Self Appraisal

A BEAUTIFUL STORY ~

*A little boy went to a telephone booth which was at the cash counter of a store and dialed a number.

The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:

Boy : “Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
Woman : (at the other end of the phone line) “I already have someone to cut my lawn.”

Boy : “Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price than the person who cuts your lawn now.”

Woman : I’m very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy : (with more perseverance) “Lady, I’ll even sweep the floor and the stairs of your house for free.

Woman : No, thank you.With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner : “Son… I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.”

Boy : “No thanks,
Store Owner : But you were really pleading for one.
Boy : No Sir, I was just checking my performance at
the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!” *

** This is called self Appraisal”

 Give your best and the world comes to you!!!!!

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Why walk when you can fly

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from Arabia . They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.  Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived. 

 The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all over the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the members of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go and get a farmer who lives in a village where there is no modern development !!!!."  The farmer arrived and was explained the problem. He assured the King he would do his best....

The next morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle." said the king...The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"  With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, " It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting." 

 We are and were all made to fly -- to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But instead of doing that, we sit on our branches, in our own comfort zones, clinging to the things that are familiar to us and even to those that drown us in misery.  The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable, the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling. So let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight.......Adapted from the Book "Why walk when you can fly".....

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Scars of Life

Scars of Life    

Some years ago, on a hot summer day, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole that was behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

 He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

 Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed, and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms, just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began a very incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator.

 Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms, there were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

 The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked the boy if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."

 You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly, and have caused us deep regret.But, some wounds, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been right there, holding on to you.

We are all children of God. He wants to protect you, and provide for you in every way. But, sometimes, we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with perils and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That is when the tug-of-war begins.

If you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He will not ever let you go.

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Nerver Ever Quit

Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.
He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the United States history.

Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to the White House:

•1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
•1818 His mother died.
•1831 Failed in business.
•1832 Ran for state legislature – lost.
•1832 Also lost his job – wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
•1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
•1834 Ran for state legislature again – won.
•1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
•1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
•1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
•1840 Sought to become elector – defeated.
•1843 Ran for Congress – lost.
•1846 Ran for Congress again – this time he won – went to Washington and did a good job.
•1848 Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
•1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.
•1854 Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
•1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – get less than 100 votes.
•1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.
•1860 Elected president of the United States

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The Last Option- IITK Short Film

A truly inspiring and must watch video for all .

I hope you got the message !!!

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How to Get Someone to Forgive You

How to Get Someone to Forgive You

You may not be able to get someone to forget a thing of the past, but it is possible to receive forgiveness for whatever it was. The 8 ways to get someone to forgive you that I have listed below might prove to be useful someday. Take a look and see what you think.

8. Ask with sincerity

Sometimes all it takes is a bit of asking. People can be funny about how they go about forgiving someone. Most will offer forgiveness on their own, but there actually are people who have to be asked to forgive a person. This could mean that the process might take a long time if the person wanting forgiveness isn’t aware he/she has to ask for it.

7. Show them utter kindness

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. Being nice to someone who is mad at you will usually make them realize you are truly a nice person and they will wonder why they were mad at you in the first place. Sometimes a nice gesture will soften hearts enough to dissolve all anger and forgiveness is sort of a given. Many friendships and serious relationships are patched this way.

6. Earn their forgiveness

Demanding forgiveness only drives people further away. Depending on what happened, it might take time for you to earn forgiveness. There are some things that people just aren’t willing to forgive. Earning forgiveness requires a lot of hard work on your part. You basically have to prove yourself to whomever is angry with you. It will be up to you to show this person that you are worthy of being forgiven.

5. Write a letter

Words often come across clearer when they are written down. I know I fumble for words at times when I’m conversing with someone. Writing a letter allows me to see my thoughts before the other person gets a chance to. I can retract a statement or reword it to make its meaning less vague. Offering an explanation for your actions in a letter might be just the thing for helping a loved one see exactly where you were coming from.

4. Remain calm

Getting angry with someone who won’t forgive you right away won’t make matters easier. If you remain calm, then you will also help the other person become less agitated and more reasonable. Once everyone is talking in a lower decibel, it will be simpler to discuss the issue like to rational adults. A heated discussion very rarely ends up with forgiveness being given.

3. Allow the person time to simmer down

People with short fuses will need some time to cool off before the thought of offering forgiveness ever crosses their mind. The length of time needed for this defusing session will vary with each person. Some people are over their anger in a few minutes, while others take days, weeks, or even months. If you are dealing with an individual who likes to hold grudges, then the cooling down time could be infinite.

2. Be willing to admit your mistakes

Being the bigger person is sometimes your job. If you aren’t willing to admit when you are wrong, then how can you expect others to forgive you when they are in the wrong? By admitting to your flaws you are setting a good example for others. Be humble and take the heat when you are the one who caused it.

