Workshop on Social Media Integration of Corporate Communication at GreyMind Communications

by Chawm Ganguly

Training aimed at empowering television journalists to bridge the Traditional- Social Media divide

Conducted a workshop on the Social Media Integration of Corporate Communication where I gave an overview of how the way news is searched, accessed and related to these days and explained ways and means of riding this wave into the future. The audience comprised primarily of the team members of GreyMind Communications – the entity is solely responsible for bringing most of the Football matches that you see live on your screen.

GreyMind is a 10 year old, established, Content Creation cum Media Production House, which is a virtual Prime mover in the field of Sports Production. It has already produced and directed more than 400 Live football matches for 10 Action, ESPN, Zee Sports, Mahuaa Bangla, Star Sports etc and has an enviable library of Exclusive Content. GreyMind is acknowledged as a Concept to Communication, Single Window Plug & Play solution provider with domain-dominating expertise that is spread across platforms – Print, Television and Digital and enjoys total in-house capability along with necessary infrastructure, trained manpower and training facilities. GreyMind enjoys top of mind recall among Sporting Event Organisers, Advertisers, Sponsors and viewers, which makes it a unique player in the world of sports production telecast. As a matter of fact, CFL, IFL, ISL– the GreyMind name is virtually synonymous with football.

(Follow GreyMind on Twitter: @greymind43)

Source 

http://corecommunique.com/workshop-on-social-media-integration-of-corporate-communication-at-greymind-communications/

Mental Health 

Mental health is as important as physical health . When  we have stomach ache or any other discomfort in our body , we consult professionals to get out of the discomfort . when we have low mood for a considerable period of time , feel irritable , agitated for a long time we hesitate to consult  a professional . we take things for granted till the situations worsens to a great level . When we see our adolescent child's behaviour has considerably changed - the school performance has deteriorated , gets easily irritated over small issues , appetite has become poor , loosing weight , sleeping or dozing in the day time yet we find parents overlook these symptoms ! We do not think of seeking help till  serious problems crop up ! reason behind this is partly our lack of knowledge  about Mental health and partly we hesitate to consult a Mental Health professional  because of the stigma in our society .

Mental Health Warning Signs !
Mental Health problems can be real , painful and severe !
Some of the signs that may point to a possible problem are listed below.

• poor concentration; can't make decisions
• Restlessness - inability to sit still or focus attention
• overreact to things , irritable A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than would be expected for the individual's stage of development
• Excessive worry about being harmed, hurting others, or about doing something "bad"
• Repetitive Rituals like the need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines dozens of times a day
• Talking about committing suicide
• Drastic changes in behavior
• unexplained changes in your sleeping or eating habits.. too much apetite or poor apetite
• you avoid friends or family... whereas liked to mix up with friends previously 
• you are daydreaming a lot and can't get things done
• very angry most of the time, cry a lot or overreact to things
• worthless or guilt feeling 
• anxious or worried a lot more than other  people
• grief for a long time after a loss or death 
• extremely fearful-have unexplained fears or more fears than other people
• constantly concerned about physical problems or appearance... complaints of stomach aches , nausea , dizziness, chest pain or discomfort , feeling of choking 
• frightened that your mind is controlled or is out of control.you hear voices that cannot be explained... voices giving you instructions .

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health problems can help you and others to get the care they need on the right time . Here are some of the signs are mentioned that may be reason for seeking help from a Mental Health professional. 

Take action - make a difference 

Horizon - a Story

Horizon - a story 

The horizon is the line or that forms the boundary .between earth and sky. The English word “horizon” comes from the Greek word “ horos “ which means “ limit” . The horizon is the limit of one’s vision, beyond which one cannot see.

“Horizon” can also mean the limit of one’s vision of life, one’s outlook on life. “What is the point and purpose of life?”

“why are we born ?”

“What am I doing here ?”” what’s it all about ?

The teacher asked ….

“And what do you see out there?”

“I see horizon.”

“And have you ever walked on the horizon?”

