Building My Brand

This Blog Has Been Moved..

2011-08-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone .

Just want to let everyone know that I have moved this blog to a new location. The new url of this blog is as follows.

http://chamindrah.wordpress.com/

You can still check out all the posts I have posted here in the new blog as well . Do check it out as I have some interesting posts coming up in the new few weeks. =)

Cheers !!

The Trampled Rose

2011-07-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

She was a small town girl with a big heart. Born to a very poor family who didn’t know when their next meal would arrive; she was the one shining light that helped her family forget what they were going through. Her parents called her “Sudu Duwa” (Sweet Daughter), and her little brother called her “Sudu Akka” (Sweet Sister) but for everyone else she was knows as “Kusum” (Flower).

Kusum was a very beautiful and a bright child at school. She would become first in class every year and also won several sports events where she was a champion sprinter. She was the darling at her home where she took care of her ailing dad suffering from the parkinson’s disease; helped her mom to take the fruits they sold to earn a living to the market; and also taught her brother when ever he was facing problems with his studies.

She was also a loving girlfriend to “Sarath”, her love interest since childhood and she got his able support in everything she did to preserve the well being of her family and her life.

Life was not getting easy and Kusum knew that her family won’t be able to survive just through the earnings of her mother. She wanted to provide a better life to her family, to cure her father’s sickness, to help her brother to succeed in his studies and become successful. She made up her mind and decided to move to the city in search of a job as soon as she passed her Advanced Level exam in flying colors. Her family didn’t like it; he boyfriend rejected her request numerous times. But she was determined; and was on her way chasing her dreams.

Kusum wanted a job in engineering and she had the qualifications to get one. She went to numerous interviews; but, no one wanted to recruit her. Some companies rejected her due to her lack of knowledge in English. Some did it because she lacked experience and some simply didn’t even respond to her application. Kusum was heart broken and dejected; she couldn’t stop the tears flowing from her eyes.

One night, as she was walking back to her hostel she saw a speeding van coming towards her. The van stopped in front her, blocking her strides. Suddenly, two men got off the van and dragged her inside. Kusum was shouting with all her might; but nobody heard her. The men sprayed some liquid to her eyes and within few minutes; Kusum lost her conscience.

When she woke up, she saw a middle aged lady staring at her with a cunning smile. Kusum wanted to run away; but she realized she cannot do that as she was all tied up. The lady looked up at her and said that she has been noticing Kusum for a while and have noticed that she was looking for a job and failed at it. She also said that she can offer Kusum a job where she can earn more than she bargained for and enable her to achieve her family’s dreams.

Kusum first asked how the lady knew about her family and then saw she has her diary with her. Then she asked what the job was. The lady smiled and said, “We Want You to Sell Your Beauty for Us.”

Kusum said she can’t do it and begged the lady to let her go back. The lady said she is free to go but reminded her how she was struggling to find a job in the city and her big dreams of supporting her family. Kusum asked for a day to think about everything and said to the lady that she will tell her decision the next morning.

That night, Kusum couldn’t sleep. Tears rolled down from her eyes as she reflected back to her life in the small town she was born. She remembered how she promised her dad that she will take him to the city and find a cure for his sickness, how she promised her mom that she will build a house for her family to live, told her brother that she will put him to a famous school in the city, the amount of money the lady offered her and the hardships she faced when finding a job. The flashback was unbearable and Kusum felt helpless. She had to make a decision. She decided to say “yes” to the lady.

From next day onwards, Kusum worked for the lady by giving away her purity for the pleasure of men who took advantage from her for large sums of money. Kusum did earn a lot and was able to find medication to her father, build a house for her family and send her brother to a great school. But she never told them what she did; she ended the relationship with her boyfriend sighting that she had no time to be fully committed. Only she knew the reason. She smiled during the day time and cried with buckets full of tears at night. She never thought that her life would end up this way. She “got what she wanted, but not what she need. “

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Random Girl and the challenge was, "You get what you want, but not what you need". I thought hard on how to approach this challenge and decided to challenge myself with the above . Hope everyone likes it =) .

Also please check out the response by Emma Sheree who will put up her super reply very soon.

Cheers !!

100 words - Loneliness

2011-07-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

How does it come? How does it go away? There will be numerous answers but isn’t there an exact one? Some are lonely when they don’t have any one to love, some when they are depressed, and some who shows they are happy and glad from the outside; but deep inside, they miss something which they also don’t understand. It could be the stress that’s taken a toll on them. It could be a result of living alone, devoid of friends, family or missing your true love. Don’t be lonely be happy. It’s temporary; only you can make the change.

Cheers!!

I am Talking To You..

2011-07-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

I always relied on you to build my life. I always used your advice , your light and guidance to carry me forward during the happy and darker times. You always showed me the path to success and though it was a path filled with difficulties and challenges, you made me believe that its the correct way which in the end bought me success, happiness and peace.

But today, I feel you have left me. Left me alone in the dark to make my own decisions and find my way to freedom. I am confused and I haven't realized yet why you did this to me. Did I do something wrong? Didn't I listen to you at any moment which made you angry and mad to leave me like this without notice?

You need to answer my question and I need your answer now. They say that your mind is a healer; but I consider you as my best friend. Without you I am nothing. So, answer my question without any more delays. Others might see me as I am meditating. But only me know that I am waiting for some serious answers from the guide of my life.

Slowly but surely you answer; you say that you are not going to control my life anymore and letting me take my own decisions. You say that you will stay with me but will help me only at most difficult times. It's time for you to move on from being a boy and start becoming a man.

I was perplexed at first ; trying to see how I can respond to your answer. But then I realized that you were doing this thinking of my future. If I am going to stand up in this world with my two feet I need to make my own decisions and not depend on you all the time. I knew you will be there to help me if I fall ; so I decided to take your answer as advice.

The advice you gave have done wonders to me so far and has played a huge part in making me the man I am today. I pay homage to you for being with me always and showing me a side I didn't see before. That is why I always call you my guide, my best friend.

Thank You for Everything. Without you, I am nothing.

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Amy and the challenge was;

"Meet your guide: animal, person, spirit, your higher self... Ask your guide if there is something he or she or it needs to tell you, if there is any advice you need to hear. You may also ask a specific question. Get the answer! ".

Hope you guys like my response =) .

Also please check out the response by Bran who will put up her super reply very soon.

Cheers !!

Dreams of a Child..

2011-07-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

I was on the way home in the bus today where a small kid in the front seat was telling his mom of his dreams. He was telling how he will grow up and earn a lot of money and get two cars for him and mom. How he will buy a big house and live by his own and send mom to live with his grandma so he can live alone (this made me laugh, quite a witty kid he was =)), how he has problems with his dad's smoking and drinking and asking his mom why does he do it and swearing to mom that he will never do it at all. Listening to the whole conversation from behind, it got me thinking..

As kids we all have dreams, dreams to become successful, dreams to become doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. But, how many of us really achieved those dreams? just like the kid I mentioned above , we must have said to our parents, ourselves what we want to become numerous times; but in the end , destiny and our own mishaps takes us somewhere else and we would end up in a place we never dream of being in the first place.

It’s good to see kids today still dreaming big. Dreaming big to be people they accept as role models. Also it’s amazing how they can identify the bad ones from the good ones very easily and have the guts to question “why dad is smoking? Isn’t that good for his health? ”

We should learn from the younger generation for a change and learn to live our lives freely, with ambition, desire and happiness. We should not look at life with seriousness at all times and should let it flow like a river and learn to see where it will take us to. This doesn’t mean we should be lethargic and wait for things to happen for us. But just like that young boy who told his dreams to his mom; we should also have dreams and should strive our best in a slow but steady way to achieve those dreams.

We are lucky to be born as humans and we should not let it go to waste. Life is Beautiful. Enjoy the Ride. Dream Big and Go for it. You will get there somehow, someday. I am stopping for now with the following quote which defines the epitome of life and the message I tried to convey throughout this post.

“Life is not about waiting for the Sunlight. It’s about learning to Dance in the Rain. “

Cheers!!

The Curious Case of the UDRS

2011-07-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

I was going through the Cricinfo website today when I saw that, the upcoming series between Sri Lanka and Australia will not feature the Umpire Decision Review System. The news really got me thinking and after reading about Daryl Harper the ex aussie umpire blasting MS Dhoni for his remarks regarding him ; I decided to take a closer look about both of these stories and the Umpire Decision Review System as a whole and how it has changed our beloved game.

What is UDRS ?

In a gist, the Umpire Decision Review System or simply the UDRS; is a technology that is used to check the umpiring decisions made by on field umpires when officiating a match. It contains a set of technologies including Hawk Eye and Hotspot which simply checks the line of the ball and its impact (though the technology used for these systems are much more complex). To check the line of delivery and its impact, high profile cameras are installed all across the ground to capture every angle of the delivery and the data transmitted from those cameras are used to make the decision .The system is mainly used for lbw's and catches behind the wicket and can agree with the decision made by the on field umpires or can help them to change the decision if they have done a mistake.

Why People Don't Like UDRS ?

Though this technology seems a great idea, it is very costly when it comes to implementation. Hence, most cricket boards doesn't want it since they cannot bear the cost incurred by it.

Another reason why people doesn't like this technology is because it could overturn decisions in very small margins and can make life difficult for batsmen. The classic example for this is the Sri Lanka - India series of 2008 where Indians were blown away by Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan with the UDRS helping them to overturn a lot of decisions that was originally called "not out".

Also, players don't know how to use it to good effect and could make wrong decisions. Each team get only 2 or 3 chances to use the system. So, using it incorrectly could harm them big time when they really need to review a decision. The umpires also don't seem to like the system since if most of their decisions get overturned by the UDRS, then they are considered as bad umpires and could loose their reputation , their status or even their job.

So What's all this Fuss About ?

Going back to the two stories I have mentioned earlier, it is clear that the UDRS has bought a lot of problems to the world of cricket.

SLC ( Sri Lanka Cricket ) have decided to drop the UDRS from the aussie series simply because it cannot comprehend the cost that goes into implementing it. Being a board that is at present drowned in debts, I feel its a good move , but deep inside I feel our bowlers would have benefited from the UDRS since they always end up in the wrong side of decisions which are mostly correct when checked with the technology.

The Indian case is far more severe and problematic and it has been the case since the day UDRS was introduced to the game. They have never used the system for any of the bi lateral series they have played so far except for the one against Sri Lanka which they lost and only used it during the World Cup ( which did bought some decisions against them and made them hate the system more). The Indians are using their power and money to keep away the system being implemented to their games and when they get any decisions wrong, they have started blasting and intimidating the on field umpires (ex: Daryl Harper). This is a very pathetic situation for the game and should be something that needs to be fixed by the ICC itself who so far, has kept their mouths shut regarding this whole fiasco.

How can the ICC revive this situation ?

The ICC have already made the decision that the UDRS will be mandatory to all types of international cricket from October 1st 2011.

Personally, I think its a good move but they will need to provide funds to debt driven cricket boards in Sri Lanka , Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. This process will take some time so one can't be so sure that the UDRS will be used for every series after the previously mentioned date.

It is also important to change the players mindset and get them to respect the on field umpires more. A computer cannot always make the correct decisions and the on field umpire presence is required to keep peace between players as well to control the game. If the ICC can get those things right; then there is a good chance that the UDRS and its adoption will be successful.

Technology is great as long as it is implemented correctly and hopefully the ICC , the cricket boards , the umpires and the players will understand it when the UDRS is finally implemented.

The game needs to be played in the proper manner it used to be played and each one mentioned above hopefully will understand it; as we as fans don't want anything bad to happen, to our most loved sport we call "Cricket".

Cheers !!

For Friendship..

2011-07-13T23:56:00.000-07:00

We have been best friends from the first day we got to know each other. Though at times I felt I was a nobody , you never treated me that way and always took care of me as I was one of you .We had our good times, we had our bad times and you seem to handle me, understand me like no other. Even when I was making those stupid jokes or when I was burning with anger and palpitations, you knew that I was just being me and always stood with me just like best friends do.

I always wanted the best for you. I wanted you to find your true love. Its not because you are Romeo, but because you are a great human being and a great friend who deserve the best. I was unhappy when Rosaline denied your love for her. I felt like going and telling her that you are one awesome guy and that you love her so very much. Unfortunately , she didn't care a bit and I was not happy , since I wanted you to be happy.

Then I saw that you have fallen for Juliet, I was pleased as punch and I wished every minute , every hour that you guys would be able to be together forever. But , a love story is not complete without an enemy. I understood that Tybalt was not happy with what you had with Juliet and when you received that death threat ; I wanted you to fight him. But being the man you are , you said you won't . Instead, I decided to fight him by myself.

As I battled with Tybalt for your honor , I never thought you will come between us and intervene. I didn't want you to get hurt but you still decided to come.You jumped to the middle of us and I never saw that blade edge coming towards me. I felt something sharp hitting my body like a sharp arrow. My body became cold, my heart was beating more than it have ever beaten all my life and I felt I was falling to the ground.

I knew my last moment has come as I vividly saw the blood stains in the Tybalt's sword. I wished so much that I could get up and kill him before he hurts you. But, my life was half gone, and I was helpless while waiting for my last breath to fall.

Deep inside, I was happy I did something worthy at last in my life and I did it for my friend in honor of his love , to protect his love. I will be leaving this world for now but you will be my best friend , my brother for life. I'll say bye for now till we meet again and I will be always there for you no matter what because you are my best friend. And that is a promise.

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Andrea and the challenge was " Re-write a part of a famous story from a minor character's point of view. E.g. Romeo and Juliet told by Mercutio or Star Wars told by Darth Vader. It can be as long as you want!".
I was one of my hardest challenges yet . Hope you guys like my response =) .

Also please check out the response by Jen O who will put up her super reply very soon.

Cheers !!

To King Sanga..

2011-07-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Sanga ,

It's been a long time since I have written about you . If I am right, it was when the Viva advertisement and also the Hutch and Dialog advertisements you posed in created a lot of buzz among our tv viewers . Today, I am going to write something different about you. I know this is bit of a depressing time period since you and the whole team must be upset of loosing the ODI series to the English by a whisker. I am not going to write about that. But, I am going to write about your speech. The speech that you gave for the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's on the 4th of July 2011.

I saw that you have given a marvelous speech on the 5th morning and was dying to to take a listen to it. Luckily , while on the way home with my dad, a recorded version of your speech was on air in Yes FM and I was able to listen to a bit of it till I got home. I was stunned with your words and so was my dad. I remember how he just stopped the car in the traffic and took a long time to go since he was concentrating fully on your speech and ignored the tooting of other vehicles behind him . We couldn't listen to the whole speech that day. But from the little I heard , I was determined to listen to the whole speech . That I did yesterday.

The way you started your speech was brilliant I must say, taking the listeners through the history of Sri Lanka and giving examples of the local cricket culture was simply brilliant and I was taken a back on how fluently you expressed those milestones and landmarks of our island with such passion , heart and soul. I always knew you are an intellect and your speech made my belief more stronger. There were a lot of words you used that I haven't heard before and I had to keep a dictionary with me to understand them . I am stressing that it's not wrong since you helped me to learn some new words in the always mysterious language we call "English. ".

You managed to touch upon all the highlights of our island's proud cricketing history and I am sure the members of the MCC who were listening to you there must have wondered "can such a history and culture really exist ?" you proved to them it can. The jokes you made through an inside look of the cricket team was simply super and it really shows how our cricket team works and be like a family every time they are on the field as well as off.

People might say that you "disturbed a honet's nest " by some of the comments you made during your lecture. I didn't hear any of that and though I heard the word "Partisan Cronies " when I looked it up in the dictionary it meant " Political Companions"; it's not a bad a word right ?

If there is anything bad you said did hurt anyone, it's because you exposed them to the world through your words and you spoke the truth. I have always seen you as a person who has never been afraid to speak the truth and the way that you did it during the speech was stupendous. Every ounce of your words took the breath away of every Sri Lankan and it helped us to understand once more "Why we should be Proud to be Sri Lankan", I congratulate you Sanga for your wonderful speech.You are a true son of Mother Lanka and a great ambassador to World Cricket. No matter what might happen in the future , We will always be with you. And I am going to end this letter to you with the last sentence of your speech which I truly believe should be the motto of every Sri Lankan.

"I am Tamil. I am Sinhalese. I am Muslim and Burgher. I am a Buddhist. I am Hindu. A follower of Islam and Christianity. But above all, today and always, I will be, proudly, Sri Lankan"

Amen !! to that King Sanga. We are all so damn proud of you.

Cheers !!

The Making of a Hacker..

2011-07-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hacking has been one of the most talked about stories in the current world of Information Technology. The story of Sony where hackers took over most of their products including their play station network to Fox news where hackers hacked the company's news network and declared that the US president was assassinated on the Independence Day of United States. These storied intrigued me and amazed me at the same time and I was curious to find out what tempts people to be hackers and carry out hacking missions such as these. This blog post explains a gist of my findings.

Hackers are normal people just like you and me. They are people who are highly interested in computerized systems and applications and are always keen to experiment and find out things. So what makes them turn from great programmers / computer experts to hackers?

According to Dinuka A.; a senior programmer in a reputed IT firm , people tend to become hackers when they are not treated well by the company they are working for. " If the company I am working for is not treating me well and doesn't support me on the work I am doing. I might get de-motivated and try something new or think of a different way of approaching things. Some may even go to the extent of sabotaging the system just to get revenge. "

Malik F, who is another programmer , points out that a person can become a hacker to show off his skills , to experiment or to get revenge. " Its all a mental thing you know ; people don't want to be hackers from the outset ; but certain things such as the news about hacking spreading around , people want to experiment and see if they can do some hacking too. " says Malik.

I was able to get hold of this article where Sarah Gordon , an expert on the psychology of virus writers and hackers explains that there are two types of hackers. She explains that there are Virus Writers and Hackers. Virus writers are not that technically competent and just want to create something which looks good but does bad . Hackers though have greater knowledge technically as well as the system they are planning to hack and does greater damage.

So what can be done to prevent people from being hackers? The teaching should be done from the early days and specially school children should be monitored by parents whenever they are using their computers and should be taught the ethics of computing. Another approach is to make hackers your friends; " The problem with Sony was that they didn't think of making the people who hacked them friends and continued to disregard them hence, they continued to get hacked. So be friends with your Hackers and prosper together " says Dinuka A. Another approach is to get hackers to do ethical hacking which is a globally accepted job role and also has its own certification process.

Hacking has become a habit now and with the advert of social media it will be increasingly difficult for organizations to keep their systems and applications from hackers. Hackers are not born , Hackers are made so its the responsibility of each individual and organization to prevent that from happening. Monitor your systems and applications consistently and also monitor the activities of your employees and see if they are happy. Hacking is a mental thing so by giving the proper training and education regarding it ; there is a big chance to prevent more people from getting into it . Every Dark Cloud has a Silver Lining , if individuals and organizations also understands that and use hackers as a source of strength , then inevitably both those individuals as well as organizations will thrive in success and more importantly all their systems and applications will be safe.

What Are Your Thoughts on Hacking ? Do you see ways of using it as a strength to build an Organizations success? Do share your thoughts through the comments section. Would love to hear your thoughts and views.

Cheers !!

Chasing a Dream and Living it ..

