.

Patit Pavitra

2010-12-18T22:29:00.005+05:30

Its not that I have not been reading all this while. Its just that I have not been posting!

Completed reading "Patit Pavitra" (Sinner & Pure) by Bhai Vir Singh.

The short essay/narration dwells on the deep rooted caste system in the Indian society and more so in the Sikh religion which was established by breaking down the walls between castes and divisions in the human race based on sex, creed, region etc.

A good two pages of this write up are devoted to the undeniable fact of life that life and death are ever-co-existant and supporting and fighting each. It is described in many examples, few of which are:

1. beautiful sparrows in playful mood among dead wood

2. bulbul (a song bird) singing beautifully while perched on a human skull

3. new plants growing from the wood of a large fallen and dead tree

Describing the facts that Sikh religion was established without any discrimination and was based only on love for One Supreme Being, one of the quotes from Guru Granth Sahib that talks of all saints from all classes of society and equates them:

Bhalo Kabir das dasan ko

uttam Sain jan naee

uch te uch Namdev samdarsi

Ravidas thakur ban ayee

Few quotes that shun the caste in front of the Lord:

1. Aagey jaat roop na jaye Teha hovey jehey karam kamaye

2. Agey jaat na pucchiye karni sabad hai saar

3. Fakad jaati fakad nao Sabna jiya eka cchao

One way caste system that works in God's scheme of things is:

Khasam visaray, te kamjaat Nanak naavey bajh sanaat

Don Quixote

2008-01-12T05:24:00.000+05:30

Don Quixote – Finding leadership in Lunacy

Reference: Don Quixote by Cervantes

The novel Don Quixote was written by Cervantes in 17th century and has been a best seller not only of its time but across centuries and the world. It is the only novel to be translated into most number of languages.

It is a story of Don Quixote, a tall thin idealistic country gentleman who after reading books about knights in medieval times gets such a fascination about knights that he starts believing himself to be one! He longs to do acts of bravery and does not miss any opportunity for it even if the opportunity does not exist. He is accompanied in his pursuits of knighthood, by Sancho Panzo, a greedy, cowardly but kind and faithful peasant labourer who acts as a reality check for Don but is conveniently ignored by the knight.

Don’s various acts in the story seem to be stupid and nonsensical but at the same time his single minded pursuit of goal force us to ponder whether he is a delusional madman or a leader ruled by vision and strong sense of self. He exemplifies the fact that when a mission consumes you, it fills you with optimism, creativity and stamina. The character forces us to search for answers to questions like:

a. Should we be ashamed of our dreams or follow them in reality regardless of their absurdity?
b. Should we hold values that the world around us has forgotten and placed in meuseums?
c. What is better - being people's hero or being hero in one's own eyes?
d. Where is the line that separates boldness from recklessness, bravery from blindness and cowardice from prudence?

Though the character may not be able to give clear answers to the above questions but certain leadership qualities do come out rather strikingly. He is full of energy and looks forward to the unknown despite being old. His ability to imagine has not withered with age. When on a mission, however absurd it may be for the rest of the world, his single minded pursuit is admirable.

Managers of organizations can draw lessons in leadership from Don. Whether they will like to be a Sancho who represents the world at large and is found in abundance or will they assume the role of Don and refuse to conform to the norms of the society thereby setting up their own norms and achieving the results that they dream about. Don exhibits a sense of responsibility many times and teaches the managers to be responsible for their actions, words and dreams. Don proves that achieving dreams calls for being mad; it demands rebelling against the set rules of the world.

If God was a Banker

2007-12-18T01:38:00.000+05:30

If God was a Banker

Ravi Subramanian

After many months, I could get to read a novel thanks to a long flight and here’s my account of it.

I somehow tend to like stories that are told in more than a few flashbacks and therefore I enjoyed the story telling style (even the 2 or 3 amateur stories written by me in my blog are told in a flashback). But all along I could get the feeling that the plot is a complete pickup from Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. While Ayn Rand pitched the two protagonists on the creative profession of architecture, the author here pitched his two on the hottest career of our times – banking. It’s been a long time when I read The Fountainhead, and I don’t recollect if we had anyone who can be labeled as God for both the protagonists. This seems to be the only difference between the two novels – here we have a God (who never showed any godliness except that of forgiveness) for taking care of both of them.

Sundeep and Swami start from the same professional backgrounds – management diplomas from IIMs. But it is surprising that Swami was shown to be way too modest even after spending 2 years in IIMA. It did not feel very nice to know that my alma mater was shown not instilling enough aggressiveness in its students. Anyway, Sundeep filled the vacuum. A few other things seemed to be not correct chronologically but one would not have given them any importance had the author himself not made it too realistic by using certain names especially of organizations.

