5 lessons I learnt from PK

A path-breaking, thought-provoking film that compels you to think. Here are few life lessons we learn from PK: 

1) Believe in God, Not in Godmen- At a time when children are being massacred in the name of religion, a film that challenges the concept of different Gods seems to be the need of the hour. In India, one can find Godmen and his followers in every corner. They are like managers who pretend to be close to God. "PK" brought out the marketing gimmicks of such Godmen and questioned them about religion.

2) God has made the universe, He doesn't need anyone to take care of Him- When a Godman in the film says he is there to take care of God, then "PK" replies God has made the whole universe and he doesn't want anyone to look after Him.

3) Religion is all about fashion- For an alien who lands buck naked from his gola (planet), it is difficult for PK to understand what is the basis of the religious classification. He derives that religion must be all about fashion, after all it is by the clothes and appearance that those around determine if a certain person is a Hindu or a Muslim. The endearing manner in which he comes to this conclusion is absolutely delightful. 

4) Let go of the one you love, if need be- He is not from this planet but he understands love better than humans. Perhaps with his higher intelligence and telepathic abilities, PK learns the language of love and masters it too. Letting go of the one you love is the most difficult thing to do but PK, with his wide-eyed innocence, manages to do just that. 

If you have seen the movie and have something to share comment in the section below. Love, BSR.

10 Simple Ideas to Make 2015 a Rocking Year

Good Evening Friends!

So 2015 is finally here, was last year really quick or is it just me? It was a great year for me. I explored and did new stuff, achieved lots of things and am so content and happy. Friends I hope you too feel the same way. Even if you don’t, let us still say, bye 2014 you were an awesome year; and hello 2015 because you are going to be equally rocking.

Now, if you feel you could have done something more to make 2014 count, why not do it in 2015? Friends, Maximizing productivity is a goal often discussed but rarely reached. As a result, while entrepreneurs actively strive to make the most of their time--reading books, exploring productivity hacks, testing project management tools--too often they feel like they've fallen short. Meanwhile, the to-do list gets longer. Don’t worry because New Year is a great time to start afresh.

So here I am sharing with you guys 10 simple things that will increase your productivity in 2015. 

Here we go….

1.       Do at least one thing each day, which your future self will thank you for. This is the basis of all meaningful progress.

2.       Fail more often in 2015 than you did in 2014. Why? Because if you’re not failing often enough, you’re sticking to things you already know and no longer growing. Unless you give yourself permission to make mistakes, you will seldom try anything new.

3.       Stop aiming for perfectionism. It will stop you getting started and block your progress. Instead of trying to be perfect, aim to be better than you were yesterday.

4.       Get expert help in any area of your business, where you are under performing. Things don’t just change for the better because you hope they will. Hope is essential, but it’s not a business strategy. This will help you get it right.

5.       Walk daily for 30 minutes. Studies have shown that walking helps to reduce stress and gives you a general feeling of well-being. Walking also helps you manage your weight and can lower your blood pressure. When you feel better you work better. Start with short walks, then do a little more. Talk to your doctor first, if you have any underlying medical conditions.

6.       Get serious about developing your creativity in 2015. It will help you solve problems and grow a uniquely valuable business. 

7.       Stop doing work purely because it pays the bills. Start doing work that makes a difference. 

8.       Give people more than they expect. Don’t under-promise though. Instead, over-deliver. This is one of the most powerful ways to retain your clients and get them recommending you to their friends and contacts.

9.       Learn to embrace your inner freak. This idea changed my life.

10.   The Tao Te Ching says that "High winds do not last all morning/ Heavy rain does not last all day." This means that if you want to work intensively and productively, it's vital to unplug and take time to recharge every day, even if it's only for a little bit. Start by giving yourself 15 minutes with no Internet or cell phone--whatever it is, it can wait for you to come back relaxed and ready.

I hope you find some of them valuable. If you do, perhaps give it a share out there on Facebook or Twitter?

One more thing, there is a famous dialogue from the movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani that goes like this- Life meinjitni bhi bhaag daud karlo kuch na kuch to choot hi jata hai. Is liye, kisi ke peeche bhagne se achcha hai, hum jaha hai wahi, usi pal ki khoobsoorati ko jee le.

So embrace and enjoy the things you have achieved, and there is always a next time for those you want to accomplish. Enjoy the New Year’s Eve and welcome 2015 with open arms. Loads of love and see you next year….

Your Friend,

BSR. 

IF HE CAN DO IT... YOU HAVE ALL THE MORE REASONS TO DO IT

Good Morning Friends,

Hope you are enjoying your sunday with your family and friends.

