"A letter to My Daughter" - A letter to remind myself....

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To My Daughter,

You broke my heart today. You didn't realise. We were playing together, sat on the floor with your little sister, you holding one of your Elsa dolls. You turned to me and said "Mummy, when I grow up I want to be a doctor". I asked you why, and you said "So I could go to work with you Mummy, then I would see you more". That was the moment. 

Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done, and it's the best thing I have ever done. Your daddy and I both work hard so we can try and give you and your sister everything. I love you both beyond anything else in this world, and part of being a mummy is to be there for you no matter what. But my darling girl, please don't be a doctor. 

You say this as you play, and imagine yourself making your Elsa doll better from some imagined illness. You forget that you cried when I left for work last week. You forget that Mummy couldn't pick you up after school for two weeks in a row because I didn't finish work on time. You forget that I missed bedtime every night this week, and that I left the house before you woke up this morning. I didn't even steal in to give you a goodbye kiss, or to watch you sleeping. I worried I would wake you, and part of being a mummy is trying to do what is right, not what I want all the time. 

When I have a day off, I watch you playing with your daddy and my heart fills you love for you both. But part of me is sad. All those missed bedtimes and school runs, you and Daddy got to spend time together, and I can see how that has made you adore him even more than you did before. That is what I want. I want you to have that relationship with him. But I can't help the ache in my heart that when you fell over, you ran to him, not me. 

I spend my days trying to help people at work. I try to make them better, and that is a wonderful job to have. But when Mummy is late again because she is helping poorly people, it means I'm not there to help you. Part of being a doctor is putting other people first, but sometimes Mummy gets that wrong. It's very hard to say no when you can help someone, but that means Mummy missed your assembly again. It means I don't get to take you to your friends birthday parties at the weekend. It means sometimes Mummy feels tired and sometimes I get grumpy with you. That isn't fair. 

You asked why Daddy was cross last week - he was cross with Mummy. He was cross because he loves me, and once again Mummy hadn't had time to eat anything or have a drink that day. Work was too busy - too many poorly people. When Mummy comes home at the end of a busy day like that, I feel poorly and tired. Then I don't feel like playing with you and that makes me sad. 

I'm so sorry my darling girl, but Mummy isn't sure she can be a doctor anymore. Now the people in charge want Mummy to work harder and longer than I do already. I don't know how I can do that and still be there for you. I don't want to miss you grow up, and I don't wish for you the heartache and choices that I have had to make. Being a doctor used to be the best job in the world. And I knew when I went to work, I was making a big difference to all the poorly people. That made me feel that although I was missing you, it was worth it and I was really lucky. I never needed to worry I might not have a job like some mummies do. Being a doctor means I never needed to worry we couldn't buy the clothes and food you need, like some other mummies do. 

But now, it's not the best job anymore. It's really hard and sometimes it makes Mummy cry. Now I go to work and all I do is wish I wasn't there. When I have you and your sister to miss, when the news on the radio says Mummy isn't working hard enough, when the poorly person I see says I earn too much, when they shout and swear at me, then suddenly it doesn't seem worth being away from you for that. 

Someday, a long time from now, you might be a Mummy too. When you are, you will understand better. But for now, let's say you'll think about being a doctor, and maybe we can find another job that means you won't have to feel the way I do right now. 

All my love,

Mummy xxx

This is a letter for the NHS - written by me, as a Doctor, to my daughter. I have written this thinking of all the Junior Doctors facing huge uncertainty at the moment. There are parents, children, patients, doctors, nurses, and many other staff who are all a part of the NHS. If you want to share your experience, please write a Letter for the NHS. Share on "Letters for the NHS" on Facebook, or @Letters4NHSand #Letters4NHS on twitter. Behind the politics and the policies, are people. Sometimes that gets forgotten.

Follow Dr Zoe Norris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dr_zo

Julley!

