5 Life Lessons You Can Learn From World Cup Cricket

#1. For different results, change the pattern

In a one day cricket match, the fielding side is always in search of wickets. The more wickets that fall, the better change they have of winning. In order to get the batsman out, the field captain will
-keep fielders at various positions
-vary the bowlers as he sees best

Basically, he will keep changing these variants, until he obtains desirable result.

The same principle applies in life. If you keep doing what you have always been doing you will get the same result. So, if you expect different results, you need to try out different things.

Know what you want
Find out what your getting
Change what you do until you get what you want
Nicholas Boothman

#2. Don't just stand there, DO SOMETHING!

Sometimes in cricket you might not have any chance in
- catching a ball
- hitting the wicket to get a run out
- chasing a ball that's you know is going to the boundary

Or if you don't appeal thinking that it is not out, you will never know whether it is actually out or not.

However, you will always see the fielder attempting to get a wicket. Just because they feel that it won't happen, they will never stand and wait.

Just because it seems impossible doesn't mean that you shouldn't try.

#3. Pick your battles, CAREFULLY

A batsman can play a 4 or a 6 and show his colors. He can make a continuous attempt to go after the bowling or just punish the bad balls. Basically, his experience and judgment will make that decision for him.

#4. Expect the unexpected

We have had the liberty to see a few records tumble. One, that's been talked about the most is, Lalith Malinga's 4 wickets in 4 successive balls. The Sri Lanka Vs South Africa match was progressing steadily and at one point victory seemed a piece of cake. Malinga's last few overs made quite a twist. I don't think anybody thought that there could be a bowler who would get 4 wickets in 4 consecutive balls. Yes, the possibility was there, however it was never expected!

#5. In order to win, someone must loose.

Currently the Super 8 series is going on with regard to the world cup cricket.India's fate to enter the Super 8 series was decided on the India Vs Sri Lanka match. In which India lost to Sri Lanka.

'Sri Lanka sink a billion hopes' was one of the newspaper headlines, the following day! It really must have been a sad day for the Indian cricket team as well as their fans.

What ever said and done, at the end of the day, there will always be a winner and a looser. (or a tie!) In order for one team to win, the other must loose.

Work Addiction Is Voluntary

I left my office a bit early yesterday as I had to attend a funeral. It was quite close to my home, so after the funeral I decided to directly head home (without going back to office).
As a result, I was home early, to the amazement of my family. I must admit that I couldn't remember the last time I went home in daylight! (of course on a weekday!).

In teasing (plus sarcasm) tone, I was asked, "Have you been fired today?"

Well, this comment made me carry out a "soul search", to find out whether I am spending too much time working. Yes, the right term for this is "workaholic". I surely, couldn't be a workaholic, my inner voice said!

I was inquisitive to find out, the answer. In the process, I stumbled upon some interesting articles and I am sharing them with you.

Slow Leadership had a excellent check list. Just what I was looking for.

#1. People close to you habitually accuse you of neglecting them in favor of work demands.
#2. You often use work pressure as an excuse to avoid people and the demands they place on you.
#3. Your work is what defines you. You need it to feel a complete person.
#4. If things slow down or work is slack, you feel compelled to create or find more work to fill the void.
#5. You prefer times alone when you can get on with your work to time spent with others.
#6. You find your thoughts are about work all the time, even when you're doing something unconnected with work.
#7. When you aren't working, you feel restless and bored. Getting back to work is like going home.
#8. You don't have time to use or enjoy what work lets you own. Others get most out of your income and lifestyle.
#9. You're never satisfied with your accomplishments. There's always the nagging sense you ought to have done more.
#10. You know your life is unbalanced, but you tell yourself you like it that way. Maybe you'll put it right sometime, but never now.
#11. The thought of being out of work (or retiring) terrifies you. You cannot imagine what you would do in place of work.
#12. You often wake several times in the course of most nights, or have trouble going to sleep, because your mind is occupied with thinking about work and work issues.

Five Signals That You May Be a Workaholic
#1. Preoccupation with work.
#2. Discomfort in delegating.
#3. Neglect other aspects of their life.
#4. Merge other parts of their lives into work.
#5. ‘Sneaking’ work.


