Boss

Entering here after a break, somehow I was not able to spend time to write a post.  Anyways, good to give a break.

I was thinking for very long time to write this post, but I couldn’t convince myself to put together my thoughts in words on this topic because its directly about a person and by any chance he should not be offended if he reads this, even though my motive is to share my experience, lessons learnt…

hmm…after much considerations I thought to write it..Yes…It’s about how I see my ‘Boss’ and the lessons learnt.

Do you think your boss is your hero or villain? I have heard many of my friends praising or cursing their boss at times. Some says, ‘he is tough’, ‘he never teaches’, ‘he is not cool’, ‘he gets more work’, ‘ he never appreciates’, ‘he always makes me to stay late’ …..some says ‘he is flexible’, ‘he is extremely cool’, ‘he is open and like a friend’, ‘he shares what he knows’, ‘he understands me’……In corporate if we are successful we praise ourselves (my efforts!!) if we fail we curse our boss (boss never told how to do this!!), and we praise the boss when he is not much involved in our work and let us free (oh..he is good..he never disturbs me!!)… isn’t?.

Almost end of 2006, I remember, those baby step days in the company, one day I got a mail (not exact words 🙂 just what I remember the essence) something like ‘make graphs with the data with the attached excel’, with excitation I did the graphs and sent to him, a reply came like ‘Oh good, you got the mail, I am in airport currently and network is weak so I was not sure if mail was sent. Ok here are other documents, read it, and work on it we will discuss tomorrow in office’. Yes, this is how I got first task from my boss, who is coming back from his on-site assignment.  I never had a direct communication with him before that, but what all I know from colleagues is, he has excellent knowledge in our product and he is nice to work with. Above all, he is super-super- s-s -senior from my alma mater. Next day, we got introduced, talked about college, course, about working in this company and he went straight to project discussions without any delays….

I used to be a good machine, starts at 9 AM shutdown at 6 PM, gives productivity with inputs got… basically I am lazy 🙂 and never put extra efforts to give out-of-box solution or work hard, but little smart enough to not to make things worse and will keep on moving…

We were working on that new project; I used to be so obedient when he calls I used to run to his place. He called me once to discuss on design, he used to explain things in blast; like millions of bullets in single shot, I tried to ear down carefully, nod head and said ok ok ok… at last he asked ..’Understood?’..same nod…he asked next question ‘where is the notepad?’…I replied ‘it’s ok boss I will recollect’..He: ‘don’t think that, when you go back to your cabin you will forget everything, don’t come here without your notepad, take notes immediately‘ (Lesson Learnt No 1). Believe me, he was right, when I went back I forgot 90% of the discussion. Then on, I never show up before him without notepad and pen, but it’s hard to write down all he says, I used to put as much I can. Once discussion done, I will read whatever I write and get confirmation from him and move.

Lazy me, every day I start from office right at 6 PM. Project was going good but was not aggressive. One day, he called me to the discussion room, there were few discussions on project, follow ups … then came the bullets…’ I have been watching you, you are not aggressive, and you are not dedicated’. I was like ‘what!’.  my mind started thinking – I get good appreciations from others for my work, I stay 9 hours every day, finish day work..Then what?.  He continued… ”see ….if you work this way you can’t survive in corporate….these are initial days of your career….you should work hard…you have to work for minimum 16 hours (!)…spend time to know about the products… at this stage you should be a hard worker…everyone can be smart worker…but without hard work your smart work will not be recognized…once you get noticed your smart work will pay off…you will get noticed only if you work hard” (LL No.2 & 3) He broke theories I carried…’Be a Smart worker’ & do it right and do it on time’, (not more than 8 hours of work- my definition)’. I won’t say, a realization of insult or boss’s scold…but the same day I stayed late…worked on the design which was planned…worked the whole night…sent him the design… no sleep …next day morning 10 AM, when he was in office I went to his cabin…he said ‘ok here are the changes, update it today and send it before 12 PM..’ believe me those changes would take at least 5 hours of my work…but he gets the aggressiveness out from us by giving short deadlines (LL No4). To achieve something, set short deadlines (but reasonable :)) the target time will make you to work fast. I went back with changes before lunch…some more changes, again the day continued, stayed till mid-night in office, completed the changes…sent mail…went to room to get some sleep and fresh for next day early wake up….Slowly, I adopted to this working style….stayed late most of the days… I worked everyday like 14 to 16 hours or even more…stayed at office most of the days…even weekends I used to work…almost I went to office for some 10 weeks straight without any break …

