Meditation

Early in the day, got a call from a friend. He called to share the blissful experience he had this morning, while meditation. This friend is a very 'normal' individual, a corporate executive, with family, et al. He has been meditating for some time. But, has been practicing with increased intensity and discipline.

Meditation is not what those sadhus at Kumbh mela do. But something each one of us can and should include in our daily schedule. The experience can be truly very different! And, results guaranteed. . .

During the day, got this from another friend, who is very spiritual:

 

Buddha was asked

"What have you gained from meditation?"

 

He replied, "Nothing!"

 

"However, Buddha said, let me tell you what I lost:

Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death

Felt sharing... Blissfully!

IIAS against TVS scion's board entry | Business Standard

This is an interesting development. Mr Sudarshan Venu, being a member of TVS group/family ( fourth generation?) would be more than qualified to handle the role. Worth much more in remuneration. 

Rajiv Bajaj is a good example. But then, he started his journey at Bajaj Auto at the ground level. 

There are couple of legends around TVS group's work ethics. Integrity and transparency, managing relationships, etc being some of them. One of the more popular legend is how one could set his clock by their bus-timings in Tamil Nadu, before the government took over ! Also, we heard how members of the family would spend day-one at a workshop, under a car. Wonder if Mr Sudarshan started his journey from under a car too ?!

One of the most inpiring stories in this matter came from Mr Philanthrophy of Indian Corporate scene, Mr Azim Premji. He rules out the fact his son would be a future CEO. That should be the best practise, worth-emulating. Not only in corporate area, but in all walks of life, including most importantly, POLITICS. We would then be deprived of many baba-log and beti-log in political scene. But, it would do a world of good to Indian politics.  

Conceptually, this is an interesting development.  Hope we get to see more Premjis across all areas of human endeavour in India. India deserves freedom from dynastic-clutches.
 IIAS against TVS scion's board entry | Business Standard

Employee Motivation | How to Really Praise Employees | Inc.com

At work or at home, or beyond, we need to master the art of giving feedback.

Giving a general feedback, 'you are good, you are doing great job, keep it up, you are indispensable'..,   will have no holistic, desired impact. It could actually have a negative effect. The child/team-member may feel there is no need to try harder as he is already 'great'!

But when the feedback is on specifics, 'the particular act' makes you great/indispensable,  it works wonders. The recipient knows clearly what particular act makes him great. That sticks and is a motivator.

So the next time we give feedback, let us make it holistic and ensure it serves purpose... ENCHANTS the recipient!

Employee Motivation | How to Really Praise Employees | Inc.com

Master's Voice

When walking along the road, you can watch your shadow, falling on mud, dirt, thorn, sand, wet or dry patches of land. Has anyone ever worried or is affected by the fate of their shadow? No! Everyone knows that the experience of shadow is not eternal and real. So too, you are but the shadow of the Absolute. Internalize this truth – this is the only remedy for all sorrow, travail and pain.

Your Own Website

In this era of internet and social media, it is imperative to have our own websites, over and above presence on social media. 
 
Came across this very interesting & useful tip on having our own websites...

www.weebly.com/

Named one of TIME's 50 Best Websites,Weebly has an easy, drag & drop interface to create your own ...

 So... go ahead & make your website.

Master's Voice

Detachment (vairagya) is a result of the Lord’s Grace; it needs years of yearning and struggle. Meanwhile begin today with the first step, which is cleansing of your mind and cultivation of virtues.

Eat as you LIKE, Pay as you LIKE : At Annalakshmi - Innovative Business Model

One of the key advantages of hotel business is no 'credit' business. All payments are instant, cash or card. Very few other businesses can claim this unique advantage of instant cashflow, a key to business performance & sustainability. Ask anyone in business, who has to sell on credit & collect later, the power of 'NO CREDIT PLEASE' ( usually found in some old, small restaurants, even today!)

'There is no free lunch'. Moreover, belief in karmic effect of our thought/word/deed prompt us to pay. We still love 'discounts' !

But here is a restaurant where you can eat best of 'homely' food and walk away without paying a cent. You can actually 'Eat as you like and pay or not pay as you like'! An amazing business model.

