The Burden Of Shyness

THE BURDEN OF SHYNESS What is shyness? Shyness means: Discomfort-Anxiety Awkwardness-Unease Reserved Reticent-Quit Backward Hesitant Modest-Humble Insecure-Lacking Confidence Fearful-Afraid Nervous-Worried Suspicious Cautious-Watchful Distrustful-Doubtful Suspicious

How to defeat shyness: • • • • • • • • • • •

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Identifying fear provoking thoughts Setting of goal Learning new conversational skills Entering into a conversation group Question – asking Giving and receiving compliments Learning assertion skills-How to say “No” Practicing skills you already have Selecting appropriate practice opportunities Preparing a dialogue in advance Learning to build self-confidence Maintaining positive attitude Seeing failures as milestones to success Believing that any situation is an ongoing learning process irrespective of success or failure.

Motivational Stories: Everything Happens For The Good There was once a King who had a wise advisor. The advisor followed the King everywhere, and his favorite advice was, “Everything happens for the good”. One day the King went hunting and had a little accident. He shot an arrow at his own foot and was injured. He asked the advisor what he thought about the accident, to which the advisor replied, “Everything happens for the good”. This time the King was really upset and ordered for his advisor to be put in prison. The King asked his advisor, “Now, what do you think?” The advisor again replied, “Everything happens for the good”. So the advisor remained in prison. The King later went on a hunting trip, this time without the advisor. The King was then captured by some cannibals. He was taken to the cannibals' camp where he was to be the evening meal for the cannibals. Before putting him into the cooking pot he was thoroughly inspected. The cannibals saw the wound on the King’s foot and decided to throw him back into the jungle. According to the cannibals' tradition, they would not eat anything that was imperfect. As a result the King was spared. The King suddenly realized what his advisor said was true. The advisor also escaped death because had he not been in prison, he would have followed the King on the hunting trip, and would have ended up in the cooking pot.

Success Principles It is true that everything in life happens for a purpose, and always for our own good. If you think about it, all our past experiences actually happened to bring us to where we are today and it is always for the good. All the past experiences make us a better person. So, whatever challenges that we may face today, consider it happening to bring us to the next level.

My Dog Can Walk On Water There was a hunter who came into the possession of a special bird dog. The dog was the only one of its kind, because it can walk on water. One day he invited a friend to go hunting with him so that he could show off his prized possession. After some time, they shot a few ducks, which fell into the river. The man ordered his dog to run and fetch the birds. The dog ran on water to fetch the birds. The man was expecting a compliment about the amazing dog, but did not receive it. Being curious, he asked his friend if the friend had noticed anything unusual about the dog. The friend replied, “Yes, I did see something unusual about your dog. Your dog can’t swim!”

Success Principles More than 90% of the people that we face everyday are negative. They choose to look at the hole in the middle rather than the doughnut. Do not expect compliments or encouragement from them. These are the people who cannot pull you out of your present situation. They can only push you down. So be aware of them, spend less time with them, and do not let them steal your dreams away from you.

Two frogs A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons: 1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. 2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

The changing role of MNCs Multinationals are like the Amitabh / Govinda starrer Bade Miya, Chhote Miya. You may like it or dislike it but cannot ignore it. Multinationals (MNCs) have both votaries and detractors but they continue to operate with changing roles. India’s first publicized encounter with an MNC was the East India Company. In those days, MNCs had two major roles and several consequences —intended and unintended. One role was to conduct trade and the other was to transport flora and fauna to augment the resources. Witness the ubiquitous presence of potatoes in India! We all love economic activity for its benefits. However, economic activity comes wrapped in cellophanous political ambition which is not clearly visible. The East India Company’s role as a trader required protection and support and the British Government provided that by bringing the country under its rule. Colonialism has strong political and economic underpinnings and MNCs have often initiated, established and exploited the process. The 18th and most of the 19th century saw more of the same. The Industrial Revolution and a stable government did bring the establishment of manufacturing units, transfer of technology and creation of a local entrepreneurial and managerial cadre. The business model underwent changes and MNCs were now marketing in India goods made in UK, manufacturing textiles, engineering goods, processed commodities, chemicals etc. and sourcing raw and processed material for export to UK. The MNCs brought with them a culture which was alien but useful in introducing certain practices and values. The business activity of the MNCs coupled with the introduction of education and availability of jobs affected the social organization profoundly. What we find today as a given was in good measure a result of MNC activity. A relative had to be purified with smea- ring of cowdung for traveling overseas. Later overseas travel which was taboo was encouraged by the opportunity for trade and jobs. Focus on research Another role that the MNCs have played, albeit in a small way, is to bring in research as part of managing the enterprise through product and process development. Very few MNCs set up research stations in India but many employed scientists for process and product development as well as pure research scientists. The Hindustan Lever research centres, Mahyco’s agricultural research centre and a whole host of them moving to India now like SKF, Glaxo etc. are part of the trend....

