Prashant Mamtora

150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

2012-01-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

12th January 2012 to 12th January 2013 is going to be celebrated as 150th birth anniversary year of Swami Vivekanand- The youth icon of India.

It was the time of British empire in India when he born in the year 1863. During his short life of 39 years not only he convinced the whole world with the knowledge and spirituality of India, but also envisioned the brighter, stronger and free India coming out from the darkness of thousand years of foreign attacks and slavery. No one can deny that it was his thoughts and vision which motivated thousands of Indian leaders and freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhashchandra Bose and many others. And not only for freedom struggle, his thoughts have been charging and motivating thousands and lacks of people to struggle, to lead, to change and to win till date. Take any name from vikram sarabhai to APJ Kalam to Anna Hazare, every successful person in India has his/ her roots of motivation in the thoughts of Swami Vivekanand.

What was there behind this affect of Swami Vivekananda’s words? Even he openly accepted “I am not saying anything new, these all are from the Ved, Upnishad and other ancient Indian scriptures”. Swami Vivekanand invoked the huge collection of knowledge and thoughts and thus invoked whole country and specially youth. His way of representation, great command on knowledge and languages, magical eyes and voice and above them all, truth and uniqueness between thoughts and deeds were enough capable to adore any individual towards him.
In this of 150th birth year of swami Vivekananda let’s remember few of the greatest words which swami Vivekananda considered most important for human being.

1) Fearlessness: He said much on this. In fact he considered this word as the abstract of the Ved and Upnishads. Only thing causing all the problems to a human being is fear. Once you through it out one will conquer the world.

2) Sacrifice: Swamiji considered this as a national ideal of India. According to him happiness is in giving up and not enjoying. He also extends that though the person who give is always big, one should always privilege the taker because of whom the donor can get a chance and joy of giving. He considers sacrifice as the tool which helped India build her strong base of culture.

3) Service: Along with Sacrifice he considers Service as another national ideal of India. Sacrifice and service together helped India survived in most turbulent time.

4) Spirituality: The definition of spirituality is not ritualism for swami Vivekananda. He boldly said “I don’t believe in a religion which can’t feed a hungry human being”. For him spirituality was the base of healthy and happy leaving.

It has been said the writings of Swami Vivekananda is such huge that it is a work of 1500 years to understand and implement it in practice. But definitely this day is coming soon.
Wish you all a Brave, Courageous and Religious greetings of this day and year. Lets join the hands to spread Swami Vivekanand’s words.

Problems faced by Micro and small enterprises of Small towns

2012-01-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

Small and medium enterprises are facing many challenges to grow ahead and specially when they are based in small towns of India where they will face many challenges due to culture of work. Here are few of the problems which small industries face in small towns and they themselves are solutions as well.

Lack of skills and on job training programs for employees

Normally a bunch of employees join to gather in medium or mega enterprises so they feel it easy to organize induction program and training program. In micro and small enterprises hardly 1 to 3 persons join at a time so it becomes infeasible to organize a dedicated training program for the company. As the company is small they may be finding it hard to attract skilled people. Due to small size companies are reluctant to spend on training and hence skill development. Due to lack of skills companies could not grow high. This is a poison circle which organization must have to break in order to sustain and grow.

Irregularity and attendance
Absence of goals for employees
Poor deadlines and hygiene
Etiquette and manners
Poor in dressing
Poor English
Limited presentation skills
Lack of planning in every area of work
Long delays in replying letters and taking decisions
Not enough customer orientation

Little difference between self confidence and arrogance

2011-12-27T06:06:00.000-08:00

Confidence is key to every success. A self confident man can conquer the world or can make the world better. Self confidence is a power which lets a simple human to achieve giant goals. I believe it’s the same power which the supreme has. It has been said god is not outside. He is within. He is inside every human being, every animal, every living and non-living entity. If there is a supreme power, it must be self confidence. None other.

But there is a very thin line between self confidence and arrogance. And you never know when your self confidence converted into rude arrogance. Trusting your own belief is self confidence but not hearing to others may be arrogance. Believing always in yourself is self confidence but not considering others’ confidence at all is arrogance. And again if you would have argued against others it might have been considered arrogance and if not you would be treated as a person with lack of confidence. So can one stay in the safe zone of self confidence without reaching to the devil of arrogance?