The story could have been more to my liking if it had a little less of the excessive explicitness of sexual encounters of one of the protagonists. At times it seemed that the author is trying very hard to emulate Khushwant Singh but then Singh’s novels have a much smoother flow.

Enough of negative criticism. I did like the novel for its style of story telling. The pace was good and emotions seemed real. It also captured the politics, dramas etc that go on in banking circles – just that there were no inter-bank scenes. They are pretty common too and I wished they were captured somehow.

In the story, Sundeep and Swami, pass outs of IIMs join a foreign bank in India and in the first week impress their boss – Aditya who plays the God. The two take different paths to success – Sundeep takes short-cuts to climb up the ladder and pocket the moolah as well, while Swami takes the hard way full of sincerity and hard work. And as any Bollywood movie would reach its climax, Sundeep gets trapped in his own actions and is asked to give resignation by the bank while Swami is elevated to higher posts. Aditya, the God comes to the rescue of Sundeep as he did in past for both Sundeep and Swami despite Sundeep’s bad behavior with him during Sundeep’s rise.

All in all, an OK one time read, but don’t do the mistake that I did – purchasing the novel. Read it by borrowing it.

Power Plays

2007-03-06T20:22:00.000+05:30

Power Plays
(John O. Whitney & Tina Packer)

Taking up the issue almost all of us face in our professional lives – promotion or transfer, or new hired the authors reveal the one doesn’t necessarily get fired but one always feels the push and its neither subtle nor gentle. One needs to keep an eye on the peers and other executives just as King Henry IV did. One shouldn’t trust them blindly. Shakespeare makes it very clear that the life of a usurper is not at all easy. The new boss (could be you) is a foreign substance injected into a living organism. S/He is grain of sand in the oyster – will either be rejected or go on to become a pearl. Thus the words of King Henry IV should always be kept in mind

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”

As a boss you have an influence on the lives of your subordinates both official and personal. Thus the self conduct becomes very vital and should be impeccable. The two qualities that could see one through this not so friendly environment are being paranoid and an ability to make a lot of clever moves. This further demands a creation of one’s own team of loyalists which is not easy but is too important to be ignored. As King Henry IV advised his son that to unite the factions at home, find a foreign enemy; such an outside threat will keep people inside focused.

As observed by Machiavelli, while the leader’s best job insurance is to enlist the support of the people, which alone is not sufficient: watch the nobles. The masses don’t aspire to your position, but the nobles do. That apart, working with the people is important to assess people’s skills, commitment and future loyalty. Just as Prince Hal hung out on the streets to know the people of his estate and was able to get much information which otherwise never reached him.

Though it is an acknowledged fact that monetary rewards are important, they aren’t enough to keep people enthusiastic and committed. They want a piece of the intellectual action too. So the way is: give them tough challenges and give them the resources and room to do the job, then when they succeed, reward them with recognition and cash.

Given all this, one still needs to be wary of the people who helped one up. And to avoid such backstabbing, stay in touch, stay involved and reward your people as merit deserves. But make sure that your total attention is not just to that inner circle but extends to the people who do the real work – salesmen, technicians, machine men etc. It may seem to come in the way of cost-cutting exercises that are so prevalent all across. This can be managed by following what Robert Lear of Columbia Business School says, “Hire four to do the work of six and pay them like they were five.”

Now when you take up a job at a higher level, you might find that you need to fire/transfer some people. But these some people could be powerful people in their own right and it mayn’t seem easy, though it might be important for the company. Describing the mistake that Henry IV made by dismissing outright the people who helped him get the thrown and even going to the extent of referring them as servants – thus displaying complete lack of diplomacy and hence committing a tactical blunder. A new manager has a small window of opportunity when s/he first arrives. If s/he can identify those who are likely to make trouble and are not well respected, s/he should let them go immediately. But such firing should be tactical after considering all repercussions and the strength of the ground s/he stands on.

Second, one should keep in mind that one should be appearing larger than one’s boss – as the author says. “A duke can never upstage a King”. Just as it is important to acknowledge the good work of your subordinates by rewarding them with appreciation and money, it is important to pamper the boss by letting him take the credits for the world to know.

While we referred to encouraging people, make sure you are good orator and if not, learn to be one or at worst learn to imitate as one. Take a look at Henry V’s speech to his soldiers as they readied themselves to face the French who outnumbered them. The speech surely made his men’s passion many times more than that of French:

“This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by
From this day to the ending of the world
But we in it shall be remembered,
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

Same goes with the famous speech by Churchill, which instilled passions when his men readied themselves to face the men of Hitler. Another instance is the speech of Antony in Julius Caesar whereby he wins over the riot of the people.

But, a leader needs a companion – friend, secretary, spouse, anyone – with whom the heart can be let out; something of a support system. A support to which one can go to at the end of the day.