Heard about this restaurant in Singapore yesterday. 'Authentic vegetarian, Tamilian-Indian cuisine, great experience'! 'Eat as you like and pay as you like' - was a true bouncer! An inspiring business model, I felt. Suddenly there was an urge to check out this place and of course check out food. When the intention is pure, fulfillment is immediate! Got a chance to visit, this afternoon, with two friends!!

As I entered, I didn't feel I have walked into a restaurant at all. You feel you have entered a shrine-room of a big house. As I stood in awe, familiarizing with the elevating decor, my friend guided me to a table, he short-listed with the elderly gentleman at the cash. The man at cash looked far from a typical owner/manager at cash - lean, smiling, stress-free and with a tilak on his forehead. He seemed to be in control of the operations and also, with himself.

Picked up few of my preferred items from the buffet-spread and settled down for a sumptuous lunch. A lady, more like a sister, genuinely interested to serve, offered a drink- varieties of lassi, juices to buttermilk. I opted for a butter-milk. The spread was indeed very elaborate - roti, dal, varieties of rice, urd-vada, sambar-rice, alu curry, pappad, pickle and dessert. Dessert was fresh fruits and a local variant of kheer/payasam - with sabu-dana, sweet potato, coconut, etc. All dishes held the aroma of pure ghee, but none of dishes were too spicy nor too oily. Needless to add, every dish tasted most homely. (That is the best compliment, I guess.)

Had a brief chat with the man-at-counter, who continued to smile all the while we were eating. Smile is usually not the natural disposition of most of people at cash, in restaurants! As expected, there was a spiritual connection, going by Swami Sivananda's photograph. It was started by a follower of Swamiji. You can actually pay 'as you like'.

Of course, that is not case with their branch at our own Chennai! I did not ask him 'why' ! I am inspired by the fact they have been able to pull it off at least in Singapore. This unique business model in the area of food business. 

Brilliant 'business' model. Depending on the level of satisfaction, we can pay. 
Nature provides everything free. But we put a price tag on everything, for processing/transporting/etc.

Great food, courteous 'staff' serving with love...Truly, 'Annam Brahma' !

http://www.annalakshmi.com.sg/home.html 
 

Pricing dilemma | Apple's Pricing Strategy : Business Standard

 The article rightly points out much of the stupendous success of Apple in the recent years, courtesy Steve Jobs's innovation backed with leadership. He was spot on what kind of product innovation was required to tap the hidden needs (wants?) of the customer. By opting for a model at the bottom of pyramid of smart-phone category, will Apple not deviate from Jobs' vision for the company ?
More importantly, do they want to go down the segments, from a premium to mass ? Will the passionately loyal customers of Apple appreciate that shift ?

Is the need to tap lower segments so urgent now ? Have they hit a saturation level at the premium segment ? I don't think so. For example, in India, I see so many still holding on to their Black Berry and upgrading to Samsung phones. By merely focusing on affluent/not-so-affluent Indians, Apple can scale up numbers for next few years, without diluting exclusivity of the phone.

Additionally, Apple has not done justice to the main weapon in their armor ('brahma-astra'), in the Indian context. They have still not leveraged on iTunes. Though they were very late to introduce Indian version of iTunes, the scope to cover the entire range of music, movies, et al, remains waiting to be incorporated. More importantly, Apple should launch iTunes aggressively in Indian market to reach out to a large number of music/movie-crazy Indian population. Make it affordable also, for the price-sensitive potential users, across demographics.

Apple was late to introduce iPhones in India, in the past. Indians would like to see global parity in terms of product launches.
Of course, they would love some 'freedom', as provided by Android platform! That may not be able to provide. I would personally go with the existing model of iPhones, with 'limited freedom' !

Pricing dilemma | Business Standard

Master's Voice - Judgement

A renunciant couple were once proceeding through a thick jungle on a pilgrimage to an inaccessible shrine. 

The husband saw on the footpath a precious stone, shining brilliantly when the Sun’s rays fell upon it from between the leaves. He hastily threw some sand over it with the movement of his foot, so that his wife may not be tempted to pick it up and become a slave to the tinsel. 

The wife saw the gesture and chided the husband for still retaining in his mind, a distinction between sand and gold. For her, both were the same. 

This habit of judging and labelling others is a prevalent practice today. What can you know of the inner working of another's mind?