What is Success?

For most of us, the way we are conditioned, we believe success to be financial and social. We think, money will buy us happiness but when we become rich we realize that money can’t bring in happiness. Money can bring comfort and safety but not joy and bliss.

So, that means we are getting more comfortable day by day but are not finding happiness. What is it that can bring us happiness?

1. Contribution-Giving Back

Someone beautifully said, that life is given to us to give it away. We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness. The more you give, the more you receive- this is the Law of Karma.

But, you have to give without expectations for a return. You have to give unconditionally. Giving doesn’t mean only giving things and food, but also giving your knowledge, attention and presence.

2. Sharing

Sharing is natural. If you are in tune with life, you will automatically share. The more you share, the more happy and blissful you will become. Joy when shared multiplies. If all of us start sharing, there will be no lack of anything and most of all there will be no lack of love.

3. Self-Actualization

Tich Nhat han once said, that there are more possibilities in the present moment than you can imagine. We all have tremendous potential-immense possibilities. We can flower in a thousand different ways. We should seize opportunities to actualize our potential and that will give us happiness, joy and satisfaction.

4. Positive Attitude

You should understand that it’s not what happens to you but your thoughts about it which make all the difference. You should realize that the glass is always half full. Looking at the positive side of things makes your life fuller and happier

5. Follow Your Heart

Always listen to your heart. The heart is the lamp for the soul. Focus and follow your feeling. As you mature, you will realize that emotions are critical and the most important.

Dream, because only those who dream realize their dreams.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

“Do You Own The Donkey Or Does The Donkey Own You?”

What you can visualize, you can realize. The Buddha said, "you are what you think." In other words, it is your thoughts which make you who you are. But, unfortunately, we are all in the habit of unconscious thinking. We don’t choose what to think, we just think what we think.

The need of the hour is, to bring in the light of awareness, presence and intelligence into how we think.

You have the freedom to choose and once you start to exercise this freedom, it gives you wings. No longer are you a slave of your mind. You start controlling your thoughts and emotions. Simply put, you become free.

Let me tell you a story. Once a Washerman was on his way to work  and he had a donkey with him which he was dragging along with himself. Suddenly,  the donkey refused to move. From the opposite direction a saint was coming and he saw what was happening. He made a simple but profound observation and comment. He said, “Do you own the donkey or does the donkey own you?”

This is exactly what is happening in our lives. The donkey is owning us. We need to take back the reigns of our mind back into our own hands.

This is easier said than done, but there are simple techniques which can help you in controlling your mind:

1. Detachment

Don’t identify with anything. Be as you are-Total-Complete. The most common identification is that with the body. You are separate from your body and mind. So, don’t attach your sense of self with them.

2. Self-Awareness

Be Aware of every action, every thought that you do and think. Bring in the light of consciousness into your life. This will give you freedom.

3. Acceptance 

Accept each moment as it is .Don’t choose. Just be a conscious presence and let things be and happen on their own through universal grace.

4. Surrender

One who surrenders totally, gains totally. Surrender and let divinity and intelligence take charge of your life. Slay your ego and reach for the infinite.

5. Being a Witness

Be a witness. Develop Objectivity. Observe your life as if you are observing a third person. This will give you perspective, vision and wisdom.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

The Role of Discipline in Personal & Private Victories

“Life is a series of problems. Discipline is the basic set of tools to solve life’s problems. With some discipline you can solve some problems and with absolute discipline you can solve all problems.”These lines from the book “The Road Less Travelled” by M.Scott Peck are more relevant today than ever.

In a world which is pacing fast towards nothingness, most people are living lives without any purpose. The need of the hour is to find ones center, have a goal and a vision and stick by ones commitments and promises.

Everyone respects a Man of his word. Honesty is still greatly valued. Authenticity is critical in creating lasting relationships.

Discipline involves Commitment, Rituals and Time Management.

1. Commitment

If you keep promises, you are bound to garner respect for yourself. People will start by trusting you with small things and soon they will start trusting you with bigger things. To keep ones word is a mark of a true gentleman or lady.

When you honor your word you are creating a Trustworthy Brand for yourself. People will approach you more and your reputation will soar sky high.

2. Rituals

Rituals are the basis of a disciplined and goal oriented life. Right from your morning exercise, yoga and meditation to having your lunch on time and networking 1 hour daily, if you have a well-defined daily routine, you will not waste time and will be able to make the most of each day.

3. Time Management

Time is Money. Time is everything. You have to realize that you have limited time on your hands and that is why you should concentrate on tasks which are Urgent and Important. The way you spend your time today will determine your destiny tomorrow.

Divide you day into 3 parts. Take breathers and Breaks. Make the most of the now. Prioritize.  Schedule. Keep Timelines. Be Punctual, in fact be before time. This will help you live a more fuller, more successful and a richer life.

With Commitment, Rituals and Time Management, you will be able to excel at your workplace and live a richer and more meaningful life.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

Success Mantra: Take Initiative & Be Proactive

Today good enough is not good enough. You have to be an expert- the best in your area of expertise and subject. To gain a competitive edge, you need to put in that extra effort.