Oh…wait…you may ask what’s big deal working late and spending time for single project….hmm… at that time I was working under multiple bosses….I used to have bunch of work every day from on-site boss also…so I get very few hours to spend with the projects assigned by the boss over here. By job nature, I have to share my time for different works.

I accepted what my boss said that day and followed, and yes, I realized the benefits. Yes, that hard work paid off, the initial days which I used to work hard gave a good impression about me, which helped on appraisals and more importantly I had a good command on my work and no longer need to prove hard works, being smart will suffice….but still your hard work will be remembered.

I may not remember all the lessons I learnt from him, but I thought I should share few on how it molded my initial career days to achieve success.

In mid of 2007, the project went live, a new process team was formed and I became a boss myself leading a small team, and my work got almost stabilized. Monitoring day today deliverables and reporting. I didn’t have any assignments with my boss, so I was not working with him for about 6 months. I was independent, no one to correct me if my work is not right, and more of a managerial job gave a pleasure.

Days passed on, start of 2008; we got a similar project, so I started working with him again. But this time, I know a little better on his expectations because its similar project like first one, I was comfortable.  I was working with him on this project for 4-5 months and everything went fine, with a happy ending note for me – onsite assignment for this project. Half the 2008 I was on onsite assignments and came back end of the year. 2009 was very comfortable year for me, I am meaning the real comfort, No pressure job, not much challenging, day to-day deliverables, team management and a perfect team to take care of assignments.

With lot of changes in company during last quarter of 2009, I wished I should move to work directly with my boss on his team, so that I can learn some quality stuffs. 2010, I was assigned to his projects, no more a manager of my own now, total makeover of my role and responsibilities , I know it won’t be easier for me on this change,  but only thing I decided to accept the change is my ‘Boss’. I want to work with him, so that I can learn more about the product which I missed to update myself in all these 3 years, to observe his working style and upgrade myself on my weakness, to work under real pressure which I was sure can get only working with him in this company.  I know, I am little slow to match his expectations on new projects, which are completely new for me, but I know the lessons I am learning now will mold me on what I should be in future.

I am not going to look back on what I lost on 2 years by enjoying all comforts which I got in break period of not working with him. I know he is my perfect mentor, he evaluates me as what I am, he never makes false appreciations, he never let me down before others, he respect my values, he corrects me when I am wrong and always gives advice right on time when I need. I know, he can mold me even better for bigger challenges outside…

My Boss, My Anti-Villain…

There may be trouble with words for this post, yep my mind was joggling for words, even for that my boss has taught me…when I speaks over phone conferences.. I used to eat half the words…he said ” Mohamed, you are mincing the words…all you need in concentration, try it..you can avoid it..” … next day call, I was better, I was little more confident…

Listen to your BOSS… if you think you are Smart, he is Smarter, that is why he is Boss…if you end up in corporate and want to climb the ladder, it isn’t possible without holding hands of your boss….Just remember, your boss never thinks you as competitor….its your smartness to walk along and reach the heights…

P.s: Boss, if you are reading this, I am sure you will not get offended, I know how positive you are on feedbacks 🙂 ….Thanks for teaching me all those corporate lessons…and Sorry if I can’t match on what you think I can. Someday, I will….

Priorities..

