Social Media Marketing

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth – Muhammad Ali”

Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility has always been a key factor for every team member associated with Techdivine Creative Services.

This time one of our friends Ms.Dobani, shared with us something that was close to her heart and a very important aspect of life that many a times we tend to have ignored even without our own knowledge.

One of our team members had a long conversation with Ms.Dobani and we mutually shared our involvements across various NGO works over the years.

Which is what brought us today to share this important date.

Today on 1st October, we celebrate the very reason for our existence here on earth with “WORLD ELDERS DAY”

World Elders Day

The TISS group (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) batch of “TISS Gerontology – Batch 2009-2010″ has prepared a wonderful presentation that would take just few moments from your precious time to share something that is extremely valuable and very much in need of ATTENTION not in any other way, but in the form of your thought and your concern for the same, that’s all.

We are sure that you would take few seconds of your time and go through this wonderful presentation on “WORLD ELDERS DAY“ and share it with your friends too.

Always remember, Life will give you back everything you have given to it. So care while you share!

(You can download the Presentation from the link below and do keep your speakers on, if you can too)

Go To Download Page:
CLICK HERE

External / Related Links:

TISS

Social Corporate Responsibility Blog Post

Making the moments count

Have a wonderful life ahead.

Regards

Admin

Techdivine Creative Services

9 Tips on How to survive the Workplace:

Cubicle

“How to survives” have been part of each one of us at some point or the other in our lives, especially with regards to workplace. Today,  I bring out here certain tips which will help you to be at peace with yourself & others including fellow employees, subordinates and the most important of all – your boss.

The various tips listed below, mirror my attempts at survival at the workplace in the short career that I have had. This in no way can transform into the Bible or a magical potion to attaining nirvana at the workplace.  Kindly note, they are my personal views and as I would like to call them, the – golden rules to survive the workplace.

1. Never Compare: This is especially true when you have joined a new company which is more or less engaged in the same activity or in the same industry as your previous company. Yes, comparisons are bound to arise on the work culture, infrastructure, technology and other issues which one might find different from your earlier employer. However this does not go on to translate into a good company-bad company thing. One has to remember that every organization has its own ways of functioning and this may create limitations in the style of functioning. You will be required to appreciate the presence of certain things. However it is not necessary to get stuck at the things that you don’t like and crib about them especially to senior colleagues or other team members who have been there for a long time. Instead try to devise work around solutions to these things which will enable you to live the same or similar life that you lived in your earlier organization. Besides if everything were to be like your previous organization, Why Change in the first place??? Point to ponder isn’t it.
2. DO NOT enter into Conflict situations: A wise man rightly said – There are two things in life that you cannot wish for – A good wife and a good boss. If you manage to get both, then maybe you are dreaming! However most of the times, from my experiences, there have been differences of opinion between the boss and the subordinate (you). In such times, rather than a heated discussion on the subject, it is always better to put your point of view/justification across and then let the boss decide on the future course of action. This not only enables closure of the topic under discussion but also ensures a better working environment around you. One only needs to have two to three interactions with people to know their body makeup. Also most bosses are known to trust their instinct more than anything else. So rather than arguing on something and wasting precious time and peace of mind accept the verdict and move on. This may sound to be due to a lack of self confidence in your abilities to some readers but personally speaking, this is a much better way of being in a win-win situation.
3.  DO NOT cozy up: We may have seen many of our colleagues in action doing exactly this. These are people who may wish the boss hello in a more than endearing manner, carry their baggage, go to lunch with them, bend over backwards to do things for them, go to lunch with them and nod off their heads to every word  and every decision taken irrespective of the consequences. These are people part of the yes-brigade who may find themselves at cross roads when the boss just dumps them for a better opportunity. Though certain of the activities mentioned may form part of your routine unknowingly, but this kind of attitude brings you into a direct line of conflict with your colleagues and subordinates. This is what we call a “chamcha” in the colloquial language, here in the city of Mumbai, India. Also, if this guarantees promotion (as expected by some) you are better off being in a new organization than imbibing this quality. Always make your work speak for itself.

