Zen Success

Contributed to this article written by Shubam Kumar, on 9th Mar 2020 on the portal : Startup Talky

Government Support to Women Entrepreneurs:

Link:  https://bit.ly/2TJAZwf

“Imagine that you want to have a beautiful garden at your home. You buy the seeds, the manure, the soil, the pots and everything that you need to set up a garden at your home – but then you realise that you forgot to seek approval from your parents about it and then you are forced to withdraw the idea because your parents aren’t supporting enough. Well, in case of startups – the Government is that parent whose support can turn the tables upside down, and especially when the point of debate is the benefit that is associated with lending support to women – the boost that it provides and the sense of equity and equality that’s embedded among the masses. Let’s see what our women have to say about the Government and it’s support to entrepreneurs.” Shubam Kumar

Ms. Geeta Ramakrishnan, ontological coach
Our government is very cognizant and cued in empowering women.  We are a member of the government-run Maritime Taskforce formed by the DG of Shipping, India. Its objective is to facilitate and increase in women’s participation in the Maritime industry.  We also partner ‘mother and child’ projects run in rural areas.

Contributed to this article from the portal: Startup Talky, 8th Feb 2020

How do Wonder Women Manage Work and Family : Let’s Hear…By Shubam Kumar

Link: https://bit.ly/33bHNFM

“The dawn of globalization has opened up great avenues for business models and they are no longer perceived as male or female-dominated. Today, the emphasis is given to what an individual has to offer and how his/her ideas contribute to the bigger picture without any focus on gender.” This is India 2.0 for you! An era where abilities are preferred over academics and grind is preferred over gender classification. This is the India that our ancestors must have envisioned back then, although we are still far from the ultimate destination – women in our country have come a long, long way. From being a housewife or the breadwinner to becoming the ‘Queen of all trades, and master of all’ – this has been about the women in the country. Today, on the eve of international women’s day – let’s talk about the work life balance that’s an important issue among entrepreneurs whether it be men or women especially women who have to manage through the household chores as well, acing another responsibility to perfection seamlessly. It is tough being a women, indeed. Let’s see what the women in the house got to say on this.” ..Shubam Kumar.

Ms. Geeta Ramakrishnan, ontological coach and Author
Without any doubt its a challenge for our society. Planning your day, enrolling your family in the household chore,  learning to say ’No’, defining your boundaries and most important accepting love and care makes this an easy juggle.

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Why is it important to have solid core values?

The body’s spine and skeletal structure forms its core support. Similarly we need a set of values with forms our core and dictates how we think, act, react and behave. It helps us connect with the others in this society. Many times we unconsciously pick up values from our parents, friends and school. Values like honesty, respecting elders, discipline, kindness, appreciation, perseverance.

My article from The Times of India, 16th Feb 2020

How I Start my Day

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-stress/how-i-start-my-day/articleshow/74130661.cmsIf you are a night owl, and that works for you, it’s great. There’s no reason to change. But for me, switching from being a night owl to an early riser has been godsend. It has helped me in so many ways that I’d never go back. I like to get up early in the morning and beat the sun and the birds to it. I ban all electronics, social media, email and phone calls for a set amount of time. Instead, I read a book or magazine, go for a walk, or simply stare out and daydream. Being an OCD planner, I spend 15 minutes every morning to prioritise and plan my day with breathing time in-between. I am mindful of the surprises that crop up. Being curious, introspecting and learning from mistakes helps me navigate the changes through the day with a positive attitude, and sometimes, these changes work better than what I had planned. Here are 4 habits for a fulfilling day:

* Start your day with a big smile, count your blessings.

* Once in a while, pause from your busy life and focus on your breathing.

* Charge your mobile phone in the room next to your bedroom.

Geeta Ramakrishnan

Ontological coach and author

An article from Entrepreneur.com

https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/346603

#5 Couplepreneurs Share Their Business, Love & Success Mantra

Couple-preneur might have become a popular term recently referring to a couple running a company today, but you better not mistake it for a new trend. Dig into history and you will realise how this has been a practice for ages now.

But when partners can have their differences, imagine when life-partners combine hands. Can business and pleasure work together? While many might find it tricky, Entrepreneur India spoke to five couple entrepreneurs to get an idea. These wonderful business minds, wake up together, work together, eat together and build a company together.

Geeta and Ramesh Ramakrishnan (Transworld Group)

Life Partners Turn Business Partners:

Love, at first sight, is a real deal, at least in the case of Geeta and Ramesh Ramakrishnan. They were young and madly in love and wanted to grow old and build a life together.

“It was but natural that I took interest in his business and chose an area where I could flourish. He is a creative thinker and I am the ODC planner. It is a good combination. We balance each other,” said Geeta.

