How to Retain Customers?

How to Retain Customers? 

In business, customer is considered as God, who never wait for anyone. While doing business, one should take correct approach to deal with customers. Maintaining customers is a great art, and by adopting it into business one and lead upto the top.

Customers are the final reviewer of products, when judge after using it. Always remember, customers look for quality in the product - so that they would use it for a long term. And when they are most happy about the product, they start refereeing it to others.

Approval of customers about the quality is the best certificate about the product, there is not alternative to it. Successful brands of late, are having millions of satisfied customers across the world. And once the product is worth winning hearts of customers, it would become a brand that is associated with a tag as 'customers approved'.

Feedback about the products from customers should be taken carefully by the companies and need to focus on all the aspects that customers liked and disliked. Many companies have been spending huge amount of money on market research inorder to find out the actual customers view point about their product, which would give them a good return in future.

Marketing a product is not a easy task, if the quality of products is good enough, then customers would make it a world class product. The success of marketing is too depending on the choice of the customers.

In the case of close competition with rival company or similar product in the market, customers do support the product having good quality. When we talk about good quality, in customers point of view, they would consider good quality in product with best deal or price for the same.

Success of product is solely depending on the customers and their choice. While it must be also considered that best competition price is the key to attract customers. Marketing is the way to sale the products, while branding is to establish a signature style for the same product.

Branding would give a style and uniqueness about the product - that customers do remember for ever. Customers have been always look for the best deals to get their favourite product, and companies those understand & implement this concept - would at the top gaining and retaining customers all the time.

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Ways to Detect and Handle Manipulative People

Manipulation is basically, emotional exploitation of the other person, with intentions take control of other person, to seize his powers and to benefit from him at his expense. This is certainly not the right thing to happen to anyone. But in today’s time we find more such people, whose intentions are only to make use of the other person for the benefit of the self.

If there is definitely something we can do about this, it is to gain knowledge about such persons about their characteristics and to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones from such persons. Let us have a look at those characteristics.






Majority of the manipulative people have the common characteristics.



1. These people very well know the ways to find out other person’s weaknesses.

2. After they detect your weakness they use it against you to weaken you and to strengthen themselves.



3. They make the other person sacrifice his/her own personal preferences and interests, and make him/her work for their benefit.


4. Once they gain success in manipulating the other person, then they never stop exploiting them until and unless the other person becomes aware of this and decides to put a full stop.

Once you detect such a person, you can take certain measures to protect yourself from them, let us have a look at them.

1. The first and the foremost is to remember your basic rights as human. As long as, one does not harm others he has every right to protect himself and his basic rights. You are in charge if your life not the other person, remember this.

2. Manipulative people act differently with every person and in every situation. They show extremes in behavior, being polite with one and rude to other and much such behavioral opposition. So, as far as possible avoid them, if it is not possible in such cases maintain a distance.

3. Manipulative people’s main intention is to make you feel low so that you can surrender to them and do whatever they say. In such a situation see if the relationship is one sided or give and take. If it is not from both sides and you are the one to change yourself and surrender yourself every time it’s time for reality check.

4. Don’t just agree to whatever such person says if you think something is wrong question back and allow them to introspect.

5. Manipulative people also always insist on instantly giving your opinion or decision and will not give you time to think. In such cases pass away the situation by telling them that you will think about it.

These are just some of the techniques that you can use to protect yourself and safeguard your interests from manipulative people. So, go ahead and stand up for your rights and live your life.

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Top 10 Lessons to Learn from Failure

Failure is a word most of the people do not like to hear and do not want to give place in life. But, if we look at it from the other point of view, no teacher in the world would be able to teach us more valuable lessons than failures teach us.


If we think of it from one point, failure is what awakes us into real life; it acts as an eye-opener and a vital key to success.

Let us look at some of the positive points that we can learn from failure.

• Failure helps us to prepare ourselves for success, it shows that what we are is not what we need to be successful, and we need to become something else to be successful. This is an important lesson that failure teaches.
• Failure is rightly called a blessing in disguise, because it teaches us so many important things that we don’t usually otherwise learn in life.
• Failure give us a hint, they act as a warning signs for us, and let us know that the direction in which we are leading our life is not right and some changes need to be made
• Failure teaches us the value of time, value of persons and resources.
• Instead of thinking and taking it for granted that this is it with this failure ends my life. If we change our attitude and see this phase of failure as a passing cloud, we will leave failure behind
• Failure gives time for us, to think and introspect ourselves.
• Failure gives the right direction to our life. It shows that may be the direction in which we have been going is not good for us, and we need to change the direction.
• Failure if used properly increases our patience.
• Failure gives us the strength to accept things and to with stand and absorb the challenges that life throws at us.
• Failure prepares us for life, most of the times we don’t do anything out of fear of failure, but when you experience it, you overcome it and equip yourself for success.

