Who moved my Cheese?

Who moved my cheese?

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” ― Helen Keller

Long ago, I read this book “Who moved my cheese” I learned something about human psychology that day but never understood the real meaning until quite some time, until someone moved my pack of cheese, until I found the real meaning of emotional resilience.

There is something peculiar about us human beings, especially when dealing with emotions. Emotions are distinctive set of body sensations, which we experience under specific situations. These can range from subtle to very strong. There are only three primary colours – Red, Blue and Yellow but we can get spectrum of colours by mixing primary colours. Similarly, there are four types of emotions - Joy, Sadness, Anger and Fear. But we can generate a range of the emotions using combination of these. For example, jealousy is combination of anger and fear, pride is combination of joy and anger. We go through different emotions every moment based on situation to situation testing our psychological response to know if that is going to bring pain or pleasure?

We rely on relations throughout our life. One of the prime areas of our existence that deal with this reaction response every day is relationships. I still remember one of my managers telling relationship is the most important part of your life, be it personal or professional. Relationship does not mean only relationship with people but it also means relationship with profession, relationship with sports, relationship with music and so on. Let’s focus on relationship with some activity such as profession.

In relationships, we experience various primary and secondary emotions like love, pride, respect, envy, anger, frustration, sadness, loss. I remember, when I was ready to move to Australia and resigned my job in India, I was having mix of emotions. I was having emotions of joy, excitement, curiosity to explore new country, meeting new people, gaining wider work experience. But somewhere inside me, I was sad leaving my current job, my friends and my country. To my surprise, I was grieving about the loss and it hit me real hard when I returned after my brother’s wedding back in 2005. Leaving a house full of joy, party, celebration and togetherness to a lonely apartment in Strathfield, it was like a punch in the guts as if a great loss, kind of death.  

Coping with any loss always involves the same dynamics. In every case, whether it’s the loss of a friendship, a career, a limb, whatever, we are forced to admit the fact that we will never experience something or someone again. We are forced to feel an internal emptiness and to accept our pain. Every loss is losing part of us which needs to be rebuilt so that we can replace the loss with new job, new friends and colleagues.

No one can help you unless you get up and start reconstructing the lost part of yourself. I started attending few seminars, going to temple, found a new job and got connected with new people, made new friends “my eagles group” to who I’ll be eternally grateful. I left my comfort zone behind and started taking life head on; I never imagined I would pursue passion for writing and public speaking. Eternal grateful for that change it made me rediscover myself. I had found new cheese, I embraced my new life.

So if you are at the juncture where someone has moved your cheese then get excited because it’s time to do something you never thought you will do. It is time to look after your physical and emotional state. It is time for new adventures you never tried before. It is time to go for a run or fitness class or any other sports you like. Maybe try out meditation you might discover something that you’ve never experienced before. I remember my first meditation session back in 2002 I felt as light as a feather, a bird set free to roam the skies, it was pure and serene.

It is time for New Year to begin, in essence that is what a new year is all about, who cares about earth spinning round the sun in 365 days? But if you look closer it can be real powerful only if you’ve found your cheese.

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” Jalaluddin Mevlana Rumi.

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Dare to dream?

"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself "  - Soren Kiekegaard.

I'm sure you must have heard about living in "comfort zone", What exactly is comfort zone? Let me elaborate. Couch surfing on a Sunday afternoon vs. getting up and going to Gym or mucking around at Facebook instead of giving time to your family.

These are just trivial examples of mundane things that we could do when finding ourselves upset or frustrated on not having a growth opportunity. I got hang of this concept in one of my communication class during screen business course, Stretch zone is what lies outside of our comfort zone. I call it the "growth zone" because you meet growth opportunity aka learning experience only when you are outside of your comfort zone.

If you leave the moment to go back to comfort zone, you will lose opportunity to grow, in our example opportunity to be with our family or lose some extra fat at the gym. If you wish to take advantage of this moment you need to find the lesson or the learning ripe for the picking. Why not just live comfortably in our comfort zone? Because if you wish to live your dreams, you are going to have to grow. Growth only happens outside of your comfort zone, meaning when you push yourself and when you are uncomfortable.

"if you do what you usually do, you'll get results that you usually get" - Anonymous.

I can harp on this concept a lot, however only thing that counts is getting the drive to get to your purpose. During the Xmas break take this opportunity to ponder on what actions you might need for next year that will make you uncomfortable and closer to your purpose. Wishing you very safe and happy holiday season and see you in 2018!


"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction" - John F Kennedy.

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Want to build momentum?

