How to get @facebook.com email address!!!!

Now any one can get a unique email id @facebook.com for sending and receiving email from friends and family. This email service actually focuses on sender and receiver. There are no usual email elements like subject lines, cc and bcc as found in popular email service providers like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Live Hotmail. We can also strictly control who can send us message at our @facebook.com email address.

Setup @facebook.com email ID address

1. Since this is a new feature, to get early access you can request for email messages feature for your facebook account. Login into Facebook account and click here to open request webpage. Then click invite button at bottom right.

2. Once your invite is approved, goto messages in your Facebook account to get your facebook email feature activated.

3. Then select username for your Facebook email. If you have setup unique username for Facebook account like facebook.com/username then your default facebook email ID will be username@facebook.com. If you do not have unique username assigned to Facebook account, then you can setup Facebook username URL first and then repeat above steps.

Once your Facebook email is setup, you can share your Facebook email ID. All email messages from friends will land in messages section of your Facebok account. [via Facebook Blog]

Facebook email messages: Points to note

1. Facebook email messages are not like traditional email messages. It does not contain email title or subject line. Just send quick message to any friend.

2. Messages are not grouped according to date or subject line (as there are no subject lines). All messages are grouped according to sender’s name.
3. You can enforce strict privacy policy on who can send you message at your Facebook email ID. Messages from blocked users automatically land in spam folder. You can also promote messages from spam to priority inbox incase message is accidentenly sent to spam folder.
4. It is a simpler form of email service where focus is on ease of text communication based on sending users rather than message contents.

MAST after MBA to get into Dream Jobs.

Lakhsmangarh, Sep 22: After belling the Common Admission Test (CAT) to gain entry into a B-school, MBA graduates will now have to crack an all-new test to grab a job.
The All India Management Association (AIMA) on Tuesday, Sep 21, announced its plans of introducing the Management Aptitude & Skill Test (MAST).
The 150-minute, computer-based screening test will be designed to assess an MBA graduate's skills. The results of the test will help the companies chose the right candidate by making the best match of the candidate's skills and the requirement of the job.
The test will provide an employability ranking by accessing the candidate’s management aptitude, domain knowledge in areas of specialisation like finance, marketing, HR, international business, operations & IT.
MAST will also assess personality traits such as leadership, stress management, decision-making, and teamwork abilities.
As per media reports, recruiters like Deloitte, Dabur, MetLife India, Idea Cellular, Camlin Ltd, Alembic Ltd, HLL, Pfizer, Parle, PwC India, McAfee, Nokia, Lenovo, JM Financial, Reliance Industries, Suzlon and TATA Communications are ready to use the MAST score during recruitment.
The first test is scheduled to be held on February 20, 2011 across India.
Announcing the introduction of MAST, AIMA president Sanjeev Goenka said that the test has been designed in a concerted effort with IMRB and it would also be a ranking oriented online test.

Indian B-schools to challenge world's best MBA prog: Nitin Nohria

Lakshmangarh, Sikar: The idea of establishing a Harvard campus in India is perceived to boost the importance of the emerging economies. The new Indian born dean of Harvard Business School, Nitin Nohria feels that in near future, it is quite possible for an Indian or Chinese business school to challenge the world's best MBA programs.

The new Harvard dean admits in an interview with Wall Street Journal that countries like India and China will emerge as competitors in the b-school field, just the way they have proved their prowess in the corporate field. "It's true for American businesses, too, that had dominated the lists of the global top 100 and 500 companies for the entire Twentieth Century. When they started seeing companies from other countries on that list they said, 'What are they doing on our list. We're supposed to own it,' he asserts. He understands that the thought process of countries like U.S. and Europe must undergo certain changes. The two countries have to hold back their domineering attitude to make themselves a part of the global competition.

Nohria believes that the most important lesson which the Western business can learn from the Indian and Chinese market is to look into the domestic market, studying the markets' inclination towards goods offered at a rate, which no one would imagine to offer in any developed nation.

‘Unfit’ Deemed univs will be given a hearing: Centre

Lakshmangarh, Sikar: A scathing report slamming the state of affairs in deemed universities and its recommendation to de-recognise 44 of them will not be implemented without giving them a fair opportunity to counter the charges, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

This response came from solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam to a query raised by a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma, which was hearing a bunch of petitions by blacklisted deemed universities.

The deemed universities, through senior advocate K K Venugopal, argued that the institutions were inspected by University Grants Commission (UGC) and were allowed to continue, and the HRD ministry had no authority to constitute the Tandon committee and accept its recommendations which were contrary to that given by the regulatory body.

Subramaniam tried to narrow down the controversy by agreeing with the Bench that if the government was to take action recommended by the Tandon committee, then it was duty bound to justify it on the basis of material which clearly suggested that the deemed university no longer functioned as expected under the statute and that there had to be compliance of natural justice -- opportunity to the institutions to present their defence.

However, when the Bench asked whether the "government was empowered to appoint the Tandon committee", the SG said if the Centre had the power to notify an institution as deemed university, then as a logical corollary, it had the power to rescind the notification.

Picking the SG's argument on meeting the principles of natural justice, Venugopal said the expert committee gave just 2-3 minutes to each university seeking irrelevant details that had nothing to do with the issue of recognition or its deemed status.

"What was shocking was the clash of interest as Tandon was part of an institute in Manesar (Haryana) that was ranked high among universities found fit to be included in the deemed category," Venugopal said.

He added that though Tandon had claimed that he was not present in the room when the case of the institute (National Brain Research Centre) was taken up, it could not be accepted unless there was video proof of his claim.

Admissions to 44 Deemed Universities Allowed: SC

44 deemed universities facing de-recognition got a breather on Thursday as the Supreme Court rejected the government’s plea that they be stopped from going ahead with fresh admissions for the session starting July.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, on behalf of the Union HRD ministry, requested the court to either stop the universities from admitting new students or declare in their prospectus the ongoing case against them in the Supreme Court.

But the court said it couldn’t pass any interim order as the validity of the government-appointed Tandon Committee — which advised de-recognition of the universities for allegedly failing to meet required standards — was “under challenge”.

“The constitution of the committee is itself under challenge, it has to be adjudicated first… It would not be appropriate for us to pass any injunction,” the court said.
Subramanium then urged the court to make the fresh admissions subject to the final outcome of the case.

In the meanwhile, he said, the court could continue to hear objections against the committee. But the court rejected this too.

The universities have alleged that since Tandon himself heads a deemed university, there is a conflict of interest in his appointment as head of the committee. The next nearing in the case is on August 3.

This year, IIMs see more girls making the cut

Lakshmangarh, Rajasthan: Women power. This is the buzz word in IIMs this year.

With many IIMs commencing classes for the 2010-12 batch this week, the institutes are witnessing more women than in the previous years. The once male-dominated campuses seem to be slowly giving way to girls now.

For instance, when IIM-Kozhikode commenced classes on Monday, there were 100 women walking down its corridors. That is, more than 30% of the class is girls, against 10% last year. This may be perhaps the largest number of women inducted to any IIM in a year.

