Archive for October, 2006
By Rajesh Setty on Tue 03 Oct 2006, 6:48 PM - 1 Comment
When very smart people start blogging, they are extending their brand but they are also doing a great service. Now, people across the world can get their insights asynchronously. I want to extend a warm welcome to the two new bloggers – the 2 Ts.
1. Tim Sanders
Tim Sanders has been a huge inspiration in my life in the last few years. With his busy schedule, I don’t get to meet him often but whenever I meet him, the ROII shoots through the roof. Sanders has started blogging at “Sanders Says” and I am sure you will enjoy reading and learning. Welcome Tim!
Link – Sanders Says
2. Tom Clifford
It may appear strange but it is true. I have never met Tom in person but I am sure I will very shortly. Tom is a multi-talented person as it is very evident from his blog. Tom started blogging at “Director Tom: Journal” Please pay a visit and you will be dazzled by the brilliance of the imagery on his blog. Welcome Tom!
Link – Director Tom: Journal
PS: I didn’t make it to the “Top 5″ on Tom’s list. You know – I am an optimist and it only makes me want to work hard on my craft and increase the value I am providing 
Posted under Announcement, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Tue 03 Oct 2006, 5:00 AM - Leave Comment
Hanging on to a single idea may blind you from other possibilities. Think!
“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when it’s the only one you have.”
- Emile Chartier, French Philosopher
Posted under Great Quotes, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Mon 02 Oct 2006, 1:06 PM - 1 Comment
“It’s not what you think…it’s what you say”
- Susan Scott (from Fierce Conversations)
Think about some of your recent “difficult” conversations with people. When the other person made an inappropriate comment, Was it a reaction or a response?
Whenever the other person was unreasonable, chances were that the person was reacting rather than responding. It may not be surprising to you when I say that YOU also have played a part in making the other person react rather than respond. It is a very subtle difference. It might also be that your reaction (rather than a response) caused another reaction from that person. Someone has to break this loop leading to a downward spiral that both parties will later regret.
Since you have only one person that you can truly control – YOU, may be you should take the larger responsibility of ensuring that you say things in a manner that will elicit a response rather than a reaction. Here are some examples:
Instead of saying: You
NEVER return my phone calls on time.
How about:
You seem to be extremely busy as I don’t hear back from you quickly.
Instead of saying: You ALWAYS mess up things
How about: You didn’t pay attention to this job. Where you pre-occupied with something else or were my instructions not clear?
Instead of saying: I don’t think you will EVER get what I am saying
How about: Let’s see why this is hard to understand. May be I am not saying it the right way.
I am sure you are smart and if you stop and think you will come up with your own examples. It is definitely not the knowledge that is the problem. It is in the execution. Think about how you will behave next time when you are having that DIFFICULT conversation. What could you do to ensure that
a) you respond and not react
b) you don’t say something that will make the other person react
Have a great week ahead!
Note 1: Here is a Squidoo lens that links to most of the previous articles in this series:
Squidoo: Distinguish Yourself
Note 2: The first 25 entries in the series have been packaged in a ChangeThis manifesto that was published on September 07, 2005. You can download that manifesto here:
ChangeThis Manifesto: 25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself (PDF, Free)
Note 3: My latest manifesto on ChangeThis was published on August 6, 2008. This is a photographic manifesto featuring 15 of my mini sagas (stories in exactly 50 words). Here is the link:
ChangeThis Manifesto: Mini Sagas – Bite Sized Lessons for Life and Business (PDF, Free)
Posted under Distinguish yourself, Main Page.
By Rajesh Setty on Sun 01 Oct 2006, 5:49 PM - Leave Comment
It happens sometimes – people push you to a corner and make you do crazy things. Actually, when you are pushed to a corner and there is no way out, isn’t it logical to fight with all your might to survive?
If it can happen to you – it can happen to others too. It can happen by design or it can happen spontaneously. You may have to take a harsh stand against someone and you may have to do it in front of a group. If you get carried away, you may push that person to a corner and keep him there until he fights for his life. And he will. Without worrying about anyone else. He may regret for his actions later but the damage would have been done.
What could you do? The simple solution is to leave a door open at the corner. Allow the person to save his face and he will thank you for that – not now but sometime later.
Think about it. First, by pushing him to the corner you have made your point and if he is smart he is already got it. The additional mileage you will gain by keeping him in the corner is minimal. Leaving a door open in the corner will sort of end the “checkmate” between the two of you and the game is completed with a notional win.
When I talk about this concept, there is always one or two out there who contradict saying “Raj, the best thing to do is to avoid pushing someone to the corner so hard.” and I say “That is right.” I really do mean it. In fact, there are so many ideal things that I don’t have the time to record them. Life is not ideal and things won’t happen by the rule book. For those of you who may be thinking in those “ideal” scenarios, consider this an exception. Think about it this way. You may never push anyone into a corner in your life (I doubt it but let’s play the game anyway) but you can’t guarantee that for everyone that you know. It may so happen that someone is being pushed to a corner in a group and you are a silent witness. Here is your chance to open a door for the person who is looking for help.
Have a great week ahead!
Note 1: Here is a Squidoo lens that links to most of the previous articles in this series:
Squidoo: Distinguish Yourself
Note 2: The first 25 entries in the series have been packaged in a ChangeThis manifesto that was published on September 07, 2005. You can download that manifesto here:
ChangeThis Manifesto: 25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself (PDF, Free)
Note 3: My latest manifesto on ChangeThis was published on August 6, 2008. This is a photographic manifesto featuring 15 of my mini sagas (stories in exactly 50 words). Here is the link:
ChangeThis Manifesto: Mini Sagas – Bite Sized Lessons for Life and Business (PDF, Free)
Posted under Distinguish yourself, Main Page.
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