Every person at some stage in life must have experienced failure. But it is our attitude towards failure and the way we treat it and understand it, that makes the difference between a failure and a successful person. Failures are the pillars to success, and right quote to adopt in life.

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How To Tackle Negative Reviews

Every business has detractors , and though you might think you have done a great job in terms of customer satisfaction, there will always be some who don’t think so. And when you come at the receiving end of consumer barbs online, what do you do?

Negative reviews online can be much more detrimental to your company/brand than you might think of. Not that a few bad reviews in the midst of several good ones will have any effect, its when their numbers becomes significant that it becomes a serious problem.

And it is no secret that angry unsatisfied customers are much more likely to post a review than the satisfied ones.According to a study by Cone Communications, 85% of the customers will research online before buying a recommended product or service and 4 out of 5 consumers reverse their decisions after coming across a negative review(http://www.coneinc.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/286c351989671ae74994fec139863bb2/files/2011_cone_online_influence_trend_tracker_release_and_fact_sheet.pdf)


This brings us to the all-important question- How much of your business is affected by these negative reviews

Considering value your avg transaction = $ 10

Avg no. of transactions= 1000

Total value of transactions= $ 10000

Percentage of people who reversed = 80% (every 4 out of 5) their decisions after coming across negative results

Total business lost= $8000

Now that’s a lot!!

So how do you tackle negative reviews.Panic??... Certainly not!!...Nothing can be more ironical than the fact that these very reviews can benefit you. We’ll tell you how a negative review can be used in your favor –

1- Only Positive reviews is a bad thing- Now tell me… would you really believe if on a review site you only see positive reviews about a company?..you’d be shrouded with suspicion and skepticism!! Yes, having some negative reviews is actually not a bad thing. It gives credibility to your products or service. It is more truthful to a customer and honest on your behalf. The customer will always value this.Having 1 or 2 negative reviews out of 10 reviews, make the other 8 more believable. So when customers come across these negative reviews, they almost always attach a trust value to it and are more likely to convert. Obviously it also depends on how many positive reviews are present to overcome the effect of negative ones.

2- Show that you care - This is how you tackle the negative reviews, that is, by addressing each one of them.By responding to those reviews, by acknowledging them and by resolving them, you send out a very strong message that you are sensitive to your customer’s experience. Follow these 3 rules –
Respond quickly – a quick response is the best way to deal with a negative review, it assures the customer and brings him relief but the best of all, it prevents more people from jumping into the bandwagon and exploiting a particular weakness.
Be sincere. Always thank the reviewer for taking the time out and apologize. Always tell them what you are doing to fix the problem. Give them an email address or a phone no. to contact you offline.Be sincere and professional in your replies and you’ll surely win a lot of hearts.
Add a personal touch – Address yourself by a name instead of using the name of your organization. This will give a human touch to your replies.

3- Source to get repeat business

It may sound implausible or farfetched but if you sincerely address your complainant’s problems and resolve them, you might just end up winning him over and he might want to rewardyou for taking him seriously. Hence if you offer some discount coupons for further purchases or some other incentive and if it is good enough then he might be your customer again. Not to mention the loyalty of such customers is yours.

4- Get great ideas for your SEO activities:

Good keyword research and copywriting involves the terms used by your customers. By keenly observing every comment, you will get to know the terms used by customers to look for your products or service and also the right terms to use in your ad copy or meta description. You will also realize the gap between what your customer expects and what your advertisement is targeted at. All of these will greatly help you in increasing the relevancy of your landing pages, keywordresearch and targeting the best terms to include in your ad copy or meta description.

Not just the negative reviews, its the apathy of a company toward its customers that drives the others away. And this especially holds true in the online turf, where a customer bases his decision on what he sees and you have no means to convince him. Internet is used by the people to research or hunt for the true picture and it pays to show them your best picture. So the next time you encounter some negative reviews, you know is another chance to promote your brand.

