Remember the Time!

 “Do you remember the time, when we fell in love, do u remember the time when we first met”

That is the soulful music that I woke up to and not to the irritating sound of my alarm!

Playing my favourite pop star Michael Jackson’s music on my birthday morning was my better half’s cue of helping me guess my birthday gift.

In the living room, on the table, beside a small little cake were those 2 square pieces of paper with Michael Jackson’s signature pose screaming out loud – Divya hold me!! And I knew instantly that they were nothing but premier passes to Cirque di soleil’s tribute to Michael Jackson! I was ecstatic!!

 And in my head that very instant, I hummed almost all his songs back to back..From Thriller to Billie Jean, to smooth criminal to beat it to they don’t really care about us to you r not alone..to the way u make me feel, to heal the world to Dangerous! Ooh that was one journey!

I was floating but what bought me down were my thoughts that went back in time to that fateful day of 25^th June 2009.....His memorial Service n the way I was sobbing uncontrollably as if it was a personal loss!

The irony is that Michael passed away on 25^th which was my friend’s birthday as well and she was the one  who had introduced me to his music. I don't know what she must have felt.......Would have been equally heartbroken if not more…We both just adored him , loved him.. n use to sing n dance to his music...for as long as I can remember of my time with her.

The journey of Michael Jackson from being MJ to King of Pop to being the Greatest Entertainer the World had ever known to being labeled as Whacko Jacko...has been nothing but phenomenal and to be able to experience all of it in a span of 50 years was both a Blessing as well as a Curse!!

To begin with, I do not know what Michael Jackson is remembered as:

A Shattered Icon?
A Pop Genius who wound up a mutant of Fame?
Or an Unmatched/Unparalleled Genius?

For many he was a mixture of mystery, isolation, indulgence, overwhelming global fame and personal loneliness, but for me he was and will always be a STAR, who simply outshined all the others with his pure talent, brilliance & hard work.

I was never a listener of music per say but just got glued to his songs from the moment I heard them... It was with his songs that my love for music took a reckoning.

The thought woven into his lyrics coupled with his charismatic voice, stunning musical versatility & innovative dance moves, when finally delivered was purely MAGICAL!!

I just wished, he wouldn’t have left the way he did... An Unfinished Chapter. Seeing him sing away to the packed houses at the O2 Arena in London would have been such a treat to all his fans... Just wished that this concert would have been his Curtain Call before he bid his final Adieu..... oooooh Michael!!

Just wish to quote a couple of lines from one of his website- "Michael Jackson was lauded and ridiculed. He broke down barriers and built them around himself. He soared to heights unimaginable with his music, and he made the ignominious front page of gutter tabloids worldwide. For Michael Jackson, the spotlight was always present, and the rest of the world followed"

Notwithstanding, there is one thing that I truly believe in .. what a person has given to the world is what he must be remembered for ...and not for his personal shortcomings or failures... and this legend has given us a legacy that is priceless, most cherished by all music lovers across the globe and something that we all should carry in our hearts and pass it on to the generations to come...

There is so much that this legend has taught us…he taught us to be true to our dreams, he refused to let people decide for him, he put on one glove, pulled his pants up and broke down the color curtain , he taught us to persevere, he taught us to keep going and I could go on n on with the list.but I was SHAKING..!!

Indeed someone was shaking me off from my memories…babe…hello. Where are u lost! One look at my welled up eyes and he knew the answer to his question..

He sat beside me and held me so I wouldn’t cry and we both sang the following lines from his song… which in every sense portrayed what he is !

“Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy

Don't let no one get you down
Keep movin' on higher ground
Keep flying until
You are the king of the hill

No force of nature can break
Your will to self motivate
They say this face that you see
Is destined for history”

N indeed it is!  I would want you all to enjoy this short video I created in his memory!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38eabi3TOB0

5 Things All Great Leaders Have in Common

When it comes to achieving business success, most people think it is mostly because of the strategy that the business comes up with. Strategy is one part of a whole range of reasons but not the only reason for success. There are a lot of things that amount to the success of an organization, and leadership without a doubt is one of the main reasons for this success.