“No, I am too young.”

“Well, someday you will.”

And when I get there what will I find?”

“ when you get there you will discover another horizon- another far beyond.”

“And if I walk again ?”

“And if I walk again?”

“If you walk again you will know that the second horizon is merely a starting place for the third.”

“Will my life then be always losing horizons?”

“ No , of always finding them !”

Thought of The Day ... 

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

- Lord Buddha 

Foot Prints - a story 

One night a man had a dream. 

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. 

Scenes from his life flashed across the sky

and he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. 

When the last scene of his life had flashed before him,

he recalled that at the lowest and saddest times of his life

there was only one set of footprints. 

Dismayed, he asked, "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you'd walk with me all the way.

I don't understand why, when I needed you most,

you would leave me." 

The Lord replied, "My precious child.
I love you and I would never leave you. 
During your times of trial and suffering
when you saw only one set of footprints... 
That was when I carried you." 

Where have the kids gone? – Chawm Ganguly

Remember, how as kids we used to walk to school, but always ran back home? How it was like a room full of pent up energy, bursting out like sprinters off the starting line at the ring of the bell? How eager we used to get out of the confines of the class room and get to the play field outside? I was thinking, as I stood outside a reputed city school and watched the kids get out.

No explosion of energy here as the kids, their shoulders drooped, ambled out bearing the burden of their school bags – the empty playing ground not even attracting a cursory glance. “What is happening”, I asked my wife, Aditi Ganguly, who happens to be a child psychologist / counselor attached to a leading institution of the city. “These are different days”, she said, “the pressure to excel academically is so intense that children do not have time to hit the grounds like you people did.” Over-zealous parents are instilling in kids the fire to perform and push them just that much more towards achieving goals that we as kids were not even exposed to. That childhoods are being sacrificed on the altar of the parents ambitions being something that is conveniently overlooked. “Some parents are trying to re-live their lives through that of their children, seeking to make the children achieve what they could not in their lives” she continued, “naturally with disastrous consequences, with many a young mind snapping, unable to cope up with the constant demands of the parents.”

Being participants of the same rat race to which they subject their children, such parents seldom have time for the little ones and make up for the lack of togetherness, seek to buy out their children through expensive gifts. “Not wanting to waste the little time they have, they easily give in to the tantrums and shower the kids with toys – increasingly electronic gadgets.” Thereby, sowing the seeds of a much bigger problem.

Kids are becoming extensions of their hand-held’s and laptops, choosing to spend most of their time in the virtual world. They are obsessed, refuse to go out or interact with the real world. Their attention spans are declining and they show all the classic symptoms – being easily irritable, unwilling to make eye contact, unable to hold legible conversations beyond the first few sentences, incapable to striking real life friendships – which are not only taking a heavy toll on them mentally, but are also responsible for the deteriorating physical conditions. “Just look at the way spectacle use have gone up these days” said Aditi “and you will know what I am hinting at.”

“Unrestricted access to the net too has its pitfalls. Increasingly children are accessing content that is not suitable for their age groups and are getting exposed to people and content which is detrimental to their growth and flourishing” she said. Besides, being innocent as they are, they also run the risk of being harmed and abused.

So what is the way out? “There are no shortcuts” says Aditi. “Parents must spend quality time with the children and hand-hold them as they grow. Try and lean them away from over dependence on computers, restrict their access to the virtual world. Encourage them to take up a sport or a hobby and be more active outside as opposed to being struck to the screen.”

And for heaven’s sake, don’t try to force your kids to achieve what you couldn’t  Remember even the rat race has the option that says “I quit”. Learn the simple fact of life –it is more important to run with your child than being in a race with rats!

Be Sociable, Share!

Source : 

http://corecommunique.com/where-have-the-kids-gone-chawm-ganguly/

Quotes of Carl Jung 

Knowledge rests not upon truth alone, but upon error also.

- Carl Jung 



Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

- Carl Jung


The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no 

recipe for living that suits all cases.

