CEO/MD/Business Head workshop in Chennai on Oct 23rd

The 23rd Oct workshop in Hotel Taj Connemara - registration at 8.45 am and the prog would start at 9.00 am. Registrations are pouring in. Rush your nomination.

Dr. Meganathan, the Turnaround management expert and Mr. Hariharasuthan,

crisis mgmt expert would facilitate the workshop.

It is going to be a very unique workshop. Dont miss it.

See you on Oct 23rd in Connemara............

Stay in touch

Dear Friends,

Over the last week or so, I have been feeling I need to spend a bit more time on my friendships. As I make it a point to listen to my intuition, I decided to call a good friend who has been on my mind, and the first thing he said was that he and his wife had been thinking about me too and were feeling a need to catch up with their friends. We all had a great laugh at the coincidence, and then we had a lovely chat, catching up on one another's lives. It was just another reminder to me how valuable my friends are and how important it is to find ways to stay in touch, even when they are far away.

Of course, getting together in person is the best, but isn't always feasible. Nowadays despite physical distances, there are so many ways to keep in touch that it is actually easy to do so. In addition to our home phones, we have cell phones to stay in touch from just about anywhere. And there are instant messaging programs that allow us to use the computer to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while. There are even some computer programs that allow you to talk to each other in real time with video!

If you are pressed for time, communicating with your friends all at once through a social networking site makes it really easy. Online social networking is a great way to keep up with everyone without having to contact each person separately to find out what they are up to. Many people post pictures, tell stories and relate bits about their family, events, and vacations. By posting regularly about what you are doing, you take advantage of this media to let others know what you are up to in your day-to-day life, as well.

And there are always emails or good old-fashioned letters, notes and postcards. Almost everyone enjoys finding a nice personal note in among the bills and junk mail.

Even if you are busy, I encourage you to do what you can to stay in touch with your friends. I have found that by taking advantage of some of the things I just mentioned I am able to enjoy my friendships all the more. I hope you will take this opportunity to catch up with someone you haven't heard from in a while. Why not see who comes to mind?

Listening skills

Dear Friends,

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you realized that they were looking at you while you were talking but weren't really listening? Nobody likes that feeling, but the simple truth is that most of us are better talkers than listeners. So if we want to work on our communication skills, we can take the initiative to start with our own listening skills.

The art of listening has a lot to do with the difference between hearing what someone is saying and actually paying full attention to what they are saying. What we simply hear can very easily come in one ear and go out the other, but when we really focus on listening to what the other person is saying, something physiological happens to us. We may register that information physically, emotionally, or intellectually! That is because when that information captures our attention, we involve ourselves with the information that is being shared with us.

I would like to share some tips for becoming a better listener. The first tip is that when someone else is talking to us, it is important not to interrupt them. It is true that we all have our stories to tell, but when we are listening to someone else talk it should be about them, not about us. So the next time you are listening and have the urge to interrupt them take a breath and refocus your attention on the other person. You just might learn something important, and at the very least the person you are with will appreciate your attentiveness.

The next tip to being a good listener is to abstain from holding judgement. The minute our judgment kicks in, our listening usually stops. That is because it is hard to pay attention when we become preoccupied with our personal opinion over what we are hearing. Moreover, putting aside our judgment puts the other person at ease and helps them feel more comfortable and relaxed, so that they can be open and honest with us.

By becoming a good listener ourselves we set an example for those around us and create a better opportunity for ourselves to be heard. And on a side note, one of the better benefit of being a good listener is that when we apply these principles to listening to our own inner voice, we gain access to a world of wisdom all our own.

important announcement

Vision Unlimited has organized a one day unique first of its kind Learning Workshop on 23rd Oct in Hotel Taj Connemara, Chennai titled “ Making the right Moves”. The workshop will be facilitated by two turnaround and crisis management experts well known in the industry. The program is meant for CEOs/MDs/Owner – Managers/Business Heads/CFO/COOs.. The group size is limited to 25 for better interaction. For booking your nomination please call Dr. Bala 9840027810. The participation fees is Rs. 5000/- per person. Please rush your nomination. Don’t miss this unique opportunity.

Relax a while

Dear Friends

A friend of mine shared a story with me about the importance of peace and quiet, and I'd like to share it with you. My friend, whom I'll call Prakash, is a real go-getter, always busy, always running from one activity to the next, taking care of his own catering business and keeping up with three busy children and their after-school activities.

Prakash often seems a little rushed, but when he and I met this last time, he looked unusually peaceful and calm. He actually left his cell phone in his handbag while we were talking. This behavior was so out of the ordinary that I had to ask what was up. He said very directly, "I finally learned how to rest." Then he went on to tell me how and that is what I want to share with you.