Want to build momentum? quickest way to do that is get up and get going! If you just sit there you are going to be forced to move by the changing times, movement is part of the human experience. You are either going to move yourself in the direction of your dreams or you are going to be moved by the progress of society.

Think about the universe it is in constant motion and we are part of it. To be static it to be out of the flow of the universe. If there is something between you ears stopping you for being in motion for goodness sake take care of it. Get moving, allow the flow of the universe to carry you to where you want to go. Think about it this way if you want to surf a wave on the ocean you have to do your part to get in motion and the wave will the rest. So what are you waiting for? I remember years ago I read this book by Justin Herald, in summary it said the same thing shortest way to reach your target is hard work.

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you." 

- Thomas Jefferson. 

I remember the very first time I attended a meditation course 17 years ago, the very question that seeped through my mind was "who are you" we were meant to sit with a partner repeatedly posing this question. Pretty much like a Buddhist monk, years later I found out another way of doing it, but this time not by asking a probing question. This time (2007) I was on the road working crazy 24x7 to make my start up business success. I found the answer and I would like to quote another great man who agrees with me in this approach.

"Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do" - Steve Jobs.

Find out more about building momentum @ my Authentic Leadership course.

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#Authentic_Leadership, #amazing_arivnd, #build_momentum.

Fail to plan is plan to fail

In most of my recent conversations with budding entrepreneurs this is the most important subject I harp upon. In todays fast paced business environment, and internet of things age it is very easy to forget the basics and get swamped in hurricane of information that is being thrown at us everyday.

Recently I have been appointed acting VP on yet another board which will make the current mark to 3 start up boards I am presiding on. All very different sectors one is Food Industry, second training and third technology company excluding my own brain child Green Lab Films & Media. I can not reaffirm anymore the need to better plan upfront to save toil later. However, I also know for fact no matter how much you plan things will still go wrong it will still rain during parade.

This is when having a plan B comes into action, you must have already heard about the buzzword "fail fast, fail forward" for people who haven't heard this term earlier. It means don't be afraid to fail "let fear not freeze your actions" which is another way of saying plan better my friend. I remember my maths teacher always use to say "Try and try again until you succeed" and I can't deny for fact how true it is for Lean Entrepreneurship.

In my 25 years of entrepreneurship experience (I started my first venture at fourteen, now don't calculate my age ok!) I can't tell how many times I have failed at one thing or another but still have kept going. From selling door to door instant dumplings mixture to selling pest control solutions to selling NB nature bonds to selling media technology and film distribution. One thing always led to another only what counted was not burying my head into failure but focusing on solution. In-fact that's what lean entrepreneurship and agile mindset talks about, which if succinctly to put in my words is nothing but planning enough to never run out of runway.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. - Abraham Lincoln"

To read more about lean entrepreneurship or attend my upcoming seminar register here or put a comment below. Till then, Sayonara!

Photo credit: Dilbert.com & Scott Adams.

Fun Fitness Alternatives!

“Hit the gym, quit sugar, cut down alcohol, eat more veggies, meditate, floss your teeth, and get a health cover…”

Cultivating healthy lifestyle can seem like a mammoth task, but there are many ways to make it easier. Staying fit need not be an Olympic level commitment, if you don’t like lifting weights in the gym then don’t do it. If you don’t like running, don’t do it. No point giving grief to your limbs if you are not cut out for it. However! Fitness and well-being is thought process and a lifestyle thing, there are ways to get your exercise dose complete without forking out gym membership.

Consider this: “Your main goal should be for you to enjoy the physical activity” and find a way to do it more than four times a week. Also combine this with making better decision about food you put in your body and that’s it.

Here is a list of my favourite fun fitness alternative that doesn’t feel like exercise:

Hiking, especially with friends: I always love a walk around Woodcraft Lake near Blacktown NSW, I’ll be surprised if you can’t find a place to stroll or hike with family or friends in Australia. In darn blue Aussie accent “Hell yeah maties get on and get going…”

Zumba Fitness: I must admit I tried it myself once or twice apart from being the only guy shaking my booty along in class full of ladies. I felt like quitting every 5 minutes but I stayed on and after 15 mins I was not only enjoying it but sweating like a pig.

Weekly sports night: I love to play Tennis, TT & Badminton and make sure I book at-least one weeknight for it apart from socialising it is great way to stay fit.

Active Video games: Believe it or not Microsoft invented its first video game in 1990’s step dance (which you see at every game parlour) to overcome obesity in American kids. This was even taken further by Wii, Nintendo, Kinetic and Sony, I personally love playing boxing on my Wii and it is bloody entertaining and great work out.