Ditto at IIM-Bangalore — there are 78 girls out of the total 375 students. While last year it was 14% of girls in a class of 350 (around 49 students), it has risen to almost 21% in a class of 350 this year.

IIM-Lucknow is yet to complete its process. But officials confirmed that on considering the number of women who were sent offer letters, there was definitely a marked increase in the number of women in the batch.

Almost 25% of candidates who apply for CAT every year are women, though many do not get through. IIM directors attribute this year's success among women to many reasons.

"IIM-K, for instance, introduced an innovative selection process this year where in addition to Common Admission Test (CAT), consistent academic performance of candidates was taken into consideration for shortlisting and final selection. Apart from numerical scores, we also looked at other intelligences," IIM-Kozhikode director Debashis Chatterjee told TOI.

Himanshu Rai of IIM Lucknow said the weightage has varied for various parameters while selecting students. "For instance, additional weightage has been given to class X marks and additional five points given to extra curricular activities. Such changes could be the possible reason for more women getting through," he said.

Whatever be the reason, IIMs are happy that there is a better gender ratio in the classes now. "Female students generally tend to bring a large repertoire of management skills such as informality and social skills. Women usually bring in an emotional understanding to the job. A manager needs to have an emotional quotient along with analytical skills," said Chatterjee.

Agrees Subhashish Gupta at IIM-Bangalore. "Girls bring more diversity to the classroom." However, IIM-Ahmedabad has seen a decline in the number of girl students. While last year it was 15% of the total intake, this year it has come down to 11%. IIM Calcutta has more or less the same percentage.

Indian employees switch jobs to advance career

Lakshmangarh, Rajasthan: An overwhelming number of Indian employees feel that they must leave their existing organisations for advancing in their careers,

a study said.

"India, as a matter of fact, is ranked the highest at 56 percent where a majority of the employees feel they have to leave their organisation to advance to a higher job," a Towers Watson's Global Workforce Study, said.

India at 56 percent is ahead of the U.S. at 43 percent, UK at 41 percent, Brazil at 39 percent, China at 38 percent and Germany at 37 percent, the study said.

"The top management in India Inc needs to review the career advancement programmes for their employees if they have to retain talent in what promises to be a prolonged growth phase of the business cycle," Towers Watson India's Managing Director, Dhritiman Chakrabarti, said.

Towers Watson conducted the global workforce study in India between November 2009 to January 2010.

It surveyed employees in the 25-35 years age-group, predominantly male, having less than five years work experience, in mid-management levels of medium-sized organisations with employees between 1,000 and 4,999, a statement issued here said.

The survey observed seven principal elements that defined career advancement.

These were making more money, acquiring skills to perform better, achieving higher status/recognition, advancing to senior leadership role, acquiring skills to be eligible for other jobs, moving up a well-defined career path and making lateral career moves, it said.

"Making more money was globally the number one element that defined career advancement except in the UK where acquiring skills to perform better topped the list," the study said.

Another interesting aspect, the study noted, was that increasingly more employees in India are taking an opportunistic attitude and are open to job shifts to advance their careers. While 32 percent of employees surveyed globally said they would work for one organisation, this number was much lower in India and China.

"Only 25 percent Indians and 23 percent of Chinese employees listed working for one organisation as their preferred career model," the study said. On the other hand, 44 percent of Indians and 39 percent of Chinese listed following opportunities as they arose as their preferred career model as opposed to a global average of 33 percent, it said.

"This trend in China and India is symptomatic of growing economies and the optimism it generates. Employees here are more bullish about the future and are willing to follow opportunities as they arise," it said.

To retain talent, India Inc will have to increasingly engage its employees in every aspect-be it competitive pay, learning opportunities, challenging work, career advancement opportunities or being an employer of choice," Chakrabarti said.

Network your way to the first job

Lakshmangarh, Rajasthan: As a fresh graduate looking for your first job, you would not want to leave any avenue unexplored that could help you land a job. Campus placement cells, job sites, newspapers are all good means that help you look for fresher jobs. However, there is one more way, which may not be as popular but it is as effective as any other means. It is networking. Networking is sometimes the best way to land your first job. In fact, at all stages of your career, especially as you move higher up the corporate ladder, you would realize that there is nothing better than networking to make a job switch. Now, the question is what is networking and how does it help one get the first job.

Networking primarily means to develop a wide ranging list of contacts. These could be your friends, your seniors, people you met at parties, or people you meet on social networking sites online. You can use this list of contacts to your advantage while looking for your first job effectively. Your college seniors and industry experts would be quite instrumental in informing you about job leads, pitching in a word for you with the employer, giving you career you advice and giving you information about a particular company or industry. It is through your network that you can meet more people and expand the list of contacts.

However, a good and effective network is not built overnight. It has to be worked at. You will not get in touch with all hot shots in one day and you have to start from your immediate circle. So, start building your network with family, neighbors and friends. Then move on to their acquaintances, their friends and their networks. You can't be quiet and introvert if you want to build a good network. Socialize, talk to people, and get to know more, be helpful towards others, attend events and show eagerness to know others. Talk to your seniors and teachers. Seek introductions and don't hesitate to get yourself introduced. With these practices, you can look forward to making a good network that will help you get your first job.

Networking is not about bombarding people with job enquiries. It has to be gradual, regular and developed with effort. If you try and contact everybody you know only when you start your job search and start asking about job openings, people might get peeved. The ideal way is to keep in touch regularly. Once you make a good rapport, job offers will come to you even without your asking. You have to build alliances that would come in handy when you are on a look out for your first job. And it could be anybody.

Networking is also beneficial because many jobs are not advertised. They are filled by word-of-mouth references and through acquaintances. Thus, you can come to know about these jobs for freshers only through insiders. And a recruiter will always prefer to hire somebody who comes through a reference as it is the first level check for the recruiter. Thus, if you have networked well and go through an internal reference, your chances of getting your first job multiply manifold. But remember one thing that networking is not about making cold calls and nagging people with job requests. This will only end up irking them and spoil your prospects. Rather, be subtle and judicious in your approach.

These days, networking online is also a very good option. However, on the net, you have to be careful about who you are networking with. There are many social and professional networking sites. You can start with your college seniors and request them to introduce you to their acquaintances. You must showcase your accomplishments in your online profile to establish your credibility. After all, nobody would want to network with you and inform you about job openings if your profile is not worth it. Once you have a decent network, be sure to communicate with them regularly. Be as much ready to help as you are eager to seek their help. Also, prepare a strong resume and circulate it within your network. Talk to your alliances on issues other than job hunting. These are the lateral means of establishing a good relationship that will eventually help you get your first job.

Careers Killed Because of English

Laxmangarh, Sikar: A recent newspaper report said that out of every hundred candidates called for job interviews, only five were found qualified for the jobs. It is not that they were technically not sound, but that they lacked in communicative skills in English. Is English killing their careers?