4. Never draw comparisons with anyone: This is especially true when we try to compare salaries, promotions, work profiles etc. These kind of comparisons will only end up in you being even more disgruntled and dissatisfied and may start affecting your performance. This will also lead to a stressful work life and you will end up a psychological wreck. Every man is there for a reason and you are also doing what you are doing for a reason. Just try to become the best in whatever you do and leave the rest to the others. Always remember we are never short of options. Give it your best shot. If it doesn’t work the first time, put in even more effort and if the outcome is still not up-to what you wanted, you always have the option of moving on. There is no dearth of opportunities in this world. Only require people to look in the right places.
5. Work-Life balance: This is the latest management mantra that’s going around. However rosy it may seem let me assure you, there is no such thing as a work-life balance. Work, these days has become so intense that it has started to seep into our daily lives. Also with the advent of nuclear families, family life has also crept into our line of work. When we crib about us having more work to do, we need to just stop for a moment and think about the last phone call or email we have had from our friends or near and dear ones. And I can safely vouch that there would be no man who has not received a call or an email from family or friends on a single day of his working life. I also do personally feel that we are always better off not scheduling any personal engagements on a working day even if it is after office hours. So stop cribbing and start working.
6. Stop looking at the watch: This is especially for those of us who are of the belief that office timings should be as defined in the company rule book. Had that been the case, India would not have been the outsourcing super power that it is today. Also, a work day should be defined by the activities at hand and ensuring completion of these tasks. In such circumstances, one needs to just stop and think of what would happen to the work left unattended at our table in case we are unable to resume the next day due to various strikes or disease or a family urgency and the additional burden it would create on our own colleagues and put ourselves in their shoes. I am always reminded of the opening scene in the movie Hollowman wherein Kevin Bacon ( the actor playing Hollowman) takes a break from his work and looks up and the sign pasted there says

“You should be working”

7. Resolve issues: Always try and resolve issues at your table itself. If it seems that an issue may go out of hand, consult your immediate reporting authority. Rather than letting an issue take its own time and getting escalated to various higher-ups and turning into a nasty situation, take control of the situation. It has often been seen that people take great pleasure in sending emails after emails on the same subject making it a pain in the eyes of the other people marked in the mails, without taking any action. This only complicates matters further and leads to frustration at the work place.
8. Enquire: At the cost of being branded an obtrusive colleague, enquire about what your fellow colleague is doing and what you can do to reduce his load. This is especially helpful in times when within the same team one of the guys is engaged in a demanding project and the other is having a relatively easy day. The very act of asking in itself helps soother the other colleagues nerves and help him in completing his work in a more efficient manner. Also, never be shy of helping out your co-colleague  in completing his work even at the cost of being late than usual in getting home. Remember this may happen to you too.

9. Remember: Finally remember the following two golden rules.

Rule 1: THE BOSS IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Rule 2: IF THE BOSS IS WRONG, APPLY RULE 1

So go ahead, work your worries away. Have a great day ahead!

Regards

Mani.S. (A.k.a Ananth.S.)

Related Posts:

Relationship called Love

Married, but to caste and religion

Quote for the Week on “Inspiration”

INSPIRE

Life doesn’t cheer the weak the timid or those content with their fifteen minutes of fame.
It applauds the dreamers, the adventurers and those who swore to rise above horizons.

For only those bold enough to chase dreams are the ones who finally catch them.
It doesn’t matter who you are today, what or who you were and what you will be.

All that matters is the legacy you finally leave behind.

Did you become all that you are capable of becoming?
Did you give more than you could take?
Did you achieve your dreams, while all around you thought you were chasing illusions?

Think, plan, implement and contribute – GROW more than just ‘numbers’

Have a great weekend!

Ananth V

There were bubbles floating all around. My eyes awakened to very beautiful glimmering rays of the sun. Strangely it was still blurry contrast to the sun one will always get to look at.

