One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.
At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight,built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.
The driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it.
The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.
This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff.
By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.
So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!"
The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?
"With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass ."
(Management Lesson: "Be sure there is a problem in the first place, before working hard to solve one.")
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The "KFC" Story
There was an old man whose age was 65. He just had $100 from the social security fund and an old car. But he had a dream. He had a dream of selling his mother's recipe of chicken.
With this dream in his eye, $100 in his pocket, he set out in his old car to sell this recipe to people who would care to buy. He knocked on doors every day but to no avail.
Everyday would end in a BIG disappointment. But he would never give up.
Next day, again he would start afresh. He would have knocked on at least thousand doors before he got his first order.
Then the orders started trickling in and then orders started flooding in.
Slowly the recipe became the talk of the town, then the country and then the whole world.
Today the same recipe is being used all over the world in a chain of restaurants known as "KFC" and the man was none other than Colonel Sanders.
(Cue: We should not lose heart when we attempt and fail; instead we should start afresh.)
With this dream in his eye, $100 in his pocket, he set out in his old car to sell this recipe to people who would care to buy. He knocked on doors every day but to no avail.
Everyday would end in a BIG disappointment. But he would never give up.
Next day, again he would start afresh. He would have knocked on at least thousand doors before he got his first order.
Then the orders started trickling in and then orders started flooding in.
Slowly the recipe became the talk of the town, then the country and then the whole world.
Today the same recipe is being used all over the world in a chain of restaurants known as "KFC" and the man was none other than Colonel Sanders.
(Cue: We should not lose heart when we attempt and fail; instead we should start afresh.)
Memorial That Harward University Lost
A woman in a faded dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly, without an appointment, into the Harvard University President's outer office.
The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country people had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.
"We want to see The President," the man said softly.
"He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the woman replied.
For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President, even though it was a chore she always regretted.
"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said to him. He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.
The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.
The woman explained, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year.He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial, somewhere on campus, for him."
The president wasn't touched; he was surprised. "Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the woman explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard".
The President rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings alone here at Harvard."
For a moment, the woman was silent. The President was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The woman turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded.
The president's face wilted in bewilderment.Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university that bears their name, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
(Introspection: Do we also get influenced by the way somebody dresses or looks when they come to meet you ? Do we treat our customers also the same way ? Then, we need to correct ourselves.)
The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country people had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.
"We want to see The President," the man said softly.
"He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the woman replied.
For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the President, even though it was a chore she always regretted.
"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said to him. He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, but he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office.
The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.
The woman explained, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year.He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial, somewhere on campus, for him."
The president wasn't touched; he was surprised. "Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the woman explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard".
The President rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings alone here at Harvard."
For a moment, the woman was silent. The President was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The woman turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded.
The president's face wilted in bewilderment.Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California, where they established the university that bears their name, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
(Introspection: Do we also get influenced by the way somebody dresses or looks when they come to meet you ? Do we treat our customers also the same way ? Then, we need to correct ourselves.)
The Carpenter
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer (a building contractor) of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes.
But in time, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. 'This is your house', he said, 'my gift to you'.
The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
We are the carpenter. Each day we hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Life is a do-it-yourself project, someone has said. Our attitudes and the choices we make today, build the house we live in tomorrow. Let's build it wisely!
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes.
But in time, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. 'This is your house', he said, 'my gift to you'.
The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
We are the carpenter. Each day we hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Life is a do-it-yourself project, someone has said. Our attitudes and the choices we make today, build the house we live in tomorrow. Let's build it wisely!
Book Review: DHIRUBHAISM by A.G.Krishnamurthy
(Source: Excerpts from the Leadership Essential Series brought out by McGraw-Hill Education titled “Dhirubhaism” and authored by A. G. Krishnamurthy of Mudra). Please buy the book. It is very inspiring & motivating.
Dhirubhai Ambani was born on 28th Dec 1932. Son of a school teacher in a remote village Chorwad in Gujarat.
After completing matriculation, leaves for Aden at the age of 17 to work at A. Besse & Co.
Nine years later, returns to India and sets up Reliance Commercial Corporation, a trading venture. Trades in spices, and then into yarn.In 1966, begins textile manufacturing. From textile manufacturing, he takes up yarn, polyester, petrochemicals, oil & gas, oil exploration, … over a period of time.
Bhagwad Gita states, ‘The actions of a great man are an inspiration for others. Whatever he does becomes a standard for others to follow’. Dhirubhai’s life exemplified this.
His corporate philosophy was: Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best. Ideas are no one’s monopoly. He believed that limitations were only in the mind.He used to tell his team always, ‘it is difficult but not impossible’.He used to tell his team, ‘dream with your eyes open’.
A vision has to be within reach, not in the air. It has to be achievable.
He was an arm-around-the-shoulder leader.He was always inviting people into sharing their thoughts and ideas, rather than shutting them out. If he learnt that there was value in their point of view, he would instantly embrace it, discarding his own, without any feelings of remorse.
