Challenges

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever.

The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste. To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish.

The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies (still) put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state.

Like the Japanese fish - "Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment."- L. Ron Hubbard

Challenges are what keep us FRESH!

Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them.

Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, reorganize the challenge, team up, be resourceful and do not give up.

Failing makes you tired.

If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even mankind.

Don't create success and lie in it. You have resources, skills and abilities to make a difference.
Put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!

Pawanfans.com Charity activities

As an active member of Pawanfans.com team, I am very proud of the activities conducted by our team in recent days.

Our team has been to Sriramulavaripeta, one of the severly flood affected village in West Godavari District. The place has been surrounded by water and it had become remote with all the connections with the rest of world being cut. Our team had reached the village in a boat and had given them all the vegetables that is required for them to cook and eat. We have also donated them blankets and fruits. Helping 400 families is a great gesture by our team. I am very sad that I couldn't participate in this event because of the time I had to spend with my banker to get the final cheque for the education loan for MBA. Neverthless, I am very proud that we were able to help people. Here are some of the photos of the event:

http://www.pawanfans.com/modules/xoopsgallery/view_photo.php?xoops_imageid=780&set_albumName=album25&id=5_G

We are donating Rs 50000 to the needy tomorrow celebrating Megastar's birthday. I will post more of the details later on.

I will be starting my driving classes tomorrow and very happy that finally I am starting it :)

Got Visa!!

Got UK visa stamped till May 31st 2008.

The Alchemist

This is the first book I have read @ one stretch so far, during my journey to my native last week end. It was a good one, with witty oneliners from the Alchemist:

"The Fear of Suffering is worse than Fear itself"

"Every Search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with victor's being severely tested"

"Every thing that happens once can never happen again. But Every thing that happens twice will surely a happen a third time"

"No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it"

The final page has this good quote from Thomas Merton

"The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more significant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt"

Like the boy Santiago, I am also looking to achieve my personal legend and I am looking to clear all the things come my way so that I can smile as a victor at the end. This is a good read for people to get motivated and inspired.

This week will be a happening one for me as I will be applying for my visa and will subsequently be finalizing my travel dates. The buzz will continue next week, as I look to pay the fees, complete my shopping and put in papers at my company. Signing off for now....