I read a nice little story the other day… read on.
“Andrew Carnegie came to America from Scotland as a young boy. He started out by doing odd jobs and ended up as one of the largest steel manufacturers in United States. At one time, he had 43 millionaires working for him. A million dollars is a lot of money today, but in the 1920s it was worth much more.
Someone once asked Mr. Carnegie how he dealt with people. Andrew Carnegie replied, "Dealing with people is a lot like digging for gold: When you go digging for an ounce of gold you have to move tons of dirt. But when you go digging, you don't go looking for the dirt, you go looking for the gold."
Andrew Carnegie's reply has a very important message. Though sometimes it may not be apparent there is something positive in every person and every situation. We have to dig deep to look for the positive.”
Nice story. But does it work this way?
I am not a pessimist. But then, I think there are good people and then there are bad people. There are good times and there are times you are absolutely screwed. The positive is not sometimes in digging more and more, but just letting go.
Maybe there is no gold, let’s go dig some other place.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
The Uninvited
Last few days have been a very different experience for me. One that has made me think of all the things I have missed out on life and all of that I never told anyone.
Death is inevitable for all of us. But as life passes by and you have lived your life, not just you, but some of your loved ones also expect death to be round the corner. Not that you want it to, but you just know it. Maybe we even prepare ourselves. The hard one to handle is the blind turn. When you least expect.
In my 30 yrs of life, I have not seen death this close. What it does and how it impacts. A son who suddenly feels he is not the boy of the house anymore. A daughter who tells me there was so much to tell her dad and he left without hearing anything. A wife who has not know a life without him in over 36 years.
Personally, for me it was a big loss, cos I could never ever express my gratitude to him. It used to be a celebration whenever I visited their house. And yet I used to avoid the visits, since I could not find time. I was in the same city a week ago and yet I avoided meeting him, thought to myself, next time I will make it up. I am heartbroken cos I know there is no next time now.
I wept when we took him through to the funeral. The bellowing smoke was burning our eyes, but none of us turned away for even a moment. And in some time, the about 6 foot tall uncle of mine was nothing at all…May his soul rest in peace.
Life has to move on. But one thought anchored in my mind is that, death often is uninvited, unexpected. And there are no second chances here. Keep your heart free and don’t have anything left to be told, done or experienced. Sound clichéd, I know. But it sounds a lot different when you say it while walking back from a funeral.
Death is inevitable for all of us. But as life passes by and you have lived your life, not just you, but some of your loved ones also expect death to be round the corner. Not that you want it to, but you just know it. Maybe we even prepare ourselves. The hard one to handle is the blind turn. When you least expect.
In my 30 yrs of life, I have not seen death this close. What it does and how it impacts. A son who suddenly feels he is not the boy of the house anymore. A daughter who tells me there was so much to tell her dad and he left without hearing anything. A wife who has not know a life without him in over 36 years.
Personally, for me it was a big loss, cos I could never ever express my gratitude to him. It used to be a celebration whenever I visited their house. And yet I used to avoid the visits, since I could not find time. I was in the same city a week ago and yet I avoided meeting him, thought to myself, next time I will make it up. I am heartbroken cos I know there is no next time now.
I wept when we took him through to the funeral. The bellowing smoke was burning our eyes, but none of us turned away for even a moment. And in some time, the about 6 foot tall uncle of mine was nothing at all…May his soul rest in peace.
Life has to move on. But one thought anchored in my mind is that, death often is uninvited, unexpected. And there are no second chances here. Keep your heart free and don’t have anything left to be told, done or experienced. Sound clichéd, I know. But it sounds a lot different when you say it while walking back from a funeral.
Grave Security Threat!
I am not one of those people who read every single news bit out of a news paper. But pictures, sports pages and certain words do grab my eyes. I happened to read a small column news on a grave security threat that is looming over our governmental offices.
“New Delhi: The Union home ministry, in a recent advisory to all officials, has warned government officials that watching porn at the workplace could pose a risk to the nation’s security. Sources said nearly 2 lakh hacking cases were being reported every day. Though the advisory does not specifically mention pornography, officials said porn surfing was common in various ministries. “Despite repeated warnings by the home ministry, officials of many vital wings of the government keep surfing pornographic sites during office hours using official computers, resulting in penetration of spyware from foreign hackers,’’ a ministry official said.”
They are advised to be cautious while doing so from now on. Pick and choose your porn source.
I like this circular. I mean its prob pretty tough on these guys. They are working very ‘hard’ and they also need to stretch out and enjoy their life a little. A very considerate circular.
I wonder if there was some annexure which spoke about safe sources and the one that could be avoided. Our intelligence services might have to be put on a high alert, just so that our govt officers are not going to unsafe porn sites. Its worth the effort, atleast we will not be hacked.
And you guessed it right; security threat is not the word that got my attention.
“New Delhi: The Union home ministry, in a recent advisory to all officials, has warned government officials that watching porn at the workplace could pose a risk to the nation’s security. Sources said nearly 2 lakh hacking cases were being reported every day. Though the advisory does not specifically mention pornography, officials said porn surfing was common in various ministries. “Despite repeated warnings by the home ministry, officials of many vital wings of the government keep surfing pornographic sites during office hours using official computers, resulting in penetration of spyware from foreign hackers,’’ a ministry official said.”
They are advised to be cautious while doing so from now on. Pick and choose your porn source.
I like this circular. I mean its prob pretty tough on these guys. They are working very ‘hard’ and they also need to stretch out and enjoy their life a little. A very considerate circular.
I wonder if there was some annexure which spoke about safe sources and the one that could be avoided. Our intelligence services might have to be put on a high alert, just so that our govt officers are not going to unsafe porn sites. Its worth the effort, atleast we will not be hacked.
