When there is pressure or pain in the head, it can be difficult to tell whether the individual is experiencing a typical headache or a migraine. Differentiating a migraine headache from a traditional headache, and vice versa, is important.

What Is A Headache?
Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. The pain can range from mild to severe, and they usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. Triggers for this headache type include stress, muscle strain, and anxiety.

What is migraine?
These headaches are intense or severe and often have other symptoms in addition to head pain. Symptoms associated with a migraine headache include:
• Nausea
• Pain behind one eye or ear
• Pain in the temples
• Seeing spots or flashing lights
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Temporary vision loss
• Vomiting
When compared with tension or other headache types, migraine headache pain can be moderate to severe. Some people may experience headaches so severe they seek care at an emergency room. Migraine headaches will typically affect only one side of the head. However, it is possible to have a migraine headache that affects both sides of the head. Other differences include the pain’s quality: A migraine headache will cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very difficult.
Migraine headaches are typically divided into two categories: migraine with aura and migraine without aura. An “aura” refers to sensations a person experiences before they get a migraine. The sensations typically occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. These can include:
• feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking
• seeing flashing lights or unusual lines
• feeling tingling or numbness in the face or hands
• having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch
Some migraine sufferers may experience symptoms a day or two before the actual migraine occurs. Known as the “prodrome” phase, these subtler signs can include:
• Constipation
• Depression
• frequent yawning
• irritability
• Neck stiffness
• unusual food cravings

Treating Migraine

Prevention tips
Prevention is often the best treatment for migraine headaches. Examples of preventive methods your doctor may prescribe include:
• making changes to your diet, such as eliminating foods and substances known to cause headaches, like alcohol and caffeine
• taking prescription medications, such as antidepressants, blood pressure lowering medicines, antiseptic medicines, or CGRP antagonists
• taking steps to reduce stress

To get started with the any work as a employee the company or the employer will give the training to the employee. As employee has skills but training will helps make that skills sharpen and gives more new skills to the employee. Training may be inform of on the job training and off the job training. On the job means training will be given along with doing the work.off the job training means training will be given in the form of class room lecture,online training etc. Totally training is important to get started with any new work it will give new skills and makes the existing more sharpen.

IQ (Intelligence quotient or Cognitive intelligence)

IQ, or intelligence quotient, is an inborn ability and it measures the general intelligence. They can learn, understand and implement knowledge, perform logical reasoning and abstract thinking. IQ is the intellectual ability to manage ideas, knowledge and thoughts.IQ represents abilities such as: Visual and spatial processing , Knowledge of the world ,Working memory , Quantitative & logical reasoning.

EQ ( Emotional Intelligence)

EQ is…  Self Awareness ,  Self Confidence , Interpersonal Skills and  Social Competence

EQ is the ability to manage relationships with other people.EQ is centered on abilities such as:

• Identifying emotions
• Controlling one’s own emotions
• Perceiving how others feel
• Using emotions to facilitate social communication
• Using Empathy – to relate to others

EQ refers to an individual’s level of emotional intelligence, which is represented by scores obtained in a standardized test. It is a learned and improved ability.

Measurement of EQ

Meanwhile, EQ assessments test different aspects of emotional intelligence: emotional literacy, empathy, intrinsic motivation and how we navigate emotions. Some school counsellors may suggest an EQ test for a child who is struggling socially, to determine which skills to work on.Just like with IQ scores, an EQ score of 100 is considered average; 115 is awesome, but 85 indicates there are some challenges.

There are a number of instruments that seek to “measure” emotional intelligence, including the Mayer, Salovey, Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test or MSCEIT.

Unlike IQ, which is static, EQ can increase. But to really develop and master those skills, a child may need explicit teaching and practice.

5 Components of Emotional Quotient

When considering emotional intelligence, we look both internally and externally. EQ considers how we think about ourselves and how we think about and act toward others.The three internal hallmarks of emotional intelligence pertinent to self are:

• Self-awareness is the the ability to identify your own emotions and their impact.
• Self-regulation is the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods to suspend judgement and think before acting. In practice, it is your ability to influence your emotional clarity.
• Motivation is to go beyond the external drive for knowledge to pursue goals with energy and persistence.

Externally, EQ is a measure of what goes on between you and others.

• Social-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand the emotions of others and react appropriately Social-regulation is your ability to influence the emotional clarity of others through a proficiency in managing relationships and building networks. relationship management (the ability to influence and connect with others).

Emotional intelligence is measured using 5-major components and 15-subcomponents:1. Intrapersonal Skills (ability to understand and apply personal emotions) – Self Regard ,Emotional Self Awareness ,Assertiveness , Independence ,SelfActualization

 2. Interpersonal Skills (people skills) –  Empathy ,Social Responsibility ,Interpersonal Relationships ,3. Stress Management (ability to handle challenges) –  Stress Tolerance , Impulse Control

4. Adaptability (Ability to react quickly, appropriately, and efficiently to change) – Reality Testing , flexibility ,Problem Solving,5. General Mood – Optimism To a great extent, each of the five domains represents sets of habit and responses that are learned, and so can be improved with appropriate effort

Exemplary qualities of people with high EQ

They are called as “people smart” for their extra-ordinary interpersonal skills and are good communicators.The emotionally intelligent child is also one who can verbalise her own emotions accurately, regulate them and control reactions to them( think of ways to defuse her feelings rather than throw a book against the wall.) A child with a high EQ can also handle more complex social situations and build meaningful friendships, in part because of that ability to relate to or empathize with peers.

As a kid grows into a teen and then an adult, EQ becomes tied to internal motivation , governs how emotions impact decision making, to make her cope with stress, solve problems and pursue goals.

Many companies hire for entry-level positions based on IQ, then promote people based on EQ. You need to have a brilliant IQ to be a good engineer, but to be a leader of engineers, your EQ matters more than your IQ.People with high emotional intelligence are likely to be doing well, to be effective at work, to have strong relationships, good health and a high quality of life.

What matters is how you’re able to “connect with, understand and inspire other people”. He believes emotional intelligence enables you to demonstrate humility, making people naturally inclined to help you succeed. It also fosters resilience and grit, which empower you to overcome fear of failure and take risks for future success.

