80-20 Rule: Does it work in personal life?

Today I am presenting you one of the management principles, which some of you might already be knowing. This has helped many in both personal as well as professional life. It has wide usage in business as well as economics. The axiom “80-20 Rule”, in general, means that the input-output relationship is not balanced. In other words, 80% of the consequence (Output) is the result of 20% of the cause (Input).

Credite: Quick and Dirty tips

How this Rule came:

This rule is also known as Pareto Principle, named after esteemed economist Vilfredo Pareto. He gave this principle after observing the land distribution pattern in Italy. According to his observation, 80% of the lands in Italy belonged to just 20% of the population. Taking cue from the skewed relationship, he furthered his observation

How we can understand it works!

*Student uses/can use this technique very well. (I also did :-D) Based on previous year question papers, they can easily understand which portion of their syllabus can fetch them maximum marks. Based on that analysis, they will only focus those parts (20%) which may fetch them maximum (80%) score in the exam.

*It is observed by many corporation that 80% of their Revenue comes from just 20% of the customers. Take an example, let’s say Telecom Industry. Not everyone recharge their mobile phones with the amount which is in higher bracket. Generally business firms or government offices which has the bulk of the connections are the source of larger revenue. Hence, the company may have millions of customers on paper but many of them keep balance in their phones just enough to maintain the incoming and outgoing facility.

*Many organisations has reported that 80% of the firms profit is driven by only 20% of the employees. Hence focusing to retain those 20% is their main concern.

*This principle also holds good in the field of quality assurance in manufacturing sector. Observation suggests that 80% of the defects are sourced from nearly 20% of the causes. Hence if the firm can minimise these cause then they can also get away from most of the defects from the product and in turn can save time, effort and money.

How can we apply it in day to day life:

The purpose of my writing is to let my readers know that we can use this principle in day to day life and hence we can increase our productivity as well as efficiency.

Let me just share one simple and relatable example which is more visible especially in the period of lockdown. Many a times we cry that we are not able to do certain things which are close to our heart due to dearth of time. This principle will help you in generating extra time. As saving is generating. I suggested this principle to one of my friend, who was also complaining that he is unable to learn guitar because he doesn’t have sufficient time. He recently applied this and shared his experience.

First thing he did is that he spent time in observation about his daily schedule. He found that his mobile usage on daily basis accounts for one of the highest source of time utilisation. He also took the help of technology in tracking his activity. Don’t get swayed away by the word “technology” as he did not purchase any gadget to monitor him, but used existing one i.e. Mobile Phone. There is a feature in his phone (now a days everyone has) which gives the hourly utilisation of different applications. He got astonished to know that WhatsApp and YouTube, only these two apps took his more than 5 hours daily whereas he had more than 30 applications installed in his phone. He realised that many a times he opened WhatsApp when it was not needed. He used just to check status, of which he has already seen many a times. So now he was aware that what is the distraction for him and accordingly he set a fixed time for each applications. After nearly a month along with his experience he shared with me a short clip of how he is learning the guitar by saving extra 3 hours!!!

This is just a single example of how 80-20 Rule can be applied in our life. Hope this piece will help you figure out your own interest area to reflect.

Note: One thing which needs to be understood that 80-20 is not a strict figure to follow. It just help us to prioritise the most important feature from other and accordingly one can work upon them.

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Simplicity? Not Really..

Simplicity is considered as one of the great virtues that we as a human hopes to strive for. Everybody claims that they are simple or wanted to be simpler but ends up in being complex.

So after hearing my argument on a contentious topic, when one of my friends told me, “why you are complicating things even when it is simple”? At that time, I did not respond immediately and looked at the case and asked myself, Am I really making a mess out of it? With a little reflection I came to the conclusion Yes, I was making it messy, even though I was not intended to do so.

When I sit alone, I find myself at my best. That doesn’t mean I am having homosapien hysteria. No, absolutely not. The only reason for that is my ability to think independently without any pressure and prejudice of the society increases manifold when I remain in seclusion. So on that day when I sat alone and asked myself why sometime I become complex even though I don’t want to be. After a lot of deliberation and discussion to myself, I devised a hypothesis and would like to share with you all that why we become complex despite knowing that simplicity is the best way to live a peaceful life.

I find society, where we live in, has a great role in it, if not all. Remember your childhood when we were least complex. We loved to play, sing and even study without any fear or pressure. As we grew older then came the notions and process to turn a simple plain person in to most sophisticated and complex being.