Another very important point a leader needs to take care of is the succession which is not only important for the company but also for the leader him/herself. And as per authors, planning a succession is the most difficult task as it brings in sight the reality of one’s retirement/moving out thus lose of all the power one was gloating in. But even if one is able to conquer such difficult feelings, the choice of successor is not easy and often proves to be the point of fall for the organization. Authors advice that qualities to look for in the leader are the same since centuries: strength, resourcefulness, guile, knowledge, wisdom, empathy, energy, courage, curiosity, constancy, persuasion and vision.

Power Plays

2007-03-04T17:30:00.000+05:30

Power Plays
(John O. Whitney & Tina Packer)

Continuing where we left last, the authors quote Shakespeare saying about the people who focus on power for power’s sake that “his piteous and unpitied end”. The best leaders seek power in order to accomplish something.

Authors find a conundrum in Power from People as we know that authority to lead is derived from those who are led. A good leader hears people he is leading and lets them know that they are being heard. However, when he has to make a judgment call about the course of action, it may not be the popular one. A new manager on his first day learns that he/she cannot please everyone. For elected leaders a preoccupation with polls is a prescription for failure. Great leaders are great creators. Someone else would have discovered America if Columbus would have put his proposition to a vote! So a initiative has to be the essential ingredient of a leader – one that is in the best interest of the people being led even if they may not recognize it. A leader must understand the capabilities of his followers, not as they exist today but as they would exist if they were stretched. A leader’s job is not to seek what is comfortable but what is possible and will ultimately serve the purpose.

A wise use of power is equally important. Action without thought is foolish but thought without action is fruitless. There come a time to decide, then act. You might not have all the information you need but if you wait too long, the opportunity will pass you by.

Talking about strategies, the authors quote various examples from King Richard II and King Henry IV and stress on the point that a strategy is necessary for actions and wonderful quote from King Henry IV

“Advantage feeds him fat while men delay”

And

“Are these things then necessities?
Then let us meet them like necessities…”

Following up strategy, once it is adopted, then all decisions have to conform to the strategy unless some new information comes our way that merits a change in the strategy as happened in the case of Aufidius, who did not change when informed about Coriolanus’ changed plans. The decisions have to be taken by the people mandated to take them and such decisions aren’t subjected to democracy. One can’t lead according to the polls. You can lead only by acting upon the course you think is right. Sometimes you do make mistakes. But then, the biggest mistake a leader can make is to sit there and do nothing. Such decisions many a times have to be tough ones, as a compromise on strategy should be accepted unless the new information so warrants. Anyone unwilling to serve the grand design of the enterprise must leave one way or another. And the timing of such decisions is of prime importance and here is a piece from Julius Caesar to reinforce it:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves.
Or lose our ventures”

If timing is not focused upon, we may have to utter what Richard II said, “I wasted time, and doth time waste me”.
But how does one know when time is right. One way is to follow the rigorous analysis followed by insight and intuition, but this comes from great leaders with good experience, who have a strong gut feeling in their area of expertise.

Another most important aspect of a business is clash of ideologies. When ideologies are intractable, one needs to do a good introspection before assaulting on the rival ideology. Just as a general looks to his army in the battlefield and analyses: Are his soldiers trained? Do they have the stamina – both physical and emotional? Is the army big enough?
To have confirmed answers to the analysis one needs to do, one should have the understanding and faith of the source and strength of power of self and opposition. However, unlike military situations, when in business one should try to see if the opposition ideology carries merit for acceptance. If it dies, use it.

Julius Caesar considered himself as a constant northern star and paid a price for it by hands of Brutus and uttering, “Et tu, brute”. One should be wary of the thoughts of Brutus of being the constant northern star as being one is the sole property of the star and none else.

Power Plays

2007-03-03T16:01:00.000+05:30

POWER PLAYS

(John O. Whitney & Tina Packer)

Very few books have gripped me from the start. Maybe I have been more inclined to like the books that built my interest gradually and kept pushing me on the edge like my favourite author Ayn Rand. However, this is one of the very few books read recently that pushed me to the edge from the word go and no, its not a murder mystery story. It’s about Shakespeare’s Lessons in Leadership and Management – Power Plays by John O. Whitney (professor of Management at Columbia Business School) and Tina Packer (founder, president and artistic director of Shakespeare & Co.).

As per the authors and rightly so, proper exercise of power is one of the most persistent challenges that face us in our work lives. Some of us like Shakespeare’s Richard II do not understand it at all and like him we lose it. Others of us might understand it but then fail to use it; and like Prince Hamlet, we lose it. Thus understanding power – its strengths and limitations – and knowing when and how to use it are critical to success in the business world, as well as in our personal lives.