2011-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

For me , Life has always been about choices. From the days I started to understand things , I always tried to use the power of choice I had to the best of my abilities in order to gain success. As I grew older , the choices became wider and wider and then making decisions was not easy as it used to be. This is where at a certain junction I had to choose between Business , IT and Writing. I decided to take on Business with IT.

Writing has been a talent that was there with me from the early days of my childhood. I still remember those days where I wrote poems for my school friends in order to attract the girls they had crushes on , the poetry book I wrote which never got published but regarded highly by my teachers as a great piece of art by a 14 year old and also the poetry that I wrote for the Sunday newspaper which got published every week. With all that natural talent behind me; I decided to give up a career in writing and decided to pursue a career in Business and IT mainly due to the future securing factor and how the trend of the world was going on .

I always believe that God has his plan of fixing things. And he never let me get away from my talent. Though I did Business and IT and got through my graduate studies with fairly good results I didn't give up on my writing and started this blog during my first year at Uni.I always wrote whenever I got my free time and it really helped me to get through the bad times and feel great about what I really am.

After all the hard work and perseverance; my hard work payed off and I was asked to post one of my posts to a local newspaper as a newspaper article. (You can check it out by clicking here ). I was ecstatic and the irony behind the whole story was I was working at that time on one of my favorite IT projects at my workplace. And when I saw my article yesterday , I had a sense of innocent happiness of what I have achieved. I was proud and happy that I didn't gave up on my dream though I made that hard decision in the early part of my life. Now ,everything has fallen together so well and I feel I am on top of the world.

Just take a cue from my story and remember not to give up on your dream. You might have to make hard decisions in life just like me that could affect some of your other aspirations and desires. Don't give up on them; give it a chance. You will succeed someday and when you do ; you will be proud of what you achieved in life.

I Wish You All The Very Best !! =)

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Toby and the challenge was " The Hardest Decision I have Ever Made.". Hope you guys like my response =) .

Also please check out the response by Random Girl who has given a super reply to the prompt I gave to her.

Cheers !!

Caped Crusader..

2011-06-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

I never wanted my life to be this way. I always wanted to live a normal life ; just like all the inhabitants that exist in this plant we call earth. During my early years of life, I thought I was the same. But, as time passed every second..every minute..every hour; I knew I was not going to be like the rest. I was different , unique, weird and most of all, miserable.

I realized that my enemy was no one else but myself and I needed to find a way to stop that enemy from taking control of my soul. I understood that god has given me the power of healing others through love, friendship , companionship. I needed to use those powers for myself to defeat the enemy that reside in me.

I didn't want my enemy to get more prisoners, So, I hid myself from my foe and bottled it up inside my own body and soul to protect the world. The demon within would always try to break out; at times I was not in control . But somehow , to my luck and my super natural ability ; I was able to resist him and save the world from his deadly sins. I was also able to protect myself. But, I was not successful all the time.

The world might have seen my good side, but the ones who have seen the bad knows what I really am. The people who are close to me knows all about it; and them , I call my true friends. I have been blessed with the perfect true love a human being can ever have; and I always pray to god that my powers would be able to resist the demon inside; so it would not intervene and make me loose the love of my life.

No one will ever understand me, and I am also still learning about myself. I have caped myself from my own enemy; fighting a battle of my own to win against the demon residing in my body. So far I have been successful and I hope to continue the same.Save myself , Serve the world with dignity, honesty and Spread love and affection to each and every living and non living soul including the people I really love and care about. This is my curse..This is my destiny.. and this is why I call myself a "Caped Crusader ".

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Melissa and the challenge was " Write about a time you hid from someone or disguised yourself to be hidden". Hope you guys like my response =) and this is also my magical 350th post so I am double happy =) .

Also please check out the response by Ranee Dillon who has given a super reply to the prompt I gave to her.

Cheers !!

Dreams vs Career vs Future

2011-06-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

Its always a dilemma isn't it ? where you have dreams from childhood to do something or be something that you love doing but somehow there is no opportunity and you decide to pursue something that you think is awesome. Later, you find out what you thought awesome is done by everyone else and the future of what you do is uncertain. You then try to see various other opportunities and end up in a mess. A cloud of frustration, anger, uncertainty and anxiety gobbles up your mind.

People say that money is not everything. But we all know that deep down they are all lying. To live a life without regrets , to live a life of fulfillment and happiness; you need money in your pocket . Some people ( for example me at most times) can be content with what we have at the moment; but deep down when you see your future being drawn right before your eyes; you feel scared, lost an uncertain about everything.

Still, there is always a chance to make things right and you need to understand and work on that. its ok to be patient but you need to slowly build on something that will make your future secure. This means you need to work hard and not give up and pursue, do the things you love to do. You might have to take critical decisions which will change your life forever. If you believe in yourself and your ability; then making those decisions won't be that hard. You can always get the support from your loved ones and your true friends who for sure will stick with you no matter what. So, do what you want to do in life; since its all about living a life without regrets and you don't always get second chances. I have understood this and I am doing that now and though sometimes i also have questions in my mind regarding certain things , I always make sure I talk with someone I trust and get their honest opinions and support. It surely makes you feel good and helps you to carry on with your journey to success more easily.

As one of my good friends told me the other day , its a matter of listening to your heart and letting it guide you through to your future. This is a phase everyone must face in their lives and the only the strong ones who believe in what they do and won't give up , will succeed. So, don't give up and choose your path to success . Believe in your abilities and strengths and let it do the work for you. Go after money and wealth,,its perfectly ok . but don't overrun since you might stumble and fall heavily. Life is challenge; but anyone who accepts that challenge and work with grit and determination will always shine through; and I know you can do that too.

I Wish You All the Very Best !!

Cheers !!

Don't Give up..

2011-06-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

When you feel you are down..
When you feel you have lost all hope
You think of giving up
And letting go..

You tried so hard ..
To get what you want
But then you realize..
That you still have far to go

You think its worthless
You think you are not good
You feel you should try
Something new..

But then you understand
Nothing works for you at all
The relentless pursuit of mediocrity
Taking you further down..

But that's when you should stop..
Listen to your heart and soul..
Let them guide you through
To your desired goal..

Anybody is good at something..
You need to find it from within..
Time will pass but you surely will.
Know your strengths and skills..

Don't Give up..
Do what you love ..
Today you might be mediocre
But tomorrow you'll be a Superstar..

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Sir and the challenge was " The relentless pursuit of mediocrity". It was a very difficult prompt for me but I somehow managed to come up with the above response. Hope you guys like it . Also please check out the response by Manju who will reply to the prompt I gave to her soon.

Cheers !!

What Makes a " Good Idea " a " Great One "

2011-06-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ideas are something that comes to us all the time. it is generated through the normal thought process and comes to us through experience (visual or text ) , knowledge and communication. Ideas that come to our mind could be vague and abstract at first; but by developing the idea, it can be made to something substanital and can bring an individual or a group a lot of success.

Most will come up with ideas but only a handful get their ideas to work and make them into ground breaking ones ( ex: Mark Zuckerberg with his concept of Facebook, Jack Dorsey with his Twitter App.) So what differentiates a Good Idea from the a Great One ? The following tips might be helpful for you to get answers to that question.

Does Your Idea Solve a Problem or a Need ?

If it does its " Great " , If it 's not , then you might have to re-consider or refine your idea to suite a problem or need. People will be only interested in your idea if it does satisfy any of their problems or needs. Otherwise, they will just think of it as a great idea and just let it go.

For example let us take the concept of Hybrid Cars. That concept was introduced due to the high price of fuel and also fuel becoming a rare resource and only few countries are distributing it. The hybrid concept quickly caught the idea of public and many people today tend to buy hybrid cars as their new vehicle rather than petrol or diesel ones.

If your idea doesn't solve a problem or a need then " don't worry you still got a chance " . That's where the 2nd point comes in.

Is Your Idea Marketable ?

As the world keeps on developing ; it is almost impossible to generate an idea that meets the needs of people/customers. But through marketing you can create that need. Just take the classic example of Facebook.

People really didn't want Facebook in their lives. But with a very creative marketing approach, Mark Zuckerberg and his team created a need in people's lives. This has made Facebook an integral part of modern human life and even people who haven't used a computer knows what Facebook is right now.

Anyone can market their idea just like Mr. Zuckerberg but for that you need a lot of qualities and the right tools. Determination and a Vision is a must and tools such as Social Media should be used creatively, accurately as well as cunningly so you can market your idea to your intended audience. If you succeed , then your idea would succeed too.

Is Your Idea Profitable ?

No idea is great if it's not generating any profit for you. After all, you use an idea to build something to gain some personal profit as well right? you might say no; but most of them do.

When you try to implement an idea always try to look how you can generate revenue from it. You could partner with more established ones in your line of business or even create profit making points yourself You need some kind of profit to make your idea a long lasting one and to carry it forward. So identify the revenue points that allows you to sell your idea to the people/clients intended. If you do that, then you are on the correct path to success.

Some other Points For You..

Try to observe others carrying out their daily tasks and see if you can make that task more efficient or find a way to improve it . That's your starting point for idea generation.

Don't think your idea is Silly. It 's how you develop your idea that will make it an awesome one and only you can make that happen.

Don't Give Up. Every Person who made their ideas a success never gave up on what they believe. If you believe in what you feel and you feel that your idea can change the world. Then why wait ? Just Do it and Go for it.

Ideas are "Awesome " and are the building blocks of development and success of the modern world. Anyone can use their ideas build something based on it . But only the ones who are willing to go that extra mile and act according to the directions and qualities given above can make their ideas a "game changer" and make their ideas stand out from the " Good Ones " to " Great Ones ".

Have a Great Week Ahead Everyone ..

Cheers !!

Are Super Hero Movies Overrated?

2011-06-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

Its been for a while now and seems like it will not end very soon. Creating super hero movies seems to be the trend these days and most of the directors in Hollywood are joining the bad wagon of taking a comic book and making it to a movie. The latest one is Green Lantern which was released yesterday in Hollywood which perhaps not surprisingly, has got negative comments from the movie lovers.

I have been a fan of comics and super heroes from the days I was a kid and I always loved checking out the comic books and the cartoons mainly Spider Man , The Incredible Hulk and X-men. I never got the chance to check out the first bat man movies that came out ( though i have checked out them all now ) and my first Super Hero Movie experience was Spider Man which was indeed superb and still remains one of my favorite super hero movies next to The Dark Night and Iron Man.

But then they came with Spider Man 2 , The X- men franchise, Iron Man 2 etc. I was thinking what the hell is going on? I mean, true that the first movies did bring up sales; so does that allow you to add more sequels and carry on the same movie over and over again? Spider Man 2 was ok but Spider Man 3 was a disaster. So was Iron Man 2 . The Hollywood directors seem to don't care about them and keep on making sequels and new super hero movies (Captain America is coming next month.).

Another issue that comes to my mind is are they bringing justice to the real storyline in comics? For example let's take the movie X-men Origins Wolverine. I checked out the first movie and it was not too bad. But then yesterday, I heard they are going to make a sequel of that with Wolverine acting as a Samurai in Japan. When did Wolverine go to Japan and became a Samurai ? its not stated in the actual comics, seems like the directors are going to deviate from the storyline and drag the wolverine story more and more . The funny thing is people here knows he is already a member of X-men so why do you need to show his origin more and more by dragging into sequels.

Also, audience are always related to the actors who they see first as their beloved super heroes. Tobey Maguire was Awesome in the first 3 spider man movies and he will not be there for the 4th one . Shia Labeouf will quit Transformers after the 3rd one and we all know Megan Fox left the franchise long time back. It's not good to change the actors consistently when it comes to Super Hero movies. People , specially kids tend to idolize them and if you change those actors; there is a high chance the audience will turn their backs on the movies.

Super Heroes are Awesome and I used to like them. But nowadays its too much and most of them has become a flop ( ex: The Green Honet).

Stick to the storyline, Don't have too much sequels and stick to the original actors. Then the movie lovers will at least have some respect for the movies that are created and wiill get the motivation to go and check their super heroes in the silver screen more often than not.

Cheers !!

Yes Boss

2011-06-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

That is what we say don't we ? well most of us do; when officers in higher ranks than us call us and give us instructions to carry out tasks at work. Sometimes it is a good thing; but there could be situations where it could become a headache and annoy you a bit.

As people go high in the ladder of an organization structure , their responsibilities towards the people higher to them as well as the organization also grow. This tend to make those people change their thinking and how they handle certain situations in their business functions and sometimes persuade them to give a lot of instructions to their subordinates to get certain work done. They also forget that their subordinates are already assigned to certain tasks and try to burden them with more tasks,. Some employees accept those tasks and by saying "Yes Boss" they tend to accept the task given to them and burden themselves with a lot of work and stress. This will create more stress and as a result no task will get completed successfully.

How Can We Fix This ?

The Yes Boss concept should be completely removed from the workplace. Every individual who work or report to a higher ranked officer should be able to build a personality and guts to tell their officer that they already have some work to complete and that you will handle the newly assigned task after the current one is complete.

Another approach is to ask your head, officer what is most important task of them all or which task should be given higher priority so you can complete that task first and then move on to the others. "Don't Try to be a Hero by Multi-Tasking more than 2 or 3 tasks ". It is bound to get you doomed.

Another approach is to always communicate with your head and this goes vise versa too. A healthy communication passage between the two parties will always creates benefits and it allows both parties to understand each others goals and objectives as well as tasks so there won't be any extra pressure on both of them to complete their tasks.

The managers/heads and the employees below them should not think that each other are enemies and should not have a grudge for each other. Both parties should realize that they are all working for a common goal and this needs to be clearly stated and each person's value and contribution should be recognized.

Managers should realize that his employees/ team is highly valuable to them and the employees should realize that the organization will not take a backward step in sending them home if they don't carry out the tasks assigned to them.

The best approach is to understand these basis ideas which will surely make the Yes Boss concept to disappear and allow each person to carry out their tasks more efficiently and accurately, making each workplace a great place to work.

Cheers !!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: " Tribute to My Darling AtthAmma (1926- 2008) "

2011-06-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Last Monday at around 7.30 am my beloved grandmother or as me and everyone used to call her our Atthamma passed away.. you might remember how I used to tell that she was not well during the past few months and last Monday it reached the end. Luckily for her and to everyone all her children were there with her even our uncle ( her son) Germany was in Sri Lanka has he came around 2 weeks back to visit her and see her.. It was a peaceful death.. I got to saw her breathing her last breath and it was in a way really shocking and difficult to see... My Sister and my Mom started crying and as tears rolled down their eyes I was still in shock and couldn't believe she was gone as she was perfectly all right during the weekend.

I didn't cry in the Morning but when I went to light up the lamp to Lord Buddha tears fell down like water from my eyes as I couldn't ask him to cure my Atthamma again.. and make her feel better.. it was difficult and it was really heartbreaking...

I was also sad that my brother wasn't here .. he didn't get to see Atthamma for one last time.. still in a way he saw her smiling when he said goodbye to her before he went to USA so he will remember her smiling face rather than what we saw during Monday Morning and after...

On a good note.. She had a grand funeral.. She chose the perfect day to say good bye a Poya Day which symbolizes her devotion to Buddhism. A lot of people from all over the island came to visit her and she was really pretty too in her favorite white Saree and pebble necklace...

I was really heartbroken during all 3 days and everyone told me not to cry cos My sister and mother was crying all the time and they will cry more if they see me crying too. I hid my tears till the last moment but when she was put in to her final resting place, I couldn't control myself anymore... and I cried as much as I can to take my pain away... and it worked at least for a little while...

As the sun went down on that day I was beginning to feel a bit happy knowing the fact that she lived 83 magical years.. giving love to her children her grand children her great grand children and all her relatives and friends.. she was a role model to me my brother and my sister and she lived most of her old days with us giving us her blessings teaching us all the good things making us devoted to our religion and a whole lot more .. we felt that we had 2 mothers and now Its just our mom and she won't be there anymore =(

I will end this post with the following tribute..

The Sun is not shining anymore
The Birds are not singing anymore
Everything around is dark and gloom

You came to me like a shining light
Stayed with me from the day I was born
Everything is not the same since you are gone

Dear Atthamma you are the best Grandma
I ever had and will ever have

You might have left me today
Leaving me in pain,
But I know that you are still there

Your smile your eyes
your touch and your light

Its the strength and Joy
All of us had

Hope you attain Nibbana
Rest in Peace Forever

Dear Atthamma..
I will never forget you !!!

RIP !!!!

XOXO !!

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by Mare and the challenge was " my life's great tragedy". The reply I have given is a re post with some tweaking where I have explained the greatest tragedy I have encountered so far which was the passing of my beloved Grandmother. It's been a while now but still she remains in my heart and I miss her every minute ,every hour, everyday. Also please check out the response by myplaidpants who will reply to the prompt I gave to her soon.

Cheers !!

The Power of a Business Analyst..

2011-06-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, I got the chance to attend a training program organized by SLASSCOM and ESI for Business Analysts. The program was named " Revolutionize Your Business: The Power of of the Business Analyst" and was conducted by Glenn R. Brule who is a Business Analyst himself and does carry out training programs regarding business analysis all around the world.

The program was a superb one and I learned a lot from Glenn on various functions and techniques that can be carried out when performing business analysis procedures. His presentation was one of the best I have attended so far and his approach was very unique, educational and entertaining at the same time. This post covers some of the main points that he discussed during his presentation which I thought, of sharing with all of you who didn't get to attend his program.

The Business Analyst Provides the Input to the Project ( Via Requirements)

Any IT project is carried out according to a set of requirements provided by the clients and the role of the Business Analyst is to get those requirements down correctly and accurately. The project will go forward according to the requirements gathered by the BA so, if the requirements are incorrect the whole project will be a disaster. As explained by Mr. Brule, a holistic view can be provided regarding the role of a BA The view consists of 3 main components which includes,

Elicitation ( Obtaining the Requirements from the end users / customers )
Analysis ( Breaking the requirements to understandable language to all stakeholders of the project )
Assessment ( Understanding which requirements can be carried forward and which ones needs to be dropped by coordinating with all the stakeholders of the project)

All the above 3 components point to requirements.The BA is responsible to elicit, analyze and asses requirements accurately so that the right requirements are gathered and the project is carried forward correctly benefiting all the stakeholders of the project.

A Good Business Analyst has some unique Skills

As pointed out by Mr. Brule, a good Business Analysis have some unique skills which helps him/ her to carry out his/her task more accurately and efficiently. This skills are listed below.

Knowledge ( On the business domain, about the customer , on the required goals and objectives)
Skill ( on the tools and the techniques )
Ability ( to use the tools and techniques to benefit the customer as well as yourself)
Attitude ( The correct mindset to carry out the task accurately and efficiently)

By having the above skills, a BA can always face the challengers they get when facing the clients head on and and carrying out their tasks accurately. Any aspiring BA should try to have and build these skills, if they do their task would be far more easy to carry out.

A Business Analyst is not a Project Manager

A lot of people mistake a BA to a PM and thinks that the PM also plays the BA's role. This could be true when it comes to small projects but in most cases, the BA's role is carried out by a different person who is solely allocated to that task. The role of a PM is to create project goals and milestones, asses the project progress and monitor how each member of the project team carry out their specific tasks.

The BA is the guy who interacts with the customers, get their requirements and project it towards the whole team and tells them what needs to be done. If the PM tries to perform this task alone, it could be a very tedious task and includes a lot of risks. So its best to have a proper Business Analyst for each project since he/she is trained and have the skills to carry out those tasks. A BA may have a goal to become a PM someday. That is simply ok and is a great goal to have. But performing Business Analysis and Project Management together is not a good approach to complete a successful project.

