The rich must live more simply

The rich must live more simply so that the Poor may simply live - Mahatma Gandhi

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With confidence, you have won before you have started

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One father is worth more than a hundred schoolmasters." English proverb

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. Pope John Paul II

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. Pope John Paul II

Lance Armstrong: “Time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right, and...

Surround yourself with people most like the person you want to become. Stay away from anyone who can or will bring you down."Tom Hopkins

“Fighting for Peace is like Fucking for Virginity.”~Political Button

"Once you start building a more positive attitude, life will throw some incredible opportunities your way!" - Jeff Keller

"It is in the 30s that we want friends. In the 40s we know they won't save us any more than love did." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Moorea Island in the Pacific Ocean
With confidence, you have won before you have started." ~ Marcus Garvey

Hike to Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park , Utah

Atlanta skyline
"Bombs are unbelievable until they actually fall. " - Patrick White


Melbourne, Australia
Spend some TIME ALONE... every day." ~Dalai Lama

25 people with face value, who have impacted lives, brought glory to the nation, changed polity and entertained millions
By Shobhaa De
People change. Values don’t. ‘Value’ is such a loaded five-letter word. Difficult to define, difficult to compute. Yet, this much we do know—certain ‘values’ are universal… eternal. Those are the ones that cut across cultures and centuries and cannot be challenged—truth, loyalty, goodness and honour. When it comes to compiling a list of India’s Most Valuable, it is virtually impossible to draw it up in an all-inclusive fashion.

It is all about branding. Isn’t everything these days? Companies are brands, products are brands, and shockingly enough, even people are brands. Perfectly sensible marketing professionals speak earnestly about Ratan Tata’s personal brand equity and I wonder if that makes him squirm… or is he realistic enough to see it from a business leader’s perspective: personal brand equity = value addition to the company’s stock. True enough in his case. Just like one cannot separate Bill Gates from Microsoft, Ratan is Tata. And Tata is him.

It wasn’t always this way in India. Ratan is in a unique position given the Tata legacy. But there are countless other self-styled tycoons who believe business credibility is but a click away. Such ‘personalities’ walk around flaunting price tags, labels… brazenly boasting about their net worth… buying their way into and out of situations.
Even a decade ago, such crass conduct would have been frowned upon, even despised. But in today’s far more upfront age of aggressive self-promotion, if a famous person does not cash in on individual equity, he/she is considered dumb. Media, of course, has played a key role in promoting personality cults.

In this context, those making the short list for the country’s most valuable people are the ones with the highest profile. People who have impacted one billion lives directly or indirectly during the past one year. The same people watched by an awestruck nation giving nightly gyaan on television channels, those whose mug shots peddle products ranging from cameras to condoms, those who bring glory to India in the sports arena and, most significantly, those who influence policy, those who entertain the masses via music, cinema and TV.

So as long as the average Indian can put a face to the name, the fame game is on. Often, the actual achievements of the person being enthusiastically applauded by the masses are unknown even to those fans clapping away. But that’s a matter of detail. Nobody minds. We love our icons. We worship our heroes. We adore success.

It has often been said that the biggest marketing guru India produced remains Mahatma Gandhi. The man and his message are both alive and well a little more than six decades on. Gandhi gave Indians their spine back. His ‘product’ was Independence. His ‘byproduct’—self-respect. We have been patiently waiting for a new mahatma to rescue us in the 21st century. We may have to wait much longer. But, why despair? There are several ‘amazing minds’ in our midst, who influence our lives on a daily basis. These are towering individuals, well, most of them. For better or worse, we need to identify and acknowledge their contribution in their chosen disciplines. The editors at THE WEEK have done a comprehensive job of putting the list together.

Kapil Sibal, who will be shaping the minds of Young India by placing education right at the top of India’s priorities, and M.S. Swaminathan, who will ensure no Indian goes hungry if he can help it, are the two most important individuals on the list. A nation that accepts the existence of even one hungry stomach in a population of over a billion is a nation that must hang its head in shame.

India cannot afford to boast about a single other achievement so long as there are starvation deaths. For every child who dies of malnutrition, there is collective responsibility involved. Since education cannot be forced down a gullet that is denied access to even clean drinking water, forget edible food, perhaps it is time to link the two most critical programmes of feeding and educating the masses in a more meaningful way. Everything else will fall into place, as it has in other countries that made both a top priority before launching space programmes, putting men on the moon or going nuclear.