The desire for Power can be satisfied by means other than a corner huge glass cabin, for example in organizing thousands of people for public service or leading the best known R&D department. Some of the symbols of power – corporate jet, chauffeur car – are mere symbols of power and one should be forewarned of them because when the desire for power becomes the desire for its symbols then we play the acts of Richard II and Macbeth, eventually ruining self.

Understanding power involves answering questions like: what is the reach of power? Will a given action radiate beyond its intended scope? Will there be other unintended consequences? Should limits be put on power? What should we use it for? How far can we take it? How often can we use it? How will we know if it is effective? What will be our reaction if it ignored? Above all, we need to understand its target. For whom or at what is it directed?

And as they say, power is relative and not absolute. Power is relative to time, place and situation. We may be powerful at some time but definitely not all the time, at some place but definitely not all the places, and under some situations but definitely not all situations. So the important thing is the source of power, as the source is not relative. We should never ever lose sight of the real source of our power with a clear understanding that today’s success shouldn’t lull us into thinking that it’ll continue tomorrow too.

The authors, as an example of relative-ness of power, narrate the sequences of Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus.

Warning us that power for power’s sake is power lost, the authors draw parallels between Richard III and Macbeth. Whereas Richard was hell bent on being the King (power) and never introspected that he was assuming a terrorist tendencies for achieving his lust, Macbeth had the doubts if he was doing right, whatever he was doing, to get the power. In the characters of Richard III and Macbeth, Shakespeare shows us the most dangerous temptation of power; namely, that we think it is a good in itself. Might is right.

In Search of Excellence

2006-12-30T19:55:00.000+05:30

In Search of Excellence
(Tom Peters & Robert H Waterman Jr)

Chapter 3 – Man waiting for Motivation

In chapter 3 the authors take the topic of motivation – motivating the entire organization. There are some contradictions built into human nature like:
All of us are self-centered and consider ourselves as winners. But the fact is that our talents are distributed normally – none of us is really as good as (s)he thinks;
Our imaginative, symbolic right brain is at least as important as our rational, deductive left.
As information processors, we are simultaneously flawed and wonderful.
We are creatures of our environment, very sensitive and responsive to external rewards & punishment. We are also strongly driven from within, self-motivated;
We act as if express beliefs are important and yest actions speak louder than words.
We desperately need meaning in our lives and will sacrifice a great deal to institutions that will provide meaning for us. We at the same time need independence, to feel as though we are in charge of our destinies and have the ability to stick out.

The question raised is how do companies – especially the excellent ones – deal with these conflicts? The authors reveal that the excellent companies design systems that continually reinforce the notion that most of their people are winners. With a normal distribution of people the reinforcement is of winning rather than that of losing. Further, the systems in excellent companies are not only designed to produce lots of winners; they are constructed to celebrate the winning once it occurs.

A way to keep the levels of motivation high is by keeping things simple. One of the key attributes of excellent companies is that they have realized the importance of keeping things simple despite overwhelming genuine pressures to complicate things. This is done in many ways a small staff, shorter memos – as in P&G any memo longer than one page is returned.

Another way of keeping the motivation high is by positive reinforcement. B F Skinner says that punishment doesn’t suppress the desire to “do bad”. The person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best he learns how to avoid punishment. In excellent companies a good try that results in some learning is celebrated even when it fails.

Second, a reinforcement should have immediacy. Thomas Watson Sr. made it a practice to write a check on the spot doe achievements.

Third, the system of feedback mechanisms should take account of achievability. Major gold banana events are not common, so the system should reward small wins.

The fourth characteristic is that a fair amount of feedback comes in form of intangible but ever-so-meaningful attention from top management.

Above all, regular reinforcement looses impact as it comes to be expected. Thus unpredictability and intermittent work better.

Action, Meaning and Self control – Only if you get people acting, even in small ways, the way you want them to, will they come to believe in what they’re doing. Authors emphasize the fact that in excellent companies there is a dominant use of story, slogan, and legend as people try to explain the characteristics of their own great institutions.
Talking about cultures, poor performing companies too have strong cultures but dysfunctional ones. They are focused on internal politics rather than on the customer. Or, they focus on numbers and not product and the people who make them and sell them. In contrast, the top companies always seem to recognize what the companies that set only financial targets don’t know or don’t deem important. Excellent companies seem to understand that every man seeks meaning (not just top fifty who are in bonus pool).

Nietzsche believed, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how”.

Handling criticism of their research, the authors say to the critic’s observation that the conventions are so strong that companies might be blindsided by dramatic environmental change by arguing that in general excellent companies value and stress on being close to the customer or are otherwise externally focused.

Talking about Transforming Leadership, authors argue that excellent companies are the way they are because they are organized to obtain extraordinary effort from ordinary human beings. Leadership is many things. It is patient, usually a boring coalition building. It is the purposeful seeding of cabals that one hope will result in the appropriate ferment in the bowels of the organization. It is meticulously shifting the attention of the institution of the institution through the mundane language of management system. It is altering agendas so that new priorities get attention. It is being visible when things are going awry and invisible when things are working fine.

