Some of my friends who know me well know that I love “Traveling”. When I was a little girl growing up in India, I remember telling mom that I want to travel the world. When I grew up I wanted to work in different countries and chose to work for a multinational after I graduated from Engineering. I traveled a lot BUT I had this desire to backpack around Europe.

Thirteen years later, I got a American passport and I excited about the opportunity to travel to many countries without visa obligations.

But tomorrow I begin a journey that will take me around Europe and this came about not because I was inspired by Julia Roberts because I had the intention that came about in a mysterious way.

So, after my car accident, I decided to meet my mom in India and then started to looking for tickets to India. When I found that it would cost me almost the same to take stop over in Europe and get to India, I simply went ahead and put France, Spain and Czech Republic to it.

Next my friend Rachael, mentioned she has a friend who lives in Paris and she could check with her if I could stay with her family. Low and Behold, I have a place in Paris that is ten minutes walking from Eiffel Tower.

Followed by this my friend Shirley Lin and Sana organized a hike to go to mission peak here is Fremont. I meet Naeem who mentioned he has traveled to Spain. He advised me to travel to Granda while I am there and connects me to a friend in Barcelona. I am now heading to Barcelona, Madrid and Granada.

On a separate note, I emailed a friend who is globe trotter and shares the same passion for travel, Nicolay. He sent me pointers on what food to try in Barcelona. These suggestions were from a friend of his who is well acquainted with the city.

From there I am off to India. My mom was excited and had found this wonderful deal to Goa. It was a steal. She checked with me and now we are of to Goa for a price that we could not have even gone a neighboring town. Voila! mom and me in GOA.

Just recently, on a dinner at my place, a friend of mine said if you are planning to be in Prague. You must check out Berlin OR Austria. She said it and I looked over the internet, it is three hours to either place by train and/or car. So, there I put it on my Agenda.

To choose between Vienna and Berlin, I counted on Facebook and my friends Rohit, Angelika and Laura made their suggestions to help me decide.

Now my sister, Arushi, is in Paris when I am in Prague. We chatted to make a meeting possible. Now if we are able to meet that would be fun too.

Finally, my husband who has taken care of the details of trip from updating my iPod, getting international calling on my phone and most importantly supporting me through the adventure I am going for.

I still don’t know how all this will unravel but it is going to be an adventure for me as I step into the unknown.

So, I could have read as many travel articles or journals this program could not have been shaped without the help of the people who were part of the Mastermind of my intention.

Recently, I was in a conference in Las Vegas, speaking about the ” Social Media – Taboos & Innovative Uses”. The focus was to help professional women of different ethnic backgrounds understand how technology, specifically social media, help or hinder their personal and professional development. Though they all understood that these days you cannot afford to ignore social media as one of the key ways in which companies and individuals communicate, there was this FEAR of it as well.

Continue Reading my post on Active Garage: Social Media and Tribes #9: The fear factor

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”

—Marianne Williamson

A recent report from Nielsen Company demonstrated that more and more Americans are spending time on Social Networks. Share of US internet time spent on social networking is 22.7% which clearly dominates the time (as highlighted in the list above) of where users spend their time online. There is an increase of 43% from 2009, which clearly indicates that it is no more an activity embraced by early adapters but now is part of the main stream population.

Continue Reading my post on ActiveGarage and check out the list: Broadcasting to intimate social circles

I love Las Vegas. From the luxurious hotels to budget inns this place has something to offer to everyone. From grand buffets to cheap hotels, it can serve food for any budget. Not interested in gambling, there are many things that can occupy you.

But what happens when there are ladies are in the house?

Excitement, Excitement, Excitement…

This brings me to why I am writing about Women in Vegas. I am so excited to be part of the Las Vegas Women of color conference on Aug 15-16th. . This exciting event is organized by a dynamic lady, Debra Nelson, Vice President, Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs, MGM Mirage, who is a role model and a friend.

I am thrilled and honored to be part of an amazing list of speakers. Here is a brief list: Faculty

Specifically, I am talking about my favorite topic “ Social Media – Taboos & Innovative Uses” .