I could see clearly the huge ball of fire way above but it looked though as if, it was covered in a filament of thin highlights. As I kept noticing the bubble around me, my feet brushed off against something that felt like plants, reef & coral.

That’s when I realized the clear highlight was the stunning crystal clear ocean water. Yes, I was under this amazingly stunning looking colorfully lit sea.

I do not know how I got there. But I was comfortable. I swam around to reach to the top but oddly the more closer I was trying to get to the top of the ocean the deeper I seemed to be getting & closer to the ocean bed.

I swam around and I saw things that took my breath away.

I saw an amazingly gorgeous coral reef, filled with colours of gold, orange, pink, green and lots of blue.

The tiny leaves springing from it looked more beautiful as a lovely golden brown sea horse danced out from it. It was followed by this gorgeous little plant or flower or fish, I just cant figure out, right behind the sea horse, it came close to me and I could sense it almost breathing. It had transparent petals, it had violet spots on the edges of its base which looked like the base of a lotus as even underwater the ‘thing’ seemed untouched by water. As it swam across my face it made me turn and I just moved myself really fast as this humungous sea turtle floated its worries away.

I was staring at these beauties when suddenly of the darkness of this abyss a sudden gleam hit my face & I was reminded of my life back home. It was the sun, telling me to move up and come back to the light.

I moved up once more just avoiding the snap of a jelly fish which looked totally annoyed with the purple – yellow colored tiny starfish floating around it constantly avoiding touching it.

My smile got more silent as I saw this huge bream of varied fishes of amazing size and colours and unbelievable shapes swimming across. I just gasped and I looked up to see the twinkling eyes of the sea otter staring at me from the rays of the sun which was now shining brightly again. I saw and I pushed and was coming out of the water & just then, my alarm rang.

It was 5:30am. I had to get ready for my exams today. Yeah, that’s right.

I guess I was so overweighed with the thought of exams, I felt deeply pushed underwater again.

But I guess, it told me something beautiful and lovely.

It told me, that even if I was under the ocean, in a place where I did not belong, I would adapt, I would push and I would survive back with lots of experiences and lots of learning and with great beauty even if so, from even the abyss of the ocean bed.