Don't be the Witness when getting the Requirements

A good BA should always be aware on how they communicate with his/her clients when getting requirements. As said by Mr. Brule, "You should not be the witness when getting the requirements". Customers are always willing to give various requirements regarding the project so the BA should be aware of that and should not give a lead or more specifically give them a head start on certain requirements. For example check out the conversation below which was role played by Mr. Brule with one guy in the audience.

BA: So Sir i see that you want this spaceship to be built to go to the Moon?

Customer: Yes I do

BA: So what do you want it to do ? Go to the Moon in 4 Hours ?

Customer: Hmmm.. that would be great. I want it to go to the Moon in 4 Hours.

As you can see from the highlighted text in the conversation, the BA provides the client a hint for a requirement and the client thinking the BA and his team can do anything , gives that hint as a requirement. A good BA should not do that and act and should ask the correct questions at the correct time to get the correct requirements from the client. If such a situation as above occurs, you could tell the client that we cannot do that or it is a bit unrealistic. But the client would not be satisfied as they would surely ask you for an alternative. So be careful when engaging with your clients when getting requirements. Asking the correct questions is a must to get accurate requirements and as I said at the top "Don't be the Witness" .

Get Certified to Improve and Enhance Your Business Analysis Skills

To climb the ladder of Business Analysis, Every aspiring BA should get the certified. This is the only way you can get more knowledge and improve your skills to reach the top. There are several certifications available including IIBA certification (which is also available in Sri Lanka now) , SCRUM certification , Agile certification etc. It's not wrong to get certified , that will any BA to enhance their skills , enhance their job opportunities and also compete with the best BA's all around the world. So get certified , it won't harm you anytime.

So.that's a gist of the points mentioned by Mr. Glenn.R.Brule during presentation. I could have listened to him all day as his presentation was very educational and entertaining at the same time. I also understood that I need to do a lot to be the best when it comes to Business Analysis and these points really helped me and showed me a path on how to carry out my tasks in the future more efficiently and accurately. I hope you also got some knowledge through it too.

Let me take this opportunity to also thank SLASSCOM and ESI for doing a great job with this program and I hope they would continue keeping these kind of training programs as it would be a great stepping stone to all individuals who plan to gain success in their own business, work , domain.

Have a Great Weekend Everyone..

Cheers !!

Programmers vs QA's ..It's A Dog Fight..

2011-06-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Programming and Quality Assurance are one of the key areas that is essential components in the world of IT. To build a superb IT application, it is important to have good programmers who has knowledge about the business domain and more than that; about the technology they are using to create those applications. After the system is built , it is important to ensure it is in good quality and is meeting the requirements for which it was built for; in the first place. That is were the Quality Assurance analysts comes in and they carry out testing using various testing techniques to ensure the built application is up to standard. The ride is smooth as long as the QA's doesn't find any faults in the system. But, when they do; the fight begins.

We are all used to hear the age old quarrels between daughter in laws and mother in laws. The battle between the Programmers and QA's is somewhat similar to that; though it does get more serious at times. In most situations its a fight between Boys ( the programmers ) vs Girls ( The QA analysts), but there are situations where Boys vs Boys have their own battles as well.

The reason for these quarrels and fights is quite simply are the "bugs" that comes , appear in the systems developed by the Programmers. The programmers are unaware about them and the QA's find them and when they do; they report to the programmers to fix it which most of them don't like to do since they are working on something else or fixing another bug that was reported earlier. Both sides face critical deadlines. So when the pressure mounts, the anger, the frustration , the boiling of blood , the war of words starts to take control.

No side gives up on stressing the importance and providing their case of the story, which makes the battle more serious . In the end, even the project manager cannot handle the situation and the side that is had enough in the plate, walks away ; not because they lost the battle, because they just don't care about arguing or fighting anymore.

So how can this mini battle can be stopped to achieve peace ? The answer is simple. " The battle cannot be stopped but Peace will be achieved through a quality , bugs free system is given to the clients." Both parties should understand that their opposition is carrying out the arguments not because of personal grudges; but to get the application working to a state where they can satisfy client needs and put out a quality working system. If they achieve that task, the effort of both parties would not have gone in vain and both parties will understand the arguments and quarrels were worth it.

The important lesson here is not to take anything personally and not to go over the limit. Both parties should understand that, all are human beings and not machines and can only do a certain amount of tasks at a time. Once that is understood this could be a brilliant partnership and with the help of the project managers and the BA's; they could put out quality IT applications for the clients who undoubtedly will love the system and will be motivated to work with it and provide more business to the team , to the organization.

It could be the infamous battle in the world of IT. But it's the most effective one as well. The purists might think its a battle resembling the World War 2. But , the experts know that it's one of the key elements that is required to put out a high quality, working IT application.

Cheers !!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: " A Land Like No Other.."

2011-06-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

As I wake up in the morning to the sounds of a jungle fowl and the sounds of pirith in the radio, I see the clock is 5 a.m. Looking forward to another busy week ahead I go to the kitchen where mom has prepared the perfect cup of tea to wake me up putting away the little bit of sleepiness I had. I get ready to go to work and worship the noble triple gem as she prepare my lunch and keeps the breakfast ready for the whole family. I get my favorite rice and curry or the bread with butter an jam and I hurry off to work with dad before the clock pasts 6.30. It's the normal day to day lifestyle of a modern day Sri Lankan Family , no matter where you live, rich or poor , this lifestyle will never change. That's the beauty of my motherland.

Renowned as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a paradise worth visiting if you haven't visited it yet. Covered by sea all around .The sandy shores with beautiful sunsets. The beautiful waterfalls and the scenic beauty of "Little England". I could go on and on and on but I will just end up choking for words as you need to see it to believe it.

It's not only known for its beauty, but is also known for its traditions. The Sinhalese and Tamil New Year where the majority of the people in country perform the new year traditions at the same time . The devotion and respect to each others religion and beliefs. Respecting your elders and also the act of giving back . The rest of the world might question if they have these qualities but I am damn proud to say it is still there in my country.

The civil war might have brought on a conflict, but it never divided my country into two. Everyone respected each other no matter what religion , background or society they came from. The perfect example is the team that won us the 1996 Cricket World Cup which had players from all walks of life who played together in solitude to create one of the greatest sporting achievements of our country.

Where Kiribath with Sini Sambol is considered an awesome meal;Where tuk tuk rides are much more fun than going in buses or cars; where baila is a far better sing a long option than rock songs ; Sri Lanka is heaven for its citizens and a wonderful place to visit and enjoy for everyone else. The Lion Nation, A Land Like No Other. A land where people from all walks of life , religions and cultures live as a one big happy family. Its my Mother Lanka. And I am Proud to be Sri Lankan.

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The above is the reply by me for this week's Indie Ink Writing Challenge, given to me by one my good friends Dili the challenge was " Where you live is a slice of paradise, tell us why". It's rarely i get a chance to write about my motherland and this one was the perfect the opportunity to do it. Thanks Dili for the prompt and I hope you guys liked it . Also please check out the response by xtinabosco who will reply to the prompt I gave to her soon.

Have a Great Week Ahead Everyone !!

Cheers !!

100 Words

2011-06-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

The expression of life. That tender moment that changes everything from sadness to happiness. Bringing hearts together, it takes your breath away. Sometimes making you cry. It’s the signature of a human being and is unique to each and everyone.

Portraits will be dull without it, Life would suck without it. Give it more, get it back. It’s that simple. The best part about is that you don’t have to pay for it. You will be healthy and wealthy at the same time. God created it to bring everyone together Only if we let it shine. Show it off... Smile...

Why Being an All Rounder will Get You Nowhere..

2011-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Its a fact in the modern world that people who have many skills, are considered as true valuables and is an asset for any group, team or organization. These kind of people are considered as all rounders and have the unique talent of performing many roles to help the people depend on him achieve their goals. But at present, this role has lost its value and it been misused regularly .

The current crop of all rounders may have the skill of performing many roles; but, there are not performing any role to the expected result or not given the chance to perform a particular task correctly since there are asked to perform multiple roles simulatenously.

For example , let me take the Sri Lankan Cricket Team. Our team has a set of awesome all rounders in Angelo Matthews. Tissara Perera , Farveez Maharoof etc. But , apart from Matthews no one else has performed to the expected level. The recently concluded shocker of a test match testifies for this statement where Tissara and Maharoof's contribution were no where to be seen which was a big reason why we loss that test match. What if the selectors selected a genuine bowler (ex: Welagedara) and a genuine batsman (ex: Thirimanne or Chandimal who is also a keeper but can play has a sole batsman) ? we could have taken more wickets and could have got more runs. Perera and Maharoof together just took 2 wickets and got some 20 odd runs. It's good for a one day match. not for a test match.

Also, I have seen things like this happen in the industry I am involved in where project documentation , testing ,implementation and support is carried out by one person. It is an inefficient method of managing projects and is very risky since each task that is mentioned has its own process and should be done by experts in that area so the accuracy of that task can be achieved as well as the opportunity to complete that task on time. By allowing one person to do it . It will create major issues to the project , to the person as well as the whole organization.

So, what can you do to be the best and avoid problems that is mentioned above? The best approach is to build some core competencies and market yourself to the world through them . Be a "Professional ", expert in an area that you are comfortable with and work on that to build your career and goals. "Nobody can Do Everything.. and its Not Practical. " Others might ask you to do certain things out of your league as a favor or as help. But, you should have the guts to tell them that you don't know those things. They might think bad of you.. but you always got the chance to win their confidence back by showing off your core competencies.

Focus on what you like and what you want to do and improve those skills and skills related to it so you can show the world what you are worth. Good all rounders are very scarce these days and even they also find as time moves on they can't do everything and focus on their main skills by giving 2nd preference to the others. ( ex: Jacques Kallis , the best all rounder in South African Cricket Team who now bats a lot but bowls very rarely.)

So, don't be an All Rounder. be an Expert. It might be a risk , but any person who is specialized in a certain area will always get a chance to go higher up the ladder of success rather than a person who has many skills but doesn't have any expert , correct knowledge of any of those skills .

Would like to hear your thoughts about this. Do share them through the comments section and I assure you I will reply to them without any delays =).

Cheers !!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: " My Life.. My Curse.. "

2011-05-31T07:11:00.000-07:00

This week in the Indie Ink Writing Challenge, I got the challenge from Sunshine and the challenge was " You personify one of the seven deadly sins. Tell us your story, but don't tell us who you are.". Firstly i didn't have a clue about what the seven deadly sins are. But, after doing some research, I got to know them and came up with the following. So here is my reply . If you can, try to figure out which sin I am =).

I was never born alone. Though others might think otherwise. I was there from the days civilization inhabitant this place of water , sun and moon which i saw as a space between heaven and hell. No one recognized me at first , but as time moved from one frame to the other, people began to realize that they cannot live without me. As needs grew, I came into life, and when the needs were not met, I began to slowly unleash my powers and create my little monster. No one realized that I was inside them. But, I knew what I was doing and my mission had already begun.

As I begin my work , I take control of the mind and begin eating up those brain cells with my mixture of thoughts. The thoughts and desires which are already there becomes my prisoners and I let them go only at my command. My master knows that I am there and will try to defeat me as much as he could. But then I rise like a dragon spitting fireballs and provide a reply which could lead the mind to make unwanted decisions.

I am not always a cynical tyrant. I could be a sinner but I can be your savior too. I can lead you to success with brilliant acts of work and moves. I can be your god, I can be your monster and even I can't handle myself as I am faster than superman as I rise and diminish very quickly. Remember , I will never go away or walk alone and will reside inside you all your lifetime. Its " My Life.. My Curse.. ".

I hope you figured out what I am =). If you didn't . click here , I am the sixth element from that list =). Also, please take some time and check out the challenge I gave for The Onion who came up with a great response to the prompt I gave to her.

Until Next time...

Cheers !!

The Role of a Modern Day Student..

2011-05-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Education is an essential component in the life of a human being. From the day we are born we are taught how to talk , to walk, to read the first letters of the alphabet and so on. If a person doesn't get the chance to learn, then it should be considered a crime as education is the seed that builds the character of an individual to face the challenges and obstacles he/she would face in the future.

Modern day students have the luxury of getting education from a variety of methods. In the past, every parent wanted their children to be a doctor or an engineer and tried persuade their kids to follow that path. At present, that drive has gone down significantly with most parents allow their kids to choose what they are good at and follow their dreams to earn a living by doing what they love to do.

With the luxury and options available, students should choose the correct path they think would benefit their future. They should first set a personal goal and find a career that will help them to reach that goal. The current world is mostly based on earning so students should be aware which career path will help them to be secure in that area. Every career path is not successful; so, getting advice from the experts from the industry you choose is important so you can carry forward that advice when you are doing studies. This is where career guidance programs are vital and students should be encouraged to go for these programs since its a great
way to gain knowledge on how to reach their career goals.

People might say the best way to earn money is being a Doctor or by being an IT Professional or a Lawyer. But each has its own sense of hard work and dedication. Students should not forget that nothing comes easy so working hard is the only way you can reach the top.

Getting a degree is not a must. As I once told in one of my earlier posts , people believe that having a degree will get you the job. It doesn't happen always. If you have the knowledge, then you have a very good chance of getting close to your goal. Organizations may ask you to get some sort of qualification; but you can do that while working. This is done by a majority these days so don't give up. If you are learning , learn well . Knowledge is a personal jewel. No one can take that away from you anytime.

Recently i saw the plan of the government of Sri Lanka to give university students a training program to improve how to face life in the future. It's a innovative approach and if implemented in the right way, could benefit the students immensely to shape up their career. The role of the student in this case, should be to get that knowledge and use it the correct way to benefit himself, his community and his country. They should know that, they are solely responsible for their actions. So taking responsibility is a key feature that should be inculcated in the minds of a modern day scholar.

Being Practical , Patience and Supporting his/her Colleagues are also key features every student should try to have in themselves. The modern world is very competitive and people who are flexible, able to make quick decisions and has a rational frame of mind are able to survive the tide.

It's Not Always the Books..

Also its not the knowledge of books that will matter all the time. A great person is built through knowledge as well as personality so having good qualities will help you to gain the confidence of others. If you have good qualities protect them, if you have bad ones get rid of them. It is a important process you need to follow consistently to gain success.

The above are some tips that is important for students to survive in the modern world. The career paths are getting wider and wider and with the job market booming and the invasion of social media the opportunities to find jobs is not limited to job websites or papers. But one thing is for sure , every student should do what they love to do and should not do what others are forcing you to do ( not even your parents). You should know your personal / life goal and learn hard , work hard to get towards that goal.

" The road to success might be difficult with a lot of puddles and holes. But when you get there.. you will be smiling back and will surely realize that all the pain was worth it. "

I Wish You All the Very Best !

Cheers !!

Why You Should Think Twice Before Pursuing a Career in "IT"

2011-05-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, one of my cousins gave me a call asking for some advice. She has just done her A/L's in medicine and didn't get selected to the medical college. So, she decided to go after a different career and was seeking advice from me about suitable universities where she can pursue a career in IT and what kind of job roles she can fit into. I guess she got the motivation to do it from her younger brother who is an IT fanatic.

At first, I was a bit skeptical on what advice to give. But I didn't want to disappoint her. So, i told her about all the options she has and all the universities she can attend to follow an IT career and the best streams to follow in order to get a job in the IT market. But there is one thing I didn't tell her which could have broken her heart. I am going to share that with you.

Pursuing an IT career in the modern era is like joining the army. It has become one of the most sadistic job sectors that is there at the moment and could make an individual's life a living hell. If you are a person who is planning to start a career in IT , you should be willing to give up a lot of things. This includes your freedom , your family life, your friends , your own well being. Others might say it depends on how an individual handle his job role and tasks. But overall, a majority will say that the aspects i mentioned of their lives are not so good when comparing to their friends who does something else.

You could be a programmer who writes awesome code and build new age applications, You could be a quality assurance engineer who test the systems the programmer made. Or, you could be the project manager himself who manage several teams and make sure each project is going on according to plan. Whatever you do, you won't be out of the cobweb called "Stress". It is something that mutually gets attached to you from the first day you walk in to your job and rarely it is taken away from you . Some individuals do manage their stress perfectly well for whom I do give my utmost respect. But the majority cannot do that and end up in arguments and conflicts. It's a cold war out there where peace can be seldomly seen . Also as a professional you need to keep on learning the new technologies , theories and concepts to keep ahead of your colleagues which is the case in any job. But here it is never ending and as the changes in the above aspects are always continuous . Further, decisions and conclusions are made using documents an artifacts while there is no room for common sense. This also brings up confusions among individuals and sometimes could be misleading which ends up the whole task in disaster.

Now you might ask me again , " this guy said he was an IT professional right? why doesn't he practice what he preach ? and why he is telling us not to do it when he is already doing it ? " well during the days I was doing my studies, the IT sector was far more than it was then. The boom for IT jobs was just starting and the people who were working then had good jobs and the working environments were not as bad as its now. I realized that it all depends on how the individual handles the pressure (which I try to do by staying calm always) but lately from what I have seen , the new guys who does come to the IT sector cannot handle it. They com bust very quickly and hence, get in to trouble.

So think twice before you start a career in IT. It's not always the case of qualifications and knowledge. It's how you handle situations and handle yourself. Its not a job for the faint-hearted and with due respect not for people who are newly married ( you might think if I am crazy but its true).

The above applies to everyone and doesn't solely belong to any gender , the company you are working in or your job role. Also, you need to remember the following which I am sharing with you from my personal experience. This applies to both who are planning to pursue the field and the ones who are already in the field.

IT at the moment is a very competitive industry and is always evolving. Organizations need to adapt to those situations and they must take care of their existing clientele since the risk of loosing clients to competitors can happen easily. So, they will take decisions which might hurt the individuals liking or aspects. But it's the individuals responsibility to take it as it comes or take a decision of moving away. Understand your goals and expectations and carry out your tasks according to that. Don't just complain, after all, you are the one who made the decision to make this a career. Not anyone else.

Cheers !!

Seeking His Destiny..

2011-05-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

He is confident yet he is naive. He is someone who knows what he wants in life but always has a problem of understanding what steps he should to take to get it . Yet, he knows that someday he will get there, so he decides to take baby steps. One step at a time.

He knows what his strengths are and knows what he can do. He is not the typical guy you find everyday who goes out with his friends, have a zip of beer , come home late at night and sleep till noon. Others might question if he is a man at all; but deep inside he knows what he is doing. He has a plan. a long term plan for success and glory.

Like a knight in shining armor, he would fight for the honor of his loved ones. He might not have those huge muscles , height or that six pack which every guy desires to have. But when he needs to protect his love, his family or his friends he will do anything he could to do it . Even it's matter of giving up his own life.

A man seeking his destiny, he knows he will get there someday. With the blessings of the religion he believes of which he is a serious devotee. he gives his 100 percent to what he loves to do. Deep inside, he knows it will pay off for him. Till then, he waits.. doing the thing he love.

Cheers !!

Our Soldiers.. Our Pride..

2011-05-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

On May 19th 2011, we celebrated 2 years of getting peace and independence from the terrorism that was there in our country. The terrorists were vanquished and finally our country became a paradise of solitude with every person in the country living as one without the division of religion , language , caste or type.

