Penpositive Outclass

EP-349 Oppenheimer, Wars and some Personal Thoughts

23 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We watched Oppenheimer yesterday on Dolby. I liked the movie. But as I was watching it, my mind wandered to the many War zones I am not familiar with....

EP-348 My Son Likes to Animate

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

My son likes to animate and a few years back I had given him the IPAD I bought. That was a 3rd Generation IPAD Air. I bought it not because I had any ...

EP-347 You get Good Sleep if you don't drink at night

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today was an uneventful day. But when I finished recording I figured it was not that uneventful after all. If you are listening on Spotify please shar...

EP-346 Some Days are Good and Some days are bad

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday was not that Good and today is better, probably because I have a better perspective today. If you are listening on Spotify please share add ...

EP-345 I hate exams and tests

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

My daily journal continues. Today I want to reflects on tests and exams I hate. If you are listening on Spotify please share add your thoughts there. ...

EP-344 Why do people create Podcasts ?

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is after a while as I was traveling. Also switching from the other format. Formats get boring pretty fast I guess. This is more personal ...

EP-343 Keep your eyes and your ears open | Catherine Deeley

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by English television presenter and actress Catherine Deeley, "I think that if you keep your eyes and your ears open a...

EP-342 Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence | Calvin Coolidge

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by the 30th American President Calvin Coolidge, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will n...

EP-341 Every great dream begins with a dreamer | Harriet Tubman

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by the American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman, "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always reme...

EP-340 Love is not maximum emotion | Sinclair B. Ferguson

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by the Scottish Theologian Sinclair B. Ferguson, "Love is not maximum emotion. Love is maximum commitment" If yo...

EP-339 Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated | Confucius

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Confucius, "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated" If you are listening on Spotify pl...

EP-338 Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future | Paul Boese

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Author Paul Boese, "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future" If you are listenin...

EP-337 Leadership is service, not position | Tim Fargo

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Author Tim Fargo, "Leadership is service, not position" If you are listening on Spotify please share add your...

EP-336 Taking our whole self to work

27 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today it is not a quote but a thought. If you are listening on Spotify please share add your thoughts there. If not on Spotify email me your thoughts...

EP-335 This is my simple religion | Dalai Lama

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Business Magnet Dalai Lama, "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated phil...

EP-334 It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light | Aristotle Onassis

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Business Magnet Aristotle Onassis, "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light"  If...

EP-333 Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up | Jesse Jackson

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Civil Rights Activist Jesse Jackson, "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up"  If you a...

EP-332 Reflect upon your present blessings | Charles Dickens,

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Charles Dickens, "Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many not on your past misfortunes, of ...

EP-331 No one has ever become poor by giving | Anne Frank

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Anne Frank, "No one has ever become poor by giving" If you are listening on Spotify please share add your thou...

EP-330 I've learned through the years that it's not where you live, it's the people who surround you that make you feel at home. | J.B. McGee

21 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Author J.B. McGee, ""I've learned through the years that it's not where you live, it's the people ...

EP-329 Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end | Robin Sharma

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Canadian Writer and Bestselling Author Robin Sharma, "Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle an...

#328 Tactics, fitness, stroke ability, adaptability, experience, and sportsmanship are all necessary for winning

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into a quote by Tennis player Fred Perry, "Tactics, fitness, stroke ability, adaptability, experience, and sportsmanship are all ne...

#327 Some days start Bad and it needs a Makeover

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today started in a bad way, but it forced me to think a lot about myself. I know we were on some career topics last few days. We will continue that th...

#326 On writing better resumes

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As mentioned during the last podcast, I will be focussing on a few career related topics next episodes as Improvement is a mix of personal and profess...

#325 How to Deal with a Layoff

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As you might be aware from my last episode. I was laid off and it has been a month since then. There are many people who reached out to me with words ...

#324 And here is a Layoff Special Podcast

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special Podcast. I know I missed two episodes and this I wanted to post last week but again missed. Some changes take a bit to get settled. ...

