The Role of Enterprise Architecture in Modern Organizations

 In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, organizations are continually challenged to remain competitive while adapting to new technologies and business models. Enterprise Architecture (EA) has emerged as a critical discipline that helps organizations align their IT strategy with their broader business goals. But what exactly is Enterprise Architecture, and why is it essential for modern organizations?

What is Enterprise Architecture?

Enterprise Architecture is a comprehensive framework used to manage and align an organization’s IT assets, people, operations, and projects with its overall business strategy. It provides a holistic view of how an organization’s IT infrastructure supports and enables its business objectives.

EA is not just about technology; it’s about making sure that technology, processes, and data work in harmony to achieve business goals. It encompasses several key components:

• Business Architecture: How the business operates and delivers value.
• Data Architecture: Managing and governing data resources.
• Application Architecture: Structuring and managing software applications.
• Technology Architecture: The underlying technology infrastructure, including hardware and software.

Why is Enterprise Architecture Important?

1. Aligns IT and Business Strategy One of the primary roles of EA is to ensure that an organization's IT strategy supports its business strategy. Without this alignment, businesses can face operational inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and increased costs. EA creates a roadmap that guides the evolution of the IT landscape in sync with business needs.

2. Facilitates Digital Transformation In the age of digital transformation, businesses are adopting cloud technologies, big data, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. EA helps organizations strategically adopt these technologies by evaluating how they can be integrated into existing systems and processes without disrupting business operations.

3. Reduces Costs and Complexity Over time, businesses accumulate a range of legacy systems and disparate technologies. This can create complexity and increase operational costs. EA works to reduce this complexity by creating a standardized, efficient architecture that streamlines IT operations and cuts costs.

4. Improves Decision-Making EA provides a clear, detailed overview of an organization’s processes, systems, and data flows. This visibility enables leaders to make informed decisions about technology investments, ensuring that IT initiatives are aligned with business priorities.

5. Enhances Agility and Innovation In today’s rapidly changing market, businesses need to be agile. EA provides the foundation for agility by ensuring that IT systems are flexible, scalable, and capable of supporting new initiatives. A well-structured architecture allows businesses to innovate and adapt to market changes quickly.

6. Risk Management and Compliance EA also plays a crucial role in identifying and managing IT risks. By understanding the dependencies between various IT systems and processes, organizations can better anticipate and mitigate risks. Additionally, EA ensures that technology and processes adhere to compliance and regulatory standards.

Best Practices for Implementing Enterprise Architecture

1. Start with a Clear Vision: Understand your organization's business goals and create an EA roadmap that supports them.
2. Engage Stakeholders: Ensure collaboration between IT and business units to align strategies.
3. Adopt a Flexible Framework: Use a framework like TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) or Zachman that can evolve as your business grows.
4. Focus on Continuous Improvement: Enterprise Architecture is not a one-time project but an ongoing process that requires regular updates and refinements.

Conclusion

In today’s business environment, where agility, innovation, and digital transformation are key drivers of success, Enterprise Architecture is more crucial than ever. It provides the blueprint for organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure, streamline operations, and support business growth. By aligning technology with business objectives, EA helps organizations not only survive but thrive in the face of constant change.

Embracing Enterprise Architecture enables companies to navigate complexity, reduce costs, and position themselves for future innovation.

The Critical Role of Business Continuity Planning in Banking: Lessons from 20 Years in the Industry

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, business continuity is no longer a “nice to have” but a critical necessity. The ability of a financial institution to continue its operations during unforeseen disruptions—whether due to natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or system failures—can significantly impact not only its bottom line but also its reputation and client trust. After spending more than two decades in banking and IT, specializing in Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR), I’ve learned firsthand the essential role that proactive planning plays in safeguarding operational resilience.

Why Business Continuity Planning is Essential in Banking

The banking sector is unique in that it operates in a high-stakes environment where even a few minutes of downtime can have profound financial and reputational consequences. Unlike other industries, banking relies on the uninterrupted flow of transactions, data exchanges, and customer interactions.

In my experience, the failure to have a robust BCP in place can expose banks to:

• Operational and financial losses due to transaction delays and system outages.
• Regulatory penalties for non-compliance with industry standards like ISO 22301 or NCA in Saudi Arabia.
• Erosion of client trust, which is particularly damaging in the digital age where customers expect 24/7 banking services.

