“Do You Go by Your Head, Heart or Gut?” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Checking the results of a decision against its expectations shows executives what their strengths are, where they need to improve, and where they lack knowledge or information.” – Peter Drucker

We all make decisions in our daily life. Sometimes we curse ourselves for making wrong decisions. We want all our decisions must be successful. The fact is that all the decisions that we make may not turn out to be fruitful as majority of them end up in failures. Therefore, we will briefly discuss decision making in this regard.

We make decisions based on our knowledge, the availability of information, prevailing circumstances and based on head, heart and gut. Sometimes we make a decision and act and the very next moment we think that we have made a wrong decision as the mind changes fast. When we change our minds so rapidly and feel internally that we have made a wrong decision then how can we blame others for making wrong decisions? The truth is that everybody wants their decisions must go right as nobody wants to make wrong decisions deliberately.

There are people who make decisions based on their head. That means through their analysis and logical thinking. There are people who make decisions based on their heart. That means based on their emotions, egos and feelings. There are people who make decisions based on their gut. That means through their intuition. In fact, decision making is situational and is based on knowledge, availability of information, personality of the individuals and the prevailing circumstances. When you love someone you make decisions based on your heart as love is something related to your heart. When something related to your life you make decisions based on your head as you view various pros and cons about it. When you don’t know what to do, you make decisions based on gut. Therefore, decision making is situational and is based on various factors and forces.

Remember there is no magic wand to ensure the success of all decisions. Hereafter, don’t regret for making wrong decisions as all decisions will not go right. At the same time, learn lessons from wrong decisions and move forward with takeaways. To conclude, think various aspects, weigh all options and blend your head, heart and gut and take a call to achieve all round success in your life.

Best of luck!

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2012 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://profmsr.blogspot.com This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“Initial Struggles of an Author” - Professor M.S.Rao

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.” - Benjamin Franklin

I have faced several challenges initially to establish myself as author. I have passion for writing, teaching and consulting. Having 30 years of experience in various verticals and areas and seven qualifications in various areas such as in technical, science, arts, legal and management and I decided to integrate all of my strengths to excel as an author. Above all, I have passion for writing which I discovered way back in 1989. I had an ambition to author a book in 1990s itself but due to several challenges I could not pursue it. In fact, I started writing from end of 2007 onwards by reconnecting my passion that I discovered in 1990s. I created a blog to share my knowledge with the world as I thought it is the best way to reach out to the world to make a difference. I personally don’t believe in retaining my knowledge with me and I enjoy sharing it with others so that others are benefitted. I pursued my passion for teaching but the impact is limited to classroom only. Therefore, I created a blog to share my knowledge for the benefit of others. There is great response to my blog. There are people who visit my blog regularly and send me personal emails and sometimes posting their precious comments in my blog.

I enjoy a lot while writing. I get lot of pleasure while writing. Writing unwinds me. I cannot sleep if I don’t write for a day and I feel that I missed something in my life. James Michener rightly said, “I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” Therefore, writing is close to my heart and it is my daily habit.

I decided to author a book initially as it was my lifelong ambition to publish at least one book. Then I wrote my first book Secrets for Success. I prepared the book proposal and sent it to more than 200 publishers. Nobody took me seriously as I was making debut as an author. Finally one publisher came forward to publish my book and that made me forget all the pain I took to author and search for a publisher. In fact, I don’t belong to the family of authors. I am not a popular author. Usually publishers want to play safe by publishing the works of established authors so that they can generate their revenues quickly. And they are justified as they invest money for publishing the books. Publishers also look for the credentials of a new author whether he is working in prestigious educational institution in senior position so that marketing book becomes easier for them. They also look whether the author is an established CEO or a celebrity to promote their books. But I am not a CEO, or a Vice Chancellor of a prestigious university or an established celebrity or a rich person who can invest money to publish my own books. Despite all these handicaps I pursued my passion of writing books where chances of getting recognition are too remote and income are too less. Above all, I am not financially strong to invest and to sustain my family as well. But what made me become an author is because of my passion and pure perseverance.

After facing several initial challenges with publishers I was searching for endorsements and foreword for my book. Finally, Lenny Laskowski, an international public speaker and author came forward to write foreword for my book and I was excited. After facing several financial hardships and challenges I have seen the publication of my first book. It was a great day in my life. It is like mother delivering her baby and getting excited by seeing her new born baby.

