Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: Management


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Begin to give

Sharing a thought provoking read I came across today.

*Die empty*

The most beautiful book to read is “Die Empty” by Todd Henry.
The author was inspired and got this idea of writing this book while attending a business meeting.
When the director asked the audience: “Where is the richest land in the world?”
One of the audience answered: “Oil-rich Gulf states.”
Another added: “Diamond mines in Africa.”
Then the director said: “No it is the cemetery. Yes, it is the richest land in the world, because millions of people have departed/died and they carried many valuable ideas that did not come to light nor benefit others. It is all in the cemetery where they are buried.”

Inspired by this answer, Todd Henry wrote his book, “Die empty” where he did his best to motivate people to pour out their ideas and potential energies in their communities and turn them into something useful before it is too late.

The most beautiful of what he said in his book is: “Do not go to your grave and carry inside you the best that you have.
*Always choose to die empty.*

The TRUE meaning of this expression, is to die empty of all the goodness that is within you. Deliver it to the world, before you leave.

If you have an idea perform it.
If you have knowledge give it out.
If you have a goal achieve it.
Love, share and distribute, do not keep it inside.

Let’s begin to give. Remove and spread every atom of goodness inside us.

Start the race.
*Die Empty*😊💐

I choose to share this because who knows how it may touch another’s life.

There is much wisdom in choosing to give out as we live life .

As we get, give_

As we gain, give

As we learn, share.

Savvy


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Think Happy

Think happy

Stay healthy

Live meaningfully

Laugh effortlessly

Work wholeheartedly

Hope undoubtedly

Love unconditionally.

Savvy


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Be my guest not my master!

I don’t know who wrote this, but it’s beautiful…

… We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another.

… Suddenly Disney is out of magic,
… Paris is no longer romantic,
… New York doesn’t stand up anymore,
… Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty.

… Hugs & kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents & friends becomes an act of love.

… Suddenly we realise that power, beauty & money are worthless, and can’t get us the oxygen we’re fighting for.

The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it’s sending us a message:

“You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters.”

23rd November 2020

Today I got s comment  from– Author Haroon Rashid . He is the author of these beautiful reflections.

Thank you for this inspirational piece of writing.

Let’s not take our world for granted any more! Savvy 


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Waves of Change

The world is in a constant state of flux

And change is the only constant.

Change refreshes perspectives

As we see the world with a fresh pair of eyes.

Change is meant to be.

Change is the inevitable truth

For nothing can stay the same.

All moves on to change.

But change can be most challenging

Trying and tenacious to bear

Resisting change never helps

Adaptability is the key

To Respond than react to changes

Everything is meant to flow

And evolve along in time.

Change too will outgrow itself

Keep the trust and faith

Have patience and believe

It shall soon settle or pass

Whatever it is, it moves on!

All is a matter of change!

Savvy

#Wordsofhope #thoughtsfortheday #awareness #positivethoughts #hopeful #possibilities #acceptance ##wisdomfromchallenges


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Being Trustworthy

On Trust

To trust is an act of emotion blending with logic
Trust is the very act of belief in the reliability
Trust is also an act in good faith.
In integrity and competence.

Trust is a measure of confidence placed or held.
It does not come easy
It can also take time to build and earn trust.
It also takes effort to sustain it!

To trust is to take a chance to associate
To associate can be an investment of time and resources.
Make sure it’s worth it!
Be trustworthy!Trust in yourself as well.

Trust lost is rarely gained.
Trust is a mark of effective communication.
Everything crumbles without trust.
Nothing happens in doubts & distrust.
Building trust is a valuable asset in your life’s interactions.

Savvy

#buildingtrust #sustainingtrust #trusting


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On Appreciation & Criticism

Appreciation vs Criticism

A lot happens in appreciation
And a lot is lost in criticism

We are social beings who are motivated through support and value.
Whenever there is effort, if it is noticed and nurtured it finds direction to be productive.
But if it is met with unfairness, criticism, hostility, lack of interest, disregard or disrespect it undermines the ability of the workflow or thought flow itself.

Effects on Creativity

Although Creativity needs encouragement and blooms in appreciation, yet in extreme circumstances, creativity manifests to become an act of expression and freedom of the being.

Creativity may be boosted by a shot of oxygen in appreciation. Likewise to appreciation which is supportive and encouraging, Critical thinking, analysis and feedback rather than criticism can be valuable fodder for creativity. Yet creativity becomes a let out in dire circumstances.

If something is meant to flow it will find it’s way to assert itself.

Value of Appreciation

Yet in the growing years especially, appreciation is an evolved method of correction. When children are young and they sense encouragement from parents they learn, they are supported and go on to achieve a great many things, as the parents become the wind beneath their wings.

