I joined Twitter just to see what all the fuss is. I knew my colleague Michael Roberto is on Twitter already and he posts interesting stuff about Business. Mike has become the first person that I have started to follow.

I don’t have any followers yet on Twitter. However, if you decide to follow me, I will do my best to have excellent and exceptional thoughts once or twice a day! I will be happy to pass these on.

You can find me on Twitter at

http://twitter.com/harshluthar

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Verizon customers have been waiting to get an iPhone for several years. Most have stayed loyal to Verizon due to Verizon’s wider network. However, the hope has been kept alive that when AT&T’s exclusive hold on the iPhone ends, Verizon will add the iPhone to its offerings of smart phones.

Verizon for its part, has firmly had the “we are interested but certainly not desperate to get the iPhone” strategy in place for several years.

Verizon chairman and CEO Ivan G. Seidenberg has been suggesting for sometime now that they have iPhone on the radar. Here are two quotes from Business Week (October 26, 2009).

“This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple’s court,” said Seidenberg. “We obviously would be interested in any point in the future they thought it would make sense for them to have us as a partner. And so we’ll leave it with them on that score.”

“We have expanded our base of other devices,” explained Seidenberg. “So our view is to broaden the base of choice for customers and hopefully along the way, Apple as well as others will decide to jump on the bandwagon.”

http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2009/10/verizon_still_w.html

Consistent with its general orientation of offering a broad set of alternatives to customers, Verizon has recently been pushing phones with Google’s Android software as a competitive alternative to Apple’s phone.

Verizon wants to dance with Apple but feels Apple must ask it to. Meanwhile, everyone waits.

Despite Verizon’s playing it cool about the iPhone, Verizon customers are increasingly frustrated by not having the option to get the iPhone while staying on Verizon’s better network. However,  It seems like things are now about to change and that Verizon and Apple collaboration is imminent.

Verizon ended the quarter with 222,927 employees, 7,413 fewer than it had in September.  Chief Financial Officer John Killian said the company cut 13,000 jobs on the wireline side last year, and expects a similar number of cuts this year. Customers are giving up their lines in favor of using only cell phones or phone service from cable companies

The wireless business is what is expected to continue growing. It seems to me, and probably many others, that Verizon now needs the iPhone as part of its overall wireless strategy and smartphone options.

Apple, on the other hand, surged in quarterly profit and revenue.  Apple reported a quarterly profit of $3.38 billion, or $3.67 a share, up from $2.26 billion, or $2.50 a share, a year earlier. Revenue increased to $15.68 billion from $11.88 billion.

“The growth was fueled by strong sales across most of Apple’s product lines as iPhone shipments more than doubled and Macintosh computer sales climbed 33%.”….”What this demonstrates is the strength of Apple’s brand in good and bad times,” said Bill Kreher, an analyst with Edward Jones.” For more details see the Wall Street Journal (January 25, 2010).

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904575025482977609658.html

While Apple continues to be successful, it can see the hand writing on the wall. Verizon customers are not going to switch in masses to other carriers for the iPhone. Logically, Apple has to be feeling the pressure from its customers and shareholders for opening up the iPhone to Verizon and possibly other carriers to gain more customers.

Today (January 27, 2010), Apple will unveil its Tablet. The Apple Tablet is said to run iPhone software.

According to an Apple Partner, McGraw-Hill’s, the Apple Tablet being unveiled will be based on the iPhone operating system.  CEO of McGraw-Hill, Terry McGraw stated the following on CNBC yesterday (January 26, 2010):

Yeah, Very exciting. Yes, they’ll make their announcement tomorrow on this one. We have worked with Apple for quite a while. And the Tablet is going to be based on the iPhone operating system and so it will be transferable. So what you are going to be able to do now is we have a consortium of e-books. And we have 95% of all our materials that are in e-book format. So now with the tablet you’re going to open up the higher education market, the professional market. The tablet is going to be just really terrific.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/35088082

So if the Apple Tablet will run on the iPhone software, will Verizon sell the Tablet to its wireless customers?  Will Verizon tell the customers that the Tablet is just a different looking iPhone.

Bizarre scenario? One never knows. Also the power of marketing should not be underestimated.

If Verizon customers can make wireless calls from the Tablet, it may open up a new market for Apple. Of course the Tablet would not fit in anyone’s pocket. On the other hand, many Verizon customers who have been waiting for an iPhone for the Verizon network might find that, at least for now, that is the only way to go.

Well, we are all waiting for the Apple announcement later this afternoon. Let us see what comes up!

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Mike has been developing an excellent blog on leadership, decision making, and competitive strategy. The url is given below.

http://michael-roberto.blogspot.com/

The blog is a valued resource for students and professors of business and the general reader interested in management and leadership issues.

Mike’s comments on the current business environment cover a broad range of topics and I find them to be very insightful and informative. Mike has written two books on the topic of leaders and leadership. His latest book is called, “Know What You Don’t Know” and is widely available through various outlets like Amazon.