Description: Negative reviews appear online more quickly, more prominently and unexpectedly . Know how you can effectively offset their negative effect and actually use these negative reviews to establish a positive image and also use them for future marketing strategies.

Author bio: Tushar Taliyan, works as an ORM/SEO professional at SMG Convonix, and loves the dynamism of the constantly evolving field of internet marketing. A music lover, tennis player, movie buff, a foodaholic and a traveller... he prefers to spend time outdoors and leads an active life.

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No Panacea for the Problems You Have

The fact can’t be denied that there is no panacea for all our problems. We wish if there could one single way solutions to all the existing problems, but hardly do there any such thing in existence.

Problems do disturb you, but the big question is how you are going to cope with the situation. When it comes to finding the proper solution, one should understand and study the problem and its root cause.

There are many ways to find solution and meditation is one of those, but it is also not a panacea for your problems. The interesting thing about the problem in life it is ongoing process in life like our wants.

Wants are root cause for your problems, right? Yes, the more wants you have the more problems you are going to face. Human wants are unlimited so as the problems. The more you want to satisfy your wants, the more you involve and that is sure to trigger the problems in life.

There is no specific definition for problem; it is depending on the individual perception. A problem would look small to one whereas the same could be a gigantic for others.

The problems are inevitable in the process of life and beauty as well.

Try on to give hard try to solve your problem, since in short span of time, it is almost impossible to solve all the problems you have with one panacea.

Coming to financial problem, that would be much tenser for all including elite people. While dealing with financial problem is not a cup of tea for all. For that a bit of planning and courage are required.

Whatever problems you have in life, do not allow those to toll on your happiness and lifestyle. There need a perfect strike of balance between problem and the way you live happiness. And also never overlook the problems, which could lead to disaster.

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Who is Wise, By the Way?

There are many people you come across believing them wise by virtue, needless to say the suggestion would well enough to make a you a perfect person – literally meaning – A Wise Man.

The simple logic behind considering other person wise is that the first person looks at his negative qualities. And start comparing his negative qualities with the other person’s good qualities, where he or she reached at conclusion that himself or herself not good or wise.

The comparison of good with bad is always give negative thought or impression. And that actually damages the confidence of the person, who considers that he is not wise enough.

Always considering own negative thoughts is bad and it would worse if other person start counting your bad qualities. Whatever may be the situation, never consider the other person completely good or bad because it is obvious that everybody make mistakes.

Lest considering the logic, if you see other persons are good enough, then you might not have that much problem, anyway related.

Your problem is associated with the community your living in and if all the persons in the community good. Except you- no chance at all.

One popular saying goes like this – A person who makes no mistake can’t do anything.

That is not saying that knowingly you should do mistakes, interesting thing about mistake is that is unpredicted and unprecedented.

More interesting thing about it that, after it happened, you’d come to know that you made a mistake. And past is powerful since you can undo it. So plan to not to repeat it, that’s all.

Take the good suggestions from others, and if you dare ask them if they implemented in their life and what results they oriented.

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Happiness: Key Mantra for Business Success

What is takes to achieve success in business your doing over long time? Have you ever thought that the happiness is the key mantra that could give you the better success in your business? Most of the people believe that successful people are stay happy, but on the contrary, those people have adapted themselves into be happy in all the scenarios. That is why they are very successful.

One great motivational speaker told that success is not a destination but at direction. He is right; there is no limit to success so as to the sky. In the world of business also the success is unlimited, once can say that he achieved success and his or her journey stops there.

No, instead their main journey beings after a taste of success in their life. Many companies start with small funds, in due course of time, these become major business houses. But their journey starts with big leap from there.

Being happy is the more important for your personal life, but it’s more important for the business leaders as they deal with many situations while doing their business.

The business leaders have transformed into to be happy with all the conditions, they look confident and happy always. And that is the major reason for their success too.

We hear that healthy body breeds healthy mind, and so to get healthy body one must be happy always. Popular saying is there smiling everyday keeps you away from doctor. There are many laughter clubs imparting training to reduce stress and be happy.

It’s not like that in one day these successful people have learnt the great art of life. No they have gone through many exercises, constant for many years to reach the stage where they can be really happy and fit to carry out their job in business.

The father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi was also implemented anger control mechanism in his life that was mentioned in a magazine. There are many motivational speakers; they advocate that happiness is the key for success.

