Tag: Skill Development

Skill development is a process of identifying your skill gap and ensuring you develop these skills.

What is Leadership?

Leadership, according to Peter DeLisle, is the ability to influence others, with or without authority. All successful endeavors are the result of human effort; thus, the ability to influence others is a derivation of Interpersonal Communications, Conflict Management, Problem solving. Leadership is a direct function of three elements of interpersonal effectiveness.

  1. Awareness : Awareness is a state of consciousness. It is the ability to recognize yourself, others, events and situations in real time.
  2. Ability : Ability to learn and understand technical issues is the basis of our careers – Ability to communicate, Ability to resolve conflicts, Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
  3. Commitment : Taking decisions without recognizing the impact in both positive and negative manner. To be dedicated and keeping engage.

Attributes or Characteristics of Leader

  • Guiding vision : Effective leaders know their strength to pursue the objectives and achieve the goals.
  • Passion :Leaders have a positive outlook on who they are, and they love what they do.
  • Integrity : Leaders know who they are, effective leaders are also aware of their weaknesses. They only make promises they can follow through on.
  • Honesty : Leaders convey an aura of honesty in both their professional and their personal lives.
  • Trust : Effective leaders earn the trust of their followers and act on behalf of their followers.
  • Risk : Effective leaders take calculated risks when necessary, to achieve their objectives . They learn from the
    mistake and use it as an opportunity to explore other avenues.
  • Dedication : The effective leaders are dedicated to their charge. The leader gives himself or herself entirely to the task when it is necessary.

Leadership Styles

1) Persuasive Leadership
• Leader engage his team through cooperation.
• Explains projects and values, stimulates, encourages, mobilizes resources.
• Remains accountable for every decision.
• Flexible on methods, supports co-workers.

2) Authoritative Leadership
• An Authoritative leader is self committed , gives instructions, structures the team activities.
• Sets precise objectives, defines evaluation criteria, solely accountable for decisions.
• Does not accept co-workers requests, does not accept failure.
• Always decides- does not listen

3) Delegative Leadership
• Defines the rules, mission and the responsibilities
• Plans and organizes the teams activities.
• Gives autonomy, only when required.
• Fosters mutual respect through expertise.

4) Democratic Leadership:
• Supports team work and offers collective projects
• Always encourages the team members to express freely
• Takes into account the individuals needs
• Fosters positive work environment and engages his team in decision making process.

Tips for better Leadership
• Be a good role model.
• Be clear about your rules and expectations.
• Leave room for input.
• Reward employees for good behavior.
• Be liked.
• Stamp out ‘them and us’ culture
• Honor the business roots
• Be passionate, enthusiastic and proud• Communicate effectively.
• Know your limits
• Learn from the past
• Keep meetings productive
• Walk your talk
• Presentations
• Motivational skills

Pain to Gain!

So the very title, and yes I probably do acknowledge how the initial word would appeal your mind. That’s fine. Stress, Failures, Rejections, Frustrations, Agony, Depression, Pessimism, cynicism, Indolence, Apathy, Indifference… How does these terms sounds like?.. Well am not the genius and even the experts couldn’t suggest a permanent lifetime solution to those who face these barriers. All I could do now is to suggest how they would  appear in someone’s lucid appearance, which may worth the time taken for your eyes to blink a second.

How mean it is to conceive that one is the most innocent victim for all the traps! So.. most probably, all of us would have come across this. While reading this, some amidst us may even think that they are the most experienced in all those. That’s not the issue. But the very thing lies in how we receive it. Again; it is an universal topic that it is not possible for me to discuss each corners and peripheral aspects of something called pain.

For instance a little boy gets slapped often by his parents, an innocent teenager is often blamed for something that he/she has not done, one feels sorry for themself in contrast with others state and what if one faces interruptions in all their endeavours.., It is definite to bring them some bitter feel. It’s never gonna be an astonishing fact that these bitterness is most often inflicted by the environment!

It would have caused much pain for the little boy when he realises someone is much happier next to his door, than the literal pain that he had received during his slaps. It would have caused much pain when someone does mistakes without being noticed whilst the innocent is blamed. It would have caused much pain to the one who is pursuing their studies for a long time while the other go for a work; and that other would feel for losing their studies for the sake of doing some job. It would have caused much pain when others get their things done easily, in accordance with time than the moment when that one person had repeatedly faced interruptions.

I couldn’t disagree with the point that we tend to live our lives with interdependence in this society. But it still remains as a wonder, why are we easily carried upon by others, as even the personal emotion is replaced with the very thought of others life. Pain is something which drives us in a good way when it is internalized. One tends to find the solution when he repeatedly sorts out his faults and amends it. The same feel could be disastrous when it is juxtaposed. There is a saying that ‘Everything appears upon our views’ and here, this could be the suitable one here! Such pessimistic thing would lead to an optimistic track when the pain is optimised in a personal manner.