BCP is not just about responding to crises; it’s about preparing for them in advance, building resilience into every part of the institution's operations.

Key Lessons from Two Decades in Business Continuity

Over the course of my career, leading BCP initiatives at major financial institutions, several key lessons have stood out in ensuring an effective continuity strategy:

1. Regular Drills Are Non-Negotiable

One of the most important aspects of BCP is testing it regularly. A plan on paper is only as good as its execution in real-world scenarios. During my time leading disaster recovery drills for critical banking systems, we improved preparedness by 99%. This success was driven by conducting 33 inaugural prevention drills that highlighted gaps and helped teams act swiftly and effectively during actual disruptions.

2. Stakeholder Collaboration is Critical

BCP is not a one-department responsibility; it requires collaboration across multiple teams—IT, operations, risk management, and even customer service. In one of my roles, I worked with over 15 stakeholders to ensure our continuity plans were aligned, reducing project delays by 20%. Regular communication and shared ownership of the plan across departments are essential for success.

3. Embrace Technological Solutions

Technology plays an increasingly vital role in BCP. From data replication systems to cloud-based disaster recovery solutions, automation is key to reducing recovery time and minimizing manual errors. During my tenure as an IT consultant, implementing technology solutions reduced our recovery time objectives (RTO) by 50%, ensuring critical systems were restored faster than ever before.

4. Compliance and Risk Management Go Hand in Hand

In the highly regulated banking sector, compliance with industry standards such as ISO 27001 and NCA regulations is non-negotiable. Failing to adhere to these can result in significant penalties and loss of reputation. By embedding compliance into our continuity plans, we reduced audit findings by 40%, ensuring both operational resilience and regulatory alignment.

Future Trends in Business Continuity Planning

As we look ahead, BCP in the banking sector will continue to evolve with several emerging trends:

1. Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery

Cloud technologies offer scalable, flexible disaster recovery solutions that are faster and more cost-effective. Financial institutions are increasingly moving away from on-premise DR solutions to cloud-based options that can be tested more easily and deployed at a fraction of the cost.

2. Automation and AI-Driven BCP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping how banks approach continuity. By automating monitoring systems, real-time threat detection, and incident responses, banks can minimize human intervention, reducing recovery time and improving accuracy during crisis management.

3. Cybersecurity and BCP Integration

With the rise of cyber-attacks targeting financial institutions, it’s crucial for BCP to be tightly integrated with cybersecurity strategies. Ensuring rapid recovery from ransomware attacks or data breaches will be essential to protect both customers and institutional assets.

Conclusion: Building a Culture of Resilience

Effective business continuity planning in banking is not just about having a plan in place but about building a culture of resilience. Every department, employee, and vendor must be aligned with the bank’s overarching goal of uninterrupted service, even in the face of crises.

From regular disaster recovery drills to leveraging technology and fostering stakeholder collaboration, banks can enhance their preparedness and safeguard their operations against an increasingly complex risk landscape.

In my 20+ years in the field, one thing remains clear: the banks that prioritize business continuity are the ones that maintain customer trust, regulatory compliance, and long-term success, even when faced with the unexpected.

Safeguarding Our Digital Realm: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

 Introduction

In the digital age, our lives are intricately woven into the fabric of cyberspace. From personal communications to financial transactions, we entrust our sensitive information to the virtual realm. As we embrace the convenience of technology, the significance of cybersecurity and data privacy becomes paramount. In this blog post, we explore the critical importance of safeguarding our digital landscape and the measures we must take to protect our data and preserve our privacy.

1. The Cyber Threat Landscape

The cyber threat landscape is ever-evolving, with cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics. From ransomware attacks to data breaches, malicious actors exploit vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure, posing significant risks to individuals, businesses, and governments alike. The rise of interconnected devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) further expands the attack surface, making comprehensive cybersecurity measures essential.

2. Data Breaches and Their Impact

Data breaches have become distressingly common, affecting companies and individuals worldwide. These breaches compromise personal and financial information, leading to identity theft, financial fraud, and other devastating consequences. The consequences are not only financial; they also erode trust in institutions and the digital ecosystem, necessitating a proactive approach to data protection.