1. Have a long talk together

Discussions and open communication can do wonders for solving problems. Being able to talk about a situation that occurred or an issue at hand makes it easier for both parties. Talk to the person you wish forgiveness from and see if you both can figure out what went wrong. There could easily be a slight misunderstanding that can be worked out in no time at all. 

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A Stranger In My House.....Thought Provoking Short Story

A while ago, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with
our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry.
The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet (I
wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home...Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our long-time visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.
My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.
He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for
someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. .





We just call him ' TV.'


He has a wife now....We call her 'Computer.'

Their first child is "Cell Phone".

Second child "I Pod"

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I Want To Be A TV Because...

 

 

 

A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write a essay about what they would like God to do for them...
At the end of the day while marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional. Her husband, that had just walked in saw her crying and asked her:

- What happened?

She answered

- Read this. It's one of my student's essay :

Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television. I want to take its place.



 Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, And have my family around ME. To be taken seriously when I talk.... I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me... And... I want my brothers to fight to be with me...




I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least make it that I can make them all happy and entertain them...



Lord I don't ask you for much... I just want to live like every TV

At that moment the husband said: - 'My God, poor kid. What horrible parents!





She looked up at him and said: - 'That essay is our son's !

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Go....Someone is still waiting for you !!!

*Heart Touching...*

I was a just-born and she was Twenty-Five, Though we were we, we were one. I would cry out in Latin and she would respond in Greek, I would learn nothing but she never got tired to teach. I was surrounded by monsters eager to pull my cheek, but they would vanish the moment I was wet and weep. She would come running and hold me in her arms, as if I had won the contest of the charms. Now I was able to walk and chew, and hey, I was two. I and she could now understand each other, I was her everything and she needed no other. I would try to walk and fall down, But knowing she was with me,

the fear of getting hurt was now gone. We still could not converse that effectively, But she would understand my needs so easily. I could now roam about free, because now I have turned three. I was ready to join a new world, my academic life was now gonna mould. She would dress me as best as a prince, but when I would come back,

she would need at least an hour to rinse. I was now able to talk, I was a ferry and she was my dock.



I still remember the child, whose shirt I had tore, Hey buddy, I have turned four. I now came home a little late, Nevertheless finding her waiting at the gate. She would hug me and carry me in her arms, it felt like flying through the farms. We now did the homework together, I would spoil the home and she used to work. Years passed and now I was fifteen,

and with each year I would forget to lean.
I wouldn't care for what she said,

because now I had become mean.
She would ask me to study for a good future,
but I was busy in a different culture.
Now I had many shes in my life,
I dreamed of having one of them as my wife.

I changed a lot which she did not teach,
She would try to hug me but I was out of reach.
She still waited for me at the gate,
but I would look at her with utmost hate.
She would be awake till late in the night,
because I wasn't home, I was in a fight.
She had so much to scold, but she never did say,
hoping to find me better the next day.
Time went on and now I am grown,
lost in the world of my own.

I and she, between us have a river,
I have left her for my career.
When I was young, for me, she sacrificed her ambitions,
but I don't care, I now have my own mission.
I am not with her now, I am in a different city,
she is so old now but I don't even pity.

She needs me now but I am nowhere to find,
in the race for appraisal, I have become blind.
In a few years from now, I will be two,
there will be in my life someone new.
Then I'll forget even to bother,
I am her son and she is my Mother Go ............ ..
someone is still waiting for you!!!

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Re:Life is about correcting mistakes : Worth Reading

Priya:

Nice thought provoking.

When you love somebody just love every thing he/she have because this is what makes him/her unique

DIL KE BAZAR MAI DOLAT NAHI DEKHI JATI

DOSTI HO JAYE TO SURAT NAHI DEKHI JATI.

EK SATHI PER LUTA DO APNA SAB KUCH

Q KEY PASAND HO CHEEZ TO QEMAT NAHI DEKHI JATI.

Akhter 

Karachi.   

Life is about correcting mistakes  

Monica married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party, Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook. With Rs.1000 deposit amount.
Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line.

The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh.When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had.'

Monica shared this with Hitesh when getting home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.

This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted
...... and so on...
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things.They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married the most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?

One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'

Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account.
While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.
The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000.
And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.'

They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
I don't know how much they saved .I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.

"When you fall, in any way,  Don't see the place where you fell,
Instead see the place from where you slipped.

Life is about correcting mistakes." 

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DAD - Excellent

DAD



My dad was one of the wisest, most compassionate and giving men I've ever known. Although not a man of great means, he endowed many lives with his encouragement, strength and hope. But then, Dad didn't preach, he just did.

One chilly fall evening in the late 1950's, Dad drove my visiting uncle across the Hudson River to the train station in Albany , NY for his return home.