There are certain traits Companies are looking in their candidates today:

1. Perseverance

It is a difficult world out there. In order to survive this world, you need to take initiative and seize the opportunities that come your way. You need to be tough and go through the struggles effortlessly. As the famous poet Rumi put it, “If you resist every rub, how will you get polished”. You will need to look at problems as challenges and give your best shot at constantly inventing solutions. 

2. Proactivity

Normal is passé. Taking Initiative is the new thing. Companies are looking for candidates who can go that extra mile, make that extra effort and deliver instantly and successfully. In this technology rich superfast business world, you are not only competing with humans, but  also competing with machines and computers so you need to be super quick and come up with progressive problem solving and creative solutions to complex problems.

3. Go-Getter Approach

Life is a race and you have to be in it to win it. Corporates are looking for candidates with passion, devotion and loyalty towards their workplace. In these dynamic times, opportunities are plenty but to seize and realize them one needs to be driven from within. One needs to keep ones spirits high and be an eternal optimist and always remember that behind every calamity lies tremendous opportunity.

4. Creativity

Today, knowledge is available at the click of a button. We are literally carrying the world in our pockets so the need of the hour demands that we think different, invent unique, improvise and customize. Creativity is a greatly valued skill and creative people are always in demand. Being creative involves original improvisation and intuitive imagination. Be creative and you will get the edge that is needed to shine in this world. 

5. Team Player

Companies are looking for team players and team assets. The need of the hour is to align personal values, vision and mission with that of the teams and to align the teams with the companies. Working in teams is a part of every profile and good team players are always in demand. 

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

The Importance of Soft skills in Corporate Life

In the fast changing world that we live in today, soft skills play a pivotal role in generating personal and professional success. No doubt, technical expertise is very important in every job but if you lack in soft skills, you will find it very difficult to climb up the corporate ladder.

The competitive and fast pace nature of our world presents us with very less time to make a lasting impact and generate success. So, communication skills have come to acquire a critical status. Also, we have tight deadlines on our plates that need us to be an expert at multi-tasking and delegating. We all need to understand, that we are all very unique and different and we need to value differences and be effective and efficient team players. All these skills contribute in personal and professional skills.

You need to connect emotionally, be empathetic, and understand others and their paradigms. You should know when to be assertive and when to be submissive; what this means is that we need to be more emotionally intelligent to succeed in life.

Someone rightly said “life is not about accumulation…life is about contribution”. By using niceties, you can make emotional deposits in the hearts and minds of your friends and colleagues, thus increasing and improving your network and your connections.
Simple words like “Sorry” and “Thank You” make a big difference. People might forget what you said to them or about them but they will not forget how you treated them, so it becomes very important to be nice to others , no matter what their status or position. Real leaders lead from the front and know that to succeed one needs to make others succeed as well.

Some years ago, the Times of India decided to supplement the small “i”  for the capital “I” symbolizing a less egoistic, less selfish approach. This is what we need to do in our lives as well. When you help others you are helping yourself too. Inclusiveness can make your life rich and worthwhile.

More than all using soft skills make you feel good about yourself and make others feel good about you as well. So, imbibe these soft skills and make yours and others lives rich and fruitful.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

My Experience At INLEAD

Hi, I am Chandan. I hail from Andhra Pradesh’s port city, Visakhapatnam, where I completed my Bachelor’s in Hotel Management. Moving further I was in search for an opportunity which would be helpful for my personal as well as my professional growth. I was informed by my college about INLEAD in Gurugram. I got to know that INLEAD provides hoteliers with Global Management Development Program which is a short term course which offers international placement opportunities in hospitality sector. Earlier, I thought going abroad would be little tough as it requires some work experience and that would take much time and money as well. Later, with a positive approach I kept my efforts and faith towards having a better career by joining INLEAD.

I was convinced by the advanced infrastructure and quality maintained at the campus of INLEAD. In such a short duration, I was able to brush up my technical knowledge in Food & Beverage Operations as well as in Rooms Division Management. The entire program went on so well including other important modules required in the present market consisting of Retail Management, International Marketing and Global Culture & Ethnicity. The standard maintained by faculty to educate students is also much appreciated. They are the people who supported me throughout the course. They helped me to build up my personal strengths through attending workshops and assigning presentations frequently.

The placement opportunities were with famous brands offering attractive packages in different locations. The Training & Placement team continuously works together to facilitate every student with good job profiles across various sectors. I have got placed in Qatar with Al-Shaya Group which is one of the leading companies in the world. I was very much pleased and happy to get placed even before the completion of my course at INLEAD. I was completely satisfied with the entire program; the way it commenced, the modules covered and also the placements that took place.

I feel proud to say I am a student of INLEAD. I would like to thank entire INLEAD team for providing me with such a great platform to start my career. And, for candidates who are looking for an opportunity to work abroad, I suggest INLEAD will be the best place to go ahead with. The overall experience of mine at INLEAD was very amazing and I am always thankful to everyone behind me for what I am today.

By:

Chandan,

Student, INLEAD