This was one of his great qualities which most people find difficult to practice.‘We must learn to trust. For several centuries, Indians have been brainwashed to distrust other Indians. This saps national energy. Distrust kills initiative. Distrust compels people to maneuver and manipulate.
Trust and transparency stimulates entrepreneurship.’He had a tremendous capacity to learn. He has very sharp instincts too, which were no doubt backed by years of reading, studying market trends, careful listening and his own honed capacity to forecast, ….
At any given time, he was more familiar with the ins and outs of a project than most of his team. Even though he ventured into areas he had no prior experience in, he was pretty confident of his ability to learn.Once he was confident about his homework, he would venture out boldly, into completely unknown terrain with nothing short of, than the daring of an explorer.
He believed in the unusual theory of providing supply to create demand.He believed in speed and efficiency. He was constantly and swiftly upgrading technology, coming up with innovative schemes to raise money from the markets, ploughing it back into his plants and increasing capacities, … all at the same time.
Believed that a bad product will not only scare away all his clients and customers, it will actually drive them to his competitors. And, if it happens, one is signing one’s death warrant, businesswise. But on the other hand, a good product is like one’s personal ambassador who will forge long-lasting relationships with one’s clients and customers.
‘If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow’.
‘Money, is the value of your product. It is not and can never be a product on its own’ (except for RBI, may be).
‘Give your team a proper environment. Motivate them. Extend them the support they need. Each one of them has infinite source of energy. They will deliver. Bet on your people.’
Orbit Theory of Dhirubhai. ‘Growth has not limit in Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it, you can do it’.
‘Hope is the most powerful weapon. Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties and convert adversities into opportunities. Don’t give up; courage is my conviction’.
His advice to young entrepreneurs was not to accept defeat in the face of odds. To challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. He believed that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneurs will be the key to India’s transformation in the new millennium.
PS: The ‘foreword’ and the ‘preface’ are also worth reading.Dhirubhaism --- by A. G. Krishnamurthy – Apr07
Dhirubhai Ambani was born on 28th Dec 1932. Son of a school teacher in a remote village Chorwad in Gujarat.
After completing matriculation, leaves for Aden at the age of 17 to work at A. Besse & Co.
Nine years later, returns to India and sets up Reliance Commercial Corporation, a trading venture. Trades in spices, and then into yarn.In 1966, begins textile manufacturing. From textile manufacturing, he takes up yarn, polyester, petrochemicals, oil & gas, oil exploration, … over a period of time.
Bhagwad Gita states, ‘The actions of a great man are an inspiration for others. Whatever he does becomes a standard for others to follow’. Dhirubhai’s life exemplified this.
His corporate philosophy was: Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best. Ideas are no one’s monopoly. He believed that limitations were only in the mind.He used to tell his team always, ‘it is difficult but not impossible’.He used to tell his team, ‘dream with your eyes open’.
A vision has to be within reach, not in the air. It has to be achievable.
He was an arm-around-the-shoulder leader.He was always inviting people into sharing their thoughts and ideas, rather than shutting them out. If he learnt that there was value in their point of view, he would instantly embrace it, discarding his own, without any feelings of remorse.
This was one of his great qualities which most people find difficult to practice.‘We must learn to trust. For several centuries, Indians have been brainwashed to distrust other Indians. This saps national energy. Distrust kills initiative. Distrust compels people to maneuver and manipulate.
Trust and transparency stimulates entrepreneurship.’He had a tremendous capacity to learn. He has very sharp instincts too, which were no doubt backed by years of reading, studying market trends, careful listening and his own honed capacity to forecast, ….
At any given time, he was more familiar with the ins and outs of a project than most of his team. Even though he ventured into areas he had no prior experience in, he was pretty confident of his ability to learn.Once he was confident about his homework, he would venture out boldly, into completely unknown terrain with nothing short of, than the daring of an explorer.
He believed in the unusual theory of providing supply to create demand.He believed in speed and efficiency. He was constantly and swiftly upgrading technology, coming up with innovative schemes to raise money from the markets, ploughing it back into his plants and increasing capacities, … all at the same time.
Believed that a bad product will not only scare away all his clients and customers, it will actually drive them to his competitors. And, if it happens, one is signing one’s death warrant, businesswise. But on the other hand, a good product is like one’s personal ambassador who will forge long-lasting relationships with one’s clients and customers.
‘If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow’.
‘Money, is the value of your product. It is not and can never be a product on its own’ (except for RBI, may be).
‘Give your team a proper environment. Motivate them. Extend them the support they need. Each one of them has infinite source of energy. They will deliver. Bet on your people.’
Orbit Theory of Dhirubhai. ‘Growth has not limit in Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it, you can do it’.
‘Hope is the most powerful weapon. Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties and convert adversities into opportunities. Don’t give up; courage is my conviction’.
His advice to young entrepreneurs was not to accept defeat in the face of odds. To challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. He believed that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneurs will be the key to India’s transformation in the new millennium.
PS: The ‘foreword’ and the ‘preface’ are also worth reading.Dhirubhaism --- by A. G. Krishnamurthy – Apr07
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