Pros and Cons of Working Together:

Thousands people have a thousand opinions, many told the couple that working together in the same business causes cracks in the marriage. However, they feel it contributes to a stronger marriage, especially if you know and maintain your boundaries.

“We have learnt to respectively agree to disagree and still go ahead. It helps us have healthy discussions, debates and objectively analyze problems and come up with creative solutions. It took us years to perfect this act. We fight to glory at times. But somewhere it is an unwritten rule to vomit all the issues and clear it out of our system, however tough and difficult it may seem at that time,” she said.

Advice to Couples:

Spend time in discussing and deciding how you will split your time commitments between your relationship and professional commitments. Prioritizing and splitting the home chores helps in smoothing the edges.

“Transcend ego from self-importance into self-esteem. A relationship is a game of give and take. Give from your heart, not from weakness. Define your boundaries and know when a firm ‘NO’ is your friend. Mutual respect is an important core value to have. Believe that your spouse is as intelligent as you,” she said.

Common Mistakes:

Bringing your work disagreement in the boardroom or bedroom, do not allow your inflated ego to lead the conversation.

“Ego narrows your focus into what you think is right. When in the office, be mindful of your language and tone and use tact over your temper or in your bedroom, it robs you of a good night routine,” she shares.

Sharing my online article as it appeared in :Daily Brunch

Link: http://bit.ly/3aDYFsb

Climbing the rungs of a career ladder is more than just your qualifications. When someone receives an application for a new job, they tend to emphasise their hard skills more than anything else. They talk about the specific knowledge and ability they possess to execute that particular task. However, in the real world, no matter how good your skills are, you’ll cease to exist if you haven’t brushed up on your soft skills.

Though soft skills are difficult to measure or define, they are the interpersonal skills that will shape your ‘workplace well-being’. Today, companies too seek candidates that possess both types of skills when hiring for most positions.

Since it’s your workplace where you spend the maximum amount of your time, it’s important that you feel comfortable, secure, and happy.

To increase well-being at your workplace, there are tons of skills you can build. Though well-being is a subjective term, it usually emerges from your thoughts, experiences and actions on which you have control.

Whether it’s maintaining a work-life balance or finding your purpose, the skills you practice not only create a healthy work environment but also help you increase your performance to a significant level.

5 Skills that will help maintain your Well-being at Work
Given below are some skills that one can practise and comply with for well-being at their workplace:

Active Learning with a Growth Mind-set
Just as an equanimous mindset helps us function in the world a growth mind-set helps us deal with workplace pressures and difficulties. Once an employee develops a personal skillset, they look at work tensions as challenges to overcome rather than obstacles.

Active learning at a workplace is vital to promote the overall development of an employee’s growth. Academic studies reveal that performance improves when there is a growth mindset.

Creating a Supportive Environment
To thrive at your workplace, it is important to create a supportive, cohesive and encouraging work environment. For a team to deliver the best outcomes, every employee must develop great interpersonal skills with their teammates.

According to TLNT, 80 percent of workers agree that having the opportunity to learn new skills at work makes them more interested and engaged in their job. At the end of the day, supporting and uplifting others can spurt your personal growth.

Creative and Critical Thinking
To just do what you’re told at work is not always the right approach. As an employee, it is a must to interrogate instructions and processes. Life is all about maintaining a healthy balance. Instead of taking the logical route, evaluate the information available. As much as a logical quotient is important, allowing your critical thinking ability and letting your creative juices flow can help you improve processes, innovate in your field and spot pain points.

Rethinking the Value of Soft Skills
Soft skills are a broad term that is an amalgamation of social skills, communication skills, people skills and personality traits. In today’s workplace, it’s all about ‘survival of the fittest’. Working on each of these skills will help you interact better with your colleagues and maintain an overall peppy vibe at your workplace.
If you thought a job is all about ‘all work and no play’, you’re mistaken. Although business at work is important, getting a good hold on your soft skills will help you get through complex tasks with ease.

Celebrate and Share your Successes
A common reason most employees leave their jobs is that they do not feel appreciated. Whether it’s your first day at work, or you’ve been around for a while, you’re not expected to be perfect. Instead, look at yourself as ‘work-in-progress.

Thus, even if you achieve a small milestone, learn to celebrate it. A “pat” of appreciation will push you to do better and motivate you. Since a simple reward is fulfilling, rewarding and motivating, celebrating and sharing your success with teammates will only electrify your performance and encourage further growth.

Conclusion
Today, increasing importance is being placed on soft-skills. If you are looking to establish workplace well-being, it is important to develop and practice good soft skills that will influence the way you work, your interpersonal relationships, and your overall success.