You have to score more to get recognized in class, then you have to submit sophisticated projects to get accolades, then came the big IIT, NEET exams, where more and more complex problems to be thrown at you, if you able to pass these complexity then you get respect in society. If you want to look rich, then you have flaunt complex gadgets. If your house has complex architecture then it will give you additional reputation in the society. If you are able to speak something that was only understood by microscopic minority, the so called intellectuals of society, then you are considered as a great orator.  etc. etc.

I observed, we hardly aspire anything simple and yet want to be simple. How is it going to happen? Contemplation on complexity and sophistication will only make us a sophisticated robot, certainly not a simple human being.

If we want to be simple we have to recognize and value simplicity in every walks of life. But before valuing, we must recognize what the simplicity really is?

मूल न भूलें..

During one of my outing, I was fortunate to come across a Banyan Tree. This Banyan Tree was gigantic in size and seemed antiquated. Though I have seen many Banyan trees with multiple prop roots, but after seeing the sheer size and spread of this wood I became mesmerized. I sat down under the Banyan Tree for about an hour. Sitting under the Banyan tree, did not turned me into an enlighten being as it had transformed Siddharta to “Buddha”, yet I felt deep serenity.

Apart from tranquility, few lines also came to my head. If time permits, read and relate them. Also you can check the clicks of the same tree which I have captured. This tree is located at very famous place. Can anyone guess, which place is this?

 

One Tree, Multiple Roots

They all are part of the same tree

मूल

मूल वृक्ष है होता एक
कई शाखाएं उससे निकलती हैं
कालक्रम में बढ़ते बढ़ते
कई शाखाएं वृक्ष में बदलती हैं

शाखाएं स्वतंत्रता पाती हैं
अपना अस्तित्व अलग कर जाती हैं
चाहें नभ भी क्यों न छू लें
पर अपना  मूल न भूलें

…..अभय…..

 

Being Lakshman

So, when demon Marich came in a disguise of a magnificent golden deer and roamed around the hermit, where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana were staying, Sita immediately became magnetized by seeing her beauty. She made a request to Lord Ram that she is so moved by the exquisiteness of that deer that she wants it immediately. Lord Ram, knowing that it may be an illusion, tried to convince Her about its futility and possible consequences but Devi Sita’s was unappeasable. She argued, “I have spent nearly thirteen years of my youthful life in the forest, caves, mountains and away from any form of luxuries without any regret, I never requested anything except your company, this is my only desire that I am extending to You, please accept it.” Lord Ram was touched by Her plea and agreed to chase down and bring that golden deer. He cautioned Lakshman to guard Devi Sita and not to leave the place until He returns.

Credit: Internet

The chase began. The deer was fast and frantic, but it was chased by none other than the Supreme Being. After going deeper in to the forest, by taking appropriate position, Ram shot an arrow and it pierced the heart of the deer. But to the amusement of Lord Ram, the deer suddenly turned in to a Demon and started wailing and calling “Oh! Lakshman Oh! Site!!! Oh Site!!! Oh Lakshman!!!”

Sita and Lakshman who were still in the hermit, heard the excruciating voice in which their name were being called. Sita immediately became anxious, perturbed and thought that Lord must have been fallen in a great danger and hence He is calling for help. She was in tears and asked Lakshman to leave immediately and go for help to his elder brother.

Lakshman was unusually very calm 🙂 and told her to not worry as no one in this three worlds can inflict any pain and danger to Sri Ram. In front of His strength even the demigods would not withstand, what to speak of the species of this planet. But Sita was unmoved by the argument and was constantly thinking that Her husband must be in great danger. She was constantly making request to Lakshman to go for the search of Ram. Lakshman was constantly reminding Her that Lord has told him to not to leave Sita alone, as this can be a trap.

At last Sita became furious and enraged on the arguments of  Lakshman and chastised and labeled atrocious allegations. She rebuked Lakshman “Even after my constant request to go for the help of your elder Brother, who seems to be severe in danger, you are in constant mode of denial. Now I got to know the real purpose why you came with us all along the forest leaving a Royal life. You had an attachment towards me and you must have thought that in forest when Lord Ram will not be there with me, you could enjoy me. Now that time has come. Even you are listening the desperate call of your brother for help, but you are so fallen that you are not willing to leave me!!!You are attracted by my beauty and have lost all your morality ”

I will stop the narration here. Everybody knows the story (at least Indians) what happened after that.

I was just thinking how it would be like “Being Lakshman” in that situation? A devoted brother, who left a royal and luxurious life a prince of a Chakravarti Kingdom, was faced an allegation of moral misconduct and lose character from none other than the lady whom he consider as mother throughout his life. How much pain he would have gone through, when these charges were labeled against him.