A business barometer study(June 2009) done by Assccham on ‘Importance of Soft Skills: Students Perspective’ shows that 89 per cent of students feel that soft skills such as oral communication, written communication and team work needs to be enhanced to become professionally successful. Assocham Research Bureau (ARB) study says that out of 15 most effective skills necessary for professionals, oral communication was rated as the most preferred soft skill and voted by 76 per cent of the students, whereas written communication (72 per cent) and team work (67 per cent) were the second and third most preferred options among the students. Then where is the loop hole? Why the students are not able to compete in professional world in spite of realizing how necessary it is to have a good command on oral communication skills? The degree to which students develop these skills, determines how well we can communicate ourselves to their prospective employers.

Corporate India has two major concerns, first to hire good employees and secondly to train them. Many a CEO would agree that it is indeed a sorry state of affairs that young men and women who walk out of colleges and universities speak little English. For us, it has been a subject to pass, not a language to master, and moreover, the focus has always revolved around technical subjects.
If things continue this way, India may lose out on the BPO and software industries.

What's Wrong?
The pressure today on youth is to complete a B.E., M.B.B.S. or an M.B.A. and become a professional. The subjects that we have to study to obtain these degrees are many and vast. We hardly find time to complete the recommended books of their subjects - forget reading general books. Reading for pleasure is becoming a rare thing. And the text-books are not a good source material for acquiring skills in spoken English.

Demographic patterns too are changing. A lot of youth from small towns and villages are moving to cities to study or work. Only when they come to a professional environment do they feel that their communicative skills in English need a total dressing up.

TV and movies offer no help. The language they dish out is Indianised English, and sometimes downright hybrid English that you find in popular music channels and typical Indian films.
With exposure to such kind of language, what kind of English can you expect from the youth?

The Ghost of 'Raj English'
English, as it is spoken and written today in India, is not free from the British who left us six decades ago. We still find phrases and usage such as 'residence', 'government servant', 'for your kind perusal' and 'my superior' in every Indian English. Surely, these are not good examples of English as it is today.

The Mother Tongue Influence
Not just in pronunciation, the mother tongue also influences the idiom of English we use. "Why do you get angry for small small things?", "I told you that day itself", and "What are you?" are examples of how we think in our mother tongue and use English to express the thoughts. As many mother tongues, so many kinds of English - no wonder that we are divided by the very English we speak.

Careers do not even take off just because of this variety of English or non-English that we youth are exposed to in colleges, universities, and the media. This is compounded by reluctance to make reading a habit.

Schools & Colleges
Teachers and lecturers are bound by the pressures of completing the syllabus, conducting revisions and preparing the students for scoring better marks. After all, it is the top marks that define a school or college as successful. Constrained by time, pressure, and rules of the management, teachers and lecturers neither have the mind nor the occasion to work on the communicative skills of the students. In some institutions, the teachers themselves need to work on their communicative skills in English.

Fluency
Many a youth who rushes to a spoken English institute at the eleventh hour wants fluency in English overnight. It must be remembered that whatever comes easily, goes away easily too. Fluency is a matter of thinking than speaking. How many of these people are fluent in their mother tongue, let alone English? For the very first question at a job interview - Tell me about yourself - you hear replies carrying erm, hmm, matlab, I mean, and so on. It is clarity of thought that brings fluency of speech, no matter which language you speak. And which school or college teaches us to think clearly and cogently?

An Aptitude for Language
In order to master a language, we must have an aptitude for the language in the first place. Many people want the benefits of speaking fluent English, but we don't want to go through the slow and tedious path of learning it. Whether it is English or any other language, we must have a love for the language. And such an aptitude does not come to order.

If we all youth today want to catch up with a fast-moving world and catch-up with what we call global English, we have to transform from inside. As we take to changing fashions in garment and style, so should we take to speaking a language the world speaks. And this means keeping abreast with the world of information and technology. An inquisitive mind, a willingness to put in extra effort, and a constant awareness of the changing world will go a long way in making we the citizen of the world. Career then will be made as if by default.

Academies and institutes that teach communicative skills in English are good as long as we youth seek their help early in their college years. Joining an institute just before the day of the interview is not going to help. And merely enrolling for a course is not enough to get us the communicative skills. Active participation, an inquisitive mind, and persistent effort are the real ingredients of success at any course, not just the one for fluency in English.

Skills That Employers Look For

After completing MBA you must be thinking that you are completely ready for great challenges ahead. But are you really ready for it? Are you equipped with all the skills recruiters are looking for? Skills, that patronage you achieve all your goals without any major obstacles but, if missing, can prove to be big hurdles in making your dreams come true. Recruiters corroborate that you are the best choice for their organization on the basis of these skills only.

There are the skills that employers would look for when they are screening for new recruits: -

Technical Knowledge
No doubts, that, employers will expect you to be technically sound for the job you are approaching. Among all the managerial skills, technical skill stands out. If you are not equipped with technical knowledge for the job, all other skills will seem to be worthless to recruiters and even if they are impressed with your overall performance at interview, they will not be in a position to hire you because of your lack of technical knowledge.

Make sure that you are technically competent for the industry before you volunteer to join it. Technical knowledge enables you to climb the first step of organization’s ladder. It will not only help you to conquer the interview but will also help you later to perform your job competently.

Communication Skills
The power of effective communication impacts recruiter’s perception about you drastically. If you are equipped with the ability to communicate nicely, you have better chances to grab the opportunity than the person competing with you.

Good verbal communication skill helps to connect with recruiter in a better manner and good non-verbal communication skill gives a positive feedback about your habits and body language. Writing is also an effective way to communicate your thoughts efficiently. Writing skill provides you the first opportunity to impress the prospective employer in the form of resume.
Working and interacting with people across functions and departments is a key part of any management job. Employers ensure that you are capable enough to communicate well verbally, non-verbally and through writing, as generally you need to deal with people from a range of diverse countries and backgrounds at any work place.

Team Building
The skill convinces the employer that you are as good a leader as a team-worker. So, basically team building is comprised of two key skills, team work and leadership. The way your individual perfection is valuable to your employer, so is the collective performance. Recruiters look for both of the skills in candidates acutely, as a good leader may not necessarily be a good team player, and vice versa.

Business environment needs the candidates to work in team. Interacting with various people and getting the jobs done are the key elements of management, which are not possible without having genuine team player attitude. That is the reason why so many group projects are assigned to you while your management course. You learn about the assigned topic as well as how to work in a team. The best team players come up with the best projects.

On the same note, employers always like leaders. This is because every company needs "drivers", but not "passengers". They require drivers to lead changes, but not passengers who only know how to follow procedures. This is what your MBA education teaches you, to take lead, be in-charge and create transformation changes.

Languages
Language is a vital tool, which is not only a means to express your views and ideas, but it helps forming business relationships and cultural ties also. Your knowledge of language and culture of your foreign clients shows your respect towards them and their ideas. You always get a preference to execute global operations, if your employer is aware of your foreign language skills. The more languages you know, the better your prospects are.

As organizations are dealing with more cross-border clients and projects, it is in your favour to learn few languages which you think can be used as local business languages, when required. Besides English, which has become global communication tool now and is must to be fluent in, knowledge of other languages can bring added benefits for you.

