’He is as handsome as I am…’

It was Saturday evening. The local Chapter of Indian Management Association had invited me to address them. The families were also invited for the evening get-together. The children were really enjoying themselves. One of the little boys came to me holding the hand of another little one of his age. Swamiji, he is my best friend... He is very handsome... as handsome as I am." The little ones were expectantly looking at me, waiting for my affirmation. “Yes really..... he is very handsome..... as handsome as you are…” I assured the first one with such a positive self-image. The boys ran away happily. That is how you should holding each other's hands. I was deeply touched by the little boys. They could teach the Management gurus a very important lesson... 'A positive self-image alone can lead us to a win-win situation in managing men and material. Many of us try to climb up the ladder by stepping on others' toes. We often try to 'put down' our competitors. We may also try to magnify and multiply their drawbacks and failures. This is the negative way. This is self-destructive. Sincere appreciation, encouragement and praise of others' good qualities will develop such qualities in us also. 'Do things with love and everything else will work out well? This is yet another effective principle of management. An old lady who came to the Ashram asking for financial help went away happy even though only food was given to her. She returned next week with five rupees for me to be used for feeding the poor children in our Ashram! The other members of the Ashram were really surprised. One of them asked her why she was giving money to Swamiji when she herself was very poor. My swamiji.... gave me food and.... he sat and talked with me', she said. I had become 'my swamiji' for her just because I sat on the bench talking to her when she ate the food that was served to her. She was touched by my concern for her. She felt she should also share my burden in supporting the poor children in the Ashram... Poor people also often look for love and understanding more than money and material support. In fact, most people today are more in need of love than any material help. Positive self-image is developed by love and appreciation. This is also the basic principle of enlightened management.