Couple of days back, I was chatting with my friend, our talks moved towards ‘green memories’ of college days. Discussions went like, these days most of our friends are not in touch, he said everyone has their own problems, I told it is not problems but it is ‘Priorities in life’, nowadays we are not in our ‘Friend’s priority list’. They have their own priorities and we have ours. When we were at school and college, Friendship had higher rank in priority than studies, but after graduation, when we come for work, when we get married and when we get our own family; our priorities change.

Even in this internet generation with options of virtual networking which breaks global boundaries, and a hand phone staying with us round the clock, how many of us really care to stop and say Hello to friends. Friends are just a mail away, a chat away, a call away or a scrap away; even then we just move on because our priorities changed.

If you see an email from your school buddy or college buddy or your street buddy after long time…then you can say without opening it…It’s their Marriage Invitation. You are invited!

If you get a call or you call your buddy, after not meeting years together, there will be 3 questions mutually, 1. How are you? It’s been long time 2. How is your work going on? 3. What else? If the 3rd question comes, it means, sorry buddy I am busy now, I don’t want to continue this conversation, I have some other work to do.

I remember the promises made during farewells, from school to college, every farewell day there will be cries and promises…Heart touching moments…saying mutually we will be friends forever, whatever may come we won’t depart…

I remember, in one of the last trip during college days, I promised my friends, ” Friends, I am gonna work in Dubai, and I will fly every week to meet you all, we will have fun same as today and forever we will be friends” . But in reality, even though many of my friends are in same city, it’s been years we met and even shared a call.

It’s been 2 years I met my closest buddy, who was my neighbor, who was a closest friend of mine for more than 20 years, we used to hang out hours together everyday…but today we are not even meeting once in a year. He has his own priorities and I have my own. Our priority list has changed and we don’t find time to fill in that priority. I hear from him once in a while when he changes his mobile number or switch to different job.

I am not saying we are ignoring friends, but friendship will never be same throughout our life time. Our buddy list changes constantly, from neighbors to school to college to office….even the closest buddy can’t be close every moment…We have much more to do and our priority changes…

I always try to stay in touch with friends; easiest for me is Chat or Mail, as I am online most part of the day. But many of my friends are not online.

If any of you feel that I am not calling you or mailing you, I can open my arms and say, “Sorry my dear friends, it’s not my mistake to be away from you, but I have some other priorities also to be taken care, Money, Family, Job and above all ‘Me’; so don’t mistake me, and never forget me, leave me a scrap or send me a mail or give me a call, I will be happy to reply back and spare 10 minutes definitely”.

All my dear friends – I am missing you !!!

Open Movement

I just came across this YouTube video which explains OpenID in plain English.

Too many usernames! Too many passwords! Too many forms!

OpenID is all about making the authentication process easier. It gives seamless access to the web apps. Here is a sneak peek on how it works.

There are three parties involved here. Identity providers, end users and relying party (or the web services). Web users just need to identify themselves to the identity provider. The identity provider aids the web service in authentication process. Hence web users will have the Single-Sign-On feel. They don’t need to bother remembering the login information for each site they visit.  Symantec, Microsoft, AOL and Sun Microsystems are some of the early starters who adopted OpenID. Now almost all the major IT providers use OpenID either as provider or relying party.

Sounds too cool and simple, isn’t it? We talked about the positives; what are the cons? What about sharing the OpenID to a malicious site which can in turn take control of the users’ data? So we have these phishing nightmares here.

This is where the regulations come into picture and OpenID foundation – a US based non-profit organization manages activities related to OpenID. This foundation has major corporates as board members. Their common goal is to define/refine the standards and protocols for OpenID. Europe too has a similar body named OpenID Europe. Also in a way identity providers can compete among themselves by outsmarting phishing efforts.

There are few extended services like OAuth (Twitter) and FaceBook Connect which are complementary to the OpenID concept. These services allow the user to pass tokens instead of user/passwords to the applications created on top of the base apps (Twitter or FaceBook).

Get an ID for yourself!

