Panacea for Recession, Turnaround & Brand Building

Initiatives for a business turnaround should not begin when the company is already in the hospital bed. We are sick not only when we visit doctors, but sickness becomes unbearable and then we visit doctors. Not on medication doesn’t mean we are healthy.

We go to a gymnasium to prevent health problem and maintain the health. It is not a compulsion, but a good practice. Good hygiene is a good practice be it individual or an enterprise. Likewise, a business turnaround can very well start when the business is still making money.

Continue Reading...

Twelve ways to get rid of Karma (Prematurely)

Attracting of Karma is Ashrav (+)

Stopping of Karma is Sanwar ( = ) and

Shedding of Karma is known as Nirjara ( - ) .

In the previous post, we saw 57 ways a soul can avoid attracting of new Karma. Today we will discuss about Nirjara. But before we discuss Nirjara we should know about the status of various Karmas. Continue Reading. 

57 ways to avoid new Karma

In the previous post on the subject Five Ways Soul attracts new Karma we have seen how a soul attracts new Karma. However, by now we know complete annihilation of Karma is Moksha. Therefore, an attraction of new Karma means an extension of cycles of life and death. Knowing how to stop attracting new Karma and shedding of existing Karma is extremely critical & I would say the most critical for every human being.

In this post, we will know HOW a soul can do that. Yes, stopping of new Karma and shedding of existing one is very much possible.

Common sense suggests NOT doing things which attract NEW Karma means a soul is not attracting new Karma. This act of not attracting the new Karma is known as SANWAR.Tattvarthigam Sutra (The Sutra) defines 57 ways this can be done. These are classified into six categories. These are; ..  Continue Reading.. 

One MUST read book – Today

In the past several years, I have read several books. Some of them were good while some were very good. Some I would say everyone should read and a very few I would say everyone MUST read. One of the MUST read is Seth Godin’s – Linchpin. This book in no unclear term says how to become indispensable. His definition of an art is worth remembering:

Art is a personal act of courage, something one human does that create change in another. 

I think art is the ability to change people with your work.  

It further states:

If it’s easy and risk-free, it’s unlikely that it’s art.

I am not talking today about Linchpin, but the MUST book for today is - Continue Reading 

Five ways SOUL attracts new Karma

In the previous post Physics of Karma we have read what actually the Karma is and characteristics of Karma. We have also read why knowing about karma is the most important thing in the post The Law of Karma – 1.

Now in this post we will see why a soul attracts Karma which makes the soul its bondage. Just to re-emphasise the importance of Karma, knowing definition of Moksha is important.

Definition of Moksha is:

Karmaless Soul. I.e. when a soul sheds all Karma, it need not take a new birth as a body and attain omniscience status of the soul i.e. Kewal Gyan (Omniscience).   Continue Reading.

Are you a victim of BAD design?

Most of us are not happy with our public utility services provided by Governments, but we are also not happy with the banking or insurance or hotel or airline or railway or telecom services. Many a times poor services are the reason for our frustration, but also of our changing of service providers.

Imagine an iPhone with poor functionality and some functionality even are even are not working. IPhone is a product, its manufacturers are known for superior customer experience and therefore what they design is for better customer experience, be it product design or service design at Apple stores. Continue Reading

Physics of Karma

In the previous post on the subject The Law of Karma – 1, we have read there are predominately eight types of Karma which a soul can attract. In this post we will see what is Karma

There are in all nine elements in the universe. One out of nine is Ajeev i.e Non Living. This Ajeev has five types and one of the five types is Pudgala. Pudgala is derived from the words ‘pud’, which is defined as Supplement (Addition), and gala, which is defined as Disintegrate, or Division. Therefore, Pudgalas are best defined as all things that are continuously changing by the process of Supplementation or Disintegration, namely matter.

The individual unit of Pudgala is the material from which all is made, smaller than protons, called a Paramänu, which, by the process of supplementation, can combine to form what can be roughly said is an atom, called a Skandha, Either individually or in combination, this similar type of Skandha is known as Vargana. Continue Reading.  

Future of Banking & Role of Customer Experience

Prime Minister Narendra Mode announced the opening of 170 mn account opening during last less than 12 months under Jan Dhan Yojana. Additionally, he also asked bankers to finance start-ups. Indian banks, especially public sector banks are struggling with customer service. Imagine the additional customer load and service expectations.

