God, How I wish I did not have a family, a company to work for and free to go with my anger against the system that is meaningless? This is exactly my thought every time I come across a corrupted social environment. Few things that keep a citizen in me anger, restless and frustrated. Every time I see the story of a corporate downfall, the entrepreneur in me is getting wild with wisdom.
Issues that bother us as part of Young Indians:
Corruption, Corruption, Corruption: The whole country is infected with a deadly virus called corruption. Right from the time, we stand in the queue for getting a child's birth certificate, a legal marriage certificate, a driving license, a corporation approval, a license to start a business, a ration card, a electoral card, a passport, a community certificate till finally getting a death certificate and a legal heir certificate in this country, every thing and anything will only happen if you pay that extra "gift" .
This shook me hard when I went to the doctor who declared my dad dead when I was 15. He said, pay me Rs.300 and I will issue you a certificate that your dad was brought dead. What? Did I not pay him his consultation fee when my dad was actually been alive in his last stages. Why should he give a wrong statement and why should I pay him to certify something that he declared. The next wave of embarrassment was when I went to my dad's own office- a government institute called State Excise. His own colleagues charged me Rs 500 to move his papers to process for the last payments that we were eligible to receive. Death certificate was another drama, asking useless and unrelated questions all because I refused to pay Rs 200 to the peon in the Tahsildar office in the town. It took us another 3 months to obtain a legal heir certificate after almost paying another Rs 1000 some 16 years ago. That was the beginning of my anger against corruption and the so called government institutions
Hiring, Transfer, Suspension, Retirement: For getting a job in a government sector, every post has a rate. Irrespective of your qualification and capability, there is something else which is a deciding factor in this country. "Under bench capacity" . I have seen a hindi pandit paying 1.5 lakhs and joining as a watchman in a municipal office. What the heck is happening in my country? My friend, a qualified Principal of a small school in a village travels nearly 4 hours a day from her town to this village and having an infant, when approached the education director, was asked to pay to nearly 2 lakhs for getting the Permanent transfer to her hometown. Her school teacher jobs pays her Rs 3500 a month.
Just because a district collector's brother in law wants a posting in the city, a strict and sincere police office gets booked under a false case himself and is thrown out on suspension. The worst came to my experience when my mom got retired. She served Municipal corporate for almost all her life, nearly 32 years working endless for the same organization. End of the journey, she had to run from pillar to post for nearly 6 months, for her own office to authenticate her service register, and finally she went ahead to go and satisfy her colleagues with her "gift" with out my knowledge, at least to be sure that she would get her pension shortly. She finally managed to get it, after her "well wishers" in the pension pay office found a friend in her. The bonus she got is a form for insurance that retired government servants are privileged to get but mostly unaware. I am annoyed.
Education, health care, insurance - nothing spared:
We have seen hundreds of movies where the most deserving candidate do not get admission to the right college, or the right department, because someone else could manage to make the payment under "Management Quota" . A rate fixed for every educational seat. How will the poor educational institutions manage to survive without capitation fees???!!! How much they spent to pay for acquiring required approvals to run the institutes? Where will they go to recover their costs? Ok, I have not got my education paying a capitation fee and I am determined not to let my child pay anything for getting her education as well. If she gets in merit, she will do professional courses, or else she has life skills to survive, music, fashion designing or anything else, that really don't need this corruption monster to dance upon.
Health care- God bless India. Hospitals are not spared from corruption. It was a Diwali night, and I was driving down near St. Mount, when I saw a man behind hit by another car. The bike rider was lying bleeding and half dead. I managed to call 1066 and plead for help. I was shocked to note that the caller was curious to know if I was his relative, for one reason, he had to be sure that the hospital expenses will be paid. Next he want to be sure that there is no legal obligations unattended. I understand his concerns. But at the same time, there is a life which is at stake and its the moral responsibility of the Ambulance to rush in.
Insurance - I always wonder if it is this sector as a whole that is corrupted or the intermediaries in the name of agents. The man is dead. His family is grieving. He had paid all his insurance premiums on time. His kids are in school. His wife is helpless and the whole family looks upon the agent to help. All for another cost of Rs 10000, for the insurance agent to use his influence in the company to get the claim processed quickly. But why? Why is this happening.
This is a continuous post and there seems to be no end. Can go on and on, describing cases and examples.
What we should aim at is to bring in a portal to citizens of this country to post various instances of corruption, and with proofs where ever possible, and run a strict and rapid campaign to curtail this menace in our society. Unless and until, rapid action is taken as one against AIDS or Polio, this country will be crippled from growth and dead from development sooner than later..
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Jobs melting down - 80000 jobs world wide hit on a single day
Jobs melting down - 80000 jobs world wide hit on a single dayIt makes us feel scary. Creating a sense of insecurity on what we hold and what we dream to build around us in our careers. Nothing is certain in this world today. One side we are fighting for rather silly things in the name of religion, culture and tradition, where the world is struggling today to make both ends meet. Millions of people are suffering from lack of proper food, shelter and clothing. Some parts of the world are struggling to cope up with the man-made wars, throwing civilians and innocent borders to risk and helplessness. Some parts of the world is continiously getting hit by earthquakes and floods, wild winds and unbearable cold still the countries trying to retain a calm and composed state of affairs. Thousands of people are going homeless not being able to pay the homeloans and other debts. There are thousand other things that are making our life globally difficult and miserable. The global forum of Financial experts are meeting in Swizterland this week to discuss how to curtail the impact of this global recession on the common man. Companies are struggling to make the overheads meet. People are struggling to keep up their performances and contributions so that they have they jobs secured. One side sports and arts are flourshing, and another side industry and agriculture is getting a hit. We can live without sports and arts, but I doubt if the world can run its wheels smoothly without core indigenous industry, banks, and agriculture surviving adversities of today. Major portion of the export markets that are struggling are not just steel, power, minerals or fuel, what is at stake include pharmacetuical companies, food exporters and education systems. Indian parents whose children are studying abroad are struggling more without much of employment opportunities supporting the children overseas. On the other hand, Pravasa Bharathiya concept is gaining momentum. Its the time for actual action by the economists and leaders of this Nation. Not to lose the strength of our fundamentals as reinterated by Prannay Roy in the thoughtful speech during the Indian of the Year awards function this month. Its time each one of us feel the need for a cautious handling of things around us, be it money, people or work. Unless and until we exercise strong strategic changes in the way we deal on our business goals, and work hard towards the much changed but possible way, there is less that we would be able to control under current circumstances. Instead of worrying about the tigers that may come, it is the right time to secure our caves from attacks. Nothing but a small old story of our childhood to make us think!!! This time towards a positive end.
Moral Policing - A Boon or a Bane?
Moral Policing going one step forward with making itself a dirty business. Inspite of the outage over the Mangalore Horror, a fragment of the society still believes that they are here to clean. Cleanse?? What?? I am not against the moral values of Indian Society nor against the decency necessary in a public behaviour. As a woman, sister, daughter and a mother, we all hold a high degree of responsibility towards our social behaviour. A behaviour that conducts ourselves to held our heads in pride and not in shame. This conduct of behaviour should be innate of oneselves and all of us do believe that we have our freedom backed by an amount of responsibility.
The girls who were molested in Mangalore were not hanging around in a public play ground or a road, they were spending time with their men folks, be it their companions, spouses or boy friends in the privacy of a pub. Molestation in the name of moral policing inside a pub, in the privacy of one's social life is disgusting. This is a shame to us, when the girls were made to run with their dresses being targetted to be stripped. The girls belong to a urban civilized community and may or may not have been to a pub with the parent's concurrences. That is a different story and can be addressed in a different forum. But, the question is, who are these people to condemn the private acts of few women at their discretion. I dont think, India is a taliban equivalent by any means?. Why are these men not targetting the areas operated by pimps and pro's in the society? What right or responsibility they have got to bring in such a shame to our Nation? The answer is that these girls behaved indecently!..
If they are so conscious about the social strata, let them first try to cover hundreds of mentally retarted women who are running with improper clothing in the Nation, build bathrooms for the women living in slums, create proper homes and living space for hundreds of vulnerable and destitute women sleeping in the Railway Stations and bus stands every day.
Someone, who do not see a solution to the existing problems in our community and social segment, have no right or reason to condemn the acts of few people in a private business area. Pubs and dance floors are not the areas they should really be bothered about. They dont even deserve so much of attention as they are frequented by the rich and elite of the society, where the parents also are aware of the behaviour of the children and ready to bear the consequences of the same what so ever.
If the social elements who are so concerned in the name of religion or a culture, or tradition, are really meaningful, and want to help the society, I would suggest they come forward to create a system that would eliminate still happening child marriages, bring in a change in the still prevelent dowry systems, provide employment opportunties to the women working in bars and night clubs, provide alternative means of living to the thousands of prostitutes who struggle without alternatives in our country. Till such time and work, no one has any right to condemn anyone in our so called democratic Republic.
The girls who were molested in Mangalore were not hanging around in a public play ground or a road, they were spending time with their men folks, be it their companions, spouses or boy friends in the privacy of a pub. Molestation in the name of moral policing inside a pub, in the privacy of one's social life is disgusting. This is a shame to us, when the girls were made to run with their dresses being targetted to be stripped. The girls belong to a urban civilized community and may or may not have been to a pub with the parent's concurrences. That is a different story and can be addressed in a different forum. But, the question is, who are these people to condemn the private acts of few women at their discretion. I dont think, India is a taliban equivalent by any means?. Why are these men not targetting the areas operated by pimps and pro's in the society? What right or responsibility they have got to bring in such a shame to our Nation? The answer is that these girls behaved indecently!..
If they are so conscious about the social strata, let them first try to cover hundreds of mentally retarted women who are running with improper clothing in the Nation, build bathrooms for the women living in slums, create proper homes and living space for hundreds of vulnerable and destitute women sleeping in the Railway Stations and bus stands every day.
Someone, who do not see a solution to the existing problems in our community and social segment, have no right or reason to condemn the acts of few people in a private business area. Pubs and dance floors are not the areas they should really be bothered about. They dont even deserve so much of attention as they are frequented by the rich and elite of the society, where the parents also are aware of the behaviour of the children and ready to bear the consequences of the same what so ever.
If the social elements who are so concerned in the name of religion or a culture, or tradition, are really meaningful, and want to help the society, I would suggest they come forward to create a system that would eliminate still happening child marriages, bring in a change in the still prevelent dowry systems, provide employment opportunties to the women working in bars and night clubs, provide alternative means of living to the thousands of prostitutes who struggle without alternatives in our country. Till such time and work, no one has any right to condemn anyone in our so called democratic Republic.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Managing Projects
Quite often I come across friends who keep talking to me over a coffee about the projects that they are trying to turn green. Red Projects and Green Projects. Yes, that is what is commonly heard in the industry. Across organizations and various verticals. The common phenomenon is that the height of project management is to manage projects well and maintain them GREEN.
As a Management graduate, my thinking goes little deeper into this issue. Why does projects go red when they are managed by people who are trained and certified in the Project Management. What could be the reasons why project fails? Where are the gaps in sustaining a above average metrics that indicate a project's success.
People and Passion: Ultimately what makes things work is the intellectual strength and technical know how of the people involved. Above all, the fire in the belly. An urge to succeed. Passion to achieve and identifying the best ways to do a work. Team work. Its like a truck of tasks going standstill when one wheel is punctured. Cant afford to have punctured wheels and it is important to replace the same. When does the wheel get punctured, is when the attitude is impossible to cooperate and handle in a team. If someone lacks ina technical skill or a soft skill, they can be trained. But if someone is not inspired to succeeded, its better not to have them in the key roles. Identify people with the fire to succeed even if they are in the botton of a hierarchy and provide them right platform to utilise their talents and this trust makes wonders.