Julley (जुले ) is not just a word. It’s a magical word. Not a single word, it's a complete sentence, or a story. And sometime, it is more than a sentence. Julley is a mesmerizing word that gets your work done anywhere in Ladakh. It brings you respect, helps you find way, gets you tasty food, brings you closer to local people, makes new Ladakhi friends, gets you helping hands and many more.

Julley (or Joolay) is a common word in Ladakh (and tribal areas of Himachal including Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and parts of Kullu) which means Namaste, hello, hi. Meaning of Julley has changed over the time. Now some people use Julley to bid good bye also. The local people, mostly Buddhists, of Ladakh and Himachal wish each other with words like Julley and Tashi Delek (or Tashi Dile). The Julley word has grown so famous among the military people in Ladakh that they also have started to wish people by saying Julley every time they start conversation. If somebody says you Julley, just reply: “Julley” with smile on face and a little hunched shoulders to express your respect to the person.

Julley has now also become famous among the outsiders. It all started with tourism boom in Ladakh and local people here started wishing travellers with Julley. Now, whenever you visit Ladakh, you will hear Julley a lot of times a day. Julley refers to respect. If you want to start conversation with Ladakhi man or woman, just say Julley with smile on your face, and see the magic happening itself. The person will himself/herself show his/her interest in you, with faith and respect.
You are driving a jeep (or bike) and you have some technical problem. You want help. Just say Julley to occupants of that area and they will put all possible efforts to help you. You forgot your way back hotel, you don’t know from where to take diversion to Pangong Lake, you are searching for a dhaba, you are looking for a medical store, you want to know about the local culture of a village, your phone is not working and want local person to allow you to use his cellphone or want a lift in a car, Julley makes it possible for you. But remember; don’t feel like buttering, deceiving or getting your work done selfishly by riding on the shoulders of Julley. Julley is a respect. So earn it, spread it and make it your smile and your ornament. Respect local culture, respect Julley.
Julley!

Leh: Fantastic Accommodation! Oriental Hotel

This was the place I stayed during my visit to Leh, Ladakh. I would give it a thumb up for its hospitality! What is good about this hotel?

1. they settled all my trip in Leh! ( providing service to get all the permit done, look for good driver with good driving skills on the wavy mountain road)
2. Good discount ! ( INR 2600 for a double room with 1 extra bed)
3. They provided good advice before each and every of our trip, also advised us how to prevent acute mountain sickness
4. they cooked for us even though the breakfast time not reached yet as we need to rush for our trip
5. the owners are friendly, honest! 
6. good library with all sort of books! 
7. just next to Chanti Stupa
8. Room 405, 406 with good mountain view! ( can see the morning ray! )
9. opened 24/ 7

Oriental Hotel & Guest House has been in business since 1987 and has been able to operate successfully since then, creating reputation for themselves. Quite like a genial hostess, epitomizing the facets of an exquisite art; Oriental Hotel naturally wears the veil of being one of the best and affordable accommodations in Leh, Ladakh.The quintessence of Luxury, this is for those who are looking for some class-apart accommodation options. Spacious rooms -beautifully appointed, finely luxurious and infused with the unmatched Ladakhi Style and Hospitality. Beautiful interiors merging effortlessly with the ambience, this is a perfect setting to rejuvenate in the heart of Ladakh...

Another sister concern of Oriental Group, this company focuses on arranging Treks & Tours for our guests. With professional trekkers and local people on board, we are one of the leading tour operators in Ladakh. Be it a family vacation or awe-aspiring adventure sport activities, we can arrange it all for you...

Facilities:

COMMUNICATION

With broadband and Wi-Fi connectivity in the premises, you can access internet all day long. We also have in-house STD/ISD telephone and Fax services for your convenience.

CENTRAL HEATING

Since warmth is something that you require utmost when in Ladakh, we have heated rooms with Building C being centrally heated.

CUISINE

Food is one of the main elements which travelers look forward to and hence we make sure to allow you savor Ladhaki, Chinese, Western and Indian cuisines on your plate.

