item using your Debit Card or Credit Card provided by your bank has the same advantage, however credit card gives some time to pay-back, where as when you use a debit card, the money is removed immediately.
When to use credit cards
1. Buying items which are affordable by you.
2. Buying things, which you can pay immediately using your debit card also.
3. In case of emergency or medical requirements during uncertain times
How to use credit cards
Stated earlier, every thing is planned. So, when you are using your credit card, you should plan before using it, else it uses you.
1. Always buy anything immediately after the statement date ONLY, to get the maximum credit period.
2. Use the credit card, which gives you the either of these for your purchases
+ Cash Back
+ Double Reward Points
+ Interest free periods
+ Low Interest Conversion EMI's
+ Flat % Discounts at certain places
What type of credit cards, can be subscribed?
When buying any financial product, never go with the leader however follow the leader constantly.
The reason is, the leader sets rules, however the contender always tries to defy them and create new ones.
The pressure will be always there with the leader to be in the lead, where as the contender wants to emerge as a leader, so they give 200%.
Most of the market trends are identified or defined by the leader, where as the contender easily taps the market without much issues, because the concept is already familiarized by the leader in that segment.
Why I am stating all this is...VISA card , MASTERCARD and AMEX cards have different set of benefits. So, do compare them before subscribing.
It does not depend only on these, it also depends upon the bank from which you are getting the card. Emerging banks will always introduce schemes to attract customers. Ensure that you subscribe and utilize those benefits.
Happy credit free days ahead...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)