Was surfing through the net and got to know about this man. The moment i saw his pictures i was shocked and inspired both. i was shocked as the questions came to my mind - as how can these kind of people remain so enthusiastic whereas we get disturbed by a mild headache. Inspired because if he can inspire so many people and then i have all the more reasons do more and more..


Yes it's true....if anyone in this world has done anything then you and i also can do it and we must do it.

Would recommend you to read about him by clicking on the link below. The most important thing is after reading make sure you take a decision. A very important Decision. Decision to push yourself beyond limits, decision to surpass all your limitations, decision to take that desired risk and decision to move beyond your fears.  Decide to never never settle for less.

wish you a decisive week ahead.

Lots of love,
BSR

http://www.figureout.com.ng/inspiring-man-born-head-upside-becomes-motivational-speaker/

Make time for loved ones

It is the season of celebration, excitement is all around. Are you still trapped in office or amidst work? Are you finding it difficult to take some time out for loved ones? Having fun is a serious business for happiness and especially important for our close relationships. Yet it's easy to overlook when we are busy with work and the practical demands of everyday life. As the pace of life has increased for many of us it's often at expense of enjoying time with family and friends. 

Scientific research highlights the importance of doing something fun with our partner, family and close friends. It makes us and them happier and it strengthens our relationships, which in turn leads to greater overall well-being. Positive emotions make us more social and open to new experiences and ideas as individuals. So finding ways to have fun and do new things with your loved ones is a great way to build your happiness. 

Here are some tips that will help you take out the required time for your loved ones:

1. Get together to work on common goals

Many of us set goals this year to get in better shape. However, with your tight schedule and endless responsibilities, meeting that goal can seem nearly impossible. Add fitting in time for friends to your list and going to the gym just gets pushed further out of mind. Rather than having to choose between your weekly workouts or seeing a friend, why not do both?

Team up with a fitness-minded friend and work on meeting that get-fit goal together, advises Siklos. "If you do a weekly class or a weekly workout with your friend, then you're getting the double benefit of meeting another goal in your life as well as spending time with a friend," she says.

2. Schedule time for friends into your calendar

How many times have we told our friends that we'll get together soon or that we'll give them a call sometime? It's easy for these promises to get lost in the weekly chaos. Siklos suggests making these get-togethers a priority.

"When someone has a doctor's appointment or their kid has a soccer game, they don't waffle and say 'I'm busy, I can't do it.' They do it because it's a priority," she says.

So treat your friends, and more importantly yourself, as a priority. "By treating yourself as a priority you make time for the things that are important to you," says Siklos.

3. Branch out and try new things

As we progress through life it's easy to become comfortable with our current circle of friends. However, it's important to not only maintain your current social circle, but to also branch out from it.

"Most research will show that a truly healthy person will have a mix of old friends and new friends," Siklos says. "I think that from my clients' experiences -- as well as my own -- when you go and do new things and meet new people, yes sometimes it's frightening or sometimes it can cause anxieties, but it's actually really beneficial to broaden your circle."

4. Use any occasion as an excuse to get together

Getting together with a friend doesn't always have to be the social event of the year. Sometimes a nice, quiet evening in together can be just as beneficial (if not more so) than a night on the town. Siklos suggests doing something as simple as inviting a friend over to watch the Oscars or the Super Bowl. Ask your spouse to look after the kids so you can enjoy some time with your friend. Even just a few hours will give you both a boost and allow you to reconnect, she says.

Friends are important to our well-being, and it's beneficial to maintain those connections despite busy lives and overloaded schedules. Good friends will be around through the good and the bad, and will offer support no matter what you're going through.

Friends, progress is important in life, but so is keeping your relationships intact. Don’t wait for your retirement, start building your relationships now. These things keep you growing and going forward. 

Till then, enjoy your Christmas and loads of laughter.

Love BSR

WEAKNESS vs STRENGTH

Does anyone of you remember the famous dialogue from the movie – THE 3 IDIOTS? – where Amir Khan says to his friends – “Think what would have happened if Sachin Tendulkar was forced to become a singer, or Lata Mangeshker was forced to play Cricket?”

I can safely claim, without intending to offend either of them that Sachin Tendulkar could never have become a singer, even if he practiced 24x7 for all his life and Lata Mangeshkar could not play cricket even if she was made to do the same. If they tried, today they would have been labelled as failures.

The visual imagination of the whole idea seems so absurd that it has the potential to make us roll in laughter.

But don’t we all do the same thing?

Regardless of finding out our individual potential, we tote the line. We then struggle to fit-in and stay afloat. We can’t figure out why things are not working exactly the way it should, or why we are not happy anymore.

Sachin Tendulkar cannot sing – That’s his weakness and Lata Mangeshkar cannot play cricket – that’s her weakness. But do we see it that way, as far as these two personalities are concerned?

Never.

