Don't Rest on Laurels

by: Brian Cavanaugh

One day a field marshal requested an audience with Napoleon, and Napoleon knew what was coming. But as every good leader must, Napoleon agreed to hear him out. The field marshal brought news of a great victory he had achieved. He talked for a long time about his accomplishment, piling detail upon detail.

Napoleon listened closely throughtout the entire narration, but said nothing. The officer was disappointed. He had hoped for a more enthusiastic reception, as well as Napoleon's congratulations. Neither was forthcoming.

Summing up, the marshal repeated much of what he had already stated. As the officer rambled on, Napoleon continued to listen politely, and the marshal interpreted this as encouragement. Surely, he thought, Napoleon will now give me the praise I so richly deserve.

When the marshal finally stopped talking, Napoleon asked him one question: "What did you do the next day?"

The field marshal was speechless. But the lesson was not lost on him. From then on, the officer understood that he should never rest on his laurels. So he left it to others to bestow the praise.

Be a Leader

  by: Michele Milligan

The following was written by a high school student writing an essay for her final exam:

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are much like eagles... they don't flock, you find them one at a time." Hard work, profound dedication, and encouragement toward others are what entitle an individual to be a leader.

A strong work ethic is one important quality of an adroit leader. As the saying goes: "There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy." Hard work and intense dedication can only make you better, both mentally and skillfully. If others see one person working as hard as they can 100% of the time, they will work harder for that one person. No matter how unmotivated people are, if just one person steps up and takes the lead, everybody else will follow. Leaders motivate others.

Many people find themselves working harder when they know that they get something out of it. Just by hearing a few pushing words that motivate and encourage, people force themselves to work harder. Leaders are usually the ones who ignore their own accomplishments to commend others for theirs. The leader keeps everybody's head up at all times, as they work harder and harder, and more diligently toward their goals. The number one thing that a leader tries to avoid is making people feel guilty or to look down on them because leaders bring others higher in the world, usually with the result being success. As a noble person once said, "There are high spots in all of our lives, and most of them come through encouragement from someone else."

Hard work from one person makes other work harder. Vehement dedication shows others the success that comes through it. Encouragement and support for others make others feel good about themselves and give them something else to work for. These are all very significant traits that a leader must possess. Don't wait around for things to happen, make this world what you really want it to be, be a leader.

ISO Standards 101

By Johanna Guelas

Not every company applying for an ISO certification will be applying for the same standard. There are different standards in place, depending on the type of industry a company or organization belongs to and the kind of products or services it offers. Here are some of the most common types of ISO standards that organizations apply for:

ISO 9000

The ISO 9000 series is one of two very popular ISO standards. In fact, many of the organizations and companies you'll find today are certified using this management system. At present, there are hundreds of thousands of companies and organizations that have the ISO 9000 standard.

There are certain requirements for this type of ISO standard, such as:
- a set number of standards that are used for important business processes
- record keeping
- detection of defects or review of problems in products and services
- continual improvement

The ISO 9000 standard is a standard that companies apply for if they:
- want to elevate their company's quality requirements
- want to comply with the standards set by their suppliers or clients
- improve their performance in terms of production and service
- improve customer satisfaction

ISO 9000 does not guarantee the quality of their end products or services, only the related business processes involved.

Industries that are covered by the ISO 9000 standard include automotive, aerospace and telecommunications, among others.

ISO 14000

The ISO 14000 standard is a series that aims to incorporate environmental issues into the processes, operations, standards and considerations of an organization. Some of the requirements for this standard include:
- establishment and implementation of an organization's environmental policy
- planning of related objectives
- implementation of related programs
- identification of the impacts of a company's products and/or services on the environment
- management review
- any corrective actions

This family of ISO standards ranges from ISO 14001 to ISO 14977. Industries that are covered by the ISO 14000 standard include electronics, Information Technology (hardware, software and related parts and components) and medical, among others.

There are also certain ISO standards that are being applied for parts or component suppliers for certain manufacturers. For suppliers of automotive manufacturers such as GM and Ford, for example, the ISO 14001 standard is also being used. For production materials, parts and services suppliers for Ford, GM and Daimler-Chrysler, the standards for QS 9000 are in place.