We’ve all had bosses who seem to style themselves on military leaders, however treating the workplace as a battle ground is something which few respond well to. Leaders need to take tough decisions and act quickly, but that shouldn’t instill a culture of fear amongst employees. Mistakes are part of an individual’s growth, as well as a company’s.

One person who has made his fair share of mistakes, while also knowing a thing or two about what it takes to be a real leader is Richard Branson. Walk through any of the Virgin offices around the world and you’ll really struggle to find somebody who has seen the company’s Founder raise his voice when the going gets tough. High pressured situations need to be handled, all whilst keeping your eye on the businesses real goal.

“What leadership boils down to is people. Whatever your style, whatever your method, you need to believe in yourself, your ideas and your staff. Nobody can be successful alone – and you cannot be a great leader without great people to lead. The trick is in striking the right balance between empowering your staff and being an example for them to follow,” Explains Branson

A good dynamic leader is compared to a dynamo generating energy that charges and activates the entire group in such a way that wonders can be achieved with. The success of an organization depends to a great extent upon good leadership. Dynamic leadership can improve the chances of success by stimulating the right behaviors and inspiring innovation in the face of hardship .

I recently had the privilege of Speaking to serial entrepreneur Con Georgiou to get his thoughts on the importance of leadership in business. Over the course of his business career Con has coached, mentored and led thousands of staff and customers from all walks of life and has spent time with some of the world’s best business minds.

Below he shares his thoughts on what he believes to be the top 5 most common traits in all-great leaders

1) Best in class Leaders care for their people, I mean really care. Like caring enough to understand when staff need support if put into difficult situations where their skill may not match the challenge called upon them.

2) Surround themselves with people who have strengths that they lack. Valuing diversity is critical to this leadership trait. This may mean that its not all smooth sailing and consensus may take some effort but it does mean you have some rigor around your decision making and execution capacity.

3) Understand the true power of relationships and empower problem solvers. All effective organizations are built on great relationships that are based on trust, respect and honor to name a few. Without this you are operating on shaky ground and even the best strategies and technologies will not overcome these shortcomings.

4) Have the grit to defend the company’s values under hardship. Making the hard call to say no to bad business is tough but its what separates true leaders from fakers. Standing for your company’s values will win the hearts and minds of your team, which drives deep engagement.

5) Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. As businesses grow strategies may change, ensuring constant and clear communication is critical to maintaining pace and synchronicity. Too many companies are like caterpillars who lose the plot in every which way, this is taxing and demoralizing for all included.

Interested to know, what's one common trait you've seen in great leaders?

14 tidbits to stir in your coffee (or tea).

#1. Spread kindness and love whenever you can. Reach out your fingertips and feel the energy flow. As you start sparking kindness it’ll lift the cloak of darkness. Love really is the answer.

#2. Projections, my dear, are viral. Replaying the past will drown you. Get the bolt cutters and cut the chains of heaviness. Turn the emotional fanfare off and stop twitching at every little leaf that moves. Ground your inner wildebeest. Watch without attachment and let your mind settle into the quietness of an observer. The lake is a mirror and you are the image.

“Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

#3. Always seek real. Speak from you heart and walk around the steaming piles of bubbling bullshit. No one is going to save or rescue you from the demons you fight. Many are fighting their own generous life lessons which include heaven and hell. Be gentle. Be kind. Speak softly. It’s often louder than a roar.

#4. Be your own Sun and Moon. The Sun shines to keep you and every living thing alive. The Moon is the healing afterglow. You have both qualities within you. It’s a powerful alchemy and one you can tap into. You have the capabilities to catapult through space. Believe in the trajectory of your heartfelt intentions.