While enjoying the peace we got , we sometimes tend to forget about the people who gave us that freedom in the first place. The people who fought our enemies in the battlefield and beat them at their own game by giving away their blood, lives and soul. The soldiers , the forces of our country showed the whole world what they are made of and fought like true lions and won us the peace we desperately chased for more than a decade.

People all around the world as well as some in our own country seem to underestimate their victory and are bringing out wrong allegations regarding them. This is a very pathetic situation. We tend to forget the past where we were drowned with fear every time we went out expecting a bomb to explode at any moment. Now this is not there and people go out freely to any place , at any time to enjoy and celebrate life. This kind of situation was created by our soldiers and disrespecting them and disobeying them is being a traitor to your motherland.

Let's respect our soldiers and give them the credit for what they did for our country. Show them your gratitude by supporting them when they try to keep law in order. If you can , do give them your seat when they travel in the bus and there are no seats available. A small thing like this will go a long way and most soldiers will be proud that they served a country where people know their good habits and how to show gratitude.

So, as we celebrate the 2nd year anniversary of our newly gained peace , let us save a prayer to our forces and to all the people who fought and gave their lives to protect our motherland. It will be a sign to the whole world that no matter what obstacle come upon us , we are country which cannot be broken and also will show the world that our soldiers are our utmost pride.

Cheers !!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: " 7th Heaven "

2011-05-22T02:30:00.000-07:00

This week in the Indie Ink Writing Challenge, I got the challenge from Karla V and the challenge was "Seven Toes ". It was a bit of a tough one which I had to think a lot before writing it. But somehow, I came up with the following. =). Also please take some time and check out the challenge I gave for RandomGirl whom i am sure will do a great job with the prompt I gave to her which she will put up within this week.

So here is my reply =) .

"Love... come soon.. we are getting late... " said Dan while starting up his car. "Just a second honey, let me double check if I got everything.. ' said Lisa ,while checking if she has all the documents in the file.

Dan and Lisa have been married for 3 and half years. They were in love with each other from the first day they met and were one of those lucky couples who were able to celebrate their love through marriage. They had everything a couple could ask for with a great home , support from their parents, a vehicle of their own , and even the support and company of their friends. But there was one major thing that was missing in their love nest. they didn't have any children of their own.

They tried their best to fulfill their last wish. Finally they decided to carry out a blood test and to their utmost grief they found out they cannot have a baby together.

After giving much thought , they decided to go for adoption and they found a mother who was willing to give her newborn to a couple who would take full responsibility of the baby and would take care of his/her future. The due date has arrived and Dan and Lisa were preparing to go to the hospital.

As they arrived in the hospital , they got the news that their baby has arrived to the world. Dan and Lisa were both ecstatic and ran to the ward where the mother of the baby was in. When they arrived they saw the baby in her mothers arms. The mom was happy but Dan noticed that she had tears in her eyes. "It's a girl , but did you notice her left leg ? She has "Seven Toes " "said her mom while still weeping silently.

Lisa took the baby to her hands and also saw that this baby is not normal like the ones she has seen before. But she was seeing something else, she was admiring the baby's beauty. "She is Beautiful , I don't care about her toes.. All I know is she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.. She is an Angel " said Lisa with tears in her eyes while giving the little one a kiss. Dan was overjoyed and was lost for words,
" I know she has 7 toes but that's doesn't matter to us. She is a Miracle.. and So Beautiful.. " said Dan while happy tears falling from his eyes. " Let's call her Heaven..., She is Our 7th Heaven.. ". Lisa loved the name and so did the baby's mom. So after all the adoption papers were signed, Dan and Lisa took little "heaven" home. Their love nest was now complete.

Heaven grew up to be a beautiful and a lovely child. Though she was struggling in the beginning to walk, Dan and Lisa were always their to supported her and helped her to get over the niggle. They could have had a operation and removed the extra toes off which sometimes they wanted to do.. but Heaven didn't want to do that and always believed in herself " Mom and Dad.. I was Born this Way and I Love it.. I don't need to do any Operations..I want to stay this way.. I know I will Succeed in Life.. I am Going to Make You Proud ". Dan and Lisa supported her and stood behind their daughter's decision.

No matter how much she got ridiculed from her colleagues and friends, Heaven went to great heights in her studies and became a doctor. She even started a welfare service to help kids who are disabled , under privileged and are born the way she was born and helped them to become accepted in the society . With all that success by her side. the most happiest was Dan and Lisa , her proud parents. " I am Proud of Heaven Honey. She has made us the most happiest Mom and Dad in the World right now.." said Lisa to Dan while watching their daughter giving a speech in the presidential palace with tears in her eyes . Dan agreed . " Yes Darling, God gave us Heaven when were in the Dark , remember what I told you that day when she was born ? She is our 7th Heaven. She is Our Pride , Our Joy , Our Happiness.. " said Dan while giving a kissing his wife's forehead. Their love nest was once a lonely place but now its there joy...their heavenly joy

I hope you like it =) an do let me know what you think =). Have a Great Week Ahead Peeps.

Cheers !!.

Using " Sex " as a " Weapon "

2011-05-21T00:24:00.000-07:00

The past week has been a very disturbing one. The things that are happening around the world is crazy and sometimes unbelievable and the people who are creating the news seems to have lost in themselves. The first news we heard was about Dominic Strauss-Khan, now the ex-president of the IMF who has allegedly assaulted a maid in a hotel he has been visiting and now facing criminal chargers. The other comes from the "terminator" and former governor of california Arnold Schwarzenegger who separated from his wife after more than 20 years of marriage and later admitted that he has a kid from a mistress who was working under him.

These stories has again raised the question "why people are doing this ?". It's true that all species of life wants to reproduce to continue their existence but as humans we do have brains , beliefs , qualities and attitudes and doing such things like the ones mentioned above is very pathetic to see and hear. Is it because of the lack of satisfaction from their own partner ? Is it because they want to gamble on their power and money so they can do whatever they want and hide it from the rest of the world ?   The fact is they cannot hide it anymore, the world will find out somehow.

The classic example are the stories of Mr. Bill Clinton , the former president of USA and Tiger Woods , a world beater in the sport of golf. Both thought they can get out scot-free with their own sex scandals but somehow the news spread all around the world and their lives changed forever. Though Clinton has recovered from everything somewhat through his humanitarian work , Woods is yet to recover and is still trying to get back to the glory days where he used to win every tournament he played in .

I am not saying these kind of stuff happens in rich countries. It does happen in 3rd world countries like Sri Lanka too. People just let their emotions do the talking and not their brains and by doing this, they don't know how the others will use it has a weapon to take advantage from them later so they can gain prominence as well some wealth.

As we celebrate the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi of Lord Buddha, we should try to control our emotions and prevent ourselves from mistakes of infidelity. Just like Buddhism , every other religion refrains from telling its followers to carry out acts of infidelity.   Don't use it has a weapon to gain power , wealth and money. Sex might pleasure you for a few minutes and hours, but if you use it wrongly , the consequences you face will last forever.

Control Your Emotions and Be Content with what you got. This world is always on the look out to bring you down.. so don't give them a chance by being a fool for a few hours of pleasure.

Have a Great Weekend Everyone..

Cheers !!

The Latest Member of Building My Brand

2011-05-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Today I am happy to introduce the latest member of Building My Brand. It's the latest blog I started which is targeted directly at the Social Media Domain. I hope you guys would check it out and let me know what you think =). It's a another step by me in my quest to Build My Brand. You can visit the blog by clicking here.

Also don't forget to check the other member by clicking here.

Got some stuff in my mind for the coming days. I will keep on posting and let you know about it . Till then Have Fun and Take Care..

Cheers !!

The 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi - How We Can Make the Day a Perfect One..

2011-05-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

The next two days will be one of the most special days that will be witnessed by all Sri Lankans. With the dawn of Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, All Buddhists will be celebrating the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi and every Sri Lankan no matter what religion or background they come from , will witness something spectacular, something special.

The vibrant and glittering vesak lanterns and decorations, the sound of Bhakthi Gee , the ever so numerous dan sals in every corner.. it will be a carnival atmosphere in Colombo as well as all around the Island and people will celebrate Lord Buddha's birth , enlightenment and passing in the richest way possible.

One thing we should not forget is that we are celebrating the teachings of Lord Buddha as well. Lord Buddha showed a path where we can achieve eternal happiness and the best way we can honor him is by following his teachings every minute, every day. Lord Buddha said”The One who Lives by Dhamma .. Is Protected By Dhamma". So, always keep that in mind in whatever you do. That way, you will be paying the greatest gratitude to him on the day we celebrate the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi.

While celebrating, do something good for someone else. Help a friend in need, give some food to the poor and if someone offers you something at a dan sal don’t reject it. Go to the temple and worship and later go out with your family in the night and check out the pandols and lanterns that can be seen everywhere in Colombo (be sure to go to nawam mawatha and watch all the lanterns and decors there). Don't miss anything and regret it later.

But there are certain things you should not do. Getting Drunk, Getting into fights and quarrels, Breaking traffic rules, Acting as a nuisance to others. Those are things that are totally uncalled for on this holy day. Don't forget it’s a poya day and not a day to have a party. If you do the above, then those will be sins for which you won't be forgiven.

So let the coming two days be the ultimate tribute to Lord Buddha and his teachings. May everyone be Happy and Sadness drift away. May the Noble Triple Gem's Blessings be a Shower to you for Success, Peace, Wealth and Prosperity.

Cheers!!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: "I Was Lost.. Till I Found You.."

2011-05-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is my third week in the Indie Ink Writing Challenge and so far I have felt very privileged to honored to be in an exclusive group of superb writers. I like to thank everyone who provided me the opportunity to join this challenge , read and viewed my prompts and given me challenges that took me to greater heights in writing as sharing my thoughts with the world. I hope to be in the challenge for a long time and I also like to invite everyone who haven't joined the challenge yet to join me and the rest in a unique and fun filled way of expressing yourselves.

So this week I got the challenge from Binaryfootprint and the challenge was "Serendipity". I have not heard the word before but after the checking the meaning, I came up with the following response.

I was a lonely wanderer who just took each day has it comes. Lost in emotions , filled with anxiety and misery.. I sometimes wondered what's the purpose of my life really is. My shadow was my guidance and myself was my best friend. I was a lost soul in this place we call earth on a mission to search the light of my life. I searched and searched and in numerous times, I failed. I searched more and more.. trusting my light is still there for me.. until I finally decided to give up.. with all hope lost and sadness and grief all over my mind and soul .

Then without a trace, you show up.. with your beautiful eyes and smile that made me your star struck admirer. You took my hand and showed me the way .. took me to a world that I never seen before and gave me a special place in your sacred heart. You gave me love, you gave me shade , you gave me the light that I was searching all my life. I never thought I will find this much of happiness, love and affection .. until I found you.. until I found you.

You are my "Serendipity" , You are my Sacred Red Rose Each second , minute , day I spend with you makes me more desperate to spend more time with you. Your touch just sends a spark straight to my heart as it beats faster than a beating drum. I see our bond getting stronger and stronger each time we kiss and smile. I don't want to loose you. I will never let you go.

Words cannot express how much you mean to me. You are my heart beat, My Life , My Soul. I was Lost .. Till I Found You.. and now I am in ecstasy. I've been waiting for this all my life, and I believe that you were made for me and me only. The odds might be against us but our love can beat them all. We found each other in the most unexpected way, but god has a plan for us all. He led me to you and you to me..and let us play homage to him by celebrating our love. Forever you will be mine, Forever I will be Yours. This is to you my Angel, I Love You So Much.

Hope everyone likes it =) and be sure to check out the challenge I gave to BarbBlack for the challenge this week. Have a Great Week Ahead Peeps.

Cheers !!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words..

2011-05-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the best thing to do is to stay silent and do what you have to do. Talking could waste a lot of time and it could end up in no decision which could end up with a lot of confusion. This kind of situation can happen during business activities , sports or even when you do your normal day to day activities.

The trick is to be aware on what you are doing . If you are a manager, giving the correct instructions and direction to your subordinates or team members will make them aware of what they should do and should not do. If you are an employee, the best approach is to get your queries answered before you start doing something. If you are a person performing a day to day activity, the best approach is to identify what you have to do , tell the necessary people about what you are going to do and get back to action.

Another situation where you need more action and less words are when you are in panic situations . Sometimes everyone will just talk , talk and talk and no one will take action to solve the problem. This is not the correct approach. If you have an issue , try to identify with a half an hour or hour discussion and do something as soon as possible. "Clients wants results" and to get to results you need to perform some tasks. If you are not doing it then it could end up in disaster.

So as pointed out in the topic, " Actions does Speak Louder than Words " and don't get caught to wasteful meetings and discussions all the time to get your work or task completed. There are situations where it helps but in most times it could be just a waste of time. So be aware about this kind of a situation and carry out your tasks and activities successfully.

I Wish You All The Very Best !!

Cheers !!

What's Your Value?

2011-05-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Value is something that is not only related to products and services. It is also there in every Human Being too. Value doesn't come from the day you are born. It is something you need to create everyday.

As a person you need to identify how you can create your brand ( similar to the way I am doing here through this blog). You need to identify your specialty and skills and improve those specialties and skills to create your brand. By building your brand you will create value which is what you can market to gain success in whatever you are planning to do in life.

Every person has a unique value preposition. It comes with a lot of components and is hidden inside of you. As you learn and gain experience, those components slowly comes out and everybody else will start seeing them. You of course will identify it first and need to market those skills and components effectively and accurately.

Sometimes your value can impact you in a negative way. After all this life we live is not always rosy right? The catch here is to not think about it too negatively. If its impacting you negatively , try to see if you can use it positively. Always remember " No One can Take Away Your Value ". You are the master of your own value preposition and use it to your advantage is the skill you need to develop all the time.

So try to identify your value and try to build it everyday. A small step will create giant footprints of success for you in the future. So identify your value and market yourself to success. After all, no one else knows more about you rather than yourself. So don't be afraid, be more determined and start building your value today.

I Wish You All The Very Best !! =)

Cheers !!

SLPL - Will it be a Hit ? Or a Miss ?

2011-05-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

So Sri Lanka have also finally decided to join the bandwagon by having an International T20 tournament. The announcement came late last week where Sri Lanka Cricket told that they are going to allow international players to participate in this year's inter-provincial T20 tournament similar to the IPL and it will be called Sri Lanka Premier League or SLPL.

In a way , its a good step by SLC to initiate such a thing since every other country is allowing international players to participate in their domestic T20 cups ( ex: Australia with their Big Bash, England with their T20 Cup and also India with the much popular IPL). This will surely provide exposure to our local players so they could learn some vital tips by playing with players such as Shahid Afridi , Chris Gayle . Kieron Pollard , Daniel Vettori etc.

But there are some questions that should be asked. Why was it organized in the months of July and August? those are months which are rain heavy months in Sri Lanka so there would be no guarantee that the tournament would not get affected by rain. Also why have SLC included all the matches to be played in Colombo ? If you want to give exposure to the sport and to the players it should have been played in the outstation stadiums too; specially since we have some great new grounds in Pallekelle and Suriyawewa. The Colombo crowd already feels hectic with the ongoing IPL matches shown everyday and every hour. So the SLC missed a trick by not giving any matches to the outstation people to come , watch and enjoy.

Certainly this tournament won't be big as the IPL, But SLC has taken a good step in organizing such a thing. It will help Sri Lanka to get the best team possible for the Champions League T20 and if we win it the prize money would be something awesome to develop local cricket in Sri Lanka. Also, with the players not being auctioned and SLC deciding which team will get which players is also a positive move that will prevent young local cricketers from going away chasing money.

Mind you.. as an Indian Cricket analyst aptly stated, T20 won't guarantee that you will get an international cap. It takes a lot of effort and talent to make your national team so hopefully, the SLC selectors and the players will remember this.

Overall, it will be an interesting tournament and hopefully the weather gods will stay away. Things like Indian and Pakistani players playing together in one team. Malinga bowling to Chris Gayle where Afridi is his captain, Bhanuka Rajapakse hitting a sweet cover drive to a wide delivery bowled by Shoaib Akhtar.. those things happen only in this kind of tournaments so missing those moments will certainly be a miss.

Will the SLPL be a Hit or a Miss is something that cannot be explained right now. But, with everything going smooth so far and considering Sri Lanka's success in co hosting a magnificent World Cup, It will be "worth the watch" .

Cheers !!

A Sailor's Farewell..

2011-05-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

As I hold your hand.. till I drift away to the horizon
I want to you to know that ..I will always be there with You..
No Matter What..

Whenever you miss me.. just look at the stars in the night sky
They will tell you.. where I am ..
So you can find me..

I won't be gone for long.. as this journey will end soon..
Please do not cry honey..
I will be back..

I might be the captain of my ship.
I might ride off these stormy seas. .
But without you.. I am half a man..

I will be back..

Cheers !!

Indie Ink Writing Challenge: The Blind Pianist

2011-05-08T01:33:00.000-07:00

This week for the Indie Ink Writing Challenge I got myself a bit of a tough one by Kat where I got the topic "Anger suffers as grief withdraws". I did some study about the topic and came up with the following. Hope you guys like it =). Cheers !!

He was a kid with many dreams. Dreams that any boy would have.. when they are 16 years of age. He was a bright student in school ,where he was 1st in his class every year. He was also a good sportsman, where he excelled in football and cricket. But nothing made him happy than what he loves to do everyday. Those happy moments came when he made music through his Piano.

Friends called him the "Little Mozart" , and his dad called him his "Beloved Beethoven". Jimmy.. had natural talent to make music and was an angel when playing the piano. His dad.. being a pianist himself, gave his son the first lessons. Jimmy was a quick learner and was quickly becoming one of the best young pianists in his town.

Jimmy's talent spread all around the country and everybody wanted to hear his pieces and get to know him. Jimmy didn't mind the fame at all and was dreaming of playing in front of a large crowd. He got his chance where he was invited to play in the annual talent show where all the talents all around the country get to come and perform in front of everyone where the president is the chief guest.

Jimmy was overjoyed when he got the news. " Daddy My Dream is Finally Coming True.. " yelled Jimmy with a large grin. "Yes Son it is .. My Beethoven is going to be a Star.. “said his dad as tears kept pouring down from his eyes. It was tears of joy for both father and son. They were on the doorstep of achieving their goal.

Suddenly.. Fate decided to take an ugly turn. The vehicle they were traveling met with an unfortunate accident where it got knocked off by a lorry coming towards them in high speed. Jimmy's dad got paralyzed and Jimmy lost something he used a lot when playing the piano, "his eyesight".

Jimmy's Dad was devastated, He didn't mind what has happened to him. But to see his son loosing the light of his eyes was something he couldn't bear to see. Nothing could stop his falling tears when he was taken on his wheelchair to see Jimmy in his room at the hospital. He saw his son lying on bed with his eyes bandaged.
The grief was too much to handle for Jimmy's Dad.. he was angry at himself for driving his son to disaster and was mad with the lorry driver who knocked their vehicle off the road...as he kept on crying with tears flowing like a river, he felt someone holding his hand.. It was Jimmy..