Commercial Awareness
Even though candidates are able to impress recruiters with their other skills, their lack of commercial awareness works against them and they miss the opportunity. Commercial awareness refers to candidates’ updated general knowledge of business and understanding of the industry and market.

Commercial awareness is the basis of any successful professional experience. Employers generally have a very reasonable expectation from you- to make commercially viable decisions. Generally candidates are not able to meet this expectation because their education is focused mainly on technical aspects and they are not equipped enough or confident enough to take perfect decisions in a real business scenario.

You need to attain the ability to make decisions based on an understanding of how the business works financially and how economy impacts the business you are volunteering to join. A more commercial and work focused mindset is required to convince the employer of your commercial awareness.

Multitasking & Time Management
Multitasking is the ability to perform more than one task simultaneously. Employers generally expect from you to complete more tasks in a shorter time span. This is a quality which can really lead you to stand class apart. With rising competition and expenses companies are forced to limit their resources and get the best out of available sources. Here comes the quality of multitasking which leads you to deliver more in a shorter time.

Multitasking is not about performing the jobs only; it’s about doing the right job at right time and within assigned time-frame with full efficiency. It is a combination of accuracy and time management. You can be a multi-tasker only if you know the feasible short-cuts to get the job done. Before hiring you employers make sure that you are one of those multi-taskers who can think analytically and take the organization to new heights.

Realistic Expectations
As per high profile recruiters, the barriers, which hinder them to recruit very eligible and qualified candidates, are unrealistic expectations of the candidates. Such expectations prove to be big bottle necks during hiring process which end up with either delaying the process or canceling the deal altogether.

Inaccurate assumptions of candidates lead them to demand for arbitrary pay packages, unrealistic job expectations and force them to have an impractical view of advancement opportunities. Research thoroughly about the field and the organization you are interested in to avoid such pitfalls. Remember, all of your efforts can go in vain because of your ignorance about reality.

It is absolutely in your hands to increase your chances of selection during interview. You can expect yourself to be professionally successful if you really acquire these managerial skills that employers are looking for.

121 Ways to Improve Your Life and Be More Awesome

Do you want to improve your life? Do you want to be more awesome, but just don’t know how to go about peeling off the unnecessary layers and being more awesome?

You’re lucky, because I’ve put together a list of 121 ways you can improve your life.

You don’t have to settle with what you’ve got. Who told you that anyway? How awesome were they?

Most people are afraid. They wan’t to stop you from feeling the pain they feel because they never had the courage to do what they wanted in life.

Follow your heart and do what feels right for you, because that’s living. Everything else is dying.

Life

1. Care
If you want to be awesome, you have to care. Care about the people around you and even people you’ve never met. This is especially true if you’re blogging or a public figure. Care about your fans and they will care even more about you.

2. Give Value
We all have something to share. Always focus on what you can do for others. What do you love and what are you good at (or want to become good at)?

3. Be honest
Honesty feels good and is the right thing to do. But why do many choose to lie instead? Most often it’s because it makes their life easier, or does it? It usually might seem like it in the short-term, but in the long-term, honesty always wins.

4. Be honorable
Be honorable and respectable. This means doing the right things, keeping promises and in general, being someone who does the right thing. Look at our world leaders today and do the opposite.

5. Integrity
Having integrity for me means being ethical and following a moral code that is both practical and benefits all of humanity. It’s idealistic, but it is certainly worth striving for, isn’t it?

6. Follow your passion
Find your passion and follow it. Never give up. There is always a way to do what you love while supporting yourself. It may not come in the form you think, so be open-minded ;) .

7. Take responsibility
You are responsible for your life. There is no one to blame. If you’re not happy with your life or with your circumstances, you are the only one that can take responsibility and start changing it. What are you waiting for?

8. Be positive
Being just a little bit more positive can mean a lot of things. Reading a good book, checking out positive quotations or even watching a movie that you enjoy. The possibilities are endless. Even though being positive is cliché and kind of irritating, it is still useful.

9. Take action
You can dream and you can wonder, but nothing happens without taking action consistently. You don’t have to be perfect. Learn as much as you need to know the next step and take action!

10. Be radical
Sometimes it’s good to be radical, if it’s you. Radical means different things to different people, so I’ll leave it up to you to interpret it.

11. Focus on your strengths
Stop trying to fix your weaknesses. You can’t be perfect. Focus on your strength and let other people do what you’re bad at.

12. Do less
You can do less and live more. You don’t need more stuff. Release your cravings for materialism. It will lead to less debt, less work and less stress.

13. Be authentic
Whatever you do, be authentic. Be yourself. I’ve always been a bit of an introvert, so this is another one of those points that I’m constantly working on.

14. Enjoy the process
When you’re doing something you love, you will automatically enjoy the process. Goals don’t even matter at this point. Sure, they give you a direction, but you’re loving life and feeling awesome.

15. Be practical
You don’t have to quit your job to do what you love. You can slowly start phasing it out by working on your passion project after you get home from work. Be practical and realistic. Don’t just jump into your passion when you don’t have a plan.

16. Lose arguments
Why do we insist on being right all the time? Try losing arguments. It’s great fun and interrupts patterns in people. Seeing people get confused is a lot of fun.

17. Let someone pass you in line at the supermarket
Everyone’s in a rush to get home, but what if you took a deep breathe and let someone pass you? It’s unexpected and it makes people smile.

18. Quit your job
If you’re ready for it, just quit your job. There’s no need to hang onto something that you don’t need. For the rest of you, stay put.

19. Give away stuff
How much stuff do you have that you haven’t used in the last 12 months? What about giving it all away? I know a lot of people that have their houses full of stuff.

20. Focus
Be aware of where your focus is. Where focus goes, energy flows. If you’re constantly thinking about how you will fail, you will feel bad and maybe even fail. Think about how you will succeed and you might just succeed. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

21. Tidy up
Keep your apartment or house clean. Not saying that I’m a master of cleanliness or anything, but it sure does feel good to have everything looking good, doesn’t it?

22. Embrace challenges
Most people avoid challenges, or as they like to call them: problems. What would life be without challenges? Incredibly boring. We would never grow – at least not as fast – and everything would be smooth sailing.

23. Live with power
Live with power and certainty. Power goes hand in hand with responsibility. Take action, be confident, be yourself and trust that your intuition will guide you wherever you need to be.

24. Practice courage
We all have our fears. By practicing courage and doing something even though you’re afraid, you grow. New stuff is scary. I know that. You know that. Let’s do it anyway, shall we?

25. Surround yourself with awesome people
The people you choose as friends have a big impact on how you think and act. Do not accept just anyone into your life. Choose your friends wisely.

26. Go with the flow
You know, the universe is constantly giving you hints and trying to pull you in one direction. Are you noticing those hints? From now on, think about the signs you’re getting and follow them.

27. Release expectations
Release all expectations after you’ve set your goal. You never know what the universe might deliver to your doorstep. That’s why you want to have an open-mind, because what if the universe has something better in store for you?

28. Experiment
Dare to experiment. Embrace failure, because that is how you learn and how you grow. Being awesome means looking ridiculous and making tons of mistakes. Why? Because it helps you become better and provide even more value.