Because they have not played on their weaknesses. They played on their individual strengths. And that’s the whole talking point.

When we talk of individual strengths and weaknesses, it can be divided into two levels –

1.     Strength and weakness based on talent.

2.     Strength and weakness based on physical ability and mental skills.

Strength and weakness based on Talent – Besides the Sachin – Lataji example, think of all the people who aspires to become something in life, but end up doing something as absurdly different. In India, ‘something different’ is the language of a failure. If you are not a doctor or an engineer, or a Chartered Accountant, you do not count. This, ‘to-count’ pressure kills the individual in every person. That’s one of the reason, why, even though we have the largest number of youth population, news of something excellent, unique or different, almost always comes from across the seven seas.

People work to earn money, live and die. They seldom find their point of excellence.

To become a doctor or an engineer, because only that counts, can never give you excellence. It will make you earn, but it does not have the power to make you excellent.

Discover your individual talent, because that’s what your strength is. Work with your strength. Give it life. Give it power. Give it your passion, a Vision and see it create magic in your life!

You cannot become a doctor, doesn’t mean you cannot become anything else. Find your passion, for everyone has one. We are born with it. It just needs to be discovered. 

What you cannot become is not your weakness – so do not fuel it. Instead, what you can do is your strength. Find it and fuel that.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability

To climb a tree, It will live its whole life ‘BELIEVING’ That it is stupid"

Albert Einstein  

Strength and Weakness based on physical ability or mental skills – In guerrilla warfare, there is a special unit of combatants where men qualify because of their short height. The force use short height as a tool against their enemy. These people, because they are short, can hide easily, they move silently and stealthily, and are trained for a different kind of body agility which is not possible with broader, heavier men. So, who said anything about men being short?

This is an example of a weakness turned upside down and converted to strength.

It is important to first be aware of our weaknesses. In my 6 years as a Motivational Speaker, I have never come across a person who doesn’t.

While some weaknesses can be rectified by taking correct measures --

For example – and here I am taking a few scenarios –

n  “I do not know how to work on excel sheet.” So what do you do? You learn it. Or, you hire someone to do it for you.

n  “As a cricketer, I have lots of experiences to share with the world, but I am not good at writing.” Well, we all must have heard of ghost-writers, who can do the job for you for some money.

n  “I want to achieve so many things in life, but I am so low in confidence.” Well, the only solution is to then boost it up. These days there are so many ways to do that – self-help books, blogs like this one, methods and techniques found in the internet, and motivational speakers like me, who will ensure that you never have to go without your shot of booster-dose as and when you need it.

So while these are some of the weaknesses that can be reversed if steps are taken, there are some that probably cannot be reversed. What do you do? Lots of people have come up with extraordinary ideas and made their weaknesses work for them. They made it so absurdly large that those very weaknesses have now become their USP – That is – Unique Selling Point.

For example – and again I will site a few scenarios –

n  Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi – The opposition, when they discovered that the aspiring Prime Ministerial candidate, Mr. Narender Modi was a petty tea seller at one point of time, they blew up the entire media. They pointed out that a great country like ours, does not deserve to have a tea seller as a Prime Minister. But Narender Modi, instead of seeing it as a weakening factor, saw it as a strength. He was a tea-seller. That is an irreversible fact. So he chose to blow it doubly up and make it work for him. And oh! What a propaganda it was, and how he played with it. Not only did the idea help him win the Prime Minister’s seat, it completely changed the outlook of the working class of the people of this country. New hopes seeped in, and a new sun shone in their tattered lives!

n  Stephen Hawkins, the world renowned physicist – This is 2014 and he is still alive, waiting to celebrate his 70^th birthday on 8^th Jan 2015. At the age of 21 he was diagnosed with a type of motor neurone disease and doctors said he will not see his 25^th birthday. Even though the disease slowly made him completely paralysed and quadriplegic, his inventions, theories and discoveries actually took momentum after he turned 25. Whatever the world knows today about Cosmology, General relativity and Quantum gravity is largely his contribution. He lost his voice and can’t move even a single muscle in his body, but that did not stop him. Nothing stopped him. Doctors are baffled and have come with lots of possibilities for him to be still alive, but they have nothing concrete. But he has defied even death, and that is one truth that is alive for us to see and learn. His mind won all wars. He completely paralysed his weakness, and strengthened that one single thing that was still alive in him – his mind. It seems, that was just enough for him to push ahead. His presence, sitting on a wheel chair, with a completely wasted body, but a brilliant mind is enough to motivate every living cell in this Universe.

n  Bhupender Singh Rathore, Motivational Speaker – Ok. That’s me. When I started as a Motivational Speaker, I was all prepared and geared up for the job – except one thing – I was just 26 years old then. “A 26 years old Life Coach? How much of life has this lad seen?” might be quiet a valid question. I thought this age factor of mine will pull my mother ship down, but I made myself believe that it was not my weak point. It fact it could be one of my greatest strength – If at 26, I could unravel enough of life, to make it turn around a 360 degree, than imagine what inspiration I can be, if I stood near a similar young crowd and made them believe what all they could achieve, especially because they were of such a tender age. So this is how I go – Yes I am just 26, and I rock – So listen as I speak, and keep your awareness radar high to understand what I say. For your tender age could be the right beginning to a very long rocking life!