I didn't go with them because I was busy getting my diaper changed. As Dad said goodbye to my uncle, a bum approached him (yes, that's what panhandling, homeless men were called back then). The man was disheveled, with
stubble beard and an ill fitting, dirty overcoat.


"Can you spare some change, bud?" Dad didn't need his PhD in organic chemistry to determine from the man's odor what that change would be purchasing. "No," he responded, "I won't give you any money, but I'll gladly buy you a
sandwich and coffee." As the two men sat in the snack bar nearby and talked, Dad asked, "So, do you have any family?"

"Yea, I got a brother in Boston ."

"Really, tell me about him."

"He's a priest. So what?"

"A priest, what church is he with and what's his name?"

After paying the bill and bidding the man farewell, Dad returned home armed with answers to those and a few more questions.He then looked up the church in Boston and called long distance. Back when "long distance calling"
took more than small pocket change.Dad gave the priest all the information he could about his brother.

A couple weeks later, Dad received a heartfelt, grateful letter from the man's sister thanking him for his saintly intervention. "

Because of what you did," the letter said, "we have been reconnected with our brother from whom we had not heard in a long time. Thank you."

I have no idea what happened after that, but because Dad gave without expecting any repayment, one family had a real chance to heal.

My uncle who got the ride to the train station shared this story with me a few years back. But when I asked Dad about it he responded, "Kevin, I don't recall it."Dad just gave expecting nothing in return. Because that's just

who he was. He taught me again; in hindsight, that true giving is not a transaction. But, if given freely, one receives in return riches that money cannot buy.

Dad is no longer here in body. But in spirit, yes. When I reflect on this lesson occasionally, I look up and whisper, "Dad, I hope I can remember now."

-Unknown Author.

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Team Work : Worth Reading

 

Once upon a time a tortoise and a hare had an argument about who was faster .

They decided to settle the argument with a race. They agreed on a route

and started off the race.

The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time.

Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under

a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under

the tree and soon fell asleep.

The tortoise plodding on overtook him and soon finished the race, emerging as the undisputed champ.


The hare woke up

and realized that he'd lost the race.

The moral- "Slow and steady wins the race. This is the version of the

story that we've all grown up with."




THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE

There are few more interesting

things.....it continues as follows......

The hare was disappointed at losing the race and he did some

soul-searching.

He realized that he'd lost the race only because he had been overconfident,

careless and lax.

If he had not taken things for granted, there's no way the tortoise could have beaten him.
So he challenged the tortoise to another race.

The tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and ran without

stopping from start to finish. He won by several miles.

The moral - " Fast and consistent will always beat the slow and steady.

It's good to be slow and steady; but it's better to be fast and reliable."


THE STORY DOESN'T END HERE

The tortoise did some thinking this time, and realized that there's no

way it can beat the hare in a race the way it was currently formatted.

It thought for a while, and then challenged the hare to another race, but

on a slightly different route. The hare agreed. They started off. In keeping

with his self-made commitment to be consistently fast, the hare took off and

ran at top speed until he came to a broad river. The finishing line was a

couple of kilometers on the other side of the river.

The hare sat there wondering what to do.

In the meantime the tortoise trundled along, got into the river,

swam to the opposite bank, continued walking and finished the race.



The moral - "First identify your core competency and then change the

playing field to suit your core competency."


THE STORY STILL HASN'T ENDED


The hare and the tortoise, by this time, had become pretty good friends

and they did some thinking together.

Both realized that the last race could have been run much better

So they decided to do the last race again, but to

run as a team this time.

They started off, and this time the hare carried the tortoise till the riverbank.

 There, the tortoise took over and swam

across with the hare on his back. On the opposite bank, the hare again carried

the tortoise and they reached the finishing line together. They both felt a

greater sense of satisfaction than they'd felt earlier.

The moral - "It's good to be individually brilliant and to have strong

core competencies; but unless you're able to work in a team and harness each

other's core competencies, you'll always perform below par because

there will always be situations at which you'll do poorly and someone else

does well.



Teamwork is mainly about situational leadership, letting the person

with the relevant core competency for a situation take leadership.

Note that neither the hare nor the tortoise gave up after failures. The

hare decided to work harder and put in more effort after his failure. The

tortoise changed his strategy because he was already working as hard as

he could.

In life, when faced with failure,sometimes it is appropriate to work

harder and put in more effort.

Sometimes it is appropriate to change strategy and try something different.

And sometimes it is appropriate to do both.

The hare and the tortoise also learnt another vital lesson. When we stop 

competing against a rival and instead start competing against the situation, we perform far better.


To sum up- the story of the hare and tortoise has much to say:

Chief among them are that fast and consistent will always beat slow and

steady;work to your competencies; pooling resources and working as a team will always beat individual performers; never give up when faced with

failure;finally, compete against the situation - not against a rival.

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