Dear Readers,

Hope you are doing well. Gradually the organisations are getting back to the usual flow. More positive signs and important decisions are happening now. I wish you are part of the flow. Leadership is the main theme for September Learning Letter.

The speed of the team depends upon the speed of the leader. When the leader is ahead of thoughts, the team is motivated and ready to achieve the set goal with determination and commitment. Nike’s story is a true example of how leader can generate spirit within the organisation. How NIKE managed to become an international organisation because of Bill Bowerman is an interesting reading for every leader in this letter.

Best expressions are made when you speak in your mother tongue since it comes from your heart. Google has created a new tool to write in your mother tongue. It is a thrilling experience to write in English and see words in your own language.

September Learning Letter is reaching you with a new column "Movies that Move". Many interesting and informative articles are inside. Enjoy reading. Thank you.

Wish you a great October'09.

Regards,
Prabakar
Editor, Learning Letter

• EDITOR'S NOTE
• HOW NIKE TOWARDS SUCCESS
• I FELL IN LOVE WITH INDIA
• U2 TIPS
• DONATE EYES TO GIVE SIGHT
• TWENTY LEADERSHIP TIPS FROM EMINENT PERSONALITIES
• QUOTE THAT MOVES
• MOVIES THAT MOVE
• MERCEDES IS A GIRL NAME
• MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE
• GOOGLE INDIC TRANSLITERATION
• READERS VOICE
• WHY FYMC IS A RELIABLE RECRUITMENT PARTNER

Bill Bowerman, Co-founder of Nike, is the ticking force for the Nike. Bill, the head track-and-field coach at the University of Oregon in Engene from 1984-1972 was constantly looking for ways to help his athlete's. He designed the first light weight out sole for the sportsmen. Today most of the athlete's shoemaker uses a waffle sole which is sportsman friendly.

In the late 1950's he devised a shoe with a heal wedge, better support and lighter sole. There were no takers in the corporate. Though disappointed, Bower man was inspired by a message he often used with his teams "Losing, "he would say," can be a real Beginning". In 1964, he and Knight teamed up to found Blue Ribbon Sports Inc. The company name was changed to Nike Inc. 1980 when it went public; it passed the billion-dollar revenue mark.

Nike based in Beaverton, markets its products in more than 100 countries. Nike is the world's No.1 sports and Fitness Company in market share and sales, about $9 billion in 2000. At that time, Nike accounted for more than 40% of all athletes' shoe sales in the United States.

Bowerman's inspiration and high standards had a lot to do with Nike's rise to stardom."Bowerman had a laser focus to solve a problem with athletes and then move on", He was more than an innovative shoe designer, and he was the one of the greatest track-and-field coaches in the U.S. In love with running, he wanted other to find the same enjoyment in what they do. His aim was to make a lighter running shoe. Bowerman actions were "all driven by helping athletes perform better and to help them reach their maximum".

Knight came to know that Bowerman was Nike's most Valuable asset, he stood up for what he believed it, he consisted his athletes call his bill. He had s distinctive way of teaching his team members. He tried to make every athletes feel special, he customized each team member's workout with a strategic plan and he charted a Month-by-Month plan. depicting what a runner's time should be at each juncture. He never let an athlete enter a race without a precise plan on how to run every lap. He'd tell them that every weakness in a competitor could mean an advantage.

"Victory is doing the best you can, and even if you lose, you will have learned something", he knew how important it was not to spend all one's energy in one plan. He insisted his athletes under training to prevent injuries and reserve strength for meaningful races. His philosophy was to work out hard one day, take a light workout the next day and then push hard again. Nike is a Passionate brand for many in corporate, no wonder, because the man who created is Passionate.