When Appreciation is one-sided…

But as children grow up, they sometimes are so caught up in the competitive environment, not to mention the charm and complexity of a technology-driven world, that they hardly have time to take note or care of aging parents who may not have their speed and abilities anymore.

Appreciation matters for all.

Elders need patience, support & care to get by more than ever before without criticism. At this juncture of life, reality bites hard! In this phase, things are not the same, often there is dependence & helplessness. anger and irritation not to mention frustration and fear of coping alone. Age is not on their side and human frailties and aging tests even the most resilient. It’s an uphill road and the climb only gets steeper for life has changed course.

Suddenly time flies and it’s another phase of life, what was once easy to do like getting up and walking becomes the most difficult task to do.
In such times of difficulties, all the heart yearns for is a little bit of love and care.

The paradox of the Heart & Brain

The heart is ever-loving, young & hopeful and appreciative
It never ages as it keeps beating.
The brain is however twisted & contrived and critical.

It deciphers the pattern playing
It knows only too well
Everyone has their turn
For life comes a full circle!

Savvy


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You are meant to flow!

These reflections are my heartfelt effort at sending some positive words of hope and resurrection to so many daring entrepreneurs who risk so much in these difficult times.

Every enterprise finds a crossroad

With unexpected constraints

When the narrative gets disrupted

Innovate to overcome Inflections

Change is the law of nature
Life is meant to evolve
But often change can overwhelm
As it shows up unexpectedly!

Inflections can be challenging
But it opens new vistas of thought
When enterprise and effort kicks in
The resolutions become crucial

At the point of inflection
Identify a pivot to circumvent the situation.
With a purposeful drive to beat the odds.

The systems need an innovative rethink
To adapt to changes realistically
To identify the key drivers of change
Instilling agility in teams to deliver.

No business is risk-free
Yet forewarned is forearmed
To smoothen critical transitions
At unexpected events such as now.

Choose to envision the bigger frame
Adopt an eagles eye view
Seek to identify values and you will find pathways.
To lead you to develop & innovate.

A few tips along the way

Listen to your teams.
Schedule a brainstorming sessions
At different intervals.
Use the collective intelligence of teams.
Allow people to pitch in, it creates cooperation, trust and builds solidarity.
Be informed and innovate.

Every milestone is a learning curve.
Reinvent ideas & strategies
Expand your vision and allow your life experiences to guide you.
You did not just go through them for nothing!
You are meant to flow!

Savvy


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Art of problem-solving

The wisdom in the challenges
Is in simplifying the complexity
To turn confusion to clarity
This is the art of problem-solving.

To live in a changing world
We must equip ourselves with new skills.
That can help us navigate through
Without unexpected setbacks.

Systematically finding solutions
Is an important life skill
That identifies a range of issues
That may appear or are already there.

From gathering information, observing the symptoms,
Avoiding preconceived notions
That can obscure the truth.
And asking the relevant questions.

Searching the cause of the effect.
Noticing the details & starting from scratch.
By changing one thing at a time
To see what can work to find a solution.

Prioritizing by weighing options
With time constraints & urgency in the pressure to resolve.
Checking the possibilities of temporary solutions
To buy time for permanent resolutions.

Knowing to always respond than react.
Choosing to find the right time.
And picking the right approach.
For the best solution to the problem.

Success at problem-solving
Can be immensely gratifying
Not just for the businesses
But for oneself knowing you have made a positive difference.

These steps towards finding solutions are relevant for problems in all walks of life.
Choose to be open to changes and work realistically.
You will work your way to finding what works!

Savvy


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When Competency alone is not enough!

In the service industry handling customer service requests there is truly never a dull moment. With a mixed bag of complaints and accomplishments, every day brings new challenges and cheer.

The joy of helping someone at another end the best possible way and working to ease the process is a great motivator. However, the flip side is the unexpected escalations that can derail even the most balanced performers.

Unhappy customers can be irritated bothersome indifferent downright rude, insulting begin name-calling, and can threaten as well. It certainly takes a great amount of emotional intelligence to know it’s not about you and not internalize it and work out an amicable solution.

In our busy life and living, every work problem is measured by the ability to find solutions. Technology is driven into the equation, research analytics and statistical data crunching become the fulcrum of deductions & resolutions.
Yet somewhere there exists a gap which we miss out often.

We forget that the problems we are finding resolutions for are customers who are unique Each with different needs and expectations. Simply put technical knowledge and expertise cannot create a successful business model that can be sustained.
We need to be able to recognize and identify the people who have the ability to bridge the gaps for seamless and effective process delivery.

Take for instance a service-oriented company that must never undermine the importance of great customer service strategy. So hiring the right people for the job with the requisite skills is necessary. But even more so is training them to be able to bring their authentic voice to create a great customer experience in every call. This can change the way customers perceive the company’s products and services as well.
Although it must be added that such an approach must be consistent across all levels of interaction with the company.

