Measured By What You Do !!!

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, “ur Honor, I am poor. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.”
The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter?”
The farmer replied “Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

What is the point of the story? We get back in life what we give to others.
Whenever you take an action, ask yourself this question – Am I giving fair value for the wages or money I hope to make ?

Honesty and dishonesty become a habit. Some people practice dishonesty and can lie with a straight face. Others lie so much that they don’t even know what the truth is anymore. But who are they deceiving ? Themselves – more than anyone else.


I love the line in Batman which always sticks in my head, ” It is what I do that defines me !!!”

Leadership with a Vision

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
Visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, using imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a challenge that calls forth the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. They work with the power of intentionality and help people find a higher purpose. Their eyes are on the horizon;  they are political, business, social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.

A visionary may dream wonderful visions of the future and articulate them with great inspiration. A visionary leader is good with words but also with actions. It  requires  heart-felt commitment.

A visionary leader is effective in manifesting his or her vision because s/he creates specific, achievable goals, initiates action and enlists the participation of others.
It requires core values, clear vision, empowering relationships, and innovative action. 



CLEAR  INSPIRATIONAL  VISION

Visionaries who are successful at manifesting their visions base their leadership on an inspirational, positive picture of the future, as well as a clear sense of direction as to how to get there. Vision is a field that brings energy into form. Effective leaders broadcast a coherent message by themselves embodying their vision. 


http://lesliechoudhury.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/nelson1.bmpNelson Mandela clearly held a positive vision of a racially harmonious South Africa during his 28 years in jail and helped bring it into reality peacefully– to the amazement of the world.  I urge you to see the movie ‘Invictus’.
“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.
                                                        Nelson Mandela

The best visionary leaders move energy to a higher level by offering a clear vision of what is possible. They inspire people to be better than they already are.  This was the power of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. The creative  power  of  inspired words can sound a certain inner note that people recognize and respond to.

Visionary leaders transmit energy to people, giving them confidence in achieving the vision. Television host Oprah Winfrey helps her guests believe in themselves and work to create a better world. She is the number one Talk Show host!

http://lesliechoudhury.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/obama_inauguration_1243208c.jpg
President Obama, won the elections with three words, “Yes We Can”, giving people ‘Hope’ and wanting to see ‘Change’ happen.
When we look around us here in Singapore,  the world sees clearly the vision of  leaders like Goh Keng Swee and Lee Kwan Yew. A small country  making big waves due to a clear and powerful vision. On the business front,  Kwek Leng Beng from CDL,  Ho KwonPing of Banyan Tree,  the late Ng Teng Fong of Far East, and J.Y. Pillay for Singapore Airlines have all made their mark due to a vision that paved the way forward. “ Where there is no vision the people perish.” – The Bible

Body Shop founder,  Anita Roddick’s  vision  addressed health and environmental problems, as well as poverty in the Third World, through the innovative strategies she designed for her hugely successful products and stores. Products are made of non-polluting ingredients and stores were opened in poor neighbourhoods to provide employment and return profit to the community.

Many of us avoid the responsibility of visionary leadership primarily because we are too scared of criticism or failure.  Today, as we enter the Third Millennium, new visionary leaders are emerging.  Will you rise to the need and challenge?


If you want one year of prosperity,    grow the business contributing units,
If you want ten years of prosperity,     
grow the contributing territories,
 If you want one hundred years of prosperity,   grow the contributing people. 



Leslie Choudhury
has been the CEO of 4 different corporate companies in 4 different countries. His ability to motivate, influence and inspire change in staff mentality and results won awards like: Westin’s Business Innovation award, the President’s/CEO’s award for running the best Sales team in the world for Sheraton Hotels, Best Service Company of the year award in Singapore, and “EBIT & ME Personality Award for Asia & Pacific”.  Choudhury holds a BBA from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, the only person in Asia awarded with ‘CITE’ status. Author of  self-help books series called  ‘Once Upon A Time’ . Voted as the world’s number 6 Communication Guru by Gurus International, in the Global Who’s Who Directory recognizing his Training & Speaking prowess. Leslie is the CEO of Dreamz Image International and Director for Directive Communication International ( ASIA) Pte Ltd. For more info see www.lesliechoudhury.com
        

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVERS !!!