I wouldn’t like to discuss about the gain here as it is a comfort zone for a  many. ‘Bed of thorns proves to be effective than the Bed of roses’ as as the senses in our skin as well as in our mind gets the strengthened stimulus. It really requires some effort to gain any a thing. It may also be success, happiness, cherishments, ecstacy, satisfaction… Both the pain and gain is something that is present in your ‘ain’ (Yourself).

“Turn the pain to gain, but not to disdain thy ain”!

Importance and Benefits of Reading Books.

Growing up we all have learned basic skills and out of all the skills, our ability to read is the most significant. Whatever you read, it ends up enlightening you. And when it comes to books, each book that you read is an opportunity to learn something new. By reading you can broaden your vocabulary, improve your writing skills, train your mind, enhance your wellness, lower stress, and most important thing you can discover something new about yourself. 

Why is reading important?

It has been said that a person who can read can educate themselves in any field of life they’d like to. In this modern era, everything is flooding with fresh information. And reading is the best way to clarify and relate to further information. 

Although you can find it easier to watch a Youtube video or listen to a podcast, reading still tastes the cake when it comes to comprehension and enhancing your education. 

What are the benefits of reading books? 

If you are a bookworm, you already know many of the benefits of reading books. And if you are not then you are reading the right article. Mentioned below are some of the benefits of reading books:-

I) Improves Concentration

Reading requires concentration, time, and patience. In simple words, reading forces you to use your brain. According to One World Literacy Foundation, “when you read, you need to reason things out that are unfamiliar to you.”

II)  Broaden Vocabulary 

If you read, you uncover new words, that allow understanding on a greater level. If you read an hour per day, you’ll end up exposing yourself to approx 4 million words in a year. Isn’t it amazing?

III) Reduces Stress

According to a study by Sussex University, reading can reduce stress by 68%. When you read you involve your mind in reading, which takes away your focus from all the worries.  

David Lewis​ (a cognitive neuropsychologist) said, “It doesn’t matter what book you read. By losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.”

IV) Makes You A Better Communicator

When you learn new vocabulary, you become a far better communicator. With all the new vocabulary, you’ll know which word is right for which context. For example, when you feel bad, it can be anything like you are feeling hungry, you have a fever, you have a headache, etc. But if you say that I am feeling bad then you are not specifying the feelings, which results in another person not understanding what are you going through. In that case, your vocabulary can help, that you learn by reading.

V) It Helps Your Writing

With all the creativity, vocabulary, and communication skills gained from reading, imagine what you can do with your writing skills. By reading other’s work you can experience their way of explaining a feeling or certain situation. Hence, you learn how to use other writers’ experiences to improve yours.

VI) Reading Improves Empathy

Empathy is being able to put yourself in someone’s else shoes. Reading fiction or non-fiction can bring you as close as you’ll ever be in someone”s shoes. Studies have shown that readers have a better sense of empathy. 

There is a saying, “Books are man’s best friend.” I believe every one of us should follow this and start reading. 

Photography – The Poetry of Images

Photography is nothing less than an art form of absolute purity. Silent poetry with the moments
captured in an image is photography. The most memorable and beautiful way to remember the
special things in life with full clarity. Photos are a way of preserving the best memories and
moments for eternity. Photos are the permanent reminder of the past. Never get forgotten. They
will always be alive. The past, the memories, everything is hidden in the photos. Hidden but so
transparent in emotions. All the feelings just in a single place. They get old but are
unforgettable. But on the bright side, photos are a way of expressing your emotions in a
completely different and innovative way.

Photo by Kaique Rocha on Pexels.com

Photography is not just work, it is a passion filled with excitement and hope. It is a specific but
not so specific piece of art. It can be done in various forms with no boundaries. There’s nothing
to dislike in photography. It’s just another way to showcase talent of immense beauty.
Everything, every moment can be captured and kept for the rest of your life. Photos have the
finest texture and the most amazing depiction of a thing. It feels like it’s real.
Photographers have the ability and power to make a photo so great that it magnifies the
moment. They are able to drastically change the outcome of an image by using various
equipment for high quality and definition. Every small detail is shown through photos. It gives
pleasure to experience and relive the moments in life through photos.

Photos are not just a piece of paper or a file occupying a little space in your mobile or camera roll. They are an
explicit version of your life in brief. The small moments to the big memories, all are stored in a
single place for you to look after decades and enjoy living in the moment again. Photography depicts the vulnerability of the photographers through their art. Photographers use photography as a medium for creative expressions. They pour their heart out in the photos. They are artists of very fine quality and beauty in its purest form. The beauty and creativity can not be ignored by any living heart in this world. Embrace moments and capture them in real time
with photography.