LAUNDRY

We offer special laundry services at your door step which includes ironing on daily basis. We also have dry-cleaning facility for special garments.

SOLAR WATER HEATING

Water supply is never an issues at Oriental as all rooms have attached bathrooms with twenty four hour running hot water powered by solar water heating.

LIBRARY

Indulge in reading with our informal but a wide-ranging library having books and magazines in many languages besides travel guidebooks on Ladakh.

Oriental Hotel Link

Travel to Leh, Free & Easy

The barren beauty of Ladakh with snow capped peaks and clean azure sky have attracted the intrepid traveler since the region was opened to tourists in the 1970s. Since then, Ladakh has become a favorite haunt for trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts. The rugged terrain and the majestic mountains around, make an exotic cocktail for an adventure sport lover. But before you decide to fly away to the land of Buddhist monasteries and brave people, it is imperative to understand that you need at least a week to enjoy your tour to Ladakh. Since, acclimatization it self needs at least a few days in Ladakh.

Thinking of travel from Malaysia to Leh?

Options: Flights

Kuala Lumpur --> New Delhi ( Malaysia airline, Malindo )    * I managed to get Malindo air at RM 1300 (2 ways)

New Delhi--> Leh ( Go air, Jet Airway, Air India )    * I managed to get Go Air at RM 800 ++ (2 ways)

I think this is one of the good option to go to Leh! Of course, if you don't like to linger in New Delhi, just get a flight straight out to New Delhi! Other option is flying into NEW DELHI and get a charted car/ taxi to Leh. The second options will cost you 2 days travel at least! 

Things to bring:

• Hat
• lipgloss/ vaseline
• sunblock
• sunglass
• jacket
• long sleeve shirt
• shawl/ mask ( mainly to cover your nose from the dust)
• GOOD camera! ( with tripod if you keen to take Mr Milky Way)

Something to take notes: 

• at time, internet connection can be quite bad in Leh, so, can opt for IDD at the shop which is not that expensive. Other options are activate your daily ROAMING with Maxis!
• Best time for tourist June to August! But, if you choose not to crowd with others, you can choose to travel in September! ( can get good deals with hotel and discount for certain tour)
• If you interested in mountain trekking, please come here earlier to acclimatise before you get AMS ( acute mountain syndrome )

Religion and Culture

This is perhaps what keeps going an ordinary Ladakhi in most inhospitable conditions. At a place where the mercury plummets below zero degrees Celsius in winters and the rainfall during the year is as scant as 50 mm, one needs to be little more than fit to lead a healthy life. Buddhism is the way of life in Ladakh, though there are people of other faiths in Ladakh who live in harmony with each other.

Life Style

Simplicity is the way of life in Ladakh, as the modernity has not touched the town as it has happened in other cities and towns of India. Cut-off from rest of the world, Ladakh is barren yet beautiful. Ladakh comes alive during the fairs and festivals as one can see Ladakhi people in their traditional dress. Ladakhis are the brave people who are industrious and cheerful. Perak, the headgear worn by traditional Ladakhi women is the striking feature of womenfolk of Ladakh. This is a common sight during the festivals. The other feature that is noticeable is the precious stones that adorn a woman's neck in Ladakh. 

Monasteries

Monasteries in Ladakh either belong to Mahayana or Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Hemis Monastery is one of the largest and most popular monasteries in Ladakh Travel. The monastery is quiet popular among tourists and most travelers visit the monastery during Ladakh Travel. The Hemis is center of action during the annual Hemis festival that takes place in June-July. The festival is held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. This is the best time to see the cultural side of Ladakh. During the festival, locals from remote corners of Ladakh converge on the Hemis monastery. 

Social Structure

Ladakhis follow a patriarchal society where the elder son inherits all the property. He is the one who shoulders the responsibility of the family. But when it comes to younger son or sons, the Ladakhi society permits him to become a lama if he wants. He can also remain in the family. Lamas are devoted to God and remain detach from world affairs. There are about 500 Lamas in Ladakh. Even Hemis Monastery can accommodate up to 150 Lamas.