When you have the IQ to make good intellectual decisions and the EQ to build relationships with those around you, the sky is the limit.Leaders, Captains, Managers and people with social challenges tend to be more emotionally intelligent. high-EQ students are more co-operative and make better leaders in the classroom. get along with people in progressively collaborative workplaces.

Raise your EQ?

 EQ can be raised by recognizing  and naming the emotions we feel , understand why you feel that way , and distinguish between feelings and actions . It can also done by motivating oneself when considering how to productively harness your feelings, practice some emotional self-control  ,recognizing emotions in others and sensitive to other people’s feelings and listen well.

It is a good practice to manage emotions and accept your feelings, but find a balance between over-sensitivity or over-expression and emotional suppression .While handling relationships – Being perceptive, applying conflict management skills instead of ignoring conflict, and being considerate and cooperative . Lighten up the situation by learning to see the humor in difficult situations and use it to smooth over differences. It can be done by resolving conflict positively by choosing your arguments, staying focused in the present, and be prepared to forgive or end conflicts that can’t be resolved.

Can Emotional Intelligence Be Learned?

Some strategies for teaching emotional intelligence include offering character education, modeling positive behaviors, encouraging people to think about how others are feeling, and finding ways to be more empathetic toward others.

Emotional literacy is the term used to describe the naming and managing feelings and learning to respond to others’ emotions appropriately.“Kids learn to understand the social world through storytelling—it helps them relate to a situation and learn how to handle events and emotions,” it’s learning to be aware of their own feelings, to express those feelings, to be able to get along with other kids,  to be responsible”

Modelling EQ begins at home

Parents begin teaching emotional literacy to their kids from infancy. “One of the things that’s really important in the early years is for children to be able to understand how they’re feeling and to be able to put words to those feelings rather than acting out,” says Chapman.

Emotional intelligence can be developed over time, free of age limit, with the condition that it is provided the necessary attention and effort to it. It is vital for overall success and is a flexible skill set that can be nurtured, it seems prudent for parents to teach emotional literacy to children from infancy.

The final words :

Researchers have shown that our success at work or in life depends on Emotional Intelligence 80% and only20% of intellect.IQ makes up only 20 percent of the factors that determine life success, while other forces, such as EQ, wealth, temperament, family education levels and pure luck make up the balance. That means cognitive skills—verbal comprehension, memory, reasoning and processing speed—will help academically, but they will only get a person so far in life. To really go the distance, those IQ traits should be rounded out with social-emotional skills like motivation, perseverance, impulse control and coping mechanisms .

To gain extensive knowledge about this topic, please check the following link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence

You must have heard people telling you to stay positive when you are going through hard times or maybe you must have heard yourself giving advice to others about how staying positive can help them. Being positive is essential to get through life but too much of it can sometimes do more damage than good. Excessive of anything can be harmful. As much as everyone believes in the undeniable power of positivity, it can take a toxic turn when we try to use it to hide the negative situations. It is a very normal human experience to face the hardships along with the good stuff but trying to negate your true feelings goes against any sort of development.

Over sweetening of positivity comes at a price of hiding one’s true emotions. Since it is always encouraged to stay positive and be happy all the time, we miss the fact that feeling sad is one of the most basic human emotions and should not be sidelined under false happiness. This only builds guilt towards one’s own emotions. Being on the receiving end of someone’s feel good quotes can be annoying at times. Sometimes you just want to and need to face the reality. This should also hold true when you are the one giving advice to someone. You telling someone to think positive doesn’t help anyone. It just creates resentment and feels as if you are minimizing someone’s experiences. Telling someone to look at the brighter side of the situation should also not be your first response when someone confides in you. Try to be emotionally supportive.

It is also apparently believed that there is some shame attached to feeling certain emotions or letting them out in the form of crying. The only reply we get is to man up and stop being a crybaby. In order to avoid this, we end up braving and portraying a false front. Suppressing or hiding these emotions lead to more stress and can erupt in a harmful manner. It makes one end up creating a fake persona for themselves. It creates pressure to be or act in a certain way around some particular people.

In order to lose this toxic positive attitude, try listening to people’s emotions and feelings rather than brushing them off. Tell them that even though you may not be able to provide solution for their problems, you will still be with them or even ask them what they need.

Being a healthy person requires being conscious of one’s emotions as well as others. Being overly positive can be harmful to you as well as to those around you. So cut the chain of toxic positivity but don’t dwell in sadness either. Set healthy boundaries for yourself and don’t let anyone, including yourself belittle your experiences.

Northeast is the collective name of the easternmost states of India. It comprises of 8 culturally and ecologically rich states. It comprises of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. These states are also know as ‘The seven sisters’ and Sikkim being the only brother.
If you are a travel geek, visit to the Northeast must top your bucket list. Each state is very different from each other, yet so similar. Each state can mesmerise you with its beauty. This part of India is so raw and pure, in comparison to the rest of the country and this makes it even more special.
Introduction to each state
• Arunachal Pradesh
The land of rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh, is characterized by mountainous ranges and sub mountainous ranges along the northern part. This state is truly diverse in terms of its culture. Arunachal Pradesh has 26 major tribes and multiple sub-tribes. People of Arunachal Pradesh speak over 50 dialects. Arunachal Pradesh is a green gold. Because of the variation in altitude and climatic condition, it has tropical, subtropical and temperate forest.

• Assam
Assam is a northeastern state popular for its wildlife, archaeological site and tea plantation. Assam is also known for its temples, especially the Kamakhya Temple. The world’s largest river island, Majuli, and the smallest river island, Umananda, are both located in this state. The culture of Assam is a rich and exotic tapestry. Natives of this state are known as Asomiya (Assamese) and it is also the state language of Assam. Weaving is an important part of Assamese culture. Gamocha is one of most easily recognisable cultural symbol, besides many.

• Manipur
Manipur is situated in the eastern frontier of India. Physically Manipur comprises of two parts, hills and valleys. The valley is centred surrounded by hills on all sides. The state has a forest canopy ranging from thickly dense forest to moderately dense forest to open forest. The cultural expression and art form of this state is famous worldwide. Manipuri dance whether folk or classical, is distinct from any other form.

• Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a hilly state in northeast India. This area is geographically rich, with mountains, stretches of valley and Highland plateau. Mawsynram, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is the wettest place of earth. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya is known as the rock capital of India. The forest in Meghalaya are among the richest botanical habitat in Asia. Meghalaya’s forest host 660 species of birds.

• Mizoram
The state with highest literacy rate in Northeast is Mizoram. Among the northeastern states, it is the southern most landlocked state. Mizoram is the state of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. Traditional festivals in this region revolve around jhum cultivation. This state has several dance forms, including, Cheraw, Khuallam, Chheihlam, Chai.

• Nagaland
Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. It is 16th state of India on 1st December 1963. The state has a monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Nagaland, just like all other northeastern state, is high in flora and fauna. Mithun is the state animal and has also adopted as the official seal of the Government of Nagaland. Music and dance is an intrinsic part of Naga life. The Hornbill festival celebrated in Kohima, capital of Nagaland, is famous worldwide.

• Sikkim
Sikkim is the only northeastern state which is not a part of ‘seven sisters’. It host Kanchenjunga, the highest peak of India and third highest in the world. Sikkim climate ranges from sub tropical in the south to tundra in the north. Sikkim is one of the few states of India to receive snow fall. The state is situated in the ecological hotspot of the Lower Himalayas, one of the only three ecoregions of India.

• Tripura
Tripura is the third most smallest state in the country. The state is characterized by hill ranges, valleys and plains. Tripura has a typical savanna climate. Unakoti in Tripura is popular worldwide. Multiple folklore are famous about Unakoti.

Hey Readers, let’s go through some of the schemes launched by the Government of India in the year 2020. The main purpose of these schemes is to address the social and economic welfare of the society.

1. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan 

The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan was announced in four tranches by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May 2020. It aims to take India in the position of becoming self-reliant. The economic stimulus relief package announced by the government is touted to be worth Rs.20 Lakh crores. This amount is almost 10% of India’s GDP. This includes the already announced Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package, as the PMGKY, for the poor to overcome difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown imposed to check its spread.

This scheme was based on 5 pillars that included economy, infrastructure, demographics, technology and demand. The relief package emphasized on land, labour, laws and liquidity.

For more details about the relief package, you can go to: https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/atmanirbhar-bharat-abhiyan/.

2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana

This a Central Sector Scheme which is administered by the Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Government of India in partnership with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

LIC is the Pension Fund Manager for PM Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana that provides an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- to all the farmers after the age of 60 years. This scheme was introduced with an aim to secure the lives of around 3 crores small and marginal farmers in India.

3. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)

The Scheme is available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank account who give their consent to join / enable auto-debit on or before 31st May for the coverage period 1st June to 31st May on an annual renewal basis. Aadhar would be the primary KYC for the bank account. The risk coverage under the scheme is Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability.

The premium of Rs.12 per annum is to be deducted from the account holder’s bank account through ‘auto-debit’ facility in one instalment. The scheme is being offered by Public Sector General Insurance Companies or any other General Insurance Company who are willing to offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with banks for this purpose. As on 31st March, 2019, cumulative gross enrolment reported by Banks subject to verification of eligibility, etc. is over 15.47 crore under PMSBY. A total of 40,749 Claims were registered under PMSBY of which 32,176 have been disbursed.

For more information, refer to: https://financialservices.gov.in/new-initiatives/schemes

4. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

APY was launched on 9th May, 2015 by the Prime Minister. APY is open to all saving bank/post office saving bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years and the contributions differ, based on pension amount chosen.  Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 or Rs. 2,000 or Rs. 3,000 or Rs. 4,000 or Rs. 5,000 at the age of 60 years. Under APY, the monthly pension would be available to the subscriber, and after him to his spouse and after their death, the pension corpus, as accumulated at age 60 of the subscriber, would be returned to the nominee of the subscriber.

Share market is the market place where the shares of different companies will be listed and purchased and sold among different buyers and sellers.companies will bring their shares to the stock market through the IPO which means Initial Public Offering where company will first time sells its shares to the open public. When company need additional capital or Fund required then company will go for the IPO so the share will be listed. If the companies share is listed then only public can purchase that particular companies share in share market. Share market has its own time and working days which is depend on different countries. In working days only one can purchase and sell the shares.

India, home to one-sixth of all humanity, holds the key to the success of the 2030 Agenda. India in its second VNR has made a paradigm shift to a “whole-of-society” approach with Government of India engaging sub-national and local governments, civil society organizations, local communities, people in vulnerable situations and the private sector.

India’s commitment to the SDGs is reflected in its convergence with the national development agenda as reflected in the motto of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas (Collective Efforts for Inclusive Growth). Based on the evidence from the SDG India Index, which measures progress at the subnational level, the country has developed a robust SDG localization model centered on adoption, implementation and monitoring at the State and district levels.

The following narrative further encapsulates India’s progress across the SDGs.

Sashakt Bharat – Sabal Bharat (Empowered and Resilient India): India has successfully lifted more than 271 million people out of multidimensional poverty through economic growth and empowerment. Enhanced access to nutrition, child health, education, sanitation, drinking water, electricity and housing, has led to reduced inequalities especially among people in vulnerable situations.

Swachh Bharat – Swasth Bharat (Clean and Healthy India): Through a nationwide initiative triggered by the Clean India Campaign and the National Nutrition Mission, India achieved 100% rural sanitation and sharp reduction in stunting and child and maternal mortality rates. Universal health coverage has been institutionalized through Ayushmaan Bharat, the world’s largest health protection scheme which provides an annual cover of USD 7,000 to 100 million families, covering nearly 500 million individuals.

India is at the forefront in the call for joint global action to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has extended medical assistance to several countries and has operationalized the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund with an initial contribution of USD 10 million. Domestically, India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic includes an initial USD 22.5 billion economic stimulus package, comprehensive health coverage for front-line workers and direct cash transfers for the most vulnerable.

