WORK

When we hear the word WORK the immediate thought that comes to mind for most people is that it is an insipid, terrible way of going about living. If these thoughts overpower us daily, our daily life will be hellish one. Rich or poor, king or pauper work is destined on mankind and we cannot escape that reality. Some may argue that the filthy rich need not work but look around and you will notice that they are working harder than most. The utterly poor including beggars also have to go about doing their work so as to earn, live make their life more comfortable and pleasant. Since work is inevitable, how about looking at life in a more acceptable way and see it as a Way Of Rewarding Knowledge?

The rewards of work are manifold. To begin with, work enables us to keep busy. If we did not have any work, we would in serious trouble since an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Work rewards us with learning. While it is true that we often do the job based on what we have learnt, the reality is that what we learn on the job is far more critical in terms of being efficient and productive. It also enables us to realize our true potential and perhaps even helps us discover shades of out personality that we never knew existed. The most important reward of work is that it leads to monetary gains be it salary or profit. Far too often we focus on the monetary rewards without applying our mind to the quantum of effort or quality of work we do. Perhaps this often leads us to hate our work. By and large each one is rewarded by work in a relatively fair manner.

The key to doing good work is in leveraging the knowledge one has to the fullest. This could mean that at times we have to upgrade our knowledge, seek out opportunities at work to find niches in which we can pitch out expertise and the truly rewarded are those who make work a passion of their own liking. Knowledge is never static and so while academics can provide crucial inputs to get us going being able to proactively improve and enhance value in the work done is what brings large rewards.

The problem for many is how to love our work. My suggestions are as under:

• First accept that work is a reality that we cannot escape.
• Next try and find a work that is closest to your interest, passion, knowledge and ability.
• If you are unable to find such a work that matches all the above or worse still has no correlation to any of the above, then be grateful you have some work that keeps you out of trouble and in fact rewards you for the effort.
• Dispassionately look at your work and find as many reasons as possible to be appreciative / thankful for the work you do. E.g. A heart surgeon has greater respect in society than a pathologist who conducts autopsies. Yet there must be some motivation for people to choose to be a pathologist
• DO also remember that, it is human nature to be craving for more and the rewards of work rarely satisfy most people. So while you must seek to be rewarded more for the better work you do, do not forget that better work means more effort.

Perhaps now, you have a better appreciation that WORK is a actually a wonderful Way Of Rewarding Knowledge!

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com

OLYMPICS

One spectacular event that the world looks forward to with great anticipation, hope and excitement is the OLYMPICS. The reason for it is 3 fold; it happens just once every 4 years, every country has an opportunity to be represented and it is the one time when all are equals and competition is intense and camaraderie at its best. To understand, appreciate and experience this One Lively Youthful Meet of Passionate Intense Competitive Sportsmanship all one need to do is watch the 2012 Olympics being held in London from the 27^th July 2012 and closing on 12^th August 2012.

Sports in general and athletics in particular have always enthralled human beings. It is a test of skill, strength and stamina no matter what the event. The Olympics embraces all these and more since it encompasses an astounding range of sporting activities. With a wide variety of races of varying distances as well as a mix of obstacles as in the steeple chase there is no dearth of action, intrigue and surprises. The throws, jumps, the gymnastics and  the pool related events bring grace and art to superlative degree of finesse. To acknowledge our savage ancestory, there is shooting, archery, boxing, wrestling, fencing and martial arts disciplines thrown in. Team sports is represented in various forms be it relays, the ball sports hockey, football, volleyball and, basketball among others. An interesting facet of the games are the events where the sports person has to use an aid be it a horse for the equestrian events or a boat for the rowing events or cycles for the cycling events. Not to be left behind are the racquet events tennis, table tennis and badminton.

Every Olympics also throws up its sporting heroes and heroines as well as sets the stage for tragedies of epic proportions. Then there are controversies (doping related disqualifications being the most prevalent of late), occasional tragedies (the Munich massacre being a very unique episode), surprises and shockers. However what people would always cherish will be enduring images of extraordinary performances, remarkable feats by rank outsiders and underdogs and emotional outbursts, touching display of sporting spirit and the triumph of the spirit over mind and matter. 

While sports is the glue that makes the OLYMPICS one of the most eagerly awaited events every 4 years, it is the One Lively Youthful Meet of Passionate Intense Competitive Sportsmanship that enables the OLYMPICS to retain is aura, charm and popularity.

Try this:

Read up on the achievements of the following athletes

Sergey Bubka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Bubka

Edwin Moses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Moses

Nadia Comaneci http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Com%C4%83neci

Mark Spitz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Spitz

Teófilo Stevenson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te%C3%B3filo_Stevenson

Read up on the details of the following

The Olympic symbols http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_symbols

The Olympic games http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games

The London Olympics http://www.london2012.com

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com 

CLAP

The most universal form of appreciation world over is clapping. It a Clear Loud Appreciative Praise for the person /event/ moment. A CLAP is simple to perform, is often spontaneous, energizes the people clapping and the those receiving it and heightens the moment to a new level. The wonder of clapping is that it cn be engaged in by anyone who can feel the surge of positive emotion be it a child, a teenager, an adult or the old and the infirm.  

A clap is loud, it can be rhythmic, it galvanizes everyone, it conveys a common feeling that cannot be expressed in words and yet is understood by everyone in the same sense. It needs no clue, but can occasionally be ill timed , partial as is the case when you are supporting a team and can be conveniently used even to convey displeasure or disinterest as is done when people indulge in slow rhythmic clapping to shut up a long winded speaker or an unpopular point of view.

On the other end of the spectrum is the standing ovation, where the audience not only claps with gusto but stands up to honor the personality and / or the moment. The longer the thunderous applause, you can be sure that it comes straight from the heart and also indicates that the ecstasy ended too soon. A clap followed by calls for an encore are the ultimate tribute to anyone who is holding centre stage and that is the defining moment for both a new comer or a veteran.

 Action Points:

1. Do we restrain our natural impulse to clap when we feel moved by the performance or the moment (as in the welcoming of the New Year). Learn to be more spontaneous and be the cheerleader and begin the clapping when you know that something is worthy of applause and praise.
2. Are we game enough to acknowledge an extraordinary performance by a competitor? Do we have it in us to appreciate the skill, the talent and the effort? Sometimes we will be forced to recognize that while we have won the battle, the opponent has won the war; do we have the magnanimity to acknowledge this and appreciate it in Public. 

• [Here is a little challenge for you. How many English words found in a standard dictionary, of four letters or more can you make from the letters given below and which must include the alphabet in RED.F E T S N S A. (Special clue you can even make one word using all the alphabets). First write down the number of words you think you can make. Only then start attempting it. Did you exceed your expectations or were your expectations far too short of your performance? Did doubt play an important part in your estimation?  

Give yourself a clap if you get 4 words, a thunderous clap for getting 6 words and a standing ovation if you get 8 words or more.

 (Answers to the above will be posted in the next blog post of 15th February 2010)

 Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our daily inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com/