Buddhism

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Ladakh and one can find its stamp all over in Ladakh. Be it monasteries, music or simple of way of life, Buddhism is essence of Ladakh. One can find 'tangkhas', masks, musical instruments and precious items in the Gompas in Ladakh. A huge painting of the Buddha inside the Hemis Monastery is the biggest draw. Thiksey and Shey monasteries are the classic architectural wonder in the region. No matter which part of Ladakh you travel, the smiling Buddha and His followers greet you in smile. 

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Nubra Valley- Simple Mathematic. How to Travel for FREE !??!?? and gain extra cash ( Part 3 )

What will you say to this scenery?

I only have one word for this God's creation!

WOW!

if I have to give a price tag to this scenery, I will definitely give priceless!

Let say, I tagged it as RM 5000?

Will you pay RM 5000 if you will to savour this scenery for that particular day?

I definitely will! I think for you to go to New Zealand or Europe to have this kind of scenery, it worths that amount of money!

Simple Mathematic:

1. My cost for Leh ( flight, accommodation, transport, visa etc)= RM 5000

2. Pangong Tso scenery worth= RM 5000 (how much do you tag this scenery, if you will to see this ?)

3. Nubra valley scenery worth = RM 5000

Therefore, if I do simple maths:

Cost (1)- Values in return (2+3)= RM 5000- ( RM 5000 + RM 5000)

= - RM 5000

Means....

the trip is totally free!!!! because I paid RM 5000, but I got a value for more than RM 5000!

( that is why the trip is FREE!!! )

HAHA!!!

of course, this vacation means more than just numbers!

It depends on how you perceive the vacation, the trip etc...

Just some introduction for those who never been to Nubra valley:

Nubra (Tibetan : ལྡུམ་ར; Wylie : ldum ra; English : Nubra) is a tri-armed valley located to the north east of Ladakh valley. Diskit the capital of Nubra is about 150 km north from Leh town, the capital of Ladakh district, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra (the valley of flowers). The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and Karakoram Ranges. The Shyok river is a tributary of the Indus river. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. i.e. 3048 metres above the sea level. The common way to access this valley is to travel over the Khardung La pass from Leh town. 

For more photos, CLicK!

panoramio

picfair

Power of emotion--> case study how to turn negative emotion e.g Loneliness to " ACTION PLAN "

Hemis Gompa, Leh, Ladakh

LONELINESS. Anything that makes us feel alone, apart, or separate from others belongs in this category. Have you ever felt really lonely? I don't think there's anybody alive who hasn't.


The Message:
The message of loneliness is that you need a connection with people. But what does the message mean? People often assume it means a sexual connection, or instant intimacy. Then they feel frustrated, because even when they do have intimacy, they still feel lonely.

The Solution:
1) The solution to loneliness is to realize that you can reach out and make a connection immediately and end the loneliness. There are caring people everywhere.


2) Identify what kind of connection you do need. Do you need an intimate connection? Maybe you just need some basic friendship, or someone to listen to you or to laugh or talk with. You simply have to identify what your true needs are.

3) Remind yourself that what's great about being lonely is that it means, "I really care about people, and I love to be with them. I need to find out what kind of connection I need with somebody right now, and then take an action immediately to make that happen."


4) Then, take immediate action to reach out and connect with someone.
So there's your list of the ten Action Signals. As you can see, every one of these emotions is offering you empowering messages and a call to change either your false and disempowering perceptions or your inappropriate procedures, that is, your communication style or actions. To fully utilize this list, remember to review it several times, and with each repetition, look for and underline the positive messages that each signal is giving you, as well as the solutions you can use in the future. Almost all "negative" emotions have their basis in these ten categories or are some hybrid of them. But you can deal with any emotion in the way we discussed earlier: by going through the six steps, getting curious, and discovering the empowering meaning it's offering you.