#5. Life isn’t about cruise control. You are the driver and not the passenger. Get lost. Get found. There will be triggers. Lots of them. Watch. Look. Listen. Learn. But don’t sit there stewing in the brew. Change lanes: Avoidance has a kinship with procrastination. The pile-up effect can be debilitating.

#6. Pull out your inner GPS, it is guided by your intuition. Set your compass to the four corners. Going one-way is incredibly boring.

#7. Declare a rapture of your senses and sip raindrops from your eyelashes. Walk your fingertips along each vertebrae. Watch each hair follicle dance in the quiver of your aliveness.

 She had to breathe in peace, for in peace she found the quiet solitude her heart had been aching for. In the moments between raindrops she let her focus dwell and the sound of silence comforted her more than an avalanche of superficial banter.

#8. Let it out. When you see the monstrous waves of anxiety pouring in, swim out further to sea and settle into the fear. The part where you panic and dread is exactly where you need to tread. It’s the painful parts you try to stuff down an endless rabbit hole. If the road gets blurry, pull over. Take a few exquisite deep breaths. Breathe in freshness and flush the rest into a cosmic portal of silky white feathers.

#9. Unstick yourself and dare to do what scares the hell out of you.

“And one has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.”~ Paulo Coelho

#10. Letting go is continuous. It’s not a one-time affair. It is a perpetual process of assimilation. Once one layer is shed, other one comes up. This is good because it means you are alive and well.

#11. Quiet times are essential. It is necessary to step out of the drama of meaningless dribble and part the rain from the drops and melt into the puddles. Solitude is like water. Drink it, create it with no regret.

I dip gratefully into the sunshine and sip dew from the grass. I befriend nature and listen to the messages. I fly to the tops of branches and feel the hum of a hummer fluttering in my heart. In the speed of light, I see the patches of shade and dance lightly. I catch a wisp of a spider’s web and dangle between the echo and the silence. It is here I find a moment to fill my heart with joy.

#12. Create a fire and ignite your inner flame. Laugh and dance to the rhythm of your joy and resonate the heat of your core creativity. Step outside of the normal and find your inner crazy. Reflect with gratitude the shifting kaleidoscope, is a part of YOU.

 “Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams

#13. Life is like a metaphorical handstand. At times, it can feel upside down, inverted and confusing until we kick up into the fear. Challenge yourself to balance the weight evenly by relaxing into the space of the unknown.

And above all….

#14. Choose to live life as a miracle, because it is.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein

Sourced from the web.

A day going wonderfully Disarray!

Yesterday - the 1st of April - April Fool's day was a day when out of the blue things went wonderfully haywire highlighting to us some very key lessons in life..though at a very subliminal level...but very profound takeaways!!

First TOASTMASTERS meeting ever..u obviously want to make an impression..firstly by being there on TIME and secondly by appearing FRESH !

Now how both of the above were not to be along with other mishaps is what I am going to narrate!

April Fools Day, 5.40 PM, sitting inside my car, I am thinking to myself about the impending toastmasters meeting, feeling a lil nervous, a lil tensed.. a lil anxious. I must say  "lil" is only a "lil" and not a"lot" owing to the confidence my friend Sameera gave me while introducing me to the concept of toastmasters.

An avid toastmaster herself, she has been with the organisation for more than 3+ years n hence self assurance and self confidence were virtues that  were to come your way when u are with her..

And so the journey begins...Sameera from Ajman and I from Sharjah..begin with the intent of catching up mid way so that we are together and at the venue well ahead of time..but little did we know of  the surprises  wrapped up for us ahead.. :)

While her transmission was to catch up ahead of Mirdiff , to be able to take the business bay exit.... my reception was that she would catch up with me ahead of the business bay exit - so there comes the FIRST LEARNING- THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION! - one has to be crisp and clear in communicating and the one listening has to ensure by reconfirming if his/her understanding is correct!

