The World: September 2015

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Jin Reading Quran In Khana Kabah

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse - Time Lapse - Sept. 2015

Simple Ways to Create Meaning at Work

Everyone wants to feel that they are making a positive difference in the lives of others. Show your people that they are making a difference every day of the week.The startling truth is that 70% of employees are disengaged at work checked out, with no one at home. That's a real dilemma for the companies trying to do more with less, which is of course all of them. The answer to winning back disengaged employees, (and keeping the engaged employees, well, engaged), isn't pay, perks or promotions. It's meaning--that is, giving work a greater sense of significance, and thus, making work matter.

1. Help your team understand their purpose, and show them that their work matters

Carve out time for employees to explore the purpose--or the profound why--of what they do. So, introduce your team to their customers. Gather stories of how their work helps others, even in small ways, and encourage them to share their own stories. Re frame the work your team is doing so they can understand how and why they fit into that work.

2. Commit to crafting a learning environment that energizes and maximizes personal growth for your team

Make space for your team to create and execute their own learning plans, offering help along the way. Understand their different learning styles and attention spans, and provide experiences for growth expanding on what they already know, with immediate opportunities for practice.

3. Be intentional about building self-esteem so others feel valued and valuable

You care about your personal family and friends, but what about your work family, whom you probably see the most? Do you ever ask how your employees are doing, and care about what they say? By showing employees their value, they will feel valued as individuals and in turn are more likely to live up to their value in the workplace. What is competence without confidence?

4. Involve the troops in decisions to net a sense of control, and grant autonomy liberally

Micromanagement can be a meaning-killer. Including your employees in decisions and giving them space to get the job done helps them feel less like numbers and more like contributors. Whether it's where to put the new soda fridge, or how to solve a million-dollar problem, don't manage in a vacuum.

5. Create a caring and authentic culture, where people feel free to bring their whole self to work

This starts with bringing your whole self. By being your authentic self, you give employees permission not to check their identities at the door, even if they root for the Yankees.

6. Help others see where they fit in the mission, and that the mission depends on them to achieve it

Your employees will never think their work matters if they don't know that they matter. Achieve this by showing them the long-term vision and how they fit in it--beyond the org chart.

7. Free the workplace from corrosive behaviors that serve as barriers to the best self

Instilling fear and introducing uncertainty to your team can mean two steps back on any progress you've made to create an authentic, meaningful workplace. So can a lack of decision-making and/or integrity. Cut off corrosive behaviors that stand in the way of your team's potential to thrive in an authentic culture thriving on meaning, allowing each member to be his/her best self.

tum hi ho Malapuram version (തും ഹി ഹോ മലപ്പുറം വേര്ഷ്യന്‍ )

Monday, September 28, 2015

Powerful Habits That Drive Every Great Leader to Success

You can find the success you seek by adopting some very simple but powerful habits of today's greatest leaders. If you take a look inside most any management textbook, you'll find that there are four classic functions of management that have been written about for decades: plan, organize, lead, and control.

While I personally believe that these functions still do have their place in business, they don't really tell leaders how to best to unlock the energy within the members of their team to get things done.

Here are the five powerful leadership habits make the biggest difference in the success of every leader--and the organizations they work for -

1. Energize

Great leaders are masters of making things happen in their organizations by unleashing the energy and enthusiasm of each and every one of their employees. Great leaders create more energy in their organization than they consume by creating compelling visions that inspire their employees to bring their very best performance to work every day of the week.

2. Empower

Empowering the members of your team means giving them the responsibility--and the authority--to do their jobs at a high level of performance. Great leaders leverage the power of their team to accomplish a common purpose and goals. When you get out of the way and let your people do their jobs, their creativity and commitment will follow.

3. Support

The best leaders today are coaches, not watchdogs or micromanagers. Encourage your people to try new things to further the organization's goals, and to take risks--and reward them when they do. And if they fail, don't punish them--instead, encourage them to pick themselves up and try again.

4. Communicate

Information really is power, and as the speed of business continues to increase, the right information must be communicated to the members of your team, faster than ever. Err on the side of more communication rather than less, and work to hone your own communication skills as a leader.

5. Recognize

It's true--you really do get what you reward. If you want your people to do more great work, then recognize and reward their efforts when they do. Not only will you build a culture of excellence, but your people will be happier, more engaged in their work, and more loyal to you and your organization.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Have green tea and apple daily for good health

A compound found in green tea and apples can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer, says a new research. Polyphenols in green tea and apples block a key molecule which in the body can trigger atherosclerosis and is a target for some anti-cancer drugs, the findings showed.

Atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, or even death. “These data provide a plausible mechanism, which links bioactive compounds in food with their beneficial effects,” said research leader Paul Kroon at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Britain.

In the body, the molecule ascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a main driver of blood vessel formation in diseased cells via a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is crucial in cancer progression as well as in the development of atherosclerotic plaques and plaque rupture which can cause heart attacks and stroke.

Using cells derived from human blood vessels, the researchers found that the polyphenols—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea and procyanidin from apples—stopped a crucial signalling function of VEGF. “If this effect happens in the body as well, it provides very strong evidence for a mechanism that links dietary polyphenols and beneficial health effects,” Kroon noted.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Decisions that can ruin your career

Your decisions have consequences. Some of your less than optimal decisions have a long-term impact on your career. Awareness and prevention is the best solution. Here are a few decisions that can ruin your professional life.

Following your passion: If your passion is playing the guitar or physical adventure, you can choose a career in a band or the armed forces respectively. However, both choices can limit your income generating ability. This could leave you resentful later in life when you seek wealth. Know that your passions are not permanent. Realise that the world pays for what it needs and pays well only if you are very good at delivering it.

Accepting the bird in hand: Though at first glance the first opportunity that comes your way seems better than opportunities you cannot see, accepting it is not always the best decision. The endowment effect causes you to ascribe a higher value to what you own and prevents you from working towards a better opportunity. Think before you accept the first offer on the campus and avoid getting on to a sub-optimal career trajectory.

Finishing your education: Done with graduation? Good. Finished your postgraduate professional course? Great. Done with your education? Bad decision! While you may heave a sigh of relief with a coveted degree under your belt, it is only good enough to give you a great first job. Later opportunities are an outcome of skills you learnt at your current job. When your formal education ends, your on-the-job learning begins and this phase should last your lifetime.

Switching jobs for salary: At any point of your career, the highest paying job amongst competing opportunities is probably pointing towards a dead end. Choose it only if it is your last job before retirement. Consider the demand-supply dynamics for your skill set. A job that offers higher longterm rewards is attractive to more applicants like you and thus employers would prefer to offer lesser compensation in the short-term. Where long-term career growth or returns are missing, employers offer higher compensation to attract you and your competitors.

Choosing a bad life partner: If your life partner is not aligned with your professional ambition, your career will plateau. A huge amount of your bandwidth will be expended in getting a buy-in for every career move, every late night and every weekend spent on work. This will leave little motivation to put in the effort needed to succeed.

Settling roots too early: Choose a city to settle down early in life and you are blinded to opportunities that could take you places. Buy a house and move into it early in your career and you are unable to rationally evaluate opportunities that either require a long commute or a change of house.

Avoiding sales: You have decided to never be a salesperson? Terrible decision. Know that at every point in your professional life, you are required to sell if you wish to succeed. Sell yourself at the interview, sell your achievements during appraisals, sell the benefits of your output to a client, sell your ideas at a meeting. Recognise that sales is part and parcel of every role you choose, so welcome opportunities to get better at it.

Forgetting your job friends: Every time you switch jobs, you leave behind a set of friends made at your old workplace. As you get caught up in your new role, those relationships fall by the wayside. Not only do you lose an external professional support system, but also on great job opportunities in the future. The best job opportunities are never advertised on job boards or to headhunters. They go to individuals referred in by employees who know about the vacancy. So keep your past relationships alive.

Changing careers: Are you a pilot who is fed up of flying or a software engineer who is done with coding? You switch careers and find yourself starting afresh in a temporarily exciting job. You find yourself at the bottom of the heap, where your past experience is not acknowledged. People your age are ahead of you and will continue to remain so. Sticking to one career gives you exponential benefits with increasing experience so change careers with caution.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Ways to Improve Your Webinars

Web conferences or webinars are a great way to explore new possibilities, engage staffs with new learning methods, or provide training and insights to employees or clients. Making your Web conference engaging can be more challenging than it sounds, however. The key, is making the most of your interactions and personalizing the webinar experience. Here are the suggestions for making the most of your Web conferences.

Welcome your guests with an interactive "lobby"

Greet your guests by asking them to do something as soon as they log into the Web conference. "Using a 'lobby' with interactive features where early arrivals can wait is a good way to get the audience involved. Interactive features could include an open chat pod to encourage conversation among attendees, or an interactive trivia quiz.

Get first names and build rapport

Let your audience know you are a real person, and not just a recorded voice. If participants include their first names in the interactive lobby, then welcoming some of them by name. It's amazing how much more interaction you will get throughout the webinar if you try this simple technique right at the start. Build rapport with your audience by engaging them through specific questions that require responses in chat.