"Daddy.." said Jimmy, "Don't Cry Daddy.. I know I have lost my eyesight.. But I'll assure you that I will not fail you.. Please make sure that you take me to the talent show tomorrow.. I am going to play no matter what.. and I won't let what happened to me from stopping me from achieving our goal ". Jimmy's words made his dad cry even more .. But Jimmy's confidence was on a high.. and his dad was amazed by his son's ability to forget what has happened to him and his desire to go out and fulfill his dream. After the constant urging from his son, Jimmy's dad agreed to let his son participate in the talent show. The organizers also decided to give them a chance.. though they were filled with doubts if Jimmy could even play a simple song .

Jimmy's moment arrived.. he could hear the loud noise in the background, he could hear the announcer telling his name.. His heart began to beat like a drum as nerves began to take control of him. But he was confident and with all the noise he can hear one voice urging him on.. "Go My Beethoven . .Show the World What You Are.. Common my Son.. You Can Do It... " It was Jimmy's Dad who was there at backstage to support his son. With his Dad's blessings.. and the whole crowd's attention solely towards him.. Jimmy was ready to play.. he was confident.. and started hitting the keys one by one..

The crowd who attended the talent show was expecting to see a debacle, but what they saw in the end was a miracle. Jimmy was playing the Piano so magnificently that all of them including the president was in utter disbelief in what they witnessed. Jimmy started with the "Moonlight Sonata” and then he went on to play "Magic Flute ". He ended his performance by playing "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ". After which a deep silence drifted through the air.

Jimmy was scared that he didn't play well and he will get the boos from the crowd. Suddenly .. he heard the raucous applause of the crowd bursting through the arena. Jimmy's Dad was ecstatic .. he knew his boy had talent but this was one thing he never expected to see. He asked a caretaker to take him on his wheelchair to his son. When he arrived.. he took Jimmy's hand and with tears in his eyes he exclaimed " You Did It My Son.. You Did It.. You Showed the World What You Are.. I am So Proud of You My Son.. My Beethoven is the Best !! I Love You So Much ". Jimmy was overjoyed too as tears kept falling down from his eyes." No Daddy .. We Did It.. We Did this Together.. We Achieved Our Dream "said Jimmy while giving his Dad a Hug. They have done what they came to do in the first place, they have both achieves their life long dreams.

Jimmy was declared the winner of the talent show and was invited to play for the President and his family. Jimmy went from strength to strength and became an amazing pianist. For his friend’s he was “Little Mozart, For His Dad he was his “Beloved Beethoven” but to the world he was “Jimmy Wonder.. The Blind.. But Amazing.. Pianist… “

How to Manage Your Product Lines..

2011-05-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

Me giving some of my ideas on how an Organization can effectively manage their multiple products in order to gain leverage and profits.

Do let me know your thoughts..

Cheers !!

Is There a " Lady Gaga " In You ?

2011-05-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

I was on the look out for a topic to write about when a friend asked me " Why don't you write about Lady Gaga ? ", At first I was stunned and was wondering what can I write about Lady Gaga . Should I write about a Bad Romance? or should I explain about her Poker Face? Then after doing some research, I decided to write how people who wants to achieve success , how people who want their dreams to become true can use LG ( I am going to use LG as the nickname for Lady Gaga from now on) as their role model.

The following tips are given right from the life story of LG and I will also show to you how you can use those tips to create your own success story.

Tip #1: Understand Your Talents & Strengths and Enhance them through Practice and Training

From the early days of her childhood, LG loved music. She started playing the piano at the tender age of 4 and as she grew up, she enhanced her talents by going to music as well as dram lessons. She never let her passion for music and drama go away and though she was a good student at school her talent for music and art was never a doubt as she took steps to enhance them by joining New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

The lesson we can learn from here is that, You also need to identify what your talent is and if you have a talent and a passion for something, you need to make use it without letting it go to waste. "Every Person in this World is Special " and remember "You are Special ! ." You need to identify the talent you have with you and nurture it , improve it and use it to the betterment of the world. The world is poorer without your help so try to identify your strengths and talents and improve it so you can use those talents to build your success .

Tip #2 : Don't be Afraid to Take Risks

When LG decide to quit school early and focus on her musical career, her Dad gave her a bet. He told her that he would pay the rent for the apartment she stayed in for an year and if she is unsuccessful in her music career she needs to get enrolled back to school . This was a risk LG decided to take and you can see where she is now ?

Like LG, if there situations where you see that you need to make a choice and take a decision on something knowing there is a risk involved too ; do take that risk and make that decision. Don't fall back and wait things to happen. Sometimes those decisions could end up in failure but, the you have "learned a lesson" an can use that knowledge next time when you make a decision. Let your instincts guide you home and do take a risk once in a while for the betterment of your life. In the end "you are the sole owner of your success, no one else. "

Tip #3 : Be Innovative

LG knew she can sing, there was no doubt about her singing talent, But the problem she had was the world was filled with a lot of female singers and she had no way of getting the attention of the listeners. That's when she decided to use her acting talents. By creating sensuous videos together with some outrageous outfits she quickly became a global phenomenon and captured people's hearts. No wonder she was included in Time's Most Influential People in the World.

We can also take a note from LG and be innovative ourselves. Just take a look at this blog, this blog was until last year was just a personal blog with all poems and proses . But I decided to be innovative and change it so I can use it as a source to help others through my life experiences and knowledge and so far I am unselfishly pleased that I took that step. You need to be innovative to make a change in this world. "Doing something that others do is perfectly ok.." but, you need to find a way to make a difference, Be innovative and try to change people's lives. Then you will be successful too.. Just like LG.

Tip #4 : Don't Worry About What Others Say..

LG is never short of getting criticized. She is criticized for her hair , for her outfits for her stage performances. But has she stopped what she loves to do ? The answer is a simple No.

Everybody has their own critics and sometimes, these critics are so jobless that the only thing they do is criticize. You has a person should be strong and should "NOT LET " these people get in to your head. Always focus on your goal and carry on your tasks to achieve that goal. Who said that ride won't be bumpy right? the important thing to do is ignore them .. and carry on what you are doing and build your glory.

Tip #5 : Get the Right People to Work With You..

To build her success, LG got the right people to work with her. Her dress design team, her record label , her choreographers and dancing partners , her co singers ( ex: Beyonce).. She has worked with all of them very neatly to launch her career to success.

A person cannot be a winner alone, every now and then we need help and support from the experts, from family from friends from friends who work or study with you on the same subjects or areas. The catch is to identify the correct people to work with and build a good strong partnership which could drive you as well as your partner to success. "Coordinate, Communicate and Conquer.. " it will sure be your recipe to success.

So these are the lessons you can learn from Lady Gaga and her success story so far. Her fame and popularity is sometimes unreal but its all because she has managed her talent really well and found a way to show the world what she got in store compared to others. She took risks, she didn't care what others say ( she still don't) and she is successful ( record no of nominations ( the no is 12 ) for a single grammy awards ceremony for a single singer is not bad right ?)

So do take a note from Lady Gaga and create your own success story. I wish You All da Very Best and before I end I shall ask you one more time.

" Is there a Lady Gaga In You ? "

Cheers !!

Too Much Cricket..

2011-05-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Image from cricinfo.com

You can see in the players eyes. You can see how the way they play. It's become too much and slowly but surely we can see that the players are getting weary and cannot give their 100 percent anymore..

True they are professionals.. and true they are getting paid in sacks for the games they play .. But deep down every human being needs a break and need some time to spend with their families and have a good rest. Sadly cricketers today doesn't have that privilege. Not only cricketers every sportsman has that problem.

This situation causes injuries and also mental stress . The other day I saw how Sanga played for Deccan Chargers.. the man seem to doesn't care what the result is .. he is really tired and feels enough.. I feel he wants this to end soon ..

After all that stress and fatigue, they do this for their team , they do it for their country and somehow some people decide to question their loyalty to the game by bringing on atrocious allegations .

Its a Very Sad Situation for Cricket.. Its a Very Sad Situation for Sport..

Cheers !!

Leaders are Not Born.. Leaders are Made..

2011-05-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

Leaders to the Rescue ( Image Credits http://www.lumaxart.com/ )

Leadership is one of the key elements that is required to succeed any team related activity. It could be sometimes be adopted to an individual who himself takes leadership for his/her own self and carries out the responsibilities her/she wants to accomplish. But most of the time its related to teams and without a good leader , a team is sure to loose direction and end up being a failiure.
People say that leaders are born, this is not always true and as the heading suggests "Leaders are not Born.. Leaders are Made". Some of you may contradict this statement which could be true due to your personal experiences ( please do share your experiences in leadership in the comments section). The following are some tips that a person can take note of and improve on which would help them to become great leaders if such a role is given to them or when they need to be one .

Tip #1 Always have a Calm Mind When Handling Your Team.. Don't Overreact..

A Leader is someone people look up to and looks for guidance. A calm leader who weathers the storm can guide his team to greener pastures as long as he knows his goal and what he wants to achieve. The best example I can give here is MS Dhoni who is the Cricket Captain of India, This guy has an abundance of nerves of steal and when a pressure situation occurs he has this uncanny ability to stay calm and make beautiful decisions that can change the game.

When you are leader and a pressure situation occurs, always remember to stay calm and understand the problem you need to solve. Give yourself time to think about the options and talk with your team to get the correct solution. Patience is a key element for a great leader and that attitude always reflect on the team. On the contray the team could get disarrayed when their leader is shouting at them all the time. So first of all improve yourself and improve your mind to deal with hot situations. Then you are on your way to become a great leader .

Tip #2 Have Faith in Your Team..

A Great Leader should be able to know the strengths and weaknesses of his team members and should be able to carry out tasks making ultimate use of his team without going to a different route. Also he needs to stand up for his team and show them that no matter what happens, he is there for them . The example I can take here is how Arjuna Ranatunga handled the situation of Muttiah Muralidaran during the Aussie tour of 1999. He took on the responsibility of his team mate and stood up to him when all the odds are against him.

A Great Leader stand up for his team so if you want to be a leader always believe in your team.

Tip #3 Look at things on a Wider Angle

Good Leaders always look at all the possibilities of a situation before taking a decision . Sometimes decisions will be made from instinct but that comes from experience. Its always good to look at the positive and the negative effects at the same time so the decision you make will cater to both situations. So if you are an aspiring leader you need to learn this art.

Tip #4 Be Flexible

Leaders need to be flexible when making decisions and should have the ability to listen to his team members ideas and examine them if they can be implemented. If a good idea is proposed by a team member, a leader should be able to see if its the best idea within the team and should be able to make the decision of taking that idea forward. Being a bureaucratic will not help the team at any cause and could severely dent their perception about their leadership So take a listen , be flexible and try to understand what your team members are communicating to you. If you see if its a great idea then go ahead with it. It could be the ultimate oppurtunity for you and your team to gain success.

Tip #5 Be Knowledgeable about your Goals and Objectives

"A Leader who knows where he is going and where he is taking his team to , is Great Leader ". What is meant by this statement is that a Great Leader knows what his teams goals and objectives are and lays the foundation to achieve those goals and objectives. Being blind about your main task and what you plan to achieve from it will not help anyone in the team including the leadership and the blame will solely go to the leader himself. So have a clear goal and objectives to achieve that goal. This will help leaders to guide his team to glory.

Above are some tips that can be used and learned by people who wants to be great leaders. There are many more qualities that you need to have which of some are included in this superb article.

Surely you can't be born with all these talents and skills. That is the reason behind the heading of this post. But with proper training , hard work , learning and determination you can be a leader too which will separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls. It does take time.. but again nothing comes easy right ? =)

"Be a Great Leader" and show the world that you are the best.

Cheers !!

Indi Ink Writing Challenge: Kissing Eve..

2011-05-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

So I got myself in to the Indie Ink writing challenge and got myself a topic =). I was given a topic by Runaway Sentence which was as follows; "write a story containing the line, "Damn, I really wish I hadn't done that."" So I took up the challenge and here is the entry =) . Do know this is not a personal experience =) . Hope you like it, Cheers !!

The time was around 4:30 on a mild , hot Sunday afternoon. The weekend has been a boring one for me and I was trying my best to find a way to make it a little bit exciting and fun. I felt that nothing was going to happen and my mind convinced me that I should sleep off the rest of the day so I can go fresh to work tomorrow. That is when I got a call from my friend Adam.

I met Adam at College . He was a guy who had plenty of ambitions and with a rich family background he had a lot of girls coming after him . I met him while working on an assignment and since then we have become very good friends. So he called me and said the following

Adam : Charlie my man how are you doing today ? You got anything planned for tonight ?

Me: No Mate, Nothing at all ..its a shitty day and I am totally bored. Why did you ask ?

Adam: That's Great to hear man, well you know what.. I have finally asked out Eve and we are going out for a movie tonight. The movie is called "My Best Friend's Wedding" would you like to join us ?

At first when I heard the above statement I was stunned. Eve was studying with us in college together and Adam and I both had a crush on her. I was madly in love with Eve but since she was a girl who came from a rich family I didn't try to go after her. But, I still had a crush on her.. I was in love with her..

So with all these feelings inside, when I heard that Adam was taking her out I felt sad, So I took a moment and replied.

Me: Oh so you asked her out? good for you man, errr I don't know if I should come after all you guys should go alone and have a great time

But Adam insisted that I should come; so with his persistence not stopping and I being so badly in need of something to do, I finally decided to join him and Eve to go and watch the movie.

So I was at the theater around half and hour early where then I saw Adam coming with Eve towards me. Eve was Beautiful .. her eyes were like stars glowing in the evening sunshine..her smile was beautiful like a rose.. her hair was nicely combed and falling down beneath her shoulders.. in every sense she was a beautiful woman and my inner sense was keep on telling me that I should have asked her out during college where then she also showed me some interest.

Eve was surprised to see me at first , but then Adam told her that he invited me too.

"I heard Charlie was bored today, so I invited him for the movie with us, Two Guys and a Girl .. That's Pretty Awesome eh ?" chuckled Adam before he went to collect the tickets. Eve and I was just looking at each other but never whispered a word. My heart was beating like a drum.. with all the feelings locked in my heart, we went inside. Eve sat between me and Adam and I laid back and stared at the screen as the movie started .
While the movie was rolling on , I saw Eve sitting next to me. We were in the beach .. watching the sunset together holding hands . She also didn't take her hand away and were watching on as the sun slowly went down the ocean.. she looked at me and I looked at her... Our eyes were transfixed at each other as she smiled towards me.. my heart was beating faster that I ever knew.. I was sweating in a heap but my focus was on Eve as I kept gazing at her eyes .. admiring her beauty. Suddenly, she leaned toward me.. and I knew she wanted me to kiss her..I took my time .. and then gently kissed her lips.. I felt I was in heaven.. I felt I was in my own dreamworld with my queen Eve beside me..

Suddenly , I heard a loud noise and I felt a big pain ..I felt my chin was stung by a swam of bees.. I opened my eyes.. I realized what has happened.

There stood Adam.. with fire burning in his eyes and pumping like a pitbull.. and beside him was Eve with tears in her eyes.. Adam growled at me..

Adam : What the Hell Man ? Who do you think you are ? I take you out for a movie with us and what you do ? You kiss my Girlfriend ? Your are going to pay for this Charlie Green.. I thought you were my friend..

I realized what I have done.. I have kissed Eve while watching the movie and the whole beach story I witnessed was a dream.. I felt like "Damn, I really wish I hadn't done that."" but deep inside I felt I did the correct thing since It was a kiss given with feelings.. not a kiss given with lust , hatred or revenge.

Adam didn't speak another word and took Eve by his hand and went away.. I slowly got up and walked out of the theater thinking about all that has happened during the past few hours. It was a bittersweet moment and in the end a boring weekend turned out to be pretty eventful one.

If Technology is Available.. Why We are Not Using it ?

2011-05-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

Me providing some of my ideas on why we should use technology when it is available relating some of the sports events in the past few days and through personal experience.

Tips to take Great Photographs using a Point and Shoot Camera

2011-04-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Photography is a hobby I have made one of my hobbies for a long time . It is a hobby that can be done professionally as well as can be done for fun. With the evolvement of social media on the rise photography has also got its prominence where a lot of people upload pics to their facebook , flickr , twitter accounts to share with everyone. I also do the same =). If you haven't seen yet you can see from here how much I am into it or through the pictures I have posted in the right side of my blog.

So I have been taking pictures using my Point and Shoot Camera for a while and it has taught me certain lessons which I am going to share with you here. I know that a majority cannot afford DSLR's so I felt that sharing this knowledge will benefit everyone who does takes pictures just like me using a P&S (which I will use to refer to a Point and Shoot Camera from here on.)

So here are my tips.

Tip # 1 Get closer to your Subject as Much as Possible

With a P&S , it is very difficult for you to use zoom and you certainly cannot use a zoom lens with it . So make sure that you buy at least a 8x when you buy a P&S. If you don't have one its "perfectly ok ". I try getting closer to your subject as much as you can so that you can get that perfect shot.
Check my example here

Tip # 2 Stay Still

This is a tip that almost photographers should have when taking quality pictures. You should keep your hands still when shooting so that the noise is reduced and clear pictures can be taken. Calm yourself and stay focused until the shot is taken so that you will be able to get the "shot of your dreams".
Check my example here.

Tip # 3 Make Flash your Friend.. Not Your Foe..

What I mean by the above statement is that you have to use your Flash appropriately . Don't over use it since it will not always help you to get good shots. Flash is best used during low light conditions ( Check my example here ) so figure out how you can make Flash your friend not your foe by taking a lot of shots.

Tip # 4 Make Use of All the Features

Almost every P&S comes with a lot of features. Don't be shy to use them and use them accordingly to take your pictures. The first thing to do is go through the manual you get with your P&S and see for what shots you can use the camera features. The cameras also provide some in built detail so you don't have to always refer the manual . Make use of the features it will help you to create magic from your camera immensely.

Tip # 5 Take a Lot of Pictures

You can't improve your photography if you don't experiment. Take a lot of pictures as possible, try different angles ( Check my example here ) and features, test your camera to the ultimate limit. That way you can take great pictures and improve your photography .

Tip # 6 Talk to an Expert

Its always good to talk to an expert and share knowledge. I do that a lot too and it has helped me immensely to improve my photography skills. It could be a professional or it could be a colleague or a friend. (Check out the photo stream of one my friends at work from whom, i take a lot of advice. ) Communicate.. Share Ideas and thoughts.. It will just improve your skills and knowledge and help you to take a lot of nice pics.

So those are my thoughts on how to take pictures using a Point and Shoot Camera. I am sure that you will say that why the hassle I will buy a DSLR instead. If you are good at a point and shoot and have the money to afford it you can go ahead =). But the skills come not by buying a good camera , it comes from the photographer and his eye.

I hope my tips has enriched your knowledge about taking photographs using a P&S. Do share your ideas and thoughts in the comments section . Would love to hear what you think and see your photos as well =).

Cheers !!

I Promise You..

2011-04-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

That no matter what comes between us
I will stand by you..
That how hard troubled waters try to drown us
I will hold your hand and never.. let you go..

I fell for those eyes.. that beautiful smile..
I won't let anyone take away from me..
My heart just murmurs one name .. that you
It also provides residence to you.. only you

I am not saying I am Perfect .. no not at all..
But I won't let anyone doubt.. my love to you..
Its you I have been waiting..
Its with you I would spend the rest of my life..

I will Never Let You Go..
I Promise You..

I Love You..

How to Provide Effective Customer Support..

2011-04-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

Customer Support /Client Support is a vital cog when it comes to doing business effectively. After you sell a particular product , you need to see how your clients are using that product and support them on how to use the product; as well as when they face any problems and issues.