Also, the conference includes Mentor/Mentee Scavenger Hunt & Walk at 8am on Aug 15th.
At this first-ever event, you will be paired with a fellow conference participant to get to know each other and to share ideas. The real icing on the cake: BE prepared to move with Zumba!!! A fun way to interact…I am excited to be one of the mentors.

Here is a brief Agenda

Great women, great location and great opportunity - You don’t want to miss this…Wish you will join me.
If you are still reading, here is where you can register: HERE

Last month was very eventful…I was in a car accident. Yes! I consider this as one event that shook me the most. It was an event that woke me up. The good news is that I came out of it with minimum injuries. The car was not that lucky.

Though I think of myself as a competent driver – I couldn’t reason out why and how I got into this accident.

The biggest outcome of this accident, I wanted to slow down and spend time with my mom. I also decided to take a trip to get a new perspective on things…I was asked to get a balance in life. While I sit around I wonder why smart people can’t figure out balance in life.

1. Misleading leadership theories: I am sure some of you are as confused as I am when you read things like “Winners never Quit”. And on the other hand, you hear things like “Real happiness is not in winning or losing – it is in playing the game“. Ok, if this is the reason then what if you find that while you were wining in one aspect of life you are losing miserably in another. So, if “winners don’t quit”, then something is wrong with you when you decide to give something up – in short “You are loser”.

2. Nothing succeeds like success: Ok, I agree. There is no better high than success. But the real question is “What is success?” If owning luxurious cars, big homes and taking trips all over the world is success…THINK again. Now, if success is helping others get ahead, connecting people selflessly and finding inspiration from doing good in the world – then what about the bills that come every month.

3. Busyness over FAMILY: This is the real kicker – suddenly you are so busy that you don’t have time to spend time with your family, do things that matter to you – and then it is sexy to be independent and not interdependent on your support system. I overheard my friend tell his father, “Dad, I am in a meeting – I have 2 min to talk to you and then I have to take a flight”. And the other day, I met a business associate say to her daughter, “Take my iPhone – don’t talk to me – can’t you see I am busy”. The icing on the cake was, ” my mom is in the hospital – I can’t leave to be with her because I don’t have vacation”.

Even though I sit to figure what balance is in life – I know one thing – the limitations are only in our minds. Take that vacation you always wanted to take, spend as much time with your mom – she is the only one who really lights up when you enter the room and money can buy things but really “How much is Enough?”

More and more, I am observing that people are denouncing Twitter and there is an emerging war between the “For” and “Against” parties. Most recently, retired basketball star Sir Charles (Barkley), on a CNBC replay said that, “people who use Twitter are idiots”. Well! it is these statements that categorize people into “those who have a life” and “those who don’t have a life”.

I am not here to say what is “Right” and what is “Wrong”. I am here to illustrate what Twitter can provide if leveraged strategically.

# Using Twitter is about reciprocation. You need to promote other people who work at companies you’re targeting and business leaders you respect. If you are looking for a job, the best way is to help people in companies that you are interested in. This is possible by sending a email newsletter to your network, a Re-Tweet along with a link to their website. This will eventually have a better reciprocation if you ask them help with your initiative.

# Using Twitter is about connection – Continue Reading this post on Active Garage – Social Media and Tribes- Is Twitter doomed to fail?

Great point by Brian Tracy to stop spending time with people who ZAP your energy…

Tribes do not include everyone… or in other words, not everyone forms a tribe. It is constituted of people who care about a specific topic or interest or looking to bring a specific change. Real change comes from real people – who then influence others – who, in turn influence others.. .and before you know you have a tribe!

Tribe is needed to change the world. And Changing the world is addictive.

Social Media can be overwhelming but it has created a tremendous opportunity for anyone to be a leader. There is no test to pass, no permission needed. Before you needed millions of dollars to get on Television. NOW you need ten dollars to create a video. So, if you care about something, you can get up and lead.

If you are someone who wants to change the world, you will continue reading this post because you still need to understand how to gain advantage using social media and not get simply distraught by its demands. The understanding involves:

Continue Reading my post on ActiveGarage: Social Media and Tribes #6: Changing the world is addictive

Dean Ornish shares new research that shows how adopting healthy lifestyle habits can affect a person at a genetic level. For instance, he says, when you live healthier, eat better, exercise, and love more, your brain cells actually increase.