Striving towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

George Bernard Shaw said, " The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,  all progress depends on the unreasonable man? He also said, "You see things, and you say, Why? But I dream things that never were and I say 'Why not'?"

You know how your mom always said "be happy with what you have"? Well, she was half right! See, being content doesn't mean you have to settle for a tiny slice of pizza when you could have the whole pie. It's more like appreciating your current slice while eyeing that delicious-looking  Jalapeno pizza piece across the table!

Think about it like this: Have you ever met someone who's always complaining about what they don't have? Like that friend who has a nice car but can't stop whining about how it's not a Lexus? That's what we call a scarcity mindset - always seeing the empty part of the glass. These folks are like walking magnets for more stuff to complain about!

But flip the script: When you're grateful for what you've got (even if it's just a reliable old Honda), you're actually opening the door for more good stuff to come your way. It's like having a good Yelp rating - the better your attitude, the more positive stuff gets attracted to you!

Here's a fun example: Think of two college grads:

• Sarah's always grateful for her entry-level job while hustling for promotions
• Mike's constantly complaining about not starting as CEO while doing the bare minimum

Guess who's more likely to climb the career ladder?

The big secret? You can totally be grateful for your studio apartment WHILE working toward that beach house! It's not either/or - it's both/and. Being content is just saying "Hey, this is pretty cool right now" while ambition is adding "...and it's gonna get even better!"

Bottom line? Be like a smartphone - appreciate your current version while staying excited about the next upgrade. Because believing you deserve awesome things (while being thankful for what you have) is the ultimate cheat code for living your best life!

Warren Buffet once said: "there will never be a better you than you." Powerful insight from a brilliant guy.

There will never be a better me, than me. And there will never be a better you than you. Some might try to copy the way you think, speak and do. But - no matter how hard they try, they will only be a second best you. Because you are unique. Only one of you alive today. Amongst the billions of us. Makes you stop and think, doesn't it. Makes you realize you are pretty special. And that there really isn't any competition.

And so today, what will you do with you as you march out into a world that needs people playing boldly with their lives more than ever before? Will you exert more of your hidden potential? Will you liberate more of your natural creativity? Will you uncover more of your authenticity? And will you be more of the you that you are meant to be? Just wondering. Because today's the day.

Why is that so many of us put off change and improvement? Why is that we wait to make our lives better? Have you ever noticed that? We wait until our birthday, a holiday or New Year's day to make a change.

We seem to need "markers" on our choices to make anew. I would like to propose a new idea... why can't we change today. Right now, there can be chance to do something new, as my associates would know, a chance to increase or improve by 1%.

It may be better to set yourself a date for a completion rather then a starting date. If you only make a date for starting a new habit or dropping an old one, then you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself.

It is better to make small measurable steps towards your goals and dreams! Start today, what can you do today to make a difference in YOUR life.

Make a list, open the journal and write down all of the stuff you can do today to make a small measurable change. Make today your New Year... the only thing that I know for sure is that each day is a day to grow and live an entirely new life for those hours you are awake! Get to it!

I love reading John C Maxwell's books and articles about leadership. One common characteristic of any successful leader... any long term leader. Can you guess what is it?

Integrity... the ability to be honest and sincere. To have the ability to follow through and stand up for your beliefs.... integrity.

Earlier in the day I was listening to radio (for a change) and they were discussing a recently released study that said the average person will lie 3 times every ten minutes. That is 18 times and hour, that is 252 times per day (based on being awake for 14 hours), that is an alarming 91,980 times a year... almost 100,000 times per year we are dishonest, we lack integrity. Here is the most alarming number... if you live for 80 years and we take out the first five years of your life, you will lie... are you sitting down... 8,898,500 times. That is almost NINE MILLION times in our life.

Now you might say... not me, I don't lie... ever! Really? Are you sure? This study included those little white lies, lies to "save" people's feelings, lies to get ahead, lies to look better at an interview or on an application. Lies that may "impress" a girl or a guy, lies to embellish accomplishments or simply to "fit in". That doesn't even include blatant hurtful lies.

Take one day... someday soon and make a list of every time you may have lied... even the little tiny ones. Can you stop? Did you really need to? Let's all try and lead with integrity!

My dad always used to quote Mark Twain's saying on integrity:

"If you are always honest, you have nothing to remember."