Why physical activity is important in this pandemic

Pandemic has changed our lifestyles , made us stuck in our phones & laptops , & left us with no physical activity .

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented time all across the world. Worldwide, extensive social distancing policies are put into place, restricting people’s daily activities and worldwide pleas from governments asking people to stay safe and stay at home. This of course means that most people will spend much of their time (if not all) at home.

These social distancing measures mean that people have far fewer opportunities to be physically active, especially if activities such as walking or cycling as transportation, or taking part in a leisurely activity (e.g. jogging, walking the dog, going to the gym) are being restricted. Furthermore, these drastic measures also make it so much easier to be sedentary at home for long periods of time. The impact of this physical inactivity may very likely be seen in many areas such as health and social care and the mental well-being of people all across the globe Though this social distancing is the need of now , but physical activities are also the need of now.

In light of the current situation worldwide, certain benefits of physical activity may be specifically pertinent to the COVID-19 Pandemic. These benefits are:

  • Physical activity enhances immune function and reduces inflammation therefore it could reduce the severity of infections which will automatically leads to good health.
  • Physical activity improves common chronic conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 (i.e. Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes) , but taking these physical activities in your daily lives , risk of death due to corona virus will reduce .
  • Physical activity is a great stress management tool by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • Physical activity helps bring cortisol levels in balance. Stress and distress (such as during a pandemic) creates an imbalance in cortisol levels and this negatively influences immune function and inflammation.
  • Instead of always keeping an eye on your phone & laptops keeping an eye on your physical activities will leads to rest for your eyes, neck, & back.

We all know that this pandemic will stay with us for a long go , even if you are save with no corona virus symptoms , poor physical health will lead you to major heath issues . Instead of surrounding yourself with heath problems , indulge yourself into physical exercise, like yoga , meditation , exercise ,etc. ” STAK HOME , STAY SAFE , INDULGE YOUR SELF WITH INDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITES & HENCE SATY FIT”.

Procrastination!

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work” — Stephen King.

We all are possessed with the mixture of both the good and bad kind of qualities. Procrastination is one such thing which is impregnated in all of us, while we tend to gain something from our daily experiences. It is the act of delaying an important task for the sake of trivial matters. It can restrict one’s potential and undermine one’s career. Some tend to avoid any important meetings, some delay their work schedule and these people cannot reach the higher levels in their life.

Re-scheduling the works would inhibit the growth of oneself. It would lead one to loose their opportunities, affects the outcomes of the accomplished task and would also spoil one’s name. It really takes one to move backward, rather being prudent and moving forward. If one meets a person at 11.00 clock, who is supposed to meet at 10.00; then how would the other trust him/her?he value of time is important to be acknowledged. Each and every second that one go through in a leisure manner, is the time whence, others would be achieving something in some corner. There is something that a person should always consider and, it is known as the other end. We may take privilege upon our tasks and time but the particular thing has its own time to be done; or the other person who is involved may have many other works to be finished and they really don’t waste their time for anyone’s sake.

“Time is a storm in which we all are lost”, said by William Carlos Williams. The value of time is important to be acknowledged. Each and every second that one go through in a leisure manner, is the time whence, others would be achieving something in some corner. There is something that a person should always consider and, it is known as the other end. We may take privilege upon our tasks and time but the particular thing has its own time to be done; or the other person who is involved may have many other works to be finished and they really don’t waste their time for anyone’s sake.

Some reasons for the procrastination of works are : perceiving that the work is hard, fear of getting adapted to a new thing, exhaustion, annoying or uninteresting tasks, fetching for easier tasks, raunchy and carelessness.

Here are few steps to avoid procrastination: The work that should be done today, should not be delayed for the next day. The harder or boring work should be given the first preference, so that it would be finished off. One should always have in their mind that being responsible in our work is linked with our growth and success.

Those who procrastinate their task would lose their happiness and growth. Successful people won’t delay their task as they really long to taste it.

Sunsets

The only reason I believe in happy endings

Like SRK said if the ending is not happy ending then, “Picture abhi baki hai mere dost”. When the sky is in it’s beautiful colours and the sun is going down, may be they are trying to say us that look, “the endings can be beautiful too”, may be they are giving us hope, hope for better and beautiful future, may be, they are trying to say us that, let go what happened today, just forgot what happened in the past by looking at this beautiful sunset skies and look forward to every sunrise, it’s your golden opportunity to “RESET”.

It’s the nature of life that things don’t stay the same but sunsets are the proof that, they can end beautifully, so don’t give up, just keep going no matter what happens the end gonna be beautiful. After entire day work just you, a cup of coffee and beautiful sunset with your favourite music will help you to forgot about all your worries and you’ll just want to live in that moment forever when the sky is in it’s beautiful colours. The world is fighting against the virus and we are too young to dealing with all this, so much has happened, so much is happening, at some point in our life we all feel depressed, sad and lonely, sometimes we just want to give up and it’s a life but, DON’T, comfort yourself by looking at these beautiful sunset skies.