India certainly has many famous sightseeing spots and tourists attractions. However, in my personal view trough experience, beach resort relaxation and monument hopping can just scratch on the surface of the real richness that this Sub-Continent has to offer. The key is spending more time at a few places with some knowledge of Hindi and/or a different local language which enables to look into the mind of many Indians covering the full range of whatever their ranking in society may be. As a foreigner I just can take the freedom of completely ignoring all cast barriers when mixing with the people and establishing friendship among them. Also going to the movies in India gives a very good insight in their dreams, fears and hopes. Basically, as a Central European facing India like that I felt ashamed how cold we are in family and friendship emotions, always educated not to show our feelings. India made me see even my own parents in a different light now. Because actually, deep inside we humans are well all the same. Observing the everyday's communication between Indians, the topic "marriage" plays a really dominant role. Sometimes I wondered if that issue is taking already one half of their mind how they still can perform well in so many other disciplines... Absolutely striking to me was the incredible hospitality I experienced in many families. They even once sat the full night at my bed in hospital even though I had known them for one day before only. Mostly it is overseen by Europeans that the Indians are not only very religious but also featured with a great sense of humour and the capacity to share some very jolly moments with their friends. Also that prepared me better to cope with the two main challenges I did personally suffer from: (A) mosquitoes (B) the permanent use of incredibly loud horns on the road traffic. Especially the latter upgrades any train journey, including the crowded suburban trains, into a preferable and relatively relaxed way of moving for visitors like me. Amazing that there are special compartments and even full trains for ladies only but not any similar features for gents...

Anyway, during my many visits I really fell in love with India and I surely will come again and again.

Written by Dr Hannes,
Geologist from Germany.

1. Aluminium trays from pies and cakes make ideal 'drip saucers' to put under pot plants.

2. Old tyres can be used outside for plant pots - especially good for plants that like warm soils as they trap the heat.

3. The following waste items can be modified and used for planting seedlings: Egg cartons, Tetra-pack cartons, Plastic bottles, Plastic containers for cherry tomatoes, Old boots and shoes, Plastic containers for takeaways, the cardboard centres from toilet rolls, Plastic ice-cream containers.

4. Broken crockery can be used as drainage at the bottom of pot plants. Tin cans can be used as:
Water reservoirs for new plants and trees. Tape a piece of hose pipe in a can and fill the can with scoria or pumice. Then, when you plant a new tree or plant, bury the can below the root level and leave enough hose poking out of the ground. You can water the plant in summer by pouring the water into hose pipe. If the hose is short enough it can be mowed over on a lawn and does not look obtrusive.

5. Plastic milk bottles can be used to hold snail bait and are pet proof.

1. Making Smart Decisions

The successful decision maker remains open to the full array of alternative solutions. Father of Management, - Peter Drucker.

2. Feedback is Must for Progress

The failure to give appropriate and timely feedback is the most extreme cruelty that we can inflict on any human being. - Charles Coonradt, Management consultant.

Human beings crave feedback. Your own people are no different, If you cut off the feedback, their minds will manufacture their own feedback, quite often based on their worst fears. It's no accident that "trust and communication" are the two organizational problems most often cited by employee surveys. So keep giving feedback.

3. Know Your Owners and Victim

Those who follow the part of themselves that is great will become great.
Those who follow the part that is small will become small. - Mencius.

The people you motivate will tend to divide themselves into two categories: owners and victims.

This distinction comes from Steve's Reinventing Yourself, which revealed in detail how owners are people who take full responsibility for their happiness, and victims are always lost in their unfortunate stories. Victims blame others and victims blame circumstance and victims are hard to deal with. So be the owners…

4. Put Your Hose Away

Wise leaders and high achievers come to understand that they can't hope to eliminate problems and wouldn't want to - Dale Danten.

Why are so many managers' ineffective leaders?

When you become a fire-fighter, you don't lead anymore. You don't decide where your team is going. The fire decides for you. (The fire: whatever current problem has flared up and captured your time and imagination.)

Act on Priorities and Create an Environment to work on important things, then you can become effective leader.

5. Get the Picture

People cannot be managed…Inventories can be managed, but people must be led. - H. Ross Perot.

Leadership is a skill, like gardening or chess or playing a computer game. It can be taught and it can be learned at any age if the commitment to learn is present. Be the first one to learn.

6. Manage Agreements, Not People

Those who are most slow in making a promise are the most faithful in the performance of it. - Jean Jacques

Managers make a mistake when they try to manage their people. They end up trying to shovel mercury with a pitchfork, managing people's emotions and personalities.

A leader's first responsibility is to make sure the relationship is a mature one.

7. Enjoy the A.R.T. of Confrontation

To command is to serve, nothing more, and nothing less. - Andre Malraux, French Philosopher

One of the tricks we teach to inspire increased motivation in others is what we call " The A.R.T of Confrontation." It shows leaders how to enjoy holding people accountable.

Most managers think it's impossible to enjoy holding people accountable. They think it's the hard part of being a manager. They think it's one of the downsides - a necessary evil associated with the burden of command. Get away from this.

8. Play Both Good Cop and Bad Cop

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams.