About a year back I had blogged Everyone Else but Customers, wherein I had stated banks are for customers, but bank boards have nominees from all other stakeholders like RBI, Govt, Employees, Officers  & Shareholders but no customer nominees. In the absence of customer nominees who will advocate customers cause?

Continue Reading  & download free ebook Wow ! & Weird....

Law of Karma - 1

During the monsoon session, it was a logjam and parliament failed to legislate new GST law. Without this new law, the economy will fail to speed up & blah blah blah… We have plenty of laws which govern our lives. We have a parliament to legislate and have lawyers to guide us about these new laws we are governed by. Important is we are expected to know all these laws and our courts do not accept ignorance as an excuse if we fail to abide by these laws.

Point to ponder is, we human beings are governed by a plethora of men made laws, but all other living beings are not governed at all by these laws legislated by the Parliament. But there is one law which equally applies to us, the human beings and animals. However, we are oblivious of these laws because we are oblivious about who we are. We all are souls living with a body. If you don’t agree, just find out the difference between a dead body and a living body.

Read More...

Imagine you are a patient

Pathetic State of customer Experience in the healthcare industry is a cause of major concern not only for patients but also for healthcare entrepreneurs.

Among the all service providers, customers of the healthcare industry are the most vulnerable and deserve the finest of customer experience. They are weak and suffering. They need the human empathy the most as a customer.

But our medical professionals are not trained to deal with the customers. They hardly talk with customers. Even if they talk they lack empathy. In his book Service Fanatics, author James Merlino, MD of Cleveland Clinics writes:

A personal investment in empathy and compassion by all caregivers is the foundation of the future for healthcare. 

The problem is service providers are not educated on the definition of customer experience. Doctors think treating the disease is their job. Entire heatlcare set up is focused on the treatment of the diseases. However, patient experience the health care service providers differently. Jamer Merlino writes;

Everything patients and their families see, do and touch is considered by us as the patient experience.

Read more..

Why you do not enjoy – Happiness Advantage ?

Happiness is a pursuit. Everyone is running after Happiness. All our activities, even if we dislike is pursuing Happiness for the future. We discount present Happiness for unknown and uncertain future Happiness.

Whether have we understood the Happiness? Usual belief is once we have something or some experience or some possession or some relationship or achieve some goal – we will be happy. This is aptly stated by the author Shawn Achor in his book Happiness Advantage. He says;

If you work hard, you will become successful and once you become successful, then you will be happy. ….. We think If I just get a raise, or hit the next sales target, I will be happy, if I can just get that next good grade, I will be happy. If I lose that five pounds, I will be happy. And so on. Success first, happiness second.       

But this is a myth. We have many achievers, but once they achieve their goal posts, shifts and happiness is pushed over the horizon. The author informs, there is a research which suggests a relationship between happiness and success is in fact reverse. Happiness is the precursor to success. Happiness and optimism actually fuel performance and achievement giving us the competitive edge i.e. Happiness Advantage. Read More...

The Real Maths

“Who are you?”

“I am Jay Kapoor.“ said Jay.

“What is the difference between you the Jay Kapoor and Jay Kapoor’s dead body? A dead body is wearing the same clothes, have same heart, lungs & liver etc. But living Jay is able to do all activities including thinking and dead Jay can’t do anything.”

Read More...

You can visit my new blog sunilwrites.com and download free ebook Wow ! & Weird... Collection of best blog posts of this blog...

The Highest Ignorance, The book on Amazon

Welcome to my new book on Amazon. The Highest Ignorance. Welcome to buy, share, review and retweet.

Praise for the book:

 Praise for the book: 

“A captivating novel on how our religious practices are inconsistent with truth & real natural laws...Sunil Gandhi is a master story teller and makes us visualize and relate to each character in the book like a good movie!" 

- Professor Jagdish N. Sheth, Charles Kellstadt Professor of Business, Emory University, USA. 

"For today's brake-less and largely aim-less people, Sunilbhai has created a 'sugar coated' fast pill. Fiction that presents the highest wisdom in a practical and applied manner. Hope a lot of readers take its benefit." 

- Vallabh Bhanshali , Co-Founder & Chairman , ENAM Group 

"This novella chronicles the journey of a young bride learning the ways of Jainism. The reader catches a glimpse into two parallel universes: contemporary urban life in 21st century India, and the world of age-old truths regarding Karma found in the Bhagavad Gita and as taught by Mahavira and Jain philosophers, past and present." 

- Christopher Key Chapple, Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, USA. 

