I am about to make a contrarian point to a popular belief. I am writing this article to communicate a very simple message – the less you do, the more you have. This is obviously opposite to how most people will live their lives, most of us have been taught to work harder or smarter. It makes no difference how smart you are or how hard you work. I am here today to tell you without any doubt and hesitation that the more you work, the less you will have. I have done my research on this statement. You can do yours and reach the same conclusion or for a while just trust mine.<< MORE >>

Marvin Bower, a law graduate, joined McKinsey in 1933. A mere six years later upon the death of James O. Mckinsey, Bower bought over the then 18 person management accounting firm with regional presence and 13 year history of problematic existence. The 35 year old Marvin Bower was the founder, creator and inventor of ‘management consulting.’ Lets put this in perspective – in the 30’s and 40’s in the US, business was regarded as a job less desirable than any profession like law, medicine, armed forces etc. it was usually meant for the third or the fourth child who had nothing to inherit. Marvin after taking over the company, shut down the accounting division<< MORE >>

The reality of this statement can be seen, observed and proven all around us. What everybody knows is mostly wrong because people make one or more erroneous assumption and then like a herd everyone buys in without questioning the assumption. Take one look at the current airline crisis – the Jet Airways Pilot strike and it becomes clear. All the other airlines are collectively, wholly and astoundingly acting stupid. Jet is virtually shut down for lets say five days or so. Here is an opportunity for other airlines – What do the smart brains who quickly huddle into the boardroom on hearing the news do? They identify an opportunity, discuss and arrive at a decision that at this struggling time, here is an opportunity to capture some 15cr of revenue – not just that – also hike prices and make the best of these five days – its festive season, why not?<< MORE >>

Gentleman recognized as the father of operations, West Churchman said about systems that work well – are about aesthetics – NOT details. You must be wondering why am I talking about systems? After all that is not a subject I have ever touched. There is a reason, few recent observations which you must delve into as well – it will change, and I hope it does, the way you look at organizations.<< MORE >>

I was once attending a training program on negotiation. The instructor had placed a small mirror on each desk at the start of the program. He began by asking everyone to look at the person on the left, then the one on the right and then into the mirror. He then made a great statement. He said “two out of the three people you just looked at will not even make mediocre negotiators, not just after this program but through their entire lives.” That was a great wake-up call. Isn’t that statement true for most things in life. << MORE >>

Are you making this mistake? I have been getting some strange requests of late. An executive at large consulting company wants us to participate in some research. It has to paid for. She sends me a long form to fill about my company to register etc etc and become part of this pathetic process. Then there are these requests from various people (banks, credit cards, airlines….. never ending list…) to update some information or the other. Its Funny, I NEVER got a single request from any of my customers over the years, neither did I make one. These are only from salespeople – or should I say LAZY salespeople. Why on earth are you asking me to update your database? How laid back can you be? What do you want me to do next ----- How about your windows? Do they need washing? Floors need waxing? Trash can full? Why not ask me to make your car payment? Don’t you think it’s about time that we put an end to STUPIDITY.<< MORE >>

You and I do not decide elections. Then there are loads of you’s and I’s who do not vote either. The sad part is the quest of power and how murky it all is. I do not question the quest for power. After all if your chosen profession is politics, then the quest to hold a position in a ruling party has to be there. I do however question and feel disturbed by qualifying politics as a profession. Political life has over the years transcended into a profession. A lucrative one. Everyone wants a bite of it for five years – everything else is negotiable – from ethics to integrity, from values to morals, from friends to enemies and enemies to friends – everything.<< MORE >>

Last month I had to conduct four Sales Training Programs. After interacting with salespeople and studying different perspectives towards the same product, market, situations, economies, I am convinced beyond doubt that business is never good or bad out there in the marketplace. Business is good or bad between your ears. That is the only thing that matters.<< MORE >>

Is there one word that defines success? Yes, there is. It’s attitude. And I’m certain that you have studied or been told that a positive attitude is the key to success. Not quite. Attitude is defined as the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. Your thoughts can be positive, neutral, or negative – and you choose them. You choose the way you think, the way you speak, and the actions you take. Positive, neutral, or negative. What are your attitude thoughts? What are your attitude choices? Are you ready to win, or thinking you’ll probably lose? It occurred to me earlier in the day that there are two simple words, when lived out and applied to everything from making a single sale to a long term career goal to the overall process and philosophy of life, are incredibly powerful. Highly successful people always do what is necessary and then they go a little above and beyond. “Some More” isn’t unique to those who might have prevailed over adversity but remarkably every super successful person you will meet will invariably display the habit of “Some More”. Adversely a person performing under potential will always be displaying the habit of “No more. My hands are full. More isn’t possible. Lets see. More in these times???” << MORE >>

The past week, I was a bit unwell, sitting at home and had plenty of time in hand. I watched lots of television. I realized too that if ever you want to go further and further into depression, you simply have to watch the news channels. Its quite disgusting really that there is hardly anything ‘nice’ that people have to report. Why then must we wonder that we are headed for economic depression too? It’s a no-brainer. Watching television and reading newspapers full of disturbing, negative, painful, mindless, irrational and near sick incidents, what were we going to create, a flowering world?<< MORE >>