#323 A chat with Usha about Communication

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Want to do a different format for alternate weeks. A conversation I have with people. Today it is about communication and I am having the chat with Us...

#322 People Management at Work

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Haven’t you heard the saying “One does not choose one’s own parents”. I believe it is not just about Parents, many times we do not have a choi...

#321 If you woke up tomorrow with no fear, what would you do first?

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am trying something different. Going through one question and finding where it takes me… Today the topic is about fear and waking up. Share your t...

#320 Having Long Conversations in Person

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things I missed during the pandemic was these long conversations with others.. in person…. I happened to have one such conversation a whi...

#319 Start Writing every Day

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It is said that writing every day has its benefits but how do we go about it. Share your thoughts via email me at [email protected] Connect on Soc...

#318 Importance of Professional Development

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we need Professional Development and Today is Thursday and and it is Professional Penpositive where we will talk about Professional Development...

#317 Importance of Personal Development

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a new Journey with two episodes each week. Today is Tuesday and it is Personal Penpositive where we will talk about Personal Development. Sha...

#316 The Content Creator’s Dilemma

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As a content creator I have several challenges like many people…. But since content creation is not what I do to earn a living my challenges are not...

#315 To Have Kids or Not

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should we have kids or not. What are your thoughts. I will share my personal opinion. Please share your comments please feel free to email me at penpo...

#314 To be Insignificant

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes I want to be so insignificant… Maybe because it makes you review yourself better free from so many notifications from the world of expecta...

#313 I need a diet that I will love

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all have a tastebud when it is about food. Not all of that is said to be healthy. I am on an exploration to have a healthy diet with only things I ...

#312 In the Company of People

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am lately finding it difficult to connect with new people, want to take you through some thoughts around that. Please share your comments please fee...

#311 It rains and I feel I am going to my school

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even today when it rains on my way to the office… I feel like I am going to school….. I travel back in time…. And I have often wondered why that...

#310 War, Life, world & some random overdue rant.

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you find this world unbearable and some of the people in it difficult to get along with or some news bothers you out of your own body.. it is tim...

#309 Thinking on Your Feet – A Page from Memory

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I was in Bangalore in 2020 and this is where I started my career years ago and felt like going down that memory lane and picking some old ep...

#308 The different ways we see the world

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today I was thinking how we view the world from the comforts of our own life and feel entitled to have an opinion on everything… It is not just abou...

#307 Don’t Quit Your Job; Not Yet

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I have heard people say that they want to quit their job to do what they love and my answer has always been that they don't need to. Not you can also ...

#306 Pursuing a passion on the side can make life happier

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone has a passion but most people are not lucky to have their passion and profession be the same thing. But I don't think that is practical for e...

#305 Two Statements from Crime & Punishment

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is a classic. I am taking a slight philosophical stroll through two statements in the book. Also Check out my new po...

#304 Working From Office & Working from Home

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sharing some personal experiences on Working from Office and Working From Home Also Check out my new podcast Vinod Uncut 

#303 Reading Books or Audio Books

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reading Books or Listening to Audio Books. What is your preference. Sharing some of my experiences Check out my new podcast The Vinod Narayan Podcast ...

#302 How to be a Better Team Player

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I am trying a new experiment today. Trying to create both a Podcast and a Presentation. Presentation is available on my YouTube Channel and Podcast he...

#301 Do something New on a regular basis; It Helps!!

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It is important to do something new every now and then. You might ask “Even if I love what I do?”. The answer is Yes.. Check out my new podcast Th...

#300 Say ‘NO’ when you have to

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When I was starting my career someone told me that I have  a problem with ‘NO’. He said I was one of those people who will say ‘Yes’ to e...

#299 What my Mom taught me about Prioritization

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As an agile practitioner I always tell my team and those I work with the importance of prioritization. If we prioritize we can contain waste. I believ...

#298 Let us not keep our Passion Locked up

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When we ask someone what their passion is, we will either get an answer or we will get a blank look. The blank look does not mean they don’t have on...

