Never Grow Up :)

We just scored a Business Award :)

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

And it's all thanks to you !

Never Grow Up^TM has been nominated as one of the top Professional Service Businesses of 2011 at the Small business awards by Zee business & Franchise India and feature in the Top 100 Small Businesses of 2011 in the Small and Medium Entrepreneur Magazine: January 2012 Issue.The Top 100 Businesses have been finalized on the basis of exclusivity, market leadership and growth. Read the entire coverage here !

info@willnevergrowup.com I www.willnevergrowup.com I Facebook.com/MakeworkFun

Life @ Work Tee Design Contest !

2012-01-21T03:48:00.000-08:00

Here's your chance to Startdom and take home some some $$. Get inspired by the fun culture at work, go beyond and enthuse some "Masti" into a t-shirt that would liven up meetings!".

What's The Brief ? 1) Design a T-Shirt keeping the ideology around Never Grow Up and what Life @ Work is all about. Designs may have ‘Never Grow Up’ infused in the creative (if you think it’s cool) 2) Restrict your design to a maximum of five colours.3) Keep in mind a workable area of maximum 11 x 16 inches for your design.4) All submissions will also be eligible to be a part of the SheepStop Evergreen Competition. 5)You may submit more than one entry.

The deadline to submit your design is Sunday, February 12, 2012. The winning designs will be announced online on February 27, 2012

Loot for the Never Grow Up "Life @ Work" Tee Design Contest:

1st Prize: Rs.5000 + Your winning Tee + Royalty
1st Runner Up: Rs.3000 + Your winning Tee + Royalty
2nd Runner Up: Rs.2000 + Your winning Tee + Royalty

That's not all, the final three tshirts will be printed and sent to Sheep Stop distribution stores across the country :) Submit your entries @ http://www.sheepstop.com/contests/nevergrowup

"Never Grow Up" and the "Never Grow Up Brown box" logo are registered trademarks of Never Grow Up Workshops Pvt. Ltd. The design used in the contest creatives have been created exclusively for Never Grow Up WPL. All rights reserved.© 2012

Pehle Aap (People First) !

2011-12-29T04:32:00.000-08:00

It’s been said that ‘Home is where the heart is’ well the same applies for any organization. Work, check; place, check; pay hike, check, office-they say. Be it sole-proprietorship, partnership, joint-stock, all initiates with money, material, machinery, method and Man. (err, women too). And the man being referred here as the company or the employee of the organization. The fact is the company grows, spreads gradually with the employees, along with them. Yes selection, recruitment are only process and types. Nothing beyond it. Man-made process, machinery, idea is all cost and figure but the real thing comes with the employees. An identity or existence of a particular organization is again through the employees, directly or indirectly. Company cultures are like country cultures’- Peter Drucker, and the citizens are working men. When we talk about the ‘aam aadmi’, it connects like nothing else.

Research and experience clearly show it’s worth the time and money to build a high performing workforce. The cost of replacing an employee typically ranges from one to three times his or her annual salary and the average company loses about $1 million with every 10 professional employees who leave. The investment side is also affected. According to a recent analysis done by investment firm Frank Russell Co for the Great Place To Work Institute, money invested in a portfolio of stocks of Fortune 100 Best Companies in 1997 and held through 2003, returned almost three times more (72.9% return) than the same amount invested in an S&P 500 portfolio (25.2% return) during this six year period. Customers, contractors, advertisers, other agencies, shareholders, & valuation fluctuate but the employees are a bit more. Belonging-ness and esteem are two basic human needs, and if it is provided, things just fall into place. Grievance, suggestions, advice, interest, loss, advantage, risk all are primarily known, spoken, heard by them. Making sure employees are happy and satisfied with the job, the working environment, remuneration, and most importantly the sense of belonging does work wonders.

Because the security guard you pass by gives you that welcoming smile, or a ‘salaam’ while entering the office premises.

Because the receptionist gives that warm gesture while passing his/her desk and comes forward to help.

Because the departmental manager stands informed about the records enquired the very last day.

Because the whole thing works, very much like this. So the first priority should ideally be to accurately gauge the true sentiment of the employee so that strategic and tactical changes can to put into motion to promote employee satisfaction which adds the real value.

-PEHELE AAP, dear employees.

Guest Writer Submission: The Author, Ankita P is currently pursuing English honours from Calcutta University. The views mentioned above belong to the author. © Never Grow Up.2011.

Internships @ Never Grow Up !

2011-12-09T04:16:00.001-08:00

We have opportunities for talented individuals with a flair for writing and a love for words ! If you think you fit the bill, tell us a bit about yourself, your work & how we can reach you by clicking here :)

We are also looking for a design intern! If you think you have what it takes, (you are creative, have a passion for design and you actually know a few design tools), you have so got to apply. This is a month long internship open for anyone with a passion for ideas no matter which part of the globe you are in. So here's your chance to be famous in Never Grow Up Land ! Who knows, you may never want to leave :) All you need to do to apply is tell us what you're doing in life at the moment and email us a link to your blog or send us some of your work at info@willnevergrowup.com.

Two New Reads !

2011-11-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

1. At work, Indians fifth most vacation-deprived: India is the fifth most vacation-deprived nation in the world as the average Indian employee does not use a fifth of the total number of paid days leave allocated in a year. The reasons vary from disapproving bosses to affordability, lack of planning and the outlook that vacations are a luxury and not a necessity.

2. Holiday? Not if you work in Mumbai: Work ethos is not for the faint-hearted and the results of a recent survey show that when it comes to taking days off from work to go on a holiday, Mumbaikars rank the lowest among other metro cities. Only 32% of employees in Mumbai surveyed said that they took 21-to 30 days off in a year. In comparison, Delhi employees have a more relaxed attitude: 37% of Delhiites said they take 21-30 days off a year. Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai stood at 34%. And even applying for leave is no guarantee that employees actually get to enjoy their planned vacation.

Click here to Download these articles.

Source : Epaper.timesofindia.com, Dec 01, 2011

The 10 Commandments !

2011-11-24T22:45:00.000-08:00

No matter the size of your company, having a team of motivated employees is critical to your business success. There are 10 simple ways to ensure your team is enthused, productive and ready to give their all.

Build a foundation: It’s important to build a rock-solid foundation for your employees so they feel invested in the company. Tell them about the history of the business and your vision for the future. Ask them about their expectations and career goals, as well as how you can help them feel like a part of the team. Create a positive environment: Promote an office atmosphere that makes all employees feel worthwhile and important. Keep office doors open, and let folks know they can always approach you with questions or concerns. After all, a happy office is a productive office. Put people on the right path: Most employees are looking for advancement opportunities within their own company. Work with each of them to develop a career growth plan that takes into consideration both their current skills and their future goals. Educate the masses: Help employees improve their professional skills by providing on-the-job training or in-house career development. Allow them to attend workshops and seminars related to the industry. Encourage them to attend adult education classes paid for by the company. Employees will feel you are investing in them, and this will translate into improved job performance. Fun factor: Once in a while, put your work aside and do something nice for the people who work for you. Treat the office to a pizza lunch or take everyone to the movies. These little diversions can go a long way toward improving productivity. Acknowledgement matters: You can make a huge difference in employee morale by simply taking the time to recognize each employee’s contributions and accomplishments, large or small. Be generous with praise. Give out incentives: Offer incentives, either with something small like a gift certificate or something more substantial such as a performance based bonus or salary increase. Also, give out awards such as “Employee of the Month”. Such tokens of appreciation will go far in motivating employees. Deliver what you promise: Getting people to give their all requires following through on promises. If you tell an employee that they will be considered for a bonus if numbers improve or productivity increases, you’d better put your money where your mouth is. Failure to follow through on promises will result in a loss of trust. Helping hand: Help employees reach the next level professionally by providing on-site coaching. Bring in professionals to provide one-on-one counselling, which can help people learn how to overcome personal or professional obstacles on their career paths. Make the right match: You can improve employee motivation by improving employee confidence. Assign individuals with tasks you know they will enjoy or will be particularly good at. An employee who is successful at one thing will have the self-confidence to tackle other projects with renewed energy and excitement.

Source: Allbusiness.com , Expresscomputeronline.com , ET Special Issue, Nov 2011.

' Screw Dheela Hai ' Season 2

2011-11-23T21:12:00.001-08:00

Its Back ! The legendary Screw Dheela Hai Contest is back with Season 2. A fun and kick a## contest with 3 simple steps and a chance to win loadsof prizes!!!

1. Remember the day you were doing somethinglooney, with a funny expression on your face and a friend or colleague wasquick to catch u in the act? Or the day you had fun with your team @ work. (The stuff youlaugh about now and say Screw dheela haimera! (As in that was one whacked out – not in my charactermoment). Yes! Pick those photos.

2. Send us these photos (jpeg/png) at info@willnevergrowup.com withyour full name & city. And your pet name (if you have one). Also sendus a small note on the incident in question!

3. Get Rewarded: Top three entries win somesuper cool prizes (priceless!). One of them is an IPod Shuffle while othersinclude cool merchandise and gift vouchers.

Contest Rules:

a. You can send in a maximum of 5 photos perperson. These can be photos and images right from childhood to your perceivedadult stage. Remember... being crazy and out of the box is the key. You canalso create these moments now that you know there is a prize.

b. Last date for submission is 8^th December 2011by 4:00 pm IST

c. Contest is open to people across the universe :) So don’t forget to tellyour friends!

If u want to know what you are up against, check out the SDH Video from Season I. Remember though, this is just the tip of the iceberg :)

Har Ek Boss Zaroori Hota Hai !

2011-10-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Boss's Day !

View more presentations from Never Grow Up .

And The Winner Is !

2011-10-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Sonam Kumar [Mumbai] on winning the Mera Workspace Contest !

The world needs lawyers like you :) Cheers !

The Mera Workspace Contest !

2011-10-01T02:42:00.000-07:00

Click on the contest poster to submit your entry !
© Never Grow Up. All Rights Reserved.

Brian is Back !

2011-09-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

A few months back, Brian wrote to us creating magic and sharing an ode to Never Grow Up. Read the story : http://bit.ly/BrianStory

Today,after 6 months, he is back with a brand new mix ' Good Morning Magic ' - a track sure to spruce up your day :) The beat has sort of a live dance feel and a lot of positive energy within the instruments. This is Inspirmentalist's second project with and for Never Grow Up and we are super duper excited and happy to share this new track and video with you :) Check out the Video : http://on.fb.me/MorningMagic

To Brian, a BIG Thank You for sharing this and letting us have the track. You sure made our day ! Cheers !

The Instrumental or beat has been composed and produced by Brian Davis Jr. for Never Grow Up who goes under the alias Inspirmentalist and is based out of New Jersey, USA. He has produced this instrumental beat and sampled the song Magical Dreamers from The Chrono Cross Original Soundtrack. The original song was created by video game composer Yasunori Mitsuda.

To Tell or Not To Tell ?

2011-09-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

The Gossip Paradox : We all do it. We liketo share stories but the trick is to set boundaries at work. A sample of seniorvice-presidents of communication at Fortune 500 companies stated that harmfulrumours reached their ears on an average of nearly once a week. Gossiping atwork is also about passive workplace aggression. Even those in leadership rolesindulge in making remarks about others. Be cautious, because that’s hownegative reputations are made.