Samagra Bharat – Saksham Bharat (Inclusive and Entrepreneurial India): Social inclusion is pursued through universalizing access to nutrition, health, education, social protection, and developing capabilities for entrepreneurship and employment. Financial inclusion through Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity – near universal access to bank accounts aided by the Jan Dhan Yojana (National Financial Inclusion Scheme); Aadhaar card (National unique identity number) for over 90% of the population; and expansive access to mobile phones, has propelled new avenues of credit, insurance, and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to the poor, including to over 200 million women, thereby accelerating their economic empowerment.

Satat Bharat – Sanatan Bharat (Sustainable India): India’s climate action strategies call for clean and efficient energy systems, disaster resilient infrastructure, and planned eco-restoration. Acting on its nationally-determined contributions, India has electrified 100% of its villages, reduced 38 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually through energy efficient appliances, provided clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and set a target to install 450GW of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Globally, India stands third in renewable power, fourth in wind power, and fifth in solar power. India launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance to leverage global partnerships for climate action and disaster resilience.

Sampanna Bharat- Samriddh Bharat (Prosperous and Vibrant India): India is one of the fastest growing emerging market economies with a young population and burgeoning innovation and business ecosystem. With a GDP of USD 2.72 trillion in 2018-19, India strives to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025, and pursue an inclusive and sustainable growth trajectory by stimulating manufacturing, building infrastructure, spurring investments, fostering technological innovation, and boosting entrepreneurship.

In the spirit of South-South Cooperation, for realizing the 2030 Agenda, India supports developing countries through the USD 150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund. In this spirit of regional and global partnerships, and the country’s commitment to ‘leave no one behind’, India steps into the Decade of Action, drawing confidence from its experience in addressing challenges. Government of India will continue to work collaboratively with all domestic and global stakeholders to accelerate efforts for a sustainable planet for future generations.

Now Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is well accepted among shareholders as well as with various other stakeholders of society in India. The term CSR is new normal for Indian organisations. CSR tends to focus on what is done with profits after they are made. Larger corporations understand that CSR is an integral part of business framework for sustainable development. Companies also consider that CSR is an approach towards sustainable development and focus on the triple bottom line of Economic, Environmental and Social performance.

In India, the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is widely being used even though related concepts and terms, such as business responsibility, sustainable development, philanthropy, sustainability, corporate citizenship, responsible business, triple bottom line, shared value, value creation, business ethics, socio-economic responsibility, bottom of pyramid, stakeholder management, corporate responsibility, and corporate social performance.

The CSR activities of Indian companies are in line with the provisions of Section 135 with Schedule VII to the Companies Act, 2013. The CSR initiatives of companies thrust on creating value in the lives of the communities around its areas of business and manufacturing operations.

CSR has become an effective tool to work in the line of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a strong focus on social performance indicated in the CSR projects of the organizations. The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Most of the businesses consider community as one of its apex stakeholders and believes in inclusive growth. This year most of the organisations continued its CSR initiatives in the realm of Education, Health, Livelihood, Rural Development and Social Entrepreneurship.

Organisation’s diverse projects and operations touch lives of people in many ways and create value by helping in overall and holistic development of communities within multiple geographies. Through its various initiatives, Companies endeavour to play a relevant role by serving communities and projects that address gaps in basic societal requirements.

Conscious business decisions by the Companies have directly and indirectly created value for multiple stakeholders and helped in improving lives of the people and species. Businesses in India believed in creating societal value by providing affordable products and services which have assisted in the growth of relevant and allied industries. Across all its areas of operations of Business, there are inherent linkages and interconnections with the immediate and long term societal impact.

Most of the business have a practice of reporting the CSR performance not only in Annual Report but also in dedicated Annual CSR Report and Sustainable Development Report. These reports are externally verified and are in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines and Business Responsibility Report, mandated by the law and competent authorities.

CSR initiatives are conceptualized and implemented through Corporate Foundations, Non-Government Organisation (NGOs) and Agencies and not-for-profit organisations. Most of the organisations worked on 4P model (Public-Private-People-Partnership) for empowering communities and stakeholders. Businesses have positively impacted lives particularly of several hundreds of thousand underprivileged people through various CSR activities and approaches.

It has been observed that for Indian Companies, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development by working with the employees, their families, the local community, experts and the society at large to improve lives in ways that are good for business and for its development.

In the broad manner, CSR segment of the organisation is guided by the Board of Governance, Business DNA, CSR and Sustainability Mission of the Companies. In compliance with the provisions of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 with the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, Companies have taken measures and steps to ensure improvement and betterment.

Most of the businesses seek to continue its contribution to the society through its distinct value proposition that meets the needs of millions of people, enhancing their lives through education, healthcare, improving quality of living by providing attitude, means and enabling livelihoods by creating employment opportunities through and for the Business, By the Business and Beyond the Business.

For the Business, value is being created for the society through business including employment generation, market growth and opportunity creation. By the Business- value is also being created through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions across different operating facilities with appropriate linkages to local communities in which businesses operate and Beyond Business- value is being created through interventions for the societies in diverse geographies across India through creation of demand and services.

At public sector business organisations in India, CSR has been also looked upon as closely linked with the principle of sustainable economic development, which demand that organisations should make decisions and act based not only on financial factors but also on immediate and long term social and environmental consequences of their operations and activities.

Businesses in India have been sensitive towards the concerns of society and is committed to operating its core business in a socially responsible way by taking into consideration the wider interests of the community and the environment.

Seven pillars of CSR strategy

1. Need of partnership in CSR

2. Cross learning

3. Supplementing and nurturing CSR

4. Per beneficiary cost reduction and maximizing the impact while reaching more people

5. Knowledge management and documentation

6. Use and reuse of resources for better CSR

7. Capacity building of the CSR workforce and re-skilling

Need of partnership in CSR

Business organisations now recognise Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a great opportunity to significantly strengthen their businesses – while building, strengthening and renewing human, social and natural resources and wealth. Finding the right kind of partners is absolutely important to the success of a CSR strategy. We are in connected world.

All issues are connected to the other issues, perspective and environment. Working alone is good but working together is great. Working alone yields lesser benefits as compared to the working together always. CSR world should explore togetherness by partnering with other entities. Togetherness in addressing the social and environmental issues is good for all. CSR world should encourage partnership to execute the mega social projects.