And you guessed it right; security threat is not the word that got my attention.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Eat Pray & Love
Just the other day, I was very strongly recommended to watch this movie. I am generally not a very cruel critic of any movie, and my comments are not directed only at this movie, but a very general observation.
Eat is Italy, pray is India and love is Bali. For those of you have not seen the movie. The shot where in Liz arrives in India is anything but deplorable. She is in a dingy rickety ambassador taxi, the driver is in full throttle with no sense of driving etiquettes, there are children on the street who are narrowly missed, there is a cow in the middle, a biker who almost knocks over. All this is familiar to us, of-course. But is that it?!
What’s itching me here is the shallow imagination of an American who probably is having a blind eye to any sort of developed canvas in a country like India. I will not fault him, he probably does not know where it is on the globe. When you look out from a well, often the world seems to be a lot smaller. And then you got to use your limited competence to imagine, how a world would be.
Let me go back to how Kolkata looked in the movie. I am not saying all this is not present in India. There are places which will resemble exactly like how they showed. But then, the scene depicts what India is through the below average screenplay. Italy – for ‘eat’ part of Liz’s journey was a treat to the eye. Why should the meaning of India be poverty? There was a lot of scope for the author / director – whoever was the one who decided the sequence to showcase a changing landscape. From the airport to the ashram. That would have been a lot more realistic.
Why I am voicing it out here is not cos I am craving for any acknowledgement from the western society on how India is changing. But as an Indian, I would urge people who are here to take photographs, make documentaries, make movies – open your eyes and tell the truth. India is spread across spectrums, be in nature, be it wealth. With over 24 Hollywood movies pending permission to be filmed in India, I hope someone is coming here for a more realistic setting and not an ego massage for the American public on how much ahead they are.
Since we are talking about the movie, it’s an absolute treat to the eye – the Italian landscape, the food and the Bali sceneries. It’s a treat to the eye as long as you can avoid looking at Julia.
Eat is Italy, pray is India and love is Bali. For those of you have not seen the movie. The shot where in Liz arrives in India is anything but deplorable. She is in a dingy rickety ambassador taxi, the driver is in full throttle with no sense of driving etiquettes, there are children on the street who are narrowly missed, there is a cow in the middle, a biker who almost knocks over. All this is familiar to us, of-course. But is that it?!
What’s itching me here is the shallow imagination of an American who probably is having a blind eye to any sort of developed canvas in a country like India. I will not fault him, he probably does not know where it is on the globe. When you look out from a well, often the world seems to be a lot smaller. And then you got to use your limited competence to imagine, how a world would be.
Let me go back to how Kolkata looked in the movie. I am not saying all this is not present in India. There are places which will resemble exactly like how they showed. But then, the scene depicts what India is through the below average screenplay. Italy – for ‘eat’ part of Liz’s journey was a treat to the eye. Why should the meaning of India be poverty? There was a lot of scope for the author / director – whoever was the one who decided the sequence to showcase a changing landscape. From the airport to the ashram. That would have been a lot more realistic.
Why I am voicing it out here is not cos I am craving for any acknowledgement from the western society on how India is changing. But as an Indian, I would urge people who are here to take photographs, make documentaries, make movies – open your eyes and tell the truth. India is spread across spectrums, be in nature, be it wealth. With over 24 Hollywood movies pending permission to be filmed in India, I hope someone is coming here for a more realistic setting and not an ego massage for the American public on how much ahead they are.
Since we are talking about the movie, it’s an absolute treat to the eye – the Italian landscape, the food and the Bali sceneries. It’s a treat to the eye as long as you can avoid looking at Julia.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Grey Sky
I was driving back from my office through the express way. The horizon was looking extremely haunting. The sky was covered with heavy clouds. They were darkest shade of grey I have seen.
This overbearing sight was pretty close to how I was feeling right then. I quickly took a glance at the speed at which I was going. Brought it down to the speed
limits… its easy to float away and get lost in thoughts and not sense the speed.
The clouds looked too heavy for the sky to hold on to. They looked like clinging on to the last bit of strength they had…and did not want to leave the sky. I could see some cracks at the edges of this heavy curtain of grey. The bright sun trying to break through from underneath. But the cloud cover was quick to take notice and bring the grey across.
Is there no way I would see the sun before I cross the 10 km hassle free ride? For some reason, I was comparing and connecting what I saw to what I had in my mind. I had faced one pretty big disappointment at work. A debacle, which I had thought I had covered. It was haunting me, and keeping me negative, sad. I tried hard to come to terms with the facts and was trying hard to put my thoughts ahead of this. But pretty much in vain, just like the sun underneath, I thought.
And then it happened. It poured. It rained like the clouds were torn apart. It rained briefly, but heavily and it stopped. I could see that the great grey curtain was broken into patches. And the sun beams were gushing through them and giving a majestic sparkle to the steel railings of the highway.
I felt a lot lighter at that moment. As I joined the city roads from the highway, only one thought came to my mind. No grey cover can stay long. It’s only a matter of time and it’s in our hands to find a way to make it rain.
This overbearing sight was pretty close to how I was feeling right then. I quickly took a glance at the speed at which I was going. Brought it down to the speed
limits… its easy to float away and get lost in thoughts and not sense the speed.
The clouds looked too heavy for the sky to hold on to. They looked like clinging on to the last bit of strength they had…and did not want to leave the sky. I could see some cracks at the edges of this heavy curtain of grey. The bright sun trying to break through from underneath. But the cloud cover was quick to take notice and bring the grey across.
Is there no way I would see the sun before I cross the 10 km hassle free ride? For some reason, I was comparing and connecting what I saw to what I had in my mind. I had faced one pretty big disappointment at work. A debacle, which I had thought I had covered. It was haunting me, and keeping me negative, sad. I tried hard to come to terms with the facts and was trying hard to put my thoughts ahead of this. But pretty much in vain, just like the sun underneath, I thought.