It's really not easy!

2006-12-18T22:55:00.000+05:30

I never knew choices could kill!
Bound in a situation where I need to choose one from three options – IIMA/ISB/Cranfield, I am troubling my grey cells like I never did before.

To ease my perspective I tried to list down positives and negatives of both IIMA-PGPX and ISB-PGP. I ignored Cranfield as I am not too keen to leave India despite the award of 50% scholarship.

IIM-PGPX (the new one-year MBA)
Positives:
Strong 60+ years’ history and a reputed brand;
Unmatched resident faculty;
Focused target on senior management positions post PGPX;
Built in mandatory exchange program at no extra cost;
Clear monetary advantage of 6lacs (including the exchange programme);
Strong alumni (but will PGP alumni gel with PGPX is a question).

Negatives:
Untested;
Comparison with PGP inevitable – may happen on 7 Jan;
The confusion for a PlaceCom strategy for PGPX vis-à-vis PGP will continue for initial few years;
Too academic;
With all students coming after 7+ work-ex, the mind sets are rigid and it may take some time before our thoughts, beliefs are shaken and reshaped. Initial few months could be very tough owing to ego clashes etc.;
I am told that for PGPX-1 the institute could not arrange a faculty for finance.

ISB-PGP
Positives:
Sans the “X”;
Pursues only one course PGP so efforts are well directed & coordinated;
On the high growth path;
Chance to interact with international faculty;
We old dogs get to learn new tricks with more of younger population around which also means lesser ego clashes;
More of student initiated activities;
I am awarded a fee waiver of Rs.2 lacs;
I stand to save Rs.3 lacs if I get 50% scholarship, and a Rs.10 lacs if I get 100% scholarship.

Negatives:
Too diverse a student profile – work-ex ranging from 2 years to over 15 years;
Point (a) must create confusion among recruiters;
Expensive and too royal;
International faculty is not resident leaving students to fend for themselves after they’re gone;
Nothing known about the resident faculty. Seems the school relies more on visiting faculty;
Alumni support not strong;
Despite the fee waiver, I may suffer a financial loss of Rs.3 lacs if I don’t get the scholarship.

DO I LOOK CONFUSED? You can bet!

In Search of Excellence

2006-12-04T22:52:00.000+05:30

In Search of Excellence
(Tom Peters & Robert H Waterman Jr)

chapter - 2 The Rational Model

Accepting that professionalism in management is regularly equated with hard-headed rationality, the authors aver that it doesn’t tell what excellent companies have learnt, doesn’t teach us to love customers, and doesn’t instruct the leader to make an average Joe a hero and many others things that make a company excellent. The authors are in fact against wrong-headed analysis that is too complex to be useful and too unwieldy to be flexible. They are against analysis that strives to be precise about the inherently unknowable and especially analysis done to line operators by control-oriented hands-off staffs.
“Those who implement plans must make the plans”.

The authors introduce the “paralysis through analysis” approach where action stops while planning takes over and express their abhorrence for it.

The authors rue the fact that there aren’t many managers who are hands-down and will go ahead to make and market a product if it’s good enough even when the payoffs mayn’t be clear. There aren’t any such managers now.

The Japanese have excelled in manufacturing and the main reason behind it is that they treat people – not money, machines, or minds – as the natural resource.

Coming to planning, the authors tell that once a plan is made it should be put on the shelf and company should take up action and should not be bound by the plan. It shouldn’t be used as a major input to the decision-making process. Planning is important but should not be an end in itself.

Refuting the traditional assumptions, the authors tell that under those assumptions, cost became the priority number one and revenue enhancement takes a back seat, and quality is given no value. Numerical analysis is done without any feelings and is heartless philosophy. An anti-experimentation of traditional assumptions leads to over-complexities and inflexibility. The rational model causes us to denigrate the importance of values and leaves little room for internal competition.

Beginning of the end!

2006-10-30T21:45:00.000+05:30

More than one end start coming my way today and I may reach the cul-de-sac of all of them in next 3 or 4 months and then I will take a turn. Some of such ends are:

1. Office – Put in my study leave application today which in all likelihood will be rejected and will set me free to put in my papers eventually;
2. Work – A year long break from work and boss and deadlines and files and office politics;
3. Mumbai – that’s sad but unavoidable;
4. Blogging? Don’t know! But will resist.

Come April and I will step in my dream institute – IIM Ahmedabad for its one year management program (PGPX). I have absolutely no idea as to where will this turn lead me to.