The management systems mentioned above are just a few of the series of ISO standards that are applicable today. ISO standards range from ISO 1 to ISO 38500, each of which implements certain requirements that organizations have to meet.

Do not Drink and Drive

Spend some time to read this! Really touching! ..Also it has moral

 I was walking around in a Big Bazar store making shopping,  when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old.  The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.

Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Aunty, are you sure  I don't have enough money?''

I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy  the dolll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally,  I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.

'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much .

Iwanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY. I have to give the doll to my mommy so  that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.'  His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God.

Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so  I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.

'' My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until  I come back from the mall.'

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing.

He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister

won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me,  but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.

' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again,  just in case you do have enough money for the doll?'' 'OK' he said,  I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and  we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.  The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!

' Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before  I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll,  so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have  enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask  God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.

My mommy loves white roses.' I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started.  I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.. Then I remembered a local news  paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who  hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away,  and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether  to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would  not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

 Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that  the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch  of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young  woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.  She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the  photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.  I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever.  The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still,  to this day, hard to imagine.. And in a fraction of a second,  a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

THE VALUE OF A MAN OR WOMAN RESIDES IN WHAT HE OR SHE GIVES,

NOT IN WHAT HE OR SHE IS CAPABLE OF RECEIVING

 
 

Now you have 2 choices:

 
 

 Please spread awareness or Ignore

 

The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cards and slowed down when he thought he saw something.  As his car passed, no children appeared.  Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the sport where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,

"What was that all about and who are you?  Just what the heck are, you doing?   That is a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.  Why did you do it?"
The young boy was apologetic.

"Please, mister… please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop.."

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said.  "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get his back into his wheelchair?  He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."  Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.

He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a lines handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay…  "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar.  The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door.  He kept the dent there to remind him of this message "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts.
Sometimes when we don't have time to listen,
He has to throw a brick at us.
It's our choice to listen or not.

Vanilla Ice Cream that puzzled General motors!!!!

Never underestimate your Clients' Complaint, no matter how funny it might seem!  
This is a real story that happened between the customer of General Motors and its Customer-Care Executive. Pls read on.....

A complaint was received by the Pontiac Division of General Motors:

'This is the second time I have written to you, and I don't blame you for not answering me, because I sounded crazy, but it is a fact that we have a tradition in our family of Ice-Cream for dessert after dinner each night, but the kind of ice cream varies so, every night, after we've eaten, the whole family votes on which kind of ice cream we should have and I drive down to the store to get it. It's also a fact that I recently purchased a new Pontiac and since then my trips to the store have created a problem.....

You see, every time I buy a vanilla ice-cream, when I start back from the store my car won't start. If I get any other kind of ice cream, the car starts just fine. I want you to know I'm serious about this question, no matter how silly it sounds "What is there about a Pontiac that makes it not start when I get vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever I get any other kind?" The Pontiac President was understandably skeptical about the letter, but sent an Engineer to check it out anyway.

The latter was surprised to be greeted by a successful, obviously well educated man in a fine neighborhood. He had arranged to meet the man just after dinner time, so the two hopped into the car and drove to the ice cream store. It was vanilla ice cream that night and, sure enough, after they came back to the car, it wouldn't start.

The Engineer returned for three more nights. The first night, they got chocolate. The car started. The second night, he got strawberry. The car started. The third night he ordered vanilla. The car failed to start.

Now the engineer, being a logical man, refused to believe that this man's car was allergic to vanilla ice cream. He arranged, therefore, to continue his visits for as long as it took to solve the problem. And toward this end he began to take notes: He jotted down all sorts of data: time of day, type of gas uses, time to drive back and forth etc.

In a short time, he had a clue: the man took less time to buy vanilla than any other flavor. Why? The answer was in the layout of the store. Vanilla, being the most popular flavor, was in a separate case at the front of the store for quick pickup. All the other flavors were kept in the back of the store at a different counter where it took considerably longer to check out the flavor.

Now, the question for the Engineer was why the car wouldn't start when it took less time. Eureka - Time was now the problem - not the vanilla ice cream!!!! The engineer quickly came up with the answer: "vapor lock".