The word weakness is a perspective. Change your perspective and you will find that all your weaknesses change into your strength. Like a celebrity food critic once told, when asked how he made such a unique career choice, “Food is my weakness. I decided to change it into my strength.”

In life’s journey we can perceive things to be difficult and impossible or challenging and opportunity-driven. What we chose, is what we make our life to be. The choice is, of course, entirely ours!   

 

Choose Wisely!

Have a Happening  Time Ahead

Love,

BSR

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Friends let me ask you few simple questions. Do you feel like you’re “sleep-walking” through life? Do you wish you had more freedom? Do you wish you had more adventure? Do you wish you had more time? Do you wish you had more love? Do you dread Monday mornings?

Are you still trying to figure out how to live life to the fullest? If so, you’re far from alone. The sad thing is that most people go through life having never really experienced what life has to offer. What you need to understand is that everything holding you to a life you don’t want to live is a prison created by your own mind. That doesn’t mean you can just wish yourself into a new life, but it does mean that you can actively work towards living life to the fullest.

I am sure you have seen pictures from my recent power-packed workshop called ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. I am sharing some tips from the same that will help you in living the only life you have to the fullest:

1.       Take care of your body- I always mention this and I will continue to do it in the future. Eat healthy when you can, get a good night’s sleep, and exercise. Your only connection with this world is through this fleshy meat vehicle we call our bodies. Take good care of it.

2.       Take care of your mind- Stop feeding it a constant stream of junk. A little downtime is alright, but don’t dedicate every free hour you have to watching realty TV, watching gossip blogs, checking sports scores, and doing other stuff that requires little mental energy. Even the news can rot your brain with its constant barrage of negativity and biased sensationalism.

3.       Live consciously- We all get into ruts and routines we use to get through the day, but we only have a limited number of days on this earth. Don’t put life on auto-pilot – live consciously. Always ask yourself – why am I doing this? If you wake up too many mornings in a row without a good answer, then it’s time to make a change.

4.       Overcome your fears- We all have things in our lives, whether it’s our circumstances or personal flaws that are holding us back from doing thing we truly want to do. You can accept it, rationalize it away, or face your fears. Which one will you choose?

5.       Improve your social skills- Some people are natural social butterflies. For those of us who aren’t, make an effort to improve your social skills. There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert and enjoying time alone, but don’t poor social skills hold you back when you need them. Improving your social skills will also help you in whatever line of work or business you choose.

6.       Do work you love- Not everyone gets to play football or in a rock band for a living, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find something you love waking up in the morning for. Keep looking for it, and don’t give up until you find it. Life is too short to fear Sunday evenings.

7.       Surround yourself with the type of people you’d want to be- There’s a saying that you’re the average of your 5 closest friends. While this may not be a scientific fact, it’s a useful thought exercise. If you constantly spend time with negative people, you’ll become negative as well. If you spend time around people with no ambition, you’ll find your own dreams slipping away as well. On the other hand, surrounding yourself with awesome people who want the same things you want in life will set you up for success.

8.       Stop giving up- Have you ever heard the story (urban myth?) of the man who was lost in the desert? He was found half a mile from a large oasis city. The point of this story is to illustrate the danger of quitting. Things are always hard until they get better, but you’ll never know how close you came to achieving your goals if you quit before you see them all the way through.

This is an incredible month. We are soon going to step in the New Year so try to transform you, how much ever you can in the last 15 days that remain.

Also, I would like to mention that we are heading towards the magic number of 10K followers on Facebook. Keep the likes going as one lucky follower stands a chance to win something special. Details about it will be shared on my facebook page soon. Follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/CoachBSR

Wish you a lovely time ahead.

Live With Passion!

Loads of Love,

BSR

6 Tips For a Successful Business Networking

Just Thought of Sharing These 6 Points a they might help you in big way.

1. Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships.


2. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group.

3. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no.

4. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa.