“A book that takes a reader on a path never attempted; the protagonist asks questions and searches for answers that we all need. An enjoyable read. “ 

- Padma Bhushan Mallika Sarabhai, Renowned Indian Theatre Personality 

"An excellent book, explaining the basics of Jainism in a very simple, lucid language that laymen can understand. A delight to read. The story flows. No jarring notes of discord. Strongly recommended to persons wanting to understand something about Shrimad Rajchandra's teachings and Jainism." 

- CA Pradeep Shah, Senior Partner, AJ Shah & Company 

“Beautiful……. very touching……… lucidly written story explaining intricacies of Jainism and, its attraction through the medium of a young Brahmin woman married into leading Jain Family and her curiosity... . “The Highest Ignorance” maintains grip all through while kindling curiosity; answers questions that arise in many minds in the midst of daily routine and expectations of modern families and, interestingly, subtly introduces principles of winning hearts. 

A must read for all… young and not so young, initiated and non-initiated…… “ 

- CA Bhavana Doshi, Senior Advisor, KPMG 

“A gentle book on the deeply contemplative religion of Jainism, told in a contemporary language, drawing some very interesting and lucid parallels from movies and the game of cricket!! “ 

- Aruna Chakravorty, Ex Journalist, Indian Express


 Welcome to new blog sunilwrites.com and get a new free ebook Wow ! & Weird.

Good News for readers and visitors of this Blog

Good News.

Dear Subscribers and Visitors,

I have moved to the new blog sunilwrites.com from July 2015.  I have compiled best of posts of this blog in an ebook format titled 'Wow ! & Weird'. 

Subscribers and visitors of this blog may visit my new blog and download this 150+ plus age ebook for free. Yes for free. 

In addition, my new ebook The Highest Ignorance is now on Amazon for sale. 

Keep visiting my new blog and spread the word. 

Thank you for your support which I am sure will continue and grow.

How to make first (& Subsequent) impression

Right first impression is necessary but if not it’s not end of the world. If that be the case word improvement will have to be deleted from English dictionary. In this guidebook I will talk about first & second etc of impressions.

“ Research shows most people decide whether or not they like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you. They then spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their initial reaction. This may sound terrifying, but by knowing this you can take advantage of it to make huge gains in your likeability. First impressions are tied intimately to positive body language… “ Forbes Magazine, 13 Traits of exceptionally likable people.

“Expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.” Dale Carnegie

He says most fundamental key to first (to last) impression is simple SMILE. Read More....

How to learn foreign languages, well ASAP

In his book, Eve Spoke, evolutionist Philip Lieberman admitted:

‘Speech is so essential to our concept of intelligence that its possession is virtually equated with being human.  Animals who talk are human, because what sets us apart from other animals is the “gift” of speech’. Read more at my new blog...

Mastery worth Pursuing....

When Joseph Pine & James Gilmore wrote 'Work is a theater & business a stage , what they meant was like theater artists completely immersed in their performance on stage , entire enterprise (irrespective of their business)  has to immersed in creating better customer experience on these three criteria : need , ease and delight.  

Magic lies in immersion. Magic always holds people's attention and magical performance becomes talk of the town. What magical performance does in times of social media is common sense by now. 

Someone may wish to see what immersion and magic means , for them this Ted Performance will be useful. If this 'yo yo' to can be a subject of mastery I think anything in the world is worth mastering and has potential to hold people's attention.  

As far as business is concerned goal of mastering magical customer experience creation is worth pursuing.  

Reading list.... 2015 - 2016 ... Quarter One...

Since last few days I have come across some great books and site so here are they:

The work of Art & You are a writer by Jeff Goins (To be purchased,  waiting list)

The war at Art by Steven Pressfield  (Read)

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor (Reading)

Thinking fast & Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Purchased , reading wait list)

Believe me these are life changing books....

Aanekant ...... Lord Mahavir's Message & Solution for many world problems...

Aanekant , (title of this blog is also based on this principle) is one of the finest messages of Lord Mahavir. 

Aanekant means the principles of pluralism and multiplicity of viewpoints, the notion that truth and reality are perceived differently from diverse points of view, and that no single point of view is the complete truth. 

Today "I" am right and therefore others are wrong , others are my opponent and in some extreme thinking others should be eliminated has taken over the world thinking.

All view points are conditioned and /or partial. There can not be absolute right or wrong. Terrorist killing people are right from their own stand point but if they change their point of view they may give up violence. Changing point of view can change behaviors & therefore nothing is absolute right or wrong.