Play childhood games: I don’t mean to push world’s population on name of fitness  J J… However playing with my 3.5 year old daughter gives me a good run for my breath. Best part is you get to re-live your childhood with kids and they never go out of energy J

Adult Gymnastics: That thing that couples do? Yeah? Do more of that, self-explanatory. Moving on! (Don’t laugh)

Clean the house: Yeah, yeah that’s my usual answer to my wife when she asks me to get up and clean when in middle of an interesting TV show on Sunday morning. I know it sucks sometimes but you name it vacuuming, gardening, dishes, moping anything per say does get you sweaty. Isn’t it? So what are you waiting for? Do it for love. Clean house, happy partner and fitness all in one!

Yoga: Build flexibility, strength, sweat and relax all in one. There are million types of yoga, and it is fastest growing fitness industry in Australia so go and check it out yourself.

There are several other ways to keep fit like martial arts, salsa dancing, rock climbing, golf, ice skating, swimming the list goes on and on… Staying fit could never get easier than this best to follow this five point approach if you need a push over the fence.

Say yes to it before you say no, commit in advance, go with a friend or family, and expect to suck in the beginning (like I did with Zumba) and finally have fun.

Learning experience or mistake?

This world has a way of trying to homogenize you. Trying to sanitize you. Trying to scrub you of your unique divine genius, this world wants to make you regular - Cory Booker

When we take action, we always make mistakes... knowingly or unknowingly. They are bound to happen and it's important to have a good attitude towards mistakes. Mistakes are an integral part of learning. They teach us what we need to learn. As Miles Davies once said, "Do not fear mistakes; there are none". 

Today when I look back, I know I have done ample of mistakes some of them have costed me huge losses. However, at that time I wasn't sure if the learning I was getting out of so called "learning experience" would make me a better person. But I have realised now actually they did it was like a tiny drop of water in the ocean of experience called life.

Second thing I learned about mistake was not to take them seriously, this helped me immensely to grow as a person and understand others point of view. people who think you should know how to do something perfectly almost immediately are making a fundamental error that can prevent learning in both themselves and others around them. There is no end to new things you can learn from your mistakes but you would only realise that once you have gone past it.

So at times when I get understanding of the "learning experience aka mistakes" I just take one lesson at a time and keep moving.

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans" - Lenin.

Make your work break count!

Have you heard new adage “sitting is new smoking” …

When I heard about it I thought hell yeah! better I had quit smoking already now I need to quit sitting too? Until I got diagnosed with chronic back pain couple of years ago. I told my chiropractor “I am quite fit bloke” how come I got back pain in-spite of working out and leading an active lifestyle? He mentioned about science of posture and how human body is meant for hunting in the fields and not sitting in front of a damn computer whole day long. 

Now if this was 1860, I could have done something about “hunting in the fields” part but in 2017 it is a pretty tough gig. Specially living in this civilization makes it even harder to imitate our ancestral modus operandi.

We might have come from the planet of the apes but now since we are in the information age let’s see how we can still quench our postural thirst by staying in “well-being worker” limits. This is what I suggest as our plan of action to make our work breaks count.

Breaks are good, but do we take them? Ask yourself “what makes a good break for me?” taking yourself to local park? calling a friend? checking into gym? Laugh out loud with colleagues?  Or it might be just eating your food mindfully – which one is your fit ? Find it and use it.

Ensure you drink more than 2 litres water: Have you been asked this questions - Do you drink enough water? I am sure you would know the benefit but it has an added advantage of making you run to toilet pretty often and also break the sitting posture cycle for the sake of your bladder.

Get a fitness tracker: A little bit of technology to help you motivated and stay on track, most of the trackers can now start to beep (like mine) every 50th minute of an hour asking you to move your body (I said body…)

Don’t press the send button:  At times you’ll catch yourself sending an email to person sitting at the same floor? Have you done that? I know I have, why not try the alternate and walk to the person to have a chat.

Catch that yawn:  Yawning is actually a signal from your brain craving for oxygen! That is body’s natural response to initiate a break in posture. Next time when you catch yourself yawning at work get up and stretch yourself.

7 min refresher: It is scientifically proven 7 minutes is what it takes to break your postural pattern, experiment all the activities you could do in 7 minutes like brushing your teeth after lunch with an added advantage of dental hygiene.

Power Naps: There is a misconception, you don’t have to actually sleep merely closing your eyes and listening to some relaxing music for 10-20 mins would do the job.

In conclusion, it matters less what you do than why you’re doing it. Pay attention to three aspects of body, mind and spirit to tune into your own energy style and choose work break activities that will truly refresh you.