Mike is a great person to talk to and very helpful to his colleagues in sharing his knowledge of teaching and learning methodologies. Mike will be part of a workshop at the Academy of Management in Chicago (August 7-11) that will teach other professors about how to start a blog and use it for educational and professional purposes.

I am very enthusiastic about finding professors and colleagues like Mike who are writing and sharing on the Internet on business and management issues. I love reading Professor Michael Roberto’s blog and highly recommend it to others.

Harsh K. Luthar

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Tackling the ethics of eating – Los Angeles Times

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In the Town hall meeting in Strasbourg with students from many universities and colleges, Obama established himself as a world leader who will listen and engage the Europeans and rest of the world as equal partners in moving towards the future.

French, German, Hungarian, and even American university students were in the audience asking questions. President Obama was comfortable and confident in the exchange. There was clearly a lot of affection shown towards the American President by the students. In the last question, a student told Obama that his name meant “Peach” in Hungarian.

Obama emphasized that one of the gifts of youth is that youth is unburdened by biases of the past.

Obama’s initial talk was peppered with complimentary references to leaders of other countries and their insights. He called the French President a “good friend”. He referred to the Prime Minister of India as a “good and wise man”.

Obama also talked about countries like India and China and stated that as these countries grow, they will become bigger markets for U.S. and European goods. Comfortable in speaking with the European students, Obama said that Americans needed to change their perspective on Europe and Europe needed to do the same in order to forge a new partnership for the 21st century.

Obama seems destined to become one of the most popular American President in history, all around the world.

The Associated Press: Obama urges Europe’s youth to rise up, show way

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Problems are best resolved when we agree to discuss these together in a creative capacity to find useful insights that can benefit all parties.

Creativity is only possible when we conduct our discussion that avoids escalating patterns of polarization. Arguments can only be effective if and when we force ourselves not to get caught up and trapped in the right/wrong paradigm.  An agreeable resolution will become feasible when the “right/wrong” paradigm gets transcended.  If this doesn’t happen within a reasonable time, we should be wise to put off our discussion and observe silence for few days until we cool down.

We should take this time to train our mind to agree to listen to each others’ points of view and look for a resolution that provides more insights.

How do we get out from the trap of the “right/wrong” paradigm?  This is not easy and we need the will-power to invoke the divine nature and open our mind to listen. We must determine to take a stand that our care for the others is much more important than the cheap payoff of winning the debate.

We must be willing to reach for something more fulfilling than the predictable mediocrity of proving ourselves right.  And we need to have the courage to be the one willing to make this change, even in the face of those who desperately want to prove us wrong!  When one of us rise above the right/wrong paradigm, the length of the pole will become smaller and ultimately the argument will likely end.

No matter how much someone else wants to “win,” if we refuse to enter into the world of right and wrong, we will not get trapped in any argument.  But we should recognize the fact that we cannot rise above this paradigm and avoid an argument if we entertain the thought that the person is wrong.   If we do, we will likely back in that right/wrong world again.  This is tricky and it is a bit of a paradox.  No amount of wanting an argument to stop will ever stop an argument, if our inner mind silently engages in judging the other person’s intentions.

We must take a stand that we will no longer participate in any endeavor that tears down others’ beliefs and thoughts.  When those who want to fight can’t find a willing partner, they will be left only to face themselves.  The argument will slowly disintegrate we will no longer be engaging in the losing game of arguing.

Let me conclude this with a prayer:

Sarve Bhavantu Sukinah,
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah
Sarve Bhadraani Pasyanthu,
Maa Kashchid Duhkha Bhak Bhave
Asatoma sadgamaya
Tamasoma jyotirgamaya
Mrityorma amrutamgamaya
OM Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Oh Lord! In Thee May all be Happy,
May All be Free From Misery
May All Realize Goodness,
May None Suffer Pain

Oh Lord! Lead Us From Untruth to Truth,
Lead Us From Darkness to Light
Lead Us From Death to Immortality,

OM PEACE!  PEACE!!  PEACE!!

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Our desire to win an argument is embedded in our survival instinct. For many people, losing in a situation is truly a traumatic event.  When life is viewed rigidly, options are seen as mutually exclusive. For someone to win, another has to lose.

In general, in an argument we like to take positions that are usually opposite to each other.  While engaging in an argument we tend to think that we are always more “right” than those who take a different position. Arguments arise when we are not willing to consider others’ position as potentially being valid.

This is what is known as the right/wrong paradigm. The right/wrong paradigm can produce three possible outcomes: (1) proven right, (2) proven wrong, or (3) avoiding to be wrong.

While there may be a short term feeling of satisfaction when we think that we have convinced someone else is wrong, arguments rarely will lead us to long term gratification.

Everyone in an argument wants to be “right” and tries hard to avoid being “wrong.” This may explain why no one is actually listening.

It is inevitable that we like to choose one of these two options: We either feel obligated to forfeit our position, or we refuse to give in and will fight harder and harder.