Despite all these setbacks I still want to write as I have passion for writing. I live with great hope that one day will be my day where I will be able to inspire entire mankind. I will forget all of my initial struggles and sacrifices on that day. I am confident that I make a difference in the lives of others and leave a mark behind for others to follow.

I have authored 12 books so far. Now I am getting several calls from publishers for writing books for them. Therefore, don’t blame external circumstances for the challenges you face. Success comes at a cost. Success comes with lot of struggles as you don’t get it on platter. Learn to work hard and manage challenges. Above all, follow your passions rather than money and one day will be your day where you will be able to make a mark for yourself and leave a mark behind for others to follow. Here is a great quote that suits my struggles and touches me the most:

“It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write.” - Sinclair Lewis

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://profmsr.blogspot.com This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“How to Convey Sad News To Your Wife” - Professor M.S.Rao

“The most important gift you can give your children is to love their mother.” – Anonymous

On November 24 2011, Tom went to another city on a business tour. He got telephonic information that his father-in-law passed away. He was disturbed with the news, cancelled his business tour and returned home on November 25, 2011 to convey the news to his beloved wife. Tom loved his wife very deeply and never saw tears in her eyes after marrying her. He made his wife very special throughout his 21 years of marriage life by loving her and treating her with great respect.

On reaching home he found his wife watching television interestingly. She was surprised with Tom’s sudden return from business tour as he was basically scheduled to reach home after three days. She was excited to see him returning much before the scheduled date. She enquired the reason for reaching home before the schedule and further probed whether business tour was successful. He said that the business work was over and, hence, he returned. Both had lunch and Tom was worried within his mind how to convey the sad news of her father’s death. After taking lunch Tom’s wife began viewing television.

He found it difficult to convey sad news to his wife. He was hesitating to tell her but he had to tell her the truth. Tom’s wife was watching television with great interest as there was an interesting Hollywood film being telecasted. He decided to convey the news after sometime. He had to convey the news but did not have courage to tell her as she would break into tears.

At 13:30 hours, finally, he took courage and went to his wife slowly and had conversation about other things and, finally, informed her that her father was not well. Her face turned with anxiety suddenly, switched off the television and inquired the reason whether he was bedridden. She loved Tom very deeply and left her parents and relatives and came along with him. She did not have any contact with her father since long. Finally, Tom took courage and informed her about her father’s death. She hugged him and broke into tears. Tom never saw her crying since 21 years of their married life. Tom consoled her and told her to accept the life as it is.

From the above story, it reveals that it is easy to advise others but tough to experience sad moments in life. It is not easy to convey the news of death to others especially to your loved ones. Therefore, prepare well mentally, take the right moment and share the sad news slowly and finally get prepared for consoling them.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://profmsr.blogspot.com This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

“Is Friendship Based on Compatibility or Chemistry?” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” – Aristotle

People often confuse between compatibility and chemistry. Compatibility is about making things and people aligned as per the expectations to move forward successfully. However, chemistry is something beyond compatibility that is churned to ensure effectiveness in performance and longevity in relations.  I would like to share my personal observation in this regard.

I have a friend Tom who has been close with me for the last thirty years.  Our friendship survived for 30 years and you can imagine the kind of friendship we enjoy. I attended Tom’s marriage function 20 years ago and subsequently our friendship grew stronger with the interaction of my wife and children with his family members.  He has two sons and I also have two sons almost of similar age. I wanted that our friendship should extend to next generation the way my friendship with Tom grew. Hence, one day I told my two sons to move closely and make friendship with Tom’s two sons who are also very good by nature and behavior. My two sons agreed and began moving in a friendly way. They developed some degree of compatibility and began gelling well. However, my sons have their own friends and moving with them with great bonds. I began thinking why my sons could not build great bonds with Tom’s sons. Later on I realized that choosing friendship is their prerogative and they can choose as per their comfort and tastes and temperaments.  In addition, I felt that friendship cannot be created when someone advises to develop it. Friendship is a spark that is created when both mind and heart match with that of others. Friendship is beyond boarders that is cultivated based on various reasons some are known and some unknown.

We find some families break up due to lack of chemistry between wife and husband. At the time of marriage they may have compatibility and get married and after marriage they may not develop right chemistry leading to divorces and break-up. Therefore, why do people choose friends and how they are connected is still a mystery. Therefore, we can only advise others to make friendship but we cannot force them as friendship is a sacred relation connecting both mind and heart of different people thus bringing together. Hence, friendship requires more of chemistry than compatibility.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India.  All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://profmsr.blogspot.com  This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.