About Me
I'm joining Service Space because ...
A good day to me is when ...
My hero in life is ...
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One thing I'm grateful for is ...
What Makes Volunteer-Run Organizations Work
Apr 30, 2020, 3 comments, 11 smiles
[Below is my article in Forbes: What makes a volunteer based organization successful? I have learnt most of this from all of you in ServiceSpace, so thank you for being a mentor and guide on this special journey.]
Volunteers have become an integral part of the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. In my hometown of Kerala, which had one of the most inspiring responses to the pandemic, more than 200,000 volunteers were at the front line. Quantifying the impact of volunteering is a herculean task. This begs the question: What makes a volunteer-based organization successful?
Peter Drucker tried to convert volunteer efforts into the following monetary form: “If we put even minimum wage to the time spent by volunteers, it would be 12% of GNP compared to 2.5% we give in the money.” Perhaps that percentage should be even higher as we continue to see a surge in highly educated volunteers, ... Read Full Story
5 Ways To Design Our Lives For Impermanence
Mar 22, 2020, 2 comments, 9 smiles
[I just put out a blog on Forbes, on a very important idea that I've learned from so many of you, and especially Nipun: designing for impermanence, and not permanence!]
“Nothing in the world is permanent, we are foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we are more foolish not to take delight when it lasts” – Somerset Maugham
I remember how when I was interviewing a candidate for a job, he mentioned to me, “I am looking for a permanent position.” The reality is, there is no such thing as a permanent position, there are only regular ones. Why are we so obsessed with permanence when nothing in the world is permanent? Not jobs, not relationships, not friendships, not our nationality, not our status, not life itself.
We want things to stay exactly as they are. Because permanence feels like security. The rich try to beat impermanence by putting their ... Read Full Story
First Inclusive Walkathon In Bangalore!
Oct 23, 2018, 2 comments, 20 smiles
On October 14th, we held our first Inclusive Walkathon in Bangalore, with 2000 participants, each walking with a person with disability:
This was a big step in moving people from sympathy to empathy -- and en route to compassion. Thank you, all, for your continued support, mentoring, and inspiration.
