A interesting presentation on the concepts and learning from the book ‘Freakonomics’ – with a few examples from daily life.
Credits – Vikas Shenoy
Source- http://www.slideshare.net/vikas.shenoy/freakonomics-concepts-and-application-presentation
May 24, 2010
December 2, 2009
Why Profit shouldn’t be the CEO’s Top Goal
I came across a piece of research that supports my belief that in the long run, it pays (financially and otherwise) to be a visionary and to be a good ‘trustee’ for all the stakeholders involved.
Here’s the article -
Why Profit Shouldn’t Be Your Top Goal
Making the bottom line your top priority may not be the best way to improve profitability. Recent research shows that CEOs who put stakeholders’ interests ahead of profits generate greater workforce engagement—and thus deliver the superior financial results that they have made a secondary goal.
This finding is based on survey data gathered from 520 business organizations in 17 countries, many of them emerging markets. We were testing the hypothesis that if a CEO’s primary focus is on profit maximization, employees develop negative feelings toward the organization. They tend to perceive the CEO as autocratic and focused on the short term, and they report being somewhat less willing to sacrifice for the company. Corporate performance is poorer as a result.
But when the CEO makes it a priority to balance the concerns of customers, employees, and the community while also taking environmental impact into account, employees perceive him or her as visionary and participatory. They report being more willing to exert extra effort, and corporate results improve.
This research, which was conducted with Mary Sully de Luque, of Thunderbird School of Global Management; David A. Waldman, of Arizona State University West; and Robert J. House, of the University of Pennsylvania, underscores the risk of single-mindedly pursuing profit.
Copyright © 2009 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
Source – HBR – The Daily Stat – http://hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2009/12/why-profit-shouldnt-be-your-top-goal/ar/1?cm_mmc=npv-_-DAILY_STAT-_-DEC_2009-_-STAT1201
November 29, 2009
Five reasons why people do not succeed with their diet and fitness Goals
Marshall Goldsmith writes in his book ‘ What got you Here Won’t get you There‘ about the his study of research on goal-setting and goal achievement – “lot of it centers on diet and fitness because (a) there’s a huge popluation of people interested in such goals (b) it’s easy to measure, and (c) with record numbers of Americans either obese or out of shape, there’s a huge (and compelling) history of failure in this area.
The Five Factors of Failure that Marshall outlines are as follows -
1) Time – It takes a lot longer than estimated. People find that they don’t have the time that they need to pursue these goals
2) Effort- It’s harder than anticipated. It doesn’t ‘feel’ worth the effort
3) Distractions- People didn’t account for all the daily firefighting and recurring crises that will demand their attention
4) Rewards (Or rather lack of) – People don’t get immediate public approval or appreciation and that puts a damper on their spirits.
5) Mainteinance – People didn’t account for the effort it will take to stay in shape and “they slowly backslide or give up completely.”
I think these reasons hold good for the failure of achieving goals in other aspects of our life as well 
Have a great Sunday!
November 7, 2009
September 26, 2009
September 24, 2009
September 21, 2009
May 23, 2009
May 22, 2009
The Power of Letting Go…
We all come across moments in our life when a rational view of things frustrates us and the ‘why me?’ question makes us feel like a victim of life.
What we fail to realize at such moments is that God has a plan for every one of us and He alone knows the timing of the unfolding of this plan. Our role is to make the efforts and let Him complete the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle of our life.
My personal faith comes from the fact that the Universe is too perfect to be random. There is a divine intelligence which governs it and which is a part of all living beings.
Submitting your worries to God can have a profound healing effect on your life. You no longer get frustrated over obstacles in your path but you view them as divine guidance urging you to move forward on the path which will lead you to your true purpose in life.
Have a great day
Your friend
Simerjeet.
This beautiful poem says in a few words what I cannot say in many…
“As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because He was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him,
in peace, to work alone;
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back and cried,
“How can you be so slow?”
“My child,” He said,
“What could I do?
You never did let go.”
Lauretta P Burns
May 18, 2009
Stretch your imagination! – Pradeep Shukla shows the way…
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”
During my frequent interaction with the Youth I often come across a common pattern of complaining about all the missing resources, which if present would somehow be a magic wand for success. Lack of time, money, guidance, opportunities, luck and encouragement top the list. Other excuses are – ‘I come from a small town’, ‘My communication skills are not good enough’ and numerous others are a part of the endless list to which we attribute our own failure to make decisions and take decisive action.
Time and again, we come across individuals who prove that success depends more on resourcefulness than resources. One such individual is Mr. Pradeep Shukla from Allahabad University. His achievement has really inspired me and has helped me to stretch my own imagination.
Pradeep Shukla has cleared the Civil Services Examination in his first attempt and secured 427th rank in the toughest examination of our nation. Here is what is striking about Pradeep’s achievement – Pradeep Shukla is the son of Betel Leaf Seller (Paanwaalah), who makes a living from a makeshift shop just outside the Magistrate’s Office in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Today, his 60 year old father Chandan Guru is a proud man. His Father supplemented his income by working as a labourer and performed other menial tasks so that his son could fulfil his aspirations. Pradeep’s siblings had to drop out of their studies after class XII. The family knew of Pradeep’s brilliance and his drive and was willing to make sacrifices.
India needs more sons like Pradeep Shukla and more fathers like Chandan Guru in every town and village. Imagine the possibilities in a world where we all are living up to our highest potential, defying the statistics and challenging the status quo and questioning the way ‘it’s always been done’.
I salute the vision, the determination, the sacrifices and the hard work of the Shukla Family. Their achievement is a source of inspiration for all those who are fighting against the odds.
(Source IANS, http://news.in.msn.com/national/others.aspx?cp-documentID=3006134, Friday 8th May, 2009)
Read the full story here- http://news.in.msn.com/national/others.aspx?cp-documentID=3006134