#297 How to consciously be in the Learning Zone

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a TEDX talk by In Eduardo Briceño he talks about the Learning Zone and Performance zone. We might be under the impression that we are learning new...

#296 Nothing Matters; But Results… But How?

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing matters if you can’t deliver results. It might sound ruthless; but that is the only business truth. And No sob story (however convincing) ca...

#295 Our Lyrical Existence in Corporate Life

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to take you through the words of David Whyte and some thoughts on life ad work. Here is the TED VIdeo of David Whyte - A lyrical bridge b...

#294 Business and Poetry

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to take you through the thought of bringing Poetry and Business together. Listen and share your thoughts. I am actively doing short reels...

#293 When a childhood fear came true

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a child I used to have conjunctivitis often… it is also called pink eye… You get it in one eye and you know you will get it next in the other e...

#292 When we don’t share Knowledge with others

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Plato’s Protagoras there is an incident where one of Socrates’s young friend Hippocrates (not the Hippocrates of medicine) comes knocking at hi...

#291 Back After a Short Break - Doing Things Right

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Finally I think I am breaking this long break. This was not intentional, but it so happened. Today let us talk of doing right. I am actively doing sho...

#290 The importance of finding the unimportant things in Life and Work

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We do spend our time telling people what is important; we also tell people on what is not important. But it is important that on a personal level we f...

#289 And I knew it was time to chase something else

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have all chased something or the other in our life. Sometimes we get it… Sometimes we don’t.. and at other times we leave one thing and focus o...

#288 How my thoughts have changed over time

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I believe that we are always a work in progress. It is funny when I look back and see how my thoughts have changed. Not just in one area but across ev...

#287 When you are told you are not welcome

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You are not told.. you just sense it… I don’t know about you, but I have sensed many a times when I was unwelcome in a place. Take the Agile Scr...

#286 Feeling a dead body for the first time

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have all had colleagues and bosses we wished we never had. But not all of us are lucky. I have had my fair share of them as well. But I cannot see ...

#285 Colleagues and Bosses you wish you never had

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have all had colleagues and bosses we wished we never had. But not all of us are lucky. I have had my fair share of them as well. But I cannot see ...

#284 When my resume was no good

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We all have probably written resumes at one time or the other. Some of us even now do it. We also have seen resumes of others. Today I want to chat ab...

#283 My Battles with Smoking

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Smoking is such a bad habit. It has been more than two years since I smoked. But even now I think that is one worst habit I have had. Want to take and...

#282 Another Tooth Extracted and memories of an earlier one

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a kid I don’t remember going to a dentist. But I do have a faint memory of going to dentist who lived two houses behind us. Now I am not sure if ...

#281 Binge Watching Billions

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Though I have binge watched a few of the web series on the streaming platform, I have two issues when I watch them.. I think I can finally say I have ...

#280 We all need to start learning better

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Start to learn; New Skills, New Perspectives and New Prospects. Today’s preparation defines our tomorrow. Whether it is about your passion or your p...

#279 Passion and Purpose driving meaningful and Rewarding Professions

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many of you might have probably read about The 10,000 Hour Rule that is closely associated with writer Malcolm Gladwell’s book O...

#278 A profession where you can keep getting better

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there one such profession where you keep getting better. I think every profession that we see gives us the opportunities to be better. The question...

#277 To be reminded of what we already know

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

About 20+ years ago as a 20 something young entrepreneur in Bangalore, India; I attended a year long program by Crestcom International (I only did 6 m...

#276 Breaking big items into small chunks

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking big items into small chunks might be part of our DNA but yet we find it extremely difficult at times. If you are at the dinner table I am sur...

#275 How many of us are Workaholic Synonymous?

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are many people among us who work more than 40 hours a week. And I am not talking of like 41 or 42 hours, but way over that. Let us talk about t...

#274 Don’t try getting into good books

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“You need to work in order to get into their Good Books” we have all heard that a few times. It sounds as if people are walking around with two bo...