Rahul Gandhi’s immense appeal to the youth can be better harnessed if he frees himself from dynasty and strikes out on his own. Rahul represents Tolerant India—forward-thinking and progressive. Growth-driven and ambitious. His secular stand has won him the hearts of the nation. Rahul could very well emerge as the people’s politician.

So long as we remain passive bystanders and tolerate those fanning communal strife, so long as we silently endorse the merchants of terror, we cannot dream of real progress—the sort that isn’t measured by the GDP or Sensex swings. Perhaps, the BJP has woken up to the country’s real compulsions, which extend well beyond mandir-masjid politics.

Market marshals talk about more transparency. SBI Chairman O.P. Bhatt and super brains like Anil Kakodkar, along with SEBI Chairman C. Bhave, control India’s financial destiny and positioning in the complex, volatile world of finance. Never mind that Pranab Mukherjee’s uninspiring Budget speech didn’t bring cheer to the aam aadmi, India is still far better off than several developed countries reeling from the economic meltdown.

We need sharp strategists to manage our domestic economy during this tricky phase, and we are lucky to have them. But somewhere in this complicated numbers game, we cannot afford to neglect the two issues that directly affect each and every Indian—national security and terrorism.

This is where Manmohan Singh’s vision and leadership could propel India into a more secure zone. Unfortunately, so far, his contribution has been either too subtle or too sage for it to make the required difference.
The most recent Balochistan blunder has focused the nation’s attention on how ineptly and unconvincingly his appointee S.M. Krishna undertook the crucial damage control exercise… much to the horror and embarrassment of the watching world. He fell flat on his face… he is still there.

We like to believe Indians have made a fantastic breakthrough in international cinema, thanks to the publicity generated by Slumdog Millionaire, which is not an Indian film to begin with. But what it has done is gift A.R. Rahman’s genius to the world.
This modest musician has waited a long time for universal recognition. It is now his—Rahman is in a league of his own with no real competition, either here or overseas. He is a genuine, gilt-edged ‘valuable’—self-made and supreme.

Our sports stars largely remain indigenous phenomena, loved by a cricket-mad nation…. And furiously commercialised by their keepers. They are indeed valuable, but it is high time we looked beyond Brand Sachin or Brand Dhoni (a little tarnished at present), and recognised the contribution of those incredible, small town boys from underprivileged, rural homes who have made the country proud on innumerable international occasions.

Leander Paes, dubbed a ‘Tennis Statesman’, needs to be acknowledged for his grit and endurance. Right now, however, sports lovers are looking keenly at a new star on the horizon—Saina Nehwal, ranked number 6 in the world. This plucky 19-year-old (who recently battled chickenpox), has single-handedly revived badminton in India, and is expected to do well at the upcoming BWF World Championship.

The time has definitely come to honour our ‘Most Valuable’ citizens—those anonymous jawans who risk their lives for us, guard our borders, defend us fiercely, and remain the most undervalued citizens of the country. Our grateful salaams to our armed forces as we salute India’s unsung heroes on this important day.
source: the week

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Gandhi on Bhagawad Gita

Mahatma Gandhi

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi on Bhagawad Gita:


The Gita is the universal mother. She turns away nobody. Her door is wide open to anyone who knocks. A true votary of Gita does not know what disappointment is. He ever dwells in perennial joy and peace that passeth understanding. But that peace and joy come not to skeptic or to him who is proud of his intellect or learning. It is reserved only for the humble in spirit who brings to her worship a fullness of faith and an undivided singleness of mind. There never was a man who worshipped her in that spirit and went disappointed. I find a solace in the Bhagavad-Gita that I miss even in the Sermon on the Mount. When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad-Gita. I find a verse here and a verse there , and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies -- and my life has been full of external tragedies -- and if they have left no visible or indelible scar on me, I owe it all to the teaching of Bhagavad-Gita.

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Greatest Proverbs MORE in less Time!

Bridge

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, "What the heck happened?"

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

source: stumbleupon

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the secret of success

jai ho
Don't wait. The time will never be just right. ~ Napoleon Hill

gatesnotes
To climb steep hills requires a slow pace at first- Shakespeare


Man who lose key to girl friends apartment, no get nukie - Confucius




Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement. Brian Tracy

Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving. Dennis Waitley

Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is. Vince Lombardi

"Days are expensive. When you spend a day you have 1 less day to spend. So make sure you spend each one wisely." ~Jim Rohn

"Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of the past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings." - Ralph Blum


Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration. Evan Esar

The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. Earl of Beaconsfield

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road to success

Marcus Garvey - "With confidence, you have won before you have started."