I have been in the IT industry for 2.5 years now and I have met a wide range of clients from all walks of life. I have had the privilege of working with local as well as foreign clients and from about two months back, I have had the chance of working in the customer support function which has taught me some important lessons on how to provide customer support effectively.

Today, I am going to share some tips and techniques from my experience thus far , so you will be able to use them as a guide to provide support to your client's .

Tip #1 - Know Your Product
When I first joined my current workplace in late 2009, I was fascinated by the product I was working on ( I still am) and I was eager to learn everything about it . It was totally a different domain to me but yet with some hard work I was able to get to know all the in and outs of the application I am working on. But, when I started client support I realized there were some more things that I didn't know about the product. I realized this through the client queries so I had to ask my seniors on those areas and improve my knowledge so I would be able to support the clients effectively.

The lesson here is that , "you will never know your product 100 percent, but you should know it 99.9 percent. " You need to ask queries from the experts in the industry , you need to do research and you need to work with your product very closely in order to be thorough about it. I still ask queries from my seniors and colleagues when I don't know anything. Remember .. "Its always ok to ask.." if a client ask you something and you don't know it.. tell them you will get back to them and ask someone who knows about it. Then respond back to your client. It's better to take time and tell the truth and the correct way rather than assuming things and giving wrong instructions. Also try your best to remember what you have learned before; so you will be able to answer the next client who asks the same question quickly; reducing their waiting time.

Tip #2 - When responding to Customer Queries through Email, Respond to them in Detail

Clients could sometimes become a headache to you. They could ask you every little step to do certain tasks which in most cases irritates the support staff. This could happen due to one main reason; "You have not given your client an effective answer to their query ".

In order to avoid a situation like the above, you can use the following techniques.

Use Simple, Understandable Language when writing Emails.
Provide step by step instructions on how to perform the task / how to solve the problem the client need to do/solve.
Provide screen shots where it's necessary so clients can get a better idea on how to carry out the instructions you are providing to them.

The above techniques will help you immensely to provide a better response to your clients and also increase their understanding on your reply. It will help the client to get their job done and will also help you to focus on other client's without getting bombarded by phone calls and emails.

Tip #3 - Listen First and Then Respond..

This technique is really important when you respond to your clients through the phone . Let me take some personal experience here and explain to you on how to use this technique.

At the end of last of year the product I am working on got some new clients. These client's were overseas so after our team came back from the implementation process ; I was given the job of providing support to those clients. One day, they called me regarding an issue, I was really confused;the problem was I was in the bus going to work and there was a lot of noise so I couldn't understand anything. To further my problems, I couldn't understand his English as I haven't heard that kind of an accent before =) . So to understand the issue , I just excused my client for a minute, got down from the bus , went to a quiet place and listened carefully about the issue the client was reporting. I understood the issue and I gave him a solution which in the end helped him and also his operations which were carried out without a delay.

The above experience taught me some vital lessons which I am going to share with you.

You should listen carefully to every word your client is saying and should not jump in the middle and provide a solution before the whole problem is explain

If you are in a noisy , crowded place , do your best to go to a quiet area and talk with your client.

Be Patient and try to interpret what the client is trying to say by asking them a lot of questions.

If you are still left confused, Ask an expert or your senior for guidance.

The above lessons come in handy when you are faced in a situation like I faced and I am sure it will help you to provide better solutions by listening correctly to their queries.

Tip #4 - Be Patient..

This is a quality any person should have in themselves and when it comes to customer support, It's nothing different . Your client will keep on bombarding you with thousands and thousands of queries and sometimes, you could get really mad and irritated about the whole thing. ( believe me it has happened to me as well). This could be worse if your on support 24/7 .

The best thing to avoid such a situation is do the necessary testing and check if the application / product is working in order periodically. Also try to share your responsibilities with your team mates and try to do something else for a change or take a leave. This will help you to calm your nerves and be ready when the support job is given back to you. emember, "Never let your Emotions run out in front of your Customer ".
If you do, it could be the end of working with your client and possibly the end of your job as well.

Tip #5 - Use it as a Learning Curve..

Client Support could be no fun thing. But, one other hidden advantage of it is that you can learn a lot about the product you are working on in a variety of ways. Clients are a section who are very knowledgeable of the domain they are working on and when they use your product they might question you about various aspects of the domain which could / doesn't be available in your product/application. You could learn this experience as a learning curve and use to get to know about the domain you are working on . I have had similar experiences and I have had the chance of learning a lot of things regarding my domain. So look at the positives side such as this when providing client support, you will enjoy the job role more and " definitely learn more".

So those are my tips on how to provide effective customer support. It's not an easy ride (but then again nothing is easy right ? =) ) but with the correct attitude and qualities like the ones mentioned above, you can be a great "client support engineer ". It will definitely improve your value to your customer as well as your value to the company so don't be afraid and provide customer support "effectively "

Cheers !!

What are your thoughts on how to provide effective client support? If you are have any thoughts be sure to share them with everyone through the comments section.

The Problems in Local Restaurants

2011-04-27T07:06:00.000-07:00

Recently I went to a restaurant in Colombo to have a meal . I am a person who likes home cooked food a lot so when I go out I usually look to have a hearty meal with a great service. The food was superb and I ate till there was no room in my stomach . So after the meal I payed and went Home.

So now you must be thinking "what is the problem this guy is talking about ? " So here I go.

Whenever I go to a restaurant and when the waiters give me the menu , I tend to ask what are the available food in the menu. I do this because I don't want to order a good meal and then hear that its not available. So during my visit I mentioned earlier, I took the menu and asked them what are the available meals ? the waiter promptly replied "All Meals are Available Sir. " So I ordered a meal and then in a few minutes the waiter comes back and tell me "Sorry Sir that Meal is not Available." I was like what the hell ? you say it's available when you ask before the order and then you say its not there when order it. This a problem I currently see in local restaurants where the waiters are not aware of the meals that are available in the day. Why can't a simple bit of professionalism can be added and do this process before you open the restaurant for the customers for the day ? At least prepare a menu with the available meals and give to the customer so they know what they can order ? a simple thing like this can go a long way and steps like this will only help the restaurant to get more customers where as in the example I mentioned could drive them away..

Another problem that I have is the inability to understand the "Service Taxes" charged to customers for their meals. How is this calculated? Does anyone have an idea? If you do please enlighten me. Customers order food to have an enjoyable meal and they do pay the full cost that is shown in the bill (Most Do.. I don't know if some don't). So why do restaurants should add a service tax to it ? Isn't it a betrayal towards the customer ? I of course have become aware of this tax and now when I order food I make sure I don't order too many since if I do, I will get a thundering bill with the service cost added. This is cruel on the customers, utterly cruel..

The above two are the biggest problems that I see in our Local Restaurants. Better Service is closely attached with Better Quality so, if you can change or improve smaller things like the ones mentioned above it would benefit the restaurant business immensely as a lot of people these days like dining out.

" Identify the problems your customers are facing and try to give solutions to those problems, Customers bring you more business (specially in the restaurant business) and their recommendations are vital for your progress. So don't use them for your advantage in a bad way. Server them well.. and You will Gain Success. "

Cheers !!

Innovation.. What is the Correct Approach ?

2011-04-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

Innovation has become a common theme in the world today. Its been carried out in various aspects which includes Business & Marketing , Information and Technology, Sport and Development Activities.

Although many people want to carry out innovative activities there are various instances where ideas are generated but not actually implemented. One reason for this situation is the approach when it comes to innovation and today, I am going to elaborate on some approaches that can be carried out to implement innovation / innovative activities . If you have your own approach and ideas , be sure to talk about them by leaving a comment in the comments section =).

First of all let me include a quote I found from Wikipedia which gives a very detailed description about what Innovation is all about.

"The central meaning of innovation thus relates to renewal or improvement, with novelty being a consequence of this improvement. For an improvement to take place it is necessary for people to change the way they make decisions, or make choices outside of their norm. "
Source: Meaning of Innovation

As you can see in the description, innovation should be able to change the way people behave and make decisions at present and should be able to improve the activities they currently carry out. That should be our prime target when we are carrying out innovative activities. So with that goal in mind lets see what other approaches/techniques we can use to carry out innovative activities.

When you get an Idea, Write it Down..

As human beings we always have ideas ( I don't intend this in a bad way =) ) these could come at any time to your mind at any time and just goes away. Ideas comes from problems you face or from personal experience and when those come you need to note it down so you won't forget it.

When you have noted down all the ideas, you need to do a "pros and cons analysis" ; this means you need to identify "what are the most effective idea and what idea can I implement to change people lives ? " (Remember the goal I stated earlier? )

By doing the above, you can identify the most effective ideas and remove the ones that you think would not make a "change". After that, you can do further analysis and identify the best idea/ideas and make them your prime tool to "innovate". If you have done this , you are ready.. ready to bring the next big thing to the world.

Use Fact Finding Methods to Understand What People Really Need..

This approach helps you to directly ask the community / people / customers what are the problems they are currently facing and what they really need. This will help you to generate idea through people which in the end makes the first approach I told you far more easy.

You can use fact finding methods such as Questionnaires. Polls, Webinars as well as Social Media
tools to identify peoples needs and directly approach that need through an innovative idea.

Still , you need to do a analysis on can those needs be implemented through innovation. Just like ideas, "Every Need of Cannot be Satisfied. "

Identify Ways How You Can Market Your Idea..

So you have identified a brilliant idea and then you find out that its already implemented. Should you give up ? "NO.. Not Yet..". There are tons if ideas that have become a success although it has been implemented before. Just take a look at Facebook.. sites like that existed before it came up ( ex: HI5 , Orkut) but what Mr. Zuckerberg did was identify a way he can market his product. he identified his market segment ( College Students) and then positioned his idea and product to that segment with future plans of taking it to other segments. His approach worked brilliantly for him and now see where Facebook is ?

The catch here is finding ways to market your idea. That is how you can be innovative where you find gaps in the already implemented systems of your idea and target your product to satisfy those gaps. This way, you can find your niche and then start marketing to that niche which will give you a tremendous boost as a start up and later will help you expand your idea to other communities.

Explain Your Idea in a Language People can Actually Understand..

This is a situation you can see frequently these days when explaining new ideas. Idea makers try to be too technical when explaining their ideas hence, leaving clients/customers in a dilemma.
Clients/Customers need to understand your idea so you need to explain it in simple language. So explain in simple terms and be precise. "Don't be too technical "

Have a Lot of Patience..

This is something any person should have when they are doing anything new . Your idea may not work at the first time; But it is essential "Not to Give Up". If one idea doesn't work, try another one. If that doesn't work.. try another. Its takes patience as well as a lot of hard work to make an Idea a success . So , work hard and smart on your idea and innovate .. You will find the success you surely deserve..

So those are some of my thoughts on Innovation. As i told earlier be sure to share your knowledge and thoughts on this . Thanks a Lot for checking out the Post =)

Cheers !!

If You Really Love Someone..

2011-04-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Always give your 100 percent to the relationship.

Talk with your partner, there should be no secrets between you and your loved one which if exists, could lead to trouble in the future.

Build the trust between you and your partner and remember not to betray it since its takes a long time to build it but takes a second to break.

It's a commitment, a devotion, a promise you make for your partner. If you don't believe in this, you are not in love its just a crush or you are just flirting.

Love that person for who they are, not for what they are not.

Don't base it on Sex. Its a sin you won't be able to get away. Sex can happen between anybody. But people who are in Love have it only when they make the commitment to be with each other forever.

It should be the first step for marriage. Don't love someone and marry someone else (If someone betrays you.. that means that person haven't loved you even they say they did). Love your partner like that person will be your life partner. It will keep both of you happy and in the end " Love will be the ultimate winner. "

Cheers !!

Qualifications or Experience ?

2011-04-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Recently. I have discovered more and more people are into doing further studies to increase their career prospects. This include doing MBA's MSC's CIMA ,CIM etc etc. I have no animosity with the people who are doing these stuff its just a question that came to my mind; When it comes to getting jobs does more qualifications get you jobs and promotions rather than experience ?

You might say that it's a blend of both. But, I kind of feel that experience should be given more preference since it is where the real deal is. Working with clients, facing precarious business situations where you need to quick decisions without no time to refer to books; a person who succeeds in those aspects is the one who should be given more preference when it comes to salary increments or promotions rather than the more qualified one.

I have friends who have worked their butts off joining as trainees to companies and has made business decisions with more common sense rather than knowledge in books. Yet, they are working so hard to get qualifications since they can't get a promotion due to the company 's policy of needing to have certain qualifications. How pathetic is that?

A Lion might teach its cubs all the techniques when it comes to hunting for food. But if the cub doesn't have the sense of mind to act according to situations and decide which animals he should hunt and not and when is the right time ? he might in the end get injured and stay hungry forever.

This is a global issue and which can be seen more commonly in Sri Lanka. Thousands of talent drift away from the country due to this issue which is really pathetic to our country and a body blow to the Sri Lankan Economy.

So the questions remains.. what do we go for? Qualifications or Experience ?

Have a Great Week Ahead Everyone..

Cheers !!

Rain..

2011-04-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

Rain..
It could be your friend..
It could be your foe..
It could help you to wash away your tears..
Or help you to regain your smile..

Rain..
Drops of water falling in a heap..
Heaps of Light and Sound in the Air..
Just like the Northern Lights..

Rain..
Till the Sun shines again.,
Renewing Hope..
Washing away the Pains..

Rain down on me..
That is my Wish..

For renewal of Hope..
For a better Life..

Living a Dream.. At Last...

2011-04-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

Writing has been a passion of mine for a long time and finally I got a break =). Got invited to write for a website carried out some of my colleagues which I promptly accepted and today I did my first article =). As a start hhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifI wrote a cricket article ( yes I know I should write about something else too which I will do in the future =)) and so far the reviews are good =). I am really having a time these days doing the things I love and its really awesome =).

You can check out my article by going to the following link.

My Article

Have a Great Weekend Everyone..

Cheers !!

Random Thursday..

2011-04-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

Things are moving along smoothly in life these days. work , life balance is maintained though I am on call 24/7 and must say I am used to this lifestyle now.

Try my best to always find some time to do self studying and improve my knowledge. I have become addicted to reading now I feel its a good thing.

I always try to do what I love to do and making music and photography are two things which has kept me occupied during my free times and has yielded good results.

Family wedding season will begin next month and it will go on till next January. Fun and Food wise its a good thing but finding something to wear for all the occasions would be a tricky one.

What a win by Mahela and the Kochi Tuskers in the IPL yesterday over KKR. Mahela showed why he is a great captain and Shah Rukh Khan must be having a new theme song now " Kochi Kochi Hotha Hai !!"

Some small advice before I stop. "Don't go after things too much.. be patient once you have done your best. and if you did it honestly and in a good heart, good results will eventually come. "

Cheers !!

Some Simple Advice

2011-04-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny..
- Author unknown

Cheers !!

Why I think Dilshan was made the New Sri Lankan Cricket Captain

2011-04-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

1. Matthews has obviously not recovered from his injury and maybe a doubtful starter for the England tour.

2. Dilshan will be captain only for the England tour till SLC grooms Matthews to be Captain.

3. Sanga and Mahela 's participation is doubtful since they are captains of their respective IPL Teams and might join the tour half way or the SLC has decided to show them the door and bring youngsters to replace them.

4. SLC wants to try something new.

5. SLC is nutzzz and wants the team to perform badly in England so it will be Sri Lanka's wedding gift to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Cheers !!

Suba Aluth Avruddak Wewa !!

2011-04-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

A Wish from me to All you out there..

Oba Samatama Subhama Subha Aluth Avruddak Wewa !! =D

Super Weekend..

2011-04-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

The Past Weekend was a superb one to say the least. Fun Music and a lot of Food; It was Simple Great. Guess it will happen the same this week as well with the new year around.
Wishing Everyone a Superb Week Ahead.. =)

Cheers !!

CWC 2011 - An Indian Conspiracy..

2011-04-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

First of all I like to stress that this is not a Cricket Blog. You might surely know now that I am a die hard cricket fan and there is another view I really wanted to write about before the CWC(Cricket World Cup) Fever is definitely over for another 4 years. So here I go..

As I state in my Title I believe that the whole CWC we witnessed recently is a whole conspiracy made by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India to give India the World Cup. Now my Indian friends who reads this will get pissed about my statement But I stress "YOU SHOULD NOT " after all you HAVE THE CUP ( a fake one at first.. which made me so damn happy when I heard about it ) and the rest of the countries have nothing but a load of money which is worthless since its like a monthly salary or a wage for completing an assignment.

So why do I say its a Conspiracy ? Just take a look back from the days the last World Cup was played and What the Indians did to change the nature of Cricket that is played in the World today ? They created the IPL and by throwing loads and loads of cash they bought the stars of international cricket to play with their local players and teams ; hence, they were able to learn their skills and made sure their players would not have a problem ( to a certain extent) when they face them or bowl to them.

Next they started tours to South Africa , Australia and even Sri Lanka and got their players to tour those countries and get the exposure of playing in those countries and again get their players to get used to those players. This in a way is not a complain since teams should have international tours; BUT money crippled countries like ours always bough the Indians here and made our bowlers so familiar to them after we found gems who just made the Indian Batsmen look like Dummies.( ex: Ajantha Mendis).

So after doing all of that the World Cup came and they demolished every bowler and batsman ( except the South Africans I must say who really showed them what Cricket is) and went on to win the Cup.

I guess you could see where the whole world got it wrong. Money has become a commodity that has taken over sports like wildfire and though it existed in other sports such as Football and Basketball it never affected the great game of cricket till the Indians decided to do it. I must say its Pathetic. Players being sold for millions like goods on a supermarket just disgusts me.. "Talent Cannot be Measured by a Price ".

So our guys lost the final and by tomorrow they will be going back to India to play in the IPL. Isn't that so sad ? going after money is ok but you should have some dignity has a person or some national pride and try to work hard and improve your game for your national duties in the future ( England tour is not going to be easy). Instead, you go for a bucket full of money by playing some T20 matches which really is nothing but a baby when it comes to hard , competitive Cricket. In a way I am so glad that Angelo Matthews got injured and will be missing the IPL , he is our Future Captain and we should not let Bloody Indians or any other country to make use of him by letting them know his skills . If our Cricket Board people got their mindset correct, they will understand this but sadly as I said earlier, money just puts an end to all of that.

I am not saying that I hate the riches , I love to be rich and I want my future to be secure and I know that you need money to do that. BUT you should have some "Dignity" and "Pride" and respect for what you do and for your family and country. " YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP THOSE THINGS FOR CASH . "

So to conclude Congrats to India for winning this CWC. Make no Mistake they did play the Most Consistent Cricket throughout the Tournament and sure are the deserved victors. BUT.. we should not forget their "Plan.." and let us not let them implement that plan for the next world cup as well.

This the end of my CWC posts but certainly not the last Cricket Post. I believe that Cricket is in my Blood and is the one thing that brings Joy to all Sri Lankans. Lets Hope our Boys can Shine Down Under in 2015 and for that we should start the preparation now..

Cheers !!

The Morning After Depression

2011-04-02T20:24:00.001-07:00

Couldn't eat or sleep last night
More to Disappointment and Sadness
Guess its because I am a Die Hard Fan of our Cricket Team..
And I Believed we will go All da Way..