29. Live within your means
Do you really need a car? Do you need cable T.V? We can live a lot cheaper when we realize that we do not need a lot of the stuff we think we need. This allows you to work less and have more free time to do what you want.

30. Slow down
Life is busy. Try to be conscious as much as possible. Breathe and slow down. Enjoy the fact that you’re alive. Be grateful for the little things. Be grateful for the big things.

31. Use money as a tool
Money doesn’t have to enslave you. How much money do you really need? How about having enough to do what you want, when you want to do it? Why would anyone need more than that?

32. Dream
Let yourself dream. All my childhood I’ve been told that things can’t be done, but I have come to realize just the opposite, so let yourself dream and ignore the people that don’t know what they’re talking about.

33. Have a kid
I don’t have a kid, yet. But I’ve heard it is a life changing event, especially if you plan it and stay conscious during the whole journey. It will be an interesting experience once I have a kid or ten of my own.

34. Learn a new language
How many times have you heard or even said “I want to learn a new language”? Stop wishing and start doing. Just 10-15 minutes a day will give you results.

35. Be ridiculous
Don’t be afraid of being ridiculous or silly. In other words, just be yourself. We keep hearing that every market is saturated nowadays. Millions of blogs are born all the time. In this day and age you have to stand out. How do you do that? By being ridiculous. By being yourself.

36. Enjoy nature
How long has it been since you took a walk in nature? What about sitting down in the forest and just listening to the wildlife? Be careful if you have bears in your area though, they can easily sneak up on you ;) .

37. Self-discipline
Having and exercising discipline comes in handy more often than you think. We all have weak moments in our lives when we are just about to give up.

38. Plan your day
Before you get out of bed, visualize how your perfect day would look like. How do you want that day to go?

39. Excuses
Have you been putting off doing what you love because you’re afraid? It’s time to throw out all the excuses and just do it. You will see that the fear and excuses fall away once you realize that they really do not hold as much power as you think.

40. Travel
When I finished school at 18, I went to Spain a few months after that. I lived there for almost a year. It enhanced my growth and I learned so much. I enjoy slow traveling, just picking one country, seeing if it’s nice and then staying there.

41. Get a pet
Get a cat, dog, duck, parrot, mouse or even a panda. They’re all awesome. I like animals. Unfortunately, I am allergic to them, but I still find ways to hangout with them without dying. There are a lot of shelter pets that need your help!

42. Clothes
Do you really buy the clothes you want? Or do you buy the clothes you think people like to see? I’m by no means a fashion expert, but I’ve noticed this pattern in myself many times.

43. Backpack
Have you ever traveled with just a backpack? I did this for a month in Thailand. It wasn’t exactly in the form I would have liked, but it was pretty interesting.

44. Couchsurf
Sleep on a couch or share a couch. It’s called couchsurfing. People all around the world are giving strangers a couch to sleep on.

45. Attend a concert
Sure, surround sound sounds awesome, but there’s nothing like attending a concert and hearing music live.

46. Recycle
Everyone is talking about how the earth is dying, but are we actually doing anything about it? Are you recycling and making sure everything ends up in the right place?

47. Re-use
Can you re-use old bottles, bags or anything in your house instead of throwing it out and buying it again?

48. Social media
If you’re not already involved in social media, get involved. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and so on. They are tools to help you connect with the right people. Use them.

49. Blog
Starting a blog doesn’t mean you have to make money. You can start a blog just to have a home on the internet. Share your thoughts and build a community. You might even discover your passion in the process.

50. Talk to a dolphin
I’ve talked to dolphins in my sleep, but never in real life. I just have this feeling. You have to talk to a dolphin at least once in your life. I’m going to do it soon enough, you can quote me on that.

51. Yoda
If yoda you have not seen, then see him you must. I’ve been in love with the whole Star Wars thing ever since I saw the first movie as a child. Granted, I do not dress up as a wookie, but I still enjoy the whole series, because somewhere out there, it actually exists.
Health

52. Relax
Stress is killing all of us slowly. Take time out of your day to relax. Meditate, be mindful, walk, hangout with your loved ones or pet. Take a hot bath or a sauna (I love saunas)!

53. Listen to your body
What is your body telling you? Are you working too hard? Not eating enough nutrient-dense foods? By keeping your body happy, you can keep your mind happy, which will allow you to unleash your creativity.

54. Eat fruits
Fruits are easily digested by the human body. They also contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavonoids and all kinds of nutrients that help keep your body alive. It’s not about surviving, it’s about thriving!

55. Eat vegetables
I don’t like vegetables that much. But I’ve discovered that broccoli soup is quite delicious. I also juice my vegetables with oranges. That way I get my nutrition without it tasting horrible.

56. Drink pure water
The amount of chemicals in our tap water today is frightening. Choose spring water or use a high quality water filtration system to ensure the purest possible drinking water. We are made up out of mostly water, after all.

57. Sleep
Even a little bit of sleep deprivation can alter your mood and cognitive abilities. I know I have to get my 8-9 hours of sleep otherwise I’m not going to feel like myself.

58. Exercise
You and I both know that exercise rocks, it’s just that we tend not to do it that much. When you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. These are chemicals that work behind the scenes to make you feel good.

59. Eat less meat
Research studies have proven that red meat is linked to increased risk of various diseases. The most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted proves that less meat increases health.

60. Eat light meals
Eat meals that satisfy you and nothing more. Eat slowly and listen to your body. I tend to gorge myself, so this is another one I’m integrating into my life. It’s funny because it’s almost as if it is happening naturally.

61. Drink green smoothies
Smoothies are great nutritional bombs that are full of flavor, but green smoothies are even better. You get energy without crashing. You give your body the nutrients it needs without even tasting the vegetables in the smoothie.

62. Stop alcohol
I don’t like alcohol and I don’t enjoy being around people who are drunk. Having a sip of wine or champagne is cool though. Studies show that moderate consumption is O.K and even beneficial.

63. Throw away processed foods
Your body has trouble with processed foods such as sugar, sodas, candy, pasta and practically anything that comes in a box. Eat whole, natural, fresh foods instead and take control of your health.

64. Ride your bike
Do you even have one? I love riding those really old bikes that are made for old people. They are super comfortable and so simple with one gear.

65. Take the stairs
Are you in love with the elevator? Skip it next time and run up the stairs. Why? Because it’s harder and therefore infinitely more awesome.

66. Grow your own food
The ideal choice would be to grow all of your own food, but for most people that just isn’t possible. You can still grow indoors if you want, but that takes resources and space. Growing your own food will give you access to fresh produce that is extremely high in enzymes and nutrients.

67. Eat sprouts
Sprouts are awesome and extremely easy to make. The only thing you need are dry seeds, water and a bag. There are a lot of resources out there that show you how to sprout seeds, so check them out.

68. Try martial arts
Martial arts aren’t for everyone, but if you can find something you like, it can uplift your spirit and give you an outlet for your creativity, while keeping you fit and looking good.

69. Try yoga
Yoga is an ancient practice that connects the mind, body and spirit. It helps with blood pressure, circulation, balance, body awareness, core strength and mood, just to throw a few benefits out there.