In the world of business, happy and healthier leader could achieve success and realize dreams. If your business and want the success, try to happy first, learn the art of being happy in life whatever the situation may be. It is noteworthy that the road for happiness is not cup of tea for everyone. If you special and have passion to lead the world, get ready to transform yourself.

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What are Leadership Qualities?

We all keep hearing this word leadership and its importance in the management context again and again. But, what exactly are leadership qualities? How do we recognize those qualities in a person? Let’s check them out.

• A Leader should have self confidence that he can accomplish what ever task he undertakes. You may not have the resources to achieve a goal, but if you have confidence, you will definitely reach your goal.
• He should be aware of his strengths and weaknesses and should be an expert at managing himself. One who is good at managing himself can manage others, so self management is a very important leadership quality. 
• He should always strive and work towards improvement in both personal and professional field. Leader always looks for Perfection and mastery, and so he constantly keeps on improving himself. 
• A leader should always have a vision for the future and should work in that direction. He should be able to assess the future conditions and should plan and work accordingly. 
• He should be self driven, and self motivated to work towards his goal. One who has a burning desire to achieve something, becomes self driven and no force can stop him. 
• A leader always feels accountable to whatever job he under takes. 
• Leader should be very good at handling people and managing a team and getting results. Leadership is essentially working with people and motivating them to work towards a common goal. 
• A leader is one who empowers others, installs confidence in them, and encourages them to improve. 
• A Leader is one who accepts change, and continues working towards his goals. 
• A leader is one who is able to motivate others to do the work and get the desired results.

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Top 5 Tips to Achieve Your Goals

We all have big dreams, and goals that we want to achieve, but few of us mould ourselves in the way we need to.

Because, we find it hard to break our old pattern of thoughts and habits, and because of this we stay where we are.

The formula is simple, if you want to achieve those things which you have not achieved, you have to start doing those things which you have not done till date.

Here are top five tips that will allow us to break free our habits and take a leap towards achieving our dreams and realizing our goals.

1) Food: the food you take effects your mood and determine your attitude, so choosy when it comes to food and take what you need when you need.

2) Prepare: Prepare yourself to the challenges, don’t hesitate to start a work that you have been postponing, or don’t take back foot to take up a new project or job or challenge, believe that you can do it and proceed with it.

3) Imagine: Imagine how you want your idle life to be, imagine what you want to achieve, and post pictures relating to those in your journal or on a board and make it point to look at them daily, so that you will get inspired.

4) No Gossiping: Don’t indulge yourself in gossiping; instead spend some time on reading books. Be prepared for changes, changes in the work or life whatever it may be, as the saying rightly goes, change is the only constant thing in life. Accept change because, with change comes progress, if everything remains same there is no scope for progress.

5) Physical Health: Start taking care of your physical health and make sure that you stay fit. Only when you are fit you can think of achieving your goals, so give priority to health and fitness. Follow these simple things and leap towards your goals.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People A Book Review

We live in an age of communication, and your communication skills, and relationship with people, are the factors that will dictate the way of your life.

Whether it is a student, or an employee or an entrepreneur, every one’s success ration depends upon the way he influences people and maintains relations.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the all time best books. This book was written by Dale Carnegie, and was first published in 1936, since then, it has sold 15 million copies world-wide.

A new revised edition was released in 1981, containing updated language and anecdotes. This edition has only four sections, in comparison to the earlier one, that had six sections.

In the revised edition two sections, one on, effective business letters, and the other on, improving marital satisfaction, are removed.

Well, coming to the point, this book empowers you with the techniques that you need in handling people. This book shows you the ways to make people like you, and make people think the way you think.

It throws light on how to change people without any offense from them, and gives you the rules to make your family life happier. In short this book will help you make friends easily and in a short span of time.

This book will make you stand apart from the crowd and will help you to win new clients. This book will definitely make you a better sales person or even a better executive and will increase your earning capacity.

This book will also give you the help that you need, to handle complaints, teaches you how to avoid arguments, and maintain good relations with everyone. This book will also make you, a better, and sought after conversationalist, who is entertaining and liked by everyone.

If your dream is, to influence people, be liked and sought after by people. Then you must read this book, because, it holds the capability, to turn to dreams to reality. So, go grab your copy.

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Management Skills that are Effective

There are some managers, who make your work place, positive and vibrant, and on the contrary, there are also those kinds of managers, that make you feel sick, and make your life miserable.

In most of the cases, when an employee chooses to leave a position, it is because of his relationship, with the manager, or with other people in the work place.