3. Privacy in the Digital Age

Our digital footprints contain a treasure trove of personal data. From social media activity to online shopping habits, companies and advertisers mine this information for targeted marketing. However, the indiscriminate collection and use of personal data raise ethical concerns and highlight the need for robust data privacy regulations. Respecting individuals' right to control their data is crucial for building trust between users and service providers.

4. Securing the Internet of Things (IoT)

The rapid expansion of IoT devices, from smart home assistants to industrial sensors, introduces new cybersecurity challenges. Many IoT devices lack adequate security measures, making them susceptible to hacking and unauthorized access. As IoT becomes integral to our daily lives and critical infrastructure, implementing strong security protocols is imperative to prevent potential cyber disasters.

5. Cybersecurity and the Business Landscape

For businesses, the cost of inadequate cybersecurity measures can be crippling. Beyond financial losses, reputational damage resulting from data breaches can be difficult to recover from. Cybersecurity must be treated as a business priority, and organizations must invest in the right technologies, employee training, and proactive threat detection to protect their assets and customer data.

6. Government and Regulatory Roles

Governments play a significant role in establishing cybersecurity standards and regulations. Collaborating with private sector entities, they can create comprehensive frameworks that address data protection, disclosure requirements for breaches, and penalties for non-compliance. Striking a balance between safeguarding digital privacy and fostering innovation is essential to support economic growth while ensuring citizens' safety.

Conclusion

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy cannot be overstated. Safeguarding our digital realm requires a collaborative effort among individuals, businesses, governments, and technology providers. By adopting proactive cybersecurity measures, adhering to privacy best practices, and implementing robust regulations, we can create a digital landscape that fosters trust, innovation, and secure experiences for all. Embracing the principles of cybersecurity and data privacy today is an investment in a safer, more secure digital future.

Navigating the Nexus of Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant vision from science fiction; it is now an integral part of our daily lives. From personalized recommendations on streaming platforms to self-driving cars, AI has the potential to revolutionize numerous industries and improve human experiences. However, as AI's reach expands, so does the urgency to address the ethical implications that accompany its deployment. In this blog post, we explore the complex relationship between AI and ethics, delving into the challenges and opportunities that arise in this ever-evolving landscape.

Bias and Fairness

AI algorithms learn from vast amounts of data, but this can inadvertently lead to biased decision-making. Bias in AI systems can perpetuate discrimination and amplify existing social inequalities. For instance, biased algorithms in hiring processes may perpetuate gender or racial disparities. To ensure fairness and inclusivity, developers must be vigilant in mitigating bias during AI development and continually monitor AI systems for unintended consequences.

Privacy and Data Protection

AI's efficacy is fueled by data, and this often involves handling sensitive personal information. As AI applications become more prevalent, safeguarding user privacy becomes paramount. Striking a balance between utilizing data to improve AI performance and respecting individuals' privacy rights is a significant ethical challenge. Implementing robust data protection measures and ensuring transparent data practices are essential for building trust between AI systems and users.

Autonomy and Accountability

Autonomous AI systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which raises questions about accountability. When AI-powered systems make decisions without human intervention, it becomes challenging to assign responsibility in case of errors or negative outcomes. Establishing mechanisms for holding AI systems accountable while maintaining transparency is crucial for ensuring public trust in AI technologies.

Impact on Employment

The integration of AI in the workplace has sparked concerns about job displacement. While AI can enhance productivity and create new opportunities, it may also lead to the automation of certain tasks, potentially resulting in job losses. Ethical considerations include addressing the societal impact of AI-driven unemployment and providing retraining opportunities to help workers transition to new roles.

Autonomous Weapons and Warfare

AI's role in the military has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding autonomous weapons. The development and deployment of lethal AI-powered systems raise questions about the potential loss of human control over life-and-death decisions. The international community is actively debating the necessity and ethics of autonomous weapons, emphasizing the importance of international regulations to prevent their misuse.

Transparency and Explainability

The black-box nature of some AI algorithms can be disconcerting, leading to a lack of transparency and accountability. When AI systems make decisions that significantly impact individuals or society, it is essential to understand how these decisions are reached. Ethical AI development requires implementing explainable AI models that can articulate their decision-making processes in human-understandable terms.