But the fact is I never thought I will feel so heavy after tendering my sort of resignation from office – I loved the office, I loved the furniture, I loved the paintings on the wall, I loved the phone on my table, I loved my PC (even though it acts weird every Saturday-shanidev is what I call it), and above all I realized today that my boss is indeed a good fella!

But then I firmly believe that life and movement are synonyms. But I had no inkling that matching the two could be this tough. Change is indeed constant but human is too transfixed with constancy to embrace any change.

Want to stay alone today.

excellence

2006-08-27T12:38:00.000+05:30

In search of excellence
Tom Peters & Robert H Waterman Jr

Chapter 1 – Successful American Companies
The authors were the part of team doing a project under the aegis of McKinsey & Co on relationship between strategy, structure and management effectiveness.
The team came out with the 7-S framework popularly known as McKinsey’s 7-S
1. Structure
2. Systems
3. Style
4. Staff
5. Skills
6. Strategy
7. Shared Values

While working on the project, the authors came out with a definition of innovativeness which gave a new perspective on excellence. Adding to the old definition of innovation – creative people developing marketable new products – they added innovative companies are especially adroit at continually responding to change of any sort in their environments. This concept of innovation became the benchmark to identify excellent companies/managers.

Working on the project, it was found that excellent companies were above all brilliant on the basics. Tools did not substitute for thinking. Intellect didn’t overpower wisdom. Analysis didn’t impede action. They found that excellent companies worked hard to keep things simple in a complex world. The companies persist and insist on top quality. Such companies fawned on their customers, listened to their employees and treated them as adults. The companies allowed their innovative product and service champions long tethers and also allowed some chaos in return for quick action and regular experimentation.

The eight attributes that emerged to characterized the excellent companies on which the rest of the book dwells are:
1. A bias for action;
2. Close to the customer;
3. Autonomy and Entrepreneurship;
4. Productivity through people;
5. Hands-on value driven;
6. Stick to the knitting;
7. Simple form, lean staff;
8. Simultaneous loose-tight properties.

execution - 3 (last)

2006-08-19T20:53:00.000+05:30

The discipline of getting things done
(chapters 7 to 9)

The authors then detail the strategy process which they emphasize as making the link with people and operations.
The basic goal of a business is simple enough: to win the customer’s preference and create sustainable competitive advantage, while leaving sufficient money on the table for shareholders.
However, despite such simple business goal, most strategies fail because not enough importance is given to the hows.
Citing example of AT&T, the authors reveal that the strategy in the company was disconnected from both external and internal realities. It didn’t test its critical assumptions to see if they were robust, and had no alternative plan.
Building blocks of a strategy contain the substance of a strategy. Further to it, it is essential to understand the distinction between strategy at business level and strategy at corporate level. Corporate level strategy is the vehicle for allocating resources among all of business units, but it is not the sum total of such parts. A corporate strategy also defines the walls of a company – the business it wants to be in and the general arena of play.
When a business unit creates a strategy, it clearly lays out in specific terms the direction of the unit: where it is now, where it will be going in the future, and how will it get there.
A business unit strategy ideally should be less than fifty pages and the essence should be describable in one page.

Who build the plan? To be effective, strategy has to be constructed and owned by those who will execute it, namely the line people. Staff people can help by collecting data and using analytical tools, but business leaders must be in charge of developing the substance of the strategic plan.

A strong strategic plan must answer the following questions:
What is the assessment of external environment?
How well do you understand the existing customers and markets?
What is the best way to grow the business profitably, and what are the obstacles to growth?
Who is the competition?
Can the business execute the strategy?
Are the short term and long term balanced?
What are the important milestones for executing the plan?
What are the critical issues facing the business?
How will the business make money on a sustainable basis?

The authors some relevant questions and methods to conduct a strategy review and warn on over reliance on data. The strategy review is also a good place to learn about and develop people. A few of the relevant questions are:
How well versed is each business unit team about the competition?
How strong is the organizational capability to execute the strategy?
Is the plan scattered or sharply focused?
Are we choosing the right ideas?
Are the linkages with the people and operations clear?

Equally important is the follow through of the strategy review.

The authors emphasize on a robust operations process which takes forward the strategy. An operating plan is a total responsibility. It ties thread through people, strategy, and operations and it translates into assigning goals, and objectives for the next year.

For a better operation process, synchronization is important for excellence in execution and for energizing the corporation. Synchronization means that all moving parts of the organization have common assumptions about external environment over the operating year and a common understanding – the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.

Sound assumptions are key to setting realistic goals. Once the assumptions are pinned down, the next step in the operations process is to build the operating plan itself, which takes place in operating review. The operating plan starts with identifying the key targets: revenues, operating margins, cash flows, productivity, market share etc. Operating plan covers all the major programs for the coming year – marketing and sales, production, functional operations, capital spending and so on.

The outcome of the operations process is the identification of targets that clearly and specifically reflect not only what a business wants to achieve but also what it is likely to achieve.