And then it happened. It poured. It rained like the clouds were torn apart. It rained briefly, but heavily and it stopped. I could see that the great grey curtain was broken into patches. And the sun beams were gushing through them and giving a majestic sparkle to the steel railings of the highway.
I felt a lot lighter at that moment. As I joined the city roads from the highway, only one thought came to my mind. No grey cover can stay long. It’s only a matter of time and it’s in our hands to find a way to make it rain.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Blind Side
Yep, I did see the movie. But don’t go away; this is not a movie review. I am not that desperate, yet.
The movie won my heart in the first 60 seconds. It’s a very simple & straight forward expression. The blind side. It was described in such a wonderful way. The complete essence of the movie was sketched, with just that stroke.
I saw the movie. It overwhelmed me. And once I was done watching a thought struck me. We have our blind sides covered so well. In fact it’s done so well, that we don’t even know they exist.
The math paper tackled me to the ground when I was in the 12th grade. No no, that was not my blind side, I always knew that tackle was coming. The blind side was, not knowing what to do next. I was not going to be able to get into a good engineering college with a broken math score. I was in the sulk of my life time! My dad, he spoke to me once on the breakfast table. He spoke very little, but that changed the way I looked at myself. Engineering is not end of all. Go do a graduation. Choose your subject, which ever you like. My blind side was covered. I did not feel like a failure any more.
Most of the time, I miss appreciating what could have happened if it was not for that small advise. Yes, a small advice. It probably altered the course of my life and all it would ever be is a small advice. That right their e is a blind side covered. You will never know what could have happened but for that small step, a small piece of advice.
Only natural for you and I to miss many of our blind sides being covered.
We are always on the lookout for those tackles coming our way. We may be good at taking on tackles in life. But it’s the blind side that we need help on. Our family, our teachers, our friends, our colleagues all are out to cover our blind side. Appreciate it. Applaud it. Cherish it. And most importantly, mirror it.
PS: Watch Blind Side, if you have not already. Mind blowing!
The movie won my heart in the first 60 seconds. It’s a very simple & straight forward expression. The blind side. It was described in such a wonderful way. The complete essence of the movie was sketched, with just that stroke.
I saw the movie. It overwhelmed me. And once I was done watching a thought struck me. We have our blind sides covered so well. In fact it’s done so well, that we don’t even know they exist.
The math paper tackled me to the ground when I was in the 12th grade. No no, that was not my blind side, I always knew that tackle was coming. The blind side was, not knowing what to do next. I was not going to be able to get into a good engineering college with a broken math score. I was in the sulk of my life time! My dad, he spoke to me once on the breakfast table. He spoke very little, but that changed the way I looked at myself. Engineering is not end of all. Go do a graduation. Choose your subject, which ever you like. My blind side was covered. I did not feel like a failure any more.
Most of the time, I miss appreciating what could have happened if it was not for that small advise. Yes, a small advice. It probably altered the course of my life and all it would ever be is a small advice. That right their e is a blind side covered. You will never know what could have happened but for that small step, a small piece of advice.
Only natural for you and I to miss many of our blind sides being covered.
We are always on the lookout for those tackles coming our way. We may be good at taking on tackles in life. But it’s the blind side that we need help on. Our family, our teachers, our friends, our colleagues all are out to cover our blind side. Appreciate it. Applaud it. Cherish it. And most importantly, mirror it.
PS: Watch Blind Side, if you have not already. Mind blowing!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A ‘Landmark’ Sale
Curious as it might sound, I attended a Landmark Forum Session few days back. I am sorry to say – it gave me the creeps.
If you are blinking at ‘Landmark Forum Session’ – It’s a personality development forum where in people come in and solve problems, cross hurdles which has been impeding them for years together. In the words of a rather loud trainer for the day – the forum helps you to realize the context of your life and also provides you with tool / technology (!) to deal with that context.
Why did I attend is the question that is ringing in your head right now. I met an angel couple of months back. I will jump in a well if she was to ask me to…this was one such well. You will get more meat to chew on this one…but not now.
I will give an insight into the session – in the shortest and most crisp manner possible. The landmark team had a bunch of people who had completed their course and were giving their feedbacks as to how they benefited with the course. And curious enough, a lot of them had regained their families. Really?! There was a man whom with my minimal knowledge I assessed to be proud, fixated with the concept and inflexible in mind. I assumed he was the trainer. Once the session of thanking and stories of transformation was done, they got on with real business.
The trainer started his marketing stunt. He offered guests to ask questions and provided insight about the program through the answers. Some questions were candid and like any experienced ‘talker’ some incoherent answers got him out of that muddle. After which the fee structure was announced and the time lines. Until this time I was really ok with the whole sales pitch that was made. To be fair to the trainer, he also mentioned that he is not doing it for charity. Its business.
At the end of this instance the trainer announced you can find volunteers sporting a yellow badge to help you, if you may want to register. I turned around to take a look. I could see volunteers flowing into the hall from different corners. They looked like a military unit surging on an unsuspecting senate for a coup. They had a mean look in their eyes, almost fixed at some predefined targets. One person had locked his eyes on me. And he moved swiftly towards me as if to pin me down before I could get up from my seat. At that moment, a seemingly peaceful session broke open into a chaos.
I dodged the guy, thanks to an old lady who got in his way and walked ever so slowly towards a registration counter. I avoided eye contact with everyone with a yellow badge and walked fast, as if I was going to pick something up. I told my thanks to the person who took me there and locked my eyes on the exit sign and dodged all yellow tagged ‘volunteers’ [who, I strongly feel are sales execs of Landmark].
As I stepped out of that hall, in my head, I could hear the commentators go, TOUCHDOWN!!! And I broke off into a dance!