Here is a list of OpenID providers – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_OpenID_providers

140 characters!

hi, evry1 twts wnt 2 c if I cn tel in140 chrs wt I tink, if itz pble tn emls cn be lk twtr in ftr wl it hpn? it nd brn mapng I tink wt say?

I Love You..Do you Love me?

Do you think love can be divided? Shared? That is from one to many? A mother would say ‘Yes’, but a child wont, that too if the child has siblings. Yes, my answer was always ‘No’ when it came to my Mother’s love, I always had an ‘Inferiority Complex’ – that my mother is not giving me love or care as much she does for my brother and sister.

This sense of being inferior was not developed as I grew, but it was by birth. I was born 2 years after my brother, and my sister born 2 year later than me. My mom used to tell, I was a “savalai pillai” ; in local language it is used to denote a child who becomes pale, dull, tired and sick after a new born in home. I was one such child. I grew this ‘inferiority complex’ when I was just 2, when my sister was a new addition to the family, I felt my mom is ignoring me, I was possessive, I was missing the love which was only for me; now shared to my sister. Though, my mom treated all 3 as same, I still grew up with this complex built-in. Manufacturing defect!

What is like being a second child, that too second of 3 siblings? The feel of second child will fuel the ‘complex’ inside.

Mom, Dad, grand dads & moms, uncles & aunts obviously love the first child, their heir, who brought happiness. They will equally love the last one; little one, cutest & that too if it’s a girl, after 2 boys, they will shelter more love. What about second one? Oh he is just an addition to the family. You get just bits & pieces of love from them, which too you get when you grab their attention. Cry!.

Being a second child, I have to walk through the footsteps of my bro, the same school, the same class, the same teacher but a 2 years gap, what was in my mind ” Oh, I got old books”.  Till my 7th standard, I got old books, after that he did Matriculation and I did ICSE. Till my higher secondary, I got old uniform, old tie and sympathy “He is brother of Ajmal”. What with my sister, she is young one, she gets double, if we get 2 new dresses for Ramzan, and she gets 3 or 4. Ramzan presents from relatives, my brother and sister get Rs. 50 , I get Rs.25; because my brother is elder and little one is a girl. What I do, Cry!

When I was small, elementary school days, I used to cry lot and become tenser when the sense of inferiority complex runs high. This element became a character for me and a teaser for my relatives. They used to tease me saying that my mom love my bro and sis more than me and I couldn’t control my emotions, bursts into tear, here ‘Aslam the Joker’ for my relatives to laugh. I remember an incident. One summer vacation in Tanjore, Granny’s house, everywhere fun; my uncles, aunts and cousins started teasing me, and I didn’t expect my mom will join them, I burst and shouted at her “mottai maadiku kooda paasam irukku, petha amma unakku paasame illa” [‘loosely translated: even roof has love, you my mom don’t love me.’ Actually in Tamil, Paasi is coral kind of formation seen in open roofs, locally called as Pasam, which also mean Love]. That moment was my first outburst against my mom, I always felt my mom does not love me, but I used to keep inside the heart. When my mom started teasing, I can’t control. My age was 10!

I never had or shown hatred or enmity towards my bro & sis, though I consider them as my ‘Love-thieves’, who stole my love from mom. We never had big fight among ourselves, we used to play, eat, sleep, go-to school, study together. They are not my problem, my problem was my mom, and I never got attention from her. I Love you mom, Do you Love me?

I realized, I was ‘Wrong’. I always questioned myself ‘why she is more affectionate to my bro and sis than me, why I am inferior to them?’  I never got an answer, because, she shared the same love, but I assumed!  “Mother’s love is never disputed, she cares every child similar, she treat them same, be it 1, 2 or 3”. But what makes the child to grow the inferiority complex inside? Its imaginations and situations.

My parents would have thought, if I study in same school where my brother does, ‘he will take care of me, because he loves me’.  The old books, old uniform to not to waste. More money to my brother, coz he will spend for me also. More money to my sister, coz she is a girl and expenses are more. She teased me just for fun. It was all my assumptions and imaginations, which made grew inferiority complex.