If you are an effective motivator of others, they you know how to play "good cop, bad cop," And you know that you don't need two people to play it. A true motivator plays both roles.

Good Cop: nurturing, mentoring coaching, serving and supporting your people all the way. Keeping your word every time. Removing obstacles to success. Praising and acknowledging all the way. Leading through positive reinforcement of desired behavior, because you're a true leader who knows that you get what you reward.

Bad Cop: bad to the bone. No compromise about people keeping their promises to you, even promises about performance. No room for complaints and excuses as substitutions for conversations about promises not being kept. So play both the roles.

9. Stop Cuddling Up

I never give them hell, I just tell the truth and they think its hell. - Harry Truman

Unconsciously, managers without leadership habits will often seek, above all else, to be liked. Rather than holding people accountable, they let them off the hook. They give non - performers the uneasy feeling that everything's fine. They are managers who seek approval rather than respect.

But this habit has a severe consequence. It leads to a lack of trust in the workplace, the most common "issue" on employee surveys. So avoid it.

10. Motivate by doing

People can be divided into two classes: those who go ahead and do something, and those people who sit still and inquire, why wasn't it done the other way? - Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Most managers don't do things in the order of priority that they've rationally selected. They do things according to feelings. That's how their day is run. So be a doer and not a feeler.

11. Use Positive Reinforcement

The first duty of a leader is optimism. How does your subordinate feel after meeting with you?

Does he feel uplifted? If not, you are not a leader. - Field Marshall Montgomery

Nobody remembers it. Everybody seems to forget it. But positive reinforcement trumps negative criticism every time.

12. Use 10 Minutes Well

Man must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind him to the fact that each moment of his life is a miracle and a mystery. - H.G. Wells

Often what separates a great leader from a lousy manager is just that the ability to use 10 minutes well.

13. To Motivate Your People, First Just Relax

A frightened captain makes a frightened crew. - Lister Sinclair, Playwright/ Broadcaster

More relaxed and composed leaders produce more leaders during the course of their career.

14. Don't throw the Quit Switch

Most people succeed because they are determined to. People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. - George Allen, Football Coach.

Every Olympic athlete, every leader, and every human being has a certain little - known brain part in common: a quit switch.

Make it your habit not to throw the Quit Switch early in any process. Do not quit on yourself as a leader or on your team as producers. The less of a quitter you are, the more of a motivator you become.

15. Play it lightly

The Leadership instinct you are born with, is the backbone. Then you develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it. - Elaine Agather, CEO J P Morgan Bank.

The most motivated people we work with are not taking themselves all that seriously. The ones who struggle the most view the company's next success as their own mortgage payment or what holds their marriage together. So be a motivator and play it.

16. Give Power to the Other Person

When I'm getting ready to persuade a person, I spend one - third of the time thinking about myself, what I'm going to say, and two - thirds of the time thinking about him and what he is going to say. - Abraham Lincoln
When I'm in a leadership position, there's always a hidden fear inside the person I'm leading and about to talk to.

What a manager can do is ask gentle questions and let the people they lead think and speak and make their own fresh commitments. That's how motivation happens.

17. Use the Power of Deadlines

The best way to predict the future is to create it - Peter Drucker

Put your requests into a time frame. If there is no pressing time frame, make one up.

18. Translate Worry into Concern

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. - William Ellery Channing, Minister / Psychologist.

Practice upgrading your worry to concern. Then, once you state your concern, create your action plan to address it.

Instead of worrying, imagine some action you could take now, something bold and beautiful inspired by the current so called "Problem".

19. Let you're Mind Rule Your Heart

If you don't think about the future, you won't have one. - Hendry Ford

Leadership requires that your logical, problem - solving left brain be in charge of your right brain. It requires a fierce intellect willing to hang in there against all your people's complaints (real and imaginary). It requires a thrill in finding a new route to solutions.

Leadership requires that the chess master in you be in charge of the thinking and decision - making Processes throughout the day.

Leadership is about making clear, smart decisions about where and how you spend your time.

20. Make It Happen Today

What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well a half an hour? - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The ability to motivate others well flows from the importance that we attach to today.

DONATE EYES TO GIVE SIGHT

To begin with for a selfish reason; our eyes can live even after our death. Secondly, more importantly, we can light the life of two blind people by donating our eyes after our death. Thirdly, not to mention, eye donation is the noblest of all causes.

