***(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum, Philadelphia, March 22,2008)*

*Question:* Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

*Kalam:* Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's 'Rohini' satellite into orbit by 1980.

I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of  them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Sottish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took  responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there  was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, 'You conduct the press conference today.'

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

Highlights of Economic Survey of Pakistan 2007-08.pdf (209.67 kb)

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BismiLlahir Rehmanir Raheem
Meditation of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)

Remember! A Role Model For Forever…

When going through hardships, remember the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam) in Ta'if!

When being starved, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam) tying two stones to his stomach in the battle of Khandaq!

When becoming angry, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s control of anger on the martyrdom of his beloved Uncle Hamza!

When losing a tooth, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s tooth in the battle of Uhud!

When bleeding from any part of the body, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s body covered in blood on his return from Ta'if!

When feeling lonely, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s seclusion in Mount Hira!

When feeling tired in Salaat, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s blessed feet in Tahajjud!

When being prickled with thorns, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s pain from Abu Lahab's wife!

When being troubled by neighbors, remember the old woman who would empty rubbish on the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)!

When losing a child, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s son, Ibrahim!

When beginning a long journey, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s long journey to Madinah!

When going against a Sunnah, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s intercession, (Ummati, Ummati, Ummati) (My Ummah)!

When sacrificing an animal, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s sacrifice of 63 animals for his Ummah!

Before shaving your beard, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s face rejecting the two beardless!

When falling into an argument with your wife, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s encounter with Aisha and Hafsa (Radhiyallahu anhumaa)!

When experiencing less food in the house, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s days of poverty!

When experiencing poverty, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s advice to Ashaab-e-Suffa (People of Suffa)!

When losing a family member, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s departure from this world!

When becoming an orphan, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s age at six!

When sponsoring an orphan, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s sponsor for Zaid ibn Haritha (Radhiyallahu anhu)!

When fearing an enemy, remember the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)'s saying to Abu Bakr in Mount Thour!

Whatever situation you may find yourself in, remember your role model, the best of creation: Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa alaihi wassallam)!

Are we pleasing him or displeasing him?

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What is the difference between B.C., A.D., B.C.E., and C.E.?

   Lisa, Montgomery, Alabama, Webpost

B.C., which stands for "Before Christ," is used to date events before the birth of Jesus. A.D. is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase anno Domini, which means "in the year of our Lord," and is used for dates after Jesus's birth. This system of dating has been used for many years by Western archaeologists. Today, however, with a growing understanding that not all archaeologists are Christians, some archaeologists prefer to use the terms: Before the Common Era (B.C.E.) and the Common Era (C.E.), which are exactly the same as B.C. and A.D. but have nothing to do with Christianity.