If you are blinking at ‘Landmark Forum Session’ – It’s a personality development forum where in people come in and solve problems, cross hurdles which has been impeding them for years together. In the words of a rather loud trainer for the day – the forum helps you to realize the context of your life and also provides you with tool / technology (!) to deal with that context.
Why did I attend is the question that is ringing in your head right now. I met an angel couple of months back. I will jump in a well if she was to ask me to…this was one such well. You will get more meat to chew on this one…but not now.
I will give an insight into the session – in the shortest and most crisp manner possible. The landmark team had a bunch of people who had completed their course and were giving their feedbacks as to how they benefited with the course. And curious enough, a lot of them had regained their families. Really?! There was a man whom with my minimal knowledge I assessed to be proud, fixated with the concept and inflexible in mind. I assumed he was the trainer. Once the session of thanking and stories of transformation was done, they got on with real business.
The trainer started his marketing stunt. He offered guests to ask questions and provided insight about the program through the answers. Some questions were candid and like any experienced ‘talker’ some incoherent answers got him out of that muddle. After which the fee structure was announced and the time lines. Until this time I was really ok with the whole sales pitch that was made. To be fair to the trainer, he also mentioned that he is not doing it for charity. Its business.
At the end of this instance the trainer announced you can find volunteers sporting a yellow badge to help you, if you may want to register. I turned around to take a look. I could see volunteers flowing into the hall from different corners. They looked like a military unit surging on an unsuspecting senate for a coup. They had a mean look in their eyes, almost fixed at some predefined targets. One person had locked his eyes on me. And he moved swiftly towards me as if to pin me down before I could get up from my seat. At that moment, a seemingly peaceful session broke open into a chaos.
I dodged the guy, thanks to an old lady who got in his way and walked ever so slowly towards a registration counter. I avoided eye contact with everyone with a yellow badge and walked fast, as if I was going to pick something up. I told my thanks to the person who took me there and locked my eyes on the exit sign and dodged all yellow tagged ‘volunteers’ [who, I strongly feel are sales execs of Landmark].
As I stepped out of that hall, in my head, I could hear the commentators go, TOUCHDOWN!!! And I broke off into a dance!
Good Deed = No Bad Deed
Few days back, I returned to Bangalore from outside the city by bus. It was very early and as the bus eased into its stop, I could see auto drivers swarming up against the door to gobble up every passenger who got out. I have been doing this for years hence I did the customary ‘not looking in the eye’ trick and walked away. The guys who follow you are usually who can’t elbow their way to the front. They are usually milder.
I negotiated with one such ‘milder’ auto guy. He took some bizarre short cuts and we were zipping down the ‘Ring Road’ in no time. This road is usually deserted and at 4:30 on a wet morning, it looks like outer space. No life around. Suddenly I could not hear the auto engine anymore. He was fiddling with the throttle and then it all gave way and he parked it to one side. He got off and vanished behind the auto. A chill ran down my spine. I thought this could be the encounter of my life time.
Moments later many auto guys stopped by. I was pretty sure they are all wondering how to divide the loot. I was prepared for the attack and thought of even making the first move. The driver came up front and gave it another try and viola! It started. He explained to me that the darn rains had got his spark plug wonky.
I was still in my ‘ready to attack’ mode. Not realizing what a fool I was making of myself in my head. Slowly the auto driver was looking like a hero. He did not loot me! How many people do that?! He must be one gem of a person. A real good guy.
I dunno about you, but I seldom trust people today. It’s the stories you hear, the news that you read. There aren’t many good people around anymore. I am alert today, lest I fall into a trap that may have been laid by any random guy on the street. I assume most people have an intention to hurt me. I am not abnormal. I am just another average Indian citizen.
I am guessing, earlier it took a lot more to be seen as a good guy. A lot of ‘good deeds’. Today it’s a little easier. Just don’t do anything bad, you will be a hero.
I negotiated with one such ‘milder’ auto guy. He took some bizarre short cuts and we were zipping down the ‘Ring Road’ in no time. This road is usually deserted and at 4:30 on a wet morning, it looks like outer space. No life around. Suddenly I could not hear the auto engine anymore. He was fiddling with the throttle and then it all gave way and he parked it to one side. He got off and vanished behind the auto. A chill ran down my spine. I thought this could be the encounter of my life time.
Moments later many auto guys stopped by. I was pretty sure they are all wondering how to divide the loot. I was prepared for the attack and thought of even making the first move. The driver came up front and gave it another try and viola! It started. He explained to me that the darn rains had got his spark plug wonky.
I was still in my ‘ready to attack’ mode. Not realizing what a fool I was making of myself in my head. Slowly the auto driver was looking like a hero. He did not loot me! How many people do that?! He must be one gem of a person. A real good guy.
I dunno about you, but I seldom trust people today. It’s the stories you hear, the news that you read. There aren’t many good people around anymore. I am alert today, lest I fall into a trap that may have been laid by any random guy on the street. I assume most people have an intention to hurt me. I am not abnormal. I am just another average Indian citizen.
I am guessing, earlier it took a lot more to be seen as a good guy. A lot of ‘good deeds’. Today it’s a little easier. Just don’t do anything bad, you will be a hero.
Chaos – The key to Stability
Consciously or not, we strive for only one thing in life. Stability. We may project stability in one way or the other. For some it’s a job, for some its relationships, for some it’s a home, for some it’s a fat bank balance. Everyone has a definition for stability and I bet it’s different in each case.
The big questions are – How and when. How do we get there and when will we get there. For anything to become stable, it must first have its chaos phase. It’s the rule of the jungle, so to say. There is no stability without chaos. It’s imperative. As I said, stability might mean something entirely different for you and for me. But chaos almost always means – sweat, hard work, disappointment, failures, roadblocks, hurdles. It’s almost always problems.