-- Carl Jung

Quote of The Day 

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift 

to that person, a beautiful thing.


(Smiling and being kind to people will get you further in life 

than being mean and rude.) 


- Mother Teresa

Quote Of The Day ... 

I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. 

Its because of them I’m doing it myself.” 

–Albert Einstein

The donkey - A story

THE DONKEY- A story 

by Attitude Aptitude Altitude (Notes) on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 1:43pm

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

 He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

 MORAL :

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

 Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

 1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but  more from God.

 You have two choices... smile and close this page,

 or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson.

Source : 

http://www.facebook.com/notes/attitude-aptitude-altitude/the-donkey/471157146276192

How To Plant Your Garden

 How To Plant Your   
 Garden 


First, you come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.... 

 FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING, PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: 1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul

 PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: 1. Squash gossip 
2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness

 PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: 1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another

  NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS: 1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another


TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: 1. Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE WILL BE MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.









Source :
How To Plant Your Garden by Greenfields Environment Friendly Foundation on Monday, August 13, 2012 http://www.facebook.com/notes/greenfields-environment-friendly-foundation/how-to-plant-your-garden/329280613832672

THOUGHT OF THE DAY !
http://www.facebook.com/management.stress?fref=ts

A wise man once sat in the audience and cracked a joke-all 

of them laughed like crazy.


After a moment he cracked the same joke again and little 

less people laughed at this time.


He cracked the same one again and no one laughed!!!


Then he smiled and said"when you can't laugh on the same 

joke again and again then why do you keep crying over the 

same thing over and over again".



Source : 
http://www.facebook.com/management.stress?fref=ts

You get paid to Face Book all day? – Chawm Ganguly

 Posted on April 7, 2013

 Travails of the trade – irritants Social media marketers have to bear with 24 X7

 Being a social media consultant isn’t easy. Some say, it’s like teenage dating – everybody wants to do it, but hardly anyone knows how to go about it. On the contrary, it’s more like appreciating arts: there are the Philistine, who know nothing and the experts who match them in haughty ignorance smug in their mistaken notion of knowing everything. Imagine the task at hand – to explain, enlighten, convert and then help them loosen the purse strings… Here are some bloomers that I encounter on a regular, even monotonous, basis. Me thinks, by sharing, we can at the least laugh at our predicament.

 Q1. You get paid to Face Book all day? No I don’t. facebook is only one of the various platforms we use, on a daily basis to help build your brand and highlight its salience to people who are interested in knowing about related matter. This we do by a series of ways that include search engine optimization on the one hand and the creation of killer content on the other. How I know how to do what I do? The answer is simple – I do it backed by close to three decades of experience spanning corporate communications, branding, journalism and public relations.

 Q2. How much will you charge to get me a million followers if Twitter? Only half a million reasons as to why a million people should follow you on tweeter. Can’t think of even a hundred? Well, I guess you’ve got your answer. Just because you are throwing the morsels towards me does not make you young, handsome or witty. We are in the business of making you attractive enough for others to follow, which has to come from their desire. We just can’t slap them on the back and command them to follow you. It is painstaking and backbreaking work for us – what about settling for a buck a follower? Show me the money and ill teach you how to make your tweets go viral.

 Q3. But I have a website? What else is needed? Your website is just a place of worship in the middle of the desert. Unless the faithful come, that too in numbers, to sing the praise of the Lord, it will not even sustain itself, leave alone making you the Pope. Our job is to identify, convince, convert and then lead the faithful to prayer and that is why you need us. Or else, be prepared Lord over your empty Ring.

 Q4. Why does my facebook page have only 7 likes? Because even your friends do not think it is likeable. Because, the people out there do not owe their existence to “liking” your facebook page. Because, the kid you hired to do the page was not a fraction as good as the professionals are. Because, neither is your son married to the most beautiful woman in the world, nor are you Amitabh Bachchan. Because, Social Media, my friend is not child’s play.