And so we move on to take the next exit...only to encounter our next block...the TRAFFIC BLOCK and after spending good 15 minutes moving at snails pace, we decide to take a detour, only to realize another 15 minutes later that we are heading towards the same block. Thanks to the amazing piece of guidance provided by an idiotic pick up driver. And there comes the second learning - RESEARCH PROPERLY - do your ground work thoroughly.

What the hell was I doing simply following Sameera and not using my own brains, I too should have checked with fellow drivers, which unfortunately I dint.

And so we were now at 6:45 PM still on the road wondering what to do. And then an IDEA dawns, we decide to do something what we would otherwise never think of doing..and that is CHUCK the car..lets take the METRO..but hold on...if it were to happen as easily as I stated it...then the fun element would not have been there...we parked our cars to realize that both of us were out of 1 DHM coins and we needed all of 8 DHMS to park our CAR...holy crap..what do we do now..and we were at 6.50 PM...

And thus an intense scan of the area begins...our first Savior, a labor insouciently driving away his cycle comes to our rescue and gives us 1 Dhm...haha 1 dhm..nevertheless we thank the kind soul for his generosity..n then we get our next prey, a pedestrian walking towards his car..he too ends up giving us 2 dhms n now the count is 3 .. we still need another 5..and that when I spot a chinese...walking away..lost in his own world..

And the way I run n jump in front of him leaves him bamboozled! A puny chinese and a towering female...haha what combination..The guy would have been intimidated! nevertheless he gave away to my polite request and to our delight he had exaccctly five 1 dhm coins..i was so elated ..i could have practically hugged him..but i let go of that...simply thanked him and blessed him :)

And so we did our parking and started running...wat a LAUGH RIOT that was!

And so comes the THIRD LEARNING - NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE SMALLEST THINGS IN LIFE. There are times when only their value is paramount and nothing else matters!!

Finally, we ran, took the Metro and reached our destination after another good half a kilometer walk precisely at 7. 20 PM..late, sweating ,panting and with rumbling stomachs and the rumbling was so loud that I was almost embarrassed to be sitting in that hall.!

And for the first time in the history of MADAM TOASTMASTER SAMEERA's JOURNEY, she was late - All thanks to ME :)

Nevertheless, not undermining the value of all that happened, it was a journey with all the emotions, elements it encompassed, that was enriching and that  I would remember for a long long time..

Godh Bharai - The Indian Baby Shower ! 22-March-2011

For me the 22 of March 2011 holds a very special place. That was the day when I was showered with blessings and pampered like a newly wed! In short I was.. or rather we were the stars of the evening!

Like Westerners celebrate baby shower to welcome the new born into the world and shower the mother to be with gifts.. Indian Baby Shower popularly known as "Godh Bharai" in north and "Seemandham" in South is organised in the 7th month of pregnancy to bless the mother to be and the child in her womb..

The function for me.. someone who is away from her family was organised by my Boss's wife.. who's a motherly figure to me. She was joined by the wives of 5 of my senior colleagues..

 It started out with an elaborate meal being laid out for me which had a plethora of dishes.. from sweet to salty..to spicy..to chat pata and such a wide variety was because the baby's taste buds are fully developed by the 7th month.

I was dressed up like a bride.. wore a green saree.. my hair was all done up with flowers..I was garlanded and was made to wear  green and red bangles like that of suhagan..

I was then made to sit in front of an elaborate feast that was laid out for me.. The lamps were lit and each lady took her turn to bless me by doing my aarti and dropping some rice and a fruit into my lap as the custom is.This was followed by a taste of the elaborate feast by the hands of each.. lots of clicks and finally concluded by me by touching their feet to show my gratitude and gifting them with a small token of love!!

The ceremony was then followed by a grand feast prepared by Aunty..

In all it was an overwhelming feeling to be a part of that ceremony..I never had anticipated anything like that happening and even if it had happened, it wouldn't have been done as perfectly as it was done here...