May be Ramayan Helps here. I think Ravan is a best example of a person who crossed the border and moved to arrogance from self confidence. He was a child of a great sage and inherited best of the spiritual assets from his father and forefathers. A great devotee of Lord Shiv, having knowledge of all Veds, Upnishads and Shastras, creator of shiv tandav and many other great spiritual prayers, Ravan was one who carried the mountain Kailash on his shoulders with lord shiv and parvati on the pick of it. He won all the kings and Conquered greatest kingdoms. Above that he was the winner of Indra and swarg as well. These supreme achievements were all due to his self confidence, his will power.

But a day came on which Surpankha said him just few bad words about Ram and Laxman and few good words about beauty of Sita. On that same moment that self confidence turned into arrogance. After that day Ravan did listen only those persons who were saying in his praise to satisfy his ego. Till the death that continued. There were many incidence noted in Ramayan where we can easily understand that after Kidnapping sita Ravan realized his mistake. But his self confidence had never let him get down and accept the mistake. Because now it was not self confidence, it was arrogance.

So here may be the definition. When your own inner self resist your ideas and your actions and if still you want to do that thing, consider that arrogance and not self confidence. Try to come back immediately from there.

It’s better to have life to achieve everything rather end if just to satisfy your self confidence which is actually arrogance and ego now.

Commitment is the key to success: Store of Charlse GoodYear

2011-09-14T04:26:00.000-07:00

A person named Charles Goodyear came to know about the Indian rubber from a grocery store owner of his city. He learnt the material was a magic but problem was it could got a rock solid form in cold and would melt in hit. If it would be converted into such form that these characteristic against the weather disappears, it can be most valuable product in industrial and consumer use.

Charles started researching on that. He spent all his lifetime savings, house, furniture and every single entity which could have been said wealth. He also lost support of his friends and relatives. People started treating him as a mad man. If someone would ask about Charles the person would get reply that go onto road, if you find a person wearing cap of rubber, shirt of rubber and shoes of rubber, he must be Charles.

But finally he got success into his mission. He transformed the Indian rubber into a material which was weather proof. He made Tyre of that and established world’s one of the biggest, valuable and well-known brand of Tyers. “GoodYear”.

Truly said, no one has sunk in his own sweat till date. Hard work and commitment always rewards.

Guru Poornima

2011-07-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

Indians celebrate today as Guru Poornima (Full moon). It is the day when we remember and salute the masters who took part in our development.

Here is a definition of Master (Guru)

Chinmayam Vyaapi Yatsarvam
Trailokya Sacharaa Charam
TatPadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.

That revered Man who directs my attention to the energy existing in all mobile and im-mobile, I salute such Guru

Rain Music

2011-07-05T07:33:00.001-07:00

Listen to this Great rain music by skilled artist. They have generated it with their hands. Great effort Them! Well-Done!!

Power : You can be the unique source of global Enery

2011-05-05T03:10:00.000-07:00

Success is all about Power, the amount of power you can achieve. Whether in profession or personal life, your future depends on the power you have at present. As a business owner, employee, scientist, politician, teacher, doctor or anything, you must gain power to survive. Remember there is infinite power in this world; it’s upon you how much you can gain and utilize.

Potentially there are 4 powers which a human being is required to concentrate on, in order to be a successful person in their field.

1) Moral Power: This is the first and foremost strength a human is required to have. Moral power comprises Will power, attitude, ambitions, enthusiasm and all other powers those drive a person internally. Source of all these powers is (and must be) internal and not external. External jerks can ignite, channelize or boos the power within. Truth, politeness and honesty are also the moral power. You can’t underestimate if you want to win this world. Because moral power is one, which motivates you to gain other powers and also teaches you how to utilize the power when you have that.

2) Knowledge Power: It is being heard now a days that this is knowledge era. But I don’t agree with that. Every second of existence under the sun is always Knowledge era. That is the a biggest power a poorest people can have. You must have in-depth knowledge of everything you want to crawl in your lifetime. Without having updated your knowledge, one will be outdated next day and thrown out the other day.

3) Man Power: You need excellent and brilliant human being to share your idea. You need strong bodies to conquer this world. You need a huge base of followers to establish yourself as a leader. In general as many human being you can rule on, your power increases in multiplication.

4) Financial Power: Money…. Money Money… ……Money Money Money…. ………..A strong balance sheet can attract more investment, a sound bank balance can get brilliant brain power for you, you will need huge amount of money to maintain a large base of followers. In general Its all about Money…. You can’t underestimate your financial power.

Is this India?

