Design Your Life - Design Thinking

You might have heard of the term Design Thinking. Leading brands across the world, including Apple, Google, Nike, Pepsi, and Samsung, have adopted Design Thinking. Design Thinking is even being offered as a subject at some top universities around the world, including Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. But what is all this about? Why is it taking the corporate world by storm? And why do I want to know more?

What is Design Thinking, anyway? 

There are many definitions, explanations, and even myths doing the rounds, about design thinking. Some say it’s just the next bubble, and conventional methods are the way to go. Some believe that in this fast-changing age, conventional methods need to be replaced with design thinking. And, some swear by it and believe it is the solution to everything. 

Let’s see what it is.

Design Thinking is an ideology and method of creatively solving complex problems, with a highly people-centric approach. Design Thinking fosters creativity and innovation, encouraging us to consider alternative solutions by removing pre-existing blinkers. The entire process helps in challenging assumptions and exploring new pathways and ideas.

Okay. Problem-solving. Different approach. Great for corporate leaders. Why should I care?

Because Design Thinking is for everyone; World Leaders, Corporates, Businessmen, Teachers, Parents, Students. EVERYONE.

• Designing is about problem-solving. 
• Design involves defining the outcome and crafting the process to reach that outcome.
• Design is People-Centric. It starts with empathy.
• Design can be fluid, and constantly evolving.

How do I Start with Design Thinking?

There are many ways, but let’s start with a basic 5-Step Process, which you can start implementing starting right away.

1. Empathize: It is important to be empathetic and understand the needs of your team. Design thinking should start with the end-users in mind; Creating a framework where you build empathy and inclusiveness.
2. Define: The emphasis should be on identifying and defining the core problem and then reaching the best solution. Design thinking helps you to develop a solution-centric mindset, as opposed to a problem-centric one.
3. Ideate: Create a lot of ideas in ideation sessions. Brainstorm all kinds of possible solutions, while being open-minded about all ideas. Think out of the box and keep jotting them down. Eliminate during the next step.
4. Prototype: Prototype like you’re right. Test like you’re wrong. Simple. 
5. Test: Learning from continual testing is your key to Design Thinking. At every step of the way, you create more certainly and think again, relearn, revise and restart to realign. You won’t go too wrong if you test early and keep testing regularly. It’s the best safeguard.

The key point to remember is, Design Thinking is not a linear process. Be Creative. Focus on People. Focus on Your Solutions.

Behaviors That Create Success & Happiness

·         Give yourself permission to say YES only to the things that lift you up.

·         Take time to evaluate, plan & be proactive with your journey in life, so you’re directing your own destiny.

·         Practice being patient and at peace with the “Grey Areas” in life, remembering uncertainty is the breeding ground of new possibilities!

·         Put in place daily life-affirming rituals & reminders to keep you focused on your goals & what’s most important to you.

·         Be conscious of what’s going on inside your mind. Practice loving self-talk.

·         Wear “Solution Eyes” each day, look beyond issues with intent to see the positive way forward.

·         Even if you feel fear, step forward & give life a go.

·         Practice gratitude, it’s the energy that will magnetize more of the good things into your life.

·         Prioritize your health. Your body is the vehicle that carries you through life. It needs you to take care of it so it can do its job.

Importance of Discipline

Discipline means training of the mind and character. It is obedience to rules and an orderly behavior. It also refers to the practices involved in to regulate the human behaviour accordance to a set of pre-determined rules.

There is a need and importance of discipline in our society and particularly in our life. In our home, in office and everywhere in this world discipline brings order.

The absence of discipline brings disorder and chaos. There are some rules that control our activities. If we do not respect these rules, our life will be like a boat without the boatman. If we do not obey our parents at home, our seniors at work, we can imagine what will happen. So it is important that we understand the need for discipline, so that everybody can be proud of us.

Discipline in work place is a type of training in which individuals are subject to regulations designed to mold behaviors. It is necessary to instill disciplining program at work place in order for individuals and the organization to move forward. An effective regimen will help improve workplace performance, provide a safe and honest environment conducive to production.

Disciplined environment helps put both management and employees on their best behavior.

Efficiency is tied to a disciplined organization. Staff members must discipline themselves in working in a timely manner to produce quality output. Discipline requires concentration, time management, and orderliness, which all contribute to efficient labor.

Peacefulness ensues when you have a workplace that is committed to values of a concentrated regimen.

The environment that exists in organizations which do not issue specific guidelines for behavior is frequently impulsive, erratic and uncertain. It is extremely difficult for management to effectively lead workers under these conditions. A disciplined facility, however, encourages a pleasant environment that promotes good management and employee relations.

Discipline helps to produce an honest environment in which everyone is treated fairly.

A disciplined environment is necessary to provide a secure workplace.