5. Be fast as time is the most precious commodity. Return calls and emails now.

6. Leave your comfort zone. 

TAKE CHARGE With BSR

TAKE CHARGE

A POWER TALK 

by

"The Master of Transformational Breakthroughs"

Mr. Bhupendra Singh Rathore

on 12th of January 2015 From 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

At Ankush Rao Landge natyagrah, Bhosri MIDC, Pune 

Investment : 1000/- Per Person

online booking link:

http://www.meraevents.com/event/take-charge

Limited Seats : First Come, First Serve Basis

8 Tips for a Peaceful You

Someone has rightly said- The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have. In today's world where stress catches on faster than the eye can see or the mind can perceive, meditation is no more a luxury. It is a necessity. To be unconditionally happy and to have peace of mind, we need to tap into the power of meditation. The benefits of meditation are manifold. It is an essential practice for mental hygiene. A calm mind, good concentration, clarity of perception, improvement in communication, blossoming of skills and talents, an unshakable inner strength, healing, the ability to connect to an inner source of energy, relaxation, rejuvenation, and good luck are all natural results of meditating regularly.

I am getting involved in lots of meditation workshops and recently have shared pictures of the same with you guys on Facebook. So I have gathered 8 tips that will help you in your daily meditation. Let’s have a look at them, one-by-one:

1. Establish a regular practice- Realize the importance of daily meditation and fully embrace it mentally and emotionally. Establish a regular practice and remain patient as meditation grows stronger with repetition.  Be flexible with your time, but make sure you have 15 minutes daily for ‘meeting with me.’ Think about this: how easily we waste 15 minutes per day…what about investing it in something beneficial?

2. Begin your day with a short morning meditation- Beginning a day in peace and silence makes the whole day go better. You will find it very easy to go into thoughtlessness and feel the vibrations if you get up early in the morning and meditate.

3. The breath- Paying attention to the breath is a great way to anchor yourself in the present moment. Notice your breath streaming in and out. There’s no need to regulate the breath – just let it be natural.

4. Thoughts- When you notice thoughts, gently let them go by returning yous focus to the breath. Don’t try and stop thoughts; this will just make you feel agitated. Imagine that they are unwelcome visitors at your door: acknowledge their presence and politely ask them to leave. Then shine the soft light of your attention on your breath.

5. Silence- Silence is healing. I know that there are is a lot of ‘meditation music’ around, but nothing beats simple silence. Otherwise the music or sounds on the tape just drown out the chatter in your mind. When we sit in silence we actually get to experience what our mind is doing. There is steadiness and calmness that comes from sitting in silence. In time outer and inner silence meet and you come to rest in the moment.

6. Length- Start with 10 minutes and only sit longer if you feel that that is too short. Don’t force yourself to meditate longer if you are not ready to do that. In time you might like to extend your meditation to 25 minutes. That’s a length that allows you to settle your mind without causing too much stress on your body. Most importantly, shrug off any ‘shoulds’. Some people enjoy sitting for an hour at a time. Others find that they can’t sit longer than 10 minutes. Do what feels right for you!

7. Meditate with others- You grow fastest when you meditate collectively. When you gather many lit candles, there is more light. Collective meditation, seminars result in much longer flow of vibrations. In the company of other practitioners, you are able to perform much more effectively.

8.  Enjoyment- Most of all it’s important to enjoy meditation. You might like to try sitting with a hint of a smile. Be kind to yourself. Start sitting just a little each day. It’s helpful to establish a daily habit.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day. Similarly it will take time for you to master this technique. So why delay it further? Start today and enjoy its long lasting benefits. If you meditate regularly, you’ll know that even a short meditation in the mornings has the power to improve the way you experience your whole day. Not only will you feel more peaceful and relaxed, you’ll also be more alert, feel more positive, and have a greater sense of empathy.

Wish you a happy week ahead.

Lots of Love,

BSR

THE PRUDENCE OF HONESTY

When I bought my car I wanted to film the window panes. My intention was to block the heat during the day, not hinder visibility. As it is, it’s unlawful. My friend who lives in the same society had newly opened a shop for car accessories. He said he will do the filming for my car. The darkness of the film is within the permissible range, he confirmed, and it’s specially made to block heat. I, of course went for it.

I later discovered that he cheated me. The film was not the promised one and did not provide any respite from the heat. Now I am reluctant to even buy a car perfume from his shop. I always think that the bottle might be filled with water.

The question is –

Does cheating earn you money? Then what’s the point of being honest?

The answer is - 

Cheating does earn you money. But there is a ceiling to it. A limit to how much you can earn through cheating. While there will always be a group of people whom you can cheat and stay afloat in your business, the expanse of that group exhausts very rapidly. If you are looking at growth, and making your business bigger, quality of product or service cannot be compromised. That’s the bottom-line difference between the shop at the corner lane and big brands.

The absolute necessity of honesty in business has been confirmed by all great businessmen, like Narayan Murthy, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Laxmi Mittal and Mukesh Ambani. They have not only preached it but lived by it.