2011-04-16T01:49:00.001-07:00

This is what Google had shown the Indian map on one of their service. Now they are not considering Kashmir and Arunachap Pradesh as a part of India. As the widest online media, they are spreading this same message throughout the world. I guess a time will come soon when people around the world will believe this as a fact. Neither governement nor public is speaking against this. I have forwarded this same to some of the news papers before some time. I didnt see any opposition from them as well. This is really painful.... Shameful..

Happy Holi

2011-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Holi

Meaning of Mahamrutyunjay Mantra

2011-03-07T00:06:00.000-08:00

The Mahamrutyunjay Mantra represented by Maharshi Vashishth is very well known for its healing capabilities. Many get benefited with mental peace and wealth by chanting this. Here is the meaning of this mantra.

Om Trayambakam Yajamahe Sugandhimpushtivardhanam|
Urvarukmiv Bandhnanmrutyormukshiy Mamrutat||

Oh lord Shiv, we are praying you, which fill joy into and enrich our life. You please cut our bonding with death and sorrow as easily as like cucumber detaches with the plant once ripe. But you never remove us from the rights to have Nectar.

Become that unique identity

2011-02-16T03:49:00.000-08:00

There is always olny one Ram, One Krishna, One Gandhi, One Tendulkar and one bachchan. Why? because all these invested their whole life to become what they would be. Others just spend their life in what they wanted to be. There is a minor difference between these two sentences. Once the great painter Picasso was wondering in street when a young lady identified her. She asked him if he can prepare a nice sketch of her immediately. Picasso happily created a nice painting of the lady just in few minutes on the road. The lady extremely impressed and said I would have spent my full life to develop this picture. Picasso replied. Madam I have already spent my full life to develop this.

Hope you understood now why there is always only one Ram, one Krishna, one Gandhi, one Tendulkar and one Bachchan.

I always can make a difference

2010-12-31T22:22:00.000-08:00

One day a man was walking along the beach of the sea when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and lacks of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, "Look, I made a difference.”

In our society we have a lot to do. From Poverty to illiteracy, in-discipline, crime, hunger, corruption, region-partiality, language-partiality and many others. We are thinking about miles of beach and not acting because of that. But remember we always can make a difference.

Act On!

Way to do business

2010-11-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

A good case study I have observed in the era of dot com boom and fallouts in the year 2000. That was the time when dot coms or online companies/ websites had been seen as the best business in the history and the only way to become millionaire or billionaire in lesser than the less time. New web based companies were popping out on daily bases. Many of them were going to public offerings. Had raised millions of dollars from stock market. Spent a lot on marketing, brand promotion, state of the art infrastructure, huge returns and biggest perks. But all of them closed down in their childhood only. Some of them were quite older as well.

Very few of them got survived during that like Google. Why?

I have another question to ask. What particular things you are missing which those closed down companies were offering? Take ask jeevs or alta vista or any other. All of them did same mistake. Were focusing on all things accept their services. None of them invested enough in technology, innovation, evaluation, developments, and good staffing. They had websites but not good things to serve.

Always focus first on your customers, offerings and technologies.

Move Ahead - Go Ahead - The Hindu Philosophy

2010-11-11T04:16:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a tree-cutter in a small village. He was used to go to the forest every day and cut the trees to earn his bread and butter. This way he was trying to manage his very simple living. But few of the times he was not getting enough to feed his family.

Once he met to a saint, while wondering the forest for some better trees to cut. Saint asked about his who and how about and suggested him to go ahead of his regular tree cutting area where he has been cutting the tree for years. He accepted the holy saint’s suggestion and went far ahead on the route. And that was the miracle, he found few sandal trees. The tree cutter was very happy seeing this as sandal is a very costly wood. He cut few of the branches and bought them to the village to sell it. He earned a nice food and some extra money that day. He was very happy. Few years went nicely like this. One day, he again found the same saint in the forest and he expressed his gratitude towards the saint. Saint was also happy seeing happiness on face of the man who was struggling for daily food once upon. But saint also urged him to go few more miles ahead from his routine area.

The three cutter followed the advice and went far ahead of his safety zone. And that day he found mines of copper and aluminum. He was more than happy that day. He left the tree cutting job and started his own business based on these Metals. He was now a well to do person of the village. Once again the same saint asked him to go ahead of the area and the person found mines of silver. After few years he got a similar message of moving ahead and got mines of gold and lastly diamonds.

The man was now an old aged super rich tycoon. He was treated like a king and had enough wealth and fame.

Once again during his journey, he met the holy saint. Saint again advised the same practice “Go Ahead” and the man followed the same. After crossing his rich areas of gold and diamonds, he again found the jungle but nothing else. The man came back to the saint and complained what he found. Saint replied that is the ultimate destiny for you my dear child.