Art of turning down what you cannot fulfill.

There is a profound saying ” Don’t bite more than you chew”

Valuable learning to be applied from here is never over-commit and then fail to fulfill it. In the service industry, there are situations where a request from a customer cannot be fulfilled for whatsoever reason and must be turned down. It is of utmost importance to be able to say no, but also suggest alternatives with empathy and consideration of the difficulty faced by the customer and acknowledge without over-commitment on what cannot be fulfilled.

In customer service like in life, our knowledge alone is never enough. What is important is what we do with it and how we show we care that makes the job well done.

Savvy


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WFH -The Global Shift

This Global Shift to Work From Home was meant to happen. The lockdown just hastened the process. With more and more work being computer-driven the approach to online meetings finding acceptance the shift was inevitable.

With increasing traffic and the associated fatigue, the rising costs of real estate, infrastructure, and equipment to maintain and sustain a physical office environment the Work From Home seems to be a more suitable effective and efficient alternative in the current scenario.

However, this will soon gain greater acceptance as employers will find although there are challenges people actually can be productive from wherever they are. And there are ways and tools as well to ensure it. So much system integration and analytics only show how it can turn the majority into adopting this method of employment. Unnecessary travel time and cost are saved, the energy can be utilized with resourcefulness.

Virtual meetings are adaptable and can even be recorded and replayed. So training modules can be conducted once and replayed.
As change is the need of the hour a series of altering and shifting of perspectives will be taking place simultaneously. In such difficult situations, we need to learn to be pliant to what’s required. Learning to be more collaborative cooperative and supportive to make the purpose worthwhile.

Virtual Work is the Future.

While this is an advantage for employees to be flexible with timing with greater time at disposal by cutting travel times and the need to get ready etc. It is also a possibility of radical shifts for Future entrepreneurs will have to learn from this experience and weigh the pros and cons carefully and cut unnecessary costs to be resourceful productive.

As for employees though the multidimensional dynamics of social interaction and sense of community in a physical office is lost, an online conversation is replete with its own tools to circumvent this.

However, with no face to face physical interaction, lesser office politics, and no watercooler gossips, it could certainly reduce the waste of unnecessary time and lead to greater efficiency.

Already with the drastic changes in the world economy and the predictions for challenging times ahead, it is time to find ways to reduce costs and increase online engagement which is already offering an array of productive resources and end to end collaborations that can change the way we work. It’s time to rethink and reinvent the way we work!

Savvy


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You Matter.

Are you too empathetic for your own good?
Are you putting yourself in others shoes so much that you disregard yourself?

Are you neglecting your own self for others’ needs?
Are you having shoulder stress and general fatigue?

Are you feeling worn out often and yet get dressed and show up?

Are you feeling you are giving more than you have…in words and deeds?

Maybe you are overstretching in the giving.
Remember you need to reach out but only until you are able to keep your own self in balance.
Otherwise, you will soon feel you have nothing left to give.

Are you unable to sleep well?
You toss and turn all through the night.
Are you are so tired that you are constantly down and have chronic pain?
Are you overpressured?
You feel responsible for others’ problems.

Time to check your own state of being.
It is quite possible …
Maybe you are being over accountable.
Maybe you are over accommodating.

Many of us may identify with some of these sensations. I have also born the brunt of being in the state, with my health affected, in spite of being aware, thinking it will self heal in time.

The truth is many us may even know we are in such situations that are exhausting our reserves and yet at times may be unable to take drastic measures to prevent them. Knowing is not enough! It is necessary to take a step to change.

The trick is to understand the circumstances that we are feeling overwhelmed by and choose to target our changes realistically.

To each, the problem presents itself uniquely! For some, it may be relationships and family or careers. For others, it may be a personal affliction or tendency to multitask beyond themselves or even battling over perfectionism.

Whatever the reason the sooner you realize that it is detrimental for your health and understand you need to implement lifestyle changes the better it will be.

Often in our efforts to be the best version of ourselves, we may go into a mode of putting ourselves into more than we can handle. Our mind body and spirit also need rest and recovery from the daily stressors that life doles out to us all.

We can learn from nature

Everything is best in balance.

Savvy

Each of us may have different coping strategies to overcome the challenges but the problem is our purpose of being is so passionately driven and in the determined perseverance of what we choose to accomplish and achieve in our lifetime we often fail to recognize the state of our own lives until it feels too overwhelming.

Until the lack of sleep creates discomfort and disorders eventually leading to inflammations and diseases in the body and mind. We are guilty of undermining ourselves. We need to remember our sole responsibility as adults rest with us and we need to adhere to our health needs. After all, it is the only body we have. The importance of a healthy body and mind cannot be stressed enough.

