This is a extract from a BNET article: A very interesting perspective on Control & perspective (pun not intended)

If you lack the iron and the fizz to take control of your own life, the gods will repay your weakness by having a grin or two at your expense. Should you fail to pilot your own ship, don’t be surprised what inappropriate port you find yourself docked.

—Tom Robbins

The two keys ingredients for making it all work are:

• Control
• Perspective

If you can maintain a sufficient level of each of these factors in yourself or in your organization, you probably won’t find much room for improvement. Your world will be in order and you’ll be focused exactly as you should be. Only when one or both of them slip away from optimal should you be concerned that something needs righting.

Control and perspective are closely intertwined dynamics, but achieving each one involves different approaches, whether the matter at hand is your teenager doing homework, your soccer team’s practice, your next vacation, or your product launch. If your kitchen is a mess, for example, cleaning it up and placing all the tools and equipment where they belong will be a very different exercise from deciding what to cook and how to present it. But the two activities remain very connected, in that without an organized kitchen, it will be very challenging to stay focused on the dinner itself; likewise, an insufficient focus on the recipes, the various components of the dinner event itself, and the plan for deploying them will allow the situation to quickly get out of control again.

A matrix constructed on the axes of control and perspective can be useful, both as a map for assessing your own standing with respect to these elements (or that of another person or a particular situation) and as a guide for improvement.

The four quadrants described by these axes identify, in very general terms, the syndromes that are typically experienced with the varying combinations of low and high control, and low and high perspective. The obvious optimal state would be elevated levels of both — the sector that is labeled “Captain and Commander.” Finding oneself in any of the other three quadrants, though, is not necessarily a bad thing. Just as any high-performance vehicle frequently gets off course, the best of us often fall away from the high-control, high-perspective state. It’s the nature of human experience, which is always in some form of motion, to veer off course — sometimes in major, but consistently in minor, ways.

If, however, you tend to spend too much time in one of the less-than-optimal quadrants, you’ll probably deserve the negative labels that are attached to them — Victim, Micromanager, or Crazy Maker. But these labels are best used as warnings for a course correction, much like the lane control bumps on a highway, when you drift as a result of your exploration and forward motion. In such cases a positive aspect will more aptly describe the syndromes — Responder, Implementer, and Visionary

Understanding the Matrix of Self-Management | BNET

Joe Wynne

(Extract from www. gantthead.com)

Exhibiting leadership skills during lean times is difficult. You are caught up performing additional work because of staff cuts or financial constraints. There’s no time to get your thoughts together to decide what to say, the best way to say it, what to do or the best way to do it. You can’t get ahead of the curve as leaders need to do.

All is not lost, however. The good news is that the global economic downturn will last a long time. Okay, maybe that doesn’t sound like good news, but it does give you ample time to show off special leadership skills that will make a difference in your organization–a difference that should be noticed by those who make the decision to keep you around.

Obtain a Crucial Level of Trust

When the economy is in the tank and news from your industry and company is bad, your workers will be looking to you to see certain behaviors that will tip them off to whether they should trust you during this period. If they do not trust you, they will not put forth their best effort. They will not be committed to the results you support. They will not give that extra energy to complete critical jobs. They will keep alive rumors—like that you are planning to lay off large numbers. Nor will they defend your deadlines and priorities when interacting with other groups and stakeholders.

These problems will have a deleterious effect on your career at a particularly scary point. But there is good news: You can build trust and maintain performance despite budget constraints. The bad news? You have to use the correct tactics to gain and gain and build trust:

Describe the true affects on your company/project. Workers like to know that they are getting the inside scoop. During industry downturns, they depend on you to tell them the truth about the project and their jobs. If you are not forthcoming, you will be labeled as untrustworthy–and by extension, someone who is not worth committing. For example, if you hear there is another organizational cost-cutting initiative, alert your workforce right away. Be the source of this type of information. To do this most effectively, you will have to get a trusted source of information yourself.