Once you had enough time to play when you were a small child. When you were a young man, and a family head, your sole responsibility or “Dharma” was to earn for you, your partner, your children and for the society even. So I guided you accordingly. You followed my advice and worked hard to reach the place where you are at present. Now you are an old age person and your dharma or responsibility cycle is again turning the wheel. I suggest now you put the earning responsibilities on the shoulders of your children and take enough rest. Let your body, mind and soul enough peace. Spend your remaining years in peaceful and divine manner under the blessings of God and let yourself enjoy the peace and calm of old age as like you enjoyed the fun and thrill of childhood and young age.

This is the Indian way or “Vaidik” way of living. The hindu philosophy never rejects, money, prosperity, wife, sex, fun, play, games, yoga, Dhyan or god. It always asks a person to accept all in perfect proportion and live your life with Full.

Happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year

2010-11-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

Wish you all a very happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year.

From Prashant Mamtora and Team Indies

Reading hour at Indies Services

2010-10-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

On this day of International non-violence day (Ahimsa Din) the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, we at Indies is starting a new initiative. From now, every of our employees have 1 free hour every week for reading. They can read on any sort of technical or non technical topics, whether online or offline. We all are very enthusiastic of this and willing to enhance our knowledge in multiple ways.

We have also organized today a small talk of Mr Suramya Mehta, a well-known social figure and coordinator of many social activities specially related to Swami Vivekanand. He was just best in his points and guided the team with the bases of Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of adjustments. He appealed the youth to make selves adjustable according to the circumstances which will help them grow higher and live the life better. He also highlighted the thoughts of simplicity.

My Friend Ganesha - Ganesh Chaturthi

2010-09-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest festival of Hindu philosophy and India. Though an occasion of national celebration, Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated with extreme enthusiasm in the state of Maharashtra and other western region of the country. During the days of British rule in India, Balgangadhar Tilak (Lokmanya Tilak) revived this ancient celebration in current form. He transformed Ganesh chaturthi celebration into an occassion of public gathering and interest. People set lord Ganesha in a Mandap almost in every street and together to the lorad worship for 11 days from Ganesh Chaturthi to Ganesh Chaturdashi. People also bring the lord Ganesha in their homes during these days.

May lord Ganesh bless you all.

Build people before you build the product

2010-07-10T02:57:00.000-07:00

In the Management, it has been said that “Build the People, Before you build the product”. Companies build great products or services, but don’t care to build the people to sell and backup them. And finally business fails.

I was searching for a mobile internet service, cheap and efficient. And an eye-catchy hoarding of Tata-Doccomo attracted me with mobile internet service at just 96 Rs per month. The speed and charges were ok to me. I purchased a new card. The vendor did not know how to configure the internet with that. I tried calling the customer care and got response from the executives after a wait of almost 7 minutes. But my time on the busy lines was in vein as the executive was not enough knowledgeable to guide me the configuration steps. First of my 3 day package (for which I paid) went that way. Next day I tried to configure it anyhow with my own limited knowledge and surfing something on internet. But the connection was not establishing. End of day 2. Next day again I tried many times to call the customer care as the local office of Tata-Doccomo always remains close. With a very sweet voice, he told me there is some difficulties and the service will be activated within 6 hours. Please don’t worry. But the 6 hours never ended. I lost my last day. I lost money without utilizing the service. Next day again I called the company and I got the same answer that service will be activated within 6 hours. Almost for 5 days I received the same answer which asked me to never worry as service was going to be activated in 6 hours only.

This is a small but practical case study for all those small entrepreneurs willing to crack the market of the established business conglomerates. Build People, Before you Build the Product.

Self Appraisal !!! Work culture and work attitude

2010-06-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

A little boy went into a telephone booth, tried to reach the telephone by putting his feet on the bunch of milk cartons lying there. He picked the receiver, inserted the coin in the telephone and started dialing the phone number.

The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation between the boy and a lady who responded the phone at other end.

Boy: "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?
Woman: "I already have someone to cut my lawn."
Boy: "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now."
Woman: I'm very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.
Boy: (with more perseverance) : "Lady, I'll even take care of you flower plants, will cut and maintain the shapes, pick the flowers and will give it to you. You will have the finest garden in the city."
Woman: No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: "Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."
Boy: "No thanks”,
Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.
Boy: No Sir, I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to! I was just checking my performance at the job I already have.

How many of us really have this attitude. This is the most uncommon thing in we all common men. This is what we call "Self Appraisal".