"We must cultivate our garden." VOLTAIRE

Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant seeds like love, warmth, and appreciation, instead of seeds like disappointment, anger, and fear. Begin to think of those Action Signals as weeds in your garden. A weed is a call to action, isn't it? It says, "You've got to do something; you've got to pull this out to make room for better, healthier plants to grow." Keep cultivating the kinds of plants you want, and pull the weeds as soon as you notice them.


Let me offer you ten emotional seeds you can plant in your garden. If you nurture these seeds by focusing on feeling what you want to feel every day, you will hold yourself to a standard of greatness. These seeds create a life that flourishes and fulfills its highest potential. Let's explore them briefly now, and realize that each of these emotions represents an antidote to any of the "negative" emotions you may have been feeling previously. 

Pangong Tso, How to Travel for FREE !??!?? and gain extra cash ( Part 2 )

How much do you think visiting this place worth?

I gave it more than RM 5000!  ( if plus the scenery along the journey , I bet it worths more than RM5000) 

Have you watched the 3 idiots movie?
If you have, you must be familiar with this photo and this scenic Pangong Tso.
I bet you also touched by the movie many times as well!
In fact, I watched this movie more than once!

A few minutes into watching the movie, I laugh out so loud. Then there were parts when it touched me a bit, then laughed again.  The movie brought me in a roller coaster of emotions. That's why I watched the second time with my wife again!

Like a well-crafted speech, 3 Idiots challenged our minds, touched our hearts, and definitely tickled our funny bones. What a masterpiece. More than the entertainment, 3 Idiots taught me profound lessons on some of the most important aspects of life.

 On Friendship

Rancho, the lead star, considers a friend as a man’s greatest bosom.There were a couple of scenes in the movie where he put his friends’ needs before his needs. Like a true friend, he would go out of his way to help his friends and his friends’ families, even if this could endanger his life. Despite his super bubbly nature, he touched his friends in a very deep way, it made Farhan and Raju cry. And I bet if you watched the movie, it made you cry too.

On Life

Follow excellence and success will chase you. 

Make your passion your profession.

Study with all your heart, not just for grades. 

Study to be accomplished, not affluent. 

These were some of Rancho’s favorite lines, which he lived by. Rancho always tops the exams. When asked by his friend Farhan how come he always excels,  Rancho’s answer was simple. “I love engineering. It’s my passion.” He further said, Follow your talent. Quit Engineering. Marry photography. This was because Farhan was so good at Wildlife Photography, yet, he’s taking up Engineering because it was his parents’ dream for him to become an Engineer.

Raju then asked Rancho how come he (Raju) doesn’t excel even if he studies hard.Rancho said, Cause you’re a coward. Scared of  the future. With such fear of tomorrow, how’ll you live today? How’ll you focus in your studies? Go live your life. 

Have you make your passion .... YOUR profession?  

So, if you haven't watched 3 Idiots,  I strongly recommend you to watch it! I guaranteed it will make your day! 

Click here for more photos

Also here for others photos

How to photograph the Milky Way

Shutter speed – 30 seconds: For this photo, I shot most of the night using a 30 second shutter speed (meaning that a professional tripod is necessary to keep the camera rock solid).  I find that if you use a shutter speed that is too long, the stars in the sky start to look oblong because of Earth’s rotation.  30 seconds of shutter speed only makes the stars look BARELY oblong, and you really only notice it if you zoom way in on the computer.

However, don’t take 30 seconds as the perfect answer for taking pictures of the stars that aren’t star trails.  The longer the lens you use, the shorter the shutter speed will need to be.  If you shoot on a crop sensor camera with an 18mm lens, you probably won’t be able to use a shutter speed longer than 15 or 20 seconds, because the stars will appear larger in the frame, so the streaking is far more noticeable.