Quash rumors. You will not only need to speak the truth, but confidently counter any false or misleading rumors. Become the source of accurate information.

Keep only secrets that are required by your organization. You will have to keep confidential information. This is usually clearly identified when you receive it. For example, you will not be able to pass on planning details for workforce cuts.

Prepare workers for what’s next. As a project manager, you have a very practical role in helping the workforce adjust to the realities of the current workplace. For example, you can clearly describe what is expected as far as changes in scope of work and schedule, communicate the latest priorities and prepare the existing workforce for the type and amount of issues that will arise

Exhibit positive coping skills. Your ability to cope well in the constraint-heavy environment improves your workforce’s ability to cope. Coping well is not a natural skill for everyone, but there are traits that will be noticed by workers and organizational leaders:

• Constructive (if not gleeful) reactions to bad news or changes
• Efficient adaptation to change through rescheduling, collaboration with stakeholders, etc.
• Ability to assist workers through communications and interactions to maintain performance

It’s Good to Be the Bearer of Bad News

It is not easy to be a project manager through a global economic crisis unseen since the Great Depression. If it’s not new announcements of financial surprises, it’s announcements of workforce reductions. And, by the way, who in your organization is helping you cope? Who is motivating you? Who can you trust?

Yet it is possible for you rise above these problems and build the trust you need by paradoxically being the bearer of bad news. If you then walk the walk of coping, you can get the responsive, well-performing workforce you need. And that is what organizational leaders are valuing now.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

I configured a button for my use in LN – and when I had to re-install my machine, It took me a few hours of searching to get this command right… saves TON of time (especially when you are cleaning up your mailbox)

Here is the original link to this article

Folder @Command
Moves or copies the selected document to a folder.

Syntax

@Command( [Folder] ; folderName ; moveOrCopy )

Parameters

folderName

Text. Optional. The name of the folder to which you want to move or copy the selected document. If you omit this parameter, Notes/Domino displays the Move to Folder dialog box, where you can choose a folder.

moveOrCopy

Number ("1" or "0"). Optional. A value of "1" moves the document to the folder. A value of "0" copies the document to the folder. If you omit this parameter, Folder assumes a value of "0" (copy).

If you include moveOrCopy with a value of "0" but omit folderName, Notes/Domino displays the Move to Folder dialog box with the Move button dimmed. If you include moveOrCopy with a value of "1" but omit folderName, Notes/Domino displays the Move to Folder dialog box with all of its options available.

Usage

This command executes after all @functions. Use the FolderDocuments @Command to execute immediately. See the Order of evaluation for formula statements topic for more details.

If you don’t want to specify a folderName, but you want to specify a moveOrCopy, use a NULL string as shown below.

@Command([Folder];"";"1")

A saved document must be open or selected in a view.

Folder does not work for new documents. If multiple documents are selected in a view, they are all moved or copied to the folder.

@AddToFolder works just like @Command([Folder]; Foldername; MoveOrCopy) except it can move a document from another folder.

This is a nice poem  by one of my team members – Jesu..

http://www.ndtv.com/reading-room/bookspoetrycorner.asp?id=3025

A few words about Jesu Valiant – He’s one guy you will find has got amazing energy and will to do just about anything – you will never hear a no from him. His jest for life is infectious and is a whole bundle of goodness.

I came across this article while browsing through LifeHacker. 

Walking up to people you don’t know and striking up conversation is the social equivalent of skydiving. It’s fun, interesting, and risky. And it will change your life. You’ll meet new people every day, you’ll give yourself control over your social and love life, and you’ll experience firsthand the joy of living dangerously. But how do you go from sitting in front of a computer to habitually starting conversations with strangers on a daily basis? Read on, aspiring social skydiver, read on…

How to Talk to Strangers – wikiHow

Know Your Audience Before Speaking to a Group

Evaluating your audience is a critical but frequently overlooked aspect of presentation preparation. When you ensure that you understand your audience and their expectations, you will be able to better tailor your presentation content, language, and style to communicate effectively with them. How do you learn enough about your audience to be able to do your best? Allow some time to ask yourself the questions below. If you don’t know the answers, consult with those coordinating the presentation event.