#273 What I learn about myself

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to reflect on the past few weeks and talk about things I learn about myself. I will on and off do sessions such as this. You can read reg...

#272 Some thoughts about Work

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to share a few thoughts on Work.. and also an interesting poem about work... You can read regularly at https://penpositiveoutclass.com/ a...

#271 6 Ideas from previous week

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first episode after I moved from daily to weekly podcasts. I am yet to find the right format for the weekly format. It is going to be long...

#270 Anticipating Changes to Schedules

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I have been podcasting daily for a while now... over 175 days and I think I have got what I wanted and so I am moving my Penpositive Outclass Podcast ...

#269 Students should be taught to be Teachers

16 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Technology can help solve the education problem to a great extend. The reach of online training has opened new avenues to both teach and learn, changi...

#268 Part-2 Transparency makes you visible and not invisible

15 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday we spoke of Transparency and Visibility, but let us look at Transparency in the light of Mistakes, Ignorance and Ethics.. These are just sta...

#267 Part-1 Transparency makes you visible and not invisible

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Visibility is the catch word very often used in the workplace. Often when related to career advancements, appreciations, recognition and promotions. A...

#266 Shelf Life by Nadia Wassef

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I had started reading memoirs very actively sometime last year and I might have mentioned that here as well. I found that to be a good blend of both n...

#265 Thinking about Death and Life

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can we think of life without thinking of death..? Or is that what we should do...? People often don't want to think of death.. or speak of it and yet ...

#264 The Double Century day Celebration

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today is the 264th episode on the podcast but it also marks the 200 continuous days that I have been writing or blogging... As some of you might know ...

#263 Change in an Interconnected World

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is no question that we live in an interconnected world, but when it comes to change we always think of it happening to us. But in an interconnec...

#262 Planning for a Monday in Office

09 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before the start of this week, On last Sunday evening I took sometime to send message to some of my old business acquaintances, colleagues turned frie...

#261 The 50:40:10 Principle in Hiring and Job Search

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When a company looks for a new hire they put in a job description…. The first problem is they put everything in it that it makes so difficult to fin...

#260 What do we Want?

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If someone asks us 'What do you want?...' the question can come out as quite rude based on the situation. But it is one of the most important question...

#259 Will miss you my dear Reyna

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we lost Reyna... I have never had a pet as a kid... And then when my kids insisted... I mean when they kept begging for it for a very long time....

#258 "Yeah! Let's Plant some Shit"

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes we all get inspired and that inspiration takes us change things.. Do things like they were never done before. I should say some people get i...

#257 A Super Malayali in Minnal Speed

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Minnal means lighting in Malayalam language.... My Mother Tongue... So it is lighting speed and the wait for a Malayali Super Hero ended towards the e...

#256 Thinking of Super Heroes

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My earliest memories was that of spider man that I used to watch in black and white... not even sure if it was english or farsi... because I watched t...

#255 Listen Before You Speak; I mean Communicate

02 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The ability to listen is our biggest strength especially at work. It does not matter what stage in the career we are, listening can be our one bi...

#254 Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

01 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Planning is what helps us to do more in the available time we have and save us from surprises that peep from the corner. But there is also a certain a...

#253 How to feel complete in the new year

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How does someone feel complete? On December 31st one more day and you step into a new year. Your one year is complete and you used up another year of ...

#252 Part-2 of 10 Things to Think and Do Everyday

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We went through 5 things to think and do yesterday.. there is 5 more in my mind.. After this don't ask me if you do all these... not daily but very fr...

#251 Part-1 of 10 Things to Think and Do Everyday

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Life is like playing cards, we have no choice on the hand being dealt, but we are in control of putting up the best game we can. If I was to put down ...

#250 Debugging a Fortune Cookie Message

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here is a message I got from a fortune cookie during my Lunch a while back… This Fortune Cookie message is a Japanese Proverb Nanakorobi yaoki which...