Who knows if I will be living in 2015?
Since the world will get has its problems from 2012
Need a distraction so Badly ..
And to make it worse..
Its back to work Tomorrow cos it's Monday..

This a Weekend I so Damn Won't to Forget !!

Well Played Sri Lanka !!

2011-04-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

You made us Proud by fighting to the End..
Mahela you were Magnificent
Malinga you were Superb
Mural we are going to Miss You !!
And Sanga
You are the Best Captain Ever and a True Gentleman for World Cricket !!

You didn't win the Cup.. But you Increased the Love and Passion for you by our island nation in More than a Million Words..

Well Played Sri Lankan Cricket Team !!!

Labana Sare Api Denawa Bate !!

Cheers !!

D Day...

2011-04-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

The Day Every Sri Lankan has been waiting for has finally arrived. Lets do it Boys !! Bring it Home.. =) We will support you with all are might.. We know you can do it.. =)
coincidentally this is my 300th Post and I am proud to dedicate to my country and Our Sri Lankan Cricket Team.. Hope this would be a memorable one.. =)

Cheers !!

Change..

2011-03-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

You know its coming but you can't do it..
You think about it but then you feel no point of thinking about it..
Best thing to is adapt and accept
After all nothing is permanent in Life..

Lessons from a Tragedy..

2011-03-27T03:59:00.000-07:00

The ongoing weekend have been a one with mixed emotions for me. Its started with Friday where I got sick with a very sore cramp on my leg and fever to go with it. The excitement and joy of Sri Lanka qualifying for their 3rd straight World Cup Semi Final by thrashing a sorry English Side and also the freaking weather which is like a barbecue never going to end. But, nothing took my mind and heart off than the tragedy i heard on Friday where an accident took away the lives of 3 guys all in my brothers age.

When I heard the story for the first time I was so shocked that I couldn't even believe something like that could happen. The way the accident has occurred and after seeing the pics of their damaged vehicle, I was really sad for those boys who has just begun to enjoy their lives as young adults but had to leave the world in such tragic circumstances. Even though I am not related to them and never knew them as friends or anything, it was quite a sad story to hear and see. I was feeling sad for their parents, how are they coping with this whole incident? One day you see your son go out of the house telling them that they are going to watch the world Cup and next day they return home in a coffin.. its really sad... very very sad..

I know that you can't determine when your life would end. I might die right now while writing this blog post, death is something you cannot control. But one thing you can do is , mitigate the chances of getting death early. Why should you drive a vehicle around 200 miles per hour ? (I am scared to drive even at 60 , people may laugh at my speed but I know my limit and drive according to that) and why can't you think about your loved ones before doing anything that could be dangerous and harmful to you and your life ?

We should always remember that with great power comes great responsibility (yes its not only for Spiderman Movies). If your parents have given you the money and the freedom to enjoy life, don't MISUSE that freedom and enjoy to a limit. You should remember that there are a lot of people around who care about you and in the end when you loose, every one of your loved ones will loose too. Listen to your Parents and never Break their Heart , thats the worst crime a person can do in his /her life.

I am not a person who likes to blog about things that makes me sad but when this incident occurred i really needed to write about it since its not the first time I heard such a tragedy. There is only one advice I like to give here
"DO ENJOY LIFE, But 2 A LIMIT ".

May those 3 guys Attain Nibbana and May they/ anyone NEVER face something like this in their lives again.

Have a Gr8 Week Ahead Peeps.

Cheers !!

World Cup Ticket Madness..

2011-03-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

The CWC has been awesome so far with a lot of upsets , excitement and just one sided games all mixed together. The world cup is nothing without its fans and its not a surprise when all die hard cricket fans try to get their hands on the limited number of tickets available so they can watch their heroes perform right before their eyes.

The tickets of course as i said are "limited" and the prizes for the tickets range from 100 rupees to something like 2000 if I am not mistaken. This is where the black market guys come in to play where they try to sell tickets to prices which is more than double the normal amount. Sadly the fans today only care about the match and does pay those amounts and even though they are able to go to the ground, its like you are jam packed in a private bus with no room and seeing the cricketers like dwarfs.
I must say "Its Not Worth it !!"

The best way to watch a cricket match (even if its the CWC) is watch it on tv. you get the commentaries, the replays and highlights as well as the best comfortable seat in the world. It might not create the same atmosphere you get in the ground, but paying something like 7000 bucks for a 700 rupee ticket (that's also for a one person) is pure madness!!. You could buy some poor kid some clothes from that money or invest it on something more worthwhile. but to waste for just a few hours of entertainment is.. i don't know... I think you can figure it out.

Do go to the matches , Enjoy the Match and Have much fun you want. But don't do the stupid mistake of buying tickets by paying more than its normal prize. Money is easy to spend but hard to earn so save your savings for a more worthwhile investment and enjoy the matches whenever you can from the comfort of your living room just like what I do in this CWC !! =).

I also like to Wish our Team All da Best for the Match on Saturday and I am Hoping SL can Beat the English and move a step closer to World Cup Glory!! Go Sri Lanka !!

Cheers !!

Never Work for Free !!

2011-03-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

It will get you nowhere.. cos these days Money is Everything..

Unfortunate...

2011-03-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

I've been blessed with a lot of friends. But sadly I don't get a chance to spend quality time with them and whenever they ask me to join them in most circumstances I have to reject.

This happens due to various reasons, sometimes its work , sometimes its money and sometimes its just my body giving up on me with tiredness and anxiety.

I am not blaming anyone for this. Only I can change this trend; and I am going to / I will change it no matter what.

Stretch..

2011-03-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Found this Awesome Quote in an article I ready Yesterday. Thought of Sharing with you All =).

“Sound when stretched is music. Movement when stretched is dance. Mind when stretched is meditation. Life when stretched is celebration.” ~Shri Shri Ravishankar Jee

Sounds Simple isn't it? Whatever comes upon us Lets Stretch ourselves to the limit WITH FOCUS which in the end will lead to Celebration =).

You can also check the article by going to the following Link.

20 Ways to Stretch Yourself

Have a Great Weekend Guys =)

Cheers !!

Life Described..

2011-03-16T19:30:00.001-07:00

I found the following verse which depicts the state of Life for most of us. Its a song by Joni Mitchell and the song is "Both Sides Now". The quote is as follows..

" I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all. "

Quite True isn't it ? Life is a Mystery most of the time. I guess the best way to live it is take each day as it comes and not worry about the past and the future too much =).

What is More Deceptive ?

2011-03-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Truth or Lies ?

If Only..

2011-03-15T00:12:00.001-07:00

The Week goes faster and the weekend goes slow
This world would be a better place.

Casey Abrams : With A Little Help From My Friends : American Idol Top 13

2011-03-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

Dilshan THINKS he is the MAN !!!

2011-03-10T21:32:00.000-08:00

No point in getting runs and wickets with minnows !!! . Get some runs against the Big Teams and then we will believe You are the MAN.

Sleep..

2011-03-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

We sleep to get rest and get ourselves energized
But, when we get up we feel still sleepy.. (most of the time)
Then the question arise ..
Should we sleep all the time? =)

Just Wanted to Say..

2011-03-05T21:54:00.000-08:00

I am Alive..=) been through a lot since the last time I blogged. It has just made me the person I am today. Hopeful, Happy. Motivated, Desires, Goals in Mind I've been missing those days I used to write and write =). Hopefully this would be a start =). Hope all of my blogger friends are doing great =).

Kit

Cheers !! =)

In Honor of Love..

2009-12-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

Is my New Blog where I decided to express my feelings about the special feeling adored by all and cannot live without. It will contain mostly poems that I have written about this great feeling over the years and I think those will get more meaning since I have also become a person who has finally got the chance to feel what Love is All About =).

You can go to the blog through the following URL.

In Honor of Love

Do note that this does not mean that I will be quitting this blog. This will be my first love and I will continue to write here just as I did in the Past =D.

November was a tough month to me and it taught me a lot of lessons. December will be a challenge and I am up for it.. Let see what happens.. I am not gonna be defeated.. I will WIN !!.

Have a Great Rest of the Week Ahead.. =)

Until Next Time ..

~Peace~

Loosing My Mind..

2009-11-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Certain things in my Life is not going my way lately. Chike!! its hard. Sometimes I feel helpless , frustrated , mad and upset because stuff like my employment situation, my conscience etc etc is pulling me down to hell and its really hard to keep afloat.

The only thing that gives me strength is the Love and Support I am getting from my Family , Friends and the Girl I Love so much. But I don't want to disappoint them and be a bad apple.What can I do ? Where do I start ? I don't know .. It sucks .. it truly, really sucks Big Time !

Been going to the temple a lot these days just to heal myself mentally and during that time I feel really good cos it does make me feel better.

I need a change soon and I need to change myself 2. It should be sooner rather than later..

Until Next Time

~Peace~

I Should Have Been a Lawyer...

2009-11-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

Sirawata I should have been a Lawyer you know. I am a talkative Parrot sometimes and can break into a conversation without control and can argue till I win the whole plum.
Numerous times I have been cautioned by my Parents my Friends by telling "Dude Control yourself , Putha Mokada Mei ??"or by pulling my leg or shirt without the notice of others. But the truth of the fact is that I am not short of a word to prove the things I believe on and I would go the whole distance by talking to prove it and convince others (Even in some cases its wrong.).

Once I had the desire to be a lawyer and almost sat for the Law Entrance Exam. In the end I realized it was not the job for me since I had a passion for other things such as IT and writing =D.( I am glad I made that choice =D).

Still I am not short of a word.Last Night I was arguing with a bunch of Indians regarding the Test Match and I only stopped because they never replied me back =D. Guess they knew they cannot talk with 1 Sri Lankan who had the balls to show them that we are not pussies like them =D.

The Talking Parrot Won =D and Maybe in the Next Life Time I can be a Lawyer and win some cases and make the whole world happy =D.

Hope everyone is having a Fabulous Week. =D

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Tits and Bits and Other News..

2009-11-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

HALO bACK... =D. Watsup Friends ? Hope you all are doing Good =D. I have been away for around 2 months from blogging and Its been a very decisive but crazy 2 months for me. All in all everything is sorted out ( well most to be exact) and things are again going smooth for me. I believe that everything happens for a reason and so I live according to that. Here is a summary of what I have been up2 during the last 2 months.. =D.

* First the Bad News. I gave my resignation to my current Workplace. It was a decision I should have taken long time back but finally after a lot of controversy inside and outside the office premises I decided to quit this place at the end of this Month. ( November). I will miss some good people over there but the majority is bad and total backstabbers. All I am saying is I am moving on.. and I am Glad about it =D

* I "ALMOST" have a Girlfriend =D.Why I say Almost is because she has not given me the green light yet but just the Orange. But I have a feeling she will give me the Green Light very soon =D. I didn't think I would be able to be a one woman man but some how I am doing it.She is wonderful beautiful and Awesome and I hope this would work out in the end =D.

* I have been driving like a maniac these days =D. I am not relying on Speed and ALWAYS thrive to be Safe. Damn I Love Driving. Specially on a Sunday Afternoon =D.

* Been Exercising a Lot. Thriving to get a Six Pack and some Agility to my Legs =D So far So Good I must say.. =D

* Last Monday was my Grandmothers 1st year Death Anniversary. I still remember that day and it still brings tears to my eyes. Yet the pirith ceremony and the Alms Giving was a Success so I am happy we could do the best for her though she is not with us anymore.

* I have got some oppurtunities to improve my Writing and make use of it more =D. Will let you know all the details asap =D.

Hope Everyone is Good. It's Good to be Back.. =D

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Def Leppard - Long Long Way to Go -

2009-09-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

Enjoy... \m/

Until Next Time..

~Peace~

I will Do anything for Love.. but I WON'T Do that...

2009-09-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Things I WONT do when searching for Love..

Go after my Best Friend's Girl though deep inside I feel I am attracted to her..

Ask my Best Girlfriend Out. Friends becoming Lovers don't ALWAYS work.

Cry, Cry, Cry when a girl rejects me asking her to give me another chance (Though I will try to fix the things she does not like about me so she will feel the same way about me )

Perform the Dating Advice I give to Others. ( It never works for the Tutor. It Always works for the Student )

Change my Good Beliefs , Qualities and Attitudes to win Lady Love.( It's not worth it)

And Finally..

Go After Love.. Sometimes Patience is the way to open the door of the most Unreachable Heart.. :)

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Art of An Amature..

2009-09-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

In the past I used to draw.I was able to draw people looking at them or their pics which gave me much joy when I had nothing to do. I didn't seriously take note of my this ability of mine though my Grandma used to persuade me to do it more often.. Today is her Birthday and as a tribute to her I decided to use this talent and draw some portraits of my friends :) Here are the Results.. :)

It took me two days to complete these drawings But when I see the results I think the effort was worth it :). Glad I can pay tribute to Atthamma like this on her Birthday and I hope our artists Lost Soul and Black like these 2 :).

Have a great week Ahead Everyone and Keep on Smiling :).

Until Next Time

~Peace~

LOOOOVEEEEEE ..

2009-09-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

So our dearest Black decided to tag me on the popular post about "Love" :), Its the first time someone decided to tag me on a topic so I didn't want to disappoint her :). So here are my thoughts about Love.. :D

Love is..

* watching a cricket match which Sri Lanka plays with my dad and shouting together when a wicket falls or we win and be sad together when we loose.

* telling my mom about all the things happening at work and she giving me advice in how to deal with them

* playing cricket with my bro in the garage and breaking all the glasses of the windows of our neighbors

* giving my sis tips about guys and latest fashion trends..

* the times I spent with my Grandma (Moms) when she was there and the time I spend with my other Grandma (Dads)in Tangalle.

* a Bug that bites you where the wound stays without healing..

* like a well you fall into it but u don't wanna get out of it

* the feelings you share and times you spend with you friends..

* something I have never fallen (I think) but hoping I would someday.

* What you Want. but Won't Get Easily.

* the feeling that keeps us all Alive , Happy and Smiling.

Thank you Black for the Tag. It really bought up some sweet memories that coincidentally I love and makes me happy. :D

Until Next Time..

~Peace~

Breaking the Silence..

2009-09-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am back :D. I haven't blogged for about a month before today and thought of taking a break since I thought I was revealing too much of myself and also got hectic with work to the max. But come on.. how can I stop blogging right?? :) Its in my veins so I decided to " Break the Silence " :D.

During the past month I have been through a lot.Work was hectic and difficult. Made quick decisions and suffered bad consequences because of that. Got mad and frustrated and also sick at the same time. It was a difficult month and I was beginning to get worried that I was going down the pit without nothing to hold on too.

Luckily I got a great family and a bunch of friends I adore like my life. They gave me the right advice and guidance and after thinking a lot about my decisions and actions and foreseeing my future, I changed my attitude and beliefs , became a hard thinker and decided to take time when making decisions. I also got more into Buddhism and I think the visit I made to Dalada Maligawa last weekend helped me a lot to heal myself and put myself back on the right path. I like to sincerely say "Thank You" to everyone and everything that helped me to get on that path in every way. :)

So how's my fellow blogger friends are doing ? I am sorry for not keeping in touch But remember I always think of you guys :D. I missed reading your blogs but now I am back u should be warned that I will be stalking you again :D.

Got some posts I really need to publish so I will do that one by one. It's good to be back. I feel my own once again :D.

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Anger Management... How You Do it ?

2009-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

Anger is one of the most feared emotions by Human Beings. An angry person can do things that he/she really doesn't want to do.. and often it ends up giving bad results rather than good ones. Sometimes it is said that long time anger is ok but the one that is always bad is being short tempered cos it makes you a monster and force you to do things that you really don't want to do. ( Believe me.. I have experience on that..).So.. it is really important to manage your Anger, at least stop it from happening often.. otherwise you will end up loosing your mind , loosing your friends . loosing the trust you worked hard to build up and more importantly. the love of the people whom you really want to love you and care about you.

What makes you Angry? If you see this Picture in this Post you will realize that. The points in that are so damn true and often those are the facts that makes you loose your temper.

So how can we control Anger? I have done many things to control myself from getting Angry.. Meditation is one solution it's good if you can meditate once a day cos it really heals your mind,stops you from thinking unnecessary things and calms you down when you feel you are getting mad.Another solution is listening to your favorite tunes when you feel that you are getting angry.. Music does heal your Soul ! so always rely on that to make you happy if you feel that you r not in a good mood and is feeling angry just about anything.. Try talking to yourself more and try to find out the outcome of the things you will do when you are angry.. will you loose a friend ? are you doing the right thing or wrong thing? can I solve this issue without being angry ? etc. This kind of talk really helps you to calm yourself during short tempered situations.. and helps you to choose the right path rather than getting mad and going on the wrong one. Also it is good to talk with a friend or a loved one you can trust about the issues you are getting mad at. Sometimes bottling up all your thoughts leads to getting Angry and Mad and it could end up being physical sometimes.. so best thing to do is talk or write down what you want to say this really helps you to heal yourself and forget the fact that you are getting mad.

Whatever said and done and No Matter how much solutions we do to manage Anger we should remember we are all human beings. Anger is part of us and we really can't live without it. I am also a person who gets mad( often in the past now its slowly decreasing..)and I have also had my own share of incidents where Anger has taken the better of me. But, I have always wanted to stop it so I have done the things I have said before to stop getting Angry. It DOES work. so do give it a try and I am sure it will work for you 2 =).

"Anger is a Monster in Disguise Waiting to Gobble you Down to Hell. Don't let it dot that..Cos You Belong in Heaven not in Hell."

Have a Great Week Ahead Everyone.. =)

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Lifehouse - Whatever It Takes .." Live "

2009-08-11T10:07:00.001-07:00

This song takes my Breath Away.. Every time I listen to It...

Lifehouse.. XOXO !!

Enjoy !! =D

Until Next Time..

~Peace~

Thank You Sanath..But Your Time is Up !

2009-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sanath Teran Jayasuriya.. The Best Cricketer ever produced by our Motherland.. The Master Blaster .. The Forearm Gladiator.. The Matara Mauler etc etc. we knew he was around during the early 90's ..we began to love him and adore him after 1996.. The fastest 50 .. the fastest 100 (until Boom shaka laka Afridi decided to take it away from him which was SAD !! ) the maximum sixes in an innings .. the highest one day score and the 2nd highest test score for Sri Lanka.. The most experienced cricketer in the world .. He has achieved every monument another cricketer can dream of and he has been a Gem for Sri Lanka and a Great Ambassador for World Cricket.

Now Mr. Sanath Sir I think you should give up and let someone else run the show.. I am not being mean here since you are one of my favorite cricketers of all time But I don't think you can work the magic you did in the past except from your great fielding capabilities which won't be surpassed by any other Sri Lankan Cricketer I am sure..

All the Bowlers today know where to bowl to you... Either a Bouncer to the rip cage or a slower bowl that even foxed the best test batsman in the world today.. Your batting was master class in the past and I still think it is.. But Sir its not effective anymore.. cos everyone knows what to do.. when you come to bat in the crease..

Please think about the rest of the players who are lining in the pack.. Mahela Udawatta has had a stop start career so far but he is a wonderful prospect.. We fans would love to see a new bloke come in to the scene and smash the new bowlers all around the park.. just like you did .. Don't you like to see it 2 ? I mean don't you like to see another player taking your mantel and carrying your name forward ??