And for this I m eternally Thankful to all who made it possible!!

And no words can describe the gratitude I felt for Sir and Aunty... for their love,concern n care..all in all just felt blessed!! Thank you for being such a precious part of my life and taking care of me like your own daughter...Thanks a ton!

The Dubai Nobody tells you about...

Written by someone whose observations are bang on! I endorse it completely inspite of the dig at Keralites.. aka..Mallus or the so called Malabaris...

Here we go....

Dubai is the land of the biggest, tallest, longest, widest, richest, fanciest, fastest...everythingest...in the world.

They have the tallest residential towers in the world, the tallest restaurant in the world, the largest number of Malbaris in the world, the highest crane operator in the world.

If it does not grow in Dubai, they’ll make it artificially - artificial ski slopes, artificial islands, artificial oasis, coconut trees and lawns, artificial beaches, artificial economy.

Indians especially love it here because of the dirham-to-rupee value.

The Filipinos come here because they have no choice; there’s nothing back home, not even dogs - they’ve been eaten up.

The Egyptians come here because there is nothing to do in Egypt. No more pyramids to build either.

The Lebanese come here to buy cars, dress to kill, wear Peter Pan shoes 10 sizes bigger than their feet, put 1 kg of gel on their heads and give everyone balltalk. They'll buy a 1980’s Merc or BMW for 10k dirhams and drive the car like they’re sitting in the rear passenger seat, stretching their arms all the way to the steering wheel, giving you the piercing bald eagle look.

The Russian girls come here as hookers.

The Bangladeshis come here to build the tallest buildings in the world.

Now according to the government Dubai is tax free. Of course, that is true.

Only, there is a Pay and Park scheme with 5000 parking lots, and 500,000 cars in the city, so where the hell do you park? And you’re fined for wrong parking.

Toll has been introduced on many roads. You can avoid the toll tax by using alternative routes, but you’ll end up in a traffic jam because everyone is trying to avoid the toll tax.

If you have any government related work like medicals for visa or immigration, you have 2 options - Standard and Urgent Procedure. Standard takes 15 days and Urgent takes 2 days. The difference is 30 to 40-odd dirhams. Everyone goes for the urgent option and the Dubai government makes money, urgently.

If you switch jobs you get a work ban and to lift the ban you pay a huge penalty.

In Dubai, without a car you’re paralyzed (you don’t even get jobs if you don’t have a car). But you’ll get your license in attempts ranging from 2 to 20. Each time you fail you have paid fees for Driving Classes & Driving Tests, which are 1000-odd dirhams. Imagine the money RTA makes.

Most of the expats live alone with families back home. So they spend much on phone calls. And call charges from Dubai are high.

Another odd thing about Dubai - no matter where you go or who you meet, you take down phone numbers. Everybody has everybody’s number in Dubai. And everyone has a Visiting Card, whether you’re a bootlegger, a masseuse, a hooker, a car cleaner, a watchman or a pizza delivery boy. Everyone knocks around with lots of cards in his or her wallet and one card in the palm. So whenever you shake hands with anyone in Dubai and let go, you end up with a visiting card in your palm.

If you’re walking on the road and you ask someone the time, he’ll tell you “10:30”, give you his card and say, “I have new and second-hand watches”.

At a restaurant when you’re leaving they’ll say “Here’s my card, call us for home delivery.”

If you’re below your building, you’ll meet those Chinese chicks giving you their cards, saying, “Call us if you want DVDs”.

If you’re standing at a bus stop, a Malbari will pull over in his 1980 Toyota Corolla, give you his card and say, “If you want Pick-up & Drop Service, call me”.

Dubai has amusing-looking buildings. Some have holes in them, some have giant balls on them, some look like aeroplanes, some look like sail boats, and, all of them reach into space with your window right in front of the moon.

