A young man who graduated yesterday and stops learning today will become uneducated tomorrow.

John, a woodcutter, worked for a Company for five years but never got a raise. The Company hired Bill and within a year he got a promotion. This caused resentment in John and he went to his Boss to talk about it. The Boss said, "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 two minutes and 'sharpen my axe'. When was the last time you sharpened your axe?"

This question hit like a bullet and John got his answer.

"When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" If you want to progress in life, you cannot rest on your past laurels. You must continuously sharpen your axe of knowledge, skill and expertise, in whatever field of activity you may be!

By sharpening your axe appropriately, I wish you to attain your goals.

A Professor at a Managment Institute was explaining marketing concepts to the Students

• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" - That's Direct Marketing
  
• You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: "He's very rich. Marry him." - That's Advertising
  
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." - That's Telemarketing
  
• You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car) for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say: "By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" - That's Public Relations
  
• You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says: "You are very rich! Can you marry ! me?" - That's Brand Recognition
  
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - That's Customer Feedback
  
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:
   "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - That's Demand and Supply Gap
  
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she goes with him - That's Competition eating into your Market Share
  
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" & your wife arrives. - That's Restriction for entering New Markets

Hi all, just writing in few more insights into Indian culture.

.In our day to day routine we perform so many rituals, but do we actually know the significance of them.

1) Why do we light the lamp before God?

..........The lamp symbolizes knowledge and darkness symbolizes ignorance. Hence in Indian culture we bow down and join our hands in front of knowledge.

2) Why do we apply  tilak, on the forehead in Indian culture?

...........The tilak invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer  .The tilak  is said to be  a blessing from the lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces. It also cools the forehead and hence prevents energy loss.

3) Why do we say namaste?

.........Indian culture is popularly recognized by 'namaste'. In Sanskrit namah + te =  namaste. It means I bow to you-my greetings, salutations or prostration.  Namaste is said with the hands joint in front of the chest and the head bowed down. Then bowing down of the head means that you offer the person in front of you your friendship and humility.

4) Why don’t be touch books, papers with our feet?

..........Knowledge is considered as divine and as per Indian culture touching it with our feet is a sign of disrespecting it.

5) Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?

...........We show our respect to elders, teachers, noble souls by touching their feet. Man stands on his feet and hence touching the feet is an act of respecting that person’s age, maturity, nobility and divinity. Good wishes and blessings of elders are highly valued in Indian culture. When we prostrate before elders with humility we invoke these good wishes and blessings.

6) Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?

..........Human life on earth depends on plants and trees. They give us food, oxygen, clothing, shelter, medicines etc. They make our surroundings beautiful. They epitomize sacrifice. When a stone is thrown on them they revert back and give fruits. Many Indians believe that our ancestors manifest in trees.

7) Why do we ring the bell?

..........We ring the bell in front of the Lord as it produces the sound Om that is the universal name of the Lord. The ringing of the bell during aarti help to produce auspicious sound. It also helps to distract away unpleasant noises or any unpleasant discussions during prayers.

8) Why do we chant the word Om?

.........It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is said to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we take.

9) Why do we fast?

.........Fasting in Sanskrit means upavaasa. Upa means near and vaasa means to stay. It means to stay near the lord. A lot of our time is spent in procuring food etc. Some types of food get us agitated and angry. Hence on certain days when we abstain from eating we are saving time and thinking of the Lord instead. Hence we get close to him.Fasting in Indian culture is done very often.

Why has    a  'Coconut'  acquired its symbolic meaning for all auspicious occasion??????

            Here is the tale........Long time back one of a king was  too much eager to build a beautiful  palace.So  a  ' Pujari '  was called to find an auspicious day to lay the foundation stone .Doing some of his calculations , he announced " My Majesty ,  u need to sow a seed and the day it turns into the tree and bears its first fruit, that day would be the most auspicious day ."

           On   hearing this the king got extremely furious and 'pujari' was sentenced to death.The king asked his men  to bury 'pujari's'  head  instead of  the  seed.

           Soon there grew a tender plant , and years    later it  bore a fruit resembling a human head  so called 'Coconut'. People believe  it to be a 'Pujari's Head'  as it  is  a skull like nut with two eyes and one mouth........

           Thus the coconut  got its  significance  and is offered in many Indian religious offering and is a  important part of indian culture.

TRY IT....... Baddge Bagger  bought some butter,

                    But the butter was bitter,

                    So she brought  some more butter,

                    To make the ,

                    Bitter butter better

Think wisely before  you  arrive  to  any conclusion .

Quiz   ... In a box there are many  black and white socks.now without looking into the box u need to make a pair of socks  of same colour.

SO NOW THE QUESTION IS .. What is the minimum number  of socks u need to take out   in one turn  from the box  to make a pair of same colour ? .....

Shower praise on one person  everyday  for one good thing that you spot in him or her .As every person you meet is more talented than you, at somthing  or the other. So one should learn to  APPRECIATE  THAT BIT.. IT'S A SWEET GESTURE.    And let others know how much you care by splurging  on them once in a while.....