Speak to an individual

One way to really connect with each attendee is to pretend you're having a private conversation. Think of your webinar as a conversation with one other person. This cn be done by using the word "you. For example, say, "How would you address this situation?" instead of ,"Can anyone tell me how they would address this situation?"

Vary your voice and keep your energy levelup

A webinar removes almost all nonverbal communication. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't move naturally. Stand up and pace while you speak, or make hand and armgestures while talking. Physical activity translates to a more energetic delivery. The webinar hosts should avoid speaking in a monotone, and be aware of changing tone and speech speed. Varying these factors can refocus your audience on your voice and content, keeping listeners engaged.

Add interactive features gradually

While there are many interactive features available to enhance webinars, don't be tempted to add too many; they may overwhelm and confuse your audience. If you're a first-time host, pick just two or three points of interaction throughout your first webinar. Then add other interactive elements as you become more comfortable with webinar presentations.

Get visual

Presenting business information visually is a key best practice for Web conferencing. Use attention-getting graphics in your slide deck. Two good rules of thumb are "use one key point per slide" and "spend no more than one minute on each slide". It's also important to make your slides relevant and memorable. If you talk about achart or diagram, show it.

Ask questions of your audience

A simple but effect Web conferencing best practice is to simply ask questions. Asking questions engages participants, ensures understanding [and] lets adultlearners share their knowledge, adding that most webinar platforms have polling tools to collect answers and make your webinar more of a conversation. You can also have a few 'questions from the audience'prepared ahead of time to help with a more conversational versus lecture feel, or to jumpstart a Q&A session.

Engage participants continuously

A successful Web conference or webinar keeps participants' attention for the entire presentation. Do this by encouraging interaction frequently. Studies show that webinar producers and virtual presenters should plan some sort of interaction every five to seven minutes throughout a virtual presentation to keep the audience engaged, attentive and more likely to retain the content. Interaction simply means that your audience performs an action in response to something in your webinar. This could be anything from using emoticons to polls, chat, Q&A or anything that gets them touching the screen to interact with your webinar platform.

Tell a story

Storytelling is a valuable best practice for Web conference hosts who want their attendees to remember a lesson. People love stories. Make your critical points memorable by wrapping them in a story. Going on camera makes a story really come to life. Whether or not you appear "on screen," it's important to personalize the stories you use. Don't just spout theories, instead, show your audience cases and examples, and encourage them to use these examples to practice problem solving. Help them apply your techniques to real-world problems that they experience. Help them demonstrate the value of your methods.

The best "best practice" is practice

Perhaps the most critical best practice when hosting an engaging and entertaining webinar is practice. Practice your presentation at least once with the webinar tool you'll beusing, and practice it enough so you can comfortably use bullet-point-style notes rather than a scripted presentation. Doing so will help you speak more naturally throughout your webinar. Lastly, don't forget the purpose of your Web conference. Remember to include a well-planned summary and call-to-action at the close of your presentation.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Orange glasses may help you sleep better

You may have a great night's sleep if you put on orange glasses some hours before going to bed, says a study. Orange glasses have been found to block certain wavelengths of light emitted by electronic screens which hamper our sleep cycle, making it easier for us to sleep. Studies have shown that light from the blue part of the spectrum, inhibits the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that helps people fall asleep.

A Swiss study of 13 teenage boys showed that when the boys donned orange-tinted glasses -- also known as blue blockers and shown to prevent melatonin suppression -- in the evening for a week, they felt "significantly more sleepy" than when they wore clear glasses. The boys looked at their screens for at least a few hours on average before going to bed, and were monitored. The findings were published in The Journal of Adolescent Health.

Older adults may be less affected by blue light, experts said, since the yellowing of the lens and other changes in the ageing eye filter out increasing amounts of blue light.

But blue light remains a problem for most people, and an earlier study of 20 adults ages 18 to 68 found that those who wore amber-tinted glasses for three hours before going to bed improved their sleep quality considerably relative to a control group that wore yellow-tinted lenses, which blocked only ultraviolet light, The New York Times reported.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Health benefits of pomegranate peel you never knew !

Pomegranates are known for their taste and amazing health benefits. While most of us chomp on the red tangy tiny seeds or the fruit to reap its benefits, it’s tough red skin is often discarded. However, like the fruit. the peel too has lots to offer. Here are few benefits of pomegranate peel you probably never knew.

