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Pokemon Go can make your employees more efficient!

At the WPO conference on May 6, 2017, the keynote speaker  was Jane McGonigal

The Engagement Economy.  She is from game and research development for  Institute of the Future.

  1. When game designer Jane McGonigal found herself bedridden and suicidal following a severe concussion, she had a fascinating idea for how to get better. She dove into the scientific research and created the healing game, SuperBetter. In this moving talk, McGonigal explains how a game can boost resilience — and promises to add 7.5 minutes to your life

https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life

  1. Games like World of Warcraft give players the means to save worlds, and incentive to learn the habits of heroes. What if we could harness this gamer power to solve real-world problems? Jane McGonigal says we can, and explains how

https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world

Her talk this morning  was about gaming and its use in the workforce.  Although many employees use company resources to play games, gaming itself benefits all since there is a part of the brain that fires up and keeps it active and engaged. It develops super empowered, hopeful individuals.

She concludes that the opposite of work is not play, but depression.

 The challenge for employers is to take these people and make them empowered at work.

She said that Pokemon Go energized players and when applied to a business context teaches us that:

  • There are, “On demand chances to succeed”
  • That nothing is scarce (there is plenty to go around)Therefore, there is a built in collaboration radar.
  • And the hope that there is always something around the corner (that is fun and exciting).

Pokemon Go can make your employees more efficient! Read More »

What should we call…?

Here is a fun exercise for all you women Entrepreneurs!

 

We know we call :

A shrewdness of apes

A congregation of alligators

A cauldron of bats

A sloth or sleuth of bears

A gang or an obstinacy of buffalo

a clowder, clutter, pounce, dout, nuisance, glorying, or a glare of cats

An army of caterpillars

Larvae of Craesus septentrionalis, a sawfly showing 6 pairs of pro-legs

A caravan of camels

A coalition of cheetahs

A murder of crows

A cowardice of dogs

A pod of dolphins

A convocation of eagles

A parade of elephants

A business of ferrets

A tower of giraffes

A flamboyance of flamingos

A bloat, or a thunder of hippopotamuses

A smack of jellyfish

A troop or mob of kangaroos

A conspiracy of lemurs

A troop or barrel of monkeys

A romp, a family, or a raft of otters

A prickle of porcupines

An unkindness of ravens

A colony or warren of rabbits

A crash of rhinoceroses

A dray or scurry of squirrels

An ambush or streak of tigers

A rafter, gang, or posse of turkeys

A venue of vultures

A wisdom of wombats

A zeal of zebras

What should we call a group of women entrepreneurs?

What should we call…? Read More »

Scientifically, happiness is a choice

Here are some more reflections from the WPO conference on May 4, 2017 from  keynote speaker, Shawn Achor

I was always told it is very hard to break a habit. Listen to “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor on the TED talk:

https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work

“Scientifically, happiness is a choice,” Achor says. He explains that research has shown you can rewire your brain to make yourself happy by practicing simple happiness exercises every day for three weeks.

He says you can rewire your brain to make yourself happy by practicing simple happiness exercises.

And within 30 days, those habits change the neuropath ways of our brains and turn us into lifelong optimists.

  1. Gratitude Exercises. Write down three things you’re grateful for that occurred over the last 24 hours. They don’t have to be profound. It could be a really good cup of coffee or the warmth of a sunny day.
  2. The Doubler. Take one positive experience from the past 24 hours and spend two minutes writing down every detail about that experience. As you remember it, your brain labels it as meaningful and deepens the imprint.
  3. The Fun Fifteen. Do 15 minutes of a fun cardio activity, like gardening or walking the dog, every day. The effects of daily cardio can be as effective as taking an antidepressant.
  4. Meditation. Every day take two minutes to stop whatever you’re doing and concentrate on breathing. Even a short mindful break can result in a calmer, happier you.
  5. Conscious act of kindness. At the start of every day, send a short email or text praising someone you know. Our brains become addicted to feeling good by making others feel good.
  6. Deepen Social Connections. Spend time with family and friends. Our social connections are one of the best predictors for success and health, and even life expectancy.

Scientifically, happiness is a choice Read More »

Women Presidents Annual Conference- Orlando, Florida

It has been a while since I wrote.  Last week I was at the Annual Women Presidents Organization annual conference and was once again blown away at the energy this conference generates in its members.