The urge to gossip canget you in trouble. Billionaire Ray Dalio, Wall Street heavyweight, has a newstringent diktat! He’s banning office gossip and sacking employees who arecaught gossiping more than three times. His policy is ruthless: If employeesare caught tongue-wagging about their bosses or colleagues behind their backs,they get two verbal warnings. It’s an unlucky third time when they get fired onthe spot. In the company email, he wrote, “Never say anything about aperson you wouldn’t say to him directly. If you do, you are a slimy weasel.” PsychologyToday reports, “Gossip is like sex. It is so much fun that people can’t stopthemselves from doing it.

Can chitchathelp you get ahead?

Even though gossip gets a bad rap,experts also believe that nuanced chitchat may be essential to getting ahead ina career. “If you must be negative, be smart not only about what you say, butalso how you say it. Anyone who is an achiever or has good looks or theirboss’s favourite will be an easy target. Some disclosures are deliberatelyspread by senior management in the form of gossip to make people more alert (orso is rumoured).

Edited from TimesLife : September 2011.

Do Happier People Work Harder ?

2011-09-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

Do Happier People Work Harder?

Research shows that staff perform better when they’re happily engaged at work

Americans (And if we extrapolate this to our country) now feel worse about their jobs – and work environments – than ever before. And there’s no reason to think things will soon improve, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which has been polling more than 1,000 adults every day since January 2008. Employee engagement may seem like a frill in a downturn economy. But it can make a big difference in a company’s survival.

In a 2010 study, James K. Harter and colleagues found that lower job satisfaction foreshadowed poorer bottom-line performance. Gallup estimates the cost of America’s disengagement crisis at a staggering $300 billion in lost productivity annually. When people don’t care about their jobs or their employers, they don’t show up consistently, they produce less or their work quality suffers.

Over the past decade, the research looked into the micro-level causes behind this macro-level problem. To gain real-time perspective into everyday work lives, nearly 12,000 electronic diary entries from 238 professionals in seven companies were collected. The analysis revealed their inner work lives – the usually hidden perceptions, emotions and motivations that people experience as they react to and make sense of events in their workdays.

The results were sobering. In one-third of the 12,000 diary entries, the diarist was unhappy, unmotivated or both. In fact, workers often expressed frustration, disdain or disgust. Research shows that inner work life has a profound impact on workers’ creativity, productivity, commitment and collegiality. Employees are far more likely to have new ideas on days when they feel happier. Conventional wisdom suggests that pressure enhances performance; the real-time data, however, shows that workers perform better when they are happily engaged in what they do.

Teresa Amabile, a professor at Harvard Business School, and Steven Kramer, an independent researcher, are the authors of The Progress Principle: The New York Times / ET Mumbai , 13 Sept. 2011

Preoccupations : Trust Evidence !

2011-09-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

Preoccupations : Trust Evidence for Effective Management

Failure to consider sound evidence repeatedly inflicts unnecessary damage on employee well-being & group performance

Consider this hypothetical situation: You have a serious illness. Your doctor prescribes an intrusive, painful and costly treatment. What she doesn’t say — because she hasn't consulted the research — is that most studies find the treatment ineffective and fraught with negative side effects. You go through the procedure, which doesn’t work. You later find the research your doctor failed to consult. When you ask why, she answers: “Who pays attention to studies? I have years of clinical experience. Besides, the protocol seemed as if it ought to work.” Does that sound like malpractice? It does to us. Fortunately, pressures to practice evidence-based medicine are reducing preventable errors. That isn’t the case, however, in most workplaces, where failure to consider sound evidence repeatedly inflicts unnecessary damage on employee well- being and group performance. It doesn’t have to be that way. Consider the issue of incentive pay. Many people believe that paying for performance will work in virtually any organization, so it is used again and again to solve problems — even where evidence shows it is ineffective. As The New York Times reported in July, a study found that the effort to link incentive pay to student performance “had no positive effect on either student performance or teachers’ attitudes.” But that bad news could have been predicted long before spending all that time and money. After all, the failure of similar efforts to improve school performance has been documented for decades.

Here is another example: Research has shown that stable membership is a hallmark of effective work teams. People with more experience, working together, typically communicate and coordinate more effectively. Although this effect is seen in studies of everything from product development teams to airplane cockpit crews, managers often can’t resist the temptation to rotate people in and out to minimize costs and make scheduling easier.

Another workplace danger is excessive self-confidence, which can help people rise to positions of power but can also render them less effective leaders. Overconfident decision-makers use a practice that is ineffective for most others — but they believe they are so talented that the usual findings don’t apply to them. In medicine, the evidence-based movement arose in response to thousands of deaths and billions of wasted dollars that could have been averted by applying proven practices. Similarly, in other fields, the growing pile of studies on the human and financial costs of employee disengagement, management distrust, poor group dynamics, faulty incentive schemes and other preventable damage suggests a need for an evidence-based management movement. Some organizations are leading the way. It’s time for many more to follow suit.

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton are professors at Stanford : The New York Times / Condensed from the ET Mumbai 13 Sept.

Insights into WLB & Gen Y

2011-09-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

Balance it right!

A startling 85% of recruiters say that candidates turn down job offers from employers that aren’t work-life balance-friendly. According to a work-life balance survey 80 per cent of executives say that work-life balance as a parameter plays a vital role during the job search process.
Work-life balance today directly impacts the retention of top executive talent. An unhealthy work-life balance leads to increased stress, strain on personal relationships and a lack of personal fulfilment. All of these factors will push executives towards greener pastures. Other aspects like compensation and perks are of a transactional nature.
According to some, the degree at which work-life balance influences the decision of a job-seeker is closely linked to one’s age and the nature of the role the employee has chosen to perform.
According to the AESC survey, two-thirds of companies are developing programmes to help top candidates boost their family time without sacrificing their careers.

Making it work :)

Time-out: It is an efficient tool by which every employee is given an opportunity to choose time-out during work hours.This can be followed on a daily/weekly basis depending on the nature of the business. An employee can take 30-45 minutes of time-out to read, listen to music, play an indoor game, take a nap, exercise, practice yoga, watch a movie, etc. But at the same time, the employee must be within the company premises at a dedicated space allocated to pursue such activities.
Child care: It’s necessary to develop a children’s programme for working mothers/fathers wherein companies need to invest in a separate space where a working parent can spend time with their kid/kids during work hours. A progressive firm needs to make arrangements w.r.t school pick-up/drop and other basic amenities in the form of indoor games, stationary, food, etc.
Personalize your workspace: The offices are likely to provide much more than just a cubicle. You will find the office space designed to take care of employees’ “needs” beyond work.
Work-exchange: Creating a “trading place” where employees can opt to pursue something that they aspire to pursue (read: hobby) will foster positive results.

How Gen Y today defines and perceives work-life balance?

The Gen Y job-seeker has different priorities/aspirations. Experts say that besides a good salary, they show concern w.r.t flexible working. “While compensation, career growth, importance of the task performed, etc are important, work-life balance assures employees that they will work in a conducive environment"
“The whole phenomenon of ‘my own space’ seems to be the flavour of the day, especially for Gen Y,” According to a recent study across Asia Pacific, work-life balance is the single largest contributor to the Gen Y group of employees who are anticipating a change in their career in the next five years.
On being asked the reason for not having aspirations to advance to an executive position, they again attributed as the impact it would have on their work-life balance as the prime reason.

This post is a series of snippets from the ascent and various other reports that has been compiled to share insights into work life balance, looking at things that work and managing a young a vibrant workforce in the years to come !

Pay Not the First Priority Anymore?

2011-09-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

Would you nix a high-paying job offer if it fails to assure career growth opportunities? According to a recent survey, the modern-day job-seeker is doing just that...

India Inc today is a fragment of an ever-changing corporate scenario and as its dynamics evolve, employees and job-seekers find their aspirations and incentives shifting. Mercer’s ‘What’s Working’ survey validates that out of 13 possible reward elements, Indian respondents say that career advancement is their most important reward element. Base pay is the second-most important followed by training opportunities. “Reward points in today’s scenario get far more complicated than the good old days, where you would have a son coming home to his parents with a box of sweets, proclaiming his salary hike, followed by the entire family breaking into a song and dance of how their lives have changed for good. Today’s youth demands are more focussed, planned and diverse. A macro point of view for reward schemes seems quite simple and can be generalised, but as you look closer, rewards need to be personalised and customised to suit needs and desires.”

So, what is it that makes career advancement the most sought-after reward element?

“In a hyper-growth environment, ‘growth’ is the mantra for business success. For an employee, their organisation or manager working with them on a career development plan is imperative to their personal and professional growth. From an organisation’s perspective, career advancement is important for retention as also for attracting talented employees to the workplace. It increases employee engagement levels as well.”

“Career advancement is one way in which employees believe that they can stay relevant. It ensures that employees can keep up with the changes. The age at which one becomes obsolete and redundant is decreasing. Hence, rather than chasing basic pay, employees understand the need to be relevant and have a ‘career’.” After career advancement and base pay, the third most sought-after career incentive was training opportunities, thus revealing that India Inc employees don’t just aspire to accomplish a good career, but also want to get better at what they do.

Consequently, whether the bait for climbing up the corporate ladder is training opportunities, career advancement incentives or basic pay, one cannot refute the fact that India Inc today is more motivated than ever to be on top of their game.

Condensed from the Times Ascent 07 September 2011

Help Employees Balance Home & Office

2011-09-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

Stress At Work

Help Employees Balance Home and Office

Win-win situation: Employees who can balance roles are likely to be more productive and less stressed

How many times have we had a colleague at work who is bogged down by stress, not directly linked to workplace? Ira Mohanty was one such colleague. She woke up at 5 am, sent her two children to school and then by 9 am, was at her laptop answering mails and attending to work-related calls. From 1 pm onwards, Ira kept looking at the clock and from 2.30 pm, we could hear raised voices from her cubicle as she called home and shouted at her children who just kept watching television and did not finish their homework. They were home with easy-going grandparents and did their own thing till the parents returned home. And Ira is not alone. At the water cooler or in the cafeteria and even in the lift, one hears snatches of conversation on these lines: Kids these days are so opinionated… only does what she wants to do… eats only chips and noodles… refuses to dress by herself or polish her shoes… hates going to school… spends too much time on the net… has become a virtual stranger… difficult and moody… and so on.

More and more parents are coping with the challenges of how to manage professional and personal lives — how to be better parents, how to stay abreast of what is happening with their children in schools and their social lives, how to be there for them in their time of need while juggling their careers and job-related challenges. All of us grapple with balancing multiple roles but our biggest responsibility is towards the next generation. Being a parent, I could empathise with them, but the enormity of the issue came to light last month when in a focused group discussion, the members of our Global Work Life (GWL) team broached the subject of having parenting workshops to help colleagues and other employees cope with different issues. These issues stemmed from the fact that most employees have nuclear families where care givers may not be part of the family system. The findings of the 2010 Global Work Life Issues (GWLI) Survey, conducted among IBM employees, indicate that almost half (46%) of IBM India employees have a child under the age of 18. Among parents of children 0-5 years old, 12% have their child cared for at home by a nanny, babysitter or maid.

Another 14% of these parents have their child cared for by a relative (other than their spouse or partner). "In-home" care by a maid or nanny can be quite flexible and affordable, but may also be very unreliable and of poor quality. Caregivers often lack knowledge of child development and have poor social-relationship and literacy skills. Parents using this type of care reported the lowest satisfaction rates in the GWLI survey compared to parents whose child was cared for by a relative or in a child care centre. Employees across the world are sharing similar concerns about managing work and family. Magazines and the Internet provide information and counsel, elders at home advise you differently while friends have a totally contrary opinion.