Planning and Execution: Not all plans are usually executed by every word of it. Lot of projects take so much of effort to draft plans and thinking but when it comes to actually execution, things go by the need of the hour. Referring to the plans drafted and utilising experiences will help projects succeeding without reinventing the wheel. It may not be always possible to go by the books, but going by the books will avoid deviations that are unnecessary.
Process and Projects: Process is not one of the last activities not a parallel activity to any project. Process is an integrated effort for a project's success. Processes that are time tested and implemented earlier enrich the usability of available knowledge and identify areas that need concern earlier. Processes though may sound tough and hard to follow, in fact, make life easier when followed. They are like trains running on the defined tracks. As long as Projects run on the set of processes planned, the destination cannot be different from success. Process and Quality should not be the responsibility of just the quality personnel and project managers. Quality should be the watch word for every team member, whose individual deliverable also count to have the required quality, be it the development work or the project documentation.
Persistence and perfection: Every one works. Only those succeed who maintain a consistency in their work. Nothing can be 100% perfect. But aiming it will at least achieve us a near figure of success. When deadlines are set, and things are planned, leaving the fate of the project to the last phase of the time frame and moving slowly at the beginning of the project is a wrong way of handling things. Proactive actions, timely decisions and active participation right from the time, a project is kick started can only make a project successful.
Placing in customer's shoes: Instead of taking advantage of things that do not fall within the Line of Control, it is better to handle things first that are controllable. Nextly it is vital to put yourself in the shoes of your customer and think on the ROI. The customer had assigned a task to you, for two things. For he believes in your competency and deliverable. Do continuous reviews of where you stand from your end date and avoid rework.
Analysis and Playing the role of right Project Manager: Question yourself on the work you do. Can you go home today and sleep in peace with satisfaction that you did justice to your 8 hours of work? Did you complete all the tasks you planned for the day? Did you marks things deferred to be tracked for a later date? Do you have self followups in place? If yes, then there is no reason why you should be scared of the colour of your project. Bring in this wave of self analysis within each of your team members. Bring in a sense of accountability and responsibility. Delegation and belief in the strength of your team. Affirmation and planned way of handling things, and maintaining calmness during most difficult business situations will provide you the required mind frame to think. Projects succeed when managers handle things calmly and do not jump into hasty deviating decisions. When they protect the interests of the team and shield them with timely suggestions and do not transfer their burden of handling risks and contingencies to the team, the team will keep doing their best. Appreciation and recognising job well done, and highlighting the same, inspires the people who work hard, and motivates others around.
As a Management graduate, my thinking goes little deeper into this issue. Why does projects go red when they are managed by people who are trained and certified in the Project Management. What could be the reasons why project fails? Where are the gaps in sustaining a above average metrics that indicate a project's success.
People and Passion: Ultimately what makes things work is the intellectual strength and technical know how of the people involved. Above all, the fire in the belly. An urge to succeed. Passion to achieve and identifying the best ways to do a work. Team work. Its like a truck of tasks going standstill when one wheel is punctured. Cant afford to have punctured wheels and it is important to replace the same. When does the wheel get punctured, is when the attitude is impossible to cooperate and handle in a team. If someone lacks ina technical skill or a soft skill, they can be trained. But if someone is not inspired to succeeded, its better not to have them in the key roles. Identify people with the fire to succeed even if they are in the botton of a hierarchy and provide them right platform to utilise their talents and this trust makes wonders.
Planning and Execution: Not all plans are usually executed by every word of it. Lot of projects take so much of effort to draft plans and thinking but when it comes to actually execution, things go by the need of the hour. Referring to the plans drafted and utilising experiences will help projects succeeding without reinventing the wheel. It may not be always possible to go by the books, but going by the books will avoid deviations that are unnecessary.
Process and Projects: Process is not one of the last activities not a parallel activity to any project. Process is an integrated effort for a project's success. Processes that are time tested and implemented earlier enrich the usability of available knowledge and identify areas that need concern earlier. Processes though may sound tough and hard to follow, in fact, make life easier when followed. They are like trains running on the defined tracks. As long as Projects run on the set of processes planned, the destination cannot be different from success. Process and Quality should not be the responsibility of just the quality personnel and project managers. Quality should be the watch word for every team member, whose individual deliverable also count to have the required quality, be it the development work or the project documentation.
Persistence and perfection: Every one works. Only those succeed who maintain a consistency in their work. Nothing can be 100% perfect. But aiming it will at least achieve us a near figure of success. When deadlines are set, and things are planned, leaving the fate of the project to the last phase of the time frame and moving slowly at the beginning of the project is a wrong way of handling things. Proactive actions, timely decisions and active participation right from the time, a project is kick started can only make a project successful.
Placing in customer's shoes: Instead of taking advantage of things that do not fall within the Line of Control, it is better to handle things first that are controllable. Nextly it is vital to put yourself in the shoes of your customer and think on the ROI. The customer had assigned a task to you, for two things. For he believes in your competency and deliverable. Do continuous reviews of where you stand from your end date and avoid rework.
Analysis and Playing the role of right Project Manager: Question yourself on the work you do. Can you go home today and sleep in peace with satisfaction that you did justice to your 8 hours of work? Did you complete all the tasks you planned for the day? Did you marks things deferred to be tracked for a later date? Do you have self followups in place? If yes, then there is no reason why you should be scared of the colour of your project. Bring in this wave of self analysis within each of your team members. Bring in a sense of accountability and responsibility. Delegation and belief in the strength of your team. Affirmation and planned way of handling things, and maintaining calmness during most difficult business situations will provide you the required mind frame to think. Projects succeed when managers handle things calmly and do not jump into hasty deviating decisions. When they protect the interests of the team and shield them with timely suggestions and do not transfer their burden of handling risks and contingencies to the team, the team will keep doing their best. Appreciation and recognising job well done, and highlighting the same, inspires the people who work hard, and motivates others around.
Arise everytime you die!
I stopped for a moment when I heard some one in office utter aloud .."I am dead". Dead! Did I hear her right or was it just a way to express something unmanageable. Or may be just another exclamatory. But what if one comes across the same thing in the true sense. It necessarily need not be the final sleep that all of us one day have to go with. There can be situations equivalent or more painful than death. More worse that we find ourselves tremendously stressed out to handle.
To me every time, you die, you should arise. This death is not the end of the physical body, but it a tiring situation that makes us stop. Makes us stumble. Makes us wither. There seems to be no hope, no road ahead and no positive thoughts. Everything is blank and vacuum. There can be various reasons or circumstances under which once encounters death like situations. It is not easy as said. It takes lot of perseverance, strong faith, ardent belief and above all, the will to emerge, in fact emerge successful
Rama felt that her world came to an end and there is no life ahead when her husband died. She felt that her death could have been more a relief than going through the painful process of losing her beloved one. After 4 years, she emerged a strong woman running a small cooperative society supporting woman to begin small scale work from home opportunities. Today she employs 12 women in her small office.
For nearly 40 years, Keshav had built a small time pan shop into a leading jeweller shop in the city and was running a huge export business. A planned security breach of his employee with the security guards made him lose crores of his business. He felt lost. He felt cheated. He lost trust, faith and confidence. It took him another decade to recover and repay his debtors but he did it. Perseverance paid.
Jai, a stock broker in Chennai. The first of the few who introduced online trading in the city and got the BSE tickets to do the trading in the years when computers were not every man's commodity and trading was not a prospective business. He signed his first one crore rupees cheque in 1988, at the age of 24, the entire amount he made in 2 years of his career as a stock broker. 2009, January, Jai is reported to be missing from the city and his investors, customers and sub brokers are at the end of the road. Near to 30 crores of money that he owed to various stake holders is at a question mark. All that his office received is an email from him, is that he would arise from his death and come back. All he asked his folks is to trust him, have faith and be patient till the tsunami is softened. Having known the guts of this guy, am sure he would come back, this time, bringing some meaning to his people.
1970's were the time, the Vummidiars Jewellers were leading in Tamil nadu in the jewellery market having their best showroom in the place of the now standing Spencer Plaza on the Mount road. This is not the Vummidi shops that are flourishing in the city today and they were Vummidiars, the actual jewellers since 1920's in the business. Family feud, wrong market assumptions and taking people's trust to risk, by introducing a chit fund, way back in 1980's saw a sudden vanishing of this branded jewellers. Once popular group grounded, but what emerged are their wings in the form of expertise in United States where the young vummidiars are making waves as Gemologists. Vummidi group took the patronage and fame and created a new branding and image and sustainability.
Don't know if we should held our heads in pride for a woman's courage or shame for the vulnerability of few of brothers , when a gang rape victim, emerge from the social stigma, haunting police enquiries and courts proceedings and her own shell of pain and loss, and walk with pride running a school with the money she got as a compensation by the court in India and today she teaches children not just education but values that make them human beings above all.
Be it the loss of materialistic things, or emotional trauma's, what make people emerge every time they die? Faith. Faith in the future. Man is blessed with a mind to forget and forgive. Time heals. Those who learn to look beyond adversities, handle traumas with care and caution, keep up the courage and arise from confronting issues, will not only arise from death, but they show life to people around. They create success stories. They create a spectrum of happiness, peace and tranquility. They create a chain of life, a life beyond death!
Let me die millions times before I sleep, for every time I emerge from my death, what brings out of me is a better person, a learnt soul, a refined human being. That would put me to my final peaceful sleep!!! Arise every time you die!!!
To me every time, you die, you should arise. This death is not the end of the physical body, but it a tiring situation that makes us stop. Makes us stumble. Makes us wither. There seems to be no hope, no road ahead and no positive thoughts. Everything is blank and vacuum. There can be various reasons or circumstances under which once encounters death like situations. It is not easy as said. It takes lot of perseverance, strong faith, ardent belief and above all, the will to emerge, in fact emerge successful
Rama felt that her world came to an end and there is no life ahead when her husband died. She felt that her death could have been more a relief than going through the painful process of losing her beloved one. After 4 years, she emerged a strong woman running a small cooperative society supporting woman to begin small scale work from home opportunities. Today she employs 12 women in her small office.
For nearly 40 years, Keshav had built a small time pan shop into a leading jeweller shop in the city and was running a huge export business. A planned security breach of his employee with the security guards made him lose crores of his business. He felt lost. He felt cheated. He lost trust, faith and confidence. It took him another decade to recover and repay his debtors but he did it. Perseverance paid.
Jai, a stock broker in Chennai. The first of the few who introduced online trading in the city and got the BSE tickets to do the trading in the years when computers were not every man's commodity and trading was not a prospective business. He signed his first one crore rupees cheque in 1988, at the age of 24, the entire amount he made in 2 years of his career as a stock broker. 2009, January, Jai is reported to be missing from the city and his investors, customers and sub brokers are at the end of the road. Near to 30 crores of money that he owed to various stake holders is at a question mark. All that his office received is an email from him, is that he would arise from his death and come back. All he asked his folks is to trust him, have faith and be patient till the tsunami is softened. Having known the guts of this guy, am sure he would come back, this time, bringing some meaning to his people.
1970's were the time, the Vummidiars Jewellers were leading in Tamil nadu in the jewellery market having their best showroom in the place of the now standing Spencer Plaza on the Mount road. This is not the Vummidi shops that are flourishing in the city today and they were Vummidiars, the actual jewellers since 1920's in the business. Family feud, wrong market assumptions and taking people's trust to risk, by introducing a chit fund, way back in 1980's saw a sudden vanishing of this branded jewellers. Once popular group grounded, but what emerged are their wings in the form of expertise in United States where the young vummidiars are making waves as Gemologists. Vummidi group took the patronage and fame and created a new branding and image and sustainability.
Don't know if we should held our heads in pride for a woman's courage or shame for the vulnerability of few of brothers , when a gang rape victim, emerge from the social stigma, haunting police enquiries and courts proceedings and her own shell of pain and loss, and walk with pride running a school with the money she got as a compensation by the court in India and today she teaches children not just education but values that make them human beings above all.