A follow through of the plan and contingency plans make the process complete.

BLOGDAY

2006-08-15T21:52:00.000+05:30

I have not yet finished the book but i am here today to put up the mega event coming up: Blogday.

Blogday is being celebrated on 31 august.

What are we supposed to do?
These:
1. Find 5 new Blogs that you find interesting
2. Notify the 5 bloggers that you are recommending on them on BlogDay
3. Make a post with a short description with a link to the blogs.

Happy blogging!
(the book should be completed by the coming sunday)

execution - 2

2006-07-22T20:35:00.000+05:30

the break was on account of my taking the GMAT and then getting back to office. An unusual erratic net connection contributed to my absence. Coming to the book that i left last, here are the next three chapters.

The discipline of getting things done
(chapters 4 to 6)

Chapter 4 to 6
The authors talk about creation of the framework for cultural change in an organization. As per them, the cultural change gets real when the aim is execution and that no complex theory or surveys are required. What is required is to change the people’s behavior by telling them what results are sought, then discussing with them how to get those results. This is followed by rewarding people for producing the desired results. The foundation of changing behavior is linking rewards to performance and making linkages transparent. An employee doesn’t get rewarded if he has not improved along with the organization and peers even though he/she may be good at the job.
The authors introduce the social software of execution. The social software includes values, beliefs, and norms of behavior.
All the above is not possible without a robust dialogue. A robust dialogue involves letting people speak without constraint and hesitation. When people speak candidly, they express their real opinions, not those that will please the power players or maintain harmony. The authors quote Jack Welch, “Informality is critical to candor”.
Finally, the leaders get the behavior they exhibit and tolerate. Culture of a company is the behavior of the leader.
To build an execution organization, the leader has to be present to create and reinforce the social software with the desired behaviors and the robust dialogue.
The concept if supported by both the authors by way of examples from companies in real life.
We don’t think ourselves into a new way of acting; we act ourselves into a new way of thinking.

Next, the authors give the prominence to something that a leader should never delegate: having the right people in the right place. As per them choosing the right people is what creates that elusive sustainable competitive advantage. Reasons that most of the time, right people are not in the right job are lack of knowledge, lack of courage, psychological comfort factor and lack of personal commitment. The people a leader should look for are ones who energize others, are decisive on tough issues, get things done through others, follow through but the leader should him/herself be equipped with such qualities.

Starting the next part of the book (part III) with chapter 6, the authors then talk about people process which makes the link with strategy and operations. A robust people process does three things:
a. evaluates individuals accurately and in depth;
b. provides a framework for identifying and developing leadership talent the organization will need to execute its strategies down the road;
c. It fills the leadership pipeline that’s the basis of a strong succession plan.

The people process is based on the following building blocks:
a. linkage to strategic plan and its near and medium and long term milestones and operating targets;
b. developing the leadership pipeline through continuous improvement, succession depth and reducing retention risk;
c. deciding what to do about non-performance;
d. transforming the mission and operations of HR.

Execution

2006-05-21T17:36:00.000+05:30

The discipline of getting things done
(Chapters 1 to 3)

How many times have we found ourselves surprised when the plans did not achieve what they were supposed to achieve – both in personal life and in professional life?
The book, “Execution – The discipline of getting things done” by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan talks about why that happens and how to make sure it does not happen.

The first thing to come under suspicion when results are not achieved is the strategy adopted by the company. However, often strategy by itself is not the cause. Strategies fail because they are not executed well. The authors cite the example of Compaq, where the CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer set out an ambitious strategy and had almost pulled it off before any of his competitors too. He took the company at breakneck speed and transformed it to second biggest computer company. But it lasted just for some time as the execution that was required for that intense a strategy wasn’t provided either by Pfeiffer or his successor Michael Capellas. Soon Michael Dell with an envious execution took his company Dell way ahead of both Compaq and IBM.

To understand execution, three key points are to be kept in mind:

Execution is a discipline, and integral to strategy;

Execution is the major job of the business leader;

Execution must be core element of an organization’s culture.

To elaborate a bit, execution is not tactical as believed by people. Tactics are central to execution, but execution is tactics. Execution is fundamental to strategy and has to shape it.
Execution is the job of the business leader. An organization can execute only if the leader’s heart and soul are immersed in the company. The leader must be in-charge of getting things done by running the three core processes: picking other leaders, setting strategic direction, and conducting operations. These actions are substance of execution and leaders cannot delegate them regardless of the size of the organization.