In addition to his family and his business, Prakash has a ninety-two year-old uncle who lives in a retirement home. He visits him regularly and one day, he had raced from one job to the next before stopping by the eldercare center to see him. He found him sitting in the garden grinning from ear to ear, doing absolutely nothing.

He said that his first thought was that he had finally succumbed to dementia, but as she approached he looked up and greeted him. He sat down beside him on the bench and asked him why he was sitting there alone. With that huge smile on his face, he told him that he was just enjoying being alive and feeling grateful for the garden and the sky and the birds around him. Prakash, whose full days are absolutely packed, admitted that he was taken aback by his simple enjoyment of just sitting peacefully.

So he sat there silently with him for nearly an hour, taking inventory of the lovely flowers all around, listening to the breeze blow through the trees and watching the birds fight over a crust of bread. When he finally got up to go pick up one of the children from a music lesson, he said he felt calmer and more relaxed than he had in ages. When he bent down and kissed his uncle on the forehead he said, "This is the best visit we've had together. Just sitting here with you was a great treat, dear."

Since then Prakash said that he has made it a point to take time out to just be, even if it's just for 15 minutes a day. He said he leaves his cell phone and laptop in another area and just enjoys being in the moment. He admitted to me that even though his daily life hasn't become any less hectic, the simple fact of having those few moments leaves his feeling far more relaxed and able to cope with the things that come along.

Friends, I have to say that I was very impressed by the wonderful change I saw in my friend and quite happy that he has found a way to experience a little peace in his life, which is very important to all of us. I hope that Prakash’s story will inspire you to take some time out to enjoy the benefits of being at rest.

My appreciation to the Guru

My letter to Dr. Arumugam after completion of the first public program for Trainers in Chennai under the Vision Unlimited banner and on the occasion of Vision Completing 2 successful years.

Dear Dr. Arumugam

Greetings.

Though you have done many program in your career, in today's program you gave your heart,mind,body and soul as if it was your first program. I must wholeheartedly thank you for your commitment, open minded approach and sincere contribution to make the workshop a great success.

You have indeed added value to Vision Unlimited by this first ever public workshop when it completes its second successful year and we are planning now a series of such workshops every month for different segment with different experts in the respective field.

It was very well received from every participant. At the end of the day all of them appreciated about your knowledge, wisdom, experience and your open minded contribution, and the whole arrangements and logistics during the workshop,

This is just a good beginning for Vision and the full credit goes to you. I definitely know how much you have worked hard right from making the brochure, course contents, handout material, certificate etc. With your busy travel plans and other commitments you helped me to make this program praise worthy for which I very honestly thank you.

Hope you had a satisfying day. I am so sorry that your laptop went down with the audio system and you may have to repair it with couple of thousand rupees. I could see that you were in little bit of distress after that incident.

I am happy that as usual our Prabhu made a wonderful contribution with his bee like service with a smile. The food was good and very well appreciated by all the participants.

The hotel authorities did a good job I must say.

I also should thank people like Mr. Udhayasandron, Mr. Ravikumar, Mr. Eashwer, Mr. Padmanabhan, Mr. Panchapakesan and other friends like Mr.Hari and Mr.Giri who worked hard to make this program a grand success. I also take this opportunity to thank everyone of them sincerely.

Expecting your kind support and cooperation in the future as well.

Thanks and warm regards.

live in the present

Are you familiar with the expression "to live in the moment?" This is the ability to be fully present and aware of yourself and your surroundings as you live each moment. Achieving such a state requires observation, appreciation, patience, quiet, and the ability to turn off the clock and put away the calendar.

While most of us don't experience such times frequently, this is when we feel the most alive. In theory, friends, being present involve learning how to pay attention, and the process of getting there is far easier than you might think. There are a few simple things you can do right now to help you stay in the present and pay attention to your life experience in a very positive way.

Start by setting a few quiet minutes aside each day to close your eyes and take stock of what you are feeling, no matter how good or bad those feelings may be. Don't judge your feelings, just allow yourself to become aware of the emotions behind them.

Next, send your attention outward and become aware of things around you. Notice if you feel warm or cold, what your clothing feels like against your skin, the feeling of the air moving in and out of your lungs. Let the sounds around you filter through you and notice the underlying noises that you may have been tuning out. Next, open your eyes and notice the colors and sights around you in this same subtle, attentive way.

By the time you are halfway through this little exercise, friends, you may be surprised at how much you actually notice about your internal and external presence. If you try this, you will probably find that "paying attention" will take on a whole new meaning, and it will be a very nice one at that.

I hope that you can take some time this week to practice "living in the moment." I feel sure that it will change your experience in "now" time. Enjoy, and don't forget to spend some time with your family.

Until next time Your friend,