Be it the loss of materialistic things, or emotional trauma's, what make people emerge every time they die? Faith. Faith in the future. Man is blessed with a mind to forget and forgive. Time heals. Those who learn to look beyond adversities, handle traumas with care and caution, keep up the courage and arise from confronting issues, will not only arise from death, but they show life to people around. They create success stories. They create a spectrum of happiness, peace and tranquility. They create a chain of life, a life beyond death!
Let me die millions times before I sleep, for every time I emerge from my death, what brings out of me is a better person, a learnt soul, a refined human being. That would put me to my final peaceful sleep!!! Arise every time you die!!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Obama Fever
My Obama fever has restarted again. This time, because 20th January 2009 not only marks the inauguration of the 44th President of United States but an expected transformation of the world economy as his regime begins. I am one of the millions of enthusiastic spectators who is expecting some miracles to happen and for the world economy to oil its wheels quickly to get accelerated asap.
One quick glance of this man in Michigan during his campaigns from a distance, and having had the opportunity to listen to his most of the speeches during his campaign, and also his acceptance speech in Chicago made me his great fan. He has got a fire in him that will drive him hard to face the turbulence's of the stumbling global economy and its direct impact in United States and the world all over. He represents a victory over racism. He remarkably presents himself as the voice of a common man. The way he starts his speech and gets so involved and engrossed and bring in a wave and vibration in the listeners just do not represent a strong orator but a inner leader who awakes as he talks. "Yes, We Can" , the words that naturally flew in his speech, became the slogan of the century. The three words represent positiveness, optimistic future, possibility, and above all Faith. A transforming faith. When a million people together shout, that WE CAN, let me tell you, it just happens, the change not just America needs but the world needs at this hour.
Inspired by this young leader and his views and opinions, I only keep my prayers strong that Indo-US relations should be strengthen and bilateral and economic understanding should grow paving a strong path for trade and commerce, and intellectual exchange to flourish for years to come making India stand ahead as a Developed Nation. His support on fighting terrorism and controlling borders restlessness should help India and our neighbours to develop manageable relationships that are looking for verifiable objector evidence every time we come across an issue. India and Indians in United States should aim at making the best of times during the next years of Obama regime, for here what we have is a man who is intellectually brilliant, emotionally 100% American and rationally strong winning over odd adversities and above all a very ordinary man with extraordinary family values and support system. He have lot of ingredients that sprang in every Indian and unlike most of his predecessors at the White House, here comes an American President who is a global Hero even before he takes over the oval office.
Hatts Off Obama, am sure your parents would be proud where ever they are and you certainly do have your grandmother's blessings. Enjoy your time in DC and give back to the world little more than what is expected, for that's your style and passion, to exceeding expectations!!!
One quick glance of this man in Michigan during his campaigns from a distance, and having had the opportunity to listen to his most of the speeches during his campaign, and also his acceptance speech in Chicago made me his great fan. He has got a fire in him that will drive him hard to face the turbulence's of the stumbling global economy and its direct impact in United States and the world all over. He represents a victory over racism. He remarkably presents himself as the voice of a common man. The way he starts his speech and gets so involved and engrossed and bring in a wave and vibration in the listeners just do not represent a strong orator but a inner leader who awakes as he talks. "Yes, We Can" , the words that naturally flew in his speech, became the slogan of the century. The three words represent positiveness, optimistic future, possibility, and above all Faith. A transforming faith. When a million people together shout, that WE CAN, let me tell you, it just happens, the change not just America needs but the world needs at this hour.
Inspired by this young leader and his views and opinions, I only keep my prayers strong that Indo-US relations should be strengthen and bilateral and economic understanding should grow paving a strong path for trade and commerce, and intellectual exchange to flourish for years to come making India stand ahead as a Developed Nation. His support on fighting terrorism and controlling borders restlessness should help India and our neighbours to develop manageable relationships that are looking for verifiable objector evidence every time we come across an issue. India and Indians in United States should aim at making the best of times during the next years of Obama regime, for here what we have is a man who is intellectually brilliant, emotionally 100% American and rationally strong winning over odd adversities and above all a very ordinary man with extraordinary family values and support system. He have lot of ingredients that sprang in every Indian and unlike most of his predecessors at the White House, here comes an American President who is a global Hero even before he takes over the oval office.
Hatts Off Obama, am sure your parents would be proud where ever they are and you certainly do have your grandmother's blessings. Enjoy your time in DC and give back to the world little more than what is expected, for that's your style and passion, to exceeding expectations!!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Hindu Opportunities Edition missing today
Wednesday Hindu paper used to be eagerly awaited by most of the professionals looking for a change or for the best of opportunities that get listed. Today, surprisingly after many years, we find the supplement missing. Reason: No enough classified to publish a complete supplement on the job market. Gosh, where are we heading to... all that had was added as two sides to the main edition. Is this representing a dull or rather lost job market. Interestingly, what was visible is also not biggest companies openings or fully from IT industry. Its just 12 days that this year passed and it makes us wonder, what is all it has got in store in 2009.
The fall of a King and his worst hit empire in the last one week had caused enough trauma to a recession stuck industry. It made people speak so much, discussed and debated at length, about a person who was once regarded as the best for governance, excellent corporate to look upon and man who made it to masses from a scratch. Overnight, things changed. 20 years of hard earned prestige, power and people are gone. Greed had been the primary reason. The system failed and made people think what to believe and what not to believe. The questions on the integrity of an industrialist or a corporate remained too large and too complex. Accounting standards, auditing reliability, political support, contractual obligations, people's trust and hard earned money, insecurity of jobs of more than 50000 people and their families, depending vendors, investors, everything under the purview became a question mark. What failed. Quality of a human brain.
The Nation stood standstill when another set of 50000 people refused to work for few days. Oil PSUs strike shook the Nation making it stand in queues for fuel. The life of an ordinary man was hit and we did nothing but to patiently wait and watch, and see the drama unfold in every news bulletin. Government believed that they are paid no less, people getting paid alteast 1 Lakh and above called for a strike. Those who did it, said that they are under paid. Prime Minister believed it otherwise. Trucks strike made the ordinary man's woes continue. Though fighting for rights is recommended, there is a way to do it. Strikes are in no way a recommended way.
Its just 12 days and so many issues. Government is working over night with the crisis management team to fix most of the issues. By the way Sibu Soren lost the election... does it trouble someone..hope so and hope not so too! It is time for looking for predictions this year!! ?Another question mark. All I decided to do now, is close this post, and go to bed, so that I get back to work tomorrow on time, and just do what is planned for the day. And find ways not to disappoint someone at work and learn to be cautious and just keep up my good work!
The fall of a King and his worst hit empire in the last one week had caused enough trauma to a recession stuck industry. It made people speak so much, discussed and debated at length, about a person who was once regarded as the best for governance, excellent corporate to look upon and man who made it to masses from a scratch. Overnight, things changed. 20 years of hard earned prestige, power and people are gone. Greed had been the primary reason. The system failed and made people think what to believe and what not to believe. The questions on the integrity of an industrialist or a corporate remained too large and too complex. Accounting standards, auditing reliability, political support, contractual obligations, people's trust and hard earned money, insecurity of jobs of more than 50000 people and their families, depending vendors, investors, everything under the purview became a question mark. What failed. Quality of a human brain.
The Nation stood standstill when another set of 50000 people refused to work for few days. Oil PSUs strike shook the Nation making it stand in queues for fuel. The life of an ordinary man was hit and we did nothing but to patiently wait and watch, and see the drama unfold in every news bulletin. Government believed that they are paid no less, people getting paid alteast 1 Lakh and above called for a strike. Those who did it, said that they are under paid. Prime Minister believed it otherwise. Trucks strike made the ordinary man's woes continue. Though fighting for rights is recommended, there is a way to do it. Strikes are in no way a recommended way.
Its just 12 days and so many issues. Government is working over night with the crisis management team to fix most of the issues. By the way Sibu Soren lost the election... does it trouble someone..hope so and hope not so too! It is time for looking for predictions this year!! ?Another question mark. All I decided to do now, is close this post, and go to bed, so that I get back to work tomorrow on time, and just do what is planned for the day. And find ways not to disappoint someone at work and learn to be cautious and just keep up my good work!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Civilized society unable to stop war
Watching the news on Times Now last night made me recall those days when I first saw a live war in television. Flights and bombers zooming in Iraq and Kuwait, first war that was telecasts all over the world. Nothing of it changed the way the war entered 11th day in the Gaza strip, killing civilians and tarnishing school buildings. Palestine and Israel war doesn't seem to end for any good any soon. For a moment it makes us feel if at all we are in the civilized society where every negotiation and dialogue fails to resolve confronting issues between the nations.
My heart started to ache further when the next news in line was of our brave soldiers making it amidst the terrain, cold winds and a fierce enemy marching towards them in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. They are very close to the LOC fighting for the security of our Nation. The cry for a war against terror inside the country is bringing in a cold war in the borders again. Army soldiers are fighting the terrorists and moving forward, leaving behind their families and friends in sheer desperation. It is shame on our country that we don't give due respect to these soldiers who put their lives for the security of the Nation and in turn idolize and cheer cricketers and actors who make the most of fame and money in their professions. There are hundreds of unsung heroes of our Nation whose families are shattered after they had laid down their lives for our homeland security. Unless and until we wake up to the internal and border security of our Nation, no wonder war is always at our door step. We need leaders who would raise their voices and create a sense of fear in Nations to even think of attacking us. We need powerful leaders who can create a sense of security in the minds of Indians and a sense of fear on those who aim against us. According to Bhagavath Gita, " If war is inevitable, fight it with courage." When negotiations fail, and diplomacy disdains, and war become the only way to win for our Nation, let it not be the responsibility of the few soldiers alone, let the whole Nation awake to the call, a call for security and peace of our Mother Land.
My heart started to ache further when the next news in line was of our brave soldiers making it amidst the terrain, cold winds and a fierce enemy marching towards them in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. They are very close to the LOC fighting for the security of our Nation. The cry for a war against terror inside the country is bringing in a cold war in the borders again. Army soldiers are fighting the terrorists and moving forward, leaving behind their families and friends in sheer desperation. It is shame on our country that we don't give due respect to these soldiers who put their lives for the security of the Nation and in turn idolize and cheer cricketers and actors who make the most of fame and money in their professions. There are hundreds of unsung heroes of our Nation whose families are shattered after they had laid down their lives for our homeland security. Unless and until we wake up to the internal and border security of our Nation, no wonder war is always at our door step. We need leaders who would raise their voices and create a sense of fear in Nations to even think of attacking us. We need powerful leaders who can create a sense of security in the minds of Indians and a sense of fear on those who aim against us. According to Bhagavath Gita, " If war is inevitable, fight it with courage." When negotiations fail, and diplomacy disdains, and war become the only way to win for our Nation, let it not be the responsibility of the few soldiers alone, let the whole Nation awake to the call, a call for security and peace of our Mother Land.
Monday, January 5, 2009
My New Year Post
Year 2009, another new year started with the usual prayers and celebrations. Bringing in new hopes and new expectations. There is so much of energy to sustain throught out this year, face adequate challenges, prepare oneselves for best of opportunities and bring in more success. Success is a huge edifice that can be built with bricks of hardwork, cement called trust, sand called dedication and water called right perceptions and mix it with right attitudes and vision towards certain goals set for this year, both individual and entreprenuel. The goals towards both professional enrichment and personal growth. Wishing my family and friends and all my well wishes and collegues a wonderful and passionate year ahead! Happy New Year
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sculpturing a stone to a success story...
Many a time, lot of things in this world go meaningless and value less, just because they dont happen at the right time, at the right place and with the right people. Lot of talent goes unnoticed because they dont know the way of right exposure. Lot of experience go useless without others learning from it. Lot of efforts result in no visible changes or profits or making a difference. Why does this happen? And how often does this happen. It can happen to anyone, any time and any where. What makes the change? How come some people experience a difference in life? When they find that something called "Right" in all aspects.