Conclusion

As AI technology continues to shape our world, addressing the ethical implications becomes an imperative task for developers, policymakers, and society as a whole. Striking a balance between innovation and ethics is essential to unlock the full potential of AI while safeguarding human rights and values. Collaboration among stakeholders, including researchers, businesses, governments, and advocacy groups, is critical to establish robust ethical guidelines and ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly. By navigating the nexus of AI and ethics, we can harness the transformative power of AI for the betterment of humanity while upholding the principles of fairness, privacy, and accountability.

  

Business Continuity: What It Is and Why It Matters

 Introduction:

Business continuity planning is a critical process for any organization, big or small. In today's fast-paced and unpredictable world, disruptions like natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemics, or supply chain issues can happen anytime, anywhere, and can cause significant damage to a company's reputation, operations, and financial stability. To mitigate these risks and ensure the survival and resilience of the business, it's essential to have a solid business continuity plan in place. In this blog, we'll explore what business continuity is, why it matters, and how to create an effective plan that can help your organization weather any storm.

What is Business Continuity?

In this section, you'll define business continuity and explain its purpose, scope, and benefits. You can also mention some real-life examples of business continuity success stories and failure cases to illustrate the importance of having a plan.

Key Elements of Business Continuity Planning

Here, you'll outline the essential components of a business continuity plan, such as risk assessment, impact analysis, recovery strategies, communication protocols, testing, and maintenance. You can also provide some tips and best practices for each element and emphasize the importance of customization and continuous improvement.

How to Create a Business Continuity Plan

In this section, you'll walk the readers through the step-by-step process of creating a business continuity plan, starting from identifying critical business functions and dependencies to developing and testing recovery strategies. You can also provide some templates or examples of business continuity plans that readers can use as a reference.

Challenges and Pitfalls of Business Continuity Planning

Here, you'll discuss some common challenges and pitfalls that organizations may face when implementing business continuity planning, such as lack of resources, leadership commitment, or employee engagement, or overreliance on technology. You can also provide some tips and solutions to overcome these obstacles and ensure the plan's success.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, business continuity planning is not a luxury but a necessity for any organization that wants to survive and thrive in a volatile and uncertain world. By following the key elements and best practices of business continuity planning and continuously reviewing and updating the plan, you can minimize the impact of disruptions, protect your assets, and maintain your customers' trust.

Think as a Nation

Positive Thinking By Remez Sasson Good one to read

The Power of Positive Thinking

By Remez Sasson

Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results.

A positive person anticipates happiness, health and success, and believes he or she can overcome any obstacle and difficulty.

Positive thinking is not accepted by everyone. Some, consider it as nonsense, and scoff at people who follow it, but there is a growing number of people, who accept positive thinking as a fact, and believe in its effectiveness.

It seems that this subject is gaining popularity, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it.

To use it in your life, you need more than just to be aware of its existence. You need to adopt the attitude of positive thinking in everything you do.

How Positive Thinking Works

The following story illustrates how this power works:

Allan applied for a new job, but he didn't believe he will get it, since his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success.

He had a negative attitude toward himself, and therefore, believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him.

Allan's mind was occupied with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job, for the whole week preceding the job interview. He actually, anticipated failure.

On the day of the interview, he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a wrinkled shirt and without eating breakfast.

During the interview, he was tense, negative, hungry and worried about his shirt. All this, distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently, he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview, he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.

In the evening before the interview, he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview, he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

Jim made a good impression and got the job.

What do we learn from these two stories? Was there any magic used? No, everything happened in a natural way.

Positive Thinking Is a Way of Life

With a positive attitude we experience pleasant and happy feelings. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy, and happiness. Our whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even our health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall, our voice is more powerful, and our body language shows the way we feel.

Positive and negative thinking are contagious.

We affect, and are affected by the people we meet, in one way or another. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through words, thoughts and feelings, and through body language.

Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people, and prefer to avoid negative ones?

People are more disposed to help us, if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thoughts, words and attitude, create negative and unhappy feelings, moods and behavior. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Positive Thinking Practical Instructions

In order to turn the mind toward the positive, some inner work is required, since attitude and thoughts do not change overnight.