Aperture – f/2.8: Normally, you would want to use a high aperture for landscape photography to achieve maximum depth-of-field.  Photographers often get tricked into thinking they need a very high aperture since the stars are far away, but remember that depth-of-field is about how much of the picture is sharp, not where the sharpness appears.

So the correct aperture for this photo is–the lowest f-stop you have available to you on your lens.  By focusing on the stars, you’re focused to infinity (the furthest out the lens can focus), so you can use a low f-stop to capture the dim star light.

In this photo, I had a lens (the Nikon 14-24mm lens) that could go down to f/2.8, so that’s the aperture value I used to take this picture.  The trouble with using such a low aperture value is that I chose to take this picture with a large foreground element, the old schoolhouse, so when I used f/2.8, the house was blurry since I was focused on the stars.  Knowing that it would be impossible to shoot a photo in such low light with an f-stop like f/16 that would have afforded me more light, I chose to shoot one picture of the stars at f/2.8 and one picture focused on the house at f/2.8.  Then I simply combined the two in Photoshop.  If you’re a “get it right in the camera” zealot, this may not sound like an attractive way to take this photo, but I promise you that it is also the ONLY way to take this photo.  Yep, the only way.  You need a high f-stop for the depth-of-field, but a low f-stop for light gathering… so you have to use post-processing.

If you take a photo out in the woods or the desert or another open location with nothing in the foreground to worry about, then you could easily just shoot at f/2.8 and forego the Photoshop bit.  But if you’re shooting a photo just like mine, there is no other way with current technology.

ISO – 3200: Normally, photographers like to keep the ISO as low as possible to prevent the photos from becoming grainy.  However, many types of night photography require high ISO values.  Such is the case here, where I shot with an ISO of 3200.  If you have a camera made in the last couple years, it will likely allow you to choose an ISO as high as 3200 or even higher (I shot some photos this same night at ISO 6,400).

Since I shot at ISO3200, there is definitely some noise in the picture I took.  Frankly, that is unavoidable with current technology, but there are quite a few things you can do to at least mitigate the noise in the photo caused by the high ISO and long shutter speed.   One of those methods is long exposure noise reduction.

Long exposure noise reduction is available on all DSLRs (that I know of, anyway) that were made in the last few years.  On a Nikon, you’ll find “Long Exposure NR” in the shooting menu of the camera.  On Canon cameras, go to your menu, then go to custom functions, and browse through them until you find long exposure noise reduction (it’s a different custom function on each Canon model).  This feature uses a technology called dark frame subtraction that I explain in the video associated with this post.

HOW TO FOCUS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

All autofocus systems require some amount of contrast in order to find proper focus.  When shooting at night, there is rarely enough light outside for your camera to autofocus properly.  The best way to solve this problem is to look around you for a street light or other light that is the same distance away from you as where you want the focus to be.  Then, autofocus on that light, and slide the focus mode switch on your lens to “manual” this will keep the focus where you last set it as long as you don’t accidentally twist the manual focus ring at the front of your lens.

If you’re taking a picture of the stars and don’t have to worry about focusing on anything in the foreground, then you may want to rack your focus all the way out as far as it will go, and then come back just a slight bit.  This will focus your lens to infinity (as far as it focuses), which is always the proper focus for shooting the stars.  If the moon is bright enough, you could also focus on the moon and then you’re set.

If I need to focus on something closer to the camera, like how I focused on the schoolhouse for one of the photos, then shining a bright flashlight or laser pointer on the building will help your camera to find focus.  One other technique is to simply show up to the location where you’ll be shooting before it’s actually night time.  Then you can adjust your composition before it gets dark, and lock down your focus while there is still enough available light.

HOW TO SEE THE MILKY WAY

Most people never see the Milky Way with their naked eye.  Usually, the artificial lights from houses and streetlights are too bright for our eyes to see the faint glow of the ring around the Milky Way at night.  However, by using the amazing light gathering ability of newer DSLRs, the Milky Way can usually be captured in a picture.