There is an inspiring story of two people - simple friends who did simple things in an extra ordinary way. They did not do different things, but did things differently from others around them. A decade of perservarance, warmth and unchanged understanding and equivilibrium of thougts to grow in life. They still remain simple friends who fight, who laugh together and who cry together for ups and downs in life.
It was the beginning of their careers, simple and small pay jobs that kept their kitchen fires running. A small moped that helped them shuttle to office. She used to help him fuel that little vehicle and he used to pool her to office, to avoid the atrocities of heavily crowded city buses, and protecting her from the men who are still meaner in their behaviours in the buses. He used to help her by training during lunch and after office hours on technology that she never understood completely. She used to listen to his classes and suggest improvements. 3 years went off by the time, the little office they worked, had its shutters closed. Just 5 collegues and 3 best friends emerged. First birthday of her child celebrated with the sponsered money from him. She rushed with her last few hundreds to help him take his wife for a surgery. Life unfolded by each other helping in times of need and still managing to look at being something big in the future.
From there they had to take different paths in career, but still remained together in life, with the same care and concern, love and affection. There emerged two interdependent families.
With a huge joint family, little child, sick husband then and a demanding job at a call centre, she shouted at him, when he proposed her to start taking up an MBA course. Finally his cause won. She gave him a direction to move from a training institute to a software career, a dream that he dreamt from his Anna University days as a trainee and student. From then, nothing made them look back.
People looked at them with envy. With always a wrong intention but they never bothered about what others think. What mattered to them was their growth, their children, their families and future. For that if they had to spend time together everyday, they did it. They did not regret for the false looks they had just because its a married man moving with another married woman. Society looks upon you and puts you down, only if there is something for which you should be guilty of. As long as there is no such wrong notions between them, I think that made them never ever bother about all this scrap of the dirty minds. A pious friendship, a carefilled relationship and fathomless affection. Together they toiled towards their growth, worked unearthly hours, shared beautiful thoughts and all good wishes, equally handled issues and troubles on the way, stood besides each other when trauma stuck and started to realise their dreams. Building a success story from scrap is a tiring process, but with someone's faith and confidence, nothing is impossible in this world. Today they inspire youngsters like them to aim big and move forward what ever may be the circumstances. Especially he doesnt give lectures like she does, but his sets examples by his actions. She is an orator and a writer who I think inspires people around. Today she and her husband regard him as one in their family, nothing happens without him at home. His family gets elited with them around. Now they chase each other to grow further big, leaving behind all the tragedies of poverty, vulnerability, fears and insecurities.
Moral of the story: A stone is just a stone unless its in the right sculptures hand.
Bottomline: That is Krishnan Vadivel for me! My Mentor, Guide and a Best Friend.
There is an inspiring story of two people - simple friends who did simple things in an extra ordinary way. They did not do different things, but did things differently from others around them. A decade of perservarance, warmth and unchanged understanding and equivilibrium of thougts to grow in life. They still remain simple friends who fight, who laugh together and who cry together for ups and downs in life.
It was the beginning of their careers, simple and small pay jobs that kept their kitchen fires running. A small moped that helped them shuttle to office. She used to help him fuel that little vehicle and he used to pool her to office, to avoid the atrocities of heavily crowded city buses, and protecting her from the men who are still meaner in their behaviours in the buses. He used to help her by training during lunch and after office hours on technology that she never understood completely. She used to listen to his classes and suggest improvements. 3 years went off by the time, the little office they worked, had its shutters closed. Just 5 collegues and 3 best friends emerged. First birthday of her child celebrated with the sponsered money from him. She rushed with her last few hundreds to help him take his wife for a surgery. Life unfolded by each other helping in times of need and still managing to look at being something big in the future.
From there they had to take different paths in career, but still remained together in life, with the same care and concern, love and affection. There emerged two interdependent families.
With a huge joint family, little child, sick husband then and a demanding job at a call centre, she shouted at him, when he proposed her to start taking up an MBA course. Finally his cause won. She gave him a direction to move from a training institute to a software career, a dream that he dreamt from his Anna University days as a trainee and student. From then, nothing made them look back.
People looked at them with envy. With always a wrong intention but they never bothered about what others think. What mattered to them was their growth, their children, their families and future. For that if they had to spend time together everyday, they did it. They did not regret for the false looks they had just because its a married man moving with another married woman. Society looks upon you and puts you down, only if there is something for which you should be guilty of. As long as there is no such wrong notions between them, I think that made them never ever bother about all this scrap of the dirty minds. A pious friendship, a carefilled relationship and fathomless affection. Together they toiled towards their growth, worked unearthly hours, shared beautiful thoughts and all good wishes, equally handled issues and troubles on the way, stood besides each other when trauma stuck and started to realise their dreams. Building a success story from scrap is a tiring process, but with someone's faith and confidence, nothing is impossible in this world. Today they inspire youngsters like them to aim big and move forward what ever may be the circumstances. Especially he doesnt give lectures like she does, but his sets examples by his actions. She is an orator and a writer who I think inspires people around. Today she and her husband regard him as one in their family, nothing happens without him at home. His family gets elited with them around. Now they chase each other to grow further big, leaving behind all the tragedies of poverty, vulnerability, fears and insecurities.
Moral of the story: A stone is just a stone unless its in the right sculptures hand.
Bottomline: That is Krishnan Vadivel for me! My Mentor, Guide and a Best Friend.
An Year that had been larger than Life 2008
Especially for me, this had been one of the best years in my career and very challenging year overall. An year which had seen the best of time and the worst of slide downs throughout. An year which gathered momentum of all sorts. An year of success and much tiring times.
January 2008: My husband with Aish went to fulfill a long time prayers to Lord Ayyappan .
I was taken by surprise as my interview on "Chennai Sangamam" flashed in NDTV on the Pongal day Jan 15th across India.
February 2008: Winning the EWIT excellence award, especially taking a lead on my role model pushed me to a list of surprises. Most Valuable Player Award from GD for Q1 was one another pleasant surprise
March 2008: Addressing a Women's forum on a International Women's day ignited my spirits all the more. Diagnostics Tool Certification was another technical achievement that I least expected. March 12 marked its significance when my father in law gave me a standing ovation as I went on stage in Music Academy to receive my award. My mom and family stood in applause.
April 2008: Got my visa to US and travelled with family to Michigan in mid April, proving a point to lot of people who thought we would get succumbed to my husbands sickness. Turning negative times to positive opportunities once again proved as my strength.
May 2008: Two things fight to take the first seat... Aishu turned 10 and our visit to Niagara falls. To me its a dream come true. Water Falls excites me always and this Falls made my dream many times, and walking down the Niagara river, I felt an amazing transformation in me
Finally my much awaited dual MBA certificate came in from IGNOU...
June 2008: Visit to Sears Towers Chicago and also getting my 7th EAward at work gave a real boost
July 2008: Kick started a huge responsibility wearing multiple hats at work towards a much required 24*7 concentration and working towards only one goal- a project success.
Aish met Dr Kalam in her school.
September 2008: Spent a good amount of time with my childhood friend Madhuri- a deep dive down a 16 years back school stories... wow, what lives for a life time is the childhood friendships
A new friend sparked my life with the presence on my birthday. Also lost a good friend Radikha, whose untimely death moved me beyond thoughts
October 2008: Completed the largest responsibility entrusted upon me. Started to re vibrate my thoughts in my blog. Thanks to this writing spree that got me introduced to Mrs Sarada Ramani....my ongoing inspiration.
Novemeber 2008: Tears rolled down on the day we went live, as a flag bearer of a project that tested our patience and efforts. Watching Obama transform the American history was another exciting moment. Finally bid adieu to Michigan, that gave me a new and profound energies to look at life...Manjit brought new and real meaning to friendship.
December 2008: Aish winning with her school team in the Inter School Dance fest conducted by kalaignar TV and Abirami Mall, made me recognise a grown up independent child who knows to handle priorities. Still remember the sparks in those four eyes that awaited me in Airport as I came back to India, Aish and Raghu gave me a big hug making me feel proud of my family... without their fullest support, I am sure, I would not have been what I am, my mom and sisters awaited eagerly along with my best friends and my mentor Krishnan and my manager Shankar. Getting back an old and much cherished friendship back in life, is like getting back a lost fortune....sometimes, people and their emotions bring in more happiness than materialistic things. Thanks to this wonderful year, that thought me lot of things that gives me a strength to handle anything in life
January 2008: My husband with Aish went to fulfill a long time prayers to Lord Ayyappan .
I was taken by surprise as my interview on "Chennai Sangamam" flashed in NDTV on the Pongal day Jan 15th across India.
February 2008: Winning the EWIT excellence award, especially taking a lead on my role model pushed me to a list of surprises. Most Valuable Player Award from GD for Q1 was one another pleasant surprise
March 2008: Addressing a Women's forum on a International Women's day ignited my spirits all the more. Diagnostics Tool Certification was another technical achievement that I least expected. March 12 marked its significance when my father in law gave me a standing ovation as I went on stage in Music Academy to receive my award. My mom and family stood in applause.
April 2008: Got my visa to US and travelled with family to Michigan in mid April, proving a point to lot of people who thought we would get succumbed to my husbands sickness. Turning negative times to positive opportunities once again proved as my strength.
May 2008: Two things fight to take the first seat... Aishu turned 10 and our visit to Niagara falls. To me its a dream come true. Water Falls excites me always and this Falls made my dream many times, and walking down the Niagara river, I felt an amazing transformation in me
Finally my much awaited dual MBA certificate came in from IGNOU...
June 2008: Visit to Sears Towers Chicago and also getting my 7th EAward at work gave a real boost
July 2008: Kick started a huge responsibility wearing multiple hats at work towards a much required 24*7 concentration and working towards only one goal- a project success.
Aish met Dr Kalam in her school.
September 2008: Spent a good amount of time with my childhood friend Madhuri- a deep dive down a 16 years back school stories... wow, what lives for a life time is the childhood friendships
A new friend sparked my life with the presence on my birthday. Also lost a good friend Radikha, whose untimely death moved me beyond thoughts
October 2008: Completed the largest responsibility entrusted upon me. Started to re vibrate my thoughts in my blog. Thanks to this writing spree that got me introduced to Mrs Sarada Ramani....my ongoing inspiration.
Novemeber 2008: Tears rolled down on the day we went live, as a flag bearer of a project that tested our patience and efforts. Watching Obama transform the American history was another exciting moment. Finally bid adieu to Michigan, that gave me a new and profound energies to look at life...Manjit brought new and real meaning to friendship.
December 2008: Aish winning with her school team in the Inter School Dance fest conducted by kalaignar TV and Abirami Mall, made me recognise a grown up independent child who knows to handle priorities. Still remember the sparks in those four eyes that awaited me in Airport as I came back to India, Aish and Raghu gave me a big hug making me feel proud of my family... without their fullest support, I am sure, I would not have been what I am, my mom and sisters awaited eagerly along with my best friends and my mentor Krishnan and my manager Shankar. Getting back an old and much cherished friendship back in life, is like getting back a lost fortune....sometimes, people and their emotions bring in more happiness than materialistic things. Thanks to this wonderful year, that thought me lot of things that gives me a strength to handle anything in life
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Fears, Feelings, Failures- Needs Faith to handle them!!!
Recent past had been a witness to the emerging fears across the globe. A hard hit recession, changing job markets, dripping economies, war like terror striking Nations, and suddenly everywhere around, there seems to be a sobre mood. Fears that are weird and varying in nature. Companies are worried how to handle the salaries, jobs, people, expectations, customers, commitments etc. Employees are tight lipped in job insecurity, inflated cost of living, rising prices, and uncertain global scenarios. Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and many other major indigenous auto companies are showing a slow down. It reminds of the way the Standard Motors came to a standstill in 1980's.
