Saturday Story from Siva (47): Story of Mayuri and Her Attitude of "Never Give Up"

Hi,
There are times in life when we touch the depths of despair. After all, life is journey that is not just filled with only highs. Champions are those who don’t lie low when fallen down. They fight the odds, convert the obstacles into opportunities with the attitude of “Never Give Up.” I came across last week a story of a lady, who showed tremendous determination to fight the odds and bounce back in life to be a role model to many. Pls read on…
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Story of Mayuri and Her Attitude of “Never Give Up”
Internet info (Courtesy: Uma Mahesh; Source: http://www.andhrajyothy.com )
Mayuri, a postgraduate, used to work for a multinational company. Married and blessed with a child, she was living happily, when suddenly life changed for her. Trekking was a hobby that she liked going on a trekking mission at every given opportunity. In the year 2002, leaving her 3-month old baby with her parents, she went along with her friends on a trekking mission to Pindari Glacier arranged by a company in Uttaranchal. The vehicle in which the team was travelling from the base camp met with an accident and fell into a deep valley. She sustained multiple fractures to her ribcage, injuries to the rear of her head, cuts all over her body, and a dislocated shoulder. The last thoughts of her mind before falling and becoming totally unconscious were, “My child is too young, I should not leave him like that, I should not die, I must survive by any and all means.”
She was rescued from the accident, got operated, had to have 60 stitches, returned to her job within 6 months, but the trauma of the accident continued to stay on her mind. It was then that she turned to yoga, which helped her become totally physically fit and fine. She later decided to spread the message of yoga, mastered the art, and she has now started a studio, “Yoga Tree” in Bangalore.
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Mayuri’s indomitable will to LIVE backed up by her love for her child as well as her own LIFE helped her win over the worst of the odds she was destined to face. Having fought the times of desperation and loss of hope, she has now become a message of hope and an example of aspiration to live life to many. Let the odds and lows we experience in our lives not stop us to bounce back with enhanced strength to rise up, move forward, and stand tall again....sooner or later.
An article in Telugu detailing Mayuri’s complete story could be read at the link given below:
https://www.andhrajyothy.com/mainNewsShow.asp?qry=2011%2Fmay%2F25%2Fnavya%2F25navya1&more=2011%2Fmay%2F25%2Fnavya%2Fnavyamain&date=5%2F25%2F2011&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4ddc9d7eed761f23%2C0
The Best for you always!
With love and regards,
Siva

Saturday Story from Siva (46): Ubuntu: An Inspiring Story About an African Tradition of Teamwork and Collaboration

Hi,
This week, I would like to share with you an excerpt from the review of a book entitled, “UBUNTU”. “In Africa there is a concept known as Ubuntu – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievements of others,”- Nelson Mandela. In short, Ubuntu is “"I am what I am because of who we all are." Here goes the review....
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Ubuntu: An Inspiring Story About an African Tradition of Teamwork and Collaboration
A Book Review by Ivana Taylor (http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/04/ubuntu-teamwork-collaboration.html )
Ubuntu is the story of John Peterson.  John had always been a terrific worker at BullsEye, but when he was promoted to management, he found out that he faced more challenges than he had bargained for.  Not only that, but his personal life was falling apart as well.
Then along comes Simon, a young student from South Africa.  When Simon overhears John’s frustration about having to come in over the weekend, he skips out on his college final to come in on Saturday to help John finish some poorly done paperwork.  When John asks him why, Simon says simply, “It is Ubuntu.” Soon after, John becomes Simon’s student in the way of Ubuntu.
As luck would have it, BullsEye is running a contest, and Simon is one of the winners of the grand prize – a trip to South Africa.  John, Simon and several other BullsEye employees go on the journey of a lifetime and learn the principles of Ubuntu firsthand. They come back with a plan and soon BullsEye is transformed and is not only a great place to work, but is successful as well.
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I haven’t read the book yet. To learn more about what these UBUNTU Principles are and how they could make the teams more successful, we have to get hold of the book and read it. The essence of Ubuntu is in the manner how one is open and available to others, A person with Ubuntu does not feel threatened that others are able and good, and feel diminished when others are humiliated or tortured or oppressed. They are more humane and interconnected. Appears to be worth learning more about and internalizing the principles of UBUNTU for greater success and happiness.
To read the full review of the book, click on the link :http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/04/ubuntu-teamwork-collaboration.html
The best for you always,
With love and regards,
Siva