Good that I got rid-off this complex very quick. 2 situations made it. First was when my brother went to hostel for his higher studies, I started missing him. I realized I was wrong about my parents, they treated me same as my brother from my birth, only that I didn’t noticed because always I looked my brother as a competitor . Second was when I went to hostel, I missed home, I missed my sister, I realized, she is the little one, only girl, and need to be given more affection and still my mom & dad never treated us differently. They gave us same food, same shelter, similar clothes, similar education and same ‘Love’…

I Love you mom…. yes and of course my mom also loves me without any doubt..!!!

Being a Thamizh…

No, I am not going to talk about how I love Thamizh or not going to compare Thamizh with other languages. Today, Pongal day, first day of Thamizh month of ‘Thai’, this is a ‘Thanks giving day’ or ‘Harvest festival’, we thank nature & farmers. And above all this festival is a unique identity of ‘Thamizhs’. I don’t know about history of this festival, but I always believe, as a ‘Thamizh’ I have equal responsibility and rights to celebrate this festival, despite I am from Islamic Faith.

Why this sudden thought? couple of days back, on a casual talk with office colleagues regarding the holidays, few asked “Why are you worried about this holiday, what are you going to do in Pongal days, Ammavasaikum Abdul Kadar kum enna sammantham [loosely translated: whats relation between Abdul Kadar & Amavasya (New moon)]”. I am a person who doesn’t believe in distinctions, and I won’t reply back pointing their faith. So I just replied, “Why Pongal, it’s Thamizh New Year day also, I am a Thamizh and I will celebrate”, obviously other debate always follow “is Thai 1st a Thamizh New Year day or not”. I don’t want to go into that. I believe on law and law makers, as the law makers told its ‘Thamizh New Year day’, I follow. But the point is, why people raise eye brows if I say I will celebrate Pongal or for that matter Diwali also.

Festivals are Festivals, it’s meant for all to be happy and spread happiness among neighbors and friends. Why your ‘Faith’ should stop this?

I never had this questions while I grew up in Madurai, we had few neighbors from other faith who share Chakkarai Pongal, Karumbu on Pongal day and Sweets for Diwali, and we celebrate with them, real celebrations. After settling down in Chennai, we didn’t have neighbors from other faith, so we missed all the ‘Sharing’. My mom cooked ‘Chakkarai pongal’ last year [Thanks to Tamil Nadu Public Distribution – Pongal recipe materials] and we bought Sugarcane and celebrated. Only difference is, we don’t keep ‘Pongal Paanai(pot)’ and offer prayers, but still we were happy and we reminisce Madurai neighbors and thanked them, wished them over phone. The happiness you get through ‘Receiving and Sharing’ is enormous and that is real festival.

Last night, my mom and dad were searching for an old Ananda Vikatan magazine; mom told she is looking for the magazine which had article on How to cook Chakkarai Pongal. I was delighted. Today morning, my mom cooked Sweet ‘Chakkarai Pongal’ along with the breakfast, yeh of course she cooked on Nalla neram – after 10:30 AM. She was in preparation from early morning; I asked what is for lunch? She told “Pulav”; I asked why keep it simple she replied “Its Pongal, special day”. I couldn’t reply.

Anyways, I celebrated Pongal this year too and I would like to thank God for giving me this life, Nature for providing us food and Farmers for their hard work, and above all I thank for ‘Being a Thamizh…’

Wish you all Happy – Thamizh New Year, Thamizhar Thirunaal, Pongal & Thiruvalluvar Day… Enjoy…

[P.S: I could have wrote this post in Thamizh but authors of this blog has a pact to keep it in English]

Room, not a Home..!!!