Once glorious cities now fear turmoil beyond repair. One highly paid companies today struggle to manage their balance sheets. We are seeing top companies like Satyam going ahead with acquiring its promoters owned Real estate businesses buying debt, making people wonder what kind of business strategies these are. Infosys took this time to employees to go on salary paid community service time...bringing in new initiatives to serve the society. On the other side, the Indian Auto Industry is creating waves by creating cheap cars. Backed by the quick and rapid moves by RBI and PSU banks towards CRR and cutting down interest rates on the home loans and public borrowing, the Indian financial spectrum is all set to bring the movement necessary is the otherwise standstill consumer market.
One thing that makes everything move forward is a constant faith. Faith in the fact that things will change, and change for good. And this is the time, that we keep our faiths stronger and steadier to move forward amidst any kind of adversity. It is the time, that we all keep our faith in our possibilities, and it is also the time to uphold our faith in the power that is at work behind the veil, faith in the work that is to be done and the offered guidance
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Embajada De Espana - An Introduction to Spain
As the Ice Storm bid adieu to me in Detroit, I planned to reach Airport little earlier than planned. Waiting in the airport lounge, a black American sitting next to me, asked me with a frightful look if I am travelling to India. Thanks to CNN showcasting the Mumbai terror again and again in an television adjascent to us. He gave me a sympathatic look at me. Do I need to fear going back to India? Huh... Was surprised when my co-passenger sitting next to me in the Airplane asked me the same question. Common guys, terror is stricking my Nation, agree..but that doesn't mean that we should not travel to India. Amidst this discussion, emerged a friend from Spain.
Roberto Vazquez Delgado, who works for Dept D'Informatique started to introduce me to Spain. Spain being the second largest country in Western Europe. An invitation to come to Madrid and from there to Barcelona, made me curious about Spain. Today what we realise is a global village. Travel to any part of this world is possible. Learning and adopting to any culture is easy. Making friends world over is a practice. Being at the helm of affairs is an advantage. Information is power. That makes me begin all my plans of my next trip, this time to Spain.
Roberto Vazquez Delgado, who works for Dept D'Informatique started to introduce me to Spain. Spain being the second largest country in Western Europe. An invitation to come to Madrid and from there to Barcelona, made me curious about Spain. Today what we realise is a global village. Travel to any part of this world is possible. Learning and adopting to any culture is easy. Making friends world over is a practice. Being at the helm of affairs is an advantage. Information is power. That makes me begin all my plans of my next trip, this time to Spain.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Bye Bye Michigan!
Ironically this happens to be my 100th post in this blog, may be the last one from Pontiac, USA this year, and also happens to be the most cherished post.
When I was coming to US, I was thinking that I would not have anything to leave behind or carry forward other than a Project's destiny and memories of places I visited. But today the story is different. I carry with me the most valuable learnings, enriched individuality, better confidence, best of technical and quality, process and deliverables experience and above all many hearts who wish I would come back. I was infact taken back my pleasant shock when one of my friends here said she would pray hard that my plane gets cancelled!! what a prayer!! Just because I would stay back for a little more time!! Gosh, unbelievable!.
I made good number of friends in my co-workers here especially Lori, Savitha and John.. Outside office, I think the best happened to me are Manjith, Usha aunty, Arul, Pastor Rajan, Kuchmolz aunty, Raj, Sudha Chayya, and ofcourse Madhuri and Srividhya, getting back in life here in USA.
This year had been wonderful with so much of activity and achievements, it is also one of the most excellent years in my career and also in personal life, and probably amidst the recession and its ripple effects, I am still confident that I can make the best of the coming year as well, in terms of learning, growth and putting in my hardwork at work and also confidence that I can make the best of my times ahead. God, thank you for this year, the experience and the opportunity and all the blessings and good things that happened, thank you for the bad things as well, for they change the way we look at life and learn from experiences and become better person. Thanks to all everyone who made this journey especially my manager, my mentor, my friends and my family..above all my little one who cooperated with me being independent and understanding to balance my life so far so good towards growth.
When I was coming to US, I was thinking that I would not have anything to leave behind or carry forward other than a Project's destiny and memories of places I visited. But today the story is different. I carry with me the most valuable learnings, enriched individuality, better confidence, best of technical and quality, process and deliverables experience and above all many hearts who wish I would come back. I was infact taken back my pleasant shock when one of my friends here said she would pray hard that my plane gets cancelled!! what a prayer!! Just because I would stay back for a little more time!! Gosh, unbelievable!.
I made good number of friends in my co-workers here especially Lori, Savitha and John.. Outside office, I think the best happened to me are Manjith, Usha aunty, Arul, Pastor Rajan, Kuchmolz aunty, Raj, Sudha Chayya, and ofcourse Madhuri and Srividhya, getting back in life here in USA.
This year had been wonderful with so much of activity and achievements, it is also one of the most excellent years in my career and also in personal life, and probably amidst the recession and its ripple effects, I am still confident that I can make the best of the coming year as well, in terms of learning, growth and putting in my hardwork at work and also confidence that I can make the best of my times ahead. God, thank you for this year, the experience and the opportunity and all the blessings and good things that happened, thank you for the bad things as well, for they change the way we look at life and learn from experiences and become better person. Thanks to all everyone who made this journey especially my manager, my mentor, my friends and my family..above all my little one who cooperated with me being independent and understanding to balance my life so far so good towards growth.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Few Funny Pictures, I managed to click!
Tried taking a bag from the girl, thought would be too much to carry home
Manjith tried to catch the falling man!!!
One picture most of the girls were clicking with, wondered what, and laughing to myself, I also stood beside this poster. Not a bad idea, to show this to my man and declare something!!! Ofcourse, to pull him at times! Jus Kidding!
Always had a wooden tortoise charm sitting on my laptop which my overseas collegue gifted me, I thought, this time, I would move on with some thing new, and found this little cute things hanging around on my table!!!
Me and My Snowman!
Tried this snow man but started to shiver and ran inside on day one
Finally managed to make another snow man the next day ,and cheered myself by taking a picture with him, before he melted away!!!
Happy ThanksGiving
I am amazed to find this concept of thanks giving celebrated Nation wide in America today. What an inspirational day it is ? How many of us pause for a moment in our lives to look back and thank all the people who brought in a change in our lives? I usually do not believe in celebrating Friendship day, Valentines day, Fathers day and other concepts Archies and other marketers brought in to India in the recent past. I am wondering why the Thanks Giving day had not made popular so far? Is or is not thanks giving a continuous process in our lives. Anyway, what ever may be the argument, I today, had a chance to recall to myself, about all the people who made that small difference to me. I do not want to list them here, and in the process miss someone inadvertently and regret later.
I thank God for this beautiful life, a life well balanced with ups and downs, and for making the person I am. Counting my blessings and thanking god, for the troubles had shown my courage, pain and suffering had increased my inner strength, enduring badness had shown me righteousness, good things and good people inspired me and thanks to all those people who have enriched my experiences and knowledge, wisdom and truth, tranquility and inner peace, friendship and beautiful relationships, a purpose and vision in life to go forward.
Thank You - One word that my english teacher taught me to use as much as you can and when ever necessary, for appreciation strengthens people's relationships and Gratitude is the rightful way to touch a person's soul. Thank you for reading this too!
I thank God for this beautiful life, a life well balanced with ups and downs, and for making the person I am. Counting my blessings and thanking god, for the troubles had shown my courage, pain and suffering had increased my inner strength, enduring badness had shown me righteousness, good things and good people inspired me and thanks to all those people who have enriched my experiences and knowledge, wisdom and truth, tranquility and inner peace, friendship and beautiful relationships, a purpose and vision in life to go forward.
Thank You - One word that my english teacher taught me to use as much as you can and when ever necessary, for appreciation strengthens people's relationships and Gratitude is the rightful way to touch a person's soul. Thank you for reading this too!
Why Mumbai and Why Taj? Time for Homeland Security to be strong
In the wake of the ongoing financial crisis across the globe, India is able to keep proclaiming that we had strong fundamentals, and our banking and financial business houses are stable irrespective of the ripple effect of the economy. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, portrayed a brave picture in spite of the dynamics at Dallal Street. A country whose GDP is steadily increasing and is also able to bring down the inflation to single digit in the recent past, a country which stood tall sending Chandrayan mission to Moon, and who vibrantly displayed the nuclear strength and wealth of our trio forces including army, navy and air force is causing a concern to our neighbours and world nations. India's intellectual brilliance and dependency of the world nations on Indian human potential is one way making it a super power quickly. All we now need are the strong politicians who brings in the required visibility for India, why we should not be called a developed Nation?
Less than a week after Ambika Soni, the Tourism Minister, invited the world to visit India, a hub of spiritual enlightenment and harmonious destination for the troubled world, a hit on the Taj Hotel is quick blow on our tourisim aspirations. In the couple of times, I had the opportunity I had to visit Taj in Mumbai, I found the place is the best destination for foreign tourist, businessmen and industrialists and also for politicians and scientists. Very elegant and poised Taj welcomed guests abroad to make them feel at home. Staying in Fariyaz in Colaba, I took few beautiful walks across the marine drive shore line watching the elegance of the place and the tourist attraction with British chariots entertaining guests.
The process of recovery is long and painful after the terror attacks. It is not easy as said to bring back normalcy. It takes lot more efforts to attract tourists and welcome people, if the finest of hotels are themselves not safe for stay, where else could the world go?. Delhi attacks around Diwali, Goa's ongoing sham of rapes and murders, burning of churches in Orissa, Kerala and Karnataka effecting the sentiments of people, Gujarat riots, Hyderbad attacks, Lucknow and Varanasi temple blasts, and now the Mumbai attacks, all seems to be in a pattern that is aimed to curtail the growth of a Nation. One side Nature is creating havoc with Bihar and Orissa floods and the other side this man-made intimidation is costing us more.
Time to put an end to this unwanted human suffering, create a safe place to live, raise the banners of peace high, and take serious measures aiming at National Security. No concessions to be made to combat terrorism and punish those involved seriously to put an end to this worst game.
Less than a week after Ambika Soni, the Tourism Minister, invited the world to visit India, a hub of spiritual enlightenment and harmonious destination for the troubled world, a hit on the Taj Hotel is quick blow on our tourisim aspirations. In the couple of times, I had the opportunity I had to visit Taj in Mumbai, I found the place is the best destination for foreign tourist, businessmen and industrialists and also for politicians and scientists. Very elegant and poised Taj welcomed guests abroad to make them feel at home. Staying in Fariyaz in Colaba, I took few beautiful walks across the marine drive shore line watching the elegance of the place and the tourist attraction with British chariots entertaining guests.
The process of recovery is long and painful after the terror attacks. It is not easy as said to bring back normalcy. It takes lot more efforts to attract tourists and welcome people, if the finest of hotels are themselves not safe for stay, where else could the world go?. Delhi attacks around Diwali, Goa's ongoing sham of rapes and murders, burning of churches in Orissa, Kerala and Karnataka effecting the sentiments of people, Gujarat riots, Hyderbad attacks, Lucknow and Varanasi temple blasts, and now the Mumbai attacks, all seems to be in a pattern that is aimed to curtail the growth of a Nation. One side Nature is creating havoc with Bihar and Orissa floods and the other side this man-made intimidation is costing us more.
Time to put an end to this unwanted human suffering, create a safe place to live, raise the banners of peace high, and take serious measures aiming at National Security. No concessions to be made to combat terrorism and punish those involved seriously to put an end to this worst game.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Not Again! Stop Killing Innocent People
It gives a deep insecure feeling, seeing people bleeding and dying in Mumbai. The last thing that could be attacked are hospitals, and it's a time to stop the terror. Railway stations, hotels, tourist places, hospitals, shopping areas, temples, trains, buses, and the list goes on n on of all the terror strikes happening in India. Are our cities so vulnerable to terror? This cannot happen without local support and it is a shame to note that our intelligence agencies could do nothing as the country is bleeding one city after the other.