You don’t need to memorize these questions. Just think about them carefully. They are commonsense questions. If you read them over a few times, you will find you begin to ask them automatically as you prepare yourself to make any kind of speech.

• How many people will be there? (You can be less formal in front of a small group.)
• Are they friends or strangers? (Who are the strangers? What do they expect to hear?)
• What do they have that you want? (A job? Financial backing for a project?)
• Are they a general audience or are they specialists? (A general audience will want to hear ideas that are broad and readily understood.)
• How old are they? (If your speech has any historic references, you may have to explain them to the younger people in the audience.)
• Are they men, women, or both? (The examples you use to illustrate your ideas may be affected.)
• What educational and cultural level are they? (The depth of your presentation may be affected.)
• What social, political, economic, and racial backgrounds do they represent? (You cannot impress an audience favorably if you offend them.)
• What do they know about your subject? (Don’t bore people by repeating what they know already. Don’t confuse them by assuming they know more than they do.)
• How do you feel about the subject itself? (If you are going to ask people to think about changing a deeply ingrained habit, expect s hostile audience. Incidentally, when speaking before a hostile audience, you can do as much good with your good nature as you can with the logic of your ideas: Stick to your guns, but be fair and open-minded.)
• What do they know about you? (Do they know your good reputation? Are you meeting the friend of a friend? Are you representing a reputable film or organization? Are you well qualified by training, and experience to present your ideas? Make sure you fill them in on who you are. Live up to or surpass their expectations.)

If you know the answers to all these questions while getting ready to speak before a group, then you have met a basic requirement: know your audience.

An extremely interesting article to read.. and digest. and follow…

Most of the “laws” mentioned are actually nothing but principles or techniques that self help books and magazines mention – however the way they have been represented here is a lil different and in a way nice – some of the points mentioned are absolutely so true and probably nothing new, but the entire presentation of these thoughts are what makes a difference.

Tom’s Twelve Laws of Life

I have listed the 12 “laws” below for a  quick read – but read the actual post for a better understanding.

1.     Self-management and people skills are the keys to your success and happiness.

2.     You are at the center of your universe. Stay there!

3.     What you think about most is what you get.

4.     You make your habits and then your habits make you.

5.     Guilt enslaves you. Responsibility liberates you.

6.     “obligations” are a fraud.

7.     Expect less from others and more from yourself.

8.     Nobody wakes up in the morning choosing to be the villain.

9.     There is no “happily ever after” in the real world.

10.   There is a hell, and it starts early.

11.   You can create paradise on earth.  Many people do.

12.   It’s never too late to change.

My Thoughts about this article:

Law 1 is the skill of articulation and I have seen that the most successful people are those who are able to articulate their position best – so I completely agree..

Law 3 is what the book “Secret” by Rhonda Byrne is all about – and I personally realized this when I was about to buy a car.. during that 1 month period when I was deciding on what car I should buy, all I could see on the roads were different models of cars and I was mentally comparing the dimensions, colours etc. Whenever I was talking to someone, I was only asking questions about the usability and mileage etc. In essence, my mind was so filled with the thought of a car, that I could only see cars all around. This is so very synonymous to being in love – especially first love – where everything you see, feel and hear is lovely.

Law 6: My brother ALWAYS talks about this and how no one is obligated to anybody. We, as kids, we brought up in a world where we would never ask anyone for any obligation – since obligation begets response in kind… However, if you go back to the Bhagavad Gita where it talks of

"Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,

Translated to English which means..

"You have a right to perform your prescribed action,but you are not entitled to the fruits of your action.”