I met people from at least 8 countries and shared experiences,  let some random cartoonist do a caricature of me, threw on some silly accessories and posed with Ed and Juli Betwee, our Chapter Chair, and even danced.

with Juli Betwee and other chapter chairs
Julie Moreland, Nancy Geenen, Juli Betwee and Judith Goldkrand
With Juli chapter chair in St Louis, Ed Messerly and Juli Betwee
Mother and Daughter team: Cindy Groux and Alexis
Shanthi Rajaram CEO of her IT firm Amazech.
Getting our caricatures done

These 2 talented women each run a niche manufacturing business: Michele Sutton, (to my right) , CEO of Ready to Grow Greens, which distributes innovative pre-made floral greens products and Christy Winter, to my left, CEO of Aptations, manufacturer of elegant mirror designs for bathrooms in hotels.

 

There were some great key note addresses:

Three excellent key note speakers: I particularly liked Shawn Achor on the Happiness Advantage and the youngest keynote speaker Maya Penn. It is worth a listen:

  1. The Engagement Economy: Jane McGonigal from game and research development for  Institute of the Future.

https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life

https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world

  1. The Happiness Advantage: Shawn Achor

https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work

  1. Maya Penn – CEO/Founder Activist Philanthropist.

https://www.ted.com/talks/maya_penn_meet_a_young_entrepreneur_cartoonist_designer_activist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irXb3j2S-ds

 

Women Presidents Annual Conference- Orlando, Florida Read More »

Pennathur School

1 pennathurMembers of our family have started a project to erect a school building in the village of Pennathur (known as Kilpennathur) in South India. Presently the classes are being held under trees in mostly blazing hot weather.

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Many children bicycle 10 to 20 miles to get to school! The government provides the students with uniforms and a midday meal.  We were told that roughly a third of graduates go to college and a third get jobs.

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My cousin Ramesh Sekar has been spearheading this effort with help from my sister Usha Krish.  I am glad we were able to raise money to make this important work possible!

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The building started early this year

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I was heartened to note that the roof went up this week!  Hooray…

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We hope to open this facility by the end of 2016.

Pennathur School Read More »

A meeting with His Highness Sheikh Nahayan of UAE in Abu Dhabi

L1001775It has been an amazing journey to come to Abu Dhabi. We landed on August 19th night in Dubai and were whisked away on the 20th at 9 am to Abu Dhabi by Author and Columnist Pranay Gupte, http://www.pranaygupte.com, for an audience with His Highness Sheikh Nahyan.IMG_3710

We got to Abu Dhabi around 11.15 am and were met by His Royal Highness’s secretary, who else but “Mohammad”. Got seated at 11.30 and I was given the seat of honor to the right of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan.L1001781

I expected to spend 20 minutes with His Highness and ended up talking with him for over 3.5 hours!  As it turned out there were 40 people in the room whom he had to see and other than greeting them officially, he spent the whole time discussing issues with me.  I was blown away. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome, but Pranay kept telling me to hang in there as long as he didn’t finish with me, and I did!L1001789

I had understood that lunch was planned to be “Ladies Only”, with Her Highness and her three daughters (Sheikhas). Plans changed unexpectedly. Instead, after prayers attended by the male invitees, I was invited to enter the banquet room and was again seated next to HH Sheikh Nahyan. I was a bit taken aback when I realized I was the only female in the room.  He personally filled my plate and asked that  they bring a “vegetarian” plate for him as well. L1001788

During the lunch I listened attentively to everything – how the Cleveland Clinic had set up a major hospital in Abu Dhabi in 90 days and performed the first heart transplant, then about how they hoped to have a lot more women in administrative ranks in the Government and where they were heading with the plans for the future.  India’s Prime Minister, Mr. Modi had just been there the prior weekend to address an audience of over 30,000 people.  I listened as HH talked fondly of that meeting and welcomed me as both an Indian and as an American! L1001802

When it was my turn to talk, I asked if he would like me to send a proposal on further enhancing women’s status in UAE and how I entered the entrepreneurial ranks, balancing the two very diverse cultures of East and West.   He asked me to send the proposal to him and he would personally look into getting it to the right source.L1001777

After lunch we all went back to the main hall where he held court.  I was seated to his right and my husband Edward Messerly sat next to me.  Tea of different flavors and coffee were served.  He had the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic of Dubai on the other side of him and a Bollywood actor called Vikram Singh sat next to Edward. I proudly introduced the subject of WPO, its accomplishment and how enabling it has been in my growth internationally.IMG_3707

A meeting with His Highness Sheikh Nahayan of UAE in Abu Dhabi Read More »

11th Annual Sudha’s Treasures Starts next weekend!

Sudha will be on hand for a rare benefit sale. Choose from Sudha’s distinctive collection of jewelry, scarves, Christmas ornaments, decorative objects and other items.  You’ll find extraordinary gifts for your holiday shopping at wholesale prices or even lower.

 

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Corte Madera Town Center #107:

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This is a video from the Sudha Sale a couple of years ago:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMfXFJA37Oo[/youtube]

11th Annual Sudha’s Treasures Starts next weekend! Read More »

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