Have a great day!

~~~There’s always hope,
even with chaos around
there’s always beauty
even with guilt that’s found
there’s always a lesson
in the abyss so dark & red
And you will always survive
even in the ocean bed
So,
whenever you feel lost
look up, look up to the shining sun
‘coz then even the blurry hues
are made to fade away and run……

All in a dream…………. Stay with hope!

Image Source: WIKI

A trailer truck and my car fell in love with each other for a brief moment. The result was a dented door and broken mirror. The fall out was that the car went to rest in the garage and I travelled by Mumbai’s famed local train for few days.

So I trudged to the railway station a bit earlier than my usual exit time. I was out of breath but pleased with the less than expected crowd. I stood at the same place where I used to, when I was studying in a College in this suburb thirty five years back. What has changed? The tea stall still serves the same type of food (Thane Station – Platform No. 2 made good Batata Vadas, but not this Station). The circular dial clock is replaced with a digital clock. The indicator is also digital- of the newer type. The sign board is clear and legible. The 7.59 local had left at 7.58 (as per digital clock). The next train was at 8.04. It came at 8.06. There was no mad rush to pounce into the train and rush inside. I got in early and stood between the seats and attempted to read the novel I had with me.

A person nudged me to keep his bag. I kept it. Then another one nudged. Totally there were four such requests. All the bags were satchels and not the briefcases. In fact I could not find any brief cases in the luggage rack of the First Class Compartment. Four out of ten persons were speaking intently on their cell phone. One was explaining in detail what he intended to do after reaching his office for trading in some share or commodity. There was an unauthorized occupant in ladies first class who was being berated and asked to leave- at the next station. I believe that women are more particular and vociferous about exercising their rights.

I got a place to sit after thirty minutes of a fifty five minutes journey. I got down at VT Station (CST now) and walked to office. It is a ten minute walk the oldest part of the town. All are stone buildings made several decades back. There is porch in the front of most buildings, which gives shade during this walk. The street vendors were just opening their wares for display. In my younger days, Keralite vendors used to display covers of “foreign goods” such as ‘two in ones’, tape recorders etc. Today it is odd items of low value – including colorful foreign condoms.

I passed the Fort Branch of Bank of India where I was posted on my promotion from clerk to officer. I worked there only for fifteen months and had no great memories associated with it. On reaching Office, one security chap hesitantly asked whether I was an employee. I felt crushed and reminded me of the famous tweet by a Minister on travelling cattle class.

The evening journey was even more pleasant. I could rush into an empty compartment and get a sitting place and read my novel without jerks and jumps. The next three days by train were uneventful. One day I even got down at Dadar, did some shopping, got into a Dadar starting train and could get down comfortably at Mulund. A young pair was sitting in front of me. The boy was convincing the girl that the earth is flat and he would take her to the other end of it. The girl was listening intently and wiped a tear drop- perhaps thinking that her parents had mislead her by informing that earth is round. Then she received a phone call and was vehemently conveying some message with actions and all. I wondered whether there would be enough substance in their tale for one TV Serial episode.

The train journey takes around 55 minutes to traverse 34 kilometers. The road journey takes 70 to 75 minutes in the morning and 100 to 150 minutes in the evening. It is not a pleasure to take 20 minutes to travel one or two kms. A colleague who lives in the next suburb told me that he and his wife initially travelled by car to Office, but found it boring and tiresome and gave it up soon. I could understand it well. A comfortable and reliable public transport is far superior to a private transport if the journey is from point to point with minimum walking in between. Lack of investment in infrastructure (most over used word today) in the early years of independence has lead to the present abysmal state. Even cattle are not transported in goods train the way human being travel in local trains and buses.

The underground trains in London are in existence from 1920s. (See below)

Trams are found in most European countries. (See tram in Switzerland)

Metro rail is common in south Asian countries. India too could have had all these much earlier. All of it is a case of missed opportunities in India.

The car Dealer informed me that the car is repaired and I could pick it up. My driver, who was to go and pick up the car, rang up to inform me that he could not come due to an accident between Mulund and Thane. It was a freak accident in which a concrete slap fell on a running train. This hit a huge water pipe which burst and created a mini flood on the track. The motor man died as could be extracted only after four hours. One more person died after a day or so. The trains had to be stopped for a day for repair. Everybody now realized that the concrete slab was hanging precariously for quite some time and no one was really responsible for it. One political party threatened to tie the civic servant to the nearby tree till he assured that the entire pipe line and all would be repaired.