To fulfil the corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals businesses have to realise and act in partnership. Formation of partnerships has played a very significant role in progress and prosperity across the world. Partnership brings companies, businesses, people and society together and then pool their resources together in order to achieve the set goals. Partnerships is CSR is need of hour. Partnership opens doors for cross learning of knowledge and experiences.

Cross learning in CSR

Cross learning is key to CSR strategies. Learning improves performance and minimise risks. Effective partnership among likeminded organisations for CSR execution ensures cross learning in Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR leaders from different organisations must visit specific CSR locations of other organisation where CSR projects are being implemented and meanwhile they should meet the beneficiaries to gain new insights. CSR leaders must build a deep understanding of the socio-economic issues and they must be open enough to understand issues both from a business and a societal perspective. Learning from others in CSR can save time and resources. Concentrate on your CSR efforts but same time CSR leaders must learn from variety of successful CSR programmes. The greatest opportunities will come from areas where the business significantly interacts with society. Cross learning in CSR is immensely helpful in supplementing and nurturing CSR programme and projects.

Supplementing and nurturing CSR

Good CSR strategy and projects must be encouraged and supplemented. Opportunities for complementing and supplementing ongoing social projects and initiatives, programmes must be explored. Supplementing CSR emphasises on the sustainability of projects and programmes to ensure they remain relevant and viable even upon disengagement at the end of the project period. Every organisation explore possibilities for collaborating and co-operating with other corporations in order to synergise its efforts and increase both financial and social resources as well as outcomes and impact. Businesses may consider in supplementing even in smaller well defined CSR projects. Supplementing the CSR projects by the smaller or larger organisations matter in order to ensure optimal utilisation of the CSR budget and resources.

Per beneficiary cost reduction in CSR

Per beneficiary cost reduction and maximizing the impact while reaching more beneficiaries in CSR is key to success. Business organisations have a variety of motives for being attentive to CSR and run a CSR projects. Leaders can increase impact and reduce costs when they understand the role of Corporate Social Performance (CSP) in driving CSR Performance (CP). Business should think of reaching more people by using less money and resources. Reduction in per beneficiary cost can be achieved by the partnership, collaboration, cross learning and reuse of resources.

Knowledge management and documentation

CSR reporting practices strengthen organizations. The process of documenting and communicating CSR practices provides benefits to corporations, including the ability to formalize their position on CSR, identify organisational strengths and weaknesses, and manage stakeholder relationships and expectations. In India, any shortfall in spending in CSR shall be explained in the financial statements and the Board of Directors shall state the amount unspent and reasons for not spending that amount. As per the CSR Law, the CSR Committee of organisation shall institute a transparent monitoring mechanism for implementation of the CSR projects or programs or activities undertaken by the company.

Documentation, reporting and communication of the CSR performance in crucial to the CSR strategy.  Documentation of the CSR must be organised and structured and should be accessible. Companies can explore the new way of documentation, reporting and communications.

Use and reuse of resources for better CSR

Effective use and reuse of resources can improve the CSR performance. Awareness on use and reuse of resources among across the stakeholders can help in achieving the desired goals of CSR sustainability. Sustainable CSR can be achieved through community and beneficiaries engagement. CSR is a process oriented task.

Recycling and reuse often are the easiest places to start. CSR leaders should take the essential steps to recycle the commonly recyclable materials, and look for easy opportunities to replace disposable or recyclable items with reusable ones. CSR leaders also should look for partners to help with more challenging to recycle or exotic materials, as well as for opportunities to introduce reusable packaging. And of course, look upstream to design new idea, services and programmes.

Capacity building of the CSR workforce and re-skilling

In the fast changing world, capacity building of CSR workforce and re-skilling them are always relevant and are key to CSR performance. Human resource are fundamental requirement. CSR leaders must empower their subordinates by providing them right attitude, knowledge, information and trainings. Same time, CSR managers also be open to learn new things. Developing soft skill, professional skill, project management skill and leadership skill among CSR workforce is continuous process. Rigorous training, development and re-skilling of the CSR manners can save time, efforts and resources.

Everyone has anxiety, but chronic anxiety can interfere with the quality of life. It can also cause severe damage to our physical health. Anxiety is a normal part of life. For example, feeling anxious before entering the exam centre or a job interview. In general terms, anxiety increases breathing and heartbeat, concentrating blood flow to our brain, where we need it. If it gets too intense, however, people might start to feel lightheaded or likely to be in a state of trance. An excessive or persistent state of anxiety can have a devastating impact both on our physical and mental health. Anxiety disorder can happen at any stage of life, but they usually begin by middle age. Women are more likely to have an anxiety disorder than men. Stressful life experiences may increase risk for an anxiety disorder, too. Symptoms may begin immediately or years later. Having a serious medical condition or a substance use disorder can also lead to an anxiety disorder.

There are several types of Anxiety Disorders. They include :

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is marked by excessive anxiety for no logical reason. GAD is diagnosed when extreme worry about a variety of things lasts six months or longer. If you have a mild case, you’re probably able to complete your normal day-to-day activities. More severe cases may have a profound impact on your life.

Social Anxiety Disorder
This disorder involves a paralyzing fear of social situations and of being judged or humiliated by others. This severe social phobia can leave one feeling ashamed and alone.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
This develops after witnessing or experiencing something traumatic. Symptoms can begin immediately or be delayed for years. Common causes include war, natural disasters, or a physical attack. PTSD episodes may be triggered without warning.

Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with OCD may feel overwhelmed with the desire to perform particular rituals (compulsions) over and over again, or experience intrusive and unwanted thoughts that can be distressing (obsessions).
Common compulsions include habitual hand-washing, counting, or checking something. Common obsessions include concerns about cleanliness, aggressive impulses, and need for symmetry.

Phobias
These include fear of tight spaces (claustrophobia), fear of heights (acrophobia), and many others. You may have a powerful urge to avoid the feared object or situation.