In simple terms, what it means is – Do what your duty is – don’t expect the rewards to follow. Any action done without the expectation of the resultant benefit is an action that is dissolved of Obligation. So in essence, if everyone is doing their duty, then there is no obligation – for anyone , to anyone.

Some interesting links for the essence of  the verse and what this means.. Here, here and here

Law 12: This is so absolutely true… most of the time people think that it is too late to change – however it NEVER late to change – but the toughest part is to get the people who matter to notice that you are changing – most of the time, an attempt to change does not fail due to lack of encouragement, but fails only when someone discourages you. The trick is to be vocal about the fact that you are trying to change – just that statement will make people think before they discourage you. It also acts as a confidence booster for yourself.

Closing remarks: Excellent article, read it – use what you want to and it sure will make an impact on your life.

I have been searching for an add-on to blog from within the browser.. in my search I ended up installing “blog-This” from WordPress and a few other extensions like “read-it-Later” on my home PC.. but somehow I was not very comfortable with those solutions. I like to use Windows Live Writer – since it helps me save drafts and publish when I want to.

The best feature in this add-on is that I can select just a snippet from a webpage that I am viewing and then have that auto populated in LW. It appears like this paragraph below:

Adds a button to Firefox which starts a new Windows Live Writer blog post pre-populated with content and title from the current web page. Blog the whole page, or just selected snippets.

It also adds a link to original webpage like this:

Blog This in Windows Live Writer :: Firefox Add-ons

Pretty cool for someone who have LW installed and uses Firefox regularly for browsing.

Really funny spoof on Hotel California.. Listen to it to believe it..

Lyrics are given below..

Kerala version of The Hotel California by The Yeagles

On the road to Trivandrum
Coconut oil in my hair
Warm smell of avial
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a pink tube-light
My tummy rumbled, I felt weak and thin
I had to stop for a bite
There he stood in the doorway
Flicked his mundu in style
And I was thinking to myself
I don’t like the look of his smile
Then he lit up a petromax
Muttering "No power today"
More Mallus down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel Kerala-fonia
Such a lousy place,
Such a lousy place (background)
Such a sad disgrace,
Plenty of bugs at the Hotel Kerala-fonia
Any time of year
Any time of year (background)
It’s infested here
It’s infested here
His finger’s stuck up his nostril
He’s got a big, thick mustache
He makes an ugly,  noise
And he just laughs
Buxom girls clad in pavada
Eating banana chips
Some roll their eyes,
and Some roll their hips
I said to the manager
My room’s full of mice
He said,
Don’t worry, saar,I sending you
meen karri, brandy and ice
And still those voices were crying from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them pray
Save us from this Hotel Kerala-fonia
What a lousy place,
What a lousy place (background)
Such a sad disgrace
Trying to live at the Hotel Kerala-fonia
It is no surprise
It is no surprise (background)
That it swarms with flies

The blind man was pouring
Stale sambar on rice
And he said
We are all just actors here
In Silk Smitha-disguise
And in the dining chamber
We gathered for the feast
We stab it with our steely knives
But we just can’t cut that beef
Last thing I remember
I was writhing on the floor, aioo
That cockroach in my appam-stew was the culprit,I am sure
Relax, said the watchman
Just This enema will make you well
And his friends laughed as they held me Down
God’s Own Country? Oh, Hell!

The previous ringtone I had composed was what I had played on my keyboard. I have also been trying to use loops to create music… For those who dont know what a loop is, it is pre-loaded bits of music and you just mix multiple loops to form a tune. Loops are available for just about any instrument you can think of (some free, some paid) – and it comes in multiple variations – scales, moods, etc.

So, I have been dabbling at creating some tones and here are the two that I have:

This is the first one I tried, ended up being a lil noisy, but still OK to upload

The second one is a dedication to my Wife… After listening to the first one, she wanted one which was not noisy but was also nice…

Let me know in the comments about how you feel..