We are one of the fastest growing economies in the world today; ironically, we also shoulder one of the largest populations of the visually impaired. There are almost 52 million visually impaired people and 270,000 blind children in India. That's almost one-fourth the world's blind population living in India.

There are currently an estimated 15 million blind people in India. 6.8 million Of these suffer from corneal blindness with vision less than 6/60 in at least one eye, and of these, about 1 million have bilateral corneal blindness. If the present trend continues, it is expected that the number of corneal blinds in India will increase to 8.4 million in 2010 and 10.6 million by 2020.

Of these at least 3 million can be benefited by corneal transplantation. Thus, to effectively meet the ever-growing demand, we need around 150,000 corneal transplants to be performed every year. However, the current supply is only 22000 corneas per year.

Eye donation is donating the eyes after a person's death. Eyes are very valuable part of a human being, which should not be wasted either by burning or burying the body. Donation of the eyes gives sight to TWO Corneal blind persons, enabling them to come out of their dark and dearly life into a life full of colours, a life where they can see and enjoy this beautiful world!

"Eyes are a precious gift to a person. But the same eyes bring misery when misused or when they are lost. A wise man utilizes that gift while alive and on death too"

Some like to write, some like to play, some like to swim, some like to dance...the whole point of this start is the movie I watched yesterday. Titled "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is fictitious but a piece of inspiration from David Fincher.

The movie starring Bradd Pitt, who was born old, is rejected by his mother. The poor lad is brought up in homage where he reaches heights of his senses by aging backwards. The life of the story is all about the way people live life they want to, and how they are inclined towards destiny despite facing several hardships. The movie turns outstanding to see life through the eyes of Benjamin Button, who has a reverse aging process.

It is a must watch film for all professionals out there, who meet many people with unforgettable moments. However it will be quite disappointing to see we are not sharing moments in life as Benjamin did.

Movie Research done by Mr. Arjun Vasan, Bio-Medical Engineer.

Have you ever thought how the Mercedes Cars got their name, if not here it goes. In 1897, Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek travelled from his home in Nice, France to purchase a car from the Daimler factory in Cannstatt, Germany. On his return to the French Riviera, his sporting Daimler Phoenix caused such a sensation that he decided to enter it into a local touring competition, under the name of "Mercedes" after his favourite 9 year old daughter. Realizing the business potential for the new car, he not only placed an order for 36 more, but also secured the franchise for selling them in several countries. Gottlieb Daimler also agreed to have them sold under the name of "Mercedes."

After the First World War the Daimler and Benz companies worked closer together, generally advertising on the same posters. They amalgamated in 1926, combining the laurel wreath and 3-pointed star as their trade mark.

Hence the Cars manufactured were sold as Mercedes - Benz

The Break Even Point is, in general the point at which the gains equal losses. This is the point where sales equal revenues. There is no profit made or loss incurred at Break- Even Point. This is very important for anybody who is managing the business, since Break-even point is the lower limit of profit when prices are set and margins are determined.

Advantages of Break Even Analysis:

• The main advantage of Break Even Analysis is that it explains the relationship between Cost, Production volume and returns
• The major benefit of using Break even Analysis is that it indicates the lowest amount of business activity necessary to prevent losses.

Limitations of Break Even Analysis:

• It is best suited for analysis of a single product at a time.
• As the analysis is mainly by classifying the costs as Fixed or Variable, It might be difficult to classify any cost as purely fixed or purely variable.

"The aim of education is not the acquistion of information ,although important,or acquistion of technical skills,though essential in modern society,but the development of that bent of mind,that attitude of reason ,that spirit of democracy which will make us responsible citizens."

Teachers day celebration at Velammal Educational Instutitions on 5th September 09. Mr. Velmurugan, Chief Executive Officer, Velammal Group inagurated the function. Mr. Prabakar, Chief Executive Officer, FYMC Pvt Ltd was the chief speaker. Mr. Ganasampantham, Mr. T. S. Radharkrishnan, Mr. Shanmugam, Dean of Velammal were part of this function.

READERS VOICE

True, Swine-flow was over reacted here. Thanks for this letter. Keep up your good work. Dr. Victor, Madras Medical Mission centre.

Excellent letter, helpful for learning. Thank you. Mr. Venantius D'souza - General Manager, Blue Dart Aviation Limited.

Add more details about the Personalities and Leadership Theories. Your existing model is good. This is my suggestion. Mr. Surendar from Hyderabad.

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