I tend to take refuge when ever faced with problems. I blame someone – from time to parents, all have been prey to this blame game. I always find a way to shield myself from the problem. Until I figured the need to taste the flavor of this chaos. Meet it. Look it in the eye and walk your way through it. The chaos will allow you to flip every stone around and give you a million perspectives. You will solve your chaos. But the moment one hides behind the shield of a blame that you created, you have lost sight of the chaos itself.
The key to achieving stability is to accept the chaos and moving forward. I am dealing with one such chaos in my life right now. I was scared to face it. Now I am staring it in the eye and I am walking through my chaos.
The big questions are – How and when. How do we get there and when will we get there. For anything to become stable, it must first have its chaos phase. It’s the rule of the jungle, so to say. There is no stability without chaos. It’s imperative. As I said, stability might mean something entirely different for you and for me. But chaos almost always means – sweat, hard work, disappointment, failures, roadblocks, hurdles. It’s almost always problems.
I tend to take refuge when ever faced with problems. I blame someone – from time to parents, all have been prey to this blame game. I always find a way to shield myself from the problem. Until I figured the need to taste the flavor of this chaos. Meet it. Look it in the eye and walk your way through it. The chaos will allow you to flip every stone around and give you a million perspectives. You will solve your chaos. But the moment one hides behind the shield of a blame that you created, you have lost sight of the chaos itself.
The key to achieving stability is to accept the chaos and moving forward. I am dealing with one such chaos in my life right now. I was scared to face it. Now I am staring it in the eye and I am walking through my chaos.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Cut those nails, kill that itch
Have you ever wondered why you don’t feel that itch on your head right after cutting your nails?
I have, not since it’s intellectually stimulating, but there are some itches that I want to get rid of. The moment you cut your nails short, the itch at the back of your head seems to vanish. I am guessing the brain tells the itch – no point, he can’t scratch anyway. I ‘m not gonna ask him to scratch.
But this might as well be true. For sure, I stop scratching my head the moment I cut my nails.
There are other types of itches that we so dearly want to get rid of. My Everest, Spending. I just can’t seem to stop spending. This itch is scratching my wallet dry. I sure want to get rid of this one. Maybe I should cut the nail out for this itch as well… lock my credit card in some shelf.
Every itch in our life has a nail that can be cut. Cut those nails, kill that itch.
I have, not since it’s intellectually stimulating, but there are some itches that I want to get rid of. The moment you cut your nails short, the itch at the back of your head seems to vanish. I am guessing the brain tells the itch – no point, he can’t scratch anyway. I ‘m not gonna ask him to scratch.
But this might as well be true. For sure, I stop scratching my head the moment I cut my nails.
There are other types of itches that we so dearly want to get rid of. My Everest, Spending. I just can’t seem to stop spending. This itch is scratching my wallet dry. I sure want to get rid of this one. Maybe I should cut the nail out for this itch as well… lock my credit card in some shelf.
Every itch in our life has a nail that can be cut. Cut those nails, kill that itch.
Being a HiPo
There is a new species, discovered recently. The HiPos. And before you judge me, of course I don’t watch animal planet – HiPo is a short form of High Potential. Every organization is having one program or the other to appease and provide a ‘fast track’ career path to these HiPos. The name actually cracks me up...I wonder if all ‘HiPos’ are fat and sweat pink.
Since this is a new species, just like our confused high school teachers, the managers of today also work well with their imaginative self. There are a lot of assumptions and myths about a HiPo. Since I am also occasionally ‘accused’ of being a HiPo where I work, let me try and throw some light around that corner…
The only thing in a HiPos mind is work: Sometimes managers mistake passion for obsession. If you show passion at work, the manager feels that you are obsessed with work and hence give more work…anyway he loves working, give him this one as well! Loading a person just makes him tired and it does not make him unearth super human powers.
HiPos hate their families: Many managers believe and the rest hope and pray that their high performing employee hates his family. He loves to come to office early and leave as late as possible. If there is no family even better. They believe it helps in keeping focus on work, distractions can affect the work. How prudent!
Anything goes: Managers feel that a HiPo is like a recycle bin. You can throw anything at them at all, and be rest assured that they will do it. More often than not, HiPos are asked to take up things that smarter non-HiPos are not willing to take up. Content of the work does not matter. Since they are obsessed with work anyway…
The myth of fast track career: This myth has been working since long. They say, you are on a fast track career and hence, wait for another 6 months to get the ‘right’ overseas opportunity. And don’t look at the average performing guy, who is already gone overseas twice, as an example. He is in a first come first serve basis. So much for being in the limelight!
HiPos are loyal and hence they won’t leave: Managers like to believe that a HiPo is so loyal to the company that he will never think of leaving. Hence treat them well, would have been a very logical conclusion. But hold on, it also gives a chance to take them for granted. This is surely more fun from the looks of it.
Here’s a thought, maybe it’s not worth trying so very hard. Being a HiPo in one organization is no great achievement. Be a HiPo at home. That is much more gratifying and rewarding than any company can ever offer.
Since this is a new species, just like our confused high school teachers, the managers of today also work well with their imaginative self. There are a lot of assumptions and myths about a HiPo. Since I am also occasionally ‘accused’ of being a HiPo where I work, let me try and throw some light around that corner…
The only thing in a HiPos mind is work: Sometimes managers mistake passion for obsession. If you show passion at work, the manager feels that you are obsessed with work and hence give more work…anyway he loves working, give him this one as well! Loading a person just makes him tired and it does not make him unearth super human powers.
HiPos hate their families: Many managers believe and the rest hope and pray that their high performing employee hates his family. He loves to come to office early and leave as late as possible. If there is no family even better. They believe it helps in keeping focus on work, distractions can affect the work. How prudent!
