The Nepalese Maoist's view of Nepal's situation.

New Post (191): The Nepalese Maoist's view of Nepal's situation.

In terms of per capita income, Nepal is the poorest country in Asia.

Just before he was elected prime minister of the country, Nepal's Maoist leader Prachanda stated this rather immaturely I’d say: "Nepal," he said, "is dynamite between two rocks."
A creative variation on – Being caught up between “a rock and a hard place”.
Prachanda was probably & unwisely so trying to get India and China to take him more seriously by - playing Nepal's giant neighbors off against each other.
He should know better.
The game is not at all about getting regional superpowers to fight over you, but to get them to cooperate in lifting Nepal out of poverty.
The poorest country in Asia can't afford to base its foreign policy on the insecurity of its neighbors. It must try to put them at ease and benefit from trade and investment.
It’s economy, ravaged by a decade of war and poor governance, is growing at 3% or less.
But it borders two economies with more than a billion people each and both growing in the double digits. To the awe & envy of the world at large.

Nepal must hitch its wagon to both the locomotives in its vicinity. Without taking sides or seeming to be doing so. I think they call it the policy of maintaining - “EQUIDISTANCE.”

Charlie Brown

What every spokesperson ought to know.

New Post (190): What every spokesperson ought to know.

The Guerilla journalist’s agenda is to catch a spokesperson off guard and derail his agenda.

It’s a “game” of “agenda versus agenda”.

So - Here’s what every spokesperson ought to know.

I quote: (from an astute observer of this “game”)

Research reporters before agreeing to an interview – Take a look at some of the reporter’s past work. Does he (or she) have a history of entrapping interviewees with harsh questions? Does he have a track record of breaking controversial stories? Is he what you would call a guerilla journalist? You need to pick your battles wisely, and be willing to turn down an interviewer if you suspect things could go south.

Try to avoid on-the-fly interviews – As spokesperson for your company, it’s your job to eliminate as many PR variables and keep things as controlled as possible. The lower the risk, the better the chance is of having a successful interview. When you take an on-the-fly interview, anything can happen because you haven’t done your homework. You’re in an uncontrolled environment asking for trouble.

Be proactive rather than reactive – You have to be looking forward, trying to anticipate issues before they occur. Don’t wait for reporters to dig up negative information. It can be better to release it yourself first if it’s going to get uncovered at some point. This allows you to control the message.

Think before opening your mouth – Whenever you blurt out something without thinking, more times than not, it’s going to end badly. When getting interviewed, take a moment after each question to collect your thoughts and give the best possible answer. Go easy on being eager to impress or desperate to please.

You’re always on the record – [It’s like the Miranda warning] “Anything you say can and will be used against you.” There isn’t really such a thing as “off the record.” If you say something juicy off the record, a reporter will find a way to confirm it and put it on the record. Remember, “You have the right to remain silent.”

Stay on message – Try to steer the conversation as much as possible back to your main message and key bullet points. Use transitional phrases to guide answers back to these messages, and emphasize the positive while avoiding saying anything negative.

Practice makes perfect – The better prepared you are for an interview, the less likely it is that you’ll slip up and say something damaging. Practice the interview in your head, and focus on being able to deliver your key points clearly and confidently.

I hope this wisdom put in practice will help many a career spokesperson and prevent his/her being led on and spiked by any - guerilla journo!

Charlie Brown

Amy's personal demons galore.

New Post (189) : Amy's personal demons galore.

In fond memory of Amy Winehouse RIP 23.07.2011

Some believe that just because she was a Celebrity, she did not have to struggle with any personal demons. That she was exempt from this struggle.

Fact is : “To be human is to struggle with your own personal demons”.

The difference between her and many others is that she could not overcome her demons.

It's important to face down your demons. [Else you will be well on your path to self destruct]

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself / herself.

The demons reside within.

You struggle with your demons and you conquer them.

May her soul rest in peace.

A nagging thought : I (do) wonder if celebrity status can potentially quite easily turn in to “a curse of sorts”.

Charlie Brown

Forest versus trees.

New Post (188): Forest versus trees.

If you want to position yourself as a high-status individual with the capacity to lead, know that: Power comes from abstraction, not just from facts.
Abstract thinkers feel less constrained by details and prefer higher-power roles.
Abstract thinking broadens options, while thinking concretely is more likely to make people discouraged.
So, if you want to take a step up, envision advancing the company’s wider game plan, and leave the bean counting to others.
The key to making big moves is thinking in terms of why (insights & strategy) rather than how (implementation).
“When you’re going through your to-do list, think about the higher-level goals each action serves.”
I often find myself reluctant to give my clients concrete advice, because I feel it could be limiting, and less powerful than the advice they give themselves. Better to ask them questions to see if they can come up with their own effective answer before I start feeding them mine.
It’s often a good idea for a consultant to describe the big picture his client is in and why they should listen before he or she jumps into the facts and figures.
The power speech begins with a wide angle shot, then zooms in for the close up, then zooms out to mid-range
In a way, the mind is like a camera. It can zoom in and look at detail, or it can zoom out and see the big picture.
The really powerful lenses and minds can do both. See both the forest and the trees.