I was just thinking that even when we commit mistakes or any offence against other of any kind, and when someone admonishes us we feel so much burdened disheartened. And there in Lakshman, innocent of any crime and an epitome of sacrifice, how he could have tolerated those harsh words.

Ram is real. Ramayan is not out dated. It has several stories and characters which is even more relevant these days, when society is grappling with so many gruesome, atrocious, despicable, heinous, monstrous and abhorrent events. You know what I mean, Don’t you?

If time permits read Ramayan. Listen the Stories of Ramanyan from bonafide source. Discuss it. Deliberate on it.  Things will happen, either good or bad. It’s up to us to be a participant, in either good or bad.

Thank You!

मुर्दों की बस्ती..

        Embed from Getty Images

मुर्दों की बस्ती

मोल लगा लो पैसे हों तो

यहाँ ईमान बहुत ही सस्ती है

ये मुर्दों की बस्ती है

 

शुचिता के सब स्वांग रचे हैं

पर, बिकी हुई हर हस्ती है

ये मुर्दों की बस्ती है

 

कलंक का डर अब किसे यहाँ पर

स्वाभिमान गर्त तक धसती है

ये मुर्दों की बस्ती है

 

पीड़ित जन हैं, वे सांत्वना भी देंगे

पर उनके ह्रदय में घोर मस्ती है

ये मुर्दों की बस्ती है

 

देखता मैं भी महल-अट्टालिका,

झोपड़पट्टी पर ही नज़र टिकती है

हाँ, ये मुर्दों की ही तो बस्ती है

……..अभय…….

 

शब्द सहयोग:

शुचिता: Chastity, Purity

 

We, the animal

Today, I went to a park purposefully and the rationale for going there was certainly not the recreation, rather to have contemplation one specific subject. Since I knew, I may stay there for hours; hence I had some snacks and a bottle of water in my bag pack.

Half an hour would have been passed, but I was not able to concentrate on the subject and hence started looking towards surrounding, listened the chirps of the birds and felt the cool gentle breeze of December.

Since I hadn’t had my breakfast, soon I started feeling hungry. I unpacked the snack (a Haldiram product precisely ;-)) and started consuming it. Suddenly a squirrel came very close to me. It was very adorable! I thought I will take few pictures of it. But when I was positioning myself to click some photos, due to my abrupt movement, it got scared and ran away. I was not able to click. But tiny creature had already captured my attention. Then I tried to use a ploy, which generally hunters or a trappers uses, even my intention was same as them, to capture that tiny little creature, but only through my mobile phone camera.

I scattered some of the snacks which I was having, while sitting on the floor of the stoned wall. The same squirrel got lured by it and started enjoying it. It came very near to me on several occasions. It came so close and surrounding being very calm that I could hear it’s nibbling sound.  I clicked few images of it with great difficulties, as it behaved in the exactly in same fashion which I also behaved, when I was told by my elders to sit at a place for having study for even an hour 😉

After a few minute, to my amusement, one more squirrel came to the party and then one more. But the sad part was that I had almost finished the snacks, hence I couldn’t able to scatter more. But whatever was dispersed there, they were having it. They all were erratic and frantic due to my presence. So I decided to move from that place.

But as soon as I moved to other place and sat down on a public chair, few Myna Birds landed there and they tried to usurp whatever little I had distributed there. Squirrels,  being timid, soon backed off the scene. But then another twist came in the story. Two crow, who might have also watching all these events from branch of the trees, came to the picture. This time Myna birds were helpless in front of the size and supremacy of their adversary. Crows evicted the Myna birds from that place and established complete control over the possession. I was watching all these happenings from a distant and felt, as long as I was there, squirrels were eating what was meant for them. But as I left the place, more powerful, dominant and superior species usurped their share.

 

Then spontaneously I recalled the doctrine of “Rule of Law” and its importance in our society. The event which surfaced there was equally comparable to our human social order also. Government allots various goods and services for the common people, but as its supervisory function is weak and sometime absent, those having muscle power/ money power, deprives the weaker section from their dues and captures their shares for self consumption through corrupt practices. But when “Rule of Law” prevails, then rule itself becomes the protector of the weak and maim and even the weakest enjoys their life with dignity and happiness.

Pass it on..