We all face challenges. It's the human condition. Everyone, on this very day, is dealing with something they wish they weren't dealing with. Some have lost a loved one. Others are facing an illness. For others, it's a money issue or a frustration at work. Yes, it's no fun. But just maybe every problem you encounter is an opportunity in disguise. And if you're wise to that, you can leverage the challenge for even greater success.

In some ways, leadership is a mind game. Positive thinking is a lot more important than the cynics would suggest. The founders of Google used positive thinking to overcome their early setbacks and to stay true to their vision. Sam Walton used positive thinking to build an empire. And the best managers use positive thinking to help their teams see that what ordinary people view as stumbling blocks, the best amongst us see as stepping stones.

Because problems are servants. And they truly can serve you well. If you choose to let them.

I never cease to wonder how some people think they know it all. I certainly know that I do not! I am constantly learning, I am always seeking new ideas and ways of looking at situations. The second you assume you are perfect or know everything you start to lose.

Arrogance is a killer... it infects us and makes it harder and harder to succeed. There are so many examples of people that are talented and skilled but have no time to accept critiscim or learn a new idea. The thought that someone else may have an idea or a possible different approach is laughed at by these people.

Not me! I want it, I want to learn and grow and be told that I can do better. Why reinvent the wheel?

"I have stood on the shoulders of giants!" - Isaac Newton

I would say that Isaac knew a thing or two, but he recognized that there were people that could help and teach him. Places and people he could build off of. I think that Newton was fairly successful....

Today I got a chance to read John C. Maxwell article titled 'Velvet colored bricks...Powerful stuff about leadership.
Keep learning and keep growing... you have only yourself to benefit!

Too many people talk too good a talk these days. Tons of empty promises. Tons of hyperbole. Tons of lofty statements that never amount to anything. Leaders are different. They talk less and do more.

I love the quiet leaders. Those silent souls who underpromise and overdeliver. The Merchants of Wow amongst us who know that a person's word is their bond. And that every promise kept builds credibility - the foundation of trust.

So make a commitment today to be impeccable with your word. And be a person of action. Someone who is all about generating results. Because getting great things done speaks for itself.

Last week I was in Barnes and Noble, South Coast Plaza and found my new favorite 4bucks..sorry Starbucks. I love to spend time at Starbucks, always good music, good books and never a short supply of warmth.

I had set up in the corner of the store, sat down in the big comfy chairs and began reading the Secret book which Bijon had gifted me. About two hours later, I got up to get my Cappuccino when it happened.

"No charge Kar!"

"Thanks... Why?"

"The gentleman before you just had a baby. He bought a $20 gift card and told me to buy drinks until it ran out."

I smiled, felt good and returned to my chair with a renewed sense of happiness. Sometimes it's the little things we do. That man had just experienced such a surge of Joy. He has been given the opportunity to change the world with his new child. What a better way to start then to be the change you want to see in the world.

"Be the kindest person you can be and the world will come to you!" I have always maintained that. Congratulations to that mystery dad. I know that the best I can do for the team is to set the right example and doing the right thing all the time.

Here is today's question...?

How can you pay it forward today. What can you do that would give without asking for anything?

Have you ever thought about change? I mean have you ever contemplated the significance of change? I do all the time, right now I am thinking about the change all around me. Within myself, my friends, my endeavors and even the world around me. There is so much change happening and it can happen so rapidly that if you blink you can miss it. Are you in tune with the latest trends in leadership, success, health, or even your own needs and desires?

I really believe that is you want to be successful you need to be aware of change and embrace it. The great and very simple book "Who Moved the Cheese" is a great read. It demonstrates how if you resist change or if you are ignorant to it you can miss the boat. The problem is that as the world changes around us we need to be able and open to changing ourselves. Many people feel a need to spend days, weeks, and months even years preparing for change. No matter how much preparation that you take the change still happens in an instant. The ability to change is something that can be the difference between success and failure.

Are you a smoker? Is there a habit that you want to change? The choice to change is as simple as making the decision to say no to whatever it is that you want to stop. I was addicted to watching TV and decided to quit. I did that by deciding I that I am no longer going to give my prime time to idiot box. There is no in-between... you are either a busy or lazy... decide which one you are and be that.

Take a few moments to think about what it is you would, if you could change about yourself that would make a positive change in your life. What is it? Decide NOW what it is and make that change.

by Dr. John C. Maxwell

Popularity and productivity sound like fraternal twins, but in reality they can look as different as Paris Hilton and Warren Buffet. If productivity is a Honda Civic, then popularity is a Lamborghini Diablo with a bad transmission. In leadership, substance trumps style—every time.