70. Lift weights
Many have the notion that if they lift weights, they’ll wake up the next morning looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s a nice myth. Weight lifting is beneficial, but can become boring if you don’t throw some variation in there.

71. Detoxify
The food we eat, air we breathe and water we drink is filled with pollutants, chemicals and toxins. Cleansing and going through a herbal detoxification regimen can help your body eliminate these toxins and improve your health.

72. Massage
Get a massage and give a massage. Getting a massage will help you release tension, relax and be a little bit more of who you really are. I tried shiatsu a few years ago and it was awesome.

73. Juices
Freshly-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices are nature’s multivitamins. They are digested extremely fast and put minimal strain on your body.

74. Fast
Juice fasting and water fasting have both been proven by people all around the world to improve health and wellbeing. If you’re planning a water fast, you might want to contact someone that knows their stuff, it can get rough.

75. Take an omega-3 supplement
The benefits of fish oil have been proven over and over again. You can eat fatty fish and get your omega-3’s that way, but for those that do not like fish or can’t eat enough, supplementation might be an option.

76. Take a natural multivitamin
The nutrition in our food has been slowly declining over the decades, because of the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals. A natural multivitamin will keep your bases covered.
Spiritual

77. Breathe
Remind yourself to breathe deeply through your nose and into your abdomen. Breathe out through your mouth, slowly. This relaxes and releases stress. Focus on your breath and notice your body and mind saying goodbye to tension.

78. Meditate
Taking time off from your busy schedule to meditate. It enhances your brain power, mood and reduces pain sensitivity. Learning how to meditate is easy, so make time for it. No, not someday. Now. Schedule 10 minutes right now and try it.

79. Release the how
We’re always trying to figure out how something is going to happen. Release the how. Our brains aren’t meant to know how things are going to happen. It causes anxiety, worry and other mental problems.

80. Volunteer
Almost every city has somewhere where you can volunteer. Go check it out and try it for one day. You might like it.

81. Be open minded
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Be open to everything, because you never know where it may lead. What if you tried an origami class today where you met someone that will help you 13 years from now? You can never know.

82. Grow
Grow as a human being, a spiritual being and a conscious soul. If you aren’t growing, you’re slowly withering away. There is no middle ground. Always push yourself. Live uncomfortably and evolve.

83. Be grateful
Write down and think about the positive things in your life. Practice gratitude every night before sleep. It may feel weird, but enjoying the little things you are grateful for will have an impact on you.

84. Make connections
One of the most important things in life is making connections. My life has significantly shifted towards making more connections and giving value, from just being someone who does something for money. This has had a huge impact on my life.

85. Accept
Do you constantly want to change they way things are? What if you had done that one thing differently in the past? Stop it. You’re putting yourself in mental hell. Accept what is. Ironically, that is the first step to change.

86. Forgive
Forgive yourself and others. It will take a huge load off your back. You don’t have to hold grudges against anyone. You are only causing anguish to yourself.

87. Patience
Nothing happens fast. I learned this the hard way. In the small amount of behind-the-scenes coaching that I’ve done I keep seeing this over and over again. People want to make it online and they want fast results, but the truth is that you have to work hard for 6-12-24 months before anything happens.

88. Create
We all like to do something. We are made to create. Whether it is writing, painting or singing doesn’t matter. Creating gives birth to serenity. When you’re in the flow of creating in a form you enjoy, you will see what I am talking about. My favorite form is writing at the moment.

89. Say hi
Just saying hi and shooting a smile at people you pass on the street can have a huge impact on their day, and in your own life. Spreading the joy feels good.

90. Hug people
What about taking it to the next level and hugging people on the street? Start your own free hugs campaign. That video is awesome.

91. Be aware of your beliefs
Your beliefs control what you see, what you believe and where you’re heading. If you don’t believe that you’re awesome, then you won’t accomplish awesome things.

92. Thank as many people as you can
Go out of your way to thank as many people as you can. If you have a blog, thank your visitors in any way you can. Give them free stuff. Send them personal e-mails. Help them out.

93. Intuition
Take chances. Don’t be afraid to trust your intuition. For me, intuition is that feeling I get in my heart. I feel drawn to something and it feels good. It’s not correct 100% of the time (because I misinterpret), but it’s fun following it and seeing what happens.

94. Learn to say no
Saying no is liberating and powerful. You do not have to accept every request that your friends or loved ones make. You control your time. If you’re afraid that your friends will un-like you for not doing stuff, then they aren’t really your friends.

95. Release labels
When we look at someone we automatically put a label on them and often we’re wrong. Think about all those times you analyzed someone and thought you were right. When you met them and talked to them you realized how wrong you were.

96. Imagine
Imagine how you would like to be. Confident, charismatic, funny and whatever else you fancy. Now think of how that version of you acts and lives their everyday life. Then imitate them.

97. Be present
There’s no need to dwell on the past or the future. Take your awareness and plant it in the now. Be aware of your body, thoughts and feelings. Just observe them and allow them to be.

98. Embrace Imperfection
We have to be perfect. Never fail. Failure was frowned upon when I was a kid, so I grew up thinking I had to be perfect. Took me a long time to realize that it wasn’t necessarily so. It’s okay to be imperfect. It’s human.

99. Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you have trouble, reach out to someone and ask for their assistance. We can’t always do things on our own.

100. Respect people
Show people respect. This is a big one. I wasn’t good at showing others respect just a few years ago. I’m learning though and doing my best.

101. Trust
Trust others. There are a lot of good people out there that will help you. I’m not saying you should trust anyone blindly though. But I think you know what I mean.

102. Release negative people
You don’t have to hang around negative people, you know? They are there to teach you that. Let them go and say good bye.

103. Listen to others
Listen to what people have to say. Don’t you feel appreciated when someone has 100% of their attention on you? Do the same.

104. There is no spoon
You create your reality. Realize that you have the power to create what you want. If you don’t agree then you have a few beliefs to let go of.

105. Ego
The ego has its tasks, but it has taken the population of Earth hostage. You can free yourself by breathing and allowing it to be as it is.

106. Release negativity
There are a lot of good tools to release negative emotions, beliefs and thoughts. Two of my favorites are Emotional Freedom Technique and the Sedona Method.

107. Use NLP
Ever heard of Neuro-Linguistic Programming? It’s basically taking control of your brains operating system. It’s another tool that you might find useful.
Clarity

108. Journal
Writing down your thoughts will help you gain clarity. Since I started writing my decision-making has been sharper and more awesome. By journaling you can learn more about yourself and therefore improve your life and at the same time affect those around you in a positive way.

109. Simplify your life
Throw out superfluous goals, things and stuff in general. External purging affects your internal state. Don’t you just feel better when you give or even throw old stuff away? I know I do. You do too, you just can’t admit it, can you?

110. Have goals
Write down your goals. They don’t have to be incredibly meticulous. Just having them in writing gives them more power. You’ve heard the stories, someone writes down a goal and forgets about it, then they find it 10 years later and you know the story :D .

