Crisis: Where Danger Meets With Opportunity

In Chinese, the word crisis stands for weiji, often which has been said to be composed of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.” That’s why in the popular Chinese culture, a crisis is regarded not merely as a danger but also as an opportunity (some arguments are there).

If you’re looking for an example, I’d suggest to read about C. J. Walker, the woman who was the first born-free member of a slave-family.

At the age of 20, when she was widowed, she started working as a laundress for as little as a dollar and half a day. And most of her earnings were used to educate her daughter. She could save very little for herself—so little that she couldn’t even able to wash her hair daily. As a result, she suffered from severe scalp disease that caused her to go nearly bald.

Rather than making this crisis as a danger, she made it an opportunity. With an innovative idea of hair care products to stop hair loss, she launched her own line of beauty and hair care products.

Within a very short time, her products became so popular that she was flooded with the order and cemented her name in the history being a millionaire.

Yes, C.J. Walker, the first woman self-accomplished millionaire who didn’t cry in crisis rather made it an opportunity.

I got my start by giving myself a start.

C.J. Walker

Who'll Be The Last To Die For A Mistake

You have just lost your job or you have tasted bankruptcy or maybe helplessly observed your love is getting married to another person and than you’re shouting to God: “Hey you, would you stop please. How many challenges will you give me to measure up my patience? Enough is enough.”

But think about any commando. He is moving forward to a terrorist with no back-up and one single mistake can bring him closer to death. It’s not a move in chess; if he loses he’ll lose some pieces of paper printed with Mahatma Gandhi; it’s the move of life and death.

I’m a very non-political guy. It’s after the 26/11 Mumbai attack; I came to know so many names and faces of politicians. One such name is VS Achuthanandan, the honorable CM of Kerala (is it very necessary to address minister as honorable?) who proudly remarked for the martyr, Sandeep Unnikrishnan: “If not for Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have gone there.”

Sadly, not even a single person will ever feel the pain of losing soldier, no one. Maybe that’s why, in the testimony to the US Senate (1971), Senator-to-be John Kerry asked, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Even Alfred Bryan is right who wrote the song I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier:

What victory can cheer a mother’s heart,

When she looks at her blighted home?

What victory can bring her back,

All she cared to call her own?

Let each mother answer in the year to be,

Remember that my boy belongs to me!

I wish, we have the law that to be a minister, one should serve Indian Army for a particular time. Then he’d get the right to run for the election. But MERA BHARAT MAHAAN, to get Z security, you don’t even need to know ABC.

Yes, what situations you have faced they aren’t challenge, they are merely lessons. Because my friend, you can always have “a next attempt.” But in war-zone, a commando moving towards terrorists’ bullet, there is no second chance. One silly mistake and opponent’s bullet will come straight to his chest.

Challenge, that’s called challenge man.

Hello friends, sorry for deleting my previous post as I got lot of mails complaining that it wasn't suitable with the theme of my blog. Sorry!

It Wasn’t Pretty At All For The Prettiest Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts auditioned for the part of Linda Warner on All My Children and the part of Hayley Benson on Santa Barbara but in both the occasions, she got rejected. And when she made her film debut in Blood Red, she got just two words of dialogue.

SO WHAT!

Not only this pretty woman has a Mona Lisa kinda smile, but she was the first actress to get paid a $20 million paycheck for a movie as well. Even in the Hollywood Reporter’s annual power list of top-earning female stars, she has topped for four consecutive years (2002-2006). And as of 2007, her films have grossed more than $2.1 billion at the American box-office, making her the biggest female star of all time.

You Are Not What You Own

Since all those US, UK, SWISS brands have anchored their ships in India; it becomes a trend to wear cloths with the brands logo splashed all over. And people are floating over there because people start believing that it creates a higher identity for them.

Think, if you have to depend on brand to create your identity, then what the real identity you own? Free yourself by what you buy or what logo you splashed on your cloths. Of course some people will argue sometimes what we posses also create an identity for us. I’d say, “Yes, sometimes but it’s not authentic identity.” Our true identity lies in our values and the way we treat people, not in possessing goods.

A person’s true identity literally becomes an outfit and there’s nothing cool about that. Let your actions speak what you believe in, not those cool messages on your “Tee.” Yes dear, define yourself by the things you can’t buy but still you can posses.