Honesty in business is not just a saintly preaching statement but a vital success mantra.

Why?

Because all the big names in the world of business have stated, that for a business to sustain beyond the cursed 3 years and grow, it is important that the first level of your customers always comes back. Their second visit establishes trust. This trust creates demand, makes opportunity for the second layer and thereby expands the business. It’s all very simple. While new entrepreneurs pin-up complicated layouts detailing their business, a whopping 62% shut shop because they fail to calculate the human angle to it. What do we mean by the human-angle? It means that a product or a service is sold to a human being. While a prudent business plan includes knowledge and careful financial planning, it is paramount to first ensure the quality of the product and services sold. Any dilution in that sector means compromising with the very foundation. And a weak foundation doesn’t hold a structure.

Cheating cannot sustain a business.

Honesty in business means giving the customer what they want and a happy customer will always give you what you want – that is more business.

So Stay Honest and Do Great Business by Winning Hearts of Your Customers.

Lots of Love,

BSR

And now it’s ME time

Hello people,

It is Monday again and I am super charged because I had an amazing bike trip to Lavasa with my entrepreneur friends. It feels great to take some time out from your busy schedule and do things what you love that turn out to be such a stress buster and fuel your energy.

Let me ask you a question. what does your day look like? For many people it goes something like this – get up early, prepare for work, commute, work, get home from work, cook/tidy the house/spend time with the kids and pets, have dinner, try to relax, sleep. It's the same the next day, and the next, and it carries on for most of a person's adult life. If you're lucky, you have a job you enjoy. If you're unlucky, you don't. It's usually exhausting, and it doesn't leave a whole lot of room for anything else. Our daily life with all its stresses and pressures can occupy our thoughts from morning until night. Work-related thoughts, thoughts about our families, our friends, our finances, and the million and one things we need to do and deal with can push out the things we want to think about, and in some cases, that can include our spiritual thoughts. It becomes difficult, is to find time to be creative, or pursue activities that you're passionate about.

What, then, is the solution? As you can no doubt tell, I haven't got a perfect answer to that question. My thoughts are that it's a case of juggling, prioritizing and the power of negotiation. After a lot of research on the Internet, I have jotted down the following 7 points that will help you in finding that much required time for yourself.

First, decide that you deserve some time to yourself each day. Stop feeling guilty for taking time out for you, and realize in the long run, it's a win-win for everyone. When you are tired, stressed out and pulled in too many directions, it is hard to give your best to all you must accomplish. Remember, self-time is not selfish—it's a necessary dimension of self-care!

Evaluate the things that are wasting your time each day. Do you check your emails constantly and end up spending more time on your computer than you planned? Do you answer personal calls in the middle of your workday? Run to the supermarket daily to pick up dinner rather than plan in advance and shop once? If this sounds like you, you must take the time to organize your responsibilities, and you will gain more free time than you can imagine

Learn to say "no" to requests to do things that you don't really want to, don't value or don't bring you satisfaction and joy.

Ask for help with chores that don't necessarily have to be completed by you alone.

At the beginning of each week, take a few minutes to designate specific time slots for all that must be accomplished—including "me" time. Treat your personal time like you would any other appointment and make it non-negotiable.

Commit to a minimum of 15-20 minutes of "me" time every day. Do something (or nothing) that completely lets go of responsibilities and releases your mind, allowing you to be alone with your thoughts.

Create a daily ritual. This can be a bath, listening to music, taking a walk or meditating. Make it something you can look forward to. Years ago, I created a ritual for "me" time. I decided it was well worth it to get up 45 minutes before the rest of the family to enjoy my coffee and breakfast in solitude. To this day it's my time to read, daydream or just bask in the sounds of silence. Looking forward to this time, and a coffee pot on a timer, gets me out of bed with a smile on my face.



Not that I am any good at it, but I'll have to learn how to be, because we all need some space to simply be, to develop ourselves, and to indulge in beloved activities. Life shouldn't be all duty. It flies by all too fast. We need to enjoy it whilst it lasts.


Good luck, and if you have any tips, I would love to hear them

THE MAGIC OF BRANDING

This is for new entrepreneurs.

While entrepreneurs has to give a name to their new business for the purpose of registration, creating a brand name is quite a different thing.

Branding is magic. It is a very powerful concept that should be understood and adopted by all entrepreneurs. Whatever a new entrepreneur is trying to sell, branding makes it sell better and the business grow faster. The awareness of it is extremely critical. 

We walk through lanes and there are shops lined up on both sides of the road. Most of them we forget. We peep in to see if there is anything of our interest and then simply walk on. And then there will be shops in those very lanes where we will walk in just in search of that particular shop. Or visit shops in search of a particular branded product. Like the Tanishq showroom for gold jewels. Or the Nokia showroom. Or we scan shelves for Colgate toothpaste or Sunsilk shampoo. This is called branding. Branding make a difference. 