A Popular Flop

Among the litany of dotcom flameouts, Pets.com is notable for the mass popularity it achieved, and infamous for its failure to generate even a cent of profit. As a 1998 startup, Pets.com was founded upon the idea of selling pet supplies to online shoppers. The darling of venture capitalists, Pets.com raised a spectacular $82.5 million of capital during its initial public offering in 2000. Shortly thereafter, Pets.com poured $1.2 million into a Super Bowl commercial. Featuring the company mascot, a sock puppet dog, the advertisement was a smash hit and was voted the best Super Bowl ad by USA Today. The business’ catchy slogan “Because Pets Can't Drive!” announced its arrival to the American market, and consumers flocked to the company’s website. Fellow dotcom, Amazon, even bought into the craze—literally—purchasing 50% ownership of Pets.com.

Unfortunately for Pets.com (and fans of their sock puppet mascot), they never garnered enough business to offset massive startup costs sunk into warehousing and marketing. The dotcom bubble burst and financing dried up. Only nine months after going public, Pets.com went out of business. In short, Pets.com lacked a productive business model which could translate popularity into profits.

Lovable Losers

The Chicago Cubs epitomize the concept of the popular, but ineffective franchise. Nicknamed, “The Lovable Losers” by their fans, the Cubs consistently play their way to the bottom of the standings, despite having one of the higher payrolls in Major League Baseball. Although the Cubs have endeared themselves to Chicagoans, who pack Wrigley Field for every game, the team cannot seem to deliver results. With each passing year of futility, the Cubs prove how disconnected popularity can be from performance.

Leadership Application

What can leaders learn from Pets.com and the Chicago Cubs? Well, a couple of simple lessons.

First, as the proverb says, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” A prudent leader looks past appearances to discern the heart of a matter. Perhaps it’s the potential hire with the glittering resume, who, upon further review, falsified his achievements. Or maybe it’s a potential partner with the captivating sales pitch, who after being researched, turns out to have a track record of unethical behavior. Or possibly it’s a sparkling business opportunity that promises growth and brand recognition, but, after being reviewed, would clearly steer the company away from its mission.

Second, leaders build margins not image. A leader may be forced to take unpopular stands for the good of the company. Popularity isn’t bad, but decisions made solely on the basis of popular opinion can be devastating. Leaving a plush corporate campus for smaller, more functional office space doesn’t earn a leader a pat on the back, but it may protect the company from financial doom. Layoffs are agonizingly unpopular, but they may the only solution to a downturn in the economy. Leaders are willing to endure the criticism of making tough calls that fly in the face of popular opinion.

This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at www.maximumimpact.com.

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-Karthik Gurumurthy

Ask yourself what have you worked towards and persisted until you manifested your desire? Most people do not persist until they see their goals through. Most people make decisions slowly and change their minds quickly.  At the first sign of adversity they run, they get scared and quit. If you want to become successful you have to be willing to work towards it no matter how long it takes. Successful make quick decisions (not hasty) but stay steady to make it right.

You can not become successful overnight, if you could then there would be a lot more than just 3 percent millionaires in the United States. You have to be willing to fail, in order to succeed. If you are willing to do that, then I believe you can have whatever it is. I had a new associate start in opportunity about two months ago, she really didn't work it the way it's meant to be worked. She walked away before even giving it a fair chance.

People expect to fail, I believe that is why they don't give anything a fair chance. If you don't have the right mindset, you can jump from opportunity to opportunity and you will never be successful at any of them. It isn't the opportunity that is not working, it's your mindset.

Everyone who has become successful at anything persisted until they seen it through. If you truly desire something, persist regardless of obstacles trust me you will be glad you did.

Failed in Business - Bankruptcy, 1831

Defeated for Legislature, 1832

Sweetheart/Fiancée Dies, 1835

Nervous Breakdown, 1836

Defeated in Election, 1836

Defeated for U.S. Congress, 1843

Defeated again for U.S. Congress 1846

Defeated once again for U.S. Congress, 1848

Defeated for U.S. Senate, 1855

Defeated for U.S Vice President, 1856

Defeated again for U.S. Senate, 1858

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Elected President of the U.S.A., 1860

“You cannot fail…unless you quit!”