Panic Disorder
This causes panic attacks, spontaneous feelings of anxiety, terror, or impending doom. Physical symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Anxiety disorder can cause other symptoms, including:
• headaches
• muscle tension
• insomnia
• depression
• social isolation

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all “. Also , another proverb says , “There is no better friend than a book”. These proverbs insists on the significance of book reading habit. Book reading habit widens the reader’s knowledge and of course, his world. At times of boredom , books can be our best friends .Ample reading enhances your imagination power. The detailing of “the character” or “the place” in your novel helps you to picture the whole scenario. This develops your creativity. It can also help you to develop your own innovative style, and hence your writing skills. It helps you to build your personality. This point demonstrates the phrase ‘you become what you read’ perfectly. A good book can make you a better person. It can enhance your emotional well-being, social involvement and imparts knowledge.
We all know that reading books opens the door to a vivid imagination, expanded vocabulary and the ability to succeed academically. Reading a good book is the perfect way to reduce stress and have a quiet, peaceful time without leaving the comfort of your home. Reading makes our world big.For a child, reading books nurtures them to form their own ideas and help in brain development while when a grown-up reads they can calm their mind, instill focus and broaden their outlook with each book. Reading lets us contemplate which is essential to our lives and we must find time to read each day for our own betterment. After all, a book is a man’s best friend!
“Reading maketh a full man; writing an exact man, and conference a ready man.” Reading is an essential basic skill building activity. One’s language fluency is determined by the quality of reading. Besides, vocabulary enrichment, different types of writing styles, speaking fluency, etc, all depend upon reading. Schools, colleges, and other academic institute use reading as a major tool in imparting education to students.

Evolution of Internet and related digital technologies
With the evolution of Internet and other digital technologies – electronic gadgets ( smartphones, tablets etc) , the everyday citizen get caught by it swiftly. And our affinity towards mobile devices grew, we started to walk down a path of new discovery which attracts us by giving more information , entertainment and pleasure. Slowly but surely we started to understand these technologies as they became an inseparable part of our lives. On their part – mobile and internet technology offer advanced leaps & bounds to the world in our palms.

The down side of Technology…

Nowadays, children, youths and adults alike are inclined to use technology for getting faster , accurate information, entertainment and pleasure. The emergence of Internet has created an extraordinary change in the reading culture. Presently, because of the Internet revolution, reading sources have been transformed diversely into web sites, web pages, e-books, e-journals, instant messaging blogs and other multimedia documents. Nowadays, Internet surfing enables people to navigate a world full of interconnected information, to discover new sites, to get up-to-date information and to download things of interest. Consequently, modern people have accepted Internet browsing as their daily habit and surfing the Internet has become a kind of addiction to the new generation.

Hearing without paying attention, looking at screens while having conversations is commonplace now – we are not really ‘present’ in the present anymore.
They are thoughtlessly and uselessly wasting their precious time on Social media , Internet and networking sites. The youth of today is only and only wasting time on chatting, messaging, uploading photographs and modifying profiles. However, in the modern times, the reading activity is being ignored.

How parents can control the electronic media usage & encourage reading habit ?

Parents should ensure that the usage of Internet to search and retrieve information is limited . Otherwise , it may lead to long unwanted searches and waste of time.
Dictionary usage should be taught and encouraged at an early age to build the vocabulary of the language .
The benefits of reading habit must be stressed and reinforced from time to time. Since there are many distraction (entertainment media platforms – YouTube , display advertisements) in reading a book using an electronic media ( e-books etc) , the physical book is a good solution. The children can be encouraged to read bed time stories or at least 10 pages of a self-development book of their age.
Children should not be allowed to use social media ( Facebook,twitter) before entering the college level ( till they get the maturity to handle social contacts and networks).
They must be taught that the time spent for entertainment & pleasure using them is not productive and it is ineffective as it does not increase our intelligence.
After finishing the academic activities , Children may be allowed to play with the smartphones for a limited period , under their supervision ( by using password control).
Parents must formulate a strategy either to curb or completely stop its fast growing negative influence on the minds of our youth.

Summing up…..
Forms of readership had changed and not the habit. Digital books on the internet were popular and saved not only time, money but also environment. Conventional libraries may have gone out of fashion but the internet based reading material continued to be popular with the younger set. We must not allow the wonderfully beneficial activity of reading being killed by Internet , social media and other networking sites. We must preserve it at any cost!

We likely are aware of the familiar expression “An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away. “ While the phrase was first coined in 1913, it was based on a Pembroke shire proverb that originated in 1866. Although research shows that eating more apples may not actually be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, adding apples to our diet can help improve several aspects of our health. Apples are highly nutritious, loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants. In particular, Vitamin C acts as an anti oxidant to neutralize harmful compounds produced in the body and protect against diseases. Studies show that eating more apples could be associated with lower risk of chronic health conditions, including heart disease. This may be due to the presence of flavonoids found in apples, which are compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation and protect heart health. Apples are also loaded with soluble fiber, which may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. They also contain several compounds that may help prevent cancer formation, including antioxidants and flavonoids.

Other Health Benefits
Apples have also been linked to several other health benefits that could help keep the doctor away:
• Support weight loss. Due to their fiber content, apples have been shown to promote feelings of fullness, decrease calorie intake, and increase weight loss.

• Improve bone health. Human, animal, and test-tube studies have found that eating a higher amount of fruit could be associated with increased bone mineral density and a lower risk of osteoporosis.

• Promote brain function. Animal studies suggest that eating apples could help reduce oxidative stress, prevent mental decline, and slow signs of aging.

• Protect against asthma. Studies show that an increased intake of apples may be linked to a lower risk of asthma.

• Reduce the risk of diabetes. According to one large review, eating one apple per day was tied to a 28% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with not eating any apples at all.
Although eating more apples may not literally be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, apples are rich in nutrients and offer several benefits for disease prevention and long-term health. In addition to apples, many other fruits and vegetables provide a similar set of nutrients and health benefits.

The lifestyle are metamorphosed to accommodate the new jet age and habits too is no exception. healthy nutritious foods have been replaced by the new food have been replace by the food mantra for junk food. The available of junk food ad snacks at low prices and marketing strategies adapted by manufactures of such food has triggered an evolution wherein, consumption of foods that require neither the structure nor the preparation of a formal meal. It seems to have engulfed every age; every race and newest entrants on stage are children, school going in particular. hence, a systematic presentation has been made in this review from the article from various source highlight eating habits, nutritional aspects and quality of unhealthy food, their health impact on consumption and prevention measure and prevention measure to be undertaken. Through health education, a change towards good eating practices and adaption of healthy living is possible. The Obesity account for 300,00 death in the U.S alone.

