Loud Thinking

Archive for June, 2013

Give a Meaningful Apology

Did you snap at a colleague who didn’t get her work done? Or did you miss an important deadline, messing up a coworker’s project timeline? When your mistake affects someone else, here’s how to make amends:

Admit that you were wrong. Own up to what you did — or failed to do.

Show you understand the repercussions. Don’t assume you know what your coworker feels or thinks, but acknowledge that you know you’ve negatively affected him.

Tell her what you will do differently. Reassure her that you won’t behave the same way in the future. Be specific about what you will change.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “How to Give a Meaningful Apology” by Mark Goulston.

“Always show more kindness than you think is necessary because the receiver needs it more than you know.”

— Arthur Caliandro

Is the confession of Pervaiz Musharraf enough for his treason trial?

It is very interesting to note that Musharraf recently himself has admitted giving permission for the drone strikes on Pakistan, albeit, selective ones?

The main point here is that the President, the PM, the parliament and the military leadership have always agreed and said that drones are violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty; and illegal as per international law.

Almost every other day our foreign office spokesman condemns drone attacks on our soil. We should remember, that many retired generals who served under Musharraf, have repeatedly said that they were not consulted on Kargil war; and WOT permissions to America.

Now, after the confession of Musharraf about the drone attack permissions to USA, the statements of those generals have automatically proved true. Particularly, the foreign office and MOD’s briefings to many Pakistani COURTS and even the parliament that there existed no agreement with USA about giving permission, to attack Pakistan with drones.

Now, isn’t the confession of Musharraf, a fit case for crime against the nation and makes him liable for a trial for treason?

I would request the legal experts to kindly dwell on this important national case, wherein, a ruler by-passing all national establishments and parliament, allowed America, ALONE in his capacity as the ruler, to attack Pakistan.

A Sensational NDTV Report

India’s biggest drug firm Ranbaxy Laboratories pleaded guilty to US charges of making adulterated medicines.

India says its drugs safe despite Ranbaxy generics fraud

Agence France-Presse | Updated: June 03, 2013 16:23 IST

New Delhi: India, known as the “pharmacy to the world”, today defended its lucrative generic drug industry as safe and strongly regulated after the nation’s biggest drug firm pleaded guilty to US charges of making adulterated medicines.

In a bid to defend its generic export sector, the government also charged that “isolated reports” of spurious drugs found in global markets and alleged to be from India were “desperate attempts” by other countries hurt by “the strength of the Indian pharma industry”.

India’s “pharmaceutical sector is a highly regulated one and the exports are heavily guided by various regulatory regimes of the importing countries”, the government said in a statement.

The statement came after New Delhi-based Ranbaxy Laboratories, India’s largest drug company by sales, pleaded guilty in the United States to criminal charges of making adulterated medicines and agreed to a 500 million dollar (around Rs 2833 crore) settlement.

The fraud, investigated over eight years by US authorities, was brought to light by a whistle-blowing ex-employee, who said Ranbaxy created “a complicated trail of falsified records and dangerous manufacturing practices”.

India built a reputation as the “pharmacy to the world” for its production of life-saving generic versions of medicines for poor nations that cost a fraction of brand-name versions.

But analysts have warned that Indian drugmakers may find it tough to win new contracts in their main US market, with the case involving New Delhi-based Ranbaxy raising questions about the safety and quality of Indian-made drugs.

Generic drug firms in India have been a major supplier of copycat medicines to treat diseases such as cancer, TB and AIDS for those who cannot afford expensive branded versions.

The country “has proven international quality standard capabilities”, the government said.

It said India enjoys “a unique position of low-cost manufacturing and the highest quality medicine, the best of both the worlds”.

India’s drug exports totalled 14.6 billion dollars (around Rs 82,730 crore) in the financial year to March 31, marking growth of nearly 11 percent from the previous year.

Japanese drug company Daiichi Sankyo which bought Ranbaxy in 2008, has since alleged that the Indian firm’s former owners hid vital information about US regulatory inquiries at the time of the 4.6-billion dollar (around Rs 26,065 crore) purchase.

The charges have been strongly denied by the billionaire Singh family which used to control the company.

India has long alleged that some complaints about the quality of its generic medicines originate with rival brand-name manufacturers unhappy about the growing use of cheaper knock-off drugs as developed nations tackle soaring health care costs.

Story first published: June 03, 2013 16:07 IST

Live-Life is an ability to live your life to the fullest potential.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go. ”

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991);
Writer, Cartoonist, Animator

“Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”

— Thomas Edison

Make Your Slides Memorable

When you present data, people in your audience don’t have time to pour through the numbers.
They need to quickly understand by glancing at the slide, reading the title, and looking at the basics of the visuals.
Don’t make it hard for them by making your slides complex. Start by asking, “What would I like people to remember about the data?” Give that point visual emphasis.
If you’re projecting a chart about sales trends over five years but talking specifically about how sales are consistently low in the first quarter, show the first-quarter bar in a bright color and other bars in a neutral tone, like gray. Deemphasize grid lines, borders, axes, and labels — you’ll provide that kind of context when you speak — and use contrast (color, size, or position) to draw the viewer’s eye to the meaning.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations.

“One of the surest ways of making a friend and influencing the opinion of another is to give consideration to his opinion, to let him sustain his feeling of importance.”

“Always give without remembering; always receive without forgetting.”

— William Barclay