Some people may sound like that, you need to do something special in life, and that’s not true. They will judge you at every point in your life but, don’t think, don’t put so much thoughts into what you’re doing and what others are saying or what others will say, you just have to keep going. Start doing things for yourself let them call you selfish sometimes it’s really okay to be selfish.

Also always remember, you are just a little bit doubtful of your potential and unsure of your worth but you are as amazing as these sunset skies.

How to build a good Team ?

A team is a group of people working together towards a common goal. Creating an opportunity for people to come together to share concerns, ideas, experiences, and to begin to work together to solve mutual problems and achieve common goals.

Team Development Life Cycle

  1. Forming : In this stage high dependence on leader for guidance and direction. Little agreement on team. Individual roles and responsibilities are unclear. Leader must be prepared to answer lots of questions about the team’s purpose, objective and external relationships.
  2. Storming : In this stage decisions don’t come easily within group. Team members compete for position Clarity of purpose increases but plenty of uncertainties exist. Compromises may be required to enable progress.
  3. Norming : In this stage agreement and consensus forms among team. Roles and responsibilities are clear and accepted. Big decisions are made by group agreement. Commitment and unity is strong. The team discusses and develops its processes and working style. There is general respect for the leader and some of leadership is shared.
  4. Performing : The team clearly knows “why it is doing ?” and “what it is doing ?” . The team has a shared vision. There is a focus on over-achieving goals. Disagreements occur but now they are resolved within the team positively. The team is able to work towards achieving the goal. Team members look after each other. The team does not need to be instructed or assisted.
  5. Adjourning : Adjourning, is the break-up of the group, hopefully when their task is completed successfully, their purpose fulfilled; everyone can move on to new things, feeling good about what’s been achieved. From an organizational perspective, recognition of and sensitivity to people’s vulnerabilities during this fifth stage is helpful. Feelings of insecurity would be natural

Characteristics of a Good Team

  • Everyone participates actively and positively.
  • Team goals are understood by everyone.
  • Everyone takes initiative to get things done.
  • Each teammate trusts the judgment of the others.
  • The team is willing to take risks.
  • Everyone is supportive of the project and of others.
  • Team goals are given realistic time frames.
  • Everyone is focused on the ultimate goal of the project.

Common Team Problems

  • Overbearing or dominating participants
  • Unwilling to become involved
  • Unquestioned acceptance of opinions as facts
  • Rush to accomplishment
  • Quarreling members
  • Disconnected/lack of contact between members

Groups members should avoid the following behaviors –

  • Being overly aggressive toward other members.
  • Withdrawing and refusing to cooperate with others.
  • Horsing around when there is work to be done.
  • Using the group as a forum for self-confession.
  • Talking too much about irrelevant matters.
  • Trying to compete for attention and recognition

How to find a job during the pandemic?

Not only has the coronavirus pandemic had a big influence on the world economy, but it has also had a significant impact on your employment search. It has wreaked havoc on the stock market and harmed a variety of businesses. If you have a present employment, you are most likely working from home.

Small businesses have been forced to close temporarily, while large corporations have been impacted by the stress of losing customers and a disrupted supply chain. According to NBC News, there are estimates that the jobless rate in the United States will hit 20%.

Layoffs, furloughs, reduced hours and overtime pay, and hiring freezes have all been used by certain companies in response to the health crisis. Other businesses are actively hiring and publishing new job openings on a daily basis.

There’s a lot of uncertainty right now about what the national and global impact on hiring will be, but there are ways to stay positive and proactive about your job search at this turbulent time.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Engage your network

People recognise that this is a terrible time and want to assist in any way they can. Let your friends and relatives know you’re looking for work and tell them what kinds of employment you’re looking for and which companies you’re targeting so they can keep an eye out for openings. If they hear anything, they’ll let you know. 

Even if human resources isn’t through sorting through the applications that come in through the ATS, those email intros, or having individuals in your network send your resume and cover letter on your behalf, can boost your application to the top of the pile.

If you find openings at a company where you previously worked, don’t be afraid to contact former coworkers and superiors. Because they know your skills and work ethic, they are more inclined to hire you than the competition. Even if they aren’t hiring, they can serve as references for other applications you are submitting.

Because they work in the sector, they may be aware of other opportunities through their own network and can refer you.

Practice phone and video job interviews

Because so many people now work remotely, job interviews are now conducted over the phone or by video rather than in person. A phone interview can be more difficult because it is more difficult to understand someone’s reaction and establish a dialogue that flows organically.

It can be more difficult to do a video interview because being on camera can be uncomfortable.

Take on a temp or freelance gig

If you don’t have a job right now, look for temp and freelance employment to help pay the bills. When you impress your coworkers, it could lead to a full-time employment. Working for a temp agency is also a good way to pick up some in-demand skills.