1. Read about this subject, think about its benefits, and persuade yourself to try it. The power of your thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping your life. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Even if the idea seems strange, give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but only to gain.
2. Ignore what other people say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think.
3. Use your imagination to visualize only favorable and beneficial situations.
4. Use positive words in your inner dialogues, or when talking with others.
5. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively.
6. Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it, and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. If the negative thought returns, replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you have to choose to look at one of them, and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively, and to ignore negative thoughts.
7. In case you experience inner resistance and difficulties when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind.
8. It doesn't matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks. It might take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they will.
9. Another useful technique is the repetition of affirmations. This technique is similar to creative visualization, and can be used together with it.

Feel the change inside first

protect the plants They also play a important part in our life which we always ignore

good Quote

CARS i like that

Good Article by Julie Donley

Which Is Harder: MAKING a Change or SUSTAINING the Change?

My aunt and I had lunch the other day. We were discussing weight loss and I mentioned my fear of regaining the forty pounds I have worked so hard to lose when she said, “It's easy to lose weight; the hard part is keeping it off.”

In my many years as an addictions nurse, I have always said that the hardest thing to do is to GET clean - to make the change and give up an addiction - and that it is much EASIER to maintain the change by staying clean one day at a time.

So which is harder - making a change or sustaining the change?

WHY IS CHANGE SO H.A.R.D.?

Making a change is H.A.R.D. because we have HABITS, ATTACHMENTS, RESISTANCE and we get DISCOURAGED. These are the ways in which our mind works to maintain the status quo and prevent change from occurring.

HABITS are how we can learn to drive or type and not have to focus our attention on the actual task any longer. This is how we are able to do more than one thing at a time like drive and listen to the radio or focus on where we are going rather than how to actually operate the car.

We are ATTACHED to people, places and things. When we make a change, everything else changes too. Relationships change. We must let go of ‘how things were' and we often struggle because we want things or other people to make the change too. It doesn't work that way. We want things to be different than reality actually is. And this causes us pain.

We feel loss and may experience mourning. We become fearful which causes us to experience anxiety, releasing adrenaline causing the ‘fight, flight or freeze' response. We freeze. RESISTANCE is fear. Resistance can show up as self-doubt, judgment or procrastination. We may make excuses and justify or rationalize that things should stay the same despite how damaging it is to our wellbeing.

Then, even when we do make an attempt to change, we get DISCOURAGED. We don't progress as quickly as we like. It takes too long. The old habits hold us back. We miss certain things. And we succumb to the ease of keeping things as is. We cannot sustain the attention required long enough to create new habits and produce the results we want.

This is why change is H.A.R.D.

But, with commitment and vision, a supportive community, a strong internal motivation and a positive belief in the possibility for success, by taking lots of baby steps and acknowledging your success along the way, you can and will change. You've done it in the past.

That's not so hard.

What makes SUSTAINING THE CHANGE hard is that we forget; we slip back into old habits; we stop being vigilant, we start revisiting the old stomping grounds. Before you know it, you've returned to your old ways. You regained the weight. You began smoking again. You've picked up the drink or drug. And you're right back where you started.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE?
T
HE KEY TO SUCCESS is to never forget what is important to you. If you value being healthy and fit, then focus on that - you can no longer eat like you used to. If you value being clean and sober, then you must live a clean and sober life every day. If you value your loving relationship, then you must nurture that by living in loving ways every day. What does this mean for you? Whatever your change, you must identify the KEY BEHAVIORS and ATTITUDES that are necessary to keep you on this new path.

COMMITMENT to change means you commit NOT ONLY to making the change but to sustaining the change. There is no such thing as ‘accidental' slips. There is a component missing from your change - either you lack commitment to the new life or you have not yet adopted the characteristics required for success.

A yo-yo dieter has not yet committed to being thin. An addict who picks up again has not yet committed to a sober lifestyle. It doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying; but focus on committing and on becoming a NEW PERSON. This new person is different than the ‘OLD YOU'. Your self-image much change as you do. Change does not only entail what you do but also who you become in the process. Someone who values health and fitness will not only lose weight but will maintain a healthy lifestyle through nutrition and activity that will sustain the change.

So which is harder: making the change or sustaining it? I guess it depends upon your perspective. People who are truly ready for change make it happen. You've done it yourself and it's been quite easy. Think about your life. Remember when you moved away from your parents or got married, decided to have kids or changed jobs when you really wanted to make this change? It was easy, right? And you had no trouble moving on and never looking back.