Do You Focus on Work Too Much?
#1. Just about all my friends are co-workers.
#2. Most of my conversations, whether at home or at work, revolve around work-related issues.
#3. I don’t have any interest nor time for hobbies
#4. I am working more hours than I ever have in the past.
#5. If I do take vacation time, I always check in with my employer regularly.
#6. My family complains that I never make time for them.
#7. The more I work, the more money I make, and thus the better I can provide for my family.
#8. I have not taken a sick day or personal day in years – or ever.
#9. I almost always take work home with me.
#10. When I do spend time at home, I can usually be found in my home-office doing work.

Can you rule out yourself as a workaholic, after reading the above?

Life Matters By Roger & Rebecca Merrill (Book Excerpt)

The following excerpt is taken from the book Life Matters By Roger & Rebecca Merrill.

What we see depends on what we look for

While a woman was waiting for her plane at London's Heathrow Airport, she purchased a package of English shortbread cookies. Making her way to a seating area, she carefully arranged her luggage and was getting settled when a man approached and indicated by pleasant gesture that her would like to occupy the seat next to her. She nodded and he sat down.

After a few minutes, the woman decided to eat some of the cookies she had purchased, and reached down to get them. As she opened the package, she noticed the man beside her watching with great interest. She took the first cookie and began to eat when, to her great surprise, the man reached over, smiling, and took the second cookie.

The woman ate her cookie in stunned silence, astonished at the audacity of the man. After a moment she determinedly reached for the 3rd cookie, but no sooner had she taken it out of the package than he, again smiling and without a word, reached over and took the 4th. Her indignation rose as back and forth they went in total silence, she taking a cookie, he taking a cookie, until they reached the bottom of the package where the final cookie remained.
Without hesitation, the man reached over and took it, broke it in half and cheerfully handed her one of the pieces. The woman took her half of the cookie with an icy glare. After finishing his half, the man stood, still smiling. With a polite bow, he turned and walked away.

The woman could not believe that anyone could be so arrogant and rude. She was extremely flustered, her stomach churning. Making her way back to the airport gift shop, she picked up a package of antacid. As she opened her purse to get the money to pay for it, she stopped short.
There in the bag was her unopened package of shortbread cookies!

Related Posts
Living In The Now
Reaching Your Potential By Norman Vincent Peale
The Heart Of A Leader By Ken Blanchard

Can You Survive For 24 Hours Without Your Computer?

That was a question asked over at www.shutdownday.org. The shut down day, has been declared as 24th March.

The poll (as at this time!) indicates that 52990 people saying-I Can and 8336 people sayingI Can't. Interesting....

So What can you do, when your not in front of your computer? um....

What You Can Gain From The World's Best Presentation Contest

If you haven't heard of SlideShare.net, it is a site for sharing PowerPoint presentations. They are hosting a contest titled the 'The World's Best Presentation Contest'.

What can you and I gain from this?
#1. The site has some useful presentations which could get your creativity going. Depending on your likes and dislikes, I am sure you can walk away with some good lessons.

#2. You can participate and win prizes!
1st An Alienware laptop with Windows Vista
2nd An XBox 360 w/ games
3rd An XBox 360

#3. You can vote and have your say, in deciding the 'The World's Best Presentation'.

A Creed to Live By

Author Unknown

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart
Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give
Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your Dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope.

To be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget where you've been,
But also know where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Related Posts
Quarter Life Crisis
Oh Overwhelm
Love Comes In All Sizes

Enhance Life: Link Nuggets (March14, 2007)

10 Ways Stress is Conspiring to Kill You and One Fast Way to Stop It, lists a few signs that you should give thought to.

How to torture a man into loving you! I don't think this applies for everyone, however it is a useful read for both men and women.

10 Ideas to Get You Exercising Start Now!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: 14 Ways To Reuse Your Trash

Our Lives Tick Off One Second At A Time

You must be wondering why I made such a statement in the post headline. After all, every one knows that our time on earth is limited, right?