‘Thilagavathy Apartments’ at KK Nagar was my first home in Chennai, it was a paradise for me, like a happy migrated bird from different world to a new world, I adapted to the new home very quick. We ‘Graduates/Engineer/MBA/IT/Cinema/Sales’ guys from various parts of Tamil Nadu flew here to Chennai (assume it Bangalore/Mumbai or any other metro if your case differs), it was no longer a choice for us. We are just like birds which migrate every year for seasonal change, we, as flock of birds migrate t0 ‘Metros’ in seek of ‘Money’. I would definitely say at least 90% of us come to metro to chase money but not any other – be it a career, name, fame or anything. It is money, just money. We come, stay at new home, and cherish Chennai – but what we gain and what we lose?

Home!, I doubt if we can call it as a home when ‘bachelors’ stay together. Though, you rent a 2 bed room apartment with a hall and kitchen, it is still called as ‘Room’, may be it all started from the days bachelors used to stay at mansions. Now the definition is changed – Room – Accommodation made by one or more Boys; please note if girls share it’s still a home not room. I feel it’s better not to call it as ‘Home’ – Why?!- A home is made of happy family, but group of boys is not a ‘happy’ family, we can’t even call it as a family, it is just group of ‘independent’ boys.

The problem starts very first day, no matter you were close friends in college for year longs, you will not be in sync with others when you decided to share the room.  Some guy eat Non-Veg, some not; Some smoke, some not; Some drink, some not; Some sleep in day, some in Night; Some watch TV,  Some read books and most importantly Some are ‘Employed’, some are still ‘Searcher’ . You can’t! You can’t compromise on your character but there is a pressure you need to compromise your Friend’s character also. If at the least one guy who is sync, heavens, you are a lucky guy.  You can easily identify there is a different face for your friend, whom you know for past some years. You can identify very first day. So, thought process starts on very first day, how I am going to live here, but you have no other choice, you have to, unless you like to live alone and monetarily strong to afford. Casually, you will be one among them and you will live with it.

I was enthusiastic, after I got job in Chennai, I don’t even had a second thought about my stay, I had an open option, ‘Thilagavathy Apartment’s’ room door was always open for me, my UG friends were ready to join me as their roommate. Well, it was planned 2 years back when we were completing Engg and I am joining them now, I caught the train 2 years later, little delay. But a small change, 2 years back it was only 4 friends shared, now it was already 9, I was 10th one. Believe me, it was just a 400+ sq ft small apartment, but 10 guys can easily share. It can happen only with Boys!.

One time, only one time, you get a warm welcome, your friend will be at station to pick you up, that’s something you will be moved (Thank You Kichu). Settled down in room with luggage. After 10 AM, you are all alone at room, all of your friends gone to office (to work or to search). Sleep. No TV.  Go out for quick lunch, back and Sleep. Friends will start coming in the evening, Tea Shop, back to room, talks and talks, till midnight, goto sleep. Now I am one among them, I am ‘Chennaite’.

I joined office next day. I had a new time table now. In weekdays, go to room for dinner and sleep, before many get up, I will be at office. Weekend is real stay at room, from Friday night to Sunday evening, room is different, you will feel this is one place at earth where you get all fun and enjoyment, you have friends together, happy talks, old memories, unwanted discussions, fights, opinions, what not. I don’t want to go into this deeper, every bachelor knows about it :). This is what you gain in bachelor stay; this is it, nothing more.

Losses – hmm… we can’t count!. Every morning when you get up, you miss something, the sweet bed coffee, which mom gives you even before you open your eyes fully. There is no one to wake you up, you have to get up on your own, I always had a problem, in deep sleep, even sound horn can’t wake me up, and so what this mobile alarm will affect. Second and most Crucial thing, when butterflies fly in your stomach (not coz of Love!), the real belly dance!, dah! you are in queue, its Occupied. One bathroom, at least 5 guys need to get ready at same time, each take 20 to 30 mins, you have to reserve it man. Go to Nair tea shop, drink a tea, problem is more, you will listen ‘Beat it’ inside your abdomen.  Any day, if you are first at bathroom, you can thank God whole day.