So why is it hard sometimes and not others?

Change is hard and sustaining it can be hard too; however, once you succeed at making a significant change, often you find that you are so committed to your new path there really is no looking back. You've become a new person and the old person you were has essentially ‘died'. You are not that person anymore. You are not a smoker; you're a nonsmoker. You're not obese; you're healthy and fit. You're not single; you're in love and happily so. When you change your self-image and your personal identity, it becomes quite easy to sustain the change. You have a new life. You're a new person. It was hard to get here. 

Which is harder? Decide for yourself. 

Control, Alt, Delete

I bet you are well familiar with the term: Control, alt & delete in the world of computing. Pressing these three keys brings our pc back to its original setting. Computers are ruling our professional and personal lives and have become a lifeline for us. Our thoughts and ideas are stored in memory chips and data ‘clouds’.

Like any other machine, a computer also suffers from technical setbacks, such as when it ‘hangs’ - it sort of dies on you! In such a situation, we instantly reach out for the keys - control, alt, & delete to restore our work quite swiftly and smoothly.

Metaphorically speaking, the same principle applies when we need to refresh and revitalize our intellectual and emotional systems.

By virtue of being a trainer, I come across people from different businesses and walks of life. Human beings are different but their concerns and issues are more or less the same. Here is a snapshot of what people usually struggle with;

       * Low motivation levels
       * Confusion about  future aspirations and goals
       * Unfocused energy
       * Complacency
       * Fear of failure, uncertainty and the unknown

We all go through such emotional and intellectual stresses at one time or another. Life has different shades; we all have our share of good and bad days, cruising through the good days does not need any skill or support, it comes naturally to us. Unfortunately, when dealing with a rough patch, different people respond to it in different ways. A few come out strong, intellectually and emotionally, however some get stuck in such situation and keep running in circles.

‘Flight’ or ‘fight’ is a common instinctual response we make to challenges. People resort to motivational programs, counseling sessions or self help books for ideas and inspiration. Undoubtedly, all these sources of energy do help, but more often than not they only provide a temporary energy boost. What to do, to sustain confidence and passion? Interestingly, lessons from how computers work, solves this puzzle for mankind.

Control - Alt - Delete (reboot yourself)

The concept has been discussed many times before, language may be different but the essence remains same. The literal meaning of reboot is "to restart a computer or an operating system, or be restarted". What is our mind? The most sophisticated operating system. The same formula can apply here. How?

Control

Take control of your life, personal or professional - sounds like a cliché? We get to hear and read about this stuff in every self-development session or self-help book. How irritating! Yes, we know that we need to take control of our life, but how? Who will show us the way?

The truth is and it is bitter, nobody will hold your hand. You have to take responsibility of your journey to excellence. There will be people who will facilitate you on your journey but the decision and commitment has to come from you.

Take control of the disempowering factors, be it self-doubt, fear of failure, or procrastination. Win over the internal deterrents by having staunch faith in yourself and your future.

Here is a three step process for taking control of your life:

1.      Reflection & Feedback

Dare to enjoy the fruits of reflection and feedback. Self reflection is the ultimate tool to dissect personal strengths and weaknesses. Conduct a self-scan with utmost objectivity and honesty and have the courage to accept the findings.
Also, take feedback from people whom you trust in terms of their competence and sincerity. It helps if the people you select for obtaining feedback are achievers, motivated and ambitious.  Such individuals will be able to understand the difference between performance and potential.

Feedback can be quite eye opening and unpleasant but cannot be avoided. We are usually blind to many aspects of our personality and its implications on our relationships at work and home.  Feedback will provide you with a blueprint for self-enhancement.

2.      Visualization

To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan... believe...act!"
(Alfred A. Montapert)

Volumes have been written on the power of visualization by gurus on mind sciences. The human mind is an incredible thing. It can literally manifest the things we seek by our mere thoughts and clarity of desire
Experts on mind sciences assert that our subconscious mind is an exceptionally potent ally. What we tell ourselves to be and how we want things to work can be controlled. All we need to do is learn the power of visualization. Basically, our mind is fully capable of working backwards, working from the end to the means. This is basically an act of working towards our goal even without knowing the steps to be taken. If we “program” only the desired outcome successfully within our “mental computer,” then our subconscious takes over and helps us find the information and means to carry out the actions necessary to achieve the things that we want.
Visualization enables us to plant goals into our subconscious mind. The process of imagining ourselves going through the motions of a complex performance activates brain areas to enhance and further our skills. Brain scans reveal a firm neurological basis. Scientists were able to use the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans as basis for their theory. The results revealed that the mental rehearsal of an action activates the prefrontal lobe of the brain. This area was responsible for the formulation of the appropriate motor programs. This basically means that we can benefit when we use mental imagery.