If you are thinking a little big than just a shop in the corner of the street, it is called growth. For growth you need to create trust. The first step towards that would be to create a brand. An entrepreneur needs to spend time and use technology wisely to advertise the brand name. The name should reach every target customer. From a simple paan-masala to the awesome concept of diapers – branding made the product real and marketable. Today people do not go searching for diapers. They ask for Pampers or Huggies. What was a household routine till yesterday is now been packed, sealed, labelled and branded for customers to pick and use.

While some entrepreneurs start a business as an answer to a particular market demand like ginger-garlic paste, powered spices and toothpaste, there are some entrepreneurs who creates a market need like instant noodles, aerated drinks or diapers. In each of these categories, a very simple idea became a multimillion business interest just through the power of branding.

What does branding do?  

It makes a promise. It creates quality assurance. The name itself means excellence and something that can be relied upon. Because with branding comes in a set of promises among which quality assurance and services being number one. The name will make customers return, expand the business base and bring in new customers.

THINK BIG – CREATE YOUR BRAND.       

10 Steps To Effective Time Management

I recently came across this picture on my Instagram feed- You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce. When I first saw it, I giggled and didn’t give attention at all. When I say that trust me because I usually take screenshots of interesting quotes to share with you guys. A few days later, I thought about the quote again and felt, sure, we do have as many hours in a day as Beyonce! And then a question struck me-Are we really making complete use of the time that we have at our hands?

We wake up in the morning, have our coffee or tea and after what seems like a few blinks and the day is over. And at the end of it all, we only have some energy to watch reality TV, have a half-hearted conversation with our spouse or just hit the bed and start all over again the next day. Does this sound familiar? If so, you are not alone!

So here I am sharing with you guys 10 most effective ways to manage your time effectively and not just live, but LIVE!

1.Kick the Habit: Like many poor habits, poor time management is a behavior that has been developed over time and the first step in “kicking the habit” is to recognize that you have a problem and then to make a firm commitment to do something about it.

2. Delegate Tasks: It is common for all of us to take more tasks than our desired potential. This can often result in stress and burnout. Delegation is not running away from your responsibilities but is an important function of management. Learn the art of delegating work to your subordinates as per their skills and abilities.

3. Prioritize Work and Schedule Tasks: Before the start of the day, make a list of tasks that need your immediate attention as unimportant tasks can consume much of your precious time. Some tasks need to be completed on that day only while other unimportant tasks could be carried forward to next day.  Carry a planner or notebook with you and list all the tasks that come to your mind. Make a simple ‘To Do’ list before the start of the day, prioritize the tasks, and make sure that they are attainable.

4. Determine what time in the day you will set aside for each task: Morning time is usually the best time to tackle your most difficult and highest priority tasks. As the day wears on and you wear down, you can then work on the other tasks requiring less mental effort. Now you're ready to begin your day.

5. Set up Deadlines: When you have a task at hand, set a realistic deadline and stick to it. Try to set a deadline few days before the task so that you can complete all those tasks that may get in the way. Challenge yourself and meet the deadline. Reward yourself for meeting a difficult challenge.

6. Start Early: Most of the successful men and women have one thing in common. They start their day early as it gives them time to sit, think, and plan their day. When you get up early, you are more calm, creative, and clear-headed. As the day progresses, your energy levels starts going down which affects your productivity and you don’t perform as well.

7. Manage time in increments: Play a game with yourself by competing against the clock. Work in fifteen minute, half hour or hour interval, scientifically it is known that 45 minutes work followed by a 10 minutes rest is the best for the average studier. Give yourself a time goal to complete a portion of a task or the entire task.



8. Minimize Distractions:  Distractions like the phone, internet, email, co-workers, daydreaming, etc., can and will work to thwart your plan. Make the necessary arrangements to keep these distractions to a minimum.

9. Keep track of your progress: Cross things off the list as they are completed. You'll feel more relieved and relaxed just by getting through the daily tasks. Not only will you be getting things done, finishing tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and spur motivation.

10. Leave time for fun: While there are times when we just need to power through a large project, it's important to give yourself time to let loose. Not only will it refresh your mind, it's good for your body, too. It doesn't have to be a lot of time but make sure that you do!


So you see friends, all you have to do is just put in little dedication and it will become possible for you to achieve things that were on  a back seat.

May you have a great week ahead.

Loads of love, BSR. 

Mid Life Crisis - Top 5 Signs & Ways to Overcome It

What is this 40+ crisis that I am talking about?