4 weddings and a funeral; yes, I am referring to the movie. I had similar experience in reality. I stood by as triumph and tragedy caressed two of my very good friends. My regular readers will recall my best friend's wedding, a few days ago.

Earlier this week, I got to know that another one of my good friend's father passed away. Apparently he has gone on a trip with his friends and had a river bath. Only to have been caught up in the river current and washed away.

My friend's mother nor siblings knew that the "good bye" they said to him that morning, would be the last goodbye... ever.

True, almost everyday there are stories like this one. You watch them on news, movies and sometimes read in the paper as well.

However, to me, this story is very real. It is a part of a good friend's life, it made me PAUSE.

I couldn't help but wonder
· I am always busy, busy, busy.
· Do the people that matter to me, know that they matter to me?

There are 168 hours in every week. If we sleep for an average of 7 hours a day, it will leave us with 119 hours to 'spend'. (If an average lifetime is n;where n = [your choice], you can calculate how many hours more you have left.)

Remember that long after you have "gone", people might not remember your name. However, they certainly will remember the things you did, to make their lives better.

So, Make every second count! Good luck. Tick, Tick …

Related Posts
We Have Today
7 Ways – How NOT to annoy people
How To Easily (and Lazily!) Make Your Loved One Feel Special

Top 5 Reasons Why The Voices Inside Your Head Talk Only To You

#1. Only You are smart enough to understand what they say.
#2. Only you care about them
#3. Only you have enough time to listen to them.
#4. Only you can act on them
#5.They only want to torture (and confuse) YOU!

Related Posts
Written By Kids
Never Never, When Selling A Vacuum Cleaner!
Nine Ways to Dwindle Productivity

Living In The Now

A book excerpt taken from The Three Minute Meditator- 30 Simple Ways To Relax And Unwind

Living in the Now
Mot of us live most of the time in either the past or the future. Only rarely is our attention focused on what is happening in the 'Right Now'. Is yours? You think so? Then quick - without thinking about it - are you inhaling or exhaling? You probably had to re-focus your attention onto the breath to answer that question. Where had it been?

Thoughts about what we just did, or didn't do, and thought about what we should do, or shouldn't do, or might do, continually clutter our minds. How often we use past thoughts in a self-hating way, 'I should have done it differently', or 'I really messed that one up'. How often we use future thought to upset ourselves, such as 'What if that happens?' or 'It probably won't work out'

Virtually all of our thoughts are either based in past or future, and absolutely all of our feats and desires. Desires are usually remembrances of past pleasures that we plan and hope to re-create in the future. Fears are usually memories of past pain that we plan and hope to avoid in the future.

That's A Fake Smile; Say Cheese!

My best friend since I was 10 years old got married last Friday. I was honored and privileged to have been her bridesmaid. Now what has that tad bit of my personal life, got to do with this post?

I am sure you would agree that photographs play a major role in any wedding. You must have witnessed or experienced numerous things photographers say to make the retinue smile. My best friend's wedding photographer was no different. I have been the bridesmaid a few times before but his phrase to get people smile was new to me! Can you guess what it was?

"It's a fake smile, can I have a real one please…"

The first time we heard it, it brought a genuine smile to our faces. I guess the photographer had a few Kodak moments with that line! (However, hearing it again and again was a bit annoying towards the end!)

That phrase got me thinking. (Thus, I am writing this post!) Most "gurus" emphasize the importance of a smile. How smiling helps self-confidence, what people think of you, your attitude etc.
While for some people, it comes naturally, others have to "work" a bit to get the smile going!
So, not only for photographers, but in day to day life, we sometimes "fake" a smile. Often, it happens when we are in a bad mood and just want to be polite. Or may be your boss tells a joke (which you don't get) and you need to smile!

With that in mind I have a question for you today, is it ok to "fake" a smile sometimes?
After all, if a photographer can recognize a "fake" smile, so can the person you are
(fake)smiling at!

Related Posts
Respectful Ways To Say "NO"!
7 Ways – How NOT To Annoy People
Humor Central: Never Never, When Selling A Vacuum Cleaner!