Soccer World Cup 2010 - Waka Waka Waka Song by Shakira

2010-06-11T02:58:00.000-07:00

Can you decide what to see? Gorgeous Shakira or her awesome dance
Can you decide what to listen? The song or the music
I cant decide what o mark. The football legends or the madness of crowd.
Just marvelous. Nothing else.
Just get involved in this beautiful song on this eve of extremity. The football worldcup 2010.

The Finals

My mother, not me writes my blogs

2010-05-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to publish any new post on this English blog almost for a month. I am not getting time to write the English posts these days. Till date my mother took care of every of my needs. But due to her age and health problems now she is not being able to do every of those things. So I started pressing my clothes myself and also try wherever I can be helpful to share her load. This takes a lot of time of mine and I am not being able to spare time to write the blog. So I feel not me but this is my mother who writes my blogs. Because she prepares food for me, washes my dishes, cleans my room, manages the maid who washes the cloths, and do many other tasks, so finally I get time to write my blogs, to read my favorite books and watch the movies.

Indeed I am very lucky that I got a birth in India where we have a strong base of family relationships. I believe no individual can achieve the success without love and support of a family. When a person become CEO of the a multinational organization, his wife might have washed and pressed his shining suite which he wear in the board meetings, his mother might have prepared healthy food for him, his sister might have prepared a cup of tea when he wanted to work till midnight, his brother might have bought the international newspapers from the neighbor shop, and his father might have adjusted with a cycle so his son can have a bike which saved his time to the way of tuitions. Almost for 30-40 years this person’s family saved his 3-5 hours a day like this and that is the reason why mister CEO earns lacks of Rupees per hour today.

Hates off to a family.

I will try to continue my blog posts now…..

Google, The Wonderland

2010-04-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Google is well said one of the most innovative and influential company around the world. But here the Indian google...... Really a good marketing Idea. It also shows how google and technologies become integral part of our life.

Dr. C K Prahalad Passes away

2010-04-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

It’s really one of the saddest day for me. Dr C K Prahalad passes away. I really still cant believe this. I don’t remember the exact day or month but it was a brilliant time for me when I mate him at IIM ahmedabad before 2-3 months. He delivered a lecture there. There are very few people who influences me and I must say he is one of them. Approximately before three years, I read one of his article (or interview may be) in a magazine from Wharton business school. It really gave me spark and suddenly charged my inner soul which was consistently looking for some outer motivations because of constant business failures. This article and than his book “Fortune at Bottom of Pyramid” really provided me the much needed thing. The thoughts. Whatever I am doing specially in terms of business innovations is really powered by his thoughts only. And I really want to follow his way of business practice. That may be my best homage to him.

Indies is recruiting more professionals

2010-04-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

Its really a busy day. We are recruiting more staff. Indies has published advertisement in newspapers for new recruitment. And what to say…. I have a bunch of more than 80 resumes in front of me. Screened 30 of them and have been taking interview constantly since 11:00 in morning.

Can anyone help me?

Goal Setting

2010-04-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Excerpts of my recent lecture on “Goal Setting” delivered to young engineering graduates of an engineering college.

1) Planning and goal setting for a journey: we prepare a lot for a journey of 2 or 5 hours. But ever we prepare for this life long journey we have to accomplish? Do we ever check where we want to go? How to reach there? Who can be our companion for that? What will be the way? How long will it take? Normally answer is no…. here comes the goal setting.
2) Who is a good footballer? One who can run constantly around the ground for 1.5 hour with kicking the ball with him? Or one who shot it to the goal post in shortest possible time? We say healthy to first one but not successful. We must have some yardstick to measure the success one. That is the goal.
3) How the goal should be
a. Goal must be one which you want to achieve and not your parents etc.
b. Goal must be precise and specific
c. Set priorities
d. Set performance goals and not outcome goals
e. Set realistic goals
i. Unrealistic goals vs higher goals
f. A goal should be time bounded.
g. Never have Negative goal
h. Meaningless goal
4) Goal setting process: Top down approach of goal setting. Breakout your overall goal in smaller goals. Break them out to further levels till maximum possible level which finally will represent a time bounded task list. Finish each of these tasks successfully in specified time and you are the winner of your goal.
5) Balanced goal setting and failure cases
a. If you don’t stand for something you will fall for every thing
b. Our goals should have bases of dharm, arth, kaam, and moksha, the all four objectives a human being should achieve in his life span as per Indian mythology. Concentrating life on only one or two will end it up like a nightmare.