I intentionally waited to take this picture until a night that did not have a bright moon.  This lessens the amount of light in the sky to make the Milky Way less visible.  Also, I drove 1.5 hours away from the nearest major city to get rid of all of the city lights.  In this rural location, I could see the Milky Way with my naked eye, which was intensified when I took a picture and gathered the light with a 30 second exposure.

Click here for more photos and Tips!

Have you read about The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey?

pic 1: Monkey face flower

( how wonderful the nature is? ) 

Pic: taken on the way to Pangong Tso, Ladakh.

Nature never fail to surprise me! 

Pic: wonderful pattern of the flower! 

Click here to see more photos!

The book’s synopsis promises that The 8th Habit is the answer to the yearning for greatness, the organization’s imperative for significance and superior results, and the human’s search for its “voice”. I believe there are some handy tips to be found in the book, but it is a much less intuitive read than his previous works.

The book is divided into two sections. The first focuses on “finding your voice” and the second on “inspiring others to find theirs”. Here is a synopsis of both parts:

Finding your voice.

The essence of this habit is that you will find your voice when you can say you are 100% involved with what you are doing in your life, so that your body, mind, heart and spirit are all engaged in whatever is important to you. To find your voice, you need to examine your natural talent, what you absolutely love to do, what really interests you. And you must listen to the confirming inner voice of your conscience that tells you what is the right thing to do.

We can discover our voice because of the 3 gifts we are born with:

Gift 1: The freedom to choose

Gift 2: The natural laws or principles – those that dictate the consequences of behavior. Positive consequences come from fairness, kindness, respect, honesty, integrity, service and contribution

Gift 3: The four intelligences – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.

Covey talks about great achievers expressing their voice through the use of their intelligences; for example:

Great achievers develop their mental energy into vision

Great achievers develop their physical energy into discipline

Great achievers develop their emotional energy into passion

Great achievers develop their spiritual energy into conscience – their inward moral sense of what is right and wrong and their drive towards meaning and contribution.

Moral authority makes formal authority work towards positive ends. Hitler had vision, discipline and passion, but was driven by a mad ego. Lack of conscience and understanding of “Gift 2” was his downfall. We must control our ego and let our conscience guide our moment to moment behavior. As we develop the 4 intelligences, we will find our voice.

Covey says that the reality in business today is that there are many people who have not found their voices or have lost their voices. We see this every day – people go to work to serve their “bodily” needs, but do not really put their creativity, talent and intelligence into the job. Very true – and losing your voice is a good metaphor for understanding – the question of course is; how do we get our voice back?

Inspiring others to find their voice.

When you have found your voice, you can begin inspiring others to do the same – this is really about leadership. Great leaders have always inspired people to be self-aware, to find themselves and to find their voice – that is the essence of greatness. People and organizations who have truly found their voices go on to become great.

Leadership greatness is about 4 things; modeling the 7 habits, path finding, aligning and empowering. Path finding is about “one voice”, shared vision, values, uniting diverse people into one shared voice, creating order without demanding it. The voice of execution requires you to practice alignment so that the values and strategy are consistently executed without relying on the leader’s continuing presence. Covey goes on to reiterate a point previously made by John Kotter, that most organizations are over managed and under led, and the empowering role of leadership means creating agreements about goals that align with the company’s vision and then holding people accountable for results. He states that true empowerment is the natural result of both personal and organizational trustworthiness, which enables people to identify and then unleash their potential.

Organizational greatness comes from a vision, mission and values that bring clarity, commitment, translation, synergy, enabling and accountability. Covey says that an organization with great leaders (who live the 4 leadership roles of modeling, path finding, alignment and empowering) and great people (who have discovered their gifts and their voice) has hit the “sweet spot” – where the greatest expression of power and potential happens. He leaves us with 4 essential disciplines which, if practiced consistently, can vastly improve our ability to focus on and execute our top priorities:

Focus on what is important – focus only on a few crucial goals

Create a compelling scoreboard – people play differently when they are keeping score

Translate goals into specific actions – weekly and daily tasks

Hold each other accountable, all the time.