For any company, to prosper, and to see growth, good and effective managers, are very necessary. The role of an effective manager is to see that, each individual in the team, gives his best, performs well, and then the team as a whole achieves its results.

It requires both talent and skill, to be a successful manager. These skills need not necessarily be born; they can be developed through, experience, or by acquiring training.

Persons who are good at communication, leadership, development of self and others, who are adaptable, and are good at maintaining relations, prove their worth, as effective managers.

A manager with good communication skills will be able to instruct effectively, and listen effectively. Best managers are those, who exhibit, best leadership qualities, and as a true leader they should be able to gain trust, guide or give direction and promote a sense of responsibility in others.

Adaptability is the most important quality that a manager should have. Only when he is adaptable to the various and unexpected situations, will he be able to guide others, on the path of success.

When emergency or serious situations emerge, he should be able to think creatively and positively, and should come out with a solution.

Effective managers, have good relationships with their team, they earn their trust and respect, and help them to give their best, and they also motivate them, to do more productive work. Last but not the least, effective manager gives importance to, self development or growth.

He is always willing to learn, acquire knowledge, and upgrade himself, with the best qualities, and skills, both personal and professional.

These are the components that make a good and effective manager. And these are the qualities that you should look for, in a manager. A manager with these skills and capabilities is sure to take the organization, on the path of success, and progress.

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Love What You Have And Work for What You Want

“After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk has not yet ended.”

Nelson Mandela

Very often we hear this stuff that we should be contended with what we have and only then we can lead a peaceful life.

Because, desires know no end, on the other hand we also hear this thing that until and unless you have goals and aims in life you lose the motivation and cannot progress in life.

Most of the time we find ourselves torn between these theories and don’t know which one to choose and which way to go.But with every question there lies an answer, and the answer to this question is balance. You have to be happy in this moment, live this moment, and be happy about it.

You should feel happy about all the blessings that you have in life and be grateful to them. And then you should try to give your best to life.

Human capabilities are unlimited and human brain and heart can do wonders if one wants to do so. So we should be happy for what we have and with the situations in our life, but we should constantly strive to give our best in everything.

Contentment is good in life and is the most essential element to lead a happy and peaceful life. But if you look at the world behind every invention behind every revolutionary change there is this dissatisfaction and discontentment with the existing things and situations.

We need this sort of discontentment for the betterment of our lives and for the betterment of those people’s lives who are around us. So, strike the balance and move ahead in life.

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Tips to Over Come Motion Sickness

Traveling modes are many, car, train, ship and plane. We use either of these or all of these modes as per our necessity, but there are few people who suffer from Motion sickness, when they travel by any of these modes.

Motion sickness is usually caused by repeated motion, when people travel long distances at a stretch or so. Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness and Sweating are the symptoms of motion sickness.

These changes are a result of changes in one’s sense of equilibrium or balance. It may not be possible to prevent motion sickness, but there are a few things which if we implement will reduce its effect.

When you plan to travel, avoid taking Spicy, heavy and foods that have high fat content. Try to avoid excessive consumption of food or liquids before and during the travel.

Also keep away those food substances that don’t agree with you or will make you feel uneasy.

Sitting facing backwards from your direction of travel will increase motion sickness, so choose a place or seat where you will experience least motion.

If you have motion sickness when you travel by car sit in the front seat, if by plane prefer the middle of the plane over the wing, if ship prefer the lower level cabins.

 If you have motion sickness, do not read any books during traveling and open a window or slide down the glass, if possible so that you get plenty of fresh air.

Try not to think about or worry about motion sickness and stay away from people who suffer from motion sickness. Because, when you hear people talking about it and discussing about it or when you see other people suffering from the same you too will feel ill.

If you really suffer a great deal because of motion sickness, then consult a doctor. There are a few medicines which will help you cope up with motion sickness, the doctor will be able to prescribe what is good for you as per the intensity of your suffering.

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Eight Indian CEOs among 100 Best Performing CEOs on HBR’s list

Harvard Business Reviews has published its scorecard rating the 100 best performing CEOs around the world which of them most belongs to USA, China, Europe and India. Harvard started collecting CEO feedbacks from 2012 January-February and system to evaluate the CEO performance during their tenure in the office. The basis of this evaluation are long-term performance of the CEO (from first day to last day on that position), global growth of company during his tenure, reputation, survey results, share performance, and some other metrics like sales, profitability and celebrity status.