(Courtesy DNA Newspaper)

What are the lingering memories when compared to the past? The trains run at greater speed and do not stop abruptly in between stations for signals. The mega blocks for maintenance repairs have made a great difference to the time and speed of the journey.  The 12 bogie train is a great blessing as it clears more crowds.  The camaraderie of passengers travelling together every day is an enduring sight. Nobody plays cards now as it now may be banned. The ticket sellers sit in AC offices and give computer print outs for tickets- something quite common in South India. The foot over bridge seems cleaner and even.

I leave with the belief that in spite of all the drawbacks of a chaotic democracy, there is some movement forward- albeit a slow one.

Thanks

Anjeneyan

CLOUDED JUdgements

Yet another negative side of, Recession: It’s Not just about Jobs:

Over the years, calamities, terrorism, economic depression and such scores of slumps have brought about chaos, corruption and coldness among peers and groups.

This time, the global chillness of the yet oncoming and growing recession is already seen taking tolls on not just one’s pocket but majorly amongst lives of one another.

It’s a cat eating dog world today, it actually has been for long, but it’s very much out in the open now.

The world with advent of technology has shrunk into a global village today and with that so have the virtues and the sense of integrity in general.

I am not trying to sound philosophical at all, not even close….

Yet, this is what we can see all around us. With jobs being lost, with money being spent on everything that can have a negative impact on the society, with certain media sections and groups literally going ‘Media crazy’ for sponsors so much as they tweak the news, spoil the plots, anger the mob and even agitate the crowds at time just to get the ratings up without care and concern of its social implications at large.

The situation is only getting worsened.

The concern for the performer, the guidance to the one with high levels of integrity and loyalty is being reciprocated majorly with good old office politics.

Where are we heading to…….

Give in your comments………………………..

Post in your views

—–

Image Courtesy: IMAGE CLOUDED

Why do we cry for the onion?

Many centuries ago, a tomato, a capsicum & an Onion were best friends.

One day, their master felt hungry & was looking out for them. As soon as he saw the tomato his pangs of hunger shot up.

All the three friends tried to flee but the master caught the tomato. He cut it into slices & ate it. The capsicum & Onion started crying for the poor tomato.

Next was the capsicum’s turn & he too was cut into slices & eaten by the master.

The Onion started crying for the capsicum again.

Suddenly, a spirit appeared in front of the Onion & asked him why he was crying.

The Onion said that his friends Tomato & Capsicum had been cut into slices & the Onion had cried for them. Now that he was all alone, there was nobody to feel and share his pain.

When he will be cut into slices, nobody would cry for him. The spirit blessed him & said that anyone who cuts you will from now on cry for you.

So the next time we slice onions, we know why we shed those tears, don’t we?

Aishwarya Venkat

Age:10 years

School Dr. Radhakrishnan

_________________________________

Do post in your comments and views below

‘Be formed my friend, be very formed, as water. Water does not break, nor does it crash. You put it in a jar, it becomes the jar… be free… yet be formed!’ Quoted Bruce Lee.

 It is so true.

 When we feel disturbed not through exertion or excess work but through stagnation or incapacitation, the strongest of the tone and the harshest of words seem to flow as free as water, don’t they?

 Thoughts tremble under the weight of time and voice cracks with every anxious decision. The decisive moments are not the only pensive ones anymore.

 As we dreadfully approach another possible personification of a plan, the feet feel the weight of the head as much as the palms feel the sweat of the brow. But at the end, we still go ahead with it and that’s when the hammer hits the iron ‘hot’.

 So with a strong heart powered by the huge mug of “Black Coffee” we charge ahead and make another, oops, yet another jump to the vexed hands of the listener, we pull it off big time or on the contrary we say, here we go again!

 Dismal behavioral patterns often seem to be a huge face of such extreme rollercoaster lives.

 But the idea is to have that cup of coffee meaning, to get up again desiring that energy, that freshness booster and be formed like water and be ready to accept that one’s “Eureka ideas” might be differently felt by the onlooker.  Like the old saying goes, not every mud thrown gets you in a dump and not all pats in the back land you to the top.

 So this is for a very nice friend of mine, “be formed and always desire the freshness of the coffee. Do it all, but just DON’T GIVE UP!”

 God bless and be well

 Ananth V

 Image Source: http://ananthvclicks.wordpress.com

Team Management Win’s it all!

Being a true Mumbaite, there are only two things that I greedily crave for. One is Vada Pav and the other is the pulse racing game of Cricket.

About 7 weeks ago, I became a great fan of Mr. Lalit Modi who gifted all of us a fantastic product (though said to be ripped off from the Football leagues – Who cares?), the IPL – Indian Premiere League.

