There were two childhood buddies who went through school and college and even joined the army together.
War broke out and they were fighting in the same unit. One night they were ambushed. Bullets were flying all over and out of the darkness came a voice, "Harry, please come and help me."
Harry immediately recognized the voice of his childhood buddy, Bill. He asked the captain if he could go. The captain said, "No, I can't let you go, I am already short-handed and I cannot afford to lose one more person. Besides, the way Bill sounds he is not going to make it." Harry kept quiet.
Again the voice came, "Harry, please come and help me." Harry sat quietly because the captain had refused earlier. Again and again the voice came. Harry couldn't contain himself any longer and told the captain, "Captain, this is my childhood buddy. I have to go and help." The captain reluctantly let him go. Harry crawled through the darkness and dragged Bill back into the trench. They found that Bill was dead.
Now the captain got angry and shouted at Harry, "Didn't I tell you he was not going to make it? He is dead, you could have been killed and I could have lost a hand. That was a mistake."
Harry replied, "Captain, I did the right thing. When I reached Bill he was still alive and his last words were 'Harry, I knew you would come.'
Good relationships are hard to find and once developed should be nurtured. We are often told: Live your dream. But you cannot live your dream at the expense of others. People who do so are unscrupulous.
We need to make personal sacrifices for our family, friends, and those we care about and who depend on us.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The perfect boss
There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting their job.
One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him, "Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township so I want to leave the office at 5:30 pm."
His boss replied, "OK, You're permitted to leave the office early today."
The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual, he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch only when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM.
Suddenly he remembered the promise he had made to his children.
He looked for his boss but he was not there. Having told him in the morning himself, he closed everything and left for home. Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. The children were not there.
His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines. The situation was explosive; any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him, "Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry?"
The man replied, "If you would like to have coffee, I too will have but what about the children?"
Hi wife replied, "You don't know? Your boss came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition."
What had really happened was ... The boss who granted him permission was observing him working seriously at 5.00 PM. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to exhibition.
The boss does not have to do it every time. But once it is done, loyalty is established.
One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him, "Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township so I want to leave the office at 5:30 pm."
His boss replied, "OK, You're permitted to leave the office early today."
The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual, he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch only when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM.
Suddenly he remembered the promise he had made to his children.
He looked for his boss but he was not there. Having told him in the morning himself, he closed everything and left for home. Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. The children were not there.
His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines. The situation was explosive; any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him, "Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry?"
The man replied, "If you would like to have coffee, I too will have but what about the children?"
Hi wife replied, "You don't know? Your boss came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition."
What had really happened was ... The boss who granted him permission was observing him working seriously at 5.00 PM. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to exhibition.
The boss does not have to do it every time. But once it is done, loyalty is established.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
The real failure
The only real failure is failing to learn from failure.
There is a story of a young reporter who was commissioned to interview an old and successful businessman.
`Sir,' he asked politely, `what has been the secret of your success?'
The older man leaned back on his leather swivel chair, behind his shining mahogany desk, and replied, `Two words, son, two words: right decisions.'
The reporter wrote it down. Then he asked another question. `And how do you learn how to make right decisions, sir?' he asked.
The successful business man leaned back further and replied, `One word, son, one word: experience.'
The reporter wrote this down, too, and then asked, `Well, sir, how do you acquire experience?'
The older man leaned forward over his desk and whispered conspiratorially, `Two words, son, two words: wrong decisions!'
The only real failure is failing to learn from failure.
There is a story of a young reporter who was commissioned to interview an old and successful businessman.
`Sir,' he asked politely, `what has been the secret of your success?'
The older man leaned back on his leather swivel chair, behind his shining mahogany desk, and replied, `Two words, son, two words: right decisions.'
The reporter wrote it down. Then he asked another question. `And how do you learn how to make right decisions, sir?' he asked.
The successful business man leaned back further and replied, `One word, son, one word: experience.'
The reporter wrote this down, too, and then asked, `Well, sir, how do you acquire experience?'
The older man leaned forward over his desk and whispered conspiratorially, `Two words, son, two words: wrong decisions!'
The only real failure is failing to learn from failure.
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