So how do you cope? We put together a panel of experts in child care and decided to host parenting workshops for parents to address their queries and discuss issues relating to their children. The workshops stressed that it is equal responsibility, which means both the father and the mother have to be involved in child rearing, as against the misconception that only the mother is responsible. What parents at work learned were different aspects of quality parenting, like laughing with the child, spending time with the child, playing with her/him, listening to what the child has to say and not just existing together in front of the television set. Care givers must also be equipped with basic information to handle difficult situations at home. Employees who can balance roles are likely to be more productive and less stressed, so it is a win-win both for the organisation and the individual. A workplace that encourages an individual to balance different roles is likely to have a happier and more productive workforce.

The author is Diversity Manager at IBM India, South Asia Source : ET Mumbai 06 September 2011

What your HR will never tell you Directly !

2011-09-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

About your Resume!

1. “Once you’re unemployed more than six months, you’re considered pretty much unemployable. We assume that other people have already passed you over, so we don’t want anything to do with you.” –Cynthia Shapiro, Author

2. “When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your résumé is or how great your experience may be, it’s all about connections.” –HR director at a health-care facility.

3. “If you’re trying to get a job at a specific company, often the best thing to do is to avoid HR entirely. Find someone at the company you know, or go straight to the hiring manager.” –Shauna Moerke, an HR administrator

4. “People assume someone’s reading their cover letter. I haven’t read one in 11 years.” –HR director at a financial services firm

5. “We will judge you based on your e-mail address. Especially if it’s something inappropriate like kinkyboots101@hotmail.com or johnnylikestodrink@gmail.com.” –Rich DeMatteo,

6. “There’s a myth out there that a résumé has to be one page. So people send their résumé in a two-point font. Nobody is going to read that.” –HR director at a financial services firm

7. “I always read résumés from the bottom up. And I have no problem with a two-page résumé, but three pages is pushing it.” –Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant

8. “Most of us use applicant-tracking systems that scan résumés for key words. The secret to getting your résumé through the system is to pull key words directly from the job description and put them on. The more matches you have, the more likely your résumé will get picked and actually seen by a real person.” –Chris Ferdinandi, HR professional

About the Job Interview!

1. “It’s amazing when people come in for an interview and say, ‘Can you tell me about your business?’ Seriously, people. There’s an Internet. Look it up.” –HR professional

2. “A lot of managers don’t want to hire people with young kids, and they use all sorts of tricks to find that out, illegally. One woman kept a picture of two really cute children on her desk even though she didn’t have children [hoping job candidates would ask about them]. Another guy used to walk people out to their car to see whether they had car seats.” –Cynthia Shapiro,

3. “Is it harder to get the job if you’re fat? Absolutely. Hiring managers make quick judgments based on stereotypes. They’re just following George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air, who said ‘I stereotype. It’s faster.’” –Suzanne Lucas, a former HR executive

4. “I once had a hiring manager who refused to hire someone because the job required her to be on call one weekend a month and she had talked in the interview about how much she goes to church. Another candidate didn’t get hired because the manager was worried that the car he drove wasn’t nice enough.” –HR professional at a midsize firm

5. “Don’t just silence your phone for the interview. Turn it all the way off.” –Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant

6. “If you’ve got a weak handshake, I make a note of it.” –HR manager

7. “If you’re a candidate and the hiring manager spends 45 minutes talking about himself, the company or his Harley, let him. He’s going to come out of the interview saying you’re a great candidate.” –Kris Dunn, chief human resources officer

[Condensed from Reader’s Digest Magazine, April 2011]

Work Place Festivities !

2011-09-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

WORKPLACE FESTIVITIES

Festivals have become a big part of the office culture nowadays. In the first of the two-part series, Mithila Mehta explores how organisations today celebrate festivals, outlining the professional implications. India is a country that loves its festivals and this sentiment extends to the workplace as well. Most organisations celebrate festive occasions with all the rituals and traditions in an extremely enthusiastic manner. "My organisation celebrates all major festivals, right from Holi to Eid, Parsi New Year, Christmas and Diwali. The HR department does an excellent job planning the festivities," says Suruchi Baliga, a journalist. Apart from the traditional celebrations, organisations are organising festivals in innovative ways. "Last year, we had a secret santa game at work. Everyone was assigned a colleague and you had to be his/ her secret santa for a week," shares Seema Koshi, a media research analyst.

Today, occasions like Valentine's Day are also being celebrated. "On Valentine's Day, we had a red dress code. There were huge heart-shaped decorations, and the canteen made heart shaped cakes. It was meticulously done," recalls Baliga. Koshi shares how her organisation celebrates Children's Day by asking employees to bring their young ones to work. "Last year, we had about fifty kids at the office. We played games, saw an animated movie and had a party," she says.

DASH OF COLOUR

Festive celebrations at workplace are most welcome because they provide a respite from the routine. "Let's face it; office does tend to get monotonous at times. Festivals add a dash of fun and colour. It gives us something to look forward to," says Bharat Ramanujan, senior copywriter at an ad agency. For the organisation, festive celebrations can go a long way in building a happy, positive corporate culture. This is important in today's context, when organisations are more people-focussed than ever before. Says Samay Taneja, HR manager with an IT solutions company, "We get an opportunity to bond with our employees in a more informal setting.” Interestingly, the globalised nature of organisations is also reflected in the festivals and events being celebrated. "A few years ago, the focus was only on Indian festivals and ceremonies. However, now international days like St Patrick's Day, the year of the rabbit and the Chinese new year is celebrated,” informs Ramanujan.

BREAKING BARRIERS

Festive celebrations at the workplace help break existing hierarchies and boundaries. "This is one of the few occasions when people let their guard down and are willing to mingle. The entire mood is light and laidback. The usual office rules don't apply, and everyday dynamics are ignored," expresses Upasana Jain, risk analyst at a FMCG company. Agrees Baliga, "The entire organisational hierarchy is suspended. You can simply go up to the CEO and wish him. It is the perfect networking opportunity. Not only is the upper management approachable and 'around', but you have a perfect reason to strike up a conversation." At most workplaces, employees rarely get an opportunity to interact with colleagues from other departments. Festive occasions allow that as well. "We tend to become very comfortable in our own departments, forgetting to consider the organisation as a whole. So when there's a festival, it feels really nice to have everyone together. The same finance guys who I bicker with everyday are singing and dancing with me,” laughs Koshi.

WE'VE GOT TALENT

Festive occasions are also a chance to shed the sober and serious office appearance. It is also a platform to showcase some of your talents at the workplace. "I make the most intricately beautiful rangolis. So, during the Diwali celebrations, I offered to make a rangoli for my office. Colleagues, who had never spoken to me before, got to know me," says Jain. If you're an excellent organiser, help plan the event. If you cook well, carry some festive goodies to work. In this manner, festivals needn't just be about the holidays they bring, but also about fun at the work place.

[Mumbai Mirror, August 29,2011]

Har Ek BOSS Zaroori Hota Hai !

2011-08-29T22:40:00.001-07:00

A tribute to the bosses !!! (Adapted from the famous Airtel jingle)

Chai k Liye jaise Toast hota hai,Waise har ek BOSS zaroori hota hai.
Koi friday evening review par bulaye, Koi saturday ko office bulaye

Ek teri idea ko apna bataye,Aur Ek tera target har month badhaye
Koi nature se gentle, koi krodhit hota hai,
Par har ek boss zaroori hota hai.
Ek ghadi ghadi reviewi kare par kabhi kabhi advice de
Ek kabhi kabhi review kare aur ghadi ghadi advice de

Koi Gyan ka ghoomta phirta satellite,Koi din raat rakhe team ko tight;
Koi welcomed hai, koi forced hota hai, Par har ek boss zaroori hota hai

Friendly boss, Bossy boss, Koi Data crazy excel boss, Moody boss, koi gloomy boss, Early morning office aane wala Boss, Koi late night jaane wala Boss..uffff !

Koi promote na kare aur appraisal me tarsaye
Koi good suggestion ko bhi thukhraye
Koi best friend aur, koi aloof hota hai
Par har ek boss Zaroori hota hai !!

La, la ,la laaa......

The JUMPSTART Workshop !

2011-07-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Jumpstart! A brand new (never-seen-before) fun workshop from Never Grow Up^TM

When? Sunday 07 August 2011

Time? 10 am to 4 pm

Venue? Cool Chef Cafe, Worli, Mumbai

What’s this all about?

Inside each one of us is a tightly sealed box. Over the years the lock’s gotten rusty and grime and dust have gobbled it up. This box contains innate creativity, common sense, spontaneity and many more talents and attributes you thought you never had or have long forgotten. We say it’s time to find that box, dust it off, open that lid, break the regular pattern and let out the awesomeness!!!

The Jumpstart program is a collection of various fun and super cool activities. It aims at breaking the monotony and breathing new life. The mediums are fun and discovery. Jumpstart entails numerous brain-teasing, path-breaking, entertaining, confidence building activities assimilated from varied sources such right from Theatre to Bollywood :) Yes ! even bollywood :) Sounds interesting na ?

So go ahead! Discover; Enjoy and Jumpstart your life!

To register and / or pay online, log on to http://bit.ly/NGUJumpStart . For any queries / questions and discounts on group bookings or to know more about how this will help you, write to us at info@willnevergrowup.com

The Crazy (Not so wet) Office Contest!

2011-06-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

Our life at work takes up 2/3^rd of the time that we are awake. It forms the biggest part of our daily routine and ends up being in our conversations over coffee and drinks! These are the ones that normally revolve around what a ______ place my office is or how _______ my boss is! What we want you to do is this...

Tell us about the funniest / craziest / wackiest line or quote or dialogue you have ever heard while at work or over conversations at the water cooler or office. These can also be lines that you’d love to wear on a badge or a not so wet T-shirt. Try and be as original as possible J You can even submit pictures to add that extra zing! (Enough with the hints)

To submit your entry, post your line on our Facebook fan page WALL http://on.fb.me/NGUPage Contest ends on 2^nd July @ 9:00 pm IST. One lucky winner with the most creative line gets an Ipod Shuffle! It’s that simple!

Funny Out Of Office Messages !

2011-06-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

Compiled from the net for your reading pleasure, these funny 'OOO' messages can add that sparkle to your response. We however take no responsibility for the outcome of using one of these messages... he he :P

I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position because I will have to come back to this job. Be prepared for my mood.
I will be unable to delete all the unread, emails you send me until I Return from holiday. Please be patient and your e-mail will be deleted In the order it was received.
Thank you for your e-mail. Your credit card has been charged Rs.999 for the first ten words and Rs 99 for each additional word in your Message.
You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the Office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't receive any response at all.
The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.(The beauty of this one is that when you return, you can see how many in-duh-viduals did this over and over).
I've run away to join a different circus.
I am away from the office at this moment. I will still be away from the office at the next moment and returning at a later moment. If you have any issues at the current moment, and they cannot wait until a later moment, please contact my manager, who may actually be away at the moment.
I am currently out of the office. I have a cell phone, but I will not be giving it to you. If you can guess the number, I will take your call.
Am at the dentists. Oh the pain !! Oh forget it ... what is it you were saying again ? Reach out at ________________ or don't ! ...The pain ...the pain !
I'm on vacation. If you can't reach me, please don't think I'm dead, especially if you're from payroll (if you're not from payroll, I don't really care what you think. Except you, boss). During my vacation, I will ignore most of my incoming emails. Why? Because being on vacation, I'm likely to be frolicking on a beach or something, and reading emails is incompatible with frolicking. I MAY read your email, but try not to hold your breath. If your request is important, please email me again after I return. (This is a really long one na ?) In case of an absolute emergency that requires my immediate attention, my teammates know how to contact me. Bribe them. Tell them they look beautiful. Say they look almost as attractive as me. Examples of "absolute emergency" include: You are the President, You are Elvis, You urgently want to give me a billion dollars, You discovered that I'm The One, and you must find me before the Agents to give me that "blue pill, red pill" speech, All of the above.