Portal: Nat 24    Link: http://bit.ly/38xwppw    21st Jan 2020

Your ability to climb the rungs of the career ladder hinges on more than just your qualifications. Though soft skills are the added talent that managers look for in candidates before hiring them. Although difficult to measure or define, they dictate your attitude and conduct that will shape your workplace well-being. Soft skills include any skill that can be classified as a personality trait or habit. Adaptability, ability to work in a team, creativity, leadership, conflict resolution and many more are all a part of soft skills. Interpersonal skills and effective communication are the more specific ones that many employers look for in candidates.

The ability to communicate involves knowing how to speak with others in different situations or settings. For instance, when working with a team on a project, you may find an idea or process ineffective and may need to communicate the same with your team. Finding a way to tactfully disagree with others on the job without creating conflict is an important skill that employers value.

Another example is that of adaptability. How easily do you adapt to changes? Changes in processes, environment, tools or clients you work with can happen quickly at work. Employees who are capable of adapting to new situations and ways of working are valuable in many jobs and industries.

Since your workplace is where you spend the maximum amount of your time, it’s important that you feel comfortable, secure, and happy. To increase well-being at your workplace, there are tonnes of skills you can build. Though well-being is a subjective term, it usually emerges from your thoughts, experiences, and actions on which you have control. Whether it’s maintaining a work-life balance or finding your purpose, the skills you practice not only create a healthy work environment but also help you increase your performance to a significant level.

5 Skills that will help maintain your well-being at work

Given below are some skills that one can practice for well-being at the workplace:

Active learning with a growth mindset

Just as an equanimous mindset helps us function smoothly in the world, a growth mind-set helps us perceive work tensions as challenges to overcome rather obstacles. The idea of personal growth at work helps us focus on finding solutions to problems rather than getting demotivated by them. The will to grow instils a positive attitude through constant motivation of keeping an eye on the end game.

Active learning at the workplace is vital to promote the overall development of an employee’s growth. Learning and developing skills that will enable you to navigate your ship through difficult waters is imperative to achieve growth.

Creating a supportive environment

To thrive at your workplace, it is important to create a supportive, cohesive and encouraging work environment. For a team to deliver the best outcomes, every employee must develop great interpersonal skills with their teammates.

A healthy environment is created by changing the culture of the company. Employee focus should be at the core of the organization by creating an environment that encourages showing gratitude to your team mates, eradicating negativity, exercising flexible work hours, team building exercises and open workspaces. A positive environment encourages commitment to excellence, open and honest communication, respect, compassion and empowerment. It also increases self-motivation, innovation and creative thinking which enable the organization to expand business, optimize quality and increase profitability.

According to a TLNT[A1] , 80 percent of workers agree that having the opportunity to learn new skills at work makes them more interested and engaged in their job. At the end of the day, supporting and uplifting others can spurt your personal growth.

Creative and critical thinking

To just do what you’re told at work is not always the right approach. As an employee, it is a must to interrogate instructions and processes. Life is all about maintaining a healthy balance. Instead of taking the logical route, evaluate the information available. As much as a logical quotient is important, allowing your critical thinking ability and letting your creative juices flow can help you improve processes, innovate in your field and spot pain points.

Using critical thinking while problem solving is an effective way to learn and progress. When your manager presents you with a particular problem and you immediately start looking for solutions. Ideally, you should take a step back and analyse the situation by researching and reviewing information. Interviewing the parties involved and coming up with more than one solution for the stated problem before coming to a conclusion is the way forward. This involves problem solving with critical thinking skills.

Celebrate and Share your Successes

A common reason most employees leave their jobs is that they do not feel appreciated. Whether it’s your first day at work, or you’ve been around for a while, you’re not expected to be perfect. Instead, look at yourself as ‘work-in-progress’.

Thus, even if you achieve a small milestone, learn to celebrate it. A “pat” of appreciation from yourself will push you to do better and motivate you.Since a simple reward is fulfilling, rewarding and motivating, celebrating and sharing your success with teammates will only electrify your performance and encourage further growth.

Importance of Soft Skills

Soft skills are a broad term for an amalgamation of social skills, communication skills, people skills and personality traits. In today’s workplace, it’s all about ‘survival of the fittest’. Working on each of these skills will help you interact better with your colleagues and maintain an overall happier vibe at your workplace.

If you thought a job is all about ‘all work and no play’, you’re mistaken. Although business at work is important, getting a good hold on your soft skills will help you get through complex tasks with ease.

Soft skills are incredibly essential to organisations across industries. In today’s constantly changing world, organizations need people who can adapt to new situations, apply their thinking and skills to evolve and develop new skills when the environment around them is constantly changing. If you are looking to establish workplace well-being, it is important to develop and practice good soft skills that will influence the way you work, your interpersonal relationships, and your overall success. No matter where you’re at in your career, you need soft skills to complete your everyday tasks effectively. They’re also extremely vital for promotions and career growth.