A good leader is one, who doesn’t always leads from the front, but when the time demands he is ready to operate from the back as well. Those leaders, who are insecure about their position never wants to relinquish his frontal space, as they always have a doubt in back of their mind that if they will give up the position now, then they will never be able to regain it in future. Robert Mugabe, present president of Zimbabwe could fall in this category. He was the one of the chief architect of the independence of Zimbabwe from British Rule. Yet, when England freed Zimbabwe in 1980 to till now, he is holding the office, just as a dictator. I can give the example of “power grip” from Indian domestic politics also, but that would have made this post political. Anyway you all know it, Won’t you?

One more special quality of the bet of the leaders is that they never take credit to the achievements rather they pass it on to those who worked under their guidance. Now I would like to give a very fresh and recent example of this.

India has just secured a spectacular diplomatic achievement by sending its one of the Jurist, Dalveer Bhandari to International Court of Justice (ICJ). The International Court is the prime judicial branch of the United Nations (UN) which settles the legal disputes between the various states. Such as the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav. The victory is sweet because India wrestled the seat from one of the P5 member i.e. Britain, who once colonized it for more than 150 years or so.

Social Media was on buzz. Everyone congratulated each other. But what made me feel good is the response of three personality which were directly or indirectly involved in the process. One is Prime Minister, other was the External Affairs Minister and the last  but most important was the Permanent Representative of India at United Nations.

When the result became evident Prime Minister gave credit to the External Affairs Minister and each and every staff to MEA.

Congratulations to EAM @SushmaSwaraj and her entire team at MEA & diplomatic missions for their untiring efforts that have led to India’s re-election to ICJ. Our deep gratitude to all the members of UNGA as well as UNSC for their support and trust in India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2017

Then what did External Affairs minister do, she pass the credit to Syed Akbaruddin by  mentioning special reference of him

Congratulations to Justice Dalveer Bhandari on his re-election as a Judge of the ICJ. Huge efforts by Team – MEA. Syed Akbaruddin @AkbaruddinIndia our Permanent Representative in UN deserves a special mention.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) November 21, 2017

And lastly the permanent representative shared a tweet along with his team who tirelessly worked to achieve this feet.

India's foot soldiers at @IndiaUNNewYork savour –
Judge Dalveer Bhandari's victory at elections to ICJ – an outcome they have toiled for. pic.twitter.com/5six0wkhsM

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) November 21, 2017

This is how team should be lead where each and every one should feel that they are part of the story.

What Say…?

जिद्दी मन..

Child Labour. Credit: Indian Express

 

पावों में हैं बेड़ियाँ
हाथों में है पाश
मैं खड़ा जमीं पे
पर, दृष्टि में आकाश

सुविधाएँ तो थी नहीं
साधन भी मुझे मिला नहीं
दर-दर की ठोकरे खायीं
पर, किसी से कोई गिला नहीं

सब कहते हैं, भाग्य में हो जितना
केवल, उतना ही तो मिलता है
पर करें क्या कि, जिद्दी है मन मेरा जो कहता
पुरुषार्थ भाग्य बदलता है

……अभय ……

She shines

Who motivates us?

When someone achieves some extraordinary feat, even when they face a lot of hurdles and pains in their way, in my opinion, those persons motivate us. Isn’t it?

But, it is true that this is not the case for all of us, as many claims that they are self motivated. Many argue that no humans can be their motivation as they are only motivated through divine aspect of the nature.

Have you ever been in any situation in your life where you have felt that you are alone amidst the mob? Yes, No.

Anyway, Skip this question and face a new one.

Have you ever been really alone and secluded, where no one is besides you and the closet person are physically situated miles apart from you? I think most us wouldn’t have experienced this kind of situation.

Six girls decided the fate that they are going to place themselves in the same situation and that too willingly. They are Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi , Lieutenant Commander Pratibha Jamwal, Lieutenants P Swathi, Vijaya Devi, Payal Gupta and B Aishwarya.

Credit: Internet

Do you know them? Yes, No. Doesn’t matter, even I were oblivious of them till recently.

I think they are worth knowing. That is why I decided to write about them.

All of them, whose name I have mentioned, are officers of Indian Navy and they have decided to circumnavigate the earth without any assistance of their male counterpart. This means that all women crew, for the first time in the History of India, have decided to have a complete a circle around the earth in a ship called INS Tarini. They have already started the journey and has reached the first leg of it.

 

 

Credit: Internet

Credit: Internet

 

The mission is termed as Navika Sagar Parkirama. This mission was flagged by, first full time female Defence Minister of India, Nirmala Sitaraman.