Hope you had fun reading :P

Seven Ways to Reward Employees @ Work

2011-06-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

No matter if your organization is big or small … it is your People that make up a business. And it is their collective efforts that determine your success. It is also true that Recognition and a timely pat on the back go a long way in keeping them happy and in turn with your organization. Compensation is what an employee receives for doing the job he had been hired for but Recognition is an honor for the efforts put in beyond the boundaries of duty.

A lot of organizations, however, look at rewards and recognition purely as a cost line. While the emphasis of being cost-effective cannot be undermined, it is also a great challenge to be cost effective and come up with unique ways to reward employees. Here’s one such humble attempt… 7 ways to reward employees J

http://willnevergrowup.com/shop

7. Birthdays are always special to every individual. Although for some it’s about getting old, it still is a day of celebration. Give your employees a paid day off on their birthdays. If momentary work pressure does not allow you to do so, then, arrange for a nice office birthday party. A small cake and some flowers and balloons can make your employee feel really special. Give him a day off some other time.

6. Respect your employees’ needs. You might ask how this is a reward? Every individual is bound to have family commitments. They might need to attend someone near and dear in the hospital, or for that matter pick up their children from school on a specific day, or, need to attend some very important family occasion. Value their commitments, for they in turn will value you.

5. The least expensive and one of the best rewards you can give your employee is a ‘Thank You’. These two simple words can make your employee feel great. This can be a really good reward for an employee as he understands that the company has recognized his/her hard work. On a monthly basis, hand out badges to the performer of the month. Allow them to carry the smile. Even address them by calling them ‘a champion’

4. One can also, occasionally, make arrangements for a dinner party. Invite your employees' families over to office without letting them know. This can be a sweet surprise.

3. Let co-workers write something they truly like or admire about the best performer. Then put them all together on a scrap paper along with an office group photograph and give it to him/her. This can be a truly likeable yet inexpensive gift.

2. When an employee does something really worthwhile for the company, ask the entire staff to give him a good round of applause at a meeting. Nothing works better! This however will not work if you choose to give someone critical advice on their performance in front of a group!

1. Pay it forward! Ask the managerial position holders to write secret hand-written notes of appreciation to their subordinates who have performed well. This will not only keep the employee guessing but also will ensure that they are nice to everyone around (not knowing who has written them a note)

If one looks at it objectively, all Employees expect is some amount of understanding, recognition and trust from their superiors. Once you understand this and act accordingly, the office becomes a much better place to work.

Getting the Best out of your Team !

2011-06-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

Teamwork is integral to the success of any organisation. It has a huge impact on the performance of any enterprise. It is said that Teamwork can make or break an organisation. Contrarily, a bad team can cause unwanted disruptions and strategic failures. Team building is a process that requires attention and care. The emphasis on process and not an annual offsite or a town hall. Two very important factors in efficient team formation are a well thought out team orientation process and a clear team charter. When the members of a team properly understand what they are supposed to do and how they are supposed to do it has an impact on their performance.

When you start work with your team, it can be helpful if you set a small rule-book of your own. Spend about 20 to 30 minutes with your team and collectively create a Code of Conduct. It can be a good way to welcome new members. Supervising a team of grown up adults is really not an easy task. A team consists of different people with different temperaments, different behavioural traits, different specialities and varying work ethics.Thus, conflict can be an inevitable consequence of teamwork. Allowing such differences to get out of hand causes unnecessary disruptions and leads to breakdowns in working relationships. Team members and more importantly team leaders should have basic knowledge of conflict resolution.

Since a group comprises of adults, it is very important that as a team manager you behave accordingly. All your team members have intelligence, creativity and imagination. You can make the best use of these resources by showing them that you value their opinion.

To get the best out of your team at work you must practice all that you preach. If you ask your team members to come to office on time, you must be punctual yourself. Try to be a team member rather than being a leader. Work with your team. It is advisable that you do not try to boss around.

Prove you are superior to your team members through your work and not through your attitude or designation. Be inspiring not intimidating. Each member in your team should be able to come up to you and give in their ideas without the fear of being insulted or humiliated or being turned down rudely. Let everyone speak. It is wise not to allow a few to dominate the group. If that happens, it is the responsibility of a team leader to provide everyone with equal opportunity in a team.

Welcome comments and suggestions from your team members. Even when you give some ideas, allow your team members to give their comments to make it better.

Every team will almost inevitably have people who are introvert. Help them to express themselves.

Allow breaks. Both the human body and the brain need some rest. A small recess after a fruitful session of hard work does not hurt. It is rejuvenating and would help your team members perform better. The biggest hindrances to progressive work can be miscommunication between the team and internal creative conflicts, which eventually and certainly lead to lower collective output and poor results. A tired and stressed team cannot produce results. Under such circumstances a team leader can bring back the focus of the team by reinforcing the collective goal.

A very effective method of improving people’s performance is by providing information to team members about individual performance and the overall performance of the team. Care should be taken that this information is not conveyed in a manner that causes resentment or animosity. Do not point out individual drawbacks in front of the whole team. Discuss separately with each member of your team. Comparison within a team can lead to bitterness among team members.

Although there is no ‘I’ in a team, it is crucial to understand that a team is made up of individuals. Building and honing the skills in individuals that are congruent with the needs of the team are critical to the good performance of a team. Collaborating and understanding the key issues facing the team is also very important. Cohesion ensures that members in a team work collectively towards the same goal. Finally, when a project is complete, do not forget to say ‘Thank You’ to your team members and appreciate their hard work. Do not forget to celebrate the success !!!

Information on Facebook News Feeds

2011-04-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

This has been doing its rounds on the net and we thought of posting this for all our fans ! Cheers !

Have you noticed that you are only seeing updates in your news feed from the same people lately? Have you also noticed that when you post things like status messages, photos and links, the same circle of people are commenting and you are not hearing from anyone else?...The thing is that a large chunk of your contact list can't see anything you post and here's why:

The "New Facebook" has a news feed setting that by default is automatically set to show ONLY posts from people you've recently interacted with or have interacted the most with (which would be limited to the couple of weeks just before people started switching to the "new profile"). So, in other words, unless you or your friends commented on one anothers posts within those couple of weeks - you are now invisible to them and they are invisible to you!!

HERE'S THE FIX:

On your homepage click the "Most Recent" title on the right of the Newsfeed, then click on the drop down arrow beside it and select "Edit Options". Click on "Show Posts From" and change the setting to "All Of Your Friends and Pages" (you can also access the "Edit Options" link at the very bottom of the Facebook homepage on the right)

THE GOOD NEWS IS:

You can now view all of your friends again.

THE BAD NEWS IS:

YOU ARE STILL INVISIBLE to a large portion of your list. If you want to re-establish contact, you will need to get the word out to ALL of your contacts by spreading the word so that they can all join in and adjust their settings.

Spread the word... Tweet, blog, create an event !

Sport The Badge !

2011-04-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

If you like us or believe in the idea of " Not Growing Up ", you can now add a Never Grow Up Picture Badge to your Facebook Profile Photo ! All you have to do is click on the icon below and login using your Facebook account !

Go ahead... join the movement...sport the badge :)

The Story Goes Like This...

2011-04-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

It is always nice when you see that what you do connects with people… especially people across the globe! A couple of weeks back, we got a FB post and email from Brian Davis from New Jersey – a bright and young music producer J who has been following Never Grow Up on Facebook. He mentioned that he had come up with something for us… something special! Brian shared a track called ‘BREAKTIME’ a beat that was sampled from a soundtrack that he was listening to sometime last year in order to get some new ideas for his production and thought that this would very well fit us as a theme for Never Grow Up. Well… one thing led to another and he graciously accepted to share the track that he had made thinking about his life at his past retail job and which will feature on his up and coming project.

As Brian mentioned in a mail to us “To me, the beat “Break time” would state that sometimes you just need a bit of time to enjoy yourself during the work week. We all want to enjoy doing what we love for a living, instead of living from paycheck to paycheck, at the end of the day, I rather produce music for a living but I know it’s not gonna happen overnight without hard work and dedication to my craft.” The original name of the song which was sampled is called ‘Can’t catch a break’ it was composed by Mashashi Hamauzu who is best known for his work on the Final Fantasy Series. This beat fits well with the Never Grow up theme since throughout adulthood you don’t get as much break time as expected. You have more responsibilities as you grow older such as bills, work, school, etc. but it is the best time when you can just relax and do what you enjoy doing during your free time - Never Grow Up, Keep your inner child alive”

We at Never Grow Up are super duper excited and happy to share that very track with you :) Check out : http://on.fb.me/breaktimebeat . And to Brian, a BIG Thank You for sharing this and letting us have the track. It is such feedback and support from fans and friends that makes us believe in what we do! Cheers !

The Instrumental or beat has been composed and produced by Brian Davis Jr. who goes under the alias Inspirmentalist and is based out of New Jersey, USA.

Office Pranks !!!

2011-04-01T00:44:00.000-07:00

Office pranks are fun... provided you dont take this too seriously... better still..dont get caught doing this ! Consider the worst case scenario ... after all... who needs a job right ? :P Here are some simple and cool office pranks you can play today ... April Fools Day it is !

1. Fill in the water cooler machine with beer instead of water ! (Yeah...you'd like that !)

2. Shrink wrap chairs and computers on your colleagues desk. Better still...shrink wrap everything!(Try this with your boss if you are about to quit)

3. Sent a fake love note to a co-worker from another co-worker.

4. Fake your resignation ! (Keep your fingers crossed cause heaven help if you are taken seriously)

5. Start every sentence with a ' Wah Taj ' for the whole day and when someone asks, tell them its prescribed by a doctor. Make a dummy prescription as well.

6. All the women in office can individually speak to one common person, confiding that she is well... you know...pregnant. By noon, he 'knew' that all of his female workers were pregnant and he could not tell anyone because each asked for confidentially. (Serves you right you...@#$%)

7. Placed a sign on the restroom door that read, "The company ran out of toilet paper and soap; please use your own resources."

8. Make tiny holes in all the paper cups next to the coffee machine.

9. Cover toilet seats with shrink wrapping paper ! ha aha aha !

10. In the office parking Lot, tie a huge ribbon around your boss's car and keep a board next to it with another colleagues name' Lucky prize winner in a local pie eating contest . Collect your car keys from desk number@#$%. Now send out a mail to everyone about this !! he he eh !

11. Glue all the office stationary on a colleagues desk using double sided tape !

Remember..dont you give us a bad name by getting caught !!!

To Bunk or Not to Bunk !

