Amazing friends !! (Happy friendship day)

All of us have some special friends in our life. The criteria which makes a particular friend special than other friends can be different for person to person.

On the day of friendship day I would like to help you to recall about a very famous friendship story.

Krishna and Sudama were childhood friends. Who is Krishna? He is nothing but Lord Sri Krishna, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Both stayed and studied in the gurukul (school) of Sandeepani rishi (saint). Balram, Krishna’s elder brother also studied there. Krishna was a prince and Sudama from an ordinary family. The guru-kul is like one big family and the students have to do many little chores apart from their studies.

One day, the guru-patni (teacher’s wife) asked Krishna, Sudama and Balram to get firewood from the forest. As they were leaving, she called Sudama back and said,“Here, take this bundle, I have packed some groundnuts for all of you to eat if you get hungry.”

Walking around in the forest, picking dry twigs and chopping firewood from fallen dead trees, the three boys were tired. They decided to rest a while. As Sudama was weaker than them, his friends, did not let him exert too much and so he was less tired than the other two. Balram and Krishna soon fell asleep, Krishna with his head on his friend Sudama’s lap. After a while, Sudama became impatient to eat the groundnuts given by the guru-patni; he could not wait for the others to wake up. He started eating them.

The sound of the munching penetrated Krishna’s sleep and he asked, “What is the sound I hear?” Sudama replied, “It is only my teeth chattering due to the cold.” He did not want Krishna to know that he had not shared the groundnuts. Of course, Lord Krishna knew the truth.

Krishna and Sudama went back to their respective places after the completion of education at guru-kul. Later in life, Sudama became very poor. It is said that his act of not sharing the groundnuts had brought this fate upon him, by the law of karma. (Does anyone know what “karma” is? It means every action has an equal and opposite reaction! If you do not share with others, others do not share with you!)

Sudama’s wife suggested to him, “Why don’t you seek help from your childhood friend Krishna, who is now the king of Dwaraka?” Sudama said to her, “How can I go to see him empty handed?” Whereupon, she packed some dahi-pohe, a frugal preparation of rice and curd, for Krishna and gave it to her husband. Sudama proceeded on his journey on foot.

On reaching the city of Dwaraka, he asked his way to the gate of the King’s palace. He requested the guards to send a message to the king that his friend, Sudama, from the guru-kul of Sandeepani rishi, had come to meet him. On hearing this, Krishna came all the way to the gate to welcome Sudama, whom he was so fond of. He took him to his royal chambers and enquired about how he had been and how his family was. Sudama was so dazzled by the opulence of the palace, that he felt shy to offer the dahi-pohe, which his wife had sent for Krishna. Krishna noticed that Sudama was holding something in his hand and hiding it behind his back. He asked, “What have you got there in your hand?” Sudama said, “Oh, nothing, nothing.” Krishna said, “Your wife must have something for me.” He reached out and grabbed the bundle from Sudama’s hand and eagerly opened it. “Oh! Dahipohe!

My favorite!” he exclaimed and ate the dish with relish. Krishna rejoiced at the taste of love in that simple meal which could not be matched by the delicacies made in the royal kitchen. Sudama was so overwhelmed by his love that he forgot to ask Krishna for help.

When Sudama returned to his village, he wondered how to tell his wife that he had not even asked Krishna for help. He could not locate his hut. Some children dressed in finery came running to him, calling out, “Father, Father!” They pulled him towards a mansion, where his hut had once been. He could not believe his eyes. At the gate, dressed in fine clothes, stood his wife, and the children who had pulled him were his own children. Seeing him wonder-stuck, she explained, “All this is because of your friend Krishna. While you were in Dwaraka, he transformed our destiny, from rags to riches.”

The basis of true friendship is love, which accepts the friend as he is and forgives all his misdeeds.

Awesome lessons from one of my role model-STEVE JOBS

Steve Jobs- Apple co-founder

I think we’re having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we’re always trying to do better.”

                                                                          - Steve Jobs

His accomplishments and character helped define a generation and change the world. He is co-founder of the fairytale company we now know as Apple Computers. And he is the visionary of the personal computers world that led the entire computer hardware and software industry to restructure itself.

This man with boundless energy and charisma is also a master of hype, hyperbole and the catchy phrase. And even when he’s trying to talk normally, brilliant verbiage comes tumbling out.

Here’s a selection of some of the most insanely great things he said, golden lessons to help you succeed in life, Jobs-style:

1. Steve Jobs said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Innovation has no limits. The only limit is your imagination. It’s time for you to begin thinking out of the box. If you are involved in a growing industry, think of ways to become more efficient; more customer friendly; and easier to do business with. If you are involved in a shrinking industry – get out of it quick and change before you become obsolete; out of work; or out of business. And remember that procrastination is not an option here. Start innovating now!

2. Steve Jobs said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

There is no shortcut to excellence. You will have to make the commitment to make excellence your priority. Use your talents, abilities, and skills in the best way possible and get ahead of others by giving that little extra. Live by a higher standard and pay attention to the details that really do make the difference. Excellence is not difficult – simply decide right now to give it your best shot – and you will be amazed with what life gives you back.

3. Steve Jobs said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

I’ve got it down to four words: “Do what you love.” Seek out an occupation that gives you a sense of meaning, direction and satisfaction in life. Having a sense of purpose and striving towards goals gives life meaning, direction and satisfaction. It not only contributes to health and longevity, but also makes you feel better in difficult times. Do you jump out of bed on Monday mornings and look forward to the work week? If the answer is ‘no’ keep looking, you’ll know when you find it.