You can’t buy an identity.
You can’t buy a class.
You can’t buy superiority.

Only one thing you can buy—a FALSE BELIEF that people respect you by the stuffs you posses.

Diablo Cody: A Divorce, A Flash Of Skin & An Oscar

They say you should not suffer through the past. You should be able to wear it like a loose garment, take it off and let it drop. ~ Eva Jessye

I have listened people saying, “It’s your past which shapes your present and will determine your future.” But I kick this philosophy out the memory. Recently I have watched a movie, Juno, a coming-of-age story about a teenager’s unplanned pregnancy made with the budget of only $6.5 million, but within 20 days it has gone on to earn more than 30 times of that amount.

But the best thing about the movie is its screenplay written by Diablo Cody. Now who is Diablo Cody? It’s the same Diablo Cody, after a broken marriage who started doing stripping in an armature night club and also spent time working in peep shows at an adult novelty store.

As writing was her biggest passion and there was no big opportunity knocking, she started writing blog about her own experience as a stripper. Within months, that blog became so popular that Gotham Books signed her for publishing a book. And at the age of 24, she wrote her memoir: “Candy Girl: A Year In The Life Of An Unlikely Stripper.”

A Hollywood producer was so moved by the acerbic wit of that book, he encouraged Cody to write screenplay. After seven hard-working weeks in the back of a departmental store, she completed Juno. And Juno was the movie for which Diablo Cody went on to win the Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay.

Now if you look at her past, does it justify her present or determine her future—the future where she is gonna work with Stephen Spielberg? No! We can’t justify because the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Past? Leave it in the past!

An Interview With A Filmmaker, Archana S. Iyer, Who Didn't Limit Herself

They say, “Don’t use too many words to say few things rather use few words to say lot of things.” The same is of short films, a genre of films that packs imagination and story-telling into 10 minutes, can have powerful impact to make a change in the culture.

That seems to be the case with Archana Iyer's film, “Homemaker” – a film about the priceless bond between a mother and daughter which has been selected to be screened at Tirana International Film Festival, Albania.

Without further ado, I’d like to present Archana’s thoughts on how we can listen to our inner voice and cherish that and have fun along the way.

So, what inspire you to make "Homemaker?"

Archana: I had read a short story "three letters" in my school days. It was so touching, I thought of adapting it into a modern day film based on e-mails!

How did you find producers?

Archana: I would call myself really lucky. In my case, the producers found me. As there were not many projects happening in my office, my bosses came to me with a proposal of making a short film as a learning exercise! And voila, I get myself a film!

What are the challenges you've faced while making, "Homemaker?"

Archana: I didn’t have the budget as I’m a first time film-maker. Then lots of things went wrong – my friend was supposed to shoot it for me, we had a fall-out and in the last moment he dropped out. But thank God for that because Varun Sud, who eventually shot it, is a boon. He did wonders to my film. Most importantly, it's always better to work with people who are enthusiastic than who want to do it as a favor for you. Basically, everything that went wrong with the film, eventually went right!

What's the most exciting part you’ve enjoyed while making, "Homemaker?"

Archana: The shoot. It was quite hectic but I had an amazing cast and crew, and we had a ball.

What do you want people to get out of the film?

Archana: Not to take things and people for granted and everything can’t be measured monetarily!

What are the pro's and con's of making short film in your opinion?

Archana: More pros than cons, it's a great platform for young filmmakers with no budget to bring forward their ideas. But now, with the changing time, short films are a big market at the festival circles too.

Why is it still hard for women directors, in Bollywood?

Archana: It's all in the mind. Women themselves sometimes tend to limit themselves, once they stop it, people would listen!

You do stay alone in Mumbai, being miles away from your home, any challenge for that? If yes, how do you cope with that?

Archana: Lots of challenges— financial, emotional and mental. But thanks to my friends who always make me feel "Mumbai Meri Jaan!"

What's the single most part you are excited about, being an independent woman?

Archana: My freedom – freedom to choose; freedom to decide and freedom to take responsibility for the decisions!

So, what's the mantra Miss Archana lives her life with?

Archana: You get, not what you desire, but what you deserve!

Thanks, Archana, for the wonderful conversation and for so generously sharing with our readers!