2011-03-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

With interesting Cricket World Cup matches around the corner, you may find yourself in the eternal dilemma ' To Bunk Work or Not to Bunk ' . In case you have had a tough time deciding, here are some excuses to Bunk work ! Looks like attendance will be low this Wednesday :P

Before we share the list remember the things you need to give a solid excuse i.e.

1. Confidence - Don't falter while talking. If necessary rehearse. You can sound sick... but that too with confidence.
2. Be realistic - The dog cannot eat the research document on your laptop. Also, if you are strong enough to travel 30 kms to the nearest doctor and come back alone, you can pretty much make it to work.
3. Cover your tracks - Some people tend to go all out to check if you are lying so remember to use these at your own risk :P

My Mind and Body are in constant conflict since morning. Mind wants me to attend work, but my body wants to chill ! Guess my Body won the fight :)
I have a terrible Back ache, can I work from home today ?
Allergic Reactions to exotic jelly fish you made me eat last week at the office party.
You have the biggest attack of Loose Motions ever !!!
You are locked in your own car hence reachable on phone :)
You were all dressed and on your way to work and you twisted your ankle. You should be back in action tomorrow.
Your closest maternal-aunts first cousins-sister's best friend has met with an accident and you are the SOS Contact !
Your imaginary friend has just found kryptonite and you need to check if Superman exists !
Your local neighborhood SERIAL KILLER is waiting for you outside your door and it would therefore, be detrimental to your security to try to get to work
If you move and inch from your Loo, your team looses the match . Cite examples of the last 4 world cups :)
Your 5 year old cousin has accidentally 'super glued ' you to the couch !

P.S. This list is brought to you in collaboration with the oh so imaginary Department of Dummy Excuses !

The GET WITTY WITTY Contest !

2011-03-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

The “Get Witty Witty” Contest ~ It's time to put on your thinking caps and get creative and witty. Take part in the Get Witty Witty contest and win loads of goofy goodies!!! Here's what you need to do...

Step 1: Go through all the photos in the Get Witty Witty contest album here http://on.fb.me/ho1Z7J

Step 2: Submit a fun line (whatever you can think of) that suits the image as a comment to the photo. There are 8 Photos in all. You can post a comment below each photo :)

Step 3: Share this and spread the word Two best entries and comments win loads of goodies!!!

Contest Rules:
1.Open to all earthlings till Friday 8th April 2011.
2.You can submit more than one comment per photo but you need to submit a line for each of the 8 photos to be eligible for the prizes
3.Judges decision will be final and binding :)

Cheers !

The Thing About Employer Branding !

2011-03-16T03:42:00.000-07:00

To set the ball rolling, Employer branding can be defined as all the operations carried out by a business to create and communicate its own identity to a target group composed of candidates and employees, so that the brand attracts and holds onto these subjects in line with the corporate culture and values.

The Employee Is the Customer

Over the last few years, employees are increasingly behaving like consumers when choosing to join or stay with an employer. It states that a positive employer brand can be a way of differentiating one organization from another and a way of creating a strong, distinctive and attractive identity with which current or potential employees can identify. This brings us to a set of questions and things what one also needs to look at i.e. How strong is your product? Will it survive the expectation of the ever so changing consumer?

The Need to Create an Employer Brand
If we look at an employee as someone out to buy a TV set and the employer as the brand, the question is...what do you look for while buying a TV? Why do you prefer a certain brand over another? That also brings us to a fundamental question of, what does your existing and potential talent pool think about you? Why would someone want to work with you? Is there a certain perception about you as a company in the minds of existing and potential employees? With a shrinking talent pool, increasing cost of talent acquisition and fierce competition, there is an increasing need to become an employer of choice for people. A company that people want to work with! Think of a company that is flooded with requests in the ‘careers’ section with people wanting desperately to work with & you get the picture. If the above holds true, you need to ensure that you are doing the right things to get through to people at all levels...and to that effect having a concrete Employer Branding Strategy in place is critical.

Find this interesting ?
For a copy of the entire article on insights into Employer Branding, share your details on this link: http://tinyurl.com/EB2011 ~ We will email you a copy asap !
© Never Grow Up. All rights reserved.

What are we all about ?

2011-03-11T22:03:00.001-08:00

The Never Grow Up Company Presentation

View more presentations from Never Grow Up Workshops Pvt.Ltd

Twilight Photography Workshop !

2011-02-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

When? Saturday, 5th March 2011

Who is this for? Amateur Photographers, Anyone with a passion for photography (All you need is to get your own basic digital camera)

What's in Store? Take the joy ride in a bus exploring parts of Mumbai City in the evening till the wee hours capturing the sights and wonders of Mumbai through your lens. See the world from a different perspective...something that you have not explored as yet!

Presenting the Twilight Photography Workshop from Never Grow Up

The Workshop starts at 6:00 pm on Saturday and will broadly cover • Shooting during twilight and at night, necessary equipment needed • Using your lens and flash better, to get quality pictures • Low exposure setting and aperture & ISO speed • Common issues and queries while shooting in the night along with a fun assignment.

About the Photographer : The workshop will be conducted by a professional photographer at Solaris Images which, is a Photo agency covering News, Commercial, Corporate profiles, Interiors and also has large collection of creative and stock images. Images captured by this team have made their presence on international news agencies and in some of the top leading newspapers around the world.

To register and confirm your seat, click here: http://tinyurl.com/shoot2011 or write to us at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com

"Dil to Baccha Hai Ji"

2011-02-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Lokmat Mumbai : Page 2 : 13 February 2011

Bringing in the element of Fun @ your Workspace!

A few employees of a company were playing a game that involved a simple balloon and a pin in another hand. The objective was to get balloons to survive in a room full of pins. The outcome and learning? People forgetting to preserve their piece in the excitement to burst balloons just like in the workplace where a lot of people think that winning at something means someone has to lose. Besides, the fact that they were all equals in the battle for survival also meant that the boss-subordinate divide no longer existed.

At the workplace, such work related issues, lack of co-operation and needless politics and grapevine are not unheard of. What is also known is that these factors create a somewhat ‘non – productive’ environment. It’s also a known fact that people stay longer in an environment where people are happy to work in, which in turn is also a more productive workspace/office. A lot of companies are now opening up to this concept of making work fun or bringing in an element of fun at the workplace.

Never Grow Up is one such innovative company having propositions in this very space i.e. a company into fun @ work. Over the past few months, corporate houses including MNCs and banks have availed their services to help make their workplaces more fun and keep their employees motivated and engaged. One corporate in particular did approach them with a specific problem where certain teams in their company could not see eye to eye due to job related insecurities. This in turn was affecting the productivity of the team. Rather than a speech or a 'talk' the team at Never Grow Up took them through a series of activities around trust and creativity to put the point across. Over time, these sessions have led to a greater teamwork. At these sessions (which range from theatre to bartending) everyone is treated equally with the hierarchy of ranks dissolved right at the start of the session while it is ensured that employees across teams mix well and are engaged in the process. This is done by working closely with the HR teams at the respective companies and extensive planning before the activity. As a result, people who had never seen eye to eye or not interacted much in the past came together to form a cohesive team.

The core team at this fun company consists of five key people i.e Shazia Upadhye (a practicing dentist) & Asif Upadhye who are the founders along with Supriya Kini (Bangalore), Sanchit Mendiratta & Aanchal Bansal as associates along with a huge line-up of talented individuals from various fields from across the country. These range from Musicians to Theatre artists, Speakers, Trainers to Bartending and Cocktail experts. In India, we see Never Grow Up to be a one -of-its-kind entrepreneurial venture.

All things said...A happy employee works longer, is less stressed and also in turn stays productive. This in turn has a positive impact on the bottom line of the company. Seems like management across companies have taken to liking this new concept 'of young at heart' which, is the rise of another service line in India

(Psst...Translated on a best effort basis. We are not professional Marathi to English translators you know)

The Too Crazy 2 B Normal Contest !

2011-02-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Step1. Think of the day you or your friends were out doing something totally crazy... & someone was quick to catch u in the act. (You know...the photos / videos that make you laugh about now and say... what a crazy day that was!) Heck even a quote that reminds you of the crazy days will do!

Step2. Post or upload that Photo / Video on the NEVER GROW UP WALL on our FB PAGE! (Here it is : http://tinyurl.com/NGUPage)

Step3: Tag / tell your friends; get them to vote for you! (By liking your photo/comment/video) Extra points for the number of votes your entry gets! After all, we like what people like

Step4. WIN GOODIES! ~ The best entry wins an iPod Shuffle and two more entries win fun vouchers / goodies and other fun stuff Special prize for the best video !

Contest Rules and Guidelines:

1. You can post / upload a maximum of 5 photos and 2 videos per person. 2. Every entry is special! (duh) Decisions of the judges shall be binding.3. Prizes will be sent within a week after the contest ends. 4. Last date for submission is 25th February 2011 ~ 11:30 pm! 5. Contest is open to beings across the galaxy. No Bar ! Only Baar Baar !

See ya on the other side:) ~ The Team @ Never Grow Up

Cube Farm ~ A funny take on Life @ Work !

2011-01-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

Presenting Cube Farm from Never Grow Up ~

Cube Farm is a derisive vernacular term for featureless, modern open office designs which consist of seemingly endless rows of identical office cubicles. Cube farm is a tribute to the desk jockey, the hard worker, the cube monkey! To the person who loves or hates their boss, their job, their consumer driven existence and to our cat (if we have one)! Presenting a few fun products to make your workplace a lot more fun!

Starting off with Office Magnets ! At a size of 2 X 2.5 inches, these magnets are small enough to hide at your desk and big enough to help you make your point! Put these in the office space you work for your entry into the ‘cool dudes at work’ category :) To check out the funny side to work or shop online log on to http://willnevergrowup.com/shop to check out all products :)

Presenting Fun Vouchers from Never Grow Up™

2011-01-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

In case you are wondering what we are up to with this offering...It’s time to look beyond the obvious food coupons and clothing GVs to reward employees or to gift friends we say!

Presenting Fun Vouchers from Never Grow Up™

Reward your colleague for a job well done, gift this to a friend or use this to ‘pataao’ your better half! Available in denominations of 500, 1000 & 1500 and valid for 6 months, these Fun Vouchers can be used by the recipient for the specified value at any of our public workshops (These range from photography sessions, learning archery, fun with finances, pottery, creative writing, art appreciation, recycled art, bartending and cocktails workshops, theatre, music, dance and many more...) That’s not all, you can also use these vouchers to redeem quirky and fun merchandise from any our affiliates from the Fun stuff section on our website or even spend it to redo your office space!

We like... We buy... We gift!

Its simple, drop us a line at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com with your contact details and we will take it from there. What say ?

Get ready for the first Monday in 2011 :)

2011-01-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

The New Year has begun! While the hangovers may have gone, the party spirit lives on. As we approach the first Monday of 2011, for all those going back to work ... here's a little something to spruce up your Life @ Work and make it fun! 11 brand new Office dares to do in 2011! Each dare gets you 5 points. Go ahead and make the most of this... while you can :)

# Put post-its all over your boss’s desk saying My Boss Bestest! (Extremely relevant if you have quarterly appraisals)

# Set up a mini golf kit @ work and shout ‘Goaaall’ every time you succeed.

# On a particular day, shake hands with everyone you see and say ‘Subah Ho Gayi Mamu’

# For one week, during lunch hour, in the cafeteria, clap once every five minutes!

# Send flowers to yourself and blush every time someone asks you about it!

# At the water cooler, tear the paper cups to make a collage that says ‘I know what you did on New Year’s. Give me 1 Million dollars’ # Now write your email below the collage ~ 10 points.