This book should be on your short list.

How to Travel for FREE !??!?? and gain extra cash ( Part 1 )

3 Idiots 

 

Just came back from a wonderful trip!
& the Most important is....
The TRIP was totally FREE!
Not just FREE! In fact, I gained extra money from the trip!
The most important question is...
HOW to make the trip totally free of charge!!!

( just bear with me through the whole journey of this trip as I revealed the secrets of the entire journey)

 

Photo 1: bird eye view of Leh.

 

Photo 2: Orange flowers welcomed us to Leh

 

Photo 3: Buddish prayer wheels 

(A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel on a spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather or coarse cotton. Traditionally, the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum written in Sanskrit on the outside of the wheel. At the core of the cylinder is a "Life Tree" often made of wood or metal with certain mantras written on or wrapped around it. Many thousands of mantras are then wrapped around this life tree. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition based on the lineage texts regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.) 

Photo 4: Souvenirs from Tibetian Market 

 

Photo 5: 3 Idiots

Have you watched 3 Idiots? ( what is 3 Idiots?)

This movie was about friendship of 3 peoples , Farhan, Raju and Rancho!

Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman) who on getting a clue on the whereabouts of their college friend, Rancho (Aamir), start a quest to find him. Rancho in his college days was an exceptional, but curious kid, who questions the way education has been taught. His two best friends Farhan and Raju follow his ideals half-heartedly, only to come under the bad books of the dean Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani). To everyone’s amazement, amidst his crankiness and naughty college mischief, Rancho always comes first in his exams. His exemplary friendship, love and naughtiness make him a hero amongst his friends and also to the daughter of Viru Sahastrabudhhe, Pia (Kareena Kapoor). Rancho helps his friends to achieve what they dream of, but disappears mysteriously after getting his degree. Why does Rancho run away? What’s behind the mystery? Will Pia get Rancho? Will the two idiots find the third? Find out in Youtube or Daily motion if you are lucky! if Not, Go to the nearest video shop and get a copy of this VCD? DVD?

The movie is a joyful ride from start to finish with the pace tilting downwards only in the middle of the second half. Few good twists and the non-linear style of storytelling help the proceedings in a big way too. But Rajkumar Hirani borrows most of his jokes from the net and also does go filmy in a few scenes like the Sharman interview sequence or Aamir crying for every little thing that his friend does, or the scene where Mona Singh is having a baby and the scene after that. But scenes like the speech by Omi for teacher’s day, or the first time Rancho visits Raju’s house or Mona singh’s marriage, helps in bringing down the entire theatre with laughter. Every single person behind the camera has enjoyed what they have done and that shows clearly in the final product.

Initially, getting to believe Madhavan or Aamir as college students might be quite tough, but as the screenplay moves, we just start enjoying the movie and their acting. Aamir Khan is spectacular as Rancho and age aside, we can’t think of a better Rancho after seeing the movie. Madhavan might not be looking as a college student but he brings a new dimension to his acting repertoire - a brilliant act. Sharman shows his excellence in a role which seems to be written for him. Kareena looks cute and does her role with equal cuteness. Boman Irani is brilliant, but what’s new in it? Mona Singh is good in a small part. The actor enacting the role Omi is easily the find of the season; he is exceptional in almost all his scenes and is a riot to watch. It’s been quite a while since we saw the entire theatre clapping, laughing aloud and whistling with you.

if you wish to have a great weekend this week, why not find this movie and watch it! I had a copy...

can always borrow from me!!!! hahaha

Not to forget, some of the scenes were taken around Leh, Ladakh which is a wonderful place that I will further elaborate later! 

Enjoy the movie!

(click here for the movie , hope it still there when you clicked)

to be continued...