Anything goes: Managers feel that a HiPo is like a recycle bin. You can throw anything at them at all, and be rest assured that they will do it. More often than not, HiPos are asked to take up things that smarter non-HiPos are not willing to take up. Content of the work does not matter. Since they are obsessed with work anyway…
The myth of fast track career: This myth has been working since long. They say, you are on a fast track career and hence, wait for another 6 months to get the ‘right’ overseas opportunity. And don’t look at the average performing guy, who is already gone overseas twice, as an example. He is in a first come first serve basis. So much for being in the limelight!
HiPos are loyal and hence they won’t leave: Managers like to believe that a HiPo is so loyal to the company that he will never think of leaving. Hence treat them well, would have been a very logical conclusion. But hold on, it also gives a chance to take them for granted. This is surely more fun from the looks of it.
Here’s a thought, maybe it’s not worth trying so very hard. Being a HiPo in one organization is no great achievement. Be a HiPo at home. That is much more gratifying and rewarding than any company can ever offer.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Someone once said, ‘One day, it would be hard to believe that a man of Mahatam’s stature and nature walked this ground. And then he would be a god’.
Kashmir. Bhopal. Mumbai. Manipur. Naxals,Dirty Cops. Dirtier Politicians.
I am a patriot. I love my country. I am proud that my grandfather was one amongst the thousands who sacrificed a good part of their lives to gain this freedom. But I am inclined to think today, there is something wrong with us.
Look around. We have issues with Pakistan, China, Srilanka, Bangaladesh, Nepal. That’s our neighbors. When you think of it, we are not in good terms with any of our neighbors. If I am not in good terms with any of my neighbors, then definitely I am doing something wrong. When I sit down to watch news every night, this feeling deepens.
The only thing that I thought was strong in our country was the judicial system. Latest can of worms makes you think otherwise. Everyone seems to be on the wrong side. Or is it that I have missed the plot somewhere?
In China, a large section of people believe that India is a not a country but a conglomeration of countries. They strongly believe in liberating a few as well. If we run down the lane a little, it sounds bang on. 63 years back, some of our leaders worked hard on making this one country. Today, sadly, we have not been able to sustain.
We are being encroached with ease around the borders. I used to wonder why this was so simple. They were claiming and we were complying. The reason, I think is because, ‘India’ is not one thought. It’s a different thought for a person from Mumbai to one in Chennai. It means a lot different when a Kashmiri says India, and when you go into the villages of the ‘red corridor’ it takes a different meaning all together.
Years back, one old man was able to make us all think in one direction, bring us all together. We followed him, and he led us to freedom. No matter what language, color or religion, when he said India, it only meant one thing – our country.
Maybe he was different.
Maybe he was gifted.
Maybe he was God.
Kashmir. Bhopal. Mumbai. Manipur. Naxals,Dirty Cops. Dirtier Politicians.
I am a patriot. I love my country. I am proud that my grandfather was one amongst the thousands who sacrificed a good part of their lives to gain this freedom. But I am inclined to think today, there is something wrong with us.
Look around. We have issues with Pakistan, China, Srilanka, Bangaladesh, Nepal. That’s our neighbors. When you think of it, we are not in good terms with any of our neighbors. If I am not in good terms with any of my neighbors, then definitely I am doing something wrong. When I sit down to watch news every night, this feeling deepens.
The only thing that I thought was strong in our country was the judicial system. Latest can of worms makes you think otherwise. Everyone seems to be on the wrong side. Or is it that I have missed the plot somewhere?
In China, a large section of people believe that India is a not a country but a conglomeration of countries. They strongly believe in liberating a few as well. If we run down the lane a little, it sounds bang on. 63 years back, some of our leaders worked hard on making this one country. Today, sadly, we have not been able to sustain.
We are being encroached with ease around the borders. I used to wonder why this was so simple. They were claiming and we were complying. The reason, I think is because, ‘India’ is not one thought. It’s a different thought for a person from Mumbai to one in Chennai. It means a lot different when a Kashmiri says India, and when you go into the villages of the ‘red corridor’ it takes a different meaning all together.
Years back, one old man was able to make us all think in one direction, bring us all together. We followed him, and he led us to freedom. No matter what language, color or religion, when he said India, it only meant one thing – our country.
Maybe he was different.
Maybe he was gifted.
Maybe he was God.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Comfortably Numb
Every afternoon after lunch, at work, I take a stroll through the campus. A 5 minute stroll which is very pleasant given the kind of campus I work out of. Once, I noticed there were a bunch of guys who were standing in the shade and having a casual discussion and seemed to be enjoying it. As I got closer I could see, one of them dished out a handful of mint candies and handed one over to each of them. All of them in a swift move opened the wrapper and threw the candy into their mouth and in a follow-through; with precision of a Federrer back-hand dumped the wrapper into the lawn. These were well educated, over-paid executives who just did that. And this, when there are dustbins all around the campus!
But I did nothing. I walked past them and came back to my desk. I do that often when I come to think of it. I walk away from what seemingly is wrong, small or big. I just get along with my life. Roads are messy, politicians are crooks, office is political, busses are rickety, drivers are arrogant, prices are rising, drains are clogged, hotter days, traffic is slower, shop keepers are ruder, bomb blasts are a routine… and still my life just goes on. The plane crashed, a bomb blast took a train apart, a full family dies on the way to meet an ailing relative, a seasoned driver and a very charitable & helpful person dies of a small mistake – took his seat belt off while on a highway… I am still in status quo.
I feel the pain when I hear all this… from a wrapper shot into the lawn to the state of mind of a 4 yr old boy who has lost every one from his family in one shot. I feel scared. I feel worried, thinking life could be so short. But the strangest thing is, I feel numb.
I feel numb, and a song comes back to me time and again…
The child is grown.
The dream is gone.