Ramadan the month of Fasting

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” The Holy Quran, 2:183

Ramadan is a month of fasting and prayers. The fast consists of total abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk. There is, however, a greater significance to fasts than mere abstinence from eating and drinking. The real objective of fasts is to inculcate in man the spirit of abstinence from sins and of cultivation of virtue. Thus, the Qur'an declares that the fasts have been prescribed with a view to developing piety in man, as is clear from the verse quoted. 

One of the primary benefits of fasting in Ramadan is a spiritual purification, the essential goal of Spirituality. Although we tend to think of the mind, body and spirit as separate components, in reality they are all connected and interrelated, and improvement in any one naturally effects improvement in the others as well. 

Fasting in Ramadan purifies the mind, body and spirit, leading to greater clarity, sensitivity and health.

Ramadan is not just about fasting or staying hungry and thirsty for one month, but much more. This is the month of piety and devotion. It’s main purpose is to learn self-control and strengthen willpower. Ramzan is the month in which we should guard against all temptations and evil.

Fasting is not for the stomach alone, it’s for the tongue too: one must not utter anything harsh — in anger, malice, spite or cruelty. Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink."

Fasting is for the eyes: one must guard oneself against being attracted towards evil and to raise one's voice if one witnesses oppression.

Fasting is for the body: one must not indulge in wrongful and illegal acts.

Fasting is for the heart and the mind: to remain engrossed in remembrance of God and spirituality and to increase one’s faith in God and remain steadfast.

Ramadan is the month for charity: for giving zakat and helping those who are needy.

However, Almighty does not want the people who are fasting to be inconvenienced either and in case one is sick or traveling, one can make up for it later by fasting.

If, as in my case, one can’t fast because of medical advice, one should offer the less privileged the meals that they would themselves have in the morning and evening, or give them the money to buy those meals with.

Hasan

Personality traits of Powerful Leaders

When executives identify admirable leaders, they often underestimate their struggle with certain elements of their personality. In truth, most effective leaders had to work hard to manage their personality traits to get where they are today.

Leaders who transform businesses or communities source and wield incredible power to get things done. In the context, “Power” is defined as a “leader’s ability to inspire, mobilize and lead people towards remarkable success”.

But not all leaders can source and wield power. A title or a position can only go so far. So, what makes some leaders more powerful than others. There are countless personality traits that distinguish us from one another, some inherited while others are learned. According to recent research, powerful leaders possess five “innate” traits that help them source and wield power. They happen to possess these traits to a greater extent than the relatively powerless.

Relentless Focus

Powerful leaders seldom get distracted from the direction they want the organization to go towards. With a firm belief in their vision, they can focus their energies and efforts in a single direction to create momentum.

Sensitivity towards Others

Powerful leaders tend to be extremely empathetic towards others. Being sensitive doesn’t necessarily mean they act in a friendly fashion by agreeing to others views and opinions. Rather, powerful leaders are keen observers of human behavior. They are very strategic in letting sensitivity influence their decisions.

Endurance

Many powerful leaders have enormous ability to work grueling hours. Depending on industry type, the average hours worked per week is generally between 60 and 65. Research shows that to be a powerful leader one must have both physical and mental endurance.

Resilience

Powerful leaders can tactically navigate complex situations, thanks to their resilient personality. They can skillfully pitch the same idea using different tactics. While sometimes ‘resilience’ carries a negative connotation, powerful leaders consider it as a necessary characteristic. It provides them with the capacity to change course, rather than clinging to ideas that are not working.

Submerging One’s Ego

Leaders who transform businesses and communities are very good at building alliances and networks of friendships. They do so by having a knack for adapting their behavior to the needs of the occasion even when their ego gets in the way. In order to gain greater power and critical resources for their vision, powerful leaders can submerge their ego in situations that demand restraint. At the same time, powerful leaders can also engage in constructive conflict very artfully if it is in the best interest of the organization. You won't always find them pliable. They will fight for their ideas.

“Powerful leaders are like coaches of a winning team. They are perfectly comfortable not being at the podium”

“SHEEPLE” MENTALITY

Is there really such a thing as “SHEEPLE” mentality — a tendency by vast majority of us to follow along mindlessly and without resistance? What's more unpleasant to see than the herd spirit in humans? The manipulation led to the stage when humans behave like dumb sheep. Many times, you may have wondered what the hell you were doing or how the heck you had got amongst a gang of seemingly idiots. A new research published shows that humans really flock like sheep and birds, subconsciously following just a bunch of individuals. Just 5 % of the crowd may herd, like cattle, the rest of 95 %.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” -George Washington

Think about how entire populations follow enigmatic leaders, for better or for worse. While Hitler certainly was not loved by all Germans — and not all Germans were members of the Nazi Party — he certainly managed to captivate the vast majority of the German people, who followed him as he led a conquest of the European continent that caused the deaths of tens of millions of people and destroyed entire nations.