Pomegranate peels are good for skin and hair health

Here is how the fruit peel helps take your beauty and hair care regimen to a new level altogether:

#1 It fights acne, pimples and rashes

Because of its healing properties, pomegranate peels can effectively fight acne, pimples and rashes. The peels are rich in antioxidants and help in keeping bacteria and other infections at bay. Here are some herbal remedies to get rid of pimples.

How to use it: Take a handful of sun-dried pomegranate peels and roast them over a hot tava or a deep-bottomed pan. Allow them to cool and grind them in a grinder or mixer. Make a paste of this powder with lemon juice or rose water and apply it all over your face, especially on your pimples or acne. Let it dry for a while then wash it off thoroughly with lukewarm water.

#2 It prevents wrinkles and other signs of ageing

The peels prevents breakdown of collagen in your skin, in turn promoting cell growth, which helps delay signs of ageing and wrinkles effectively. Here are 10 tips to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging.

How to use it: Take two spoonfuls of sun-dried and powdered peel and add little milk to it. If you have oily skin, add rose water to the powder instead of milk and make a paste out of it. Apply this paste on your face and keep it till it dries. Wash your face with lukewarm water and try using the powder at least twice a week for better results.

#3 It acts as a natural moisturizer

Pomegranate peels are great for your skin. It hydrates and protects your skin from pollutants and other environmental toxins. It restores the pH balance of the skin. The ellagic acid present in the peels lock moisture in the skin. keeping it soft and supple. Here is how to moisturise your skin naturally.

How to use it: Grind sun-dried pomegranate peels in a mixer and empty the powder into a clean bowl. Make sufficient powder to last you for a week and store it in an airtight container. Take two spoonfuls of the powder and mix well with some yoghurt to make a paste out of it. Apply this paste on your face and neck and leave for 10 minutes. Next, wash it off with cold water.

#4 It acts as an effective facial scrub

Pomegranate peels can help in removing dead skin, black and white heads from your face when used in form of a facial scrub. Here are 10 natural homemade facial scrubs to get rid of dead skin.

How to use it: Take two spoonfuls of sun-dried pomegranate powder and add one spoon of brown sugar to it. To make a paste, add one spoon of honey, one spoon of avocado oil or any essential oil of your choice and mix well. Next, scrub your face with the homemade scrub and massage thoroughly. Wash it off with water to get smooth supple skin. However, don’t forget to use a toner and a moisturiser after scrubbing.

#5 It acts as natural sunscreen

Pomegranate peels also have sun-blocking agents in them that can save your skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays which can go a long way in preventing skin cancer. Here are some home remedies to get rid of suntan naturally.

How to use it: Make a powder with sun-dried pomegranate peels and store in an airtight container. Mix this powder with your lotion or cream, preferably 20 minutes before leaving the house. Alternatively, you can also mix the powder with some essential oils and apply on your face, if you wish to use a natural sunscreen.

#6 It arrests hair loss and prevents dandruff

Pomegranate peels can also help you fight hair loss and prevent the menace of dandruff. Here are seven home remedies to control dandruff.

How to use it: Mix dried-pomegranate peel powder with your hair oil. Next, apply it on the roots of your hair and massage thoroughly. You can wash your hair with a mild shampoo after two hours of the application or keep it overnight as per your convenience.

Pomegranate peels help to restore your overall health

Here is how the peels can help one combat various health crisis and boost overall health:

#7 It’s an excellent home remedy for sore throat

If you are having sore throat or are suffering from tonsil pain and need immediate relief pomegranate peel powder can help you soothe your troubled throat.

How to use it: Take a handful of sun-dried pomegranate peels and boil them in water. Now strain the concoction and allow it to cool for a while. Next, gargle with this water often to get relief from sore throat and tonsil pains.

#8 It protects against heart disease

The peels are packed with powerful antioxidants that help fight against dangerous and life threatening heart diseases. It also lowers cholesterol levels, reduces stress and restores heart health. They reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure too. Here are eight ways to prevent a blockage in your heart.

How to use it: Mix one teaspoonful of pomegranate peel powder with a glass of warm water and drink the mixture daily to improve your heart health. However, having the drink every alternate day will also help you restore your heart health alongside proper diet and regular exercise.

#9 It improves dental hygiene

Pomegranate peels can help deal with a host of dental problems like preventing bad breath, gingivitis, carries and mouth ulcers. Here is how poor dental hygiene can lead to oral cancer.

How to use it: In a glass of water, add one teaspoon of sun-dried pomegranate peel powder and mix well. Next, gargle with this mixture twice daily to get rid of bad breath. Massaging your gums with pomegranate peel powder can prevent gum diseases by soothing swollen, inflamed and bleeding gums. Mix a pinch of black pepper powder with pomegranate powder and apply the mix with your fingers on your teeth and keep it for a while to prevent dental decay. Rinse your mouth with water after around 10 minutes.

