Loud Thinking

Archive for August, 2013

“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.”

Unknown –

Impress Your Foreign Boss

If you think that it’s hard to impress your boss, try doing it in an unfamiliar culture – where the natural methods that work at home may fail you. In these circumstances you need to be more deliberate. Start by doing great work, showing loyalty to the organization, and helping your boss accomplish his or her professional goals. Of course, how you do those things will vary across cultures: In one culture, “doing great work” may mean listening carefully to what your boss tells you to do and then precisely performing a task. In another, it might mean taking initiative and volunteering for assignments. Work hard to learn the local context. And get to know your boss’s individual preferences. Don’t assume that because she’s British, for example, that she has the same expectations as the Brits you’ve worked with before. Consult with colleagues and find a cultural mentor.

Adapted by HBR from “Impress Your Foreign Boss,” by Andy Molinsky

A letter published on the topic “MFN Status to India” by the daily DAWN and my subsequent comments…!

My Comments:

The writer of this letter has nothing written wrong here.

However, just for his information, India has made this MFN and trade issue a one way traffic; wherein, only Indian goods can come to Pakistan and our exports to India is severely hampered by the Non Tariff Barriers, erected by India.

Plus, why should MFN status to India, not be a part of the composite dialogue?

Actually, Indian strategy is to deal all their weak points out of the composite dialogue.

Letter:

APROPOS Anwer Jalal’s letter (Aug 18). The contents of the letter reflect a very naive approach to a complex and pertinent issue. The writer presents a doomsday scenario without any knowledge of the dynamics of the trade regime.

— He is under the false impression that businessmen and industrialists are going to just look at the Indian market and end the tremendous gains they have made in making their presence felt in the US, Europe, etc. The Indian market is in addition to other global markets. No prudent businessman will put all his eggs in one basket.

— It is a pragmatic business policy to trade within the region as there are substantial savings in freight, delivery time and in costs. Moreover, the dwindling Pakistn rupee makes Pakistani products attractive for the Indian consumer. This advantage should be encashed as much as possible.

— Pakistan’s exports barely touch the $25 billion mark. Pakistan needs more employment opportunities, enhanced foreign exchange reserves, and sustainable and strong industrial base. Therefore, developing a strong foothold in the regional markets makes better business sense.

— It is true that trade and investment between the two neighbours would always be hostage to border tensions, the Kashmir imbroglio and other contentious issues like water, Siachen, Sir Creek and accusations of terrorism. But these should not derail the process of liberalisation of trade and investment.

The fact is that any trade and investment initiative is the source of survival, is critical for the country, and is an answer to economic prosperity.

MAJYD AZIZ
Karachi

Fruit poisoning..!

Calcium carbide in fruits

An eye opener for the sleeping health authorities.

A serious health issue raised in a letter published by the DAWN.

THIS is to draw the attention of the people to the practice of ripening fruits through application of calcium carbide — a white powdery substance found on most fruits, especially mangos and plums.

Calcium carbide reacts with water in fruits to produce acetylene which, in turn, ripens the fruit. Calcium carbide contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous, both of which are extremely toxic for human health. No health benefits can be expected from such chemically-treated fruits. Indeed chronic poisoning and cancer can affect those consuming such fruit.

The departments concerned are requested to get out of their slumber and check this hazardous practice.

CH KHALID SINDHU
Lahore

This news is an eye opener for those people who say why Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah carved Pakistan out of India.

Muslims have lowest living standard in India: Govt survey

A TOI Report

NEW DELHI: Among various religious groups, Muslims have the lowest living standard with the average per capita expenditure of just Rs 32.66 in a day, says a government survey.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sikh community enjoys a much better lifestyle as the average per capita spending among them is Rs 55.30 per day, while the same for Hindus is Rs 37.50. For Christians it is Rs 51.43.

“At all-India level, the average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of a Sikh household was Rs 1,659 while that for a Muslim household was Rs 980 in 2009-10,” said an NSSO study titled ‘Employment and Unemployment Situation Among Major Religious Groups in India’.

The average household MPCE is a proxy for income and reflects that living standards of a family.

According to the study, the average MPCE for Hindus and Christians were Rs 1,125 and Rs 1,543, respectively.

The survey said that average monthly per capita consumption at all-India level was Rs 901 in villages and Rs 1,773 in cities. Overall, the average MPCE was Rs 1,128.

Muslims were at the bottom in rural areas, with an average MPCE of Rs 833, followed by Hindus at Rs 888, Christians at Rs 1,296 and Sikhs 1,498.

In urban areas, Muslims’ average MPCE was also the lowest at Rs 1,272 followed by Hindus at Rs 1,797, Christians Rs 2,053 and Sikhs at Rs 2,180.

“You are where you are because of your choices. There is nothing to gain by regretting things. Review your past decisions for lessons and make a new decision to change. Take Action Today.”

— Craig Ballantyne

True-Beauty is a truly beautiful or pleasing thing or person.

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”

Thich Nhat Hanh (born 1926);
Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, peace activist

3 Ways to Support a Growth Initiative

All too often senior leaders see managing today’s earnings as their main job and don’t spend enough time on the pursuit of long-term growth. It’s important for all executives to nurture “internal start-ups,” clusters within the organization that help deliver both earnings and growth. Here’s how:

Create the conditions.

Make earnings and growth equally important top priorities. Work to remove cultural impediments such as risk aversion and the notion that any kind of failure is bad.

Choose the right team leaders.

Assign your best, most experienced general managers to lead growth initiatives. They have the necessary internal networks and understand the company’s values and culture.

Fund the ventures.

Create funds for financing new ventures separate from the company’s annual budget process. Tie funding to milestones with realistic time frames.

Adapted by HBR from “Six Ways to Sink a Growth Initiative,” by Donald L. Laurie and J. Bruce Harreld.

Indian democracy and civilian rule is a facade, which means a superficial appearance or illusion of something.

Forget about any chances of genuine and lasting peace between India and Pakistan, till such time Indian Military establishment has a vice like grip, over Indian government and media.

They even didn’t spare the captain of Pakistan’s blind cricket team and offered poison as drink to Zeeshan Abbasi. Latest example is the vandalising of Pakistani art exhibition in Ahmedabad.

For Pakistan, it’s a sheer waste of time and energy, chasing the mirage of peace with India.

I predict no war – no peace situation will continue till eternity, between India and Pakistan.

Take it or leave it.