The first option leads to resentment because though we gave in, we are not totally convinced of the other position. The winner also feels at a loss because the winner also was not fully “convinced.”

The second option leads to “polarization,” where two opposing parties find themselves in an egoistic self-fulfilling vicious cycle and take shelter at opposite ends of the “pole.”  The more one party insists on a position, it encourages the other party to fight harder to be right and to resist being proven wrong.

After several cycles of this polarization, arguments escalate and can become hurtful. This is when people say and do things they later regret.  There is certainly no winner here.  In the world of “right/wrong,” there will be never any real winners.  And if there can be no real winner, then why should we choose to get involved in a losing game?

Ultimately, we need to reflect on our desire to win an argument. Sometimes we can win an argument but lose our harmony and peace of mind. What to do?

Read Part 3!

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How To Stop Arguing?

Friends, are arguments with your spouse, co-workers, boss, your girl friend or boy friend, or your parents disturbing you? Are you and your neighbor getting into heated discussions on who worships the true God? Whatever the reason for the arguments that have taken away your peace of mind, help is on the way!

Here is a partial list of argument stoppers that we can all employ on a daily basis when facing potential conflict in a conversation.

1. You may be probably right.
2. What you have said is certainly one way of looking at it.
3. I am more than happy to take your point into consideration.
4. I want to take little more time and I do plan to get back to you.
5. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I respect what you have said.
6. Let’s postpone and talk about this when both of us are calm.
7. I am able to see the subtlety of your thoughts.
8.  I have come to the conclusion that arguing just isn’t worth it.
9.  Let’s respect each other’s position and agree to disagree.
10. Our opinions may differ but we can gain more by listening.
11.  There is some validity to what you are saying but we need more information to make a decision.

Of course, there are many more ways as well. Please share your favorite argument stopper line.

Keep in mind that most life situations are more complex. Constant arguments with a friend, spouse, lover, parent, neighbor, despite your sincerely wanting to stop may indicate more basic problems in the relationship that have to addressed. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions.  Still one can adopt the attitude of good will and doing what is in the best interest of all concerned.

Now read Part -2!

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According to the belief of the Mayan civilization, the world is organized upon a cyclic system: many centuries BC, the Maya calendar predicted the end of a cycle of 26 000 years in 2012 and then the starting over a new one. The book of the Apocalypse, refers to a chaos that St John calls “The Judgment day “ that will occur during “the End of the times”.

Of course, this predictions are symbolic and metaphorical. The original meaning of these words implies a time for “Revelation”. A time for people to transform the way they think, they behave and reveal their inner truth to live in a conscious way.

It’s been at least 5000 years that Sciences like Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have been advocating a holistic approach to human beings. It is now being accepted in modern medicine as well that we’re not just flesh and blood that can be opened, cut and sewed like rag dolls…but energetic systems to be considered. We are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being and connected on a global basis. Our thoughts and prayers affect the world and each other.

Like is like, the law of attraction was already known through the famous “Do onto others as you would wish them do onto you”. Our economy is paying the price of morally corrupt decisions and actions based on greed and only on profit margin…

According to esoteric systems, we’ve now entered The Era of the Aquarius that is not, like some people may think, the confabulation of a group of hippies of the 70’s, but a challenging period of time for Humanity that gives us the opportunity to live this famous New Age predicted since centuries in many civilizations, beyond one religion or belief, through inner transformation.

There are many tools to help us to operate this transformation. Some traditional ones like yoga, meditation and mantras help us to connect our higher self giving us a conscious awareness of what we’re living “here and now”. Other ones are more contemporary and give us the opportunity to face the shadow within us like psychology, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and other forms of counseling.

As we’re all bounded, we attract what we are through the law of attraction. We can represent this unity by similarity with a diamond, a unique gem with many different facets: each one of them representing one person…If we apply that metaphor to our interpersonal experiences, in a very honest way, we can see how each person around us represents a part of our personality with both positives points and flaws.

Very often, the characteristic of the persons and the world around us are  shown to us in a exaggerated way in order to wake us up and oblige us to see what’s wrong within us!This perspective really  helps us “investigate” and ask ourselves: “what part of my personality is attracting that person/attribute/lack/experience…?”Mirror, mirror on the wall… the other then becomes the reflection of our real “me”, free from the mask of our ego.

“A lot of chaos is needed to create a butterfly”, thus spoke Zarathustra. We  are in the middle of the chaos, creating the butterfly depends on all of us. This period of profound change, pushes us to reorganize our entire system  and to clean it deeply. No GDP can measure what’s really worth living in life.

“Be the change that you want to see around you” said  Mahatma Gandhi. let’s face the mirror and go for this challenge.

Rita Steinmetz-Minassian – www.rita-akasha.vpweb.fr

Editor’s Note: Rita Steinmetz-Minassian resides in France and her native tongue is French.  She is the Founder and spiritual trainer at the Akasha Institute. Please visit her website for more information.

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