Saturday Story from Siva (45): The Story of Sergey Bubka and the Need to Compete With Oneself

Hi,
Good morning! Hope you had a great week. We are in a race everywhere. There is competition everywhere, and it is getting tougher by the day. We have all been competing as a child, at school, at college, in jobs, and in the societies we live. And, that’s perhaps what is driving us move forward, strive to do better, and achieve more. This week, I would like to share with you the story of a man who virtually had no competition, but excelled as a world-class competitor for a significant period. How did he manage to do that?
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The Story of Sergey Bubka and the Need to Compete With Oneself
Source: Internet info ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Bubka )
Sergey was born on 4 Dec 1963 in Ukraine. In 1983, virtually unknown till then in international meets, he won the world championship at Helsinki, and the following year he set his first world record, clearing a height of 5 m 75 cm. The years that followed witnessed the unparalleled dominance of Bubka, with him setting new records and standards in pole vaulting. He broke the world record for men's pole vaulting a total of 35 times in his career: outdoor world record 17 times and the indoor world record 18 times. The fact that most of the time the record he improved was his own demonstrates his absolute dominance in the event.
He became the first athlete ever to jump over 6.10 metres in 1991. As of February 2011, no other athlete has cleared 6.07, indoors or outdoors. He set the current world record of 6.14 metres in 1994, and it is yet to be broken by anyone. When asked about his secret to his success, he once said, “Having no stiff competition was much more challenging, and my ability to compete with myself to set higher targets helped me achieve more.”
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Are we complacent at times with what we have already achieved? Is lack of competition limiting our potential to achieve greater than what we have been able to? Is there someone unknown within who is restricting the ability to perform better and greater? It is perhaps time to stop looking at only the external competition as a trigger and start competing with the one within for setting higher standards and achieving greater milestones. With self belief coupled with self discipline, one can move the mountains.
The Best for you always!
With love and regards,
Siva

Saturday Story from Siva (44): Story of Two Woodcutters and the Value of Their Differing Habits

Hi,
Good morning! I am in Aurangabad this morning and expecting to have a great day of meeting with a large number of successful business men. While I am here to train and motivate them how they could take their business to the next level, I am sure I will get an excellent opportunity to learn from them the very same thing. Sharing herewith a story of two woodcutters and the need for continuous learning for greater success..
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The Story of Two Woodcutters and the Value of Their Differing Habits
Anonymous (Forwarded by friends)
Once upon a time, there were two woodcutters, John and Bill. John worked for a Company for five years but never got a raise in his salary. Bill also worked for the same company but got his first promotion within a year itself. This caused resentment in John and he expressed it to his Supervisor. His Supervisor replied, "You are still cutting the same number of trees you were cutting five years ago. We are a result-oriented company and would be happy to give you a raise if your productivity goes up."
John went back started hitting harder and putting in longer hours but he still wasn't able to cut more trees. He went back to his Boss and told him his dilemma. The Boss asked John to go and talk to Bill. "Maybe there is something Bill knows that you and I don't."
John asked Bill how he managed to cut more trees. Bill answered, "After every tree I cut, I take a break for a few minutes and 'sharpen my axe'. When was the last time you sharpened your axe?"
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Learning is a continuous process for everyone. Perhaps it begins with birth and continues till death. Everyone learns everyday something or the other by virtue of their own experiences of encountering with men and materials. But what is more important is to be able to choose and learn what is more relevant and valuable to one’s chosen area of work and life than anything and everything. Could each one of us ask ourselves at the end of every day, “Have I sharpened my axe today? Have I added value to myself?” Why not?
The Best for you always.
With love and regards,
Siva