Multinational Companies in India The post financial liberation era in India has experienced huge influx of 'Multinational Companies in India' and propelled India's economy to greater heights. Although, majority of these companies are of American origin but it did not take too long for other nations to realize the huge potential that India Inc offers. 'Multinational Companies in India' represent a diversified portfolio of companies representing different nations. It is well documented that American companies accounts for around 37% of the turnover of the top 20 firms operating in India. But, the scenario for 'MNC in India' has changed a lot in recent years, since more and more firms from European Union like Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium etc have outsourced their work to India. Finnish mobile handset manufacturing giant Nokia has the second largest base in India. British Petroleum and Vodafone (to start operation soon) represent the British. A host of automobile companies like Fiat, Ford Motors, and Piaggio etc from Italy have opened shop in India with R&D wing attached. French Heavy Engineering major Alstom and Pharma major Sanofi Aventis is one of the earliest entrants in the scene and is expanding very fast. Oil companies, Infrastructure builders from Middle East are also flocking in India to catch the boom. South Korean electronics giants Samsung and LG Electronics and small and mid-segment car major Hyundai Motors are doing excellent business and using India as a hub for global delivery. Japan is also not far behind with host of electronics and automobiles shops. Companies like SingTel of Singapore and Malaysian giant Salem Group are showing huge interest for investment. In spite of the huge growth India Inc have some bottlenecks, like – • • •

Irrational policies (tax structure and trade barriers). Low invest in infrastructure - physical and information technology. Slow reforms (political reforms to improve stability, privatization and deregulation, labor reforms).

Reports say, performance of 3 out of every 4 'Multinational Companies' has met or exceeded internal targets and expectations. India is perceived to be at par with China in terms of FDI attractiveness by 'Multinational Companies in India'. In view of 'Multinational Companies' community, it ranks higher than China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines in terms of MNC performance. Multinational Companies Operating in India cite India's highly educated workforce, management talent, rule of law, transparency, cultural affinity, and regulatory environment as more favorable than others. Moreover, they acknowledged, India's leadership in IT, business processing, and R&D investments. 'Multinational Companies in India' are bullish on – • • • •

India's market potential. Labor competitiveness. Macro-economic stability. FDI attractiveness.

Ancient India Tales Right and Might WHILE a deer was eating wild fruit, he heard an owl call "Haak, haak" (a spear), and a cricket cry, "Wat" (surrounded), and, frightened, he fled. In his flight he ran through the trees up into the mountains and into streams. In one of the streams the deer stepped upon a small fish and crushed it almost to death. Then the fish complained to the court, and the deer, owl, cricket, and fish had a lawsuit. In the trial came out this evidence: As the deer fled, he ran into some dry grass, and the seed fell into the eye of a wild chicken, and the pain of the seed in the eye of the chicken caused it to fly up against a nest of red ants. Alarmed, the red ants flew out to do battle, and in their haste, bit a mongoose. The mongoose ran into a vine of wild fruit and shook several pieces of it on the head of a hermit who sat thinking under a tree. "Why did you, O fruit, fall on my head?" cried the hermit. The fruit answered: "We did not wish to fall; a mongoose ran against our vine and threw us down." And the hermit asked, “O mongoose, why did you throw the fruit?" The mongoose answered: "I did not wish to throw down the fruit, but the red ants bit me, and I ran against the vine." The hermit asked, “O ants, why did you bite the mongoose?" The red ants replied: "The hen flew against our nest and angered us." The hermit asked: “O hen, why did you fly against the red ants' nest?" And the hen replied: "The seed fell into my eyes and hurt me." And the hermit asked, “O seed, why did you fall into the hen's eyes?" And the seed replied: "The deer shook me down." The hermit said unto the deer, "O deer, why did you shake down the seed?" The deer answered: "I did not wish to do it, but the owl called, frightening me, and I ran." "O owl," asked the hermit, "why did you frighten the deer?" The owl replied: "I called, but as I am accustomed to call---the cricket, too, called." Having heard the evidence, the judge said, "The cricket must replace the crushed parts of the fish and make it well," as he, the cricket, had called and frightened the deer. The cricket was smaller and weaker than the owl or the deer, therefore had to bear the penalty.