Hundreds of lives thorn into pieces, eighty people dead, ongoing encounter and people held hostage. Its heart- breaking to see the wailing people and their families, to see the injured and dead. Taj stands tall in front of the Arabian Sea retaining the glory of the best hotel in Mumbai. Colaba is a posh southern area where you can see happy tourists riding the horse chariots and taking the boat rides at Gateway of India. All these places are now under terror, pain, and fear. Its time that strict security measures are taken to protect the innocent people. Be it in what ever form of terrorism, this has to stop and stop now.
Government and people should work together to eradicate this contagious terror that is threatening the National Security. If there is something that we can learn from the western world, instead of picking the practices of celebrating valentines day and Halloweens, we should look into the way people handle distress calls, and the importance given to homeland security. Have we ever thought about it, do we have strict visa regulations, do our airports guarded against importing terror, are our borders safe and secure, is our internal police and intelligence strong enough to identify issues before they happen? Are our ministers capable to handle security issues, than to come on live TV and show sympathy every time an adversity happens and talking all parrot talk about compensation, requesting calm, and proclaiming that we condemn this? Who are funding this atrocities and what is the motive behind every blast? There are major hidden questions that need to be answered and uproot the last roots of terror in India, or else, devastating families and deepened scars of insecurity and fear will remain breaking the peace of our homeland.
Hundreds of lives thorn into pieces, eighty people dead, ongoing encounter and people held hostage. Its heart- breaking to see the wailing people and their families, to see the injured and dead. Taj stands tall in front of the Arabian Sea retaining the glory of the best hotel in Mumbai. Colaba is a posh southern area where you can see happy tourists riding the horse chariots and taking the boat rides at Gateway of India. All these places are now under terror, pain, and fear. Its time that strict security measures are taken to protect the innocent people. Be it in what ever form of terrorism, this has to stop and stop now.
Government and people should work together to eradicate this contagious terror that is threatening the National Security. If there is something that we can learn from the western world, instead of picking the practices of celebrating valentines day and Halloweens, we should look into the way people handle distress calls, and the importance given to homeland security. Have we ever thought about it, do we have strict visa regulations, do our airports guarded against importing terror, are our borders safe and secure, is our internal police and intelligence strong enough to identify issues before they happen? Are our ministers capable to handle security issues, than to come on live TV and show sympathy every time an adversity happens and talking all parrot talk about compensation, requesting calm, and proclaiming that we condemn this? Who are funding this atrocities and what is the motive behind every blast? There are major hidden questions that need to be answered and uproot the last roots of terror in India, or else, devastating families and deepened scars of insecurity and fear will remain breaking the peace of our homeland.
Missing the first man in my life!
There could be no better day to recall a person who cherished in my dreams, who nurtured me as a kid, who loved me more than any one else could, and dreamt all my dreams even before me. November 26th happens to be one such day, that the recollection of those wonderful days enrich my day and re-vibrate my energies to the fact that I have to fulfill some one's visions for me. The best I could do, is to make his dreams come true. His pride in me to multiply where ever he is. His blessings to shower upon like ever and his spirit guiding me always.
A Man with Smile. That's how I remember this great man who happens to be the first and for the most part of my childhood, the only man whom I knew. He taught me my first words, walked with me my first steps, pampered me with first toys and gifted me first books. He taught me that reading improves your knowledge, your vocabulary, your communication skills and also your creativity. His love was so simple and vast that I haven't seen him hurting anyone in life. A man of passions, love for his family, devotion to god, work is worship and a great neighbour and friend. Even after 16 years that he disappeared into the god's kingdom, he is still alive in thoughts and memories of not just his family, but his friends and neighbours. No wonder, we are lucky. I am proud that he happened to me in life as my great DAD!!! Happy Birthday Daddy, though I know we don't have you today amidst us, you are in our thoughts and our focus in life towards goodness and growth. The smallest tribute we can pay for you would be to bring in smiles of people around us, be sincere in all our work, dream big and work towards it and keep up the basic values of life that you enriched in us. Love you Nana!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Flast Fliers in Life
Few people stay in your life all the time, they stand beside you in thick and thin, share your everyday activity, keep knowing every aspect of your life, and they just go on. Few people come at some part of your life, make a huge impact on your thinking, feelings, activities and go off. People who are there always may or may not influence you to the extent than these Flash Fliers in life. Its the difference of a usual sea or an occasional tsunami.
One person pulled me to walking everyday for half hour, saying why the hell am I spending all my time on the laptop! We walked miles and miles, sharing the sun, frenzy weather, fearful winds, snow showers and with all this our thoughts. We travelled back to three decades, memories that age more than my own age, and became an ardent listener always. The other person spent most of the weekends with me, With all their permissions, I would like to write about these two special people I came across in my recent past.
Just a fortnight before the well planned travel to USA, 35 years back, a 36 year old woman with 4 children aged between 5 and 10, faced one of the most difficult adversity. The sudden death of her husband. All the relatives who eagerly awaited for the family suddenly disappeared. Friends kept a distance. But her convictions were strong and she made the bold decision to still go ahead with the travel. This time, she had to handle it all herself. 7$ per person was what was allowed to be carried and lot more shocks awaited her in a cold country. Jersey City welcomed her with a cold shoulder, with absolutely no people to support or guide. Though born in a wealthy business family, she had to restart everything afresh. Did different jobs that she did not even want to recall to feed her children, working night shifts, making food for neighbours in the morning and baby sitting forgoing her few hours of sleep during day. In all her 30 plus years of stay in US, she never owned a vehicle. I was shocked to know that for a month we could not manage with out a car here. Not a single time, she went to a restaurant nor bought shoes costing more than $10.
As the roads took new turns in life, there emerged four success stories. One daughter as a senior vice president in a leading bank, other two daughters running their own pharmacy' s and medical aid centres, and her son who is a leading Auditor and an upcoming solicitor. Today when her family meets at her apartment in Jersey, she is embarrassed with 3 BMWs and couple of Ferrari's coming down at her parking lot, envying her neighbours. Summer comes, she is again busy making her dhoklas, papads, and roti's this time not for 4 but 7 of her grand children who eagerly awaits her in every summer. One way, I felt that I found my mom in Michigan.
I saw a pain in her eyes when I went to tell her that I am leaving. May be she found someone to share after many years, few moments to say, Ho, Ya and walk ahead with smiles. Yes, looks like I rekindled her emotions, and am writing this here, only to inspire people like me, that no adversity is difficult not to cross. All it needs is a strong conviction, determination, will power, enormous amount of self less love and sacrifice, hard work and perseverance. As she set back to Jersey city, from Pontiac for Thanksgiving this week, I know she is a flash flier in my life. I may not see her again but her spirit and determination had definitely made an influence on me! People who make a difference!
One person pulled me to walking everyday for half hour, saying why the hell am I spending all my time on the laptop! We walked miles and miles, sharing the sun, frenzy weather, fearful winds, snow showers and with all this our thoughts. We travelled back to three decades, memories that age more than my own age, and became an ardent listener always. The other person spent most of the weekends with me, With all their permissions, I would like to write about these two special people I came across in my recent past.
Just a fortnight before the well planned travel to USA, 35 years back, a 36 year old woman with 4 children aged between 5 and 10, faced one of the most difficult adversity. The sudden death of her husband. All the relatives who eagerly awaited for the family suddenly disappeared. Friends kept a distance. But her convictions were strong and she made the bold decision to still go ahead with the travel. This time, she had to handle it all herself. 7$ per person was what was allowed to be carried and lot more shocks awaited her in a cold country. Jersey City welcomed her with a cold shoulder, with absolutely no people to support or guide. Though born in a wealthy business family, she had to restart everything afresh. Did different jobs that she did not even want to recall to feed her children, working night shifts, making food for neighbours in the morning and baby sitting forgoing her few hours of sleep during day. In all her 30 plus years of stay in US, she never owned a vehicle. I was shocked to know that for a month we could not manage with out a car here. Not a single time, she went to a restaurant nor bought shoes costing more than $10.
As the roads took new turns in life, there emerged four success stories. One daughter as a senior vice president in a leading bank, other two daughters running their own pharmacy' s and medical aid centres, and her son who is a leading Auditor and an upcoming solicitor. Today when her family meets at her apartment in Jersey, she is embarrassed with 3 BMWs and couple of Ferrari's coming down at her parking lot, envying her neighbours. Summer comes, she is again busy making her dhoklas, papads, and roti's this time not for 4 but 7 of her grand children who eagerly awaits her in every summer. One way, I felt that I found my mom in Michigan.
I saw a pain in her eyes when I went to tell her that I am leaving. May be she found someone to share after many years, few moments to say, Ho, Ya and walk ahead with smiles. Yes, looks like I rekindled her emotions, and am writing this here, only to inspire people like me, that no adversity is difficult not to cross. All it needs is a strong conviction, determination, will power, enormous amount of self less love and sacrifice, hard work and perseverance. As she set back to Jersey city, from Pontiac for Thanksgiving this week, I know she is a flash flier in my life. I may not see her again but her spirit and determination had definitely made an influence on me! People who make a difference!
The Faith Family
Its just few months now that I am associated with a group of people following a different religious path of mine, but still who accepted me with open arms of warmth and friendship. Religion to me is a way of living and is not a way of discrimination, after being born and educated in a different religions, to me, all faiths are like different roads to reach the final destination. A realisation of a supreme power. A belief of an power that is beyond man. A destination that is at the end of our life's journey.
Less did I ever thought that I would leave behind people who would cherish my memories with them in the past many months in USA, who acknowledged that I made a difference in their lives and in a way who told me that I inspired them. I am embarrassed. When a family of 60+ people stood yesterday in prayer thanking God that they had a chance to meet me, and putting a special prayer that I should have travel mercies and all success mercies in future, I felt a moment back in the glory of my Alma mater. When people hugged me with wishes that I come back, with a thought that I would keep in touch, and with a happiness of having met me and had a chance to be my friends, I had no words. End of the day, we all met and departed as Indians in America. I now realised that I am not only going to carry back home, a project success, but also the baggage's of love that these people filled in my life. One thing I realised, no matter where you are, its your attitude that makes you get the right people in life, and I am happy I did manage to find so many hearts wishing me all the best as I travel back home..
Less did I ever thought that I would leave behind people who would cherish my memories with them in the past many months in USA, who acknowledged that I made a difference in their lives and in a way who told me that I inspired them. I am embarrassed. When a family of 60+ people stood yesterday in prayer thanking God that they had a chance to meet me, and putting a special prayer that I should have travel mercies and all success mercies in future, I felt a moment back in the glory of my Alma mater. When people hugged me with wishes that I come back, with a thought that I would keep in touch, and with a happiness of having met me and had a chance to be my friends, I had no words. End of the day, we all met and departed as Indians in America. I now realised that I am not only going to carry back home, a project success, but also the baggage's of love that these people filled in my life. One thing I realised, no matter where you are, its your attitude that makes you get the right people in life, and I am happy I did manage to find so many hearts wishing me all the best as I travel back home..
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Fun in Sand - Sauguatek Dune Rides
The songs of the deserts are sometimes heard in the roaring silence of the winds and the magnificence of the rides down the sands towards the freezing lakes
The Magic of Netherlands in midst of Michigan Holland!!!
Pictures speak volumes than words.
Amazing wonders with colors of Nature
Red means vibrancy and courage..Radianace
May 2008-Tulip Festival, Holland, Michigan USA
Amazing wonders with colors of Nature
Red means vibrancy and courage..RadianaceBeauty of nature lies in a man's vision
Another picture of nature that makes you wonder, the vibrancy of colors
May 2008-Tulip Festival, Holland, Michigan USA
Excellence
Excellence! You are excellent. As I kept hearing this word many times this year than never before, I was wondering what it actually means. What makes some one excellent or something of excellence? Is there a boundary on which an excellence is decided? Is there a way that people perceive a thing and rate it as excellent? There are numerous questions that flooded my thoughts.
