Thursday 28 November 2013

Traditional thinking Vs Logical thinking


Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. 

Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Note:- Post answer/views as comments...  In next post I will post what she did......

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Every thing happens for our own good

During my school days, I had a period of Moral Science class where they teach the ethics, morals and the code of conduct for the students so as to become the good citizens of the country.

In this subject, one story inspired a lot to me which helped me to build myself and enrich my career.

The story goes like this:

Once there was a king named 'Thirumala' ruled some part of the county and he has a wise adviser, who is well versed in the all the subjects.

One day on the king birthday he was well dressed with royal robes and walking majestically into the court room, on the way to court room he his waving his hand to all the citizens present in the court room due to waving his hand his fingers got scratched to the metal door and got hurt as his fingers has a minor cut leading to a loss of blood.

After this incident, the king asked the his adviser that why it had happened he replied "Every thing for our own good", king got angry and told to the guards that adviser to arrested and sent to the dark dungeon for some days.

One fine day king went to royal hunting to the near by forest, for a while he was with all the soldiers, suddenly he spotted a dear, he wanted to catch it but unfortunately he couldn't catch it and he lost with other people he was alone. It was in the evening he was resting under a tree suddenly he heard roaring sound of a lion near by him smelling him he was scared and he was lying silently watching it's activities.When it came near to his hand and saw there was cut in the hand it simply left without harming and he immediately realized the importance of his adviser words that "Everything happens for our own good".

Animals(especially Lion, Tiger) follow a principle of eating fresh meat not a rotten or damaged.

He back to the kingdom, ordered the guards to release the adviser immediately,when he came king apologized for his foolish act.

What can we learn from this a small moral story:
Every thing happens for own good.

We should patiently wait for our turn and nothing happens without any reason.
Hope everyone will think in positive ways for the acts they do in their lives and ultimately good will happen.

Monday 18 November 2013

Logistics Infrastructure report of India by Mckinsey & Co

Infrastructure is one of the key indicators of the country's economic development. With respect to India, we lacks in the basic infrastructure. This impacts on the business community as whole.

In this regard, Mckinsey & Co. came up with the logistics report, the underlines the importance of logistics and ways to improve the logistics.

The link for the report is given below:

Logistics Infrastructure Report

Saturday 16 November 2013

What can we learn from Chinese Bamboo tree??

Usually we learn from our experience or from seeing others so that we don't repeat our mistakes. But do we realize that can we learn from a tree that is growing in our backyards?? The answer is....

YES.

We can learn a lot of things from nature and one of the beautiful lesson that we can learn from the nature is the story of the Chinese Bamboo tree.

When you observe the Chinese Bamboo tree it grows about 80 feet high and it takes about 5 years and 3 months to reach the 80 feet.

When you plant the seed of Chinese Bamboo in the back yard, you can observe the following:

  • 0-1 year: You can see anything, even the green sprout can't be seen but you should water it.
  • 1-2 year: Even daily watering you won't see any changes as same as the 1st year.
  • 2-3 year:Even daily watering, you can't see any changes happening as same as 1st and 2nd year, be optimistic and patience. If you are fool enough dig and see what happens you will get astonished by the result.
  • 3-4 year: Daily water it and no visible changes, want to check dig and see.
  • 4-5 year:Daily water it and no visible changes.
After the 5th year you can make a note of the changes:

  •  6th year: 1st day you can see a small green sprout coming out of the soil.
  • 6th year: 2nd day you will be wondered to see the plant as grown 3 feet within a overnight.
Like wise within 3 months of time you can see the bamboo tree as grown of 80 feet high.

So why it took so many years for a small sprout to come up...

Within this five years of time the bamboo tree is getting ready to sustain the 80 feet high that means the tree is growing under the soil and making it stronger. It is making it roots stronger for supporting its height.

How can we relate to our personal lives:
  • Patience has a reward.
  • Major achievement comes after years of hard work, patience and failure.
Don't be panic every time you loose or didn't get want you want, some or other day you would be recognized and rewarded what you want.