Harvard has released the list of 100 CEOs and eight Indian CEOs have made it, among which two are in Top 20. Y.C Deveshwar, who is at 7th position, is the CEO of ITC from 1996 and ITC has witnessed +45 billion market capitalization due to his efforts. On the 13th position is the late CEO of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Mr. Subir Raha. He held the position from 2001 to 2006 and during his tenure ONGC had have +57 billion market capitalization with more than 700% shareholder returns. Other Indian CEOs who made the list are: Reliance Industries Limited’s Mukesh Ambani on 28th, Larsen and Toubro's A M Naik on 32nd, BHEL's A K Puri on 38th, Bharti Airtel's Sunil Bharti Mittal on 65th, Jindal Steel and Power's Naveen Jindal on 87th and Steel Authority of India's V S Jain on 89th.

Please click the below link to view or download the 100 CEOs who made to the list.
100 Best CEOs of the World- Harvard Business Reviews List

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100 Things Every Online Student Ought to Know

Book Review : 100 Things Every Online Student Ought to Know



In the recent years, the entire scenario of studies has changed. Right from sitting in the class room to sitting in front of the computer. In this age, computer has replaced traditional methods of studies. The age is also not the constraint in this age.

Photo Credit: cambridgestratford.com

We find people of all ages studying and gaining knowledge on various aspects. So, for those, who are taking online course or doing on line studies, studying this book will be very useful.

This 224 pages book of 100 things contains 102 tips and facts about online degree programmes and courses. For those students who are new to online experience or have less knowledge, there are certain sections that address online access and communication.

Apart from these the book also addresses aspects such as online study skills and strategies. The book also shows ways to benefit from online student support.

To conclude, this book will serve as a good guide, for those people, who are new to online education and courses.

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Christmas Special - How to Build a Great Family?

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
Mother Teresa

Perhaps, this one sentence is enough for us, to show the importance of family. A great family, and family members, who make you feel, that they are there for you, in all your ups and downs in life, this is all you need, to be successful in life. If we take the examples of great people and successful in the world. Those were the people who loved their families and respected their parents. People who have had strong family ties and bonds.

Strong family bonds and mutual love and respect towards each other in the family, all these things are good and are necessary. But are there some ways to develop all this? Definitely, you should not wait for someone else to come and bring this kind of atmosphere into your home. You should become the agent of change and take initiative. Play your part and do your duties, also help others in doing their duties and fulfill their responsibilities.

Make your family your priority in life and rest everything else second. What is the use of accumulating all the wealth and all the material comforts of the world? If you don’t have your family? And people who love you and are there to stand for you in every time. So love your family and behave in such a way that they in turn will love you.

There will be times and situations in the family where everything seems up and down and absolutely no way out. But that is the time you should stay calm, have faith that everything will be ok and play a positive role. Always try to keep yourself a in others shoes and try to understand others before you, expect them to do so. Plan some get together and some family activities where all the family members are present and are participating.

These are some simple and strong methods to strengthen family bonds and helps simple families become great families.

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Education – What does it mean?

“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Seeing today’s world one really wonders, in what sort of educated and cultured society we are living and what kind of educated and cultured people are we surrounded by? In so called old days, educated people were less, but, they never behaved the way, the so called educated and cultured people do today. In olden day’s peoples lives were guided by principles and values, where as money and comforts are the only guiding factors today.

What sort of education are we getting? Is the education we are acquiring making us humans or is degrading us to animal humans? Education should help humans become divine and should result in a better society. But where is all that? We make tall claims that we are living in a very cultured, very broadminded, technically advanced and global world? But how far our thinking is global? All these are the questions we need to ask ourselves.

Education based on values and life guided by principles is what we need. Until and unless people give value to these things and try to inculcate them in our life the society will not progress. We see so many people who are called genius lying on the roads, ending up their lives in mental asylums. What is the reason? Why are the so called genius people becoming perverted?

The main reason because they lack the kind of education that is necessary for making their life meaningful. It is not enough if we have education that will help us earn few rupees and lead a comfortable life. We need education that will enlighten us, elevate us, bring more maturity in our thinking and helps us to bring out the divine qualities in us. May we all be blessed enough to have that kind of education.

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Resolving Conflicts at Workplace

As long as all are friends, and everything is going well, life seems to be beautiful but the moment a conflict arises; the whole world seems upside down. The most challenging task, for any person to face in the work place is how to resolve conflicts? Reasons may be any and many but resolving conflicts is the main point.