Excellence is Exceeding Expectations.
Yes, Excellence is doing more than what is expected in a positive way, towards betterment and growth.... I expect 1000 bags of rice to be produced this year in my farm, but I manage to produce 1500 bags exceeding expectations...that's my excellence.
Excellence is a continuous process.
Once you are excellent, it becomes your standard, and you have no choice than to make it a continuous process. In my above example, now my standard and expectation will be 1500 bags of produce... and I don't have a choice to come down the same..means I have now set a new example of myself.
Excellence is a journey not a destination
If you are excellent and forget being excellent always, you would soon become a history, and get dissolved in the pages of time. New ways and means to be discovered to keep this process is a continuous journey. Never a destination
Excellence is an ongoing challenge.
The challenge is being a competition to yourself and to others. You should sharpen your axe from time to time to keep in pace with the changes around you. Identifying the strengths of your competitors and enabling yourself to equip to win over them makes you a tough person.
Excellence is a combination of all virtues
Hard work, Perseverance, Innovation, Approachability, Inter-Personal skills, Communication, Visibility, Perfection in work, deliverable on time, commitments to customers honoured, balancing your personal and professional lives, constructive education, team work, motivating others, continuous learning process, contribution to society, aspiring for growth and daring to dream new things and work towards it, entertaining your hobbies and refreshing yourself to new challenges and hold upon your loyalty, sincerity, and integrity to the organization and yourself, providing adequate attention to your family and friends, taking time off to be on your own, and above all Faith and Faith in your possibilities and the sustain supreme power beyond us, makes us Excellent!!! Yes , Par Excellence!!!
Excellence is Exceeding Expectations.
Yes, Excellence is doing more than what is expected in a positive way, towards betterment and growth.... I expect 1000 bags of rice to be produced this year in my farm, but I manage to produce 1500 bags exceeding expectations...that's my excellence.
Excellence is a continuous process.
Once you are excellent, it becomes your standard, and you have no choice than to make it a continuous process. In my above example, now my standard and expectation will be 1500 bags of produce... and I don't have a choice to come down the same..means I have now set a new example of myself.
Excellence is a journey not a destination
If you are excellent and forget being excellent always, you would soon become a history, and get dissolved in the pages of time. New ways and means to be discovered to keep this process is a continuous journey. Never a destination
Excellence is an ongoing challenge.
The challenge is being a competition to yourself and to others. You should sharpen your axe from time to time to keep in pace with the changes around you. Identifying the strengths of your competitors and enabling yourself to equip to win over them makes you a tough person.
Excellence is a combination of all virtues
Hard work, Perseverance, Innovation, Approachability, Inter-Personal skills, Communication, Visibility, Perfection in work, deliverable on time, commitments to customers honoured, balancing your personal and professional lives, constructive education, team work, motivating others, continuous learning process, contribution to society, aspiring for growth and daring to dream new things and work towards it, entertaining your hobbies and refreshing yourself to new challenges and hold upon your loyalty, sincerity, and integrity to the organization and yourself, providing adequate attention to your family and friends, taking time off to be on your own, and above all Faith and Faith in your possibilities and the sustain supreme power beyond us, makes us Excellent!!! Yes , Par Excellence!!!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Change in Business Models is the only solution?
The change in the business model is essential for the large corporates that are struggling for existence. There has to be significant changes in the way of cost-effective operations that would provide cost effective business solutions as well. End of one tunnel may be a beginning of a better road ahead. This positive tendency has to first re-vibrate in the people to create opportunities instead of creating a pessimistic mind set of losing. Obstacles are those frightful things that hinder our growth when we lose sight of our goals. Opportunities are those new avenues that open up when the obstacles are tackled with affirmation. It is quite essential for creating a new environment and a people's perception that would make new opportunities possible. Beginning of all things is small... so with the big obstacles, we should not fail to look at those small new beginnings that may in future emerge as successful business opportunities. This is nothing but a game of treasure hunt.. and its time for the people to look for the first clue to move forward!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What makes you a good leader?
Quite often, I wonder why one manager is different from the other. Why one leader is different from the other.. Why one politician is different from the other... What ever may be the differences in the ways of handling things, there are quite a very proven concepts that make the best of leaders in the world. Right from a class leader, a school pupil leader, a district collector, a state governor, a minister, or a National leader, or a manager, regional head, country head or global head, there are few things that go with each of the leaders!
1. Leaders are born, they are not made! It is an innate quality that exemplifies a person's approach to circumstances and people, that make them leaders.
2. People who can set examples. Remember someone is watching you always, and when these some one's become multiple and people follow you, you become a leader
3. Some one to look upon- When there is a roadblock, and people need guidance, solace, results and revised paths, and if you could lead them to newer dimensions, you become a choice to be a leader, not by yourself, but by others.
4. Delegation of authority- It is important that you trust your subordinates, and provide them support to grow. As each one them takes one step of growth, you grow by the number of people who grows in your team. But remember, responsibility to be assigned with required authority for a job to be executed perfectly
5. Team Work- Its always WE and never "me". Especially when you are leader, you set an example..one classic theory is that a leader will stand in front when bullets are fired and stand behind the team while lifting the trophies. Dr Kalam, talks about this at length about Vikram Sarabai and his leadership in his Ignited Minds
6. Exceeding Expectations- Once you set a standard, a standard far above everyone in a group, it becomes a leader's standard and this is when you exceeds general expectations. A leader is supposed to keep up these expectations always.
7. Do not preach, but practice- Leaders who just do what they are expected are highly regarded, and mostly people follow for what they do than for what they say. When what is said and what is done is in sync, they become the most respected leaders.
8. Integrity and Respect - Sincerity, hard work, dedication,devotion to work assigned, commitment, timeliness, quality and perfection in work, transparency, appreciation and approachability are all closely watched by the people in the groups and a leader should be a role model. People automatically starts giving you more respect and take your word as final. Respect is never commanded, its given!
You want to be proven leader, see how many of the above traits you possess. Am sure all leaders will have most of these qualities in-built in them.
1. Leaders are born, they are not made! It is an innate quality that exemplifies a person's approach to circumstances and people, that make them leaders.
2. People who can set examples. Remember someone is watching you always, and when these some one's become multiple and people follow you, you become a leader
3. Some one to look upon- When there is a roadblock, and people need guidance, solace, results and revised paths, and if you could lead them to newer dimensions, you become a choice to be a leader, not by yourself, but by others.
4. Delegation of authority- It is important that you trust your subordinates, and provide them support to grow. As each one them takes one step of growth, you grow by the number of people who grows in your team. But remember, responsibility to be assigned with required authority for a job to be executed perfectly
5. Team Work- Its always WE and never "me". Especially when you are leader, you set an example..one classic theory is that a leader will stand in front when bullets are fired and stand behind the team while lifting the trophies. Dr Kalam, talks about this at length about Vikram Sarabai and his leadership in his Ignited Minds
6. Exceeding Expectations- Once you set a standard, a standard far above everyone in a group, it becomes a leader's standard and this is when you exceeds general expectations. A leader is supposed to keep up these expectations always.
7. Do not preach, but practice- Leaders who just do what they are expected are highly regarded, and mostly people follow for what they do than for what they say. When what is said and what is done is in sync, they become the most respected leaders.
8. Integrity and Respect - Sincerity, hard work, dedication,devotion to work assigned, commitment, timeliness, quality and perfection in work, transparency, appreciation and approachability are all closely watched by the people in the groups and a leader should be a role model. People automatically starts giving you more respect and take your word as final. Respect is never commanded, its given!
You want to be proven leader, see how many of the above traits you possess. Am sure all leaders will have most of these qualities in-built in them.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Be Indian - BUY Indian
"Be Indian- Buy Indian" - Did we not hear this as children? I always remember the image of Gandhiji with the wheel, working on the spinning of cotton yarn. Yes, may be its now time- after 60 years of India's independence to sing the song of " Made in India"
Made in India....Yes, I am right when I proclaim this. I am a patriot to my nation, no doubt. But still, there is an analyst and economist behind this statement. The need of the hour:
1. Create jobs and more jobs in India
2. Oil the wheels of Indian Industry
3. Creating a complete self-reliance on the manufacturing sectors.
4. Conservation and preservation of India's rich natural resources
5. Fullest utilization of the knowledge and talent of highly educated.
6. Prevention of erosion of India's rich forest reserves
7. Creating economic upheaval of rural India with micro-financing
8. Take all steps to prevent shortage of food grains and agricultural produce.
9. Bringing in the wind energy, solar energy and thermal energy efficiency
10. Lessen the dependence on the global markets for our industry inputs
11. Utilisation of indigenous products and raw materials for our plants
12. Promote Indian Products with a conscious effort. This is definitely a strong lesson that we need to learn from the global economic down-turn.
13. Save our hard earned freedom by bringing in an economic independence and a real socialistic and sovereign republic
Let me go in detail in my next post on the " Made in India" branding...the most essential crusade of the century that need to begin right away....encourage yourself, your children, friends, families and colleagues to follow this branding...doing a little in a way which is possible to you.... for every drop counts in a ocean...and lets make a oceanic difference in the Indian Economy!!! Jai Hind!
Made in India....Yes, I am right when I proclaim this. I am a patriot to my nation, no doubt. But still, there is an analyst and economist behind this statement. The need of the hour:
1. Create jobs and more jobs in India
2. Oil the wheels of Indian Industry
3. Creating a complete self-reliance on the manufacturing sectors.
4. Conservation and preservation of India's rich natural resources
5. Fullest utilization of the knowledge and talent of highly educated.
6. Prevention of erosion of India's rich forest reserves
7. Creating economic upheaval of rural India with micro-financing
8. Take all steps to prevent shortage of food grains and agricultural produce.
9. Bringing in the wind energy, solar energy and thermal energy efficiency
10. Lessen the dependence on the global markets for our industry inputs
11. Utilisation of indigenous products and raw materials for our plants
12. Promote Indian Products with a conscious effort. This is definitely a strong lesson that we need to learn from the global economic down-turn.
13. Save our hard earned freedom by bringing in an economic independence and a real socialistic and sovereign republic
Let me go in detail in my next post on the " Made in India" branding...the most essential crusade of the century that need to begin right away....encourage yourself, your children, friends, families and colleagues to follow this branding...doing a little in a way which is possible to you.... for every drop counts in a ocean...and lets make a oceanic difference in the Indian Economy!!! Jai Hind!
Business Processes Re- Engineering
Its now time for the world companies to look into re-structuring...which means the entire existing business processes need to be re-engineered to meet the current demands of the global economy. What does it mean? It is a strategical change in the way the things were perceived, interpreted and executed. Which means that right from the planning till the execution of the new processes, everything had to be revisited. Just like the way, people looked at the burning houses in California but the day next, ensured to re look into what best can be done to move forward. The same synthesis applies to business economics also.
Move forward! Yes, the biggest questions lies behind on what need to be changed, how to be changed, and what is the cost and time involved and a real readiness for the change from the conservative way of approach in the business. The Auto Industry need to look into more fuel efficient, economic and reliable vehicles on road. The manufacturing plants need to revamp with newer technologies which would be one time investment and time for change in tools and machinery. The travel industry need to look into more economic and viable solutions than aiming for the cosy infrastructure and advertising. The Financing industry need to start picking up lessons from the past and look into more conservative ways of financing that proved fatal and also look into the Asian financing system that much more stronger on fundamentals. The Insurance sector need to look into what the terms and conditions stated can be redefined. The health sector need to reestablish with tie up with insurance companies and corporates to bring in a more down to earth health packages and solutions to reach the common man. The Pharmaceutical industry need to get more organised with clubbing of solutions instead of we having 10 different medicines for simple headache, the medical fraternity can work towards simpled single solution that is economical, viable and effort worthy.. the fashion and film industry should bring in a change in the kind of amount that is spent on unnecessary things and can divert towards social causes. Infact the political scenario of few countries need to be changed for the political freedom is useless with out the economic independence. Our old stories of colonisation, and history of Russia, South Korea and Mexico are strong examples of how industrial growth and economy viability within the countries is essential to withstand global recessions and its impacts.