111. Read
Reading teaches you things. Secret things. Did you know that most people don’t read? That means you’ll know many secrets that they don’t, just by reading books. Two of my favorite books are the Power of Now and Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

112. Throw out your T.V
How much time do you spend watching T.V? I haven’t watched television regularly for a very long time. It frees up amazing amounts of time. If you watch 2 hours a day, that’s 730 hours per year, or 4.34 weeks per year. It’s time to kill your T.V.

113. Stop reading the news
How often have you felt happy after reading the news? It’s filled with propaganda, manipulated stories and bombs. Why read it? It doesn’t do you any good.

114. Don’t multitask

I’m a huge multi-tasker and addicted to it. I don’t really want to change that habit right now, but I have noticed that whenever I focus on one thing, magic happens more often than not.

115. Enjoy music

I tend to only listen to music while I do other things. One day I put on music and sat with my eyes closed. It was as if another world had opened up. Everything seemed different.

116. Turn off your phone

I’ve had my phone turned off a lot. I’ve even stopped answering the phone when it rings. I guess that’s one of the reasons why people don’t call me anymore. But on a more serious note, it’s relaxing :D .

117. Turn off your IM

Did you think I was going to let you have your Instant Messenger on? Shut it down! In fact, I’m going to shut mine off right now. There, it’s done. Try it.

118. Learn your values

What are your true values in life? Do you value integrity? Honesty? What about love? How about money? Which one is #1?

119. Prioritize

People say they don’t have time, when in reality they’re saying they lack priorities. If you don’t have time to follow your passion, you don’t really care about feeling fulfilled and awesome. Learn how to eliminate and discriminate.

120. Keep it simple
Keep things as simple as necessary, but no simpler.

121. Death

Remind yourself that you are going to die. This will melt away any obstacles that are preventing you from living your life to the fullest.

First job? Take what you get and run with it

While much of the media in recent months has focused on job losses and downsizing in Indian industry as a result of the global slowdown, the real crisis is in India's engineering colleges and business schools, and on college and university campuses.

Most of corporate India's workforce is still hanging on to their jobs. Sure, increments are low and some may have been downsized but, by and large, most people who were in employment are still getting a monthly pay cheque. It is those who are seeking employment for the first time who are struggling the most.

If you leave the Top 50 B-schools and the Top 100 engineering colleges out of the discussion, the majority of the graduating class in most campuses is still looking for jobs and many who have managed to get a job have had to lower their expectations and go for what they can get.

Bangalore: In engineering colleges, the information technology, or IT, services sector is most responsible for the low off take of graduates. Many IT companies simply did not go to colleges to hire this year. And those that did go ended up either withdrawing offers or deferring joining dates by several months or longer.

At some of the best B-schools, many students are still without jobs, and at others, those who have got placed have had to accept offers from companies they would not have dreamt of joining till just a few months back. The situation in the lower-ranked B-schools is a lot worse.

The B-school situation is compounded by the fact that in the last five years, course fees have risen to a level that graduates need to get jobs which pay a certain minimum amount to be able to repay education loans taken for the course in the first place.

While this may be bad enough, there is worse news to come. While it is hoped that the Indian economy and the hiring will pick up in the second half of this financial year, the fact is that hiring at the entry level will pick up a lot later. It has been seen in the past that entry-level hiring gets hit first in a slowdown and picks up last in a recovery. Do not expect any great joy in the next placement season.

So, what should a fresh engineer or MBA do in the current market?

First, accept the new reality. The market has changed and till it changes back for the better, you are going to have to scale back your expectations. Sure, it's not your fault and this is not what you studied hard for, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Be flexible about the industry you wish to join: If IT is not hiring, it is not hiring, period. Either join a smaller company in IT or a start-up, or look at other areas. There are many other industries that need engineers and some companies there may be hiring telecom, manufacturing, chemicals and electronics, among others. Be willing to look at something different.

Lower the bar on salary. The average salary for the graduating class at the business school has gone up by close to 40 times in the 20 years . And my 4-5 years seniors must had considered themselves fortunate and privileged at that time.

While 20 years is a long time, a 40-time hike in salary during this period is great going by any standard.

I am pretty sure the wage inflation in the graduating class of other B-schools and engineering colleges has been as much in the past two decades. So be happy you've done well. Count your blessings.

Consider other functions and roles. Yes, you always dreamed of being an investment banker. But those jobs are simply not available any more. Take what you are getting and run with it. More opportunities will emerge as the economy recovers. Till then get some experience under your belt.

Think about a further course of higher study. If the job market depresses you or you are just not able to get what you want, evaluate a further qualification and come back into the job market a couple of years later when things are better.

In short, roll with the flow. Over a 30-year career span, what you are experiencing today is only a minor setback... :)) Cheers

India ranks 87 in the list of failed nations

New Delhi: India is far better than the neighbors like Pakistan and China in terms of the performance as a nation. India is ranked 87 in a list of 177 failed states in 2010 while China ranked at 57th place and Pakistan at 10th place. The list,published by Foreign Policy magazine, is topped by Somalia, followed by Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Chad.

In India's immediate neighbourhood, Burma has been placed at 13, Sri Lanka (22) and Nepal 25. China is ranked at 57th place. Norway is ranked at the bottom of the list.

"Shattered Somalia has been the No.1 failed state for three years running, and none of the current top 10 has shown much improvement, if any, since FOREIGN POLICY and the Fund for Peace began publishing the index in 2005," it said.

"Altogether, the top 10 slots have rotated among just 15 unhappy countries in the index's six years. State failure, it seems, is a chronic condition," said the magazine.

The magazine said Somalia saw yet another year plagued by lawlessness and chaos, with pirates plying the coast while radical Islamist militias tightened their grip on the streets of Mogadishu.

"Across the Gulf of Aden, long-ignored Yemen leapt into the news when a would-be suicide bomber who had trained there tried to blow up a commercial flight bound for Detroit," it said.

Afghanistan and Iraq traded places on the index as both states contemplated the exit of US combat troops, while already isolated Sudan saw its dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, defy an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of the Congo once again proved itself a country in little more than name, the magazine said.

The magazine has used 90,000 publicly available sources to analyze 177 countries and rate them on 12 metrics of state decay - from refugee flows to economic implosion, human rights violations to security threats.

An hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet...

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the third richest person in the world as of April 2007, behind Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim. In June 2006, he made a commitment to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The donation amounts to approximately $30 billion. Buffett's donation is said to be the largest in U.S. History. At the time of the announcement the donation was enough to more than double the size of the foundation.

His annual salary of about $100,000 is tiny by the standards of senior executive remuneration in other comparable companies. In an interview on CNBC, he mentioned that his annual salary is equal to the price of the Berkshire Hathaway Class A share price.

Here are some very interesting aspects of his life.

1. Born on August 30, 1930, he bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
3. He still lives in the same small 3 bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.
4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
7. He has given his CEO's only two rules.

Rule number 1: Do not lose any of your share holder's money.
Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

8. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch television.
9. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.
10. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.
11. His advice to young people: Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself.

Tips for Taming Your Tongue

Your language might offend some people, but the tone and attitude behind your words do far greater damage to all of your relationships.