Ready to office, no one will be there to feed you breakfast, walk down, again Nair tea shop; eat 2 vadai and one tea, breakfast done. Believe me, nowadays I am not taking breakfast even at home, because it became a habit, not taking breakfast, straight lunch. This is very common among bachelors I could say!. At office, no home-made lunch, you just have to live with ‘Andhra meals’ or ‘Asif Briyani’. I took Briyani for lunch almost like 3 initial months, everyday. Then next 6 months switched to Andhra meals. It gets bored, and slowly eats very little and lunch came down. You will be in room for dinner, same Nair shop, thank God, Nair expanded his tea shop as a mini-hotel for guys like us, take 2 parotta or a dosa and, 1 omelette. Friends, this is real loss, Health!!! We bachelors never mind this, but slowly it affect.

The biggest problem for me, I am a TV freak, when I come back to home I need to watch TV till I sleep, there are days I used to say mom, if TV is not running I will not eat, the next moment I enter home, first thing is to switch on the TV. I was missing TV slowly, there was no TV at room. My friends were sharing this room for more than 2 years, but they never thought to buy a TV, coz few were still searching jobs, there was a PC, etc. But I insisted, I need a TV. Difference of opinion start here, there was a huge debate, oh man, I have never discussed like this for a simple issue. Finally, an agreement was made, TV was allowed to room, the conditions are;  it should be switched off before 10, volume should not be loud, no disturbance to Learners!. Now second issue, guys are not ready to buy a new TV, share price will go high, so I decided to bring my old TV from Madurai. My dad couriered next day, and TV was on, many were off, coz there was a Rs.200 increase in room share. You lose your independence. No longer is decision making power rest to one person, it is board of members, and only early settlers has veto. Now you have TV, but still there are clashes, someone wants to watch Sports, someone Music, someone News, someone Comedy…. There will not be consensus ever. End, you watch only Ads, when switching the channels.

Above one was a simple example of difference of opinion, count as much as you can, from subscribing a newspaper to get a broadband connection. There are lots.

I stayed at Thilagavathy Apartments for seven months until we moved to new apartment.

Even with all these differences, we shared the room happily for long time, until few thought it is time to move to bigger room, because earnings are more now. 4 of us moved out to a bigger apartment at Little Mount, rent was way higher but a decent neighborhood, close proximity to office, easy access to most places; it was a nice apartment, ‘Vishwashanthi Apartment’. We had comfortable and luxurious stay at new apartment; we bought a new TV, set top box, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Kitchen utensils etc. There was an Air conditioner, provided by house owner as fixtures. Though, you are only 4 now, there is more comfort level;  rules are same, you will have same gains and losses.

I stayed at Vishwashanthi Apartment for a year until I brought my parents to Chennai and found a new home.

Throughout my life time I won’t forget the days (May 2006 to Dec 2007) stayed at bachelor accomodation, self-learned to manage myself. I will cherish the moments enjoyed as bachelor, but I know now, a friend cant be a same friend as in college or office, if you share room, he is your room ‘partner’, he is from Saturn and you are from Jupiter.

At ‘Home’ we are like Prince, Parents under our service. At ‘Room’ you are still a Prince, living with 10 other Prince, no one under your service, ‘self-serviced Prince’ but everyone trying to be a King (dreaming, dominating and delegating)

Growth with equity

India is the fourth largest economy by purchasing power parity and it’s growing at 7-8%. India is one of the least affected countires during the current economic recession. It is set to emerge as the fastest growing economy in few years, reckons economic pundits.

India changed the tacts after the 1991 debacle and opened the doors for LPG – liberalization, privatization and globalization. India managed to remain as one of the most favorable investment destination in the last 2 decades.  The growth is outbound; we got the BIG money flowing in from foreign investors.

It’s been close to two decades and we see the notion that ‘only rich grow richer and poor gets poorer’.

How do we work out equitable growth? Do policy makers really care about that?