Don't let Money be your Ultimate Goal Sir.. I know you can earn plenty from different cricket leagues such as IPL etc etc. But remember you are Star and a Star shines together with other Stars.. and never tries to undo one another.. I am not saying that you are doing it now.. but I fear you will do that in the Future..

So Mr. Sanath Sir.. I think you should think about your future more closely.. Just like Murali and Vaas whom I think did something even Arjuna Ranatunga was not able to do.. I know it will be hard to say Goodbye.. I know that we cricket lovers will miss you like hell when you put your boots up... But what I sincerely think is Sir.. You should think about the Future.. The Future of Sri Lankan Cricket..

So I end this Post with what I believe is a bit of a painful think to say since you are one one of my Favorite Cricketers of All Time.. BUT it's the Hard Truth..

" Thank You Sanath... But Your Time is Up !! "

Until Next Time

~Peace~

So far So Good with the Facebook Girl and Other News..

2009-08-07T10:39:00.001-07:00

I was amazed and happy to see all the Responses and the Good Wishes from All my Blogging Friends regarding my short love story so far with the Facebook Girl =D. I got to say that it's going gr8 so far and I hoping so much this would be the start of something great.. =) Fingers Crossed =D.

In Other News..

I been sick lately and I am so damn upset cos it always happens on Weekends.. Missed two days of work last week but got a 5 day Holiday hehe. Still it's not good but the Good News is the Sugar situation is not that bad as I thought but got to be careful =D

I just love Twitter.. Just want to Tweet even when I go to the toilet sometimes =D. Still.. it's heavy on the Phone Bill so I am controlling myself =D

Guys who think they have a bad complexion should try " Fair and Handsome ". Believe me.. It Works.. =D

Glad that Mahela got a Century at last.. Superb Batting.. Hoping he would get More.. =D

Just did some pretty silly things over the last weekend .. but now I have changed which has made me Happy =D

Two friends are leaving for USA soon and Malli will be going soon 2.. :(

Nangi is getting ready for A/L's wish her All the Best for her exams and I can't believe she is done with school 2..

I believe that Life is a Challenge and Everyone needs Love and from a Special One at that.. and I think I am feeling those emotions which I only used to see in movies till now =)

Have a Gr8 Weekend Peeps and join me on Twitter .. I assure you it's much more fun than following Ashton Kutcher =D

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Check It.. Check It.. The Facebook Girl.. Accepted my Request.. =D

2009-08-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Remember the Girl to whom I sent a friend request through a Poem ?? (Check out my last Post if you haven't seen the Request yet :P) well she decided to accept it after all today and replied me back =D

Its been a bloody hell of a weekend for me and two days cos I have been down with the flu. I took a blood test on Sunday and the Doc says that I have traces of Sugar :( I am scared of having it so I am hoping I would be fine soon... gonna go for a blood test tomorrow 2 and c the results...

Wish me luck with my Health and with the Gal 2.. :) She is such an Awesome Girl and I would do everything I can do to win her heart.. I feel she is my Julia :P and I have confidence I will win her..

Facebook Thank You for this.. and PLEASE NOTE that if any people of the government reading this PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK FACEBOOK 2.. PLEASE ! =D it's my one and only shot to win this ladies heart and I am sure it will inspire many to do the same in the future.. =D

Have a gr8 week ahead everyone .. May Good Health and Love be upon you All ! =D

Until Next Time

~Peace~

A Request...( The way I decided to send a friend request to a Girl in Facebook..)

2009-07-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

This might sound Desperate.. But I was really taken away from this girl's beauty when I saw her pics.. so I decided to sent her a friend request in a unique way.. by writing her a poem as a Personal Message =D.

She hasn't responded as yet but I am keeping my fingers crossed.. Check it out and Enjoy !! =)

PS: That's not her in the pic.. She is much more prettier than that =D

Every time I come to HSBC , I see your face..
Smiling and Working at the same time.. O what a Grace...

I always wanted to talk with you
But I was Always Afraid
Since I didn't want to bother you at work
And thought of leaving you Instead

I was going through a friend list of my friends today..
Suddenly I saw your pic and remembered your face..

I was happy, overjoyed cos I never thought I will
Find you in Facebook, and see you smiling still

My heart was trembling as i started typing
a mail of a different kind I hope like it

A request... for friendship... nothing more.. nothing less..
I sincerely hope u will read this mail.. without putting it to junk mail..

I am sending you a friend request.. attached with this mail...
I hope to hear from you soon and a favorable response as well =)

Have a great weekend.. and have a gr8 future too...
Keep on Smiling just like this... cos its looks soo good in you... =)

XOXO !!

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Change in Approach...

2009-07-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should change my approach to life.. This metronomic fast forward lifestyle is turning my life into a cobweb where I cannot find the place I could fit in.. Long Working hours.. Short Weekends.. Lack of Sleep.. Lack of time spent with Friends.. More time spent in front of the Computer and TV ... What's happening with me ??? Every moment I try to figure this out I get the chills..

The current financial crisis in our family has been one of the main reasons that has led me to live this kinda of a lifestyle.. As the eldest in my family I have sacrificed all my pleasures and joys for the sake of seeing my brother having a good last few days in Sri Lanka before he goes back to US. For the sake of seeing my sister happy as she goes through the rough times of studying for her als. For the sake of keeping my parents happy and smiling by lending them money whenever they have financial issues and be more responsible for my actions by starting to pay my own phone bill.. I am happy in doing all of these stuff.. even though I don't get my salary on time..

I hate when other people joke about me and my family thinking we are rich people just because we got a good car, a good house and ADSL etc. I don't listen to them when they gag about me.. I don't really mind it.. But I do get mad, frustrated and sad when they direct those talks to my dad and my family.. How can people be so pathetic?? and the worst part is they always come back asking to lend some money when they are broke. Sadly, I have learned some good qualities while growing up specially from my parents and my grandmother and that has made me a very approachable person to others to get some cash when they want it.. I am HELPLESS at those situations and I HATE THAT..

One of my sister's friends broke my digital camera and it's gonna cost 12,000 rupees to fix it back... The head phones in my Phone doesn't work anymore and I don't think I can replace it.. I still wear the same old shoes I bought in 2004 and it's almost on it's last ride.. My Boss at Work is not satisfied with my work and always yells at me for not doing what he wants.. People say Life is a Bitch..I say it's worst than that..

With all these bad things happening with me.. I decided to stay POSITIVE no matter what.. I am a believer of moments and I am sure better moments will come to my life someday.. I have suddenly become more money minded and I have a goal now to earn as much as I can so I can fulfill my desires in the future... I have my own ways of enjoying life by listening to good music.. by watching a cricket or football game on tv by hanging out with my family .. by going to a movie once in a while not caring about who wants to come with me or not.. I got some simple pleasures that I cherish so much.. that burning positivity , contentment and desire to smile has kept me going strong so far and I hope and prey that strength would stay with me forever..

No matter what happens...I know my goals .. I know what I want.. Someday I know I will be the happiest man on Earth and with my vision to be the Richest Man in the world still hanging around 2.. I know that I won't fail..

I used to be a timid guy who never had a vision, a goal or desire and used to cry about all the stuff that happened with me.. It WON'T happen anymore.. and nothing would stop me from reaching the highest mountain that I want to reach..

I know that my real friends will support me.. and God will take care of the fake ones..so I don't have to worry about them. Girlfriend will come someday.. when she comes.. Ill accept her..and give her all my love..

A new path has dawned for me.. and I am starting to leave my footprints along that path.. which I am sure will lead me to Success

Wish me Luck Peeps !

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Cupid should be Hanged..

2009-07-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

Cupid is crazy..
He's not a friend but a foe..
He thinks he brings hearts together
But often he breaks more..

He is not a friend but an assassin
Who brings pain through arrows..
Yet he never forgets to smile..
Making us believe what he shows..

More often a Looser than a winner
Not often a smile but a tear
Call himself an actual god
But acts like a dirty criminal..

For being a useless freak
Who never shows off himself
For not being there
When you need his shade

For being an utterly useless
Piece of Shit !

I believe that..
Cupid should be Hanged..

Until Next Time
~Peace~

Dirty Diana..

2009-07-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

She was in her late 20's ..Dark Blue Eyes..Long Hair that Shines like Black Velvet.. Bright Red Lips that Glowed in Sunlight..Skin Color which was just Unique.. .. She was every guy's dream girlfriend.. every girl's dream best friend.. Her name was Diana.. Everyone knew her only by that name..

She spoke rarely.. always responded to people's conversations with a smile.. she only had a few friends.. all of them girls..always hangout with that bunch..She never showed an interest towards guys ..and every guy who admired her thought she had a boyfriend so never really approached her and kept on admiring how beautiful and charming she was..

However.. there was one guy who didn't want to give up..he was a dude who had a lot of girls coming after him.. he rejected all of them since he was in love with Diana...He wanted Diana.. and after taking a lot of courage and determination to his heart.. he approached her and asked her out..

Diana was surprised at first.. and after some thought she told him that she would tell him the next day if they can go out or not.. The guy was happy cos at least she didn't say no.. he awaited eagerly for hours to pass. waiting to hear a "Yes."

The next day came.. and he was waiting in the front lawn of the Uni waiting her to appear and let him know.. She was there and when he came towards she smiled as she always does and told him the 3 letters he wanted to hear..

He was overjoyed but never showed it to her as they went out later that night..It was a simple date.. with ice cream.. a walk in the beach.. and back home in his bicycle... She loved it .. he loved it.. both of them loved it.. and before she left him that day she told him to close his eyes and gave him a kiss as she ran down her fingers down his eyes and lips.. he was feeling that he was in wonderland.. as she went away saying "Good Night !".

Days passed and People in Uni were amazed to see the new couple.. the other guys were amazed and this dude's courage to ask Diana out and some were even jealous because they couldn't make a move before him..They were a happy couple..

UNTIL... Diana began to change...

Diana suddenly decided to get away from her lover.. she began to ignore him and though He was her boyfriend, she tried her level best to stay away from him and hang out with her mates.. He was confused about all of these recent happenings and was really upset since he thought he has done something wrong to Diana. She began to ignore him and though He was her boyfriend, she tried her level best to stay away from him and hang out with her mates.. He was confused about all of these recent happenings and was really upset since he thought he has done something wrong.. he couldn't bear this distance apart between him and her and finally decided to ask her what this was all about..

"Baby, why are you avoiding me ?? Do you know how much I tried to call you ?? Every time when I call you turn off your phone.. Every time I try to meet you.. you say you are busy.. you don't even notice me anymore.. is something wrong? tell me honey why are you avoiding me like this.."

Diana was silent for a moment, then as she always did.. she smiled and replied back

"I am sorry baby.. you are just not my TYPE, we did have a good thing going on for sometime and I enjoyed every bit of that but now I am in love with another guy and I don't love you anymore..So let's end this please.. Cos I don't want to break your heart and give you any false hopes.. I am not in love with you anymore.. I have another Boyfriend !"

After saying this she showed him her new boyfriend.. He was first amazed when she told all this stuff to him, he was even more surprised when he saw her new boyfriend.. it was his best friend in Uni.. the guy with whom he had a friendship for over 10 years.. She has decided to choose his friend over him.. he was utterly devastated..

"So you decided to choose my friend instead of him.. Then why did you tell me that you love me.. ??" the guy asked with a lot of anger burning in his eyes..

She smiled again and replied back "I never said that I LOVE YOU "

He frowned..and went speechless... he tried his level best to hide his pain and anger at the same time.. He didn't know what has hit him..unable to hold on to those feelings and unable to look at her face again.. he walked away.. still mad with himself.. with her.. and his best friend.. whom he thought has betrayed him.. and his friendship..

Days passed as he saw the new couple with happy smiles everyday when he came to Uni. He was unable to concentrate on his studies as his mind was dwelling on the thoughts about her as he kept asking himself "Where did I go wrong ??" he was mad with his friend , he wanted to punch him in the face but he never did it cos he was not that type of a guy. he tried to avoid them as much as he could but whenever he saw her smile.. his anger, hatred and sadness grew to greater heights..

Time passed and one day during a Uni batch party, he saw his friend alone and having a beer. Remembering everything what has happened with him and being drunk with a lot of wine sunken down his throat, he thought this was the correct time to get back at his friend for taking away the girl he loved so much..

He showed up from behind and grabbed his friend shirt collar and was about to punch his friend on his face when his friend yelled " Dude Dude Stop ! Stop !! Don't Do It.."

He replied Back "You are not a Good Friend.. You took my Girl away from me and you are now dating her.. you broke my heart and trust man .. I need revenge.. I want to smack you in the face for doing this to me.." and aimed his fists to his friends face.

The friend stopped him again and said "Dude Stop It Bro.. It's not worth it.. you are not the only one who got hurt.. she did the same thing to me man.. just take a look around and see .. she is not with me anymore.."

He was surprised and amazed when he heard those words.. he calmed himself down and looked around. There he saw her.. and with his eyes widening up ..he saw her with another guy.. hugging and kissing and dancing ecstatically.. and he saw another thing that was soo familiar to him.. She was "Smiling"

He turned back to his friend and said "You 2 Bro ? " and his friend replied "Yes Bro..She said I didn't say "I Love You.." "

The two friends talked about everything Diana did with them and it was quite evident that both of them were fooled around by her fake love, fake kisses and most of all her fake smile..

Years after their graduation the two friends went back to the Uni get together where they met all their old friends.. They also saw Diana whom they got to know was a lecturer in the same Uni. She was with a guy hugging and kissing and having some glasses of wine. When they saw the dude they found one similarity.. It was another Guy.. the dude who was with her during the party was there at the get together as well.. alone.. and having numerous glasses of beer. The two friends realized what has happened and went near the Dude and said one thing..

" Sorry Mate..guess you have been DUMPED too by Dirty Diana.. We guess she told you too that you didn't say to her "I Love You..""

Until Next Time
~Peace~

Friends Will Always be Friends.. No Matter What..

2009-07-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

We do have our misunderstandings from time to time
We do get mad at each other . we never talk to each other
But we always remain friends...

Though we are not meeting each other
As often as we may like
We always remember each other
Through a forward mail or a SMS..

We think of ourselves sometimes
I guess it's normal to human beings
But still as friends we are together
During good and bad times..

Loosing a Friend is Easy
Making a Friend is Hard
I might have unfortunately
Broken your Hearts..

But remember grudges are temporary
Friendship is forever..
D, L and G Always Remember..

We Will Be ..

Friends Forever.. !! =)

<3

Until Next Time

~Peace~

R Kelly- I Am The Greatest

2009-07-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

Such an Awesome Song.. I only heard it for the first time yesterday and It just made me smile after having a bad day at work...

There is no video as such But listen to the Lyrics.. Its just Simply Awesome =)

Enjoy !!

Until Next Time
~Peace~

Boys Do Cry...

2009-07-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's not something to be ashamed of..
It's not something to stare at and laugh..
It's not something to be laugh at..

Boys are Human Beings 2.. and when they cry openly or at close doors.. Do respect their tears cos it means something..

"God Never Created Tears tagging it as "Ladies Only.." "

So Remember Always..

"Boys DO Cry.."

Until Next Time
~Peace~

Runner's Up

2009-07-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

The following is 50 percent a poem and 50 percent a song..=) Just some thoughts that rang on my head while being stuck on traffic while on the way home today.. Hope you guys like it =D

Lately.. I have begun to realize
You are drifting away from me
Sadly.. I can't talk with you about this
You always seems to get angry

I tried.. to do my best
To always make you keep you happy
You said.. you are not a boyfriend
You always stay away from me

Why do you keep running away..?
Why do you want to test me this way.?
I don't wanna be the 2nd best..
I don't wanna be runners up ..
for your heart..

Sometimes.. I wish I was your Brother
Cos you are always with him not me..
Its ok.. as long as you treat me well
But you always ignore me..

Baby.. Just give me a sign please
I cannot bear this pain inside..
Whatever.. you say or do though
I will try my best to be first..

Why do you keep running away..?
Why do you want to test me this way.?
I don't wanna be the 2nd best..
I don't wanna be runners up ..
for your heart..

Until Next Time
~Peace~

Random Thoughts after a Very Interesting Week...

2009-07-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

"Anger".. It gets you no where and in the end you will only have frustrations and will loose respect, trust and mostly friends..

"Think Twice" before you "Come to Conclusions.." quick decisions can lead you into a lot of trouble and later frustration..

Never believe what others say.. until you have enough evidence to prove to yourself that what those others are saying is true..

"Don't" leave your old friends for new ones.. cos only the old ones will stick with you forever..

"You can be a Body Builder" and a "Fitness Guru" but having strong bones is not good if you don't have a "Strong Mind."

"Be there for Friends.." when they need you the "Most.."

"Never Betray Your Parents.." they are the ones who loves you the most.. NOT your "Boy friends.." or ""Girlfriends.."

Happiness is not found through "Random Experiences" Its Eternal Happiness that matters the Most.

Until Next Time

~Peace~

The Six List - Tribute to "The King of Pop..."

2009-06-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite singers of all time.. "The King of Pop"...Micheal Jackson passed away on Thursday Night. It was a news that shocked me and really saddened me at the same time cos I have been a fan of his songs from the first day I started listening to him.So as a tribute I decided to dedicate the Six List to him this time.. So here are my top six favorite songs of Micheal Jackson,( It was difficult to choose cos I love almost every track of him)

May "The King of Pop" Rest in Peace..

Number 6 - Billie Jean

Number 5 - The Way You Make Me Feel

Number 4 - Beat it

Number 3 - Bad

Number 2 - Smooth Criminal

Number 1 - Black or White

Until Next Time

~Peace~

~Lost Soul ~

2009-06-21T01:30:00.000-07:00

As promised here is my tribute to "Lost Soul" who has been one of my favorite bloggers for a long time and has been a true friend I found from the early days I started blogging. I was planning to write a tribute to him for a long time but got busy with all sort of stuff which stopped me from doing it till now. He did a tribute to me before me which I really appreciate and feel honored to get one from a fellow blogger =D. Here is my tribute to him hope you like it Brother LS =D.

When I started Blogging I never thought I will
Find some Awesome people who became my closest Friends
There I found "Lost Soul", an Awesome blogger at his helm
We have been friends ever since and I am glad I met him

His blog always reaped, sadness bitterness and tears
I guess it's because of what he went through in life
But the way he put those feelings through words
Just made me read his blog with sheer delight

A gem of a blogger, A gem of a human being
I don't think he gives himself credit much
For being soo damn strong on things he went through
When others would drool and cry about..

His wicked stories.. his wicked poems
All of them attracted me to his blog
How can I forget the comments he gave me
The encouragement I cannot Thank enough..

Thank you Lost Soul,
You are a brother than a friend
Thank you for being there for me
When I needed your hand

Always remember
You are not "Lost" in anyway
Cos if u need to talk to a friend anytime
You know I am just a click away =D

Thank you Brother LS... You r one of the Best!!

Until Next Time

~Peace~

Thank You Brother LS.. =)

2009-06-17T01:35:00.000-07:00

I am really honored and privileged to write this post as a Thank You to one of my favorite blogging friends. This was something I never expected and taking his own time and doing something like this for me is truly great and I must say I LOVE it =D. Check it here peeps =D.

tribute

Thank You Brother Lost Soul.. It means a lot to me .. and do Await my tribute to you which has been long time coming and will be on here very very soon =D.

Until Next Time

~Peace~