# During a staff meeting, fold your legs on the chair and go ‘Whooosaaa... breathe...breathe...this is just a test’

# Juggle stuff while talking to your colleagues. 5 points extra if you can do this while talking to your boss!

# Staple every single page in the weekly forecast report and hand over copies to everyone.

# Put up a huge red ribbon around your head (or a bandanna) for one whole day and say ‘I am Superman. The King of Gondor’ when someone asks you why you are doing this.

Our Happy Wala Birthday :)

2010-12-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

Its 1/1/11 and also the day we turn One :) Yippie !!! It's our Happy Wala Birthday today :) While we announce the festivities for the month...we though of sharing a bit about our roller coaster ride.

Exactly a year back, amidst rumours of quitting and joining competition ('We are starting up' is one of the fundas you get to hear in the corporate circle when someone does not want to disclose where they are joining next) 1.5 of us started working full-time on this venture... 1 person full time and another part-time. Now, thanks to a few like-minded people, our team has grown... As the year began, it was all about thrashing ideas and execution...tough questions and dilemas...about the road ahead...

Having said that...This has also been THE year of new, crazy and totally contagious ideas, a few new services (we have more coming up), loads of fun and the law of the universe. Yes, the learning has been immense...one step at a time... and then ofcourse, we found YOU ! As we looked back at this year, and searched for that one thing that has kept us going, it has been You :)

Every time that we've reached out to you, we have never come back empty handed ! All those people who have loved us, liked us, joined us, advised, supported, partnered with us and most importantly... believed in a start-up like ours.This one goes out to You ! After all,who in their right mind calls their start up ' Never Grow up ' huh ?

Cheers !

The Gang of Loonies

@Never Grow Up

Psst...here's a new NGU Desktop Wallpaper. Available for download at http://tinyurl.com/35w7lpz . Have fun ya all :P

Our List of Things to do in 2010 :)

2010-12-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

As the new year arrives, we are sharing something that we have never shown anyone before. Its our ' List of Things To Do in 2010 '. Our targets, key performance areas, KRAs and goals for 2010:) We scored a 15/16 on the list that was made last December. What does your list look like ?

Snapshots of the Creative Writing Workshop :)

2010-12-19T23:23:00.000-08:00

Snapshots of the Creative Writing Workshop ~ Click here to see the photos on the fan page or Click here to see the video ! A Sunday well spent...What fun :)

My Workspace ~ My Style !

2010-12-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

It’s a fact that most of us work long hours... sometimes six days a week ~ ten hours straight! And then we go to sleep! Which means that majority of the time we are awake is spent in our little cubicle (or a corner office if you have one). If most of the time we are awake is spent at office, why should that space be boring? Presenting...

What’s this all about?

If your work involves sitting in front of the computer screen for all your working hours then this is for you. My Workspace is a super cool service where you can get us to design or decorate your cubicle or office space based on your personality and liking. You tell us a bit about yourself and we come back with ideas to design your workspace – your style without making any structural changes to your cubicle. (We do understand that your company already has a fixed layout and that your boss is okay with this).

Sounds interesting... How do we begin?

To us, each cubicle is special :) Click here ! to get started by telling us a bit about yourself. The next step would be to send us a photo of your cubicle or office and we will take it from there! If you are not really sure of what all this entails, feel free to write to us at myworkspace@willnevergrowup.com with your contact details and we will get back :)

How do I make this work for my office and team?

For starters, share this with your boss and the HR Team :)

If you are part of the HR team, of course we can implement this for the entire office. If you have the desire to make your office a cool space to be in (also be spoken about), all you gotta do is give us a brief (and a budget) or just ask us how we can turn your office around so that your employees look forward to coming to work on a Monday. After all, they do spend most of their time in the week at work!

Creative Writing Workshop !

2010-12-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

Bring out those ideas... polish the written word...let your imagination soar... welcome to a fun Creative Writing Workshop!

When? Sunday 19th December

Where? Cool Chef Cafe, Worli.

What time? 2:00pm to 6:30 pm (and later if you’d like)

What’s in store?

The main focus of this fun workshop is to provide participants with an in depth view of how stories are built from within. Thus handing you the tools one may need to shape and refine your imagination into captivating stories. Whether you aspire to write a short story, an essay, a novel, a play or a screenplay for a feature length film, this is the place to find the inspiration and the knowhow you have been seeking.

A part of the workshop would also focus on unlocking creative channels and learning how to use attributes that usually lay dormant and get rusty over a period of time. One can also expect to learn certain fundamentals of writing that stand common through various forms of narratives.

There is more... you can also bring along some work that you may have written (anything you like) and have it appraised OR carry along a story idea that you have been dreaming about developing. Expect fun assignments which shall be appraised and analyzed by professionals in the field.

How do I register?

Click here ! to pay online or drop us a line at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com / Call +919892338317

About the Writer

Gaurev Desai has been associated with the Film / TV industry for almost 18 years now, either through acting, direction or writing. From being a professional actor since the age of 9, he has now graduated to Producing and Directing a Marathi daily soap for ETV besides doing lots of work for Sony TV, DD and programs being aired on Disney. He is now an independent film maker and has been conducting workshops since 2002.

Where exactly is the venue? Thadani House 329/A Worli Village Worli Sea Face Opp. Indian Coast Guard.

All Work & No Play ?

2010-11-22T01:26:00.000-08:00

What can one say.... we love our job... and am sure that I don’t want to be doing anything else. Guess we are lucky enough to follow our respective passions? But, this comes at a Price...you see because we love our job, we also end up spending more hours in our workplace. Take on new assignments...push the envelope et al. We start early and access our blackberry before we brush our teeth...why ? It’s addictive...and hold on.... we also love what we do. But you see, no matter how much you love your job... all work and no play is ..(for lack of a better term) not a good habit. Pursuing hobbies as an adult is just as important as when you were a kid. It's important for one to strike a balance between work, home, relaxation and one's hobbies. Hobbies, in particular, provide a nice balance to work, and should be taken more seriously.

On a personal level....As a child, I would love my trips to the toy store. Those few minutes spend admiring a GIJOE was something I could just not break away from. There were scale models of tanks and weapons, and also the action figures with a story line. More like the figures of a Decepticon or a Prime from Transformers. Being a kid, I usually didn't have enough money to buy most of the things I longed for, but just being there and looking at it all was a thrilling experience. And then, there was music and craft class. A session to unleash our creativity to an extent where no idea was funny or impossible...Sigh! Magical days....

As we grow older, we kinda loose the youthful ability to get excited over such small things and hobbies. I guess the daily rut of our lives takes a toll. Things don’t look that attractive. And in the Indian scenario, it’s the fact that we have grown up. I mean... would you really be ok seen in the kiddie toys section trying out new arrivals?

A few years ago a few friends made a conscious effort to get back into hobbies, and it's really made a difference to their lives. They are ...a lot happier. Hobbies need not be expensive, also the enjoyment you get out of them is worth taking out the time for. There's so much interesting and fascinating stuff out there today that no one should have a problem finding something to engage in and enjoy. Photography, for example, offers lots of opportunities both indoors and outdoors. Dancing, yoga, playing a musical instrument, pottery, art... you name it.... All you gotta do is take a moment to smell the roses and pursue your hobbies.

After all, life is not just work ~

Its Childrens Day for the Next Two Weeks :)

2010-11-13T23:35:00.001-08:00

We are celebrating Childrens Day for the next two weeks with 'THE WONDER YEARS ' Contest. May the child in each one of us never grow up :) A super fun and cute contest with simple rules :)

1. Search for your cutest, coolest, wackiest childhood picture.

2.Send us that photo (jpeg/png format) at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com with your full name and contact number. 3.Win! The cutest / coolest / craziest baby picture wins an IPOD Shuffle (besides the fact that you are going to be world famous in Never Grow Up Land)

Contest Rules:
@You can send in a maximum of 3 photos per person. These can be cute, looney or downright crazy childhood pictures

@ Decisions of the judges shall be binding. Photos will be posted on the fan page for possible voting. (That is if the judges cannot decide)

@ Last date for submission is 29th November 2010 by 4:00 pm IST

@ Contest is open to people across the universe :) So tell your friends its childrens day for the next two weeks :)

Blog Update : The winning entry by Dhruv Arora from Mumbai (Charlie Cherry Blossom)

We Believe !

2010-10-31T08:43:00.001-07:00

@ Never Grow Up ~ We Believe

Screw Dheela Hai Contest Winners !!!

2010-10-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

One Planet... many loonies...Click here to read the story :)

A Fun (Un)Cooking Workshop

2010-10-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

Where? Java green Cafe, Bandra. When? Sunday, 31st October 2010 @ 11:00 am

What’s in store that day?

Now here’s a great way to start your Sunday! Spend quality time with friends and better halves making a meal together and enjoying it as well. (For the boys) Will this be messy? Not really, the three course meal prepared requires minimal cooking so that you can enjoy your time without the heat & stress. Phew! All the dishes are great and easy to cook. Fun salads, sandwiches, appetizers….Did we mention there is dessert too? Work together, mix ingredients…or don’t and have tons of fun in the process. Psst… All you need to do is carry your own knife!!! (We’ll tell you why)

About the Chef

“People eat to live but I live to cook and eat”. This is the first thing she says when someone asks Arina what she loves doing. Cooking and eating are her only 2 passions in life. Hailing from a family where everyone is passionate about food and loves to cooks irrespective of age and gender, Arina grew up playing with pots, pans, ladles and ingredients. She calls a plate her canvas and all the ingredients her paints and colours. To follow her passion and further hone her skills and knowledge, she got her formal qualifications from IHM, Ahmadabad in Hotel Management.

This sounds like fun...How do I Register?

Click here to pay online or drop us a line at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com / Call +919892338317. Venue Details: Near Lilavati hospital, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W), Mumbai.

The 'SCREW DHEELA HAI' Contest !

2010-10-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

A contest with simple rules :)

1. Think of the day you were doing something looney, with a funny expression on your face and a friend, family / colleague was quick to catch u in the act. (You know...the stuff you laugh about now and say..Screw dheela hai mera) What the heck ! Send us photos of your friends too :) but let them ...know...Also send us a small note on the incident / act in question !

2. Send us that photo (jpeg format) at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com with your full name, city... and your dogs name (if you have one)

3. GET REWARDED : Top three entries win some super cool products (these are priceless really) besides the fact that you are going to be world famous in Never Grow Up Land.

Contest Rules and Guidelines:

A. You can send in a maximum of 5 photos per person. These can be photos and images right from childhood to your percieved adult stage. Remember... being looney is the key.

B. Decisions of the judges shall be binding. Photos will be posted on the fan page for possible voting.(that is if the judges cannot decide)

C. Prizes will be sent in a week after the contest ends.

D. Last date for submission is 25th October 2010 ! by 4:00 pm IST

E. Contest is open to people across the universe :) So tell your friends.

Psst... Besides the chance to be World famous in Never Grow Up land, One winner takes home an Ipod Shuffle and two more people stand to win goody bags.

Nature Trail for the Parent and Child @ Bangalore

2010-10-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Snapshots of a fun Sunday ... a nature walk , meeting some interesting friends along the way, learning to make squirrel homes and pug marks, playing in the mud, rediscovering species...and lots of fun included :)

Click here to see the photos !