Even if your friends and associates commonly use cuss words, you will be perceived as more mature, intelligent, articulate, polite, considerate and pleasant if you control your language and the emotions that typically prompt expletives. You can choose to have character and class, or be considered rude, crude and crass.

Cursing is sometimes humorous, but sometimes abusive. It can help vent anger, or provoke it. It can relieve stress, or cause it. It can be clever and flirtatious, or sexist and intimidating. Consequently, be aware of when and where you swear. Control it, tame it, time it. Or, to be on the safe side, stop using it altogether.

Recognize that swearing does damage.
You probably swear because it is easy, fun, candid, emphatic, expressive, breaks rules, and somehow partially reduces anger and pain. But the negatives outweigh the positives. You really don't win an argument by swearing. You don't prove that you are smart or articulate. You don't earn respect or admiration. You don't motivate, you intimidate. Swearing doesn't get you hired, promoted, or romantically connected.

Start by eliminating casual swearing.
Pretend that your sweet little grandmother or your young daughter is always next to you. Use inflections for emphasis instead of offensive adjectives. Be more descriptive instead of using the "s" word to describe everything from objects, work and the weather to the way you feel, the way someone looks, and the way something smells.

Think positively.
Look to the bright side. Develop a "can do" attitude. Worry only to the point that motivates you to prepare for the problem, then hope for the best. A positive mental attitude not only eliminates lots of swearing, it brings you contentment and brightens your personality.

Practice being patient.
When you are stuck in line or in traffic, ask yourself if a few more minutes matters. Be honest -- does it really matter? If so, and you have no control of the situation, plan the rest of your day or do the thinking that you say you never have time to do. Talk to someone, even a stranger in line with you.

Cope, don't cuss.
We live in an imperfect world, yet our expectations continually increase. Each day can be filled with aggravations, delays, disappointments and frustrations. The fact is, we have to deal with them anyway. So stop cussing and learn to cope. Consider even the smallest annoyance a challenge, and feel proud of yourself for taking care of it cheerfully and efficiently.

Stop complaining.
Before you start griping or whining about something, remind yourself of a very important reality: no one wants to hear it! Why would they? Avoid complaining about matters that you and the people with you have no control over. For all other complaints, try to offer a rational solution. Others will admire your common sense, wisdom and calm approach to the problem.

Use alternative words.
English is a colorful language, but chronic cursers repeatedly use the same, unimaginative words that have been around for centuries. Take the time to develop your own list of alternatives to the nasty words you now use, relying on your own intelligence, a thesaurus, good books, and even some of the more clever TV shows. Select a few powerful or even funny words, and get in the habit of substituting them for swear words. For example, instead of B.S., choices range from lie, fabrication, nonsense and exaggeration to bunk, baloney, drivel, malarkey, hokum, hogwash and balderdash. They might not give you satisfaction at first, but they will eventually.

Make your point politely.
Some substitute words can be just as offensive if your tone is abrasive or you insult someone. Think of the response to what you are about to say, and decide if you need to reword your statement to be more effective. For example, if someone suggests that you are doing something incorrectly, your response can range from "Who gives a flying f___?" to "I don't care," to "It really doesn't matter," or "I think my way is faster." The first reply is defensive, defiant, belligerent, and reflects a terrible attitude. The last reply is a justification that the other person might appreciate. Take the time to make your point in a mature and convincing manner.

Think of what you should have said.
It is easy to blurt out a swear word at an inappropriate time, or to bark out a tactless or tasteless remark before you have a chance to consider the impact. Think of what you could have said. After you shout an expletive, simply say the tamer word you wished you had said. If you make a statement that you later realize was negative, confrontational or rude, think of how you could have phrased the statement. Over time, these exercises will train you to think and act differently.

Work at it.
Breaking the swearing habit might prove to be no easier that losing weight, giving up cigarettes, or correcting any other habit. It takes practice, support from others, and a true desire to be a better person - not only by controlling your language, but the emotions that prompt you to swear. Here are a few exercises to condition yourself:

* Think in clean language, and switch negative thoughts into positive solutions.
* When you are on your way to a situation you know will test your temper and your tongue, plan
ahead what you will say and how you will say it.
* Tell your family or friends what you are doing, and you will be more cautious around them.
* Determine when and why you swear the most, and develop your own tricks for changing your behavior.

A Date With TAJ...

One of the Seven Wonders of the World (according to Collier's Encyclopedia). This is an amazing piece of architecture! But at the end of the day, it's not extremely functional (at least today, anyway). It's just a Tomb...a very large, beautiful, magnificent, expensive :) (in the terms of the day) Tomb. When it was built in 1648 it cost a whopping 320 lakhs (or 32 million rupees which is about $640,000). Absolutely AMAZING what could be done with less than a million dollars!

The Taj Mahal is on the banks of the Yamuna River. This is the back of the Taj Mahal from the opposite side of the Yamuna River. On the right and the left you see two different buildings, one is a mosque and the other was used as a guest house. The two buildings look exactly the same, the entire structure and landscape at the Taj Mahal is symetrical, including the building itself. It was built as a tomb by Shah Jahan (the King) for his favorite wife. She died while giving birth to their 14th child. Construction was started shortly after her death and took 20,000 people 22 years to complete.

Here you see the Taj Mahal from the front side with the reflection pools. The main base of the Taj Mahal stands about 40 meters tall, the largest dome is 45 meters tall and the spire on the top is 11 meters (just to give you some perspective).
This is me in front of the Taj Mahal, actually just try to copy Aishwarya Rai!!! ha ha ha. There was a lot of wind that day and I wouldn't want it to blow over! You see my hairs how flowing...due to this strong wind.This is the entry gate to the Taj Mahal. You'll notice that along the top center portion of the gate, there are 11 white spires. On the opposite side of the gate there are an additional 11 spires, for a total of 22 showing the 22 years it took to build the Taj Mahal.


This is the back side of the Taj Mahal, however it looks exactly the same as the entrance on the opposite side. The writings that go up the doorway and across the top and down the other side are inscriptions from the Koran (their holy book, similar to the bible). They are actually an optical illusion, because in looking at them they look exactly the same size all the way from the bottom to the top, and across the top of the entry way. In order to get this effect the writings at the top had to be bigger than the writings at the bottom.

This is a picture of the ceiling inside of the entry way. Notice that if you follow the edge of the inscribed pieces that look like windows and follow them up and across the top of the entry they weave an intricate spider web that is entirely etched in the marble.
This is a picture of the building to the side of the Taj Mahal. On one side is the mosque, on the other the guest house. The two buildings look exactly the same.
This is a picture from the back side of the Taj Mahal looking across the Yamuna river. The gaurd post that you see on the other side of the river and the little bit of wall following off to the left are exactly like the gaurd post that you would find on the four corners of the lot at the Taj Mahal. The reason is, once the Taj Mahal was completed the King Shah Jahan wanted to build a structure exactly the same as the Taj Mahal on the opposite side of the river, but in Black Marble. His son felt that his father was crazy, so he would not let him do this, and put him in jail for the remainder of his life.