Charlie Brown

A day long peek into the lives of the poor in India.

New Post (187) : A day long peek into the lives of the poor in India.

So interesting…………

Not a life that you would expect the future CEOs from the most prestigious B-school of India to lead.
But this is what some of the IIM-B students experienced for a day early this week — just to know what it is to be poor.

Just Rs 20 in pocket. Surviving on single banana for breakfast, rice dish from roadside vendor for lunch, biscuits for tea time.
[Note : Indian Rs 45 is roughly equal to 1 USD.]

As part of their elective programme 'Inclusive Business Models', 75 students were exposed to another world — that of people who live with just Rs 20 per day
That is the below poverty line cut-off in India.

The students, in groups of five, went to different slums in and around Bangalore, interacted with the slum-dwellers, trying to understand their lives and finally come up with suitable business solutions that can help them.

How refreshing……………

Charlie Brown

The 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in India.

New Post (186) : The 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in India.

After reading the following news item ask these “2” question/s:

How many other temples in India similarly hold vast treasures ? Whatever happened to all the treasures of India that were looted by invaders over the centuries ?

News item:

Lightly guarded India temple holds $22B treasures

A vast treasure trove of gold coins, jewels and precious stones unearthed at a lightly guarded Hindu temple in India was expected to grow further in value Monday as the last two secret vaults sealed for nearly 150 years are opened.

The government has increased security since the treasure's discovery in recent days, which has instantly turned the 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple into one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the country.

Four vaults recently opened at the temple in Trivandrum, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, held a vast bounty that unofficial estimates peg at $22 billion.

The treasures unearthed so far include statues of gods and goddesses made of solid gold and studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones, crowns and necklaces, all given as gifts to the temple over the centuries.

The volume of gold and silver coins was so enormous that the investigators weighed the coins by the sackful, rather than counting them, officials said.

The temple, built by the maharajas who ruled the then-kingdom of Travancore, remained under the control of the erstwhile royal family after India's independence in 1947.

India's Supreme Court ordered the inspection of the vaults after a lawyer petitioned a local court asking the state government to take over the temple, citing inadequate security. The current Maharaja of Travancore had appealed to the Supreme Court against the petition.

The inventory began last week and the final vaults were to be unlocked Monday afternoon. The public knew the temple had treasures but not the quantum.

Before the trove was uncovered, there was almost no visible security at the temple, save for a few local security guards patrolling the complex with batons, mainly for crowd control.

Kerala's police chief, Jacob Punnoose, said he sent extra police officers to guard the temple and is planning a high-tech security system to protect the treasure.

"We plan to enhance security in a manner which will not interfere with the activities of the temple or devotees," Punnoose said.

The security plans include the installation of digital electronic networks, closed circuit cameras and metal detectors at the entrance and exits of the temple.

Manoj Abraham, city police commissioner, said two battalions of special armed police would provide security outside the temple complex.

"Later, we will discuss with temple authorities and members of the former royal family what kind of permanent security system should be put in place," Abraham said.

Every year, devout Hindus donate millions of rupees worth of cash, gold and silver to temples. Some temples in India are so wealthy, they have formed trusts which run schools, colleges and hospitals that offer free treatment to the poor.

The discovery has sparked a debate over the future of the treasure trove.

Vellappally Nateshan, a Hindu leader, said the wealth should remain with the temple authorities.

Some social activists in Kerala have demanded the treasure be handed to a national trust to help the poor.

Kerala's top elected official, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, assured the people that the wealth would remain with the temple.

"It is the property of the temple. The government will protect the wealth at the temple."

Chandy said the government would bear the cost of stepping up security at the temple and ensure that worshippers were not inconvenienced.

Charlie Brown

Control freakdom.

New post (185) : Control freakdom.

1. The head of the IMF has always been an European and the World Bank presidency has always been held by an American.
That unwritten agreement between Europe and the United States, is now being aggressively challenged by fast-growing emerging market economies that have been shut out of the process.

2. Neither institution has ever been headed by a woman.
It may well be that for the first time ever both the institutions will be headed by women. A French woman at the helm of the IMF and an American woman at the helm of the World bank---is a possibility.  Waiting to happen.

Well......(at least).......its a start in the right direction. Towards opening up to the democratic value of equal opportunity.

Charlie Brown