Employers are searching for employees who are self-disciplined enough to work from home and have outstanding writing skills, so if you’re currently working from home, keep that in mind.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Show off your transferrable skills

Because there is so much competition for jobs right now, it’s critical to step up your game. First, look for positions that have been posted recently, as this indicates that the organisation is looking to fill a current position. If a job posting has been up for several weeks, it may no longer be a top priority for the organisation.

When perusing job listings, remain confident in yourself and realise that you can still acquire a job.

Customize your application for each job

Spend more work on each cover letter and resume so that your resume and cover letter are noticed. Modifying them for each job application takes extra effort, but it is important. When you apply for a job online, your resume is typically entered into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which analyses your resume to see if you meet the job posting’s requirements. 

Don’t replicate everything word for word, but make sure your resume and cover letter include the bulk of the most significant parts of the job. According to Monster data, nearly 75% of applications that go through an ATS are rejected because they don’t fulfil the hiring manager’s standards, such as the correct abilities, education level, or job titles, so it’s critical to get your resume in the door.

Stay up to date

Read about the companies and the world of market. Make this a habit to stay up to date without any obstacle. This will help you to be spontaneous and aware.

References

http://www.monster.com

NIKOLA TESLA!!!

Many scientists have left their mark in the field of science. Their hardwork have led us to this development. Yes, if those scientists wern’t think of those different ideas, will you be able to live in this cosy and comfortable world. Think of those days, there were no mobile phones, mixer grinder, car and even current. When we think of this, the fullest credits goes to the scientists who invented this right? If there is no Edison, will there be any current now? If there is no Graham Bell, will there be a telephone? Have you ever thought if you can live without current and mobile phones? The answer would be no. Okay, let me get the point. You know about Edison, Graham Bell, Albert Einstein etc., and you know something about them. I will tell you about a scientist who left his mark in the field of physics. Yes. I’m to talk about our Nikola Tesla. He made many breakthrough in the production, application and transmission of the electric power. The first alternating current motor was invented by him. This made a breakthrough in the field of engineering. Come on! Let’s know something about him.

NIKOLA TESLA (1856 – 1943)

Nikola Tesla was born on 10th July 1856 in Croatia, America. His father, Milutin Tesla was preist in Eastern Orthodox Church. His mother,Đuka Mandić was very talented and she has the power to memorise Serbian epic poems. The crave for knowledge in Tesla came from his mother. Tesla was the fourth child of the family. He had three sisters and an older brother. His brother died when Tesla was five years old.

Tesla said that his interest in demonstration of electricity came from his physics teacher. He has a talent to calculate integral calculus in his head which prompted his teachers to believe that he was cheating. In 1875, Tesla enrolled at the Imperial Royal Technical College, Gauz, on a Military Frontier scholarship. During his first year, Tesla never missed a lecture, earned the highest grades possible, passed nine exams. He even got the letter of recommendations from his dean. After his father’s death in 1879, Tesla lost his scholarship and addicted to gambling. He never get through the final semester exams and didn’t finish of his degree. To hide fact, he severed the ties with his family and his friends thought that he was dead.

TESLA IN THE FIELD OF ELECTRICITY

  • In 1884, he reached America with the letter of inrtoduction to work with Thomas Edison, whose DC-based electrical works were fast becoming the standard in the country. Edison hired Tesla and the two worked hard tirelessly on Edion’s inventions. After some months, they two parted their ways due to some issues related to their business.
  • Tesla discovered, designed and developed ideas for a number of important inventions which were officially patented by other inventors including dynamos and the induction motor. Tesla designed the alternating-current (AC) electrical system, which had become the prominent power system of the 20th century and has remained the worldwide standard ever since.
  • In 1887, Tesla found funding for his new Tesla Electric Company, and by the end of the year, he had successfully filed several patents for AC-based inventions.
  • In 1895, Tesla designed what was among the first AC hydroelectric power plants in the United States.
  • In the 19th century, Tesla patented Tesla coil, which laid the foundation for wireless technologies and is still used in radio technology today. The heart of an electrical circuit, the Tesla coil is an inductor used in many early radio transmission antennas. The coil works with a capacitor to resonate current and voltage from a power source across the circuit.

Tesla died due to Chronic Thrombosis on 7th January 1943. He died in New York where he lived for sixty years. He worked hard to prove himself in the field of electricity. As the result of his hardwork, he was able to leave his marks in the field of elctricity. These are just a few information given by me. If you began to search on him, you can know various interesting facts about him.

Read more;

THE PICARESQUE NOVEL

The Picaresque novel is a famous technique in earlier periods. These techniques were used to record the Kings’ and other person’s victories in and out of the battlefields even during his adventures. This form of literature helped in recording the real historical heroes and events from various perspectives. Many authors adapted these techniques and succeeded in making new epic fictions, mythologies, and other real events and incidents.