We tend to follow what other humans are doing. What’s more, down through human history, we have built institutions and recreations that feed into our crowd mentality, to provide us with “that dangerous, fascinating thrill.”

“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” -Albert Einstein

We take this need of ours to be socially accepted and apply it to violent and destructive mob mentality such as riots, gangs and the mother of all mob mentality, war? Take military groups for instance. They are taught to be the ultimate conformers. Dress alike, look alike, walk alike, do what you are told when you are told and never question your “superiors”. For this they are called heroes, given guns and are encouraged to murder and torture their fellow human beings. The reward centers in their brains are going off the chart. So much so, that they will commit acts they never knew themselves capable of.

“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

-Alexander the Great-

Fashion is another example. Remember the checked bell bottoms, side burns of the seventies? We roll our eyes and laugh at those styles today, but are our current styles really any better? Are we really any better at determining what is attractive now? Think of the current trend of wearing baggy jeans half way down your butt and a baseball cap worn sideways. Is that really attractive?

Yet millions of people dress just like that and are considered to be very stylish. Are our own ideas of beauty any less weird? Women, who appear to be on the brink of death by starvation, massive breasts filled with saline, huge lips filled with collagen: are these things truly more beautiful?

“Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism, the way you play it is free will.”

-Jawaharlal Nehru-

There is a little more science to explain why people will act in ways that go against their basic morals and beliefs. When people are part of a group they can deindividuate, (lose their self-awareness and sense of individuality), and get caught up in the emotional excitement and indulge in behaviours they would not engage in alone. They may not feel personally responsible for their violence as they perceive the violent action as “the group’s”. The bigger the mob, or group, the more they can lose their self-awareness.

“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” -George Orwell

So, does this mean we are doomed to act like thugs and behave like violent sheep? Can we think for ourselves and not follow the pack? Yes, we can and it is easy. Being aware is enough. Know that when you refuse to conform your brain is going to alert you with “Error! Error! Undo immediately and reward me!”

Be aware that this is the reptilian part of your brain kicking in from days when conformity to the tribe was literally a life or death choice. It will pass. Very quickly. So, go ahead and be a rebel! Next time you are at a not so great event and the multitude leap to their feet to applaud, just sit there. Will people stare? Maybe, so what? Do you want to be manipulated by the crowd? This crowd or any crowd?

“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” -Jiddu Krishnamurti-

Your life is a battle. Here are some ways to win

Every morning when you wake up, a battle begins. “The real battle is within yourself.” 

It’s a battle between forces that want you to become the best version of yourself and others that want to drag you down to become the worst version of yourself.

These forces (some are internal, others are external) are always at war with each other, trying to win your soul to join them. And every day, through your choices and actions, you’re strengthening and supporting one force or the other.

Thinking of your life as a battle might seem a bit exaggerated and confrontational. However, it’s a powerful metaphor that can help play a critical role in your personal development and improvement.

When you’re in a battle, there are two possible consequences: either you win or you lose. No one wants to be a loser, so here are some ways to help you succeed every day:

PREPARE DURING THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR BATTLE

No army in its right mind would blunder into a battlefield without a plan. Similarly, if you want to win the battle of life, you have to plan for it, day by day. Ask yourself, “What would make tomorrow successful?” The more detailed you are in your planning, the more prepared you’ll be to win.

BEWARE THE LITTLE MISTAKES

In every battle, there are consequences for making the wrong move. Similarly, in the fight for your soul, there are consequences for the slightest mishap. If you think that checking your phone first thing in the morning is harmless, you’ve lost the battle for your focus over the next 3–4 hours. If you eat that donut for breakfast, you’ve just lost the battle for your energy level once the sugar rush is over. Be careful.

WAR IS ABOUT TRICKERY

In battle, sometimes you need to fool your enemies to win. Similarly, sometimes you need to fool yourself to make better and smarter decisions. For example, you can say to yourself that you’re only going for a 5-minute walk in the morning but, once you’re out of the door, stretch that walk into a 30-minute walk or jog.

LEARN FROM OTHERS

The smart general is the one who realizes that he’s not that smart and there’s always somebody out there who could teach him or her something new. If you’ve been struggling with a bad habit for a long time, look at how others have overcome that habit and learn from them.

DON’T DESPAIR IF YOU LOSE

Some battles are won and others are lost. Lick your wounds when you lose a battle and get up and fight for your best self again the next day.

AND DON’T BE ARROGANT IF YOU WIN

Just because you had a fantastic productive day today doesn’t mean you’ve mastered yourself forever. Be grateful. Be humble. And strive to work harder. It’s never over until it’s over.

HAVE FAITH

Facing the battle of life can be challenging, especially with so many factors at play. Focus on what you can control and have faith that the rest will be taken care of.

At the end of each day, ask yourself: Did I win the battle of life today? If you did, be thankful and maintain your performance. If you didn’t, be humble and learn how to be better next day.