And I have become,
Comfortably Numb
But I did nothing. I walked past them and came back to my desk. I do that often when I come to think of it. I walk away from what seemingly is wrong, small or big. I just get along with my life. Roads are messy, politicians are crooks, office is political, busses are rickety, drivers are arrogant, prices are rising, drains are clogged, hotter days, traffic is slower, shop keepers are ruder, bomb blasts are a routine… and still my life just goes on. The plane crashed, a bomb blast took a train apart, a full family dies on the way to meet an ailing relative, a seasoned driver and a very charitable & helpful person dies of a small mistake – took his seat belt off while on a highway… I am still in status quo.
I feel the pain when I hear all this… from a wrapper shot into the lawn to the state of mind of a 4 yr old boy who has lost every one from his family in one shot. I feel scared. I feel worried, thinking life could be so short. But the strangest thing is, I feel numb.
I feel numb, and a song comes back to me time and again…
The child is grown.
The dream is gone.
And I have become,
Comfortably Numb
Saturday, May 29, 2010
1828 Days
1828 Days. That’s how long I have been - Associate # 157725.
I saw a cartoon which speaks about Brussels sprouts in a burger. They are too big to be counted with junior peas and too small to be around the senior cabbages. That’s exactly how I feel right now.
Strange that the cartoonist chose peas & cabbages. I always hated both.
As I said, it’s been 1828 days since I have been Associate # 157725. That’s all it means in an office. It can easily be replaced or substituted. The individual, never really gets to come out in the realm. I am at a cross road right now. Should I continue to be a number in a huge list, or find my own identity?
I don’t have an answer. If you find one, lemme know.
I saw a cartoon which speaks about Brussels sprouts in a burger. They are too big to be counted with junior peas and too small to be around the senior cabbages. That’s exactly how I feel right now.
Strange that the cartoonist chose peas & cabbages. I always hated both.
As I said, it’s been 1828 days since I have been Associate # 157725. That’s all it means in an office. It can easily be replaced or substituted. The individual, never really gets to come out in the realm. I am at a cross road right now. Should I continue to be a number in a huge list, or find my own identity?
I don’t have an answer. If you find one, lemme know.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The Political Soap
I was a little saddened with the IPL drawing to a close…it was a routine for me. Getting back from office, landing directly on the bean bag and watching which ever match was being played… it did not matter who was playing whom. And like all good things it had to come to an end. Left a huge void in the 8 to 1130 PM slot…What do I do when I get back home?
I am not particularly a fan of Soaps… the saas bahu types. But I chanced upon the Political Soaps that run in the news channels nowadays. The twists and plots that they brew up is absolutely original and gives you a rush most often than not. Every week our news channels diligently take issues and blow the hell out of its proportions. Then there is this ‘tamasha’ they call debate. One of the main news readers would take the lead and shoot seemingly uncomfortable questions. This, interestingly, will be very comfortably fended off by ‘spoke persons’ from different political circus troops.
I am not politically inclined…probably a little inclined away. Nor does any of the politicians of today inspire me. You must be wondering why on earth did I stop at a news channel while zooming away towards VH1. To be frank, some of the news readers are very good looking, the women that is. And I mean it in a very good way. Yeah, you got my point…
A typical evening show begins with the news reader picking out, an unnoticed incident otherwise, and placing it in front of us. He invites people who are I think paid for these visits, and initiates the debate. Another intriguing aspect is the audience poll on these issues. They read out the results at the end of the show and there are people, who have actually sent in the SMS, I would like to meet one of them. Some have live tweeting during the program too…just in case you wanted to speak your mind!
I am not politically inclined. And I don’t know if any of those debates makes any sense. The guys who hurl at each other, all the filth they can lay their hands on, don’t have any commitment to the topic of their own. They are spokes persons. The wag the way they have been asked to. Another interesting aspect to these soaps is that, you don’t have to put up with ‘elastic’ scripts which are stretched across several weeks. The issues that are picked up are not debated for more than a week, to keep the interest levels high, I suppose. A lesson for the less evolved Soap directors. May be they should get some news houses to do their scripts.
I think a disclaimer is valid here…I am not rubbishing all the politicians and all of news readers. But the incompetent ones out-number the good ones by a huge margin that even the law of averages at times is a failure here…
Again, I am not politically inclined. I watch it for the sheer fun. Have some fun listening to the debate. The victory of ruling government over opposition on some day and the other way around the next. Get some sleep after that, while the news house finishes the payments for their performances…and set out looking for a new ‘real’ issue
I am not particularly a fan of Soaps… the saas bahu types. But I chanced upon the Political Soaps that run in the news channels nowadays. The twists and plots that they brew up is absolutely original and gives you a rush most often than not. Every week our news channels diligently take issues and blow the hell out of its proportions. Then there is this ‘tamasha’ they call debate. One of the main news readers would take the lead and shoot seemingly uncomfortable questions. This, interestingly, will be very comfortably fended off by ‘spoke persons’ from different political circus troops.
I am not politically inclined…probably a little inclined away. Nor does any of the politicians of today inspire me. You must be wondering why on earth did I stop at a news channel while zooming away towards VH1. To be frank, some of the news readers are very good looking, the women that is. And I mean it in a very good way. Yeah, you got my point…
A typical evening show begins with the news reader picking out, an unnoticed incident otherwise, and placing it in front of us. He invites people who are I think paid for these visits, and initiates the debate. Another intriguing aspect is the audience poll on these issues. They read out the results at the end of the show and there are people, who have actually sent in the SMS, I would like to meet one of them. Some have live tweeting during the program too…just in case you wanted to speak your mind!