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVERS !!! REALLY ?
– www.lesliechoudhury.com


Studies show attractive students get more attention and higher evaluations from their teachers, good-looking patients get more personalized care from their doctors, and handsome criminals receive lighter sentences than less attractive convicts. But how much do looks matter at work?


The ugly truth, according to economics professors Daniel Hamermesh of the University of Texas and Jeff Biddle of Michigan State University, is that plain people earn 5 to 10 percent less than people of average looks, who in turn earn 3 to 8 percent less than those deemed good-looking.

These findings concur with other research that shows the penalty for being homely exceeds the premium for beauty and that across all occupations; the effects are greater for men than women.

A London Guildhall University survey of 11,000 33-year-olds found that unattractive men earned 15 percent less than those deemed attractive, while plain women earned 11 percent less than their prettier counterparts. In their report “Beauty, Productivity and Discrimination: Lawyers’, Looks and Lucre,” Hamermesh and Biddle found that the probability of a male attorney attaining early partnership directly correlates with how handsome he is.

Size matters, too. Now watch what you are thinking ! A study released last year by two professors at the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina found that tall people earn considerably more money throughout their careers than their shorter coworkers, with each inch adding about $789 a year in pay.

A survey of male graduates of the University of Pittsburgh found that the tallest students’ average starting salary was 12 percent higher than their shorter colleagues’. The London Guildhall study showed that overweight women are more likely to be unemployed, and that those who are working earn on average five percent less than their trimmer peers.

According to Dr. Gordon Patzer, who has spent over three decades studying and writing about physical attractiveness, human beings are hard-wired to respond more favorably to attractive people. Even studies of babies show they will look more intently and longer at prettier faces.

“Good-looking men and women are generally judged to be more talented, kind, honest and intelligent than their less attractive counterparts,” says Patzer. “Controlled studies show people go out of their way to help attractive people – of the same and opposite sex – because they want to be liked and accepted by good-looking people.”

 This may not sound too pretty or encouraging to those of us who were dealt a bad hand in the looks department. But don’t rush off to try out for the next round of Extreme Makeover just yet. This is not what I am suggesting as cure.

There is more than meets the eye !
Despite what the research tells us, some of the world’s most successful people have been ordinary looking at best, and you would never mistake the faces in Fortune for the faces in Esquire or Entertainment Weekly. Business legends are often of average height (Bill Gates is only at 5’9″, slightly shorter than me !) or even diminutive (Jack Welch, 5’8″,  and Tom Cruise at 5’7+”). What’s more, many folks who are lovely to look at complain that they lose out on jobs because people assume they are vacuous or “lightweights.” They suffer the stereo-typing of being good-looking but nothing up there !

How does this reconcile with all the research? Hiring managers say it is the appearance of confidence they find attractive, not the presence of physical beauty. And they contend that attractiveness has more to do with how you carry yourself and the energy you exude – rather than having perfect features or a great physique. People whom have closed on interviews or sales pitches, all exude confidence, energy, and present themselves well. Its what they wear, how they wear it, how they walk it and yes which leads to how they talk it !
According to Gordon Wainright author of Teach Yourself Body Language, anyone can increase their attractiveness to others if they maintain good eye contact, act upbeat, dress well (with a dash of color to their wardrobe), and listen well. Wainright also stresses the importance of posture and bearing and suggests that for one week you stand straight, tuck in your stomach, hold your head high, and smile at those you meet. Based on many such experiments, Wainwright predicts you will begin to be treated with more warmth and respect and start attracting more people to you.

Whatever it is , whether an interview, a presentation,  a date, people do judge a book by its covers……we are after all human……so with this knowledge, walk that walk, talk that talk…..do it with style (your own) , with confidence, and get the respect you rightly fully deserve.