Research into food and fast food restaurant have found that there is a direct relationship between the number of the fast food restaurant located within the local area and obesity rate. According to a survey by the Institute of Food technologists of american are eating their dinner at home, nearly half those meals are fast food, delivery, or taken out from restaurant or grocery delis.

India is no exception this changing fast food trend In India’s fast food industry is growing by 40 % a year. Statistical place India in 10th place in fast food per capital spending figures with 2.1% of expenditure of annual total spending. According to the national sample 2005 released by the Delhi government, people living in Delhi spend rs – 371, on an average, on process food and beverage per month. They spend Rs – 290, on vegetable and around one – third of it on fruit. the value of junk food consumed in india in 2003 was about Rs. 41000 crore; of which rural area accounted for a little over Rs 22,000 corer as published in an little article in news paper by sudhanshu Ranade in Business Line on July 13th 2005. Nature in 2007 state that preventable diseases caused mainly due to smoking, Poor diet food consumption and lack of exercise could kill million in developing world in the next 10 years.

The junk food means the calories is not include. An empty or high calories rich food which lacks in micro nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fibers but has high energy. These foods don’t contain the nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy Hence, these foods that has poor nutritional value is considered unhealthy and may be called as junk food. Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods which is the perceived to have little or no nutritional value, but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when eaten regularly or those consideration unhealthy to consume at all. The term Junk food was coined as a slang in the public interest in 1972 by Michael Jacobson, Director of the center for Science.

Bulimia Nervosa, also called as Bulimia, is characterized by simultaneous episodes of over eating and purge through techniques of vomiting, laxative abuse, extreme dieting or exercising, drug or alcohol abuse. People suffering from this eating disorder usually are unhappy with their size and shape. The binge and purge cycle is typically done in secret and is usually associated with a feeling of shame and guilt.

Bulimia usually develops late in childhood or early adulthood. It affects women more than men. Bulimia affect 1-3 percent of women and an increasing number of men. Bulimic often suffer from physiological issues such as gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration and heart diseases.

Cause of Bulimia

Though the exact cause of Bulimia, or any other eating disorder, cannot be clearly dictated. However researches suggest it as a combination of certain psychological, biological and environmental factors can be responsible. Researches also suggest Bulimia Nervosa may arise due to dissatisfaction of individual’s body and extreme concern about body size and shape.

These factors causing Bulimia include:

Biological factors include:
• Hormonal imbalance
• Genetic makeup
• Nutritional deficiencies

Psychological factors include:
• Poor self esteem
• Poor body image issues

Environmental factors include:
• Childhood trauma
• Peer pressure
• Poor family dynamics
• Professional requirements

Signs and symptoms

Bulimia is a eating disorders. It is characterized by a large number of symptoms. The signs and symptoms include the following:
• Eating uncontrollably followed by purging
• Vomiting or laxative abuse in an attempt to lose weight
• Excessive exercising
• Frequent use of washroom after each meal
• Sore throat
• Dental problems
• Preoccupation with body weight
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Feeling out of control
• Irregular periods
• Indigestion, heartburn and bloating
• Weakness and exhaustion
• Swollen gland in neck and face

Treating Bulimia Nervosa

Dealing with Bulimia Nervosa, or any other eating disorder for that matter is extremely difficult. It is not a one day thing. Dealing with Bulimia Nervosa is a long process.
Below mentioned are some ways to treat eating disorders, including Bulimia Nervosa.

• Medical care and monitoring: Anyone suffering from eating disorder usually has some inbuilt causes for it. Dealing with the health issues caused due to eating disorder is of primary importance. Thus medical care and monitoring is of utmost importance.

• Nutritional intake: It involves restoring normal weight and stabilizing the same. Proper and balanced diet is of prime importance in this stage.

• Therapy: Therapeutic help can help the individual to know about the underlying cause of eating disorder. It not only help individual to overcome the disorder, by also help develop self confidence and self esteem.

• Medication: Medication is helpful in dealing with anxiety and mood disorder that is usually associated with eating disorder. However medication should only be consumed when prescribed by a health professional.The antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA- approved for the treatment of bulimia.

Though there is no hard and fast rule on which in the most effective way to deal with eating disorder. Every one differs and so does the proportion of effectiveness of each treatment on each individual. Most medical health professionals however suggest the different combination of all the four treatments depending on the physical, mental and emotional state of the individual. Consulting a mental health professionals is the key.

One of the things that held me back from pursuing my dreams for many years was fear of failure … and the lack of self-confidence that I needed to overcome that fear.

It’s something we all face, to some degree, I think. The key question: how do you overcome that fear?

By working on your self-confidence and self-esteem. Without really thinking of it in those terms, that’s what I’ve been doing over the years, and that’s what helped me finally overcome my fears, and finally pursue my dreams.

I still have those fears, undoubtedly. But now I know that I can beat them, that I can break through that wall of fear and come out on the other side. I’ve done it many times now, and that success will fuel further success.

Many of the things you propose make people feel better about themselves and actually help building self-confidence. However, I would be interested on reading your input in general on this topic. Taking time out for your own plans and dreams, doing things another way than most other people and generally not necessarily “fitting in” can be quite hard with a low self-confidence.

Truer words have never been spoken. It’s near impossible to make time for your dreams, to break free from the traditional mold, and to truly be yourself, if you have low self-esteem and self-confidence.

As an aside, I know that some people make a strong distinction between self-esteem and self-confidence. In this article, I use them interchangeably, even if there is a subtle but perhaps important difference … the difference being whether you believe you’re worthy of respect from others (self-esteem) and whether you believe in yourself (self-confidence). In the end, both amount to the same thing, and in the end, the actions I mention below give a boost to both self-esteem and self-confidence.

Taking control of your self-confidence
If you are low in self-confidence, is it possible to do things that will change that? Is your self-confidence in your control?