It was happening every night; but the extra time taken to get the other flavors allowed the engine to cool down sufficiently to start. When the man got vanilla, the engine was still too hot for the vapor lock to dissipate.


Even crazy looking problems are sometimes real and all problems seem to be simple only when we find the solution, with cool thinking.

Don't just say it is " IMPOSSIBLE" without putting a sincere effort.... Observe the word "IMPOSSIBLE" carefully....
Looking closer you will see, "I'M POSSIBLE"...
What really matters is your attitude and your perception.

Express Your Thoughts

Friends,

As humanbeings, we have the right to express our views and concerns about anything in this world. Who knows, sometimes your views can create a change in the mindset of the people around you for building a better tomorrow.

Send a mail Click Here , with a striking subject line and your views and click the send button. It will reach people around the globe, within a fraction of a second.

You can see your views posted in this URL, right after clicking the Send button.

Join us with the power of passion and the essence of your thoughts.

Regards,
Rahul
WYD Team

To all those who dare to live in the IT World-What do you say ???

When the whole world was crumbling under the recession, our India was enjoying a better condition. But as soon as the news of Satyam came up, things started changing. The whole Indian IT industry was shocked, stocks went down, the remaining is known to the whole world. The News channels were having a good time, playing with their words which could draw the attention of the whole world. But I strongly believe that some things were less noticed.

Soon after the Satyam story, the next one to be hit was the announcement of World Bank decision to debar Wipro and Megasoft from directly doing business with the bank group under its corporate procurement programme.

By this time, I think most of you would have forgotten the news about six prominent IT companies in the Bangalore city, including Infosys and Wipro, have received e-mails threatening to blow up their buildings in Bangalore on Sunday (1/4/2009 ). Immediately the security had been tightened at all the Information Technology companies which received the threats. But a cold attack on the IT industry has happened, exceeding our expectations.

Now think my dear fellow IT professionals, don’t you feel that something is being planned to attack the economy of our Motherland, India. Come on, think we are not just here to code, at least we should be able to stand united against the planned attack on IT Industry. It is truly a terror attack on our IT glory that we have. Please do realize that it is the Brand India that is being adversely affected. It not just a blow for the Satyamites but for all Indian IT professionals.

Remember IT is not a kid’s play. This New Year is dedicated to all those who dare to live in the IT World.

Priya
Co-Founder

New Year Wish

A New Year is dawning with promise abound

An era's beginning with much to be found

A time for renewal, reflection, and change

Where our sacred dreams are, at last, in range

No longer shall we dwell on days now bygone

From this hour forward, our hearts shall be strong

We will face the morning with stars in our eyes

Grateful for a New Year of wealth and surprise.

Through burdens and hardships, we've battled and won

To now find ourselves at the New Year begun

Away from the sorrow that time has removed

And ready to embrace the future improved

Our souls remain steadfast, our smiles remain bright

As we greet the New Year of glory with might

Regardless of the paths which led us to now

We stand here, united, with hope on our brow.

A New Year has beckoned and long may she roam

To bring us the blessing and solace of home

The foods on our table, so plenty and grand

And riches held dearly in each heart and hand

May your joys outnumber the days you feel lost

May your wishes be on angels' wings embossed

So, your only struggles are those you forget

Leading 2009 to be your best year, yet!

We wish you all a magical Festive Season filled with Loving Wishes and Beautiful Thoughts.

May this 2009 mark the beginning of a Tidal Wave of Love, Happiness and Bright Futures.

It's like a new Sunrise...

of Hope, of Prosperity, of Happiness

It's like a new Beginning...

of Thoughts, of Words, or Actions

It's like a new Day...

of Energy, of Strength, of Ideas

It's like a bunch of whole new things...

of Prayers, of Friends, and of Love.

It's new year

2009

Never stop caring about the little things in life,

Never stop dreaming or give in to strife.

Never stop building bridges that lead to promising tomorrows,

Never stop trying or give in to sorrows.

Never stop smiling and looking forward to each new day,

Never stop shining in your own special way.

Never forget that all storms can clear.

The grayest sky can turn pure blue.

Remember, brighter tomorrows are near…

All the Best Wishes,

WYD Team