The Picaresque Novel originated in Spain. The term ‘Picaresque’ is derived from the Spanish ‘picaro’ meaning an anti-hero or rogue. A Picaresque novel is generally an autobiography account of the hero’s fortunes, sufferings and wanderings. It is a combination of episodic tales arranged as journeys. They episodes generally depict low life in a rambling manner and come to an abrupt ending.

The first prose fiction in the nature of the picaresque was John Lyly’s ‘Euphues’ published in 1578 detailing the loves and adventures of a young Athenian called Euphues. Six years later, Thomas Nash published his ‘Unfortunate Traveller’, a more perfect picaresque romance dealing with the travels and adventure of a page called Jacky Wilton. Defoe’s ‘Moll Flanders’ published in 1722 had an affinity with the picaresque mode of writing. But Smollett’s  ‘The Adventure of Ferdinand Count Fathom’ is a more perfect form of the picaresque. However, it was Fielding’s ‘Tom Jones’ which established the respectability of the picaresque novel. Fielding’s novel describes through 18 book’s the adventures and several love affairs of The Young anti-hero Tom Jones. Elements of the picaresque can be found in Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby and in Joyce Cary’s “The horse’s mouth.”

The object of the picaresque novel is to take a central figure through a succession of scenes and adventures, introduce a great number of characters around him and thus build-up picture of society. In the eighteenth century and before travel was the only way to get acquainted with social life. That is why heroes in the Picaresque novels are travelling heroes. The hero in a picaresque novel is always in the Whirlpool of adventures and he has to be present in several human situations. The picaresque hero often transcends the level of the rogue into a tragic figure with human attributes as in the case of Fielding’s Tom Jones.

Another feature of the picaresque novel is the dynamic movement of the hero. He should run through a succession of scenes as Tom does during his journey to London. The novelist constructs the picture of society through the narration of the hero’s wanderings. Smollett sends his hero Roderick Random not only to London but also to France and for a ship journey. The picaresque novel may go deeper into a contemplation of the more intricate relationship between good and evil. They also reveal the strange truth that generous impulses exist even in those whom society considers as rougues. Tom Jones is a generous and manly youth in spite of the rouguish elements in his character.

Until now this technique is used by various authors for various books in the name of Mythologies, fiction, and other Genres.

Short stories within novels

All about autobiography

Dinnerware Patterns

Planning on throwing a big dinner party? Or just having some guests over for the night? Either way, we know what you are looking for. Are you looking for something innovative to do to impress your friends? We got you.

A big party means you need to take out your stock of dinner sets you have hidden in that cabinet. Yes, you read it right. Go on, take them out and think about how to decorate the dining table for the night. Maybe we can help you there. We will show you how to mix and match dinnerware for your party. But what else are you thinking? Flowers? Accessories for the table? Fancy table mats? Or candles maybe? That is nice but what about your precious dinnerware waiting to be showcased. Come on, let’s see what you need to do.

Why Mix and Match?

If you want to throw a big party., you will need a good amount of the same dinner sets. About 20 to 30 plates of the same design with the spoons and bowls too will be needed. No one is that stupid to buy these many dishes of the same design. So what you want is to mix and match your dinner sets to make your table look presentable and great.

How to Mix and Match Dinnerware?

It depends on how you want your table to look. Do you want a bright cheery mood? Or do you prefer a more classic look? Whatever you want, we are here to help you.

Either you decide to order takeout or cook your best dish, it’s always nice to make your table presentable. It sets the right mood for the dinner party. Let us find out how you can make the table a feast for your eyes.

  • Start with deciding a color scheme – The most important thing to keep in mind while setting the table is to devise a color scheme. The base color for the dinner sets. We recommend it to be a plain color. You can take it as bright red large plates with plain white side plates and add some golden metal spoons and forks. Or you can go with a dull color like brown or maybe royal blue with a contrast of silver would be nice.
  • Consider the mood of the gathering – You want to set the mood right for the party. Decide whether you want a formal gathering or a fun friends’ night out. For a formal dinner, you might want to seem classy then put some flowers and candles on the table.
  • Include different items – Your table will look good if it has some different fun items. They may be stemmed glasses for drinks or big fancy soup bowls. Adding napkins going with the color scheme might be a good addition. Set different sizes of spoons for starters and meals.
  • Metals shine bright – Metals make a good addition to the table. They add a bit of sparkle to the setting. There are no restrictions if you want to add some silver, gold, or bronze spoons and forks. They add to the charm of your dining table.
  • Add shapes and textures – Setting your table with different shapes of dishes would be nice and fun. Add two different shapes of glasses for drinks and water. Be bold and imaginative when adding patterns to the set. If a color doesn’t suit your mood then maybe go for more textured plates and dishes. Consider a floral pattern of plates with plain side plates which go with golden spoons.
  • A sense of nature – Bring in some natural materials and add one bright color like blue with classic white plates. Spice it up by giving it a traditional and classy look. Add some flowers too in the vase.
  • Consistency is the key – You need to be consistent. Whatever you selected at the starting, keep it up till the end. Whatever color or pattern you want make it consistent for every seat. Whether it is the color scheme, the flowers, table mats, or the water glasses, try to keep all the items consistent throughout the table. Even if your table is mismatched but is consistent, it will definitely look perfect.
  • Crisp and colorful – You want it to be a cheerful picnic dinner then you can go with solid colors lining your table. Mix it with a contrasting color to make it look colorful and complete. Maybe add some small pattern with the side plates or the glasses.