The first important factor is to find out the reason for conflict. Because sometimes mere misunderstanding may lead to conflict. You may have said one thing and the other person may have understood other thing.

Make sure that the other person has understood the same thing you wanted to convey. There next step would be, to pick up one point that both of you agree on, apart from the differences and then start working on that point.

The most important part to resolve a conflict is to look at the situation from the other person’s point of view, do a role play and imagine yourself in the other person’s shoes and think how you will feel and react to the situation. This will help you become flexible, and more understanding.

Then make the other person feel that you do care about his feelings and have respect for him and can see the situation from his view point. This will send a positive message to the other person and will bring out positive attitude towards you.

You always have a right to express your feelings in a calm and composed manner. You can be calm and composed but still you can make the other person realize what you want him to, by your words and by your deeds.

So, in essence, conflict resolving is, understanding the problem, look out for a common point to agree on, make the other person feel that you understand him or her and then lastly state your opinions calmly and in a composed manner.

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Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa on doing Worldly Duties

Image Credit: Panormio

"Do all your duties, but keep your mind on God. Live with all — with wife and children, father and mother — and serve them. Treat them as if they were very dear to you, but know in your heart of hearts that they do not belong to you. A maidservant in the house of a rich man performs all the household duties, but her thoughts are fixed on her own home in her native village. She brings up her master's children as if they were her own. She even speaks of them as 'my Rama' or 'my Hari'. But in her own mind she knows very well that they do not belong to her at all.

The tortoise moves about in the water. But can you guess where her thoughts are? There on the bank, where her eggs are lying. Do all your duties in the world, but keep your mind on God.
If you enter the world without first cultivating love for God, you will be entangled more and more. You will be overwhelmed with its danger, its grief its sorrows. And the more you think of worldly things, the more you will be attached to them. "First rub your hands with oil and then break open the jack-fruit; otherwise they will be smeared with its sticky milk. First secure the oil of divine love, and then set your hands to the duties of the world.

"But one must go into solitude to attain this divine love. To get butter from milk you must let it set into curd in a secluded spot: if it is too much disturbed, milk won't turn into curd. Next, you must put aside all other duties, sit in a quiet spot, and churn the curd. Only then do you get butter.

"Further, by meditating on God in solitude the mind acquires knowledge, dispassion, and devotion. But the very same mind goes downward if it dwells in the world. In the world there is only one thought: 'woman and gold'.

"The world is water and the mind milk. If you pour milk into water they become one; you cannot find the pure milk any more. But turn the milk into curd and churn it into butter. Then, when that butter is placed in water, it will float. So, practice spiritual discipline in solitude and obtain the butter of knowledge and love. Even if you keep that butter in the water of the world the two will not mix. The butter will float.

"Together with this, you must practice discrimination.’Woman and gold' is impermanent. God is the only Eternal Substance. What does a man get with money? Food, clothes, and a dwelling-place — nothing more. You cannot realize God with its help. Therefore money can never be the goal of life. That is the process of discrimination.

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Positive Effects of a Recession

Image Credit: Ecominoes

Fewer jobs, less money, and less, sense of security. These are all the ill effects, of recession, that majority of the people suffered across the world. But there is a good to learn even from bad things and bad experiences. So let us have a look at the positive effects of recession.

• Less Wastage:  When we have limited resources we learn to value them and to use them carefully. Because of recession, people have started focusing on the need aspect rather than want aspect. This results in less wastage and utilization of the resources to the best.

• Breaking gender barrier: Majority of men had to lose their jobs because of recession. So, the role play of the women from being limited to household duties, extend to earnings as well. And this resulted in increasing the confidence level and social status of the women.

• Benefits to the government: when people have enough money everyone prefers his own means of transport. But in the times of recession, preference has shifted from personal transport to public transport. This results in increase in the government revenue. And this in turn results in benefits to the public.

• Betterment of skills/change of profession: Necessity is the mother of all inventions. When people have no income source and are in bad need of money, they usually focus on sharpening their skills or focus on alternative and better sources of income.  

• Time to think: This is the right time to think about your life, and make necessary changes. You want to spend time with your loved ones or you want to give a new direction to your life change your goals and priorities. This is the time for all these changes.

So, when we learn good lessons even from bad times, we are on our way to progress and prosper.

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