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Monday, February 25, 2008 Two FriendsJoe found Manny Deitz the next day and returned his raincoat and umbrella. He treated him to lunch to express his appreciation.At lunch Manny told him a story.In World War II, Manny was a fighter pilot for the American Air Force. During a dogfight off the coast of Italy, he shot down an Italian plane whose pilot managed to parachute out. Instead of flying off, which he probably should have done since he had a limited amount of fuel, Manny waited to make sure the pilot’s life vest was fully inflated and that he was okay.  Then he radioed for help for the downed pilot, and he circled around until it got there. When help finally reached the flyer, Manny made a low pass and gave him the thumbs-up sign, and the Italian returned it. As he flew off, Manny wagged his wings as if to say goodbye. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King, Jr. When the war ended, Manny went back to Philadelphia. One day, a letter came from the Italian flyer, who had tracked Manny down from the number on the plane’s wings. The flyer asked if he could come see him, and Manny said yes.  When they finally met, the Italian said, “You know, you saved my life, and I feel as if I would like to stay connected to you. I’d like for us to work together. My family has a leather goods factory that makes shoes and purses. Would you be my partner? We could start a branch over in the States.” So ever since the war, this Italian and Manny have been co-owners of a successful manufacturing business in shoes and handbags made in Italy and marketed in Europe and the United States, and they’ve been the best of friends as well as business partners. You lift me, and I'll lift you, and we'll ascend together. - Anonymous Labels: Adapted from Synchronicity - The Inner Path to Leadership by Joseph Jaworski Thachayini Coffee Talk at 11:54 AM
Sunday, February 24, 2008 The Grand Prix at MonzaI would like to share in my blog, certain important accounts adapted from the book, "Synchronicity - The Inner Path to Leadership" that had a great impact over me and it changed the way I perceive. The author, Joseph Jaworsky began his career as an attorney and cofounded the Centre for Generative Leadership designed to help companies and other organizations develop the leadership required to shape the future. And this is the first account from the book that I had picked.... Joseph Jaworski wanted to take up a short term challenge that seemed impossible. He decided to go to the Grand Prix at Monza, Italy and be there in the pits with Lauda and the Ferrari racing team. A close friend recommended him to Dr Gotti, a senior executive of Ferrari. The latter told him that it was absolutely impossible to get any tickets to the Grand Prix. Joe was determined to go and he settled for the in-field tickets in spite of the predicted difficulties. He spent the night at Milan and it began to pour at four in the morning, when he woke up. He was dismayed for he knew that it was a long walk from the train station in Monza to the Autodroma, and he had no raingear. There were no shops open at that time in the morning. He sat down and thought about his next step.  Just then, he spotted a man about the same size as he, walking over to the reception desk. He had a raincoat and an umbrella.“Pardon me for bothering you, sir,” he said. “…but my name is Joe Jaworski; I’m from Houston, and I need your raincoat and umbrella for the day. I’m going out to the race at Monza, and I left my raincoat and umbrella in Switzerland. It’s really important that I get out there right away. Please let me borrow your umbrella and raincoat, and I promise you I’ll bring them back tomorrow.” The man looked at him with a half-smile and said, “Sure, why not?” He introduced himself as Manny Deitz and told him that he will be around for a couple of days. He told him to give a call when he gets back. He gave his card and Joe expressed his gratefulness before setting off. That best portion of a good man's life; his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. - William Wordsworth, English Poet. Labels: Adapted from Synchronicity - The Inner Path to Leadership by Joseph Jaworski Thachayini Coffee Talk at 2:11 PM
Sunday, February 17, 2008 Finding Strength Through AdversityAuthor Scott walker was asked to help some friends dig through the ashes of their house after a fire.When they arrived, all that was standing was a portion of the outer brick wall. Where the piano once stood, lay  only a pile of ashes and twisted wire. Nothing had survived the blaze. But while sifting through the debris, Walker came across a tiny, china bluebird. He wiped away the soot to find that the colours were still bright. A few hairline cracks had formed in the glaze but beyond that, it remained intact. Walker writes, "As I gazed down at the bird's small beak and two black eyes. I wanted to weep. If only this little bluebird could talk, what a story it would tell. A story of the heat of the night of terror, of survival against great odds. And then the crucial question hit me. Why did this china bluebird survive? It had survived the fire because it had been tested by fire." And so it is with human beings who have been refined in life's raging furnace. They are tougher, harder, and more resilient than those who have never faced difficulty and loss. That understanding may help us cope the next time the heat is turned up on our tranquil little world. I had sent this story, once to my friend, who found strength through adversity and picked up the pieces. Now, exactly a year later, she is facing the same adversity. I wish to dedicate this story to her for her resilience. As far as I'm concerned, she is just like the china bluebird. Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. Labels: Motivation Thachayini Coffee Talk at 1:53 PM
Sunday, February 10, 2008 Granny RapperA little light-hearted humour for a change........ftp:// We don't stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing! - George Bernard Shaw Labels: Humour Thachayini Coffee Talk at 7:45 PM
Monday, February 4, 2008 Disability Belies Its StrengthA 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened. "No," the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."  Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm." The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. "Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength." - Henry Ward Beecher Labels: Motivation Thachayini Coffee Talk at 12:44 PM
Sunday, February 3, 2008 Me, My Mother and StressHello! I'm back after a stressful fortnight!I wasn't planning to come online today. After days of staring at the computer, day and night to finish my assignment, the last thing I ever wanted to do is to be back staring at it. Well, the only link to my passion is my computer, so here I am ;) And I haven't quite forgotten my promise to be back on the 3rd! Today's entry would be the story of my life! Or rather, just a segment of it.  The last three days had been rather agonizing and I had not been able to start on my assignment, that was due on the day of my exam, for three reasons. Firstly, I fell ill and I was forced to take a break. Secondly, work took up my days and lastly, I did not know how to get started. On top of this, I had so much to read for my paper!It was my mother's prized advice that got me through the ordeal, otherwise I would have crashed. She told me to not worry or think about how much I had to do. But rather, take each task, one at a time. Or else, it would become too overwhelming and I will get nothing done. "Do the necessary," she said. "Worry about the rest later." And that's what I did! I worked on my assignments one after another. I refused to allow myself to worry about whether I can get it done on time or feel sorry for myself. I believed I would get it done. I had to sacrifice two days of sleep but I got it done eventually. Hence, today I have taken the opportunity to quote, not Socrates, Pluto or Mahatma Gandhi but rather the Gandhi (Mom's nick name) I know; My mother. Labels: Account |