I like honesty and fair play - Marcus Garvey

public-sink
You can't make Money & Excuses at the Same Time!" ~Stephen Pierce

"It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view." ~Dalai Lama

Sapporo, Japan: Event staff work to smooth the surface of the hill prior to the training session of the World Cup ski jumping tournament
Under the greatest adversity there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others ~Dalai Lama

"The road to success is always under construction." - Lily Tomlin

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wise men Vs Fools

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work - Richard Bach

Roger federer
Death is not the worst that can happen to men. - Plato

Lance Armstrong
Seven-time Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)'s Lance Armstrong of the United States rides in the pack under heavy rains on July 17, 2009 in the 200 km and thirteenth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Vittel and Colmar. Armstrong went onto finish the tour in third place, behind winner Alberto Contador

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.- Steve Jobs

Huntsman
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”
Plato

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3 problems of India

Sam Pitroda
“Knowledge will be the next big thing for India in the next 25 years.

The problem with our country is:-
* we have the 19th century mindset,
* 20 century processes and
* 21st century needs.

For this basic reason, majority of the population does not have bank accounts so far. If I had an option, I would redesign the every process in the country.”

- Sam Pitroda

source: deccan chronicle

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7 Steps to Successful Moonlighting - Starting a Business Full Time - SecondAct.com

7 Steps to Successful Moonlighting - Starting a Business Full Time - SecondAct.com: "If you're ready to start a business as your second act, the best time to do it is while you're still working a full-time job. In this recession economy, many people are not making ends meet with their paychecks, so launching a side-hustle business is a great option."

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7 secrets for a lasting love affair - The Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona

7 secrets for a lasting love affair - The Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona: "What stops your eye when you see a photograph in the obituaries? Perhaps the image of a child or young person will make you wonder. Maybe a faintly familiar face will cause you to investigate. Perhaps a radiant smile framed by hair and clothing from another era will carry you back in time."

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beyond your hopes

Kurt Cobain - "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."

"It's FAITH in something & ENTHUSIASM for something... that makes life worth L I V I N G" ~O. W.Holmes

He who thinks everything must be in bloom when the strawberries are in bloom doesn’t know anything about apples -Greek Proverb

He who keeps the hills, burns the wood; he who keeps the streams drinks the water -Chinese Proverb

Palm trees on the beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes." - St. Clement of Alexandra


Cobblestone street in the Marais district of Paris, France
Our history... is Not our DESTINY” ~Alan Cohen




nature

A tree that affords thee shade, do not order it to be cut down - Arabian Proverb

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Great minds have purposes...

Sometimes the best helping hand you can get is a good, firm push.
-- Joann Thomas

"Great minds have purposes, others have wishes" ~Washington Irving

two-mosques-Istanbul
If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think." - Oprah

A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read." - Mark Twain

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." - Albert Einstein

I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." - Galileo Galilei

"Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that." - Mark Twain

Faith a two-legged dog walking down Michigan Ave to the wonderment of the human pedestrians.
"Our TRIALS are tests; our sorrows pave the way for a ~F U L L E R~ life... when we have earned it." ~Jerome P. Fleishman

Prague Castle
Poverty is a veil that obscures the face of greatness. -Khalil Gibran

Boat In Norway
To enjoy life, we must touch much of it lightly. Voltaire

Miners Castle Michigan
"Be yourself. The world worships an original.” ~ Ingrid Bergman

Black Rock Desert Nevada
A smile is your greatest social asset. – Zig Ziglar

Nantes, West Coast France
Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much." - Erich Fromm

Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond Scotland
The most effective way to manage change is to create it." - Peter Drucker

The Falkirk Wheel Scotland
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving ~ Albert Einstein

Aberfoyle, Scotland
"If you want to go somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there." - Robert Kiyosaki

Yellowstone Park
Mark Twain: "Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul."

Niagra Falls
The sad fact is that people are poor because they have not yet decided to be rich. - Brian Tracy

Akron Canton Ohio
In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength, but through persistence."Buddha

Usain Bolt
God helps those who help themselves.
Benjamin Franklin

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