 Q5. Allowing employees to access social media in office hours? That’s sacrilege! Read my lips when I say this one. It’s about real people – including your customers, employees and stakeholders – talking about you and your brands and sharing how they relate to them, real time experiences. As your employees are parts of your extended families, they are your best brand ambassadors. They are the ones who can and normally take up the cudgels for you. If you want to do away with such a loyal group, you will be doing it at your own peril.

 Q6. My niece does that all the time. Yes, so does a million other kids. Like a million people watching TV, or reading the newspaper. But can they tell you what will attract the eyeballs? Can they tell you whether you can increase the sales of your Blast Furnaces by splurging the airwaves during a cricket match? Leave alone, telling you how to increase sales, or what media to use? And you think your niece knows where your customers are and how to communicate with them?

 Q7. But we advertise all the time – what’s the need for social media? In traditional advertising, you are buying space to tell the world how good you are. It’s a vainglorious boast that very few people take credibly. In the social media, you are creating conversations around your brand, where real people – your customers, users, shareholders – are talking about their experiences about you and your brand. One good word, naturally, coming from a third party (who is uninterested to boot) is worth n number of advertisements as far as credibility goes.

 Q8. Oh yes, Social media. We have a facebook link in our home page. Great. It’s like the manufacturer’s label with the washing instructions inside your collar. Only you can see it. And you thought that’s your branding exercise? Do you even know as to how many people have visited your facebook page by using that link from your website, or vice versa?

 09. Google search? You key in our web url … and there we are at the top. We even paid for that. It’s not about that. It’s about your name featuring high in the searches when key words about what you do or the services you offer are searched.

Q10. I know how to do it. I play farmville all the time! I’m sure you do. I am also sure that the two ladies from Kazakhstan, the teenager from Salem and the school teacher from Bangladesh with whom you exchanged gifts will help your brand attain its social media objectives. May the force be with you!

 Sourced from:

http://corecommunique.com/you-get-paid-to-face-book-all-day-chawm-ganguly/www.corecommunique.com

Tips for Mothers : Keep time for Yourself.

Even if it's only for 10 or 15 minutes, giving yourself a few minutes to catch your breath will keep the stress from building up and give you added energy to help you meet your daily.

Practice time management- Set aside time with the kids, time with your spouse, time with your friends, and time for yourself. Learn how to say "no" to requests that interfere with quality time. 

Accept the fact that nobody's perfect- You might be surprised at how relieved you'll feel when you have more realistic expectations of yourself than what is imposed on you by public opinion 

 Set Priority - Decide what is really important by setting priorities. For instance, spending time with your children 

 Take a Break- Giving yourself permission to take a brief “stress break” Don’t let your stress affect your kids! 

Raising children is one of the toughest but most fulfilling jobs in the world. With a little patience, a little advice, and accepting a little help you are taking the right steps on how to become a good parent

Recover quickly from your mistakes!

by SECRET OF SUCCESS on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 7:57am

There will be times when you make mistakes, sometimes big ones. There will be times when you overreact, offend someone, overlook the obvious, say something you shouldn’t have, and so forth. I’ve yet to meet a person who is exempt from these oh-so human facts of life. So, perhaps the most important question isn’t so much whether or not you will mess up, but rather how quickly you can recover when you do.

We can turn a relatively minor setback or mistake into a much bigger deal by overanalyzing our actions (or someone else’s), or being too hard on ourselves Or we say something wrong and can’t let go of it, or we become defensive of our actions and refuse to apologize.

When I’m able to see my mistakes, admit them, and move on – I recover quickly. The result seems to be that when someone I’m working with offers a suggestion, or some type of constructive criticism, rather than feeling defensive or struggling to point out how I’m right and they are wrong, I try to keep an open mind and remain receptive to growth.

In most cases, the person making the suggestion has at very least a grain of truth or some wisdom in their suggestion. The trick seems to be the willingness to forgive yourself – and others—for being human and for making mistakes.



Once you recognize the truth of the old adage, “To err is human, to forgive is divine,” you create the emotional climate to recover from practically any mistake and move on

Which Wolf?