Turning every staff member into a ‘daughter-in-law’?

2010-09-27T00:51:00.000-07:00

Sometime back a Director of multi locational organization posed a question to me… He said, “Can you tell me why an employee doesn’t ever feel that he ‘belongs’ where he/she is working..? What is it that you would suggest we do to make the staff feel that they are the integral part of the company and it is not merely a place where they come to earn their money so that they can go back and relax…?”

I feared that we were on a philosophical travel and wanted the discussion to come back to the topic of training modules which we had begun discussing.He gave me an example (in the Indian Context) “The new daughter in law comes to a new set up just because she is married to this man. She, as the tradition goes, changes her name, and wipes out her previous identity in a manner of speaking. But then instead of getting lonely, she begins asserting her role. She begins clearly conveying what changes she is seeking within the household, encouraging new practices and discouraging some existing ones. Why can’t an employee who spends nearly a third of his life in the office? Doesn’t it ever to occur to the staff (generally speaking) that the job is the reason why they can assert themselves in their personal endeavours…as a husband, brother, sister, wife, whatever and then the very well being of their families depend on this ’job’?”

It has been almost over 5 years since the conversation took place. But that had set me off to find out what contributed to the gentleman’s statement. My company conducted independent surveys, did some systematic research, spoke to HR professionals, promoters of a few organizations, and even studied the cultural changes that were happening in the Indian society in general and the Indian professional settings in particular. The first thing that we noticed was that the Indian professional environment had drastically changed as the Indian shores were opening up to globalization and had seen a sudden influx of young professionals who had entered the scenario armed with business specializations

This paradigm shift created a ‘do or die’ philosophy in the erstwhile almost laid back business practices. As the global practices began finding routes, concepts of multi tasking, 24 x 7 availability of working executives via the internet became standard norms. However, we also realized that while the highlight was on performance, somewhere along the line the concept of human element was taking the back seat. As highly professional HR tools were employed almost nobody noticed the phasing out of this most vital element of the Indian Social fabric. The ‘paralysus respectus’ for these imported models was so high that human element was considered to be an outdated Indian idiosyncrasy and was often ridiculed. The earlier failures of organizations, that brought their practices here to India and tried to incorporate them without regard to the ‘Indian-ness’; went unnoticed.

At these thoughts, I always pose myself and others who might be interested in hearing me out, a question… “Why is this ‘today’s professional’ who is apparently so successful, so stressed out? And why does he/she even on the long awaited weekends and during vacations behave as if there is no tomorrow… trying to grab at as much as he/she can?”

I always wonder if someone will give me a really truthful answer rather than the standard lip service about how much more stress & competition exists presently and how a weekend is really needed..? To understand their view point, I went on a family weekend with other young professionals & their families. And let me tell you I felt as if we were on a roller coaster even when we were ‘supposed’ to be having a couple of drinks and dinner! By the time we returned I was exhausted! And I am not saying there were any physically demanding activities…in fact there were none whatsoever! That is when one realized that presently we have become so stressed out in what is supposed to be a joy…our work, our profession; that we have stopped looking for joy in what we do! Has it then remained only a means to earn money so that we can have all the trappings and weekends when we all claw at what is available and ‘purchasable’? Have we ever sat back and tried to ‘understand’ how we really feel on a Monday morning after the so called ‘weekend’?

Only last month a HR manager asked me what can I do in the areas of stress management. She also explained that the organizations’ staff had obviously undergone a few stress management modules that included outdoor activities like rock climbing, and such other adventure sports. Nothing wrong really… For, such extreme physical activities are a great stress buster.

While all these activities are good for the desired result, aren’t these kind of ‘for-the-time-being-solutions’?

Shouldn’t stress management like any other training; begin at the ‘Beginning’ with ever HR Manager asking the question, “How can I turn every staff member into a ‘daughter-in-law’? I know it is a slow process but then, an employee is an asset to be nurtured for a longer race… Till then, here is the write up

Submission and author : Vishwas Vaishampayan ~ Creative Ventures, Pune for Never Grow Up

StartUp ~ An Interview featured on 2Indya.com

2010-09-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

Ok.. we do get written about ... and sometimes.. even the founder gets his 15 seconds of fame. Here's an Interview featured on 2indya.com - a site on Entrepreneurship and Startups. The interview is part of their ongoing feature on new ventures. Basically asking the founder...' Aakhir Kyun.... Aur Kaise '....aur ab ?

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INTERVIEW !

Nature Trail for the Parent & Child !

2010-09-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

We promised you something different and here we are!

Welcome to an opportunity of moving at life’s natural pace, where there's no room for boredom or stress, and exploration turns into a delightful adventure!

What? An Introductory 1 Day Workshop to introduce you and your child to a sensory outdoor experience & spot wildlife right in our habitat around Bengaluru!

When? Sunday, 03rd October 2010.

Where? Bannerghatta Forest Reserve

What’s this all about? We at Never Grow Up believe in the innate connection between Nature and the child within us. Whether at home, in your backyard or your Local /National Park, experts and families agree that constant interaction with nature gives you happier, healthier and smarter children and families.

So what’s in store that day? It's another typical fun Sunday Never Grow Up ‘Experience’ .The workshop will start sharp @ 8:30 am. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Carry your cameras and look forward to a time to Unplug, relax and explore!

We'll be guided by Kaushik who is a certified wilderness medic, an avid traveler and wildlife enthusiast. Joining us also will be Gregory Barreto who is a herpetologist and a photographer. In fact he has discovered two new species of snake and has created a comprehensive inventory of snake species around Bangalore and assisted on wildlife documentary films. How cool is that?

Why do a Parent Child Workshop? In nature, children use all their senses at the same time, getting them to observe, ask questions and figure out things that have a lot of parts to them. The richness in the outdoors is far more stimulating than watching television or playing electronic games. There is a place for all that too but there are absolutely no substitutes for what experience nature brings to your child’s development.

I’m in...How do I register? To book your seat, call +91 9008727700 or write to us at supriyakini@willnevergrowup.com after you checked the attached image.

We are looking for YOU !

2010-09-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

The team @ Never Grow Up is searching for professional talent . In short, we are looking for YOU !

What do we intend to do ? We'll get in touch to look at your work and then who knows, we may end up working together. CLICK HERE to register and join gang of loonies

P.S : Pass this on as many talented friends as possible :)

Snapshots of the Belly Dancing Workshop !

2010-08-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the Photos !

Theatre Workshop ~ Snapshots !

2010-08-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the photos !

Belly Dancing Workshop in Bangalore ~ Sun 8 August

2010-07-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Shimmy with us’: This time @ Bangalore! Yes...we are coming to the city next month.

What? Belly Dancing Workshop (For women only) ~ To all the men :(, nominate your better halves we say... When? Sun, 8th August 2010: 6:30p.m. Onwards Where? Ruh Resto Bar, Ganapa Towers, 4th Floor, Sarjapur Outer Ring Road, Bellandur Junction (Close to Salarpuria Soft Zone), Bangalore.

What’s this all about?

Before you get flashes of ‘Shakira’ or the great ‘Helen’ dancing, let us share that Belly dancing is actually an ancient art form that actually originated as a religious dance in Middle East and North Africa. It was performed barefoot in women’s religious ceremonies to connect with Mother Earth. Belly dancing is also a great way to get in shape. It’s a nice workout that’s very different and fun. A great workshop for women to learn something interesting and have a great experience

So what’s in store that day?

We welcome you to a great Sunday ‘experience’. The workshop starts @ 6:30 pm and after a few hours of sessions, steps and hip movement combinations, get ready to feast yourself on authentic theme based munchies followed by an open house. A few pointers: wear comfortable clothing. You can also carry your workout clothes to the session.

About the Artist

Shanaz Bakhtiari hails from Iran where Belly Dancing is an ancient and respected art form. She has been professionally trained by Mr Nader Rajabpoor in Ballet, Persian Folk Dance, Traditional Dance and Iranian Modern Dance and holds a BA in Journalism. Upon completion, she pursued her true calling and was accepted into the ERFAN dance troupe; a famous Iranian dance recital group that performs at prestigious theatre venues across the world. Today, Shanaz continues to develop her own unique and distinctive choreography and teaches students the love and art of dance.

I’m in...How do I register?

Call +91 9008727700 in Bangalore to register or CLICK HERE to pay online.

Follow us !

2010-07-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Theatre Workshop : Sun 1st August

2010-07-09T08:52:00.001-07:00

What? Theatre Workshop

When? Sun, 1st August 2010: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Where? Bandra, Mumbai.

What’s this all about?

Before we get all technical... and answer any questions, the word ‘ Theatre ’ means a place for seeing while ‘ Acting ’ is defined as the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play...An introduction to a branch of the performing arts: a form that has existed since the dawn of our race, as a result of the human tendency for storytelling. Presenting the Never Grow Up Theatre workshop... Time to bring out the ‘kalakaar’ in you we say!

So what’s in store that day?

Tons of exercises on self awareness, Miming, Concentration and enhancing Observation, Creativity & Spontaneity, Trust exercises, Voice projection and communication coupled with slightly advanced level theatre activities and processes focussing on aspects like Action, Imagination, Character building, Units and Objectives. All this, with lunch and a promise of a lot of fun!

About the Workshop Director

I’m in...How do I register?

To book your seat, call 9892338317, drop us a mail at asif@willnevergrowup.com or CLICK HERE to pay online.

The PEEL Program !!!

2010-06-22T23:28:00.000-07:00

At Never Grow Up™, we are constantly thinking of ways and means to make life fun and interesting. If this is true for individuals, why not for the corporate world at large we say? After all, life was never meant to be boring... Presentiong P.E.E.L - coined loosely out of the things we were brainstorming on when this idea... popped up i.e. to help organizations and their employees Partner. Engage. Enjoy & Learn. Read all about it !

Up for Grabs !

2010-06-16T03:38:00.000-07:00

The original quote by Chili Davis and the caption our official Never Grow Up T-shirt (also the winning contest idea by vote) is up for grabs !!! For all the fans of Never Grow Up, you can order the idea on a T-shirt by clicking on the link: Order now !

For all those interested in the history of the contest right from April 2010, check out these links: ~ Link 1 ~ Link 2 ~ Link 3 ~

Archery Workshop : Snapshots !

2010-06-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

Click here to view snaps !

The Never Grow Up Tshirt !

2010-06-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Wait is over. Our tee is ready !
Growing Old is Mandatory. But Growing up is Optional.

Designed by Nilesh Talreja, Mumbai.
Winner (by poll) of our Design the Never Grow Up Tshirt Contest !

CLICK HERE to book your Tshirt !

Well... :)

2010-06-09T09:39:00.001-07:00

Event coverage on Brown Paper Bag and Mid-day.

Never Grow Up in the News !

2010-05-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

There are some things in life you never forget. Your first crush, your first toy, first car… the first time your venture was written about in the press…

Say Hello to Never Grow Up in the Mid-day

Page 19 ~ Full Page ~ Mid-day, Mumbai.

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO BE PETER PAN : ASIF UPADHYE MIGHT NOT LIVE IN NEVER LAND BUT HOPES TO BRING OUT THE CHILD WITHIN YOU THROUGH HIS VENTURE — NEVER GROW UP.