As a motivational Speaker, it came quiet as a surprise to me when big reputed leaders of the corporate world walked up again and again to me with one crisis – “I have hit the end of the road. I am tired. I want to quit everything. But I do not know what to do.”

With EMIs to pay, car loans to deal with, house and a lifestyle to maintain and mouths to feed, an escape route becomes bleak. The realization of it, further mounts the ‘crisis’ pressure.

It was surprising for me because we are under the impression that this lot of people had it all – success, money, position, respect, and an envious lifestyle. When you confront them, they are super-confident, highly intelligent, witty and interesting people. They know their liqueur and can differentiate their dessert spoon from the caviar spoon in a hoity-doity dinner party. Such people, when they say “I do not know what to do,” feels like a complete knock-out. I thought I had to know more.

I started reading a lot of books about this. Turned out that the psychological angle to the so called mid-life crisis seeps into their professional life as well. 

I spoke to a lot of people, collected data, studied their background, pinned up charts and sketched colourful graphs to see what causes this and how it can be helped. It took me some time, but here is what I found –

Mid-life crisis, especially in your professional life is highly common. We do not get to know about it because people going through this either does not recognise it for what it is, or shy away from discussing it for obvious reason.

Signs of mid-life crisis.

1.     Doubt their own decision making ability – All of a sudden they are unsure of themselves. They keep double checking their decisions at work. “What if I lose my job, be exposed, made a fool of,” plays large in his mind. Life suddenly stops making sense and life-race feels pretty useless.

2.     Constantly unhappy – There is a constant restlessness in them. They neither enjoy their work nor their family. Family, work, career, everything seems to be a wrong decision and there seems to be no escape. They are constantly unhappy and in a complaining mode. They find faults with too many things around and searches for that ideal set-up.

3.     Lacks energy – One of the sure sign is loss of interest in the things that they usually enjoyed doing before. Like – if a person liked to rock-n-roll on weekends, now would much rather spent time at home lazing around. Or if he was a person who liked to chill it out in front of the TV, now indulges in some crazy spree, like maybe get his hair streaked or join the salsa. He feels the pressure to do different and quickly so to make his life count.

4.     In the verge of giving up everything – Most corporate leaders feels the need to give up on their luxury quotient in order to make life meaningful. They suddenly find themselves questioning the need for branded clothes, the big car or the 18,00sq ft. apartment. They feel that they need to learn to live a simpler life and find peace.

5.     The urge to give back to the society -- It’s quiet a strange observation that people going through this mid-life crisis suddenly develop this urge to do social service. While this in itself is not bad, it might not be his true calling and after a month or so they fall back into the same vacuum. They are searching for something or escaping from something and giving up everything for the betterment of mankind just seems to be the right answer.

While I found more or less this same pattern of psychology when I spoke to these people, I discovered that they are not alone. And the pattern suggests something – that it is more than just boredom. It’s a phase where the mind and the body is going through a change. A change, which is lesser known or acknowledged by people, but never-the-less exists. Getting up and going to work and doing the things that you have done for the last 20 years suddenly becomes difficult.

How do we deal with it? 

    

Awareness. That’s the very first step – to be aware that whatever is happening to your body and mind, you are not alone in it. This transformation is a natural process. The person who has knowledge about this will flow with it. Trying to fight nature by denying it will only enhance the crisis.

Secondly, by approaching it with the Correct Attitude. The correct attitude here will be to take a deep breath and see what will be the right thing to do about it. Since it is a psychological as well as a physical phenomenon, it might be a good idea to indulge in some yoga, meditation and a fresh morning walk along with pursuing your old forgotten hobby or picking up a new one. These changes, put together, will have a profound effect on your mental health and sooth your nerves.

Seek help. Since this is an established problem, there are well researched and scientific approach to deal with it. There are trained professionals available. Me being one of them. No matter how much you think you will be able to deal with it, a trained professional will always be able to help you more effectively.

Trust your partner and seek cooperation. Remember, your partner knows you best. So it will be a good idea to begin by being completely honest with her. The change in your behaviour might throw your partner off guard and instigate conflict. A conflicting ambience will only worsen the situation. Your partner must be weaned into the new-you.

It is important to realize that at this age a NEW-YOU will emerge. If you approach it with a positive attitude, the new-you can be more evolved, matured and a better version of the present-you.

So what does all this positive attitude, acceptance and acknowledgement does? It shows light. People going through this 40+ scenario will know what I mean when I say ‘light’ because they feel the darkness envelop them in such a way that their tunnel seems to have no end.

It does.

There is always an end. There is always light. We just need to sit up and act. One baby step after another and life will be beautiful once again.

My advice? Open your arms and usher in the change. It’s once in a life time phenomenon. Enjoy it and see the difference!

Wish you a happy time ahead.

Lots of Love,

BSR