Learning

I was watching a game show called "Kaun Banega Crorepati" which is Indian version of UK game show of “Who wants to be a Millionaire” where a young contestant in his mid 20's had already won Rs. 25 Lakh against his expectation of Rs. 80K. He was asked next question for Rs. 50 Lakh and he was totally clueless about the answer.

Legendary actor Amitabh Bachan who host the show asked the contestant "what would he like to do?" The young chap said “I do not know the answer but I would not quit". Amitabh Bachan emphasized that he started the game show with modest expectation of Rs. 80 K enough to repay his education loan and has already won Rs. 25 Lakh. But the young guy had made up his mind before coming to the show that what so ever happens he would not quit. He then attempted the question and gave a wrong answer and returned home with his Rs. 80K prize money.

Immediately after the result was announced by Amitabh Bachhan for Rs. 50 Lakh question, he said to the young contestant “Along with Knowledge, Wisdom too is important".

Here was a legendary actor in his mid 70's that summarized the whole experience in one line to the young contestant.

I would also relate this experience with IQ (Intelligent Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). You need to have balance of both to succeed in life.

Art of Giving.

Few days back I was conducting interview for a post with a modest pay enough to start his or her career and living. During interview process I met one candidate who had moved from a village a year back and was somehow managing things in his existing salary in a mega city like Ahmedabad. The guy was humble and down to earth. I asked him few routine questions and then suddenly I stumble upon his hobby mentioned in his resume and one of them was social service. This was the first time I had encountered a hobby as “Social Service”. I tried to probe him and asked what he meant by social service and he replied “To help needy”. 

I was slightly taken back and further asked “How do you help needy?” He replied "Sir I try to help street children by buying them food within my capacity and by giving them my old cloths. There was a sense of satisfaction when he replied and I was like ... “Where do I stand?”  Here was a gentleman struggling with his career, his own needs and family expectation still he manages to help the needy and on the other hand I earn enough to save for my family but always find an excuse when it comes to helping other.

He was short of skills and I guided him on his weakness, gave career guidance and explained him why he is currently not fit for the post. He took it positively and left. He has many other positive points which this corporate world does not acknowledge. Though I asked him questions during interview but one question which he asked me unknowingly was “What I do for others?” It was a thought provoking questions which left an impression in my mind.  He taught me a beautiful lesson that you can always help other immaterial of what you have without making excuses.

I wonder what percentage of your earning do you spend on others. I have made up my mind and have a figure now. I hope this post will help you to make up your mind and find out the figure. It may be in single digit percentage but it will make 100% percent impact on those who are needy. I am going to start now, when are you?

What is being Successful?

We observe people running after success and few being tagged as successful person, I wonder what exactly one feels after being called successful person since I never had this feeling of being successful or have never ever been tagged as successful person. There are many motivational sessions, books and audio/video material available in market who teaches us on "How to become successful person in life?" The term success is very relational. It is like two sides of a coin. I know few who are termed as successful but the cost paid by them to become successful is very high but as I said “It is a relational thing".

Let’s take one example; we have one person working day & night, following all rules of so called becoming successful tools and have achieved great heights in terms of career, money and posses many other materialistic things. He travels most of the time and when at home he is mostly online with his Tab and Smartphone. He hardly finds time to be with his family and friends but mind you “He is successful person” for others but not necessarily in eyes of his family and friends who miss him and look forward to share some time with him.

On the other end we have a person earning enough to have two times meal and provide education to his children. He does not possess materialistic things. He is mostly home after office hours. Have dinner with his family and be with his children and friends on Sundays. He is involved in all small things which needs his attention within his family and is fortunate enough to see his children grow.

Here whom will you term as successful??  The one who has followed all rules of being successful and earned enough to be retired after he reaches age 50 or the one who gave importance to earlier stages of his family life and might not have enough to enjoy in later stage of his life.

I am sure, readers who are reading this post might fall in one of the category and would certainly have something to say by judging themselves and share their views.