4. Steve Jobs said: “You know, we don’t grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a mathematics that other people evolved… I mean, we’re constantly taking things. It’s a wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human experience and knowledge.”

Live in a way that is ethically responsible. Try to make a difference in this world and contribute to the higher good. You’ll find it gives more meaning to your life and it’s a great antidote to boredom. There is always so much to be done. And talk to others about what you are doing. Don’t preach or be self-righteous, or fanatical about it, that just puts people off, but at the same time, don’t be shy about setting an example, and use opportunities that arise to let others know what you are doing.

5. Steve Jobs said: “There’s a phrase in Buddhism, ‘Beginner’s mind.’ It’s wonderful to have a beginner’s mind.”

It is the kind of mind that can see things as they are, which step by step and in a flash can realize the original nature of everything. Beginner’s mind is Zen practice in action. It is the mind that is innocent of preconceptions and expectations, judgments and prejudices. Think of beginner’s mind as the mind that faces life like a small child, full of curiosity and wonder and amazement.

6. Steve Jobs said: “We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”

Reams of academic studies over the decades have amply confirmed television’s pernicious mental and moral influences. And most TV watchers know that their habit is mind-numbing and wasteful, but still spend most of their time in front of that box. So turn your TV off and save some brain cells. But be cautious, you can turn your brain off by using a computer also. Try and have an intelligent conversation with someone who plays first person shooters for 8 hours a day. Or auto race games, or role-playing games.

7. Steve Jobs said: “I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It’s very character-building.”

Don’t equate making mistakes with being a mistake. There is no such thing as a successful person who has not failed or made mistakes, there are successful people who made mistakes and changed their lives or performance in response to them, and so got it right the next time. They viewed mistakes as warnings rather than signs of hopeless inadequacy. Never making a mistake means never living life to the full.

8. Steve Jobs said: “I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Over the last decade, numerous books featuring lessons from historical figures have appeared on the shelves of bookstores around the world. And Socrates stands with Leonardo da Vinci, Nicholas Copernicus, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein as a beacon of inspiration for independent thinkers. But he came first. Cicero said of Socrates that, “He called philosophy down from the skies and into the lives of men.” So use Socrates’ principles in your life, your work, your learning, and your relationships. It’s not about Socrates, it’s really about you, and how you can bring more truth, beauty and goodness into your life everyday.

9. Steve Jobs said: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?”

Did you know that you have big things to accomplish in life? And did you know that those big things are getting rather dusty while you pour yourself another cup of coffee, and decide to mull things over rather than do them? We were all born with a gift to give in life, one which informs all of our desires, interests, passions and curiosities. This gift is, in fact, our purpose. And you don’t need permission to decide your own purpose. No boss, teacher, parent, priest or other authority can decide this for you. Just find that unique purpose.

10. Steve Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Are you tired of living someone else’s dream? No doubt, its your life and you have every right to spend it in your own individual way without any hurdles or barriers from others. Give yourself a chance to nurture your creative qualities in a fear-free and pressure-free climate. Live a life that YOU choose and be your own boss.

Each lesson might be difficult to integrate into your life at first, but if you ease your way into each lesson, one at a time, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in your overall performance. So go ahead, give them a try.

Live the life full of enthusiasm and continuous improvement.

Yesterday I was reading a book and from which i have got some good points worth sharing wid everyone, So i have decided to put them here.

Here is a lesson from that book:-

DISCOVER YOUR CALLING

When I was growing up, my father said something to me I will never forget, “Son, when you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice.” We live in an age when we have forgotten what life is all about. We can easily put a person on the Moon, but we have trouble walking across the street to meet a new neighbor.

We can fire a missile across the world with pinpoint accuracy, but we have trouble keeping a date with our

children to go to the library. We have e-mail, fax machines and digital phones so that we can stay connected and yet we live in a time where human beings have never been less connected. We have lost touch with our humanity. We have lost touch with our purpose. We have lost sight of the things that matter the most.

And so, as you start this book, I respectfully ask you, Who will cry when you die?
How many lives will you touch while you have the privilege to walk this planet?
What impact will your life have on the generations that follow you?
And what legacy will you leave behind after you have taken your last breath?
One of the lessons that I have learned in my own life is that if you don’t act on life, life has a habit of acting on you. The days slip into weeks, the weeks slip into months and the months slip into years. Pretty soon it’s all over and you are left with nothing more than a heart filled with regret over a life half lived. George Bernard Shaw was asked on his deathbed, “What would you do if you could live your life over again?” He reflected, then replied with a deep sigh: “I’d like to be the person I could have been but never was.” I’ve written this book so that this will never happen to you.

As a professional speaker, I spend much of my work life delivering keynote addresses at conferences across North America, flying from city to city, sharing my insights onleadership in business and in life with many different people. Though they all come from diverse walks of life, their questions invariably center on the same things these days: How can I find greater meaning in my life? How can I make a lasting contribution through my work? and How can I simplify so that I can enjoy the journey of life before it is too late?

My answer always begins the same way: Find your calling. I believe we all have special talents that are just waiting to be engaged in a worthy pursuit. We are all here for some unique purpose, some noble objective that will allow us to manifest our highest human potential while we, at the same time, add value to the lives around us.

Finding your calling doesn’t mean you must leave the job you now have. It simply means you need to bring more of yourself into your work and focus on the things you do best. It means you have to stop waiting for other people to make the changes you desire and, as Mahatma Gandhi noted: “Be the change that you wish to see most in your world.” And once you do, your life will change.

This time I have copied the whole thing as it is (bcoz of time shortage) but my next post will be much more exciting than this one.

Wish everyone a good luck!!