Few facts about the mission:

• INSV Tarini is 55 foot sailing vessel built indigenously in India by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa.
• The expedition will be covered in five legs, with stop-overs at 4 ports Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa) for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary.
• It will circumnavigate globe in approximately 165 days and is expected to return to Goa in April 2018.
• The ship will promote Make in India, as it is indigenously built.
• The crew will check and collect the data for marine pollution.

Many of you would be aware that in ancient time, Indians were not supposed to cross over the oceans, because it was termed as inauspicious. That was the day and this is the day, when only women crew has started a voyage to break the shackles of the idea that women are subordinate to men and they can’t venture alone in life. Imagine the journey, it will not be easy. There will be dark nights, and that too in ocean. There may be no humans in their sight for miles. The sound of the ripples of the ocean may be horrific.  Some waves will be huge. They may encounter some pirates in their journey. The ship is not too big and waves and thunderstorm may test their mettle in mid way. But they are prepared for it. They have already faced the waves of prejudice and subjugation by male dominated society, probably their voyage will be easier than the voyage that women has had over the centuries in India. They have decided to lost in joy of the journey, and when they will return back to Indian Coast, probably many Indians will discover a new perspective.

These all  girls inspired me, and I hope they will also inspire you!!!

 

 

Controversy..

Hello friends!

We do have a tendency to remember those things for longer span which have been subjected to controversy. Isn’t it?

That is why, whenever any new movie is getting released, you will start to hear so many controversies related to the actor(s) of the movie, related to the story (I am not referring only to Padmavati) or any such sort. This is even true whenever an election is slated to happen, issues such as reservation, triple talaq, intolerance in India; immigration issue, Gun Policy in US election etc. etc. will surface.  At many times these controversies are deliberately created by the stakeholders. The reason being very simple, these controversies remain in the mind of the common people for longer period and hence they also try to give their expression in any form. For film, they can give their expression by going to any PVR or in politics they will cast their vote to a specific party who is able to touch their sentiments.

But the fact is that there are issues much beyond the hullabaloo prevailed among the general mass and many of the important issue gets eclipsed in rumors.

Let me ask a very simple question, and I hope everybody among you (if you are an Indian Citizen and not a foreigner) would be able to answer it, right or wrong that is different question all together.

My question is: How many times in the History of independent India, Emergency has been imposed?

I know you know the answer, Don’t you? (DON’T GOOGLE IT, IF YOU DON’T KNOW :-P)

Okay keep the answer with you. You can verify after some time as I have given the answer of this question later section.

Emergency is a unique provision in the Indian Constitution. As we all know that India has adopted a federal polity. This simply means that there will be more than one government, one at center and the other in states or provinces. They enjoy their power in respective domain guaranteed by Constitution.

But during emergency, the federal polity of the country dramatically changes and it converts itself in to Unitary System. Center becomes way too powerful and can infringe the state’s authority, suspends the fundamental right of individual and can change the duration of the Parliament and state legislature. (I am mainly focusing on National Emergency, there are also other types of emergencies)

But this extraordinary situation may not occurs regularly hence these provisions has been seldom used. Constitution says that national emergency can be proclaimed on the ground when the “Sovereignty, integrity and security of India are under threat due to War, external aggression or armed rebellion”. Before 1978, the term armed rebellion was not used in constitution, rather the term was Internal Disturbance.

Now coming to the answer of the question: How many times in our country, emergency has been imposed?”

 The answer, contrary to many opinions, is THREE, and not ONE. Yes Sir/Mam our country has witnessed emergency three times since its independence.

First in 1962, when China attacked us in NEFA (present day Arunachal)

Second in 1971, when Pakistan attacked us during the Bangladesh Liberation war

Third in 1975, when Indira Gandhi Imposed Emergency based on her idea of Internal Disturbance.

Majority of us would have remembered emergency of 1975, which was imposed by Ms. Gandhi. Why? The answer is very simple, and that is the controversy which it has created. At numerous speeches of the political leaders and discussion among various people always talk about only this emergency, hence it has found its place in our memory  and we have forgotten or rather haven’t heard about other emergencies.

So I have given a RAM BAAN to you, if you are not able to remember anything for longer period of time, just create a controversy around it and it will be there with you forever. If you forgets some important dates (I am not saying the birthday of your special ones, it can be any date such as battle of Plassey :-P), just create a controversy and you will be surprised at your retention power.

Thanks for stopping by, hope all the crackers which you have bought for Diwali must have been detonated; if you don’t like bursting cracker and still you have please wait for next year for better returns by selling it on OLX, may be next time any judgement from the Honurable Judiciary will suspend the whole process in your city. 🙂