I am living proof of this, I have always tried to dress for the occasion, dress for the audience that I am presenting to and by God’s grace have been very successful in all the opportunities presented to me, be it an interview or closing a deal.

Power of Encouragement !!!

We all need to find someone to encourage. Of all the gifts you possess truly one of the greatest is the ability to build up and help another person to do the best they can, or be the best they can.

An interesting thing happens when you give of this special gift — much in the same way a magnet works, you begin to pull into your life people, opportunities and life experiences of a positive nature. I am living proof of this.
To better understand this, consider the wise words which state simply, yet profoundly: “You reap what you sow”. In short, what you put out to the world makes its way back to you. My friends, if you’ll concede that there’s truth in that wouldn’t it make sense to be proactive when it comes to looking for ways to encourage others? I think so! I will leave the sharing of this,  to another blog soon. For now I just want to focus on the power of encouragement.

I remember years ago, when I took part in a skit and took on the role of the voice of God. I never appeared on stage, just a microphone behind stage, whilst others played the scene Abraham sacrificing Isacc on stage. The skit was hilarious, as we had a fat boy of 17 years old playing the role of baby  Isaac, which drew tremendous laughter from the crowd. However at the end of the skit, a lady doctor named Nam Fong made her way back stage to satisfy what she was curious about? She wanted to know whom was the voice of God? On finding out it was me she headed my direction and said, ” Leslie, God has given you a gift with that voice, use it wisely and well !” I sheepishly thanked her but was quite taken aback at her words.

Years down the road when I changed career paths and embarked on the road to being a trainer and speaker, these words flooded my mind. They were a source of such power and encouragement despite the fact it was mentioned to me many many moons ago. As humans we remember both hurtful and encouraging things said in the past like it was said yesterday.

Going forward begin to look at your life as though you are an artist with the ability to paint on your canvas a magnificent masterpiece. While this in itself is incredible — consider that you also have the added advantage of literally being able to start a new work of art at will.

In the moment you find yourself on a path which doesn’t serve you, you can choose to course correct. You have the ability to succeed at whatever you desire. Let go of the broken idea that it has to happen overnight in order to be deemed a success.


Take joy in your achievement journey, knowing that as long as you stay in the game, and allow yourself to learn the lessons which can be gleaned from any challenges which may pop up along the way you will reach your intended destination. When I first started speaking, I was paid $50 an hour, then $75 then $100 but today I command a speaking fee of $7,000 an hour. If you haven’t already please listen to a song by Miley Cyrus called ‘The Climb’. 


This song is my theme song for this year 2011. The song has the words : ” I can almost see it, that dream I’m dreaming, But there’s a voice inside my head saying you’ll never reach it “  W all have doubts, but its moments like those where words of encouragement can sweep us up, as they have for me.  The song goes on with; ” There is always gonna be an another mountain, I’m always gonna want to make it move , always gonna be an uphill battle, sometime I’m gonna have to lose, ain’t about how fast we get there, aint whats waiting on the other side……its the Climb.” 


Life is a journey, its a climb its sometimes pretty tough for you and for me. What will make that journey that much easier, that much sweeter, that much more energized is the power we get from …’encouragement’. Remember encouragement is a 2 way street, starts with us taking up opportunities to do so with others and like a boomarang it will come right back at you.

You were made for greatness — see it, live it, be it. Be an encouragement today and everyday with someone; with a willingness to let your gifts and talents flow and Iassure you it will come right back at you.
Late last year, I spoke in Mauritius at a Sales Conference with several international speakers. The main draw speaker was not me, he was a speaker from the USA with more than 12 books under his belt, many of them best sellers with more than a million copies sold of each. He spoke with authority but somehow somewhat down at people. He still got applause. I spoke with the poeple, bared myself (not literally) and tried to encourage them that if someone like me could make it then even more so could of any of them! When the end of my final speech came, I got a standing ovation, no other speaker got not even the main draw. It brought tears to my eyes !  When you encourage people, it comes back ten fold !!!

Have an Awesome week !!!

Leslie