Equitable growth largely depends on the socio-economic factors. Fulfilling the basic necessities for all is in itself a daunting task. Not that it is hard to achieve, but it’s hard to change the mindsets of vote-driven politicians. We are still far away from sorting out the issues in basic  education, health and poverty. However political parties come up with fake, pleasureable and short term benefits and promises. People should reject this without any reservation and fight for their basic rights.

Globalization might have resolved many of our problems, but the path towards equitable growth is even harder. It requires strong political will for equity and justice.

Hodophobia!!!

In the whole automobile world, the vehicle I could ride with perfection is ‘Bicycle’, to some extent non-gear 2 wheeler like Activa or Scooty. Yes, I admit, I never had courage to drive a geared (manual) bike in traffic. My friends used to ask me or force me to buy a bike, but I will say “let’s see” every time. Till date I don’t have a driving license.  I have tried riding geared bike few times, but i need some big conditions to be fulfilled, 1. There should be less or no traffic in road 2. There should not be any curves or turnings 3. No one should comment my driving.

I am courageous, I am bold, I don’t fear….but I loose these things when one thing strikes my mind… “I am going to travel”… next moment my heart beats up fast, my face will be red, my words will shatter, my eyes will stare… but only for few minutes, once in motion, everything calms down and I will be normal.  Yes,  I fear travel, Hodophobia!!!

Ah, the ‘next moment’ I mentioned is not after occupying the vehicle, the moment when it get strikes my mind that I am about to start my travel.  Say, I am going to office, start from home, walk down to railway station, there it is,  once I see the station – fear starts, when I see the platform – it builds up, when I see train arriving – I am red. Entrain, train starts, 5 mins of travel, I am calming down and back ‘Normal’.

I have traveled in bicycle, tricycle,  bike (of course back seat),  rickshaw, bullock cart, auto rickshaw, car, truck, bus, train, boat and even airplane, but I never overcame the fear of travel. I don’t know when and how the fear started, I never seen a tragedy or accident from my childhood but I have this fear grown inside from school days.

People say, to over come the fear we have to experience the pain which gives fear. I wonder! how long. From my child hood I am travelling, I love to see places,  I have went to high mountains, I have traveled in sea, I have took long distance bike ride with friends, I have flied across continents, I have traveled in high speed underground Metro rail, but still, to this very day, everyday,when I go to office, I fear.

Why I am writing this post? To answer my caring friends, who always asks me to buy a bike, they are right some times, bike is essential at times. I am 27 years old now, I never realized its essential for me. Not even once in my life time.

I am happy commuting in public transport. Though the fear is there, its just for 5 mins until the train starts, but for bike, I am not able to kill the fear. I am very bad in multi-tasking when it comes for bike.

Left hand -hold the clutch,  left -leg – change the gear, right hand – accelerate, right leg – break !! OMG!!! How you do it!!

‘The fear’ stops me to do this multi-task.

But this fear never bothered me, I never felt not knowing riding bike is a ‘Crime’. Everyone are not expert in Everthing my friends. I am not Jack of All trades. I am a human, normal human, ordinary, very ordinary man with few deficiency. I never cared this deficiency, I am happy living with it. Let it be…

Friends, I love you, You care me so much, but please..when it comes to bike…don’t force me…

Some day I will beat the fear and will be ready to drive a bike or car, like you I am also expecting the Day!!!

To all my 2-wheeler drivers  – Thank you friends!!!

‘Job’ stress

No, I’m not talking about work pressure.  We hear about the economic recession, layoffs, M&As, cutting down production, cost cutting, and so on. You never know! Any of these can result in losing your job.  How do you keep you on top of things during tough times?

Ask yourself the following questions

• Do I have the necessary skills for the position I hold?
• Do I know the company management’s current/future strategies?
• Do I know the latest trends in my industry?

We run around deadlines, goals and in pursuit of achieving these, we often tend to forget what are we up to. Simply put, be aware of what is around you,  and keep yourself employable by honing your skills.