Scientists have been able to establish the mind and body link. There’s also direct evidence in the way emotional stress can contribute to physical illnesses and difficulties. What people don’t realize is that the mind greatly influences the body and the circumstances outside it".

If you see it in your mind, you are going to hold it in your hand
(Bob Proctor)

3.      Action Planning

Most of us often manage to get to the first two steps (feedback and visualization) but usually fall flat on our face when it comes to taking action. Drawing an action plan and actually living it are two different things. This is the most crucial phase as we are quite frequently pulled down by CFC - complacency, failure and lack of commitment.

The key difference between winners and losers is not about potential, it is all about commitment, persistence, resilience and drive to excellence. Talent is just like a hidden treasure which needs be hunt for by none other than you.

Alt - Alternate

"A foolish person tries the same thing again and again and expects different results each time"

At times, we just get stuck with failures in our professional or personal life. We keep running in circles, trying hard to come out of trouble, only to sink deeper and deeper in it. We usually overlook the fact that maybe its nature’s way of telling us to change our approach to the problem we are stuck in. Most of us are risks averse therefore feel scared to venture out into to unknown waters.

Even to mobilize a hung computer, we need to press the ALT key, changing the route so that it starts functioning again. But when it comes to our brain, we struggle with changing the thinking patterns or considering different lines of action. Perhaps, we humans are more comfortable trying the time tested strategies and action and fear stepping out of our comfort zone to embark on an alternate route.

Here again the self-scan will come handy. Objectively analyze what works for you and more importantly highlight what doesn’t work for you. In simple language, thrive on your strengths and work on your areas to improve and try new things with a brand new and different approach.

Every time you take an action, retreat - think for a moment about your first response and line of action, if it is the same as what you have always been doing - Check point - try a different approach. Success can never be guaranteed but learning can surely be. Try new options, don’t leave any stone unturned. Learning itself is the greatest grooming tool. Also, it opens our mind to new opportunities and possibilities

Delete

A lot of times, we don’t move ahead because of the heavy baggage of failure in our head. We get so used to managing the unnecessary load that we forget to get rid of it.

When it comes to our wardrobe or a file cabinet at our office, we ensure that every now and then we rearrange it, keep the valuables and discard the useless stuff, be it personal items or papers in a file.

Unfortunately, we don’t apply the same rule to our thoughts and experiences. We keep cluttering our head with whatever comes our way and at times there is so much mess that no space is left for more.

Frequent garbage disposal is essential. Rubbish pollutes the environment and occupies unnecessary space. Likewise, disempowering beliefs we gather from negative experiences, choke our creativity and positivity. We need to get rid of these.

No book can teach us as well, as what we can learn from our own mistakes.  To make mistakes is human; to learn from them is greatness; to repeat the same mistake over and over again is foolish.

Put your fingers on control, alt, delete keys, press on them, get rebooted and move ahead.

Think Positive

This is the today's requirement to get things better.

Believe

We must believe in our self that we can finish any kind of job we have to done.

Be Happy

Maintenance Is not easy

We have to maintain few things in our life. First we have to maintain our Character means the limits we have define for our self, must not to be over limits. Our behavior must be a neutral. We must have some patience so that we can handle the situation wisely.

 Secondly we must maintain our personal life it is necessary to maintain otherwise one must feel isolated. We have to give time to family and friends. It is necessary as they are the one who care about us so we have to pull time for them.

Third point is that we have to maintain our professional life we have to maintain the standard of profession by update our self and look after different kind of job and experiences. Further we have to also take care of the competition in which we are in or push by other factors. We have to learn to change our self according to situation. 

It is not the easy task but we have to introduce self motivation  factor / procedure to our self so that we can perform these thinks easily.