Two people killing an animal : One with an intention of killing and eating and one by mistake. 

Technically both have killed so same rule applies to both is absolutism: However intent killer would attract more intense Karmas while accidental killer would attract lighter Karmas. Even our courts view this differently.     

If we understand and believe in the principle of Aanekant our own behavior will become moderate. We will be more open in accepting other's point of view not necessarily by giving up our point of view. We will become more accommodative which will reduce our hatred towards others. 

When world peace is seriously at stake this principle of Aanekant propagated by Lord Mahavir can offer the solution we all are seeking desperately. 

May his teaching bless our lives on the occasion of Mahavir Janmakalyanak (Birthday of Lord Mahavir).

Happy Morning.....not Good Morning

Happy Morning......

One of the Gym members where I go regularly wishes everyone Happy Morning and not Good Morning. His logic - do we wish on birthday as Happy Birthday or Good Birthday ?

Sounds interesting. 

Today during interaction he said ," By coming to Gym daily not only our body remains healthy but mind also becomes healthy. " We all know that. 

Doing something good in the morning motivates us and keep us in good mood through out the day.  Good mood impacts our other work,  this is a chain reaction.    

We are not happy because of our external success but reverse is true, we are happy and that impacts our external performance and success.

Referring to one of the personal trainers my Happy Gym friend said," He is full happy not a 1% is waste."

Are we fully and always HAPPY? or is there a waste? 

Remove unhappiness waste from your mental system and become 100% happy as that impacts our performance and therefore chance of success. Don't wait for your happiness till you become successful or till you get what you want. Become happy is a prerequisite of success. 

Have a Happy day. 

Inviting memorable customer experience stories

My first draft manuscript of book on Customer Experience is at editing stage, I need examples of great customer experience stories to be incorporated in the book. Inviting stories.....Well free ebook for all whose stories will be selected for the book...Look forward to amazing stories.

End of Volunteerism ....

Volunteering ends when desire for credit and thanks exceeds desire to do selfless work. 

Yes many people whom we assume to be doing social work , selfless work are suffering from deep desire to get recognition, deep desire to get credit of their work in public,  deep desire to get some direct & indirect benefit out of it. 

Mostly these are the people who talk about principles and ethics every now and then. They demonstrate by their words how mush they care about the institution they are working for. Ethics, truth, straight talks , I swear are some of the words of their vocabulary to camouflage their deep desire.

Just remove them from their post and see how their opinion & vocabulary changes. All institutions are stuffed with this kind of people. Society is more in danger from these people as others are known dangers but these people are unknown & hidden dangerous insiders. 

Volunteering means selfless work, desire for credit and public recognition ends selflessness and it becomes Give and Take business as usual. 

What the hell !!!.... Ok Fine...

My just completed teenage daughter utters two phrases frequently. Language of teenagers are different and shapes the future of the language.

Coming to these phrases, there is a great learning from these.

In life we are always concerned with one or many things. When any such incidence we encounter personally first utterance is : What the hell !!!

However we are taught by Stephen Covey that there are two area in our life: Circle of Concerns and Circle of Influence. Expanding circle of influence will contracts our circle of concerns. 

When we are in our area of concern , what the hell situation will be frequent.  We have two options then:

1) Expand the area of influence to address the concern
2) Accept the reality that you cant do anything about the situation

In both the scenario our response after what the hell should be - Ok Fine;

1) Ok Fine , let me do something about it 
2) Ok Fine, let me accept that I have to live with it

Lesson is do not remain in what the hell situations and quickly go into Ok Fine mode with any of the two options above.

My daughter when she understands why of what the hell situation usually says OK Fine with 2nd option & occasionally pursues 1st option.

These two phrases are very important & going hand in hand in real life situations.

Whenever we are in what the hell state of mind immediately go into Ok Fine mode to remain calm or become action oriented as the case may be.

Lessons in life comes from anywhere and everywhere. 

NAMO - QUICK Wins please (Humbly)

There is a concept called QUICK Wins. 

There is a concept called Economic Education  

When you are working on a larger good , to keep your supporters and believers glued to you , you have to offer some quick immediate visible benefit / difference. Since larger project takes long time this is very critical to keep the supporters glued to you.  

PM is in economic overhaul mode, visiting various countries which will boost our economy  , making Government work harder etc etc. but for people its useless unless they see some quick benefit and life changing experience.  On the contrary foreign trips and pictures work other way like PM is wasting resources in foreign tours and doesn't care about the people who voted him. Series of QUICK wins initiatives is a MUST. (This is also known as low hanging fruits.)