Which Wolf - A Story 

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.



He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.



"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.





"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."



The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"



The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

The Rainbow Story

The Rainbow Story
Author Unknown

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite.

Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, leaves, trees--without me, all animals would die. Look out over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted: "You only think about the Earth, but consider the sky and sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled. "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth to the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Ever time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no fun."

Orange started next to blow her temper. "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangos, and pawpaws. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer. He shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood! Life's blood. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire to the blood! I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poppy and the poinsettia. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon!"

Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am a sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me. They obey."

Finally, Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others but with just as much determination: "think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me, you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so all the colors went on boasting and quarreling, each convinced of their own superiority. Soon, their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening! Thunder rolled and boomed! Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colors as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

How to Live a Less Stressful Life: 10 Simple Tips

How to Live a Less Stressful Life: 10 Simple Tips
by STRESS MANAGEMENT on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 10:59am

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."

-Jim Goodwin


"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."

-Lily Tomlin



Stress sucks. It sucks joy and the life out of you.



So today I'll share 10 of my favourite tips that I use to minimize stress and live a more relaxed but at the same time productive life. I hope you find something helpful here, even if it's just a few reminders of things you had forgotten about.



1. Accept the situation.

Stress is often to a large part resistance to what already is. You may be in a stressful situation and think to yourself that this situation shouldn't be, that you shouldn't be here. But the situation has already arisen, is here, and so are you.

So to decrease the stress and resistance you accept the situation. With your resistance gone or lowered you can now direct your mental energy and focus to finding a solution in a level-headed manner instead of trying to do it while panicked or confused.

2. Take everything less seriously.

Taking things or yourself overly serious adds a lot of unnecessary negativity and stress to your life. A minor situation may be blown up to a major one in your mind. If you just learn to lighten up a bit, life becomes more fun and you realize that you get great results even if you aren't super-serious about everything.

3. Decrease or put a stop to negative relationships.

If someone is always making you more stressed or creates a lot of negativity in your life you may want to consider decreasing the amount of time you spend with that person. Some people almost seem to like to dwell in negativity. That is their choice. It's your choice if you want to participate.

Or you can choose to hang out more with relaxed and non-stressed people. Both in real life and by watching/listening to CDs and DVDs. Two guys that tend to calm me down when I listen/watch them are Eckhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer.

4. Just move slower.

You emotions work backwards too. If you slow down how you walk or how you move your body you can often start to feel less stressed.

This allows you to think more clearly too. A stressed mind tends to run in circles a lot of the time. And slowing down to decrease stress goes for other forms of movement too, like riding your bicycle or driving the car.

5. Exercise.

A simple and time-tested way to decrease inner tension. Regular exercise can do wonders for both your mind and body. This is one of the solutions that work most consistently for me.

6. Find five things you can be grateful for right now.

Being grateful and appreciating your life and surroundings is one of the most effective ways to turn a negative emotional state to a more positive one. So find a few things you are grateful for right now.

Perhaps it's the sunny weather, that you feel healthy and energetic today, that you have just eaten a delicious after-noon snack, that the guy/gal that just walked by had a great looking jacket on and that tonight there is a new episode of your favourite TV-show to enjoy.



7. Look for solutions.

When faced with a challenge that can cause stress, try to direct your focus to solutions rather than to dwelling on the problem for too long. Dwelling only causes more stress and makes your mind less open to finding a solution.

8. Be early.
Just be 10 or 5 minutes early for meetings etc. This very simple tip can cut down on stress quite a bit.



9. Do just one thing at a time.

Single tasking and focusing on doing just one thing at a time not only decreases stress but from my experience gets things done a whole lot quicker than if you multitask.

10. Talk to people around you about it.

Perhaps they can offer you advice that has worked for them or just an ear and some support. Just telling someone about something, just getting it out can often help to relieve some of the stress.

Source : http://www.facebook.com/management.stress?fref=ts