Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Oxy and Moron



Mark Twain once said that it usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. I am not sure of the context of that statement but there is no doubt that it is a good example of oxymoron. The dictionary tells me that the rhetorical term “oxymoron” was coined by joining two contrasting Greek words meaning “sharp” (oxy) and “dull” (moron). Everyone uses such phrases in their everyday life without being an oxy or moron or anywhere in between.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, the famous German philosopher and author had famously said that “we learn from history that man never learn anything from history”. While George Bernard Shaw, the Irish dramatist and socialist had endorsed this statement is in his lifetime, I find this more relevant today with all the conflicts around then anytime else. That makes this a timeless truth.
That was an example involving famous personalities and serious subject with deep meaning. But there is one such phrase that attracts us lesser mortals like the pied piper of Hamelin and they most certainly are not children. If you still have not guessed it, it is the famous marketing adage
….“ The more you spend, the more you save.”
This is quite a contradicting sentence to put one off, but that’s not what happens in the real world. Once back from such a shopping misadventure, the expression is equally rhetoric….
…”I paid too much for this, but it is worth it.”
Technology has not spared most of us and if you are a windows user, Bill Gates has ensured that we always click Start to Shutdown our computer.  

Donald Trump once said that “the budget was unlimited but, I exceeded it”. I too have managed to exceed the length of this post, though my estimate was limitless. But With all my friends and followers keeping quiet, I can only say that this silence is deafening to my ears. But I will still continue to post new pieces no matter what …. Thank God, I’m an atheist.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Characteristics of Successful People


Once in a while we come across an article analyzing the characteristics or habits of successful people. Not that we always agree with the traits listed the article but I am not one of those whom the world considers being successful and moreover there is no bee line of followers behind me.
I've spent plenty of time reading about successful people, which could or could not be considered to be a research.  Whilst all of them have the skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed, I haven’t been able to identify any magic trait adopting which will instantly transform me into a celebrity. Perhaps some of their qualities are more dominant and play a greater role in their successes but incidentally we all too possess these skills, talents, and characteristics within us to a certain degree. What we lack however, is the recipe to concoct and deliver a commendable success.
One important fact is that successful people does not always do everything by themselves nor can do everything easily and effortlessly. They have their strengths and weakness and look for others to complement their shortcomings and get associated with person or group of people who possess the skills, talents and training that they require. The associates later become their teammates with a defined relationship which could be either a partner or advisers or employees. It is this combined talent and skills that make an organization grow, prosper to reach the pinnacle of success.

Some of the most commonly discussed traits of successful people are as follows:
  • They have the audacity to dream big
  • They plan their steps well
  • They're willing to work hard.
  • They don't take no for an answer.
  • They are not deterred by setbacks and failures
The success story always begins with one belief that one day you will succeed and one has to believe in success to become successful. As a toddler we do not feel ashamed to get up and walk even if we stumble and fall hundred times but why should it be any different when we are grown up. Most importantly, failure is only a state of mind and nothing explains it better than the follow statement by Thomas A. Edison.

I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.

Why read a newspaper

  Photo by Lina Kivaka_Pexel Who still reads a newspaper every morning? Maybe not many, as today's fast-paced lifestyle leaves little ro...