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me".
-Erma Bombeck

-Karthik Gurumurthy

"Are you afraid to take on responsibilities, afraid to make decisions, afraid to step out alone? Most people are - that's why there are so few leaders and so many followers. If you are confronted with a problem, the longer you put it off, the greater it becomes and more fearful you become of your ability to solve it. Therefore learn to make your decisions, because in not deciding you fail to act, and in failing to act you invite failure. Experience will soon teach you that once the decision is made, problems and troubles begin to disappear. Even though the decision you make may not be the best one, the mere deciding gives you strength and raises your morale. It's the fear of doing the wrong thing that attracts the wrong thing. Decide and act, and the chances are that your troubles will fade away into thin air - whether you make a mistake or not. All great men are men of quick decision which flows from their intuition, their accumulated knowledge, and previous experience. so learn to be quick in making decisons and audacious in your action".  I would like to quote former British PM Margaret Thatcher on being busy and productive by the end of the day.

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."

Challenges & failures are so essential for success. Think about  Kite. The kite fly higher when you pull the twine. But if you cut the twine, the Kite will fall off in no time. That's how the challenges will make you fly higher. If you want to eliminate challenges, you're elliminating the chances of succeeding too!! Some thing to think about.

An old Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said, "Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."

"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked,
"Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather solemnly said, "The one I feed."

-- Author Unknown

There can be times when we get so angry with someone that we find ourselves imagining ways to seek revenge for the hurt they've caused us. Remember, however, that the thoughts you've just had are energetic creations. In order to keep yourself from having to take part in the rebalancing of energy, it is important to release the person and the thoughts into the care of the universe with forgiveness.

Before we allow ourselves to invest our energy into negative thought or action, we can remind ourselves that everything has a purpose. We can then  consider that perhaps the actions of the other person or people may have  had nothing to do with us. If we don't take their actions personally, it  may be easier to release them. Remembering that every interaction is an opportunity to make a better choice, we can take a deep breath before responding, allowing us just enough time to connect to center and make the  choice to respond from our higher self.

We can never know all the  circumstances that may have led anyone to do anything. By not passing  judgment on anyone, and instead sending hope for their healing, we may  create something positive out of a difficult situation. We can then  release it, since dwelling on it can cause an energetic drain in our  system, causing us to really only hurt ourselves. When we can release our  hold on negative events and interactions, we leave it in the hands of a wise universe to work out the best solution for all involved.

In every moment we have a chance to make a choice to bring light into the world. When we bless others with the gift of our positive energy, instead of letting circumstances affect us negatively, we bring a little peace to the world every day.

There are two types of people... I know there may actually be thousands of different types of people but in my mind there are only two. Those who want to truly succeed and those who truly have no desire to live a life of greatness. They may say they do but they do not. This can be translated to almost anything and anyone.

Here is an example... I had a friend that always complained about the way the world was being "destroyed" by Walmarts and the Starbucks of the world.  Now there may be some truth to some of the negative practices that some of these companies undertake, but  when you simply complain about something it has an incredible way of accomplishing nothing.

I know that I am not going to change the way that Walmart is running their business, but I can change the way that I run my life and my business. Here is another example... why not taking responsibility of your life? Why not taking care of your family and friends?  Why not spend extra time with your children, turn the TV off, stop surfing the internet for reading the news, and read a book to your child or play outside or give your friend a call. Perhaps if each of us stopped complaining and yelling and we started doing and talking we could change the world.

I know that I can take control! I can stop swearing and using foul language, I can choose to eat healthier, I can choose to drop the word "HATE" from my vocabulary. I can't stop what other people do with their life . I can though teach the younger generation that it is unacceptable to treat people with dissrespect.

Start doing and stop waiting!

If you want to CHANGE THE WORLD... LOOK IN  THE MIRROR. It's a great place to start!

Quote on persistence

Consider the postage stamp, my son. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.
~ Josh Billings

A void negative people, places, things and habits.
B elieve in yourself.
C onsider things from every angle.
D on't give up and don't give in.
E njoy life today, Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come!
F amily and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.
G ive more than you planned.
H ang on to your dreams.
I gnore those who try to discourage you!
J ust do it!
K eep trying no matter how hard it seems. It will get easier!
L ove ! yourself first and most.
M ake dreams happen.
N ever lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal.
O pen your eyes and see things as they really are.
P ractice makes perfect.
Q uitters never win and winners never quit!
R ead and learn about everything important to you.
S top procrastinating!
T ake control of your own des tiny.
U nderstand yourself in order to better understand others.
V isualize your dreams.
W ant your dream more than anything.
X-ccelerate your efforts.
Y ou are a unique individual. Nothing can replace YOU!
! Z ero in on your goals and GO FOR THEM!