Jambughoda Trip Part II - At Vananchal Resort

Traveling through the scenic road of Pavagadh and anticipating much more fun ahead, we reached Jambughoda which is a place untouched and raw. A narrow road took us to our resort called Vananchal Resort. It was exactly the way we thought it to be, surrounded by greenery from all sides. We were all excited and decided to start with trekking followed by rock climbing and rappelling. We walked our way through bushes with a feeling of walking in a jungle. There were rocks, tress, plants, insects and many more specifies which were hard to identify.

After trekking for approximately 3 Kms, we finally reached our spot where we going to have our first hands-on with rock climbing and rappelling. We had to climb a rock of approx. 25 feet in height which seems good enough after 3 Kms. of trekking. We were very well guided and it was fun to be in nature and doing adventurous things within our capacity.

Rock Climbing

We came down quickly to the resort through a shortcut as we had no energy to go back the same way we came from. We were served a very good breakfast and immediately we jumped into the pool. We had a great time in pool and were recharged to have a tasty lunch. Vananchal resort is a great place for 2D/1N trip where you can even plan a night jungle safari along with guide or you can have a one day picnic as we did.

Natural Habitat

Flying Fox Adventure

You can visit a Hathnimata waterfall which is approx. 25 Kms from Vananchal resort. It is better to skip if it is Sunday as no. of visitors is too high. But it is definitely “Yes” on weekdays.

Overall we enjoyed more than expected and it was a memorable trip to cherish in coming years.

Jambughoda Trip Part I - On way to Jambughoda !!

There are certain things which materializes when most unplanned. Few of our colleagues started discussing about one day trip to a place where we can enjoy, after short listing of places, we drilled down to Jambughoda which is 55 kms. east of Baroda, Gujarat and 180 Kms. from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In next 20 minutes we were 9 of us ready to go on coming weekend.

We started early around 5 AM from Ahmedabad Express highway considering it would take approx. 4 hours to reach the final destination called Vananchal resort in Jambughoda. The way to Jambughoda is a traveler’s paradise especially in rainy season. The view near Pavagadh (a holy place worshipped by pilgrims) was simply awesome with mist in air and cool breeze refreshing throughout our journey.

Let's start the day.

There is a small lake on the way and we were thrilled by the view and decided to halt for few minutes before heading to our destination. We met a group of villagers who had drove 85 Kms. on bicycle from remote area to have a dip in lake and reenergize themselves and seek blessing of Goddess Mahakali in  Pavagadh temple.

Beautiful lake.

Cycle enthusiast. Ready to dip..

We need privacy please

The journey towards our final destination which was Vananchal Resort, Jambughoda was through heart of nature and full of fun.

Road ahead. See you soon!!

With Nature

Nature plays an important role in life of human being. When you are in arms of nature your mind tend to relax and you feel rejuvenated compared to the state of mind when you are in concrete world.

Feelings of freshness runs through your body and soul which in turn energize your mind, these feelings are not to be expressed but are to be experienced. It is important for us to break for couple of days in a year and surrender ourselves to nature.

Give a try and let me know your feelings...… ; I am sure you will have let more to share. Till then enjoy below images clicked when I had an encounter with nature’s simplicity.

Contrast 

Leave me alone

Hope you don't mind

Transformation 

I want to be a child again !!

Every day we strive to be mature, gentleman, mannered, focus, blah blah blah ………to prove ourselves in front of others. Why can't I be myself the way when I was a child?? I never hesitated to express myself and never ever thought for a split of a second to say what I thought. But today we are more thoughtful when we speak and display diplomacy in all relations we maintain (Not necessarily enjoy) in our life.

Back to Childhood

It’s not difficult though to become a child mentally. You need to do things which you enjoyed the most during your childhood. It can be simple things like reading comic, watching cartoons, enjoy few fun rides and more necessarily laugh on every opportunity you find on the way. Start your hobbies like coin and stamp collections. Play with your children, spare some time on Sunday and participate in local sports being played in your residential common and playground.  

There is nothing wrong in being a child again because only these days will be cherished and remembered during our last days of life and will give meaning to our life.