The Man in the Moon

THERE was a blacksmith once who complained: "I am not well, and my work is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade." A wise man who had power over all things replied: "Go you, be a stone." And he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side. It happened that a stone-cutter came that way for a stone, and when he saw the one that had been the blacksmith, he knew that it was what he sought, and he began to cut it. The stone cried out: "This hurts! I no longer want to be a stone. A stone-cutter I want to be. That would be pleasant." The wise man, humoring him, said, "Be a cutter." Thus he became a stone-cutter, and as he went seeking suitable stone, he grew tired, and his feet were sore. He whimpered, “I no longer want to cut stone. I would be the sun; that would be pleasant." The wise man commanded, “Be the sun." And he was the sun. But the sun was warmer than the blacksmith, than a stone, than a stone-cutter, and he complained, "I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool." The wise man spoke yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon. "This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life." But the wise man replied, “I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain." And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.

The Legend of the Rice

IN the days when the earth was young and all things were better than they now are, when men and women were stronger and of greater beauty, and the fruit of the trees was larger and sweeter than that which we now eat, rice, the food of the people, was of larger grain. One grain was all a man could eat; and in those early days, such, too, was the merit of the people, they never had to toil gathering the rice, for, when ripe, it fell from the stalks and rolled into the villages, even unto the granaries. And upon a year when the rice was larger and more plentiful than ever before, a widow said to her daughter "Our granaries are too small. We will pull them down and build larger." When the old granaries were pulled down and the new one not yet ready for use, the rice was ripe in the fields. Great haste was made, but the rice came rolling in where the work was going on, and the widow, angered, struck a grain and cried, "Could you not wait in the fields until we were ready? You should not bother us now when you are not wanted." The rice broke into thousands of pieces and said "From this time forth, we will wait in the fields until we are wanted," and from that time the rice has been of small grain, and the people of the earth must gather it into the granary from the fields.

The Lord Krishna and the Lapwing's Nest

IT was the battle of Kurukshetra. The white conch shells were about to sound, the elephants to march forward, and the attack of the archers to commence. The moment was brief and terrible. Banners were flying, and the charioteers preparing for the advance. Suddenly a little lapwing, who had built her nest in the turf of a hillock in the midst of the battlefield, drew the attention of the Lord Krishna by her cries of anxiety and distress for her young. "Poor little mother!" he said tenderly, "let this be thy protection!" And, lifting a great elephant-bell that had fallen near, he placed it over the lapwing's nest. And so, through the eighteen days of raging battle that followed, a lapwing and her nestlings were kept in safety in their nest, by the mercy of the lord, even in the midst of the raging field of Kurukshetra.

The Peacock and the Tortoise

ONCE upon a time a peacock and a tortoise became great friends. The peacock lived on a tree on the banks of the stream in which the tortoise had his home; and daily the peacock after he had a drink of water danced near the stream and displayed his gay plumage for the amusement of his friend. One unfortunate day, a bird-catcher who was on the prowl caught the peacock and was about taking him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged of his captor to allow him to bid his friend the tortoise goodbye, as it would be the last time he would see him. The bird-catcher allowed him his prayer and took him to the tortoise, who was greatly moved to see his friend a captive. The tortoise asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go; but he laughed at the request, saying that was his means of livelihood. The tortoise then said, "If I make you a handsome present, will you let my friend go?" "Certainly," answered the birdcatcher that is all I want." Whereupon the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl, which, to the great astonishment of the birdcatcher, he handed to him. This was beyond his expectations, and he let the peacock go immediately. A short time after, the avaricious man came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not paid enough for the release of his friend, and threatened that, unless a match to that pearl was obtained for him, he would again catch the peacock. The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to betake himself to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly enraged at the greed of this man. "Well," said the tortoise, "if you insist on having another pearl like it, give it to me and I will fish you out an exact match for it." The cupidity of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning that "one in the hand was equal to two in the bed of the stream," and he speedily gave the pearl to the wily tortoise, who swam out with it saying, "I am no fool to take one and give two!" and forthwith disappeared, leaving the bird-catcher to be sorry ever after for his covetousness.

