Ezine

Monday, February 15, 2010

Can Charisma be cultivated?

This post is a spin-off from Michael Maynard’s blog post. Excuse me Michael! :) I could say, I’m just extending your discussion on my blog. Let me link it to your blog, so that others can read it too.
His post discusses how charisma can be your key to success. He begins his article by discussing what is charisma, and says that most people tend to like charismatic people. I would agree with him on this one-- but-- would also like to add that charismatic people often tend to invite envy from those around them.
I completely agree with him that integrity and values could add to the charisma that a person exudes.He goes on to argue that we behave in a certain way that makes people like us. While this is true to some extent-- I feel if this is a cultivated quality, it may make the person a bit superficial; which wouldn’t in any way add to his charisma. It is almost like, if people say, “you look good in blue,” you start wearing it everyday. Suddenly people start getting bored with you. So does it mean one shouldn’t have the qualities he has mentioned? I would say, one should have, but, they should be ingrained in your personality, so much so that people say— “it’s you.” This could be true of integrity or righteousness.
Let me explain my point further; if you are righteous it shouldn’t be because you got rave reviews, but, because you just can’t be any other way. It means that you are uncomfortable without those values. This brings us to having a certain consistency of character.I can say that as a person I really like people who show consistency of character; would stand by what they think is right under all circumstances, yet, are not averse to admitting that they are wrong; if proved otherwise.
Michael also mentions some pointers to developing a charismatic personality, I do agree with some, like being hygienic, being decently dressed and of course not being coarse in one’s mannerisms.
He also feels that to make one’s conversation interesting and funny, which according to him should include, “double entendres, innuendos,” I’m not sure I agree on this one unless your idea of being funny means free rides. :) Let’s consider President Obama, for instance, he sure exudes charisma—almost everybody would agree with me on this one-- why is that? Is it his conversation, his speeches or the fact that he seems to have a deep conviction in whatever he says and does. I believe a person if he deeply believes in whatever he does exudes oodles of charisma, as against a person, who does things either to get rave reviews or to spite somebody else.
According to the OALD( Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary) Charisma is,
“the powerful personal quality that some people have to attract and impress other people.”
Which essentially means that this is a personal quality  and has a lot to do with having a personality. I would say being oneself, having good values, being funny without being rude and having an open and flexible attitude in life would go a long way in adding to your charisma.
Please let me know what you think is charismatic? More Musings later…

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The beauty of Twitter

Let me be honest when I  first heard of Twitter I wasn’t actually looking forward to it. I would keep reading about Twitter on online discussion forums and occasionally thought of checking it out, but then decided against it. One day I decided to sign up for Twitter; the moment I signed up, I found some bot like profiles following me. I was disappointed; went and blocked them.
I  had just one or two followers and I was following about 4-5. I didn’t like what I saw  there and decided not to get very active on Twitter. One day I saw a discussion on Women 2.0 a group on Linked in, about Twitter. I decided to check it. Thanks to Angie Chang, who initiated the discussion, I suddenly discovered the beauty of Twitter. She asked people to introduce themselves and their Twitter profile. Suddenly I was following many and also found many following me.
I would compare Twitter to a big marketplace( don’t know if you like the analogy) where fine goods are on array, just pick and choose what you like, you can also sample some. The number of interesting links and thoughts that people tweet also the interesting conversation that goes on is a lot of fun.
One can also compare it to a big party where you can interact with many and move on. There is no obligation to follow somebody or interact with people you do not wish to. In fact you can follow people who are not following you and vice-versa.
I would also recommend Tweetdeck as one of the coolest applications to use for Twitter. Some more Twitter tips include, retweeting other people’s tweets that you like and sharing your thoughts. I also recently learnt the use of the #hashtag. It is used to search for a particular thing. Enter #hashtag followed by that particular word, for instance, use #writer and do a Twitter search you will find all tweets on that topic. You can also communicate with people following that hashtag. You can reply to anybody even those who are not following you. Follow famous news readers to follow the latest news. You also have a chance of expressing your opinions.  I would suggest that you have fun with Twitter more than anything else.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Favorite Songs and motivational quotes

Recently I saw a discussion on Linked in, asking people about their favorite songs or their favorite motivational quotes. One of my most favorite motivational quotes of course forms the descriptive  heading of this blog.
I intend to share some others with you today. I also intend to post some interesting quotes from the discussion. So here goes, after the quotes I’ll list my favorite songs .
To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself

"We are all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde
Stop All Criticism
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.
Louise Hay


When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade
If you think you are beaten, you are,
if you think you dare not, you don't,
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will -
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
you can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
to the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!
Think and grow rich
- Napoleon Hill
An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
Never place a period where God has placed a comma. Gracie Allen
Independence is happiness.
Susan B. Anthony
Now to go to the list of my favorite songs. One of course is by ABBA, I have a dream( don’t know who sang the original, I have the one by ABBA), The other is by Carpenters, I’m on the top of the world. The next is also a great favorite of my brother and mine too, Carpenters again, Hurting each other.
Another favorite is by AQUA, If only I could turn back time…..many others…please share your favorite songs here…maybe I’ll link a youtube video of some of my other favorite songs.
Please share your favorite songs and quotes here…

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Does a near death experience transform you?

A difficult question to answer, as most of us have been in moments when we had near death experiences. A serious illness or maybe a serious accident that was averted. Do these events in any way change the way we look at life?
It is often said that if a person is too passive, make them walk the edge, does it always affect them?
From my near death experiences, I can’t say I have changed a bit. I also know that people around me too changed for a short while, after some time everything became the way it was.
So why do people say that a near death experience or a brush with death changes you? Do people suddenly expect you to start eating only healthy food, exercise regularly. Become nice to mean people. Start loving what you hate or saying that you love it even though you hate it?
What do people expect from you? How do they expect you to change? I would love it if somebody were to explain, why is near death experience so important.
While I do understand that many people develop the attitude of catching the bull by the horn, when it comes to dealing with life after they have a brush with death. I doubt if it is true about everybody.
What do you think? Do you feel it changes you or it changes you only for some time and afterwards everything becomes the same? Please keep the comments rolling in…more musings later….