Things every one of us can easily implement include :

  • Optimize food: Check your health and improve your food habits
  • Avoid self-victimization: Choose to not feel overtly responsible for all.
  • Plan your day: Prioritize tasks Schedule a personal time as often as you feel necessary. And value it.
  • Avoid procrastination: Recognize your symptoms and take action.
  • Sleep well. Remember you matter and health comes first. Only if you are healthy can you do anything else?
  • Do what you love and you will love what you do.
  • Most of all choose to Live life lovingly!

Savvy


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Whose work is it anyway?

Bored?
What boredom, no time for boredom!
says my seemingly exasperated friend in India on the phone.
With the complete lockdown and most on’ Work from home status ‘majority of families are struggling to cope with rising demands of the family be it the seniors at home, children and of course pets as well. The families are now suddenly having no house help, the quintessence of urban class living.

Compared to the Western world in India still, the lure of cheaper labor force makes a household helper available to all. But in the current scare, there are no maids, let alone cooks or gardeners. Except for those who may have a live-in helper which is not often the case.

Suddenly the ‘Work from home’ status actually registers the truth. For it is truly challenging for most families who have never bothered to make their own bed or do dishes or cook ever. In fact, there are many who wait for someone else to make their tea or coffee or get a glass of water.

In these hard-pressed times the major part of the work comes to the women of the household still, in spite of all those talks of women’s liberation that goes on doing the rounds every year around early March.

To all the women, who have suddenly vowed to prove themselves superwoman please take it easy.
A little dirty corner, neglected kitchen shelves, not a four course meal, everything is acceptable. But not at the cost of your own health. Remember your falling sick at these times will be disastrous especially if there is no one to take over from you !!
Stay safe

The women are left with no options as the demands keep on rising as those who are at home are hungrier than ever with time to kill.

There are, of course, some of those evolved households where all are contributing their bit. The onus of responsibility needs to be shared, else it will make every day a living hell.

If only more young parents of today teach all their children both sons and daughters equally to cook, clean and do housework as a part of life skills training so that they also know how to manage a home when they have one, the lives of so many future families will be truly much easier.

As we see it, the future is here with new challenges and unless we are all equipped with basic survival skills and takes into account, ownership, responsibility, and teamwork and move beyond gender biases, it is truly tough to live through times like these.

How are you and your families managing this interim period?

Stay safe and healthy!

Savvy


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Take a moment

Take a moment and answer to yourself these 10 questions that will work as a gentle reminder towards developing Self awareness.

10 Questions in Self Awareness

1.What are my thoughts focusing on this now?
2.What am I cultivating in this now?
3.What am I creating today?
4.What am I inviting myself?
5.What am I holding on to?
6.What am I letting go of?
7.What are my needs?
8.What are my wants?
9.What am I grateful for?
10.What is my learning today?

Choose to be honest with your answers as you pause to understand and you will find guidance in Balancing Your Life In Every Now.

Savvy


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Enhance in every now.

Purpose of life is to evolve for the better. Wherever we are, however we are, humanity always finds a way beyond the trials and tribulations.

We are meant to thrive beyond the adversity.

Enhance your self

Self isolation can be challenging but need not be as difficult as it seems.

A few things that can make isolation easier to bear and productive as well.

PLANNING

Creating a schedule. Writing down things to do or learn in a day is a great start.
Having a routine planned, help a great deal.

Keeping channels of communication open.

Speak to people , listen to others well.
Express yourself through arts , pick up a book to read or a hobby you can learn in this interim period.
Care for your self. It makes you feel good about yourself.
Arrange your wardrobe.
Do all the things that you feel you never had time for.

LISTENING

Listen to some soulful or foottapping music.
Start a conversation on the phone. Many are feeling lonely or overwhelmed and overburdened. Offer to listen and empathize. One of the important aspects of doing this exercise is it changes self perceptions and brings an understanding of the world beyond the limited self.

ACTIVITY

Take care of your health, eat healthy.
Be engaged physically mentally emotionally & spiritually.
Look up at the stars at night.
Watch the blue expansive sky in the day.
Hear the sounds of waves, if you can.
Even in a recording…waves gives a repetitive, soothing rhythmical relaxation experience that can smooth out the creases on your brow.
Ease in, to time your breathing with the waves.

Try this one .

These are a few ways to create a personal space for yourself in your mind and heart spirit and soul no matter where and how you are.
Hopefully it may help in some way to ease through this phase we are in.

Every positive step matters a great deal in

Praying for the world to heal and recover.

Stay safe stay healthy where ever you are.

Savvy


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Staying Peaceful.

Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace, sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on…so own up to your share of peace.

Savvy