Let's See On Which Side The Camel Sits

ONCE a greengrocer and a potter jointly hired a camel and each filled one side of the pannier with his goods. The camel as he went along the road took a mouthful every now and then, as he had a chance, from the green-grocer's bag of vegetables. This provoked a laugh from the potter, who thought he had the best of the bargain. But the time came for the camel to sit, and he naturally sat on the heavier side, bearing down on the pots, and also to have his mouth free to operate on the bag of greens. This caused the pots to break in the bag, and then the greengrocer had all the laugh to himself.

The Washerman and The Donkey A STORY is told of an over-credulous washerman who was childless. This preyed upon his mind very much and was a permanent cause of unhappiness. One day, in the course of his work, he went to the house of the town kazi (or magistrate). He heard the kazi reproaching one of his pupils in this wise: "Not long ago you were a jackass; I made a man of you," etc. The washer-man did not wait to hear the rest. He hastened home with all speed and told his wife that he had made a discovery which they were to lose no time in utilizing. "The kazi, my dear," said the washerman "can make a man of a donkey. Why should we fret any longer for a child? Let us take our donkey to him and beg of him to transform him." The washerman and his wife, with their donkey, were shortly after this conversation on their way to the kazi. Their mission being explained with many supplications, the kazi, quick-sighted, and with an eye to business, accepted the charge, and promised to affect the metamorphosis in a year. The washerman on his part promised to give his services free for that period. A year passed in waiting and in happy hopes. On the appointed day the washerman and his companion presented themselves before the kazi. The kazi took them aside and pointed out a strong young man among his pupils. "There," he whispered to the washerman, "is your donkey. You see the change: now persuade him and take him home." The washerman and his wife flew to their newly created son, and with many endearing terms prepared to embrace him and made other affectionate advances. Amazed at this unaccountable conduct of these low people, the lad resisted at first, but as they persisted, he grew furious. After receiving many a cuff from the lad, a happy idea struck the washerman's wife: turning to her husband she said, "Go you and fetch his peg, rope, and grain-bag; perhaps they may remind him of what he was once." The washerman in hot haste went home and fetched them. But it seemed to make matters worse. The washerman held up each of these articles to the young man's view, and said, in the most persuasive tone he could command, "Come home, my

son. Do you forget the day you were my donkey? This was the peg to which I would tether you, this your tether rope, and this your food-bag; come to your home!" By this time a jeering crowd had gathered round the young man, and this so infuriated him that he turned to and gave the washerman the soundest thrashing he had ever received in his life. The poor dupe of a washerman---the story says---went home thoroughly convinced that what fate had ordained it was useless to fight against, looking upon his punishment as a just return for his presumption.

The Seven Weavers and The Field of Flax SEVEN weavers once started on a moonlight journey. They had not gone very far from their home when they lost the road. After trying to find their way, they came to a field of flax, which they took to be a river, as the field was in flower, and they fancied the blue color of the flower to be that of water. They stripped themselves and began swimming. After hard labor, they got across. To make certain that no one was drowned, they took the precaution of counting themselves before resuming their journey; but they discovered that one of them was missing, as each forgot to count himself. Grieved at the loss of one of their company, they had not the heart to pursue their journey, but returned home.

Some Proverbs: •

SELF PRAISE is no praise.

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The young crow is wiser than its mother.

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What is play to one is death to another.

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In a treeless country, the castor-oil plant is a big tree

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A scalded cat dreads cold water.

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The washerman never tears his father's clothes.

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A fool went to fish, but lost his fishing-basket.

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A thief is a thief, whether he steals a diamond or a cucumber.

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God takes care of a blind cow.

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One who cannot dance blames the floor.