Some Other Things to Keep in Mind

There are some other different things to keep in mind while setting your table for the big night. We told you all about what to do, now let’s come to what not to do. Some tips for you not to do are mentioned below:

  1. Do not exaggerate the number of items on the table. Keep them less but enough for using easily.
  2. Do not go too bold with the color scheme. You don’t want a simple dinner party to look like a royal dinner, do you?
  3. Try to add patterns but not many. Stick to only one or two patterns.
  4. You can set each seat with different settings but try to keep the color scheme the same throughout the table to ensure consistency.
  5. If you plan on keeping flowers and candles on the table, keep them at a distance from each other. Keep only two vases and three candles for a small table. For a much longer table, keep four vases with five or six candles only.
  6. Keep your focus on decorating the table with your dinnerware and not just the other accessories. Bear in mind to keep the dinner sets the main attraction of the table.

Go ahead enjoy your party now. We told you everything you need to know to host an amazing dinner. Hope you got your answer on how to mix and match dinnerware. Set your table with your creativity and sense of design and woo your guests with beauty on the table. Don’t forget to invite us!

Ways To Boost Your Creativity

Some people appear to be born with a natural talent for creativity. If you believe you are not one of the fortunate few who drew from an apparently limitless creative wellspring, this does not imply you are destined to a life of the ordinary and expected.

Creativity is not a lightning bolt that hits infrequently and cannot be predicted; rather, it is more like a muscle. To enhance your talents, you must continually practise, engage, and improve on your creativity. 

Something to keep in mind is that creation is not a silent process. Sitting back and waiting for creativity to come to you is a sure way to lose enthusiasm and become disheartened. Alternatively, concentrate on finding methods to improve your own creativity. Look for activities that excite you and assist you in focusing your attention and brain power on the work at hand.

Irrespective of your life goals, creativity is a valuable ability to have. While starting  new hobbies such as learning to play an instrument, and particularly if you are interested in a job that requires creative thinking, creative thinking can come in useful.

Here are some ways to boost your creativity:

Continue to keep learning

A creative mind is an inquisitive mind, therefore continue to master new skills and indulge your inquisitive nature to learn more about the world and everything around it. After you’ve honed your creative abilities, it’s critical to constantly push yourself and learn new things to motivate you and help you improve. Whether you just make an attempt to read more in your own time or research into taking more formal classes, continuous learning is essential for increasing your creativity.

Take a breather

While creativity is a talent that you can teach yourself to be better at it is also vital not to put a lot of strain on yourself. Take a break if you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours, frantically seeking new ideas and answers and coming up empty-handed. Have a change of pace, clear your thoughts, and clear your head off the work at hand: when you return to it with newer perspectives, you could discover the inspiration you’ve been looking for sitting there in front of you all along!

Discover the settings that allow you to be most creative

Certain people are morning people and find that they are most creative and productive in the early hours of the morning, before most people have even gotten out of bed.  Many thrive on the solitude of the night, whilst some may feel that the normal 9 – 5 is ideal for creative thought. The trick is to figure out what work settings fit the best for you – not just the hours you work, but also factors like location, lighting, music, and the tools/equipment you use.

Do something you enjoy doing

When you genuinely enjoy your profession, you will automatically be more motivated and passionate about solving problems and new ideas. It will be quite difficult to approach work that you continually putting off with a positive, creative mindset. Find an activity that allows you to be creative that you like, such as playing an instrument, drawing, or participating in a sport that totally immerses you in the moment.

Get some physical exercise

Exercising can be a fantastic method to cleanse your thoughts when you’ve been feeling stressed or under strain. Several researchers have demonstrated that exercise (even as little as 30 minutes of aerobic activity) helps us become more creative and improves brain function. Therefore, the next time you’re stuck in a creativity slump, throw on your running shoes, get your heart rate going up, and see if you can get your creative juices flowing more easily.

