My name is Shivaram Kumar and after two and a half decades of working with people from every conceivable race, religion, ethnicity, language, nationality and orientation, empowering them with self-belief and confidence, my wife Anjali and I know for sure that words make all the difference. The words we listen to, and the words we speak.
The aim with this blog is to make people aware of the power of words, because once we know how to surround and program ourselves with the right words, we can collectively increase self-esteem in society. Looking forward to get with you on our exciting journey called life and benefit from our stories and experiences.
Let my words play a small positive role in your world.
My Recent Book
Category: Kumarism
Speak your mind, look people in the eye, and drive your car
You want the competitive edge? Do what we did in the nineties. This is what I tell my kids and the hundreds of entrepreneurs that I coach and mentor.
In the nineties, we did it out of necessity. Now, you do it out of choice.
First, use the phone for calls, not as much for texting. Just call people. Don’t hide behind text messages. Text messages have their place, but more often than not, they are a cop out. More often than not, people hide behind texting to avoid confrontation, even the good kind. If you lose the habit of looking people in the eye while talking to them, you are already losing in life.
And drive your car. Get in a train or a bus. Go meet people in-person. Don’t hide behind zoom windows. What’s often more important than the meetings themselves are the moments in between: sharing a cup of coffee,… Continue Reading →
Will may not be the way
“If you control your environment, you don’t have to control your will.”
I love this quote not just because it is mine. I do believe that if we put our will to test unnecessarily, it is only a matter of when, not whether we will succumb.
If you are a teetotaler, and you insist on spending every evening with friends in a local bar, it is only a matter of time before you try a sip.
A few years ago a holy man India with a massive following was caught on video in a compromising position with a movie star. Many people argued that it was a case of entrapment. My question- Why was he alone with the movie star in a hotel room in the first place?
On an earlier post, Thanksgiving, Tourniquets and Trains, I talked about how the internet can foster unhealthy relationships…. Continue Reading →
Just Stitious
“Son, based on your history and background, you should never wear any jewelry with black onyx”, said Anjali’s uncle to me, soon after we were married.
I have been a rebel all my life, questioning beliefs that made no sense to me. But I have unwittingly paid heed to uncle’s suggestion, mostly because I didn’t know what black onyx was, and I had no particular desire to find out.
In India, religious, cultural, traditional and superstitious beliefs are intertwined, and it is often hard to tell them apart. Many people believe that Tuesday is the best day to fast, whereas others choose Friday, or any other day. From movie stars to street hawkers, people carry talismans, amulets and other objects to protect them from evil or to attract certain energies. In one blockbuster movie, the hero, a dock worker, learns from his friend that the number on his metal badge had special protective powers…. Continue Reading →
Fast and Steady
If you are walking on a tight-rope or threading a needle, then Slow and Steady will probably win the race. But in day to day living, we need momentum. Not break-neck speed, but momentum.
One of my mentors, Bill Britt, repeatedly told us that happiness comes from the process of accomplishment rather than the accomplishment itself. And the process can only be fulfilling if there is energy, choices and quick decisions to make. Without choices, we cannot set priorities.
In the story of The Hare and the Tortoise, the problem was not that the hare was fast. The problem was that the hare took a nap. He wasn’t steady. In life, moving slowly hoping that others will take a nap to allow us to win, is not a good strategy. Naps are helpful and sometimes critical, but they do not belong in a race…. Continue Reading →
There is always a Silver Lining
I grew up in a building named “Tilakwadi” in Chembur, Mumbai. There was a huge quadrangle with a building on each of three sides, and the fourth was open to the street. This was the the heart of the community, cricket and soccer ground, community theater at night (Chakyar Koothu), cultural activities, seven stones (Lagori) venue, Diwali & Holi celebration space and a hot spot for a score of other activities.
I missed a lot of the late afternoon action during the week because I was the only one on the afternoon school shift in the building. The rest of them went to OLPS, Saraswathi Vidyalaya and SIES. I was the only one in GEA- the only school that let me start 1st grade a year early. As I reached home in the evening, dragging my school bag and water bottle,… Continue Reading →
Boomerang
I believe that words and thoughts are like boomerangs that bounce off our dreams and goals in the future. What comes back to us are signs, people and pathways that… Continue Reading →
Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
Hawaiian names are often energetic alliterations, rhythmic and happy. The state fish is called Humuhumunukunukuapua’a. It is also the name of a restaurant at The Grand Wailea Hotel in Maui…. Continue Reading →