Secondly we want to get away from freebies culture so voters must know the impact of freebies. Economic education should be the part of Govt's economic agenda.  Working to improve economy without educating people HOW it works is again like a silent Govt. ( You may be speaking all other useless things, that is not a talkative leader unless it offers some insight.)   Communication is critical to get votes, communication is critical to expand voters base, communication is critical to make people know what you are doing , how you are doing and  how will you achieve the goal. 

Govt MUST initiate economic education programme like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. 

We need Ministry of Citizen Communication (I & B is anyway useless) educating citizen about important issues without spending on photos of political masters. (People know the PM , they want to know how he is working to change their lives for the better.) 

(PS: None of the above works and helps against Arrogance. First prerequisite for a public leader is Humbleness. Saying I am humble means nothing unless you are seen so. Entire present political class is suffering from this. Warren Buffet has recently quoted," ABC of failure for companies - Arrogance, Bureaucracy & Complacent , it is also applicable to all types of organisations.)

The Art of Doing Nothing

Our PM Mr. Narendra Modi is workaholic. He never took vacation during his tenure as CM of Gujarat. He is driving all crazy in Delhi by his super aggressive working style. 

He is getting praised from all over the world. 

This action begets praise culture is making us action oriented 24 X 7.

When we are not doing anything we are considered lazy.  We always want to do something so much so that many of my friends tells me they get bore on Sunday. 

I think in school we all wanted that extra holiday and now when we have grown up we don't know what to do with our holidays and free time.

I think workaholic means running away from the self.  When we always want to engage with doing external things we are infact do not know how to live with the self. 

People don't like their holidays, vacation or free time is infact a problem with our society. Today there is an article in Mint about Great Rajni Kothari a political economist. Author says he believed that no one should pay price for the progress. This is referred as environment ,villages & villagers need not pay price for the progress. I would add even no generation should pay price for the progress.

We should no over work and in the process kill ourselves in the name of progress and development. I think we are doing for future generation is just a myth ; be it economic development or be it independence freedom fight. Every generation do and act for their own benefit. Benefit to next generation is just a by product.  

Point is we all need to PAUSE and reflect the kind of fast life we all are living under the pretext of working for next generation or for an employer or nation building.

Work with commitment YES but don't fool your self by justifying over work. Have  equal enthusiasm for free time activities. Enjoy your free time and doing nothing time. Doing doesn't mean doing for earning only. Inculcate personal hobby and spend time with self and family. Take vacation and expand your perspective.  

We all spend our prime time in working for earning but 2/3rd of all employees are unhappy. Even entrepreneurs become slave to their business and miss expected happiness and perceived freedom.

Bottom line is LOVE your free time, LEARN the art of doing nothing , LIVE with the self. Our first duty is towards the self and at the cost of our happiness we even cant fulfill our SO CALLED duty towards others.   

Next time when you get free time ,  feel privileged and not just KILL free time CHERISH this time because this is time you are actually LIVING for self. Art of doing noting is the real ART. 

Is your company board lopsided? Lacks diversity?

Last week I was discussing CFO of one of the listed companies about their board vacancy and new members on the board. He informed me that they have inducted two chartered accountants (CA). One CA was already there on their board. I wondered how many CAs a company needs on their board? Company board indicates diversity and inattentiveness of the company.  

In most Indian companies we will find CA and lawyers as independent directors. I fail to understand compliance is the only role of the board? Do executive directors not want views from professionals from various fields? 

Marketing, HR, Economists, Architects, and why not writers ad artists, for out of the box views , social media expert, IT professionals , film directors , media & communication professionals, international and local domain experts I mean there are many diverse professionals available who can add perhaps more value that legal and finance professionals. 

But most companies do not want to think differently. Independent directors should play active role in growth and strategy of the company which is much more than compliance and tax planning or linear thinking. there is noting wrong with CA and lawyers on board but excessive of them wont work. 

In light of above today's interview of SBI Chairperson Mrs Bhattacharya is welcome that PSU boards have surfeit of CAs. I think this should be a thinking point for all boards to review critically excessive of anything. Company board need diversity in times we live in. Markets outside is dynamic and need lateral thinking. When war is of talent , limited and lopsided boards will make companies struggle to survive.

(Anti-Disclaimer:  I myself is a CA)