A product wherein you get the best from every nation.

It’s like having a Macintosh design (Beautifully packed) on a IBM machine (Brand sells) with windows OS (Love it or hate it… but you can’t ignore it – Everyone owns it)

The IPL brought in adrenaline rushing pulsating anticipation and anxiety to the young and senior players of Cricket as much as it did for the “dumb / struck” audience watching one of the best marketing practices sold right at their face.

And the best part is… the majority bought it and why wouldn’t we? It was a fantastic product with amazingly surprising ingredients, fresh recipe with a dash of rules being cooked in a cauldron of magical glamour.

It had it all and today at the DY Patil stadium at Navi Mumbai where the Underdogs finally did it and Rajasthan Royals bathed in pure glory.

They did it on the grandest stage of them all and with panache and flair. Raw overdue talent like Yusuf Pathan and Tanvir, fabulous findings like Asnodkar and pure all round skill like Shane Watson with the legend like backing and faith of Shane Warne, the match ended gloriously.

As the Chennai Super Kings skipper and his team gave a fabulous fight till the last ball was bowled, the Rajasthan Royals devoured the final ball for the ultimate prize of Glory and of course around 4.8 Crores Rupees.

But everyone loved it and the way the Royals had played it throughout, even the Chennai skipper wouldn’t have ‘minded it’ this time.

It was a great blow to all those who did not believe and kept saying with utmost faith that the underdogs will remain underdogs as they finally watched the most economical team biting the biggest chunk of them all, the biggest prize of them all the worlds most expensive Trophy – The IPL trophy.

More important than the combination of all sorts of skill levels was the beauty to see Muralidharan happy on Jayasurya’s wicket, Sachin rejoicing at Dhoni’s dismissal, Sourav hugging Shoaib and the Aussie Watson as glad with hitting Symond’s ball like never seen before, was that it brought in a lot of team spirit and a never give up attitude amongst all who played and to many who even just watched.

It was a great lesson from Shane Warne’s team that, it is not as important to have the best in the team as it is to give your best to the team.

I would like to end it with just a simple kudos for the legendary performance by the retired Skipper Shane Warne for his team management and to the whole Rajasthan Royals for the consistent performance by adding so much zest and energy to the spirit of the game.

Three cheers to the fact and power behind ‘Team Management’ and a Huge Hurray to Mr.Modi, Mr. Warne and the Rajasthan Royals.

IPL rocked!!!

Be well

Ananth V

Image Source: http://wikimedia.org

Offical Website: http://www.iplt20.com/index.html

As I pondered at the starry sky for the moments that were spent I could plainly see the spills on the carpet and the stains on the mattress. I kept thinking I needed to improvise, a change would be good said my sanely perplexed brain.

Again, the dove flew off like the starry night before. Today, it reminded me of a work of art from one of the famous Italian painters and my mind wandered into one such artists words. He had said that an object that has been assimilated or formed and now needs no addition, no editing and no change is pure beauty…

Thank god for those famous quotes by artists.

That’s what I felt today, at the end of the day… it was beautiful… it was stunning… it was pure and perfect ….. simply because it was “SIMPLE”

My brain came to the present and looked at the wonderful things that were gifted to me till date.

It did not make me overlook the demands and the twinge, but gave me enough nerve to keep fighting, never go down on hope and have a conviction, a stronger faith in myself.

I had a horrible yesterday but had an awesome day today.

Had an amazing and astounding 10 hour sleep (keeping in mind my usual sleep of not more than 4-5 hours), woke up fresh, had a glass of my favorite mixed fruit Tropicana, did some workout and had a stupendous brunch fit for a king with a great friend of mine who also is an important part of my routine, someone from whom I take a lot of advice.

The day ended perfectly with a call from my side to a very kind and sweet relative wishing him on his birthday today which is a huge deal because of the fact that I barely remember even my own birth day.  

At the end of the day, I had good food, great friend, amazing family and an awesome book to read not to mention my grand day with loads of real keeping fit routine and some virtual game plays on my computer.

So, I had grown up a bit today but with zest and loads of energy.

I was responsible for something that was not part of my job, I was with and around those who cared and vice-versa, I put enough energy into my physical and mental training today and after a long time could write a simple post for a blog, not too long and just like my day, could keep it simple.

So I guess, it’s not just the remarkable mind blowing things that make impact on us. It’s also these simple aspects from our everyday that make us cheerful, gives us hope and courage to face life with belief, dedication and optimism.

So….

When things go wrong

And life gets crude

Hang on to the soulful hope

That never keeps you aloof

Kiss her hand and breathe in her heart

Sing a song to the blues

and play your part!

— Ananth V

god bless and be well

Image source: http://ananthvclicks.wordpress.com

Ananth V