I am not politically inclined. And I don’t know if any of those debates makes any sense. The guys who hurl at each other, all the filth they can lay their hands on, don’t have any commitment to the topic of their own. They are spokes persons. The wag the way they have been asked to. Another interesting aspect to these soaps is that, you don’t have to put up with ‘elastic’ scripts which are stretched across several weeks. The issues that are picked up are not debated for more than a week, to keep the interest levels high, I suppose. A lesson for the less evolved Soap directors. May be they should get some news houses to do their scripts.
I think a disclaimer is valid here…I am not rubbishing all the politicians and all of news readers. But the incompetent ones out-number the good ones by a huge margin that even the law of averages at times is a failure here…
Again, I am not politically inclined. I watch it for the sheer fun. Have some fun listening to the debate. The victory of ruling government over opposition on some day and the other way around the next. Get some sleep after that, while the news house finishes the payments for their performances…and set out looking for a new ‘real’ issue
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Bonding Agent
The best way to get along with someone is to find out whom they hate… People love the ones who hate whom they hate…
I am not saying this off the hook, I have experienced it. More often than not people bond, pretty strongly at that, over things they love to hate. “Have you seen the way she acts around that boy? She is such a *****!” And an unbreakable bond is born.
The other day, I happen to meet up with my friends. I was noticing how my wife was getting along with one friend of mine in particular. The girls were giggling unstoppably and they were even sharing starters and drinks! To many it might sound very ordinary, but men would understand why that is so weird. I was curious, how my wife, who is a slow starter, was getting along with this specific person so well… This thought kept me awake…not in the nights, just the afternoons
Slowly it dawned upon me. The two of them I knew for a fact hated one of our common friends. The mention of her name sent the eyebrows to form the customary arches and the giggles follow.
We love to hate and we love who can hate whom we hate… When I come to think of it, a common reason to hate might actually be the biggest bonding agents. It works for people – men, women, even children.
A: I hate carrots!
B: I hate carrots too… I dunno how someone can eat them. You know what else I hate, cabbage!
A: Oh! tell me about it.
Somewhere down the line of this conversation, you can be pretty sure the discussion would get very personal and they may even share facebook and twitter ids. So that they can keep in touch and talk about things they hate.
The bottom line – you wanna bond with someone…look for what they hate. It’s foolproof. And just for the record… I hate eggplant.
I am not saying this off the hook, I have experienced it. More often than not people bond, pretty strongly at that, over things they love to hate. “Have you seen the way she acts around that boy? She is such a *****!” And an unbreakable bond is born.
The other day, I happen to meet up with my friends. I was noticing how my wife was getting along with one friend of mine in particular. The girls were giggling unstoppably and they were even sharing starters and drinks! To many it might sound very ordinary, but men would understand why that is so weird. I was curious, how my wife, who is a slow starter, was getting along with this specific person so well… This thought kept me awake…not in the nights, just the afternoons
Slowly it dawned upon me. The two of them I knew for a fact hated one of our common friends. The mention of her name sent the eyebrows to form the customary arches and the giggles follow.
We love to hate and we love who can hate whom we hate… When I come to think of it, a common reason to hate might actually be the biggest bonding agents. It works for people – men, women, even children.
A: I hate carrots!
B: I hate carrots too… I dunno how someone can eat them. You know what else I hate, cabbage!
A: Oh! tell me about it.
Somewhere down the line of this conversation, you can be pretty sure the discussion would get very personal and they may even share facebook and twitter ids. So that they can keep in touch and talk about things they hate.
The bottom line – you wanna bond with someone…look for what they hate. It’s foolproof. And just for the record… I hate eggplant.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Something’s gotta be wrong!
Something’s gotta be wrong!
Over the years there is this one truth that has become clearer in front of me than anything else… something’s gotta be wrong! You can call me pessimist, but I think this is a highly probable scenario in all our lives.
I did very well in my school, except for one math paper, the final exam. I did everything right while playing tennis, except for the first lot I picked for the league matches, picked the defending champion. I did everything right in my job, except being the one with the loudest voice when the big opening came up. I can go on…and I am sure when you read this, it does ring some cords right in your mind as well…Now I would not want to chicken out calling it luck or fate. I think that’s the way life is. Something’s gotta be wrong.
No matter what ever you have, if that tiny little thing goes wrong, it still tastes a little less than success. That drives some to do better, and some to sit down and blame someone else. I am not having that drive…but I aint gonna blame anyone either.
I read, which let me tell you is a rare occasion… about Styx, the river. And it struck a string in my mind, little different from what the myth is all about… Styx is the river we are all in, all the goodness on one bank and the painful experience on the other…we have got to swim on or choose to drown…
Maybe that’s why I always trust the moderate. Living a moderate life is not about living an average life, but being ready for that one thing that would go wrong.
Cos, no matter what you say, something’s gotta be wrong.
Over the years there is this one truth that has become clearer in front of me than anything else… something’s gotta be wrong! You can call me pessimist, but I think this is a highly probable scenario in all our lives.
I did very well in my school, except for one math paper, the final exam. I did everything right while playing tennis, except for the first lot I picked for the league matches, picked the defending champion. I did everything right in my job, except being the one with the loudest voice when the big opening came up. I can go on…and I am sure when you read this, it does ring some cords right in your mind as well…Now I would not want to chicken out calling it luck or fate. I think that’s the way life is. Something’s gotta be wrong.
No matter what ever you have, if that tiny little thing goes wrong, it still tastes a little less than success. That drives some to do better, and some to sit down and blame someone else. I am not having that drive…but I aint gonna blame anyone either.
I read, which let me tell you is a rare occasion… about Styx, the river. And it struck a string in my mind, little different from what the myth is all about… Styx is the river we are all in, all the goodness on one bank and the painful experience on the other…we have got to swim on or choose to drown…
Maybe that’s why I always trust the moderate. Living a moderate life is not about living an average life, but being ready for that one thing that would go wrong.
Cos, no matter what you say, something’s gotta be wrong.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Center of the disk
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