DHVANI SOLANI dhvani. solani@ mid- day.comThere was a time when as kids, make- believe games provided for hours of fun and laughter; when everything was looked upon with wide- eyed wonder and fancy- free imagination. And as one got stuck in the rut of climbing the corporate ladder, the child within faded away. The grown- up had arrived.

If this dramatic paragraph struck a chord, you might want to consider Asif Upadhye’s refreshing venture, a way of life that he calls Never Grow Up. Though it doesn’t mean you are free to throw tantrums in a supermarket aisle, once you sign up on his website, you get updates of forthcoming workshops to help you unwind and chill, and indulge that thirst to know more. “ I’m sure there’s a child inside all of us who doesn’t ever want to grow up. Our workshops are aimed at helping you connect with yourself and do things you always wanted to but couldn’t because of the taboos that come with being an adult,” says Asif ( 30), a marketing professional who quit his job with an MNC to start the venture with his wife in November last year.Though their workshop that took place last Sunday was about understanding how money works and what it takes to build your wealth, a topic far removed from juvenile discussions, participants had to wriggle into classroom- like seats, and scribble into a brown paper- covered ruled notebook with a pencil ( many asked for extra erasers, we are told). Previously, they have organised workshops on photography, recycled art, cocktail making and bartending.

“ Such activities help restore a work- life balance,” says Asif. The company has also tied up with fun brands like Etcetera ( Mumbai), Happily Unmarried ( Delhi) and Chumbak ( Bangalore) to resell their kitschy- cool merchandise through their website.

For those who prefer taking the nostalgic trip via Chacha Chaudhary and other comic book characterss, Never Grow up is setting up The Looney Club, aimed at comic books and cartoon lovers to congregate, share their comics reserve and discuss the comics they grew up reading. How weird is it for a married man to be seen gaping at Ben 10 figurettes in the kiddies’ section of a store? “ My wife just laughs it off,” says Asif. “ She says that when they have a kid, she will have to cope with two in the house!” LOG ON TO: www. willnevergrowup. com to register. Their next event is an Archery workshop on June 13 at Jogeshwari. COST: Rs 1,550. CALL: 9892338317 for more details

THIRTY GOING ON TEN Asif Upadhye’s take on a few of his favourite things: ..
Cartoon character: Batman .. Comic strip: Calvin and Hobbes .. Toy store: Hamleys .. Game: Bowling .. Ice- cream flavour: Ferrero Rocher .. What do you want to be when you grow up: Pilot .. The craziest child- like thing you’ve ever done as an adult: I was in a meeting where I was unable to explain a point. Instinctively, I started speaking like Donald Duck. This was followed by a long silence, one of my most embarrassing moments

Design our Tshirt Contest : Entries are in !

2010-05-23T23:42:00.000-07:00

VOTE for your favourite T Shirt Concept. Tell us why and win a free tshirt!

A stick figure of a child next to a stick figure of an adult. The stick figure of the adult is encircled with a diagonal line across the diameter of the circle similar to the traffic signs (Circle and line in Red colour). Copy simply says ‘Never Grow Up’ – By Ameet Kapadia

A picture or caricature of an adult (male or female depending on who will be wearing the t-shirt) with a nice big colourful lolly pop in his/her and tongue out licking it. It may sound stupid but it is a fact that no matter how old we get this is one thing everyone loves to do and remember their childhood :) – By Arina Suchde

An adult with a yo-yo or an adult just digging into the frosting of a big cake with his/her fingers!! - By Arina Suchde

An Adult sign, that red A in capital letter with a circle around it. That A has a cross sign on it. A for adult. – By Rajat Tuli

A Tee which says Growing old is mandatory, Growing up is Optional. – By Nilesh Talreja

Insights on childhood our school calendars had the lamest reasons for being absent, wish we could make such excuses at work –By Nimisha Bhavsar

CLICK HERE TO VOTE !

Snapshots of Money Matters Workshop !

2010-05-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Back to School @ unlearn and relearn concepts around wealth creation, money, finances and products. Click here !

Dhanush Baan a.k.a. Bow & Arrow a.k.a Archery

2010-05-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

When? Sunday 13 June 2010

Where? Asmita Vidyalaya, Jogeshwari East

What’s this all about?

Remember the days of Ramayana and Mahabharata on DD when 5 episodes were devoted to arrows clashing mid-air? Or when Drona asked Arjun ‘ Batao Vatsa ... tumhe kya dikhta hai ’ ? Well, it's time to relive those memories, learn about an Olympic sport, understand the intricacies of how Arjun (from the gang of the Pandavas) did the cool stuff on TV, practice at a 5 & 10 meter range under the guidance of a Archery coach and have a lot of fun all in one day ! Welcome to our Workshop on ‘Bow and Arrow’ a.k.a. Archery!

So what’s in store that day?
The Archery workshop shall cover details and intricacies about this Olympic sport, teach you about the different kinds of bows (Indian, compound and recurve) used and how this sport can help you remain more focussed. There will be a bit of theory (not much) followed by Dry runs, tons of practice sessions and even a small team based competition amongst participants. Somewhere between this, if you are not too engrossed or exhausted playing bow and arrow, we will have lunch :)

About the Archery Coach
After a brief stint at Phillips India, Subhash Nair, driven by his passion, decided to be a sportsman. After being trained in the sport @ Malaysia, he has been practicing archery for the last 10 years (6 of which have been as a coach). He is a state level medallist and a National level player of this game and holds the distinction of being a Qualified National Archery coach has trained several national level players giving us a medal in International archery competitions.

I’m in...How do I register?
To register, call 9892338317 or drop us a mail at asif@willnevergrowup.com or click on the link below to pay online.
Click here !

How do I get to the venue?
Take the Western Express Highway and keep coming straight from the domestic airport. After a couple of small highways, take the exit near the Jogeshwari flyover. The place is a school just before Raheja Titanium and Standard Chartered building and is opposite the CRPF Camp. The place is approximately 8 minutes away from the domestic airport.

Cocktails and Bartending Workshop !

2010-05-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Click here ! to view snapshots and videos of the 'Cocktails and Bartending' Workshop !

Money Matters Workshop : 23 May 2010

2010-04-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Who should attend this workshop?

For all those who have wanted to know how money really works and what it takes to grow. This is for anyone who wants to gain insights into the world of investing and truly understand the concept of wealth creation. For anyone who avoids finances and financial planning because it’s boring and complicated. For anyone nodding their head...This is for you!

So what’s in store?

The Money Matters workshop shall cover concepts around wealth and understanding the middle class lifestyle in the most realistic way possible. Guide you on how to create an income pipeline. Help you understand the true meaning of assets and liabilities in your life. Understanding the debt trap and learn steps to avoid it. The session will also cover a module on demystifying concepts about financial products. All of this, the fun way and in a single day!

Who’s the speaker?

After passing out of IIM A in 1995, Maneesh Konkar has worked as a consultant for over 80 companies over the last 10 years. Vivacious and full of energy, he has been acting as a Training consultant across companies like ICICI, Aditya Birla Group, Godrej Industries and Naukri.com amongst others.

Entry Fee @ Rs. 1500/- per person

To register / pay online, Click Here !

Chumbak and Never Grow Up

2010-04-23T05:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, some products simply stick on to you ! In this case quite literally.... ! It gives us great pleasure to share that Never Grow Up has now tied up with ' Chumbak ' - a young brand into really cool magnets (obviously), bookmarks, tins, posters, keychains, notebooks, baggage tags and even funky boxer shots ! :)

Click Here to download the product brochure and if you like what you see... send us an order !

To view the entire range of products and brands available, log on to http://willnevergrowup.com/en/funstuff

The Never Grow Up Fan Page on Facebook !

2010-04-22T22:56:00.000-07:00

Join, Like, Post, Share... Have Fun !

Design our T-shirt & win an IPod Nano!

2010-04-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

We have been thinking a lot about what the official ‘Never Grow Up’ T-Shirt should be like. We thought...and though and ....well...thought some more until we came up with the idea of allowing you of Never Grow Up design a t-shirt for us. (how ingenious nahin?) But wait...every contest has to have rules and a prize right?! So in the interest of humanity and fair play... here goes...

Objective: Design a unisex T-shirt (either in white or black) for ‘Never Grow Up’ based on what we do and what we stand for... check the company presentation on Slide Share (Click Here)

Who can apply? Current and future Facebook fans of Never Grow Up. You can even invite your mama, chacha, brother, behena and friends as well. The contest is also open to all designers, freelancers and anyone who wants to their share of fame.

Me...Famous? Yes, not only will we showcase all the entries on Facebook with due credits, the winning entry will also win an IPod Nano (8GB). What’s more YOU will be the one who gets the credit in the future as well. A T-shirt for the people, by the people!

How to Submit? Think of what you would like to see on a t-shirt. Send us a Jpeg + CDR / EPS file (open files) containing the design along with a small note on why you think your T-shirt design works. (Basically, you need to make it idiot proof for us) You can mail us your queries and designs at funstuff@willnevergrowup.com

Bartending and Cocktails Workshop

2010-04-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

In what promises to be a fun filled Sunday, we at Never Grow Up Workshops are super thrilled to invite you to our 'Cocktails and Bartending Workshop'.

When? - Sunday 2nd May 2010 (In case you are wondering why we can do this on Saturday night, well... 1st ko dry day hai !)

What time? - 2:30 p.m. onwards

Where? - Little Italy, Juhu.

The workshop will be conducted by the super hot team of ’Flaming Trio’, pioneers in the field of Bartending. Started 5 years ago, this dynamic team of professional bartenders now offer a complete range of Bartending solutions from flare bartenders to bar design, besides have the ‘who’s who’ of the world as their clientele. Founded by winners of the various prestigious championships and a bartending academy, this team is sure to rock your Sunday.

As for the workshop details, the day starts around 2:30 pm where you can learn get an insight into the world of ‘mixology’. Learn what goes into your drink and more importantly, know why and what makes that difference? Shoot questions regarding the ingredients and also make cocktails on the spot. Also a showcase of some cool stuff...but we’d rather have you experience it.

Entry Fee @ Rs. 1550/- per person

To register, call 9892338317 or drop us a line at asif@willnevergrowup.com

Never Grow Up Company Presentation

2010-04-07T06:56:00.001-07:00

People often ask us... So, What do you do ? What are you guys into ?

We say... Like all good things, we have a company presentation too !

Never Grow Up Company Presentation

View more presentations from Never Grow Up Workshops Pvt.Ltd.

Recycle Art Workshop : Snapshots

2010-04-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Check out the snapshot of the Recycle Art Workshop Click Here !

Photography Workshop : 21 Feb 2010

2010-02-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

Snapshots of the Fun Photography Workshop held on 21st Feb 2010

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=394275&id=710530340&l=4c0a1c6263

http://www.willnevergrowup.com

2010-02-11T04:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.willnevergrowup.com

We are a company into fun Workshops, Merchandise and soon to launch - a club but really serious about having fun. For us, Never Grow Up is a mindset that transcends across generations. so go ahead...keep the child within alive, live that dream, pursue that hobby, stop and smell the roses...relive those moments and yes...have a lot of fun in the process!

The real life they say is out of the box...and our logo symbolises just that ! We live our lives in a box...a routine... a schedule... waiting... waiting for that much needed break... living friday to friday :) This is for anyone who does or does not want to grow up. For someone who Still loves secretly loves cartoons, is a fan of Animation Movies, loves to read Comics (old and new) ... is a bit looney...well.. a bit crazy.

http://www.willnevergrowup.com