By all means, there is lot more of work coming up....especially its time for companies to look up strong strategists who can work on corporate objectives to enhance the smooth transition towards growth and re-engineering. It is a mammoth task but a definite task that need to be accomplished sooner than later. India's IIM and top university grads can help to build this process, for we have a talent pool which is a mixture of engineering skills and also economic considerations along with process orientation. Its time for Processes and Projects to go hand in hand and to be in par all times. COMMON INDIA, THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR BRAINS AND TALENTS TO RESTRUCTURE THE ECONOMIES...JUST GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR BIT TO REVITALISE AND STOP THE TUMBLING BLOCKS FROM FALLING.....
Move forward! Yes, the biggest questions lies behind on what need to be changed, how to be changed, and what is the cost and time involved and a real readiness for the change from the conservative way of approach in the business. The Auto Industry need to look into more fuel efficient, economic and reliable vehicles on road. The manufacturing plants need to revamp with newer technologies which would be one time investment and time for change in tools and machinery. The travel industry need to look into more economic and viable solutions than aiming for the cosy infrastructure and advertising. The Financing industry need to start picking up lessons from the past and look into more conservative ways of financing that proved fatal and also look into the Asian financing system that much more stronger on fundamentals. The Insurance sector need to look into what the terms and conditions stated can be redefined. The health sector need to reestablish with tie up with insurance companies and corporates to bring in a more down to earth health packages and solutions to reach the common man. The Pharmaceutical industry need to get more organised with clubbing of solutions instead of we having 10 different medicines for simple headache, the medical fraternity can work towards simpled single solution that is economical, viable and effort worthy.. the fashion and film industry should bring in a change in the kind of amount that is spent on unnecessary things and can divert towards social causes. Infact the political scenario of few countries need to be changed for the political freedom is useless with out the economic independence. Our old stories of colonisation, and history of Russia, South Korea and Mexico are strong examples of how industrial growth and economy viability within the countries is essential to withstand global recessions and its impacts.
By all means, there is lot more of work coming up....especially its time for companies to look up strong strategists who can work on corporate objectives to enhance the smooth transition towards growth and re-engineering. It is a mammoth task but a definite task that need to be accomplished sooner than later. India's IIM and top university grads can help to build this process, for we have a talent pool which is a mixture of engineering skills and also economic considerations along with process orientation. Its time for Processes and Projects to go hand in hand and to be in par all times. COMMON INDIA, THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR BRAINS AND TALENTS TO RESTRUCTURE THE ECONOMIES...JUST GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR BIT TO REVITALISE AND STOP THE TUMBLING BLOCKS FROM FALLING.....
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Recession, credit crunch, layoffs. cost cutting and what not!!!
Since October 2008, we had been continuously hearing the words I mentioned here in the title... Are we really in a globally worst times, or in an much exaggerated situation. Did all these companies fail and suddenly tumbled in October or what there a hidden storm unpredicted. United States, a country which is considered the most powerful and developed nation did not predict and prevent an economic tsunami?! The countries which predict weather forecast every 10 minutes on television channels, care about puppies and kittens, failed to look into the fire that was going blaze down the very living of millions of people?? Who failed and where did we fail as a global village.
As an analyst, I would like to look into this from an entirely different view point. Simple question: When does an economy tumble? It tumbles down when there is no cash flow. OK, when does the cash flow stop?? The cash flow stops when the consumers stop buying. Right, why do consumers stop buying? Either they don't have enough money, or not able to avail enough credit, or do not have jobs to support the finances or a new consumer behaviour emerges where the concept of savings begin. Paradoxically, one of the 4 above could be the reasons.
Lets look into each phenomena, do not have enough money!.. means that people's needs are more than the actual means. Or the money is just sufficient to handle the inflated prices and needs. Secondly, there is no enough credit. 9 :10 was the credit standards of the bank in US, and in Europe the lending ratio was 10.5: 10, Where as in developing nations, the credit ratio was 7:10, which means the banks lend 7 rupees against the 10 rupees liquidity or cash reserve or funding dynamics. Now the situation had come that if the 9 rupees of 10 is not paid periodically back to the bank, due to the first reason here, the banks will run out of reserves. So its a cyclic reaction. The next was that foreclosures. I have seen a sea of cars put for sale in a stadium...remember the auction began at less than 1000$ for each car which could anyway be worth of 16000$ and above... and North Perry street adjacent to where I live, is abandoned with empty houses..lot many so beautiful and well designed. Banks are struggling to maintain these houses, and keep paying the basic bills to the government. What happened to the people suddenly?? There was no major concept of savings in general. Which means, when the worst had hit, there is a no fall back plan. Companies think about the BCP and Disaster recovery plans...not able understand why and where there failed to be a Financial Disaster recovery plan...something failed strategically over the years. Last one, the loss of jobs and its direct impact on the people and the consumerism. Though its late, every dollar in hand counts today.
I remember reading in my history classes, the way East India Company conquered the trade in India, and slowly paved a way for the British to rule... because the economy and fate of the people depend on the strong trade and commerce. For a moment, though it hurts, the reality is that 8 out of 10 products that I purchased in the last ten days, do not have the stamp "Made in USA". Virtually, the entire market is flooded with products from Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and India. My friend Lori and me were discussing this in detail... she expressed her anger that the last ship of 1945 World War II, which had been auctioned to Mexico, is now on its final journey to India to be dismantled and used for the strong steel it has..you know what, to be made as "Manhole covers" and exported back to USA. US Steel company failed for the first time in history and nearly 150 banks are struggling to make it, consumer retail product companies, airlines, manufacturing and the worst hit American Automobile industry. Lori also said in anger, that people do not acknowledge the fact that we should buy indigenous products so that jobs are created here and people earn a living. May be she is hinting at a strong lesson to all of us all over the world. First create opportunities for your own products, your own people and your own industry. Global Economy and concepts are universally accepted, but we cannot in that urge let us fail as individual countries. The minute a developed nation's economy is hit, it had its own chain reaction across the globe. May be, its a real time for all of us to think on what products to buy and make the cash flow in the economy viable for the growth of Individual Nations.
May its again time for us to raise our flags and call for a Gandhian era, where at a time, we banned the foreign goods.... Save Yourselves!!!
As an analyst, I would like to look into this from an entirely different view point. Simple question: When does an economy tumble? It tumbles down when there is no cash flow. OK, when does the cash flow stop?? The cash flow stops when the consumers stop buying. Right, why do consumers stop buying? Either they don't have enough money, or not able to avail enough credit, or do not have jobs to support the finances or a new consumer behaviour emerges where the concept of savings begin. Paradoxically, one of the 4 above could be the reasons.
Lets look into each phenomena, do not have enough money!.. means that people's needs are more than the actual means. Or the money is just sufficient to handle the inflated prices and needs. Secondly, there is no enough credit. 9 :10 was the credit standards of the bank in US, and in Europe the lending ratio was 10.5: 10, Where as in developing nations, the credit ratio was 7:10, which means the banks lend 7 rupees against the 10 rupees liquidity or cash reserve or funding dynamics. Now the situation had come that if the 9 rupees of 10 is not paid periodically back to the bank, due to the first reason here, the banks will run out of reserves. So its a cyclic reaction. The next was that foreclosures. I have seen a sea of cars put for sale in a stadium...remember the auction began at less than 1000$ for each car which could anyway be worth of 16000$ and above... and North Perry street adjacent to where I live, is abandoned with empty houses..lot many so beautiful and well designed. Banks are struggling to maintain these houses, and keep paying the basic bills to the government. What happened to the people suddenly?? There was no major concept of savings in general. Which means, when the worst had hit, there is a no fall back plan. Companies think about the BCP and Disaster recovery plans...not able understand why and where there failed to be a Financial Disaster recovery plan...something failed strategically over the years. Last one, the loss of jobs and its direct impact on the people and the consumerism. Though its late, every dollar in hand counts today.
I remember reading in my history classes, the way East India Company conquered the trade in India, and slowly paved a way for the British to rule... because the economy and fate of the people depend on the strong trade and commerce. For a moment, though it hurts, the reality is that 8 out of 10 products that I purchased in the last ten days, do not have the stamp "Made in USA". Virtually, the entire market is flooded with products from Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and India. My friend Lori and me were discussing this in detail... she expressed her anger that the last ship of 1945 World War II, which had been auctioned to Mexico, is now on its final journey to India to be dismantled and used for the strong steel it has..you know what, to be made as "Manhole covers" and exported back to USA. US Steel company failed for the first time in history and nearly 150 banks are struggling to make it, consumer retail product companies, airlines, manufacturing and the worst hit American Automobile industry. Lori also said in anger, that people do not acknowledge the fact that we should buy indigenous products so that jobs are created here and people earn a living. May be she is hinting at a strong lesson to all of us all over the world. First create opportunities for your own products, your own people and your own industry. Global Economy and concepts are universally accepted, but we cannot in that urge let us fail as individual countries. The minute a developed nation's economy is hit, it had its own chain reaction across the globe. May be, its a real time for all of us to think on what products to buy and make the cash flow in the economy viable for the growth of Individual Nations.
May its again time for us to raise our flags and call for a Gandhian era, where at a time, we banned the foreign goods.... Save Yourselves!!!
Succeeding within the box
"When we will get more tools and better systems"
Most of us have heard the saying "Creativity is thinking outside the box". There's alot of truth in that, but to me, the true creativity is this : Succeeding within the box.
Hitting targets, reaching goals, doing the job well and making a difference with what we already have is the QBQ way. Every organization has imperfect systems and finite resources. We may wish we had newer tools, better systems, more people and bigger bugets. But thinking too much about what we'd like to have is another cause of procrastination. Managers, for example, won't take their group through team-building until "all the right people are in place" . Individuals won't make a decision until they have all the information or take action until all the questions are answered.
Ironically, suceeding with what have makes us more likely to get the things we wanted in the first place. Listen to the wisdom of Deb Weber of State Farm Insurance: "I'll find that every time I do the job with the tools I have, I tend to receive more tools", Its a truth: We sow, we reap.
Focusing on what we don't have is a waste of time and energy. To really make a difference, let's instead focus our energy on succeeding within the box. Let's ask the QBQ "How can I achieve with the resources I already have?"
PS:"This is one post that I print and keep on my desk since 2003, from the time Johnny Tsang shared this with me, an extract from John G Miller's writing. By the way, QBQ means- The Questions behind the Question.
Most of us have heard the saying "Creativity is thinking outside the box". There's alot of truth in that, but to me, the true creativity is this : Succeeding within the box.
Hitting targets, reaching goals, doing the job well and making a difference with what we already have is the QBQ way. Every organization has imperfect systems and finite resources. We may wish we had newer tools, better systems, more people and bigger bugets. But thinking too much about what we'd like to have is another cause of procrastination. Managers, for example, won't take their group through team-building until "all the right people are in place" . Individuals won't make a decision until they have all the information or take action until all the questions are answered.
Ironically, suceeding with what have makes us more likely to get the things we wanted in the first place. Listen to the wisdom of Deb Weber of State Farm Insurance: "I'll find that every time I do the job with the tools I have, I tend to receive more tools", Its a truth: We sow, we reap.
Focusing on what we don't have is a waste of time and energy. To really make a difference, let's instead focus our energy on succeeding within the box. Let's ask the QBQ "How can I achieve with the resources I already have?"
PS:"This is one post that I print and keep on my desk since 2003, from the time Johnny Tsang shared this with me, an extract from John G Miller's writing. By the way, QBQ means- The Questions behind the Question.
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