WHAT IS A NOVEL

The novel owes its existence to man’s interest in other men and the great panorama of human passion and action. Both the drama and the novel are compounded of the same material but in drama and the literary element is bound up with the elements of stage settings and interpretations through acting. So, Marion Crawford terms the novel as “Pocket theatre”. The novel may be defined as long narrative prose detailing the actions of fictitious people. Meredith calls it a ‘summing of actual life’. The novel combines narration and description, history and philosophy, poetry and fantasy, social criticism, and a particular view of life.

Elements of the Novel:

The novel has various elements.

  1. In the first place, it should have a plot. The novel deals with elements and actions and how these are presented is the plot.
  2. Secondly, the men and women who are involved in these elements and actions appear as characters in the novel.
  3. The third element is the dialogue the mean of interaction among the characters.
  4. The fourth element is the scene and the time of action because the characters must interact, do or suffer at some place or time.
  5. The fifth element is the style in which the narration is done.
  6. The Sixth Element is the view of life presented by the novelist.

The Plot:

The plot in a novel is the organization of incidents. The theme should have substantial value and human interest. It is primarily concerned with the things which make life strenuous, intense, and morally significant.

There are two types of plots – organic and episodic. In the first, the characters and events are well interwoven that no character or incident can be removed from the novel without causing damages to the whole. The plot and Jane Austen novels are examples. The second type of plot is loosely formed and characters and incidents have no essential bearing on each other. The picaresque novels of Fielding and even some of the novels of Dickens have episodic plots. How the various elements in the plot or organized to achieve a definite artistic purpose is called the structure. Unity in structure and plot is to be observed.

The Characterization:

Characterization is the act of presenting the characters alive and real to our imagination. The men and women in the novel must move through it like living beings they should remain in the readers’ memory after the novel is laid aside. There are two types of characterization – the direct or the analytic and the indirect or dramatic. In the analytical method, the novelist portrays his Characters from outside, dissects their passion, thoughts, and feelings, and even passes judgment upon them.

The Dialogue:

Dialogue is well managed, gives vividness, and actually to the plot and the characters. Dialogue reveals the passion and the emotion of the character and advises the movement of the plot. Dialogue should Constitute an organic element in the story. It should be natural, appropriate, and dramatic. It should be in keeping with the personality of the speaker.

The Time and Place of Action:

Time and place of action in a novel refer to the whole setting of the story, both social and material. They are novels of sea life, military life, industrial life of district life, and life of different classes of people. There are novels with a regional background; there are novels written in the historical background. whatever may be the setting, the novelist should master its details and then present a lively picture of it.

The novel is concerned with life and so the novelist’s view of life may be revealed in the novel. A novelist may make creative observations on human life. By the selection and organization of the material, and by the presentation of character and development of the plot, the novelist can show us what he thinks of life. However, the novelist should not indulge in propaganda or preaching. His philosophy is a part of the structure of the novel and should reveal itself through the interpretation of life, thought, character, and temper of the work as a whole.

The chief characteristics of Shakespearean novels

Must read two books by Paulo Coelho-2

" HOW I LEARNT KINDNESS " based on true incident .

It was a rainy day . The monsoon was on its peak , I was getting ready for my school as it was my economics exam . I need to reach at my school campus at 10:00 O’clock & my school was 3 km away. At 9:45 , I asked my father to drive me to my school as fast as he could . My father took his bike & asked me to come fast . I took my umbrella , we were just crossing our flooded streets , my father stopped hi bike , & asked me to see a girl . I saw that girl , she was from my school only . Dad said she was waiting for rikshaw & every one listening to me right now can imagine how difficult is to get rickshaws in rainy season. I was getting angry because I was getting late for my exam as i can’t afford to leave my exam . I asked him to leave that place. He said , if you are so much concerned about your exam she would also be . He stopped his bike in front of her , asked her to come with us . She got scared . I could feel what what she was feeling . Everybody’s parents aske them the same thing ” DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS”. I looked at her face , I was angry , but could feel that she want some assurance , I asked her to come with us , she hesitated , I said politely ” come ! we are from same school & your security is in my hand “. she smiled . she sat with me, I put my umbrella on her head .

i reached at my school gate at 10:10 , i came off from the bike , so did she . She ran towards the school gate as it was about to close. While she was running , she turned towards us & said ” Thankyou uncle , thankyou Didi ” . On that day I learnt kindness from my dad . Smile on her face can clearly tells us how grateful she was to us or she would have left her exam . If I would be at my dad’s place. I would never stop my bike as it was raining heavily & her daughter is continuously shouting on him to drive fast . But he did , I learnt a lesson that in this world which is full of people who care for themselves , we should be the one who care for others , we should be the one who care for others , we should be the one who have to look & sense others problem . I learnt that people are always concerned about their own problems like me , I was concerned about my exam only , but their are people who are looking at others & their are people who are concerned about others . We should devote few hours of our day to look for others problem , this is what I learnt on that day .