While it may not seem so, if you are low in self-confidence, I strongly believe that you can do things to increase your self-confidence. It is not genetic, and you do not have to be reliant on others to increase your self-confidence. And if you believe that you are not very competent, not very smart, not very attractive, etc. … that can be changed.

You can become someone worthy of respect, and someone who can pursue what he wants despite the naysaying of others.

You can do this by taking control of your life, and taking control of your self-confidence. By taking concrete actions that improve your competence, your self-image, you can increase that self-confidence, without the help of anyone else.

Below, I outline 5 things that will help you do that. None of them is revolutionary, none of them will do it all by themselves. The list certainly isn’t comprehensive. These are just some of my favorite things, stuff that’s worked for me.

And you don’t need to do all of them, as if this were a recipe … pick and choose those that appeal to you, maybe just a couple at first, and give them a try. If they work, try others. If they don’t, try others.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Groom yourself. This seems like such an obvious one, but it’s amazing how much of a difference a shower and a shave can make in your feelings of self-confidence and for your self-image. There have been days when I turned my mood around completely with this one little thing.

2. Dress nicely. A corollary of the first item above … if you dress nicely, you’ll feel good about yourself. You’ll feel successful and presentable and ready to tackle the world. Now, dressing nicely means something different for everyone … it doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a zara outfit, but could mean casual clothes that are nice looking and presentable.

3. Photoshop your self-image. Our self-image means so much to us, more than we often realize. We have a mental picture of ourselves, and it determines how confident we are in ourselves. But this picture isn’t fixed and immutable. You can change it. Use your mental Photoshopping skills, and work on your self-image. If it’s not a very good one, change it. Figure out why you see yourself that way, and find a way to fix it.

4. Think positive. One of the things I learned when I started running, about two years ago, what how to replace negative thoughts (see next item) with positive ones. How I can actually change my thoughts, and by doing so make great things happened. With this tiny little skill, I was able to train for and run a marathon within a year. It sounds so trite but my goodness this works. Seriously. Try it if you haven’t.

5. Kill negative thoughts. Goes hand-in-hand with the above item, but it’s so important that I made it a separate item. You have to learn to be aware of your self-talk, the thoughts you have about yourself and what you’re doing. When I was running, sometimes my mind would start to say, “This is too hard. I want to stop and go watch TV.” Well, I soon learned to recognize this negative self-talk, and soon I learned a trick that changed everything in my life: I would imagine that a negative thought was a bug, and I would vigilantly be on the lookout for these bugs. When I caught one, I would stomp on it (mentally of course) and squash it. Kill it dead. Then replace it with a positive one.

I found myself growing irritated and discontented with my life recently. It felt as if i was not doing enough and my life was just passing by. I was living in this bubble that something amazing would happen one day, take a miraculous turn on my life and make everything better. How wrong I was!

During this quarantine period, I realized that I had previously attached all my happiness to materialistic stuff and now I couldn’t have them anymore and that made me sad. I forgot about the happiness of the littlest moments of my life or the memories I created with my friends. I couldn’t look beyond the things I was stuck with and cherish what life had to offer for me. But spending time in quarantine period made me realize that I can be happy with minimalism as well.

Appreciating life means being grateful for the things life has offered to us and how we get to cherish them depends on us. The bad things will keep on happening and we will have to learn to deal with them in our own ways but it doesn’t mean that we spend our entire energy on obsessing over them. Telling a person to remain happy in his or her hard times seems shallow because we can not understand what someone is going through . That is why try to seek for satisfaction. Don’t attach high importance and your feelings to something that you know is not going to last forever.

Firstly, we need to give up on the cynicism. Thinking the worst of every situation is not going to help anyone. As someone once said, expect the best and prepare for the worst. Since you can’t prevent bad things from happening, try to change your reaction or outlook to it. GRATEFULNESS can be achieved if one wants to be grateful towards his life. You can try keeping a grateful journal where you note down the things that you are grateful for whenever you think as if everything feels way too overwhelming. Spend time with your family and friends or the people who make you feel good about yourself so that you realize that there are people who are always going to want the best for you. Ask people out on walks whenever you feel that the weather is nice or curl up with a book and a cup of tea in your study room when you feel like it. Don’t restrict yourself from making mistakes. Failures are very normal. You win some, you lose some. Right?

Someone said it rightly “To find the pearls in life’s ocean, you have to venture out past the shore”.

Blue ocean strategy denotes all the industries “not” in existence today, that is, the unknown market space. This is the space that is free from the scope of competition as this is not yet discovered. It creates uncontested marketplace and make the competition irrelevant. Blue ocean also captures new demand for the market.

Majorly, blue ocean strategy can be created:

• When companies can give rise to completely new industries. For instance: Ebay in online Auction Industry
• It is also created from red ocean where a company alters a boundary of an existing company or an industry.

Blue ocean are not only about technology innovation, but is is very important to link tech to what buyer’s value. Incumbents often create blue ocean and usually within their core business. For example, General Motors (GM) was an established player when they created blue ocean in Auto Industry.

“Strategic move is main”. One must keep in mind that in case of designing blue ocean strategy, never use competition as benchmark as it is all about discovering a new industry.

One of the best thing about blue ocean strategy is that it has considerable economic and cognitive barriers to imitation. A blue ocean is an analogy to describe the wider, deeper potential to be found in unexplored market space. A blue ocean is vast, deep, and powerful in terms of profitable growth. Some of the tools of blue ocean strategy include value innovation, strategy canvas, four actions framework and buyer utility map.

Apple has clearly used this strategy to make huge profit. It ventured into digital music in 2003 with its product iTunes. Apple users can download legal and high quality music at a reasonable price from iTunes which was something new as people have been listening to free music and downloading the same. They somehow made traditional sources of distribution of music irrelevant. Earlier compact disks or CDs were used as a traditional medium to distribute and listen to music. Apple was successful in capturing the growing demand of music for users on the go. All the available Apple products have iTunes for users to download music.

Formulating Blue Ocean Strategy:

• Reconstruct Market Boundaries
• Try to focus on the big picture and not just on numbers to get insights,
• Reach beyond existing demand
• Get the sequence of strategies planned and rightly executed.
• Overcome key organization hurdles
• Finally, build execution into strategies .