#10 It boosts bone health

Because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate peels are effective in reducing bone density loss, especially in menopausal women. Studies indicate that consuming concoctions made of pomegranate peels can help boost bone health and prevent the onset of osteoporosis after menopause. Here are five things that can help improve bone density.

How to use it: Add two spoons of sun-dried pomegranate peel powder to a glass of warm water and mix well. You can also add a spoonful of lemon juice and a dash of salt, to make it taste better. Drink this concoction at night to strengthen bones.

#11 It helps improve gut-health

The peels have tannis in them that help reduce inflammation of the intestine, swelling of hemorrhoids, tighten intestinal lining, stop bleeding during diarrhea and improve digestion. Here are nine home remedies for better digestion.

How to use it: Soak half-cup sun-dried pomegranate peel in water for 30 minutes. When it softens, put it in a blender, add one teaspoon cumin seeds, three-fourth cup buttermilk, a dash of rock salt and blend all the ingredients. Drink this mix at least three times a week to combat piles, inflammation of intestine or digestion problems. If you are suffering from diarrhea or have bloody-stools, you can drink it three times a day to relieve your symptoms.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

5 common health mistakes you are making !

You may be surprised at just how many 'innocent' habits and routines could, in fact, be doing you harm.

Using the mobile before bed

Why it's bad: Radiation from cellphones can cause insomnia and headaches, according to Swedish scientists. They found people who used their mobiles before bed took longer to reach the deep-sleep stages, essential for cell rejuvenation and repair. Simple solution: Use your landline for bedtime calls and don't keep your mobile on your bedside table, advises Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre.

Brushing teeth after meals

Why it's bad: "While you should brush teeth twice a day for two minutes, you shouldn't brush after meals," says Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "The sugar in food reacts with plaque to create acid, which softens tooth enamel — so brushing straight after meals can actually do more harm than good." Simple solution: "Wait an hour after eating and brush your teeth before you have breakfast as this will prevent dental erosion by coating the teeth with fluoride," advises Dr Carter. Chew sugar-free gum to freshen your breath after meals.

Worrying about your weight

Why it's bad: It's good to keep your weight at a healthy level, but obsessing about a few kilos won't do you any good. "Body mass index doesn't take into account the amount of muscle or where the fat is," says Dr David Haslam, the National Obesity Forum's clinical director. "Many athletes are classed as overweight when in fact they have a low amount of body fat. Some people may have a healthy BMI but have a lot of abdominal fat and be at serious risk of health problems." Simple solution: Concentrate on waist measurement instead and aim to keep it below 80cm, advises Dr Haslam. This reduces risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Carrying a heavy handbag

Why it's bad: Big bags are bad news. "Carrying a heavy load on one side causes an imbalance in the muscular structure, triggering neck, shoulder and back problems," warns Danny Williams, council member of the British Osteopathic Association. Simple solution: "Distribute weight across the body with a cross-body shoulder bag rather than carrying it on one shoulder," says Williams. Buy small bags.

Starting the day with warm water and lemon

Why it's bad: It may be a great detox but dentists say it's a mistake. "Hot water and lemon is corrosive to your teeth," warns Dr Mervyn Druian from The London Centre for Cosmetic Surgery. Simple solution: "It's better to drink peppermint tea as it works to strengthen tooth enamel," says Dr Druian.

Friday, September 18, 2015

How to Inspire Your Team?

Inspire. Just the word itself causes us to pause and think. We may remember our own personal heroes like Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa or a teacher or mentor who brought out the best in us and showed us the power of one person. As, Albert Einstein said: Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing. So, that means we all have the power to inspire others by our actions. We tried to know how our colleagues inspire the team.

To inspire a team is a great task for the managers as well as for the team members, we have to keep in mind some important things which is necessary for the inspiration such as encourage individually, understand your team, focus on their weakness and strengths, reward them etc. If anyone of our team mates suffers from any kind of frustrations, we have to look into the cause and try to sort things at the earliest. Also give them what they are worth, provide them with better environment, offer opportunities and also conduct training classes which help them to perceive and utilize in a proper way, replied one of the respondents.

Inspiring team members is quite helpful to have a healthy relationship among each other. Inspiring a team can not only be done by superior officials. Co-workers can inspire each other, yet another way to work smoothly. A word of inspiration can make you rise when you feel down. Or when we work under pressure, a helping hand always will make you feel good, says another employee.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Government Of India Introduced Online Services