Everyone in Dubai goes to malls. Not necessarily to shop. To beat the heat, go to a mall; business meeting, go to a mall; getting bored, go to a mall; want to take a leak or dump, go to a mall; want to do lukhagiri (little in your pocket, little in your mind), go to a mall.

If you want to go for a picnic go to a mall.

Trying to figure out where I went wrong!

Sometimes, even small things put u off the hook and it just happens all of a sudden. The impact they create in proportion to the actual weight of the thing itself , is sometimes not even worth comparing.. coz then in that case, all you would be forced to do is to wonder about the authenticity of mathematics or whatever..

Guess it all plays around timing of the conversation. Sometimes even that smallest of things can have a profound impact on your psyche and at other times you have the heart to bear even the most disturbing issues without really troubling yourself beyond a cretain limit.

To a third person what happened yesterday may feel really insignificant considering the course of the events. But to me, the perspective was all together different coz  I was the one who was a part of that picture..I guess feelings were just getting pent up inside... and at the first given opportunity were ready to explode.

But the impact of the explosion was also borne by me.. so in this case it was a suicidal bomb i guess!

So all in all, I crashed n burned yesterday.. only to be reborn from the ashes!

A new day.. a new way!!

Scattered Thougts !!

Revisiting my blog after a long long time. Feels good to be back!
Today just happens to be one of those off days for me. And when you have such a day, you are driven to think all that you are not suppose to think.

So instead to sitting and simply racking my brains & burning my head out, I thought of penning down my thoughts instead, so as to constructively use my time and energy.

I donot know what may eventually come out in this post but even if there is negativity that is gono come out.. so be it.. as long as it is vented out on a blog or a piece of paper without really hurting anyone.. I should be okay with it.

Hmmm..the trigger for me is always a fight with a loved one which eventually leads me into thinking and introspection ! And while introspecting there isn't just one aspect that you visit.. which is precisely what has happenend. I just feel so many things are questionable that sometimes it makes me .. ummm.. forget it!
For one , I donot know what exactly do I want from life. A loving husband was definitely on the cards and I m glad and eternally thankful to God for giving me one. But it doesn't just stop there... What about Career??

CAREER!

Caught up in a place full of experienced people, it does make me feel insecure & incompetent at times.

Competitive spirit seems to be dying out coz I don't really have my peers to compete with.

On the flip side the greatest advantage of such a set up is... I get to be in the renowned company of very experienced & learned gentlemen who have a lot to impart.

So i really won't deny that it has been a learning curve, but still satisfaction levels are low. Now whay is that so !

When I really try to think, the first question I ask myself is , "Do I really enjoy my work?" and my answer comes out like... "Its okay" and this does bother me.

 Honestly it could be because we do not  have any orders in hand, so the challenge , the pull, the pressure is never felt.. and when that is not there, u tend to get complacent. And hence you not driven to give in your best.

I have always loved living on the edge.. with quick decisions.. ample  stuff to keep me engaged.. but that just doesn't seem to happen. Offlate, all I have become is a lazy bum.. who even at the tought of a morning walk cringes!! Now that is sooooo sooo not done !

People do keep harping about self motivation. But let me tell you that is the toughest hing to do!!

Plus to make things worse, there is this management course which has come up, which requires me to sacrifice a considerable bit in terms of time n committment. I still am trying to figure out if I m ready!

Now thats a lame excuse, coz its a great opportunity n I shoud be grabbing it with both hands...but whats holding me is the timing of it..

Now once again its a question of priority..  education first or FAMILY first. If I go for it, most certainly, plans to have a FAMILY have to be on hold for atleast 2 years.
Am I willing to sacrifice that...coz I m not the only one in that desision!

Age is right.. but is the attitude right?? uffff !! Why do u need to answer yourself on so many occasions!

The last thing I want is to be answerable to anyone... But then how do you excape yourself! A tough one isn't it !!

So just trying to figure out those answers!! trying to take a plunge!