Category: Quotes

Weaknesses: Only Contextual To Culture

“What are your strengths & weaknesses?” is a question often used in interviews. Yet, very rarely is it seen in the context of the organization culture & accordingly the suitability of an individual in it.

“I don’t believe in the abstract idea of individual “weaknesses,” only weaknesses in the context of particular corporate cultures. For example, someone who might seem weak or indecisive in an execution-oriented culture might fit right into a highly collaborative culture. What looks like weakness in one culture may be strength in another. It’s much more useful for an interviewer to know what strengths are needed to do the job and to determine if the candidate has those strengths.”

– Priscilla Claman

Read the full article The Worst Interview Question (and How to Answer It) here.

Customer Experience Resolutions

“Many companies have customer experience efforts underway and it’s time for them to embed customer experience management into the rhythm of their business — making it a fundamental part of how their organizations operate. Here are my 2011 resolutions for companies that have the courage and resolve to get to that next level.”
– Bruce Temkin

Read the full post here.

Exercise & Entrepreneurship

I came across this quote in a posting at OnStartups.com. The thought resonates well with me & I completely agree with it. 

“There is a certain level of determination that is built up by being physically fit and sticking to a regimen. Athletics and exercise are the purest physical expression of true mental discipline that one can find.”

– Jason Baptiste

Ageing Digital Inspiration – Amitabh Bachchan

amitabh_bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan)

Often, I hear folks (even those in their 30s, if not more) express frustration & cynicism about the fallouts of our increasingly digital lives. E-commerce, social networking, data privacy, personal broadcasting, “what’s the point”, etc. are issues these folks grapple with. In this context, its a whiff of fresh air to read Amitabh Bachchan’s tweets. Below is an unedited sampling of his recent tweets:

T 202 -Just back from gym .. struggling to get the weight down and tone up body … but will and must do it !!

T 202 – Get up and saddle the horse that has just thrown you off to the ground and ride it again into a gallop, to your destination …

T 202 – We need to keep at it again and again – some thing will surely give !

T 202 – Social networking, dear fellow tweeters – a power bigger than any else it was ever imagined to be …

T 202 – Your networking compels .. it comments, gives opinion, makes corrections, passes judgement, changes decisions and misguided values !

T 202 – Your networking corrects errors .. builds bridges, forms communities, spreads friendship, strengthens bonds .. creates awareness ..!

T 202 -NETWORKING ji !! I salute you ! Mankind discovered and built it .. Mankind propels it ..No where today do we connect thus ..!!

Tone up the body? Advocating the benefits of social networking to a nation whose latest claim to fame is its young age? And this coming from a gentleman who is all of 68 years young!!

The tweets reflect his childlike amazement of the phenomenon. He not only “gets” social networking & leverages it for his benefit, but also evangelizes the phenomenon amongst his fraternity.  From a young nation’s perspective, such active adoption of the changing times (& technology) bodes well.

  • it is an effective way for the ageing population to stay relevant (& thus contribute longer)
  • it helps reduce the gap between generations (& thus makes for a more homogeneous nation building work force)
  • adopting change & active learning helps keep the physical faculties in working condition longer

Bollywood has many stars ..and some SUPER STARS!

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Related Posts:
~ Quotes To Live By – Life Lessons from Richard Branson
~ Inspirational Leaders Need to be Performers
~ Quotes To Live By – Learning, Richard Bach