Unplug your mind

Dump the phone and unplug your mind

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small, A journey of thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

‘Constantly connected’ – if that seems to sum up your day then I have a word of caution for you and it is not coming from me alone, former vice president of Facebook Chamath Pali says “Social media is ripping apart the basic fabric of our society” and he feels “tremendous guilt” over his work on building Facebook’s social validation engine. Believe it or not Facebook has an algorithm to assess your personality and creates so called “short term, dopamine feedback loop called social validation”. Which in simple words means the like buttons, high fives, happy go lucky icons that it reads from your profile and feeds it into an algorithm to target advertisement and social traffic onto your Facebook page.

In an interview with Harvard business school he says he has deactivated not only his but his family’s Facebook account and encourages his kids to call their friends over phone rather checking in status on social media. All this has added another buzz word in our well-being dictionary called “Digital Detox”.

While Technology addiction is not classified as a psychological disorder as of now but it is heading that way quicker than you can imagine. At the same time, there is no denying the fact about value technology delivers in today’s age. However, as the old saying goes “too much of anything is bad” it becomes our revered duty to let our next generation understand the risk that technology overdose brings. Believe it or not we are the last generation on this planet that spent their lives without any screens, apart from a Television.

I still remember the good old black and white TV set in our living room back in 80’s and waiting for Giant Robot, He Man and Spider Man animation series to be aired every Sunday. I never imagined as a child something like tablet or smart phone would make it possible to deliver such content with mere touch of a button. Maybe it was good,since we had time rationed to watch this stuff vs. studies, playtime and family time.

As they say “history repeats itself” number one advise digital detox experts give is rationing screen time in our daily life, so let’s look at how it works:

Implement computer free days – Take out at least one day per month or every fortnight when you

dump your phone, tablet, laptops and TV’s to enjoy time with your family.

Leave the screens out of sleep – Latent technology used in LED screens is a blue optical display which hampers our brainwave pattern, listen to some good old songs or read a book before going to bed instead of looking at a screen. Psychology experts suggest at least one hour gap between sleep and screen time.

Carry your camera – Instead of phone take out your good old camera on holidays to restrict screen time.

Disconnect to reconnect – The best part of living in Australia is the good old “Outback” culture, we are so fortunate to have the biggest backyards and lovely camp sites all over the country. If you haven’t tried camping ever it is a must do activity. Leave your phones and screens behind to rejoice reconnect and recuperate with your family and loved ones.

Control your phone – If you are tempted to look at your phone with every ring, vibrate or notification then take it as a signal to control your phone time. It can be as simple as leaving your phone away and going on a walk with a mate or just by yourself. It is a good idea to switch off your phone at night or at least leave it on silent away from your bedroom.

Schedule screen free nights – Once a week switch off Wi-Fi and turn off TV to spend some good old dinner table time with your loved ones.

“Reward Yourself” - Especially kids for not using internet/ TV/ YouTube for once a week by scheduling screen free trip to park, zoo, aquarium or beach. There are digital detox retreats if you wish to take the pricey option.

Given that our relationship with screen is still relatively new, there are warnings signs that we should look out for and pass on to the next generation the experience we have been raised with.

The Power of Now

The Power of Now

"No body gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies" - Ann Landers.

There is one great book I read called, “The Power of now" by Eckert Tolle and it discusses the challenge of staying in the present moment and how much power you have when you do stay in the now. For me it was one of the biggest challenges during college days I had either stayed in past or looked towards the future anxiously.

Although both models have their plus and minus, I was young and anxious but also quite naive about expecting things I never knew I would get. It was then one fine day I decided what do I want? What are things I could do that are under my control? I still remember it was 17 November 2002, I wrote my list of 101 things to do before I die. You may call it a bucket list but I called it my "Wish List", it had things like meeting big celebrities, travelling around the world and experience things like Bungy jumping and sky diving.

Today looking back at it I have achieved a good amount of wishes I wrote for myself, it gives me pleasure and exhilaration. But most of all it gave me one thing that I felt lacked seriously back then “Purpose”. That list is the reason I am living in one of the finest cities in the world, driving a good car, living in a comfortable home. I’m not saying this to boast my achievements but to remind myself and to my blog readers about “Purpose”.

Back then past was a painful place to be, to see all mistakes I did, all the fear of failure and sour memories of what could have been better. On the other hand, the perfect future I wished. I call it the “Yoyo moment” where you are stuck between past and future. I’m sure all of us have such moments, one tool I discovered was “Power of Now” I didn’t know it back then. It gives you immense power to move your life ahead. It is like steering wheel of your car, which gives you direction. It doesn’t work when you are stationary in “Yoyo moment” but works like charm when you push the accelerator.

However, it is immensely significant to look back in the rear view mirror (your past) but you can’t drive your car looking at it all the time. It is of no use, but still significant to know what mistakes to avoid, to judge the road. So to speak power of now is your steering wheel that will direct you towards your purpose. All you got to do is choose the right speed and set course of action. All the best!

"The starting point of all achievement is desire" - Napoleon Hill.

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.