The foremost difference between a manager who believes in execution and one who doesn’t is that the former stresses on why’s and how’s of both setting up and review of strategies. For example that the book cites, Xerox under Richard C Thoman set out on two very ambitious and major change in the structure of the organization and was done without pondering on how the same will be achieved and needless to say the same cost the company dear and it has not emerged out of that decline completely.
And talking about success, the example cited is of EDS, whose new CEO, Dick Brown brought the discipline of execution. In Brown’s words, “The point I tried to make is that when you sign up for what used to be a budget item you are committing for your team and each other. The rest are depending on you. It added a layer of weight and responsibility that was missing before.”
Brown organized a series of 2-day meetings for top 150 executives, exposing them for the first time to the details of the company’s plans, critical issues and finances. “I want you to see the business from my level” he told them at the first meeting.

The authors then list the seven essential behaviors that form the building block of execution:

Know your people and your business;

Insist on realism;

Set clear goals and priorities;

Follow through;

Reward the doers;

Expand people’s capabilities;

Know yourself.

A bit about each:

Know you people and your business – Leaders have to live their business. Good people like being quizzed and a good leader quizzes his people hard and gets to know them. Larry, one of the authors, tells from his personal experience when he was in Honeywell, that he used to meet with aas many people as he can during his plant visits and gave them a slide presentation about where the company is. Then he fielded questions for an hour and tried to sense from the questions thrown at him how well the plant manager communicates with the workforce. This was followed by a private dialogue with the plant manager as per the requirement.

Insist on Realism – Realism is at the heart of execution. Xerox’s attempts to make two major changes in the company simultaneously wasn’t being real to the ground realities. Realism also encourages questions like “How am I doing vis-à-vis my competitors? Have they made a lot more progress?” and discourages self comparison like, “Have I made progress from last year to this year?”

Set clear goals and priorities – Leaders with focus on execution have very few strong clear as crystal priorities. Along with having clear goals, the leader strives for simplicity in general. The leaders speak simply and directly, plainly and forthright about what’s on their mind

Follow through – Follow through gives the goals and priorities an added strength. It also makes the people in the organization realize that they are being monitored,

Reward the doers – If you want the people to produce specific results, you reward them accordingly. The organization must make a cler distinction between performers and non-performers and rewards should commensurate with the performance achieved.

Expand peoples capabilities – This is done mainly through coaching. As a leader, one has acquired a lot of knowledge and one of the most important job is to pass it on to next generation.

Know yourself – As all know, leading an organization requires strength of character. In execution it’s absolutely critical. And for execution, we need Emotional Fortitude. Without emotional fortitude you cannot be honest with yourself, deal honestly with business and organizational realities or give people forthright assessments. A lack of emotional fortitude does not allow one to tolerate diversity of viewpoints, mental architectures and personal backgrounds that organizations need in their members in order to avoid becoming ingrown. And if one can’t do these things, one cannot execute. The authors, from their years of experiences, point to four core qualities that make up emotional fortitude:

Authenticity

Self-awareness

Self-mastery

Humility

2006-04-02T21:40:00.000+05:30

THAPAR SENTIMENTS

Sunday Sentiments
by Karan Thapar

Spent most part of the last week with the book. When I say most part I mean the most out of the part which I give to myself after office, classes and studies.
Am half-way through with the book and just as his Sunday column in HT, the book is equally engrossing and thought provoking – well, the book is in fact a collection of his Sunday musings from HT over past many months/years (therefore at times some things seem to be out of time – but then no one minds a diamond which is out of time)

It contains his experiences – most of them – while he interviewed celebrities – from politicians to sportspersons to movie stars. And the best thing I liked is that till now I haven’t come across a single page where he has criticized someone negatively. I loved his positive thoughts on others, and the appreciative attitude towards other people. We come across very few who try to understand and see the logic behind a persons’ words and actions and it takes a very broad mind and a large heart for doing so!

Karan Thapar has both. It is one of the books that I’ll recommend with the prefix “highly”.

Salt & Sawdust

2006-03-27T00:40:00.000+05:30

SALT & SAWDUST
r k narayan

That’s the book which am currently reading. Unlike his books that contain stories that strike us with their simplicity and obviousness told in a manner that keeps us fixed owing to the unique writing style, this book has only a couple of stories to start with and the rest of the book is plain table talk.

The first two stories speak the same language as his other stories.
The first story which gives the book it’s name, Salt & sawdust is rather an amusing one where the overbearing wife who has a passion for writing and wants to write a novel for which her husband gives all the support he can but husband’s love for cooking (which was encouraged by wife’s incapability in cooking) lands both of them in an end where both of them are left in disbelief. Its just a joy to see how the situation unfolds.

The second story titled Guru, is about a man too miserly. His miserliness leads him to loneliness which he does not accept even when he knows it’s there.

The books then takes to the chapter which helped me meet one more great man from the history – Magsaysay of Philippines. Read him and he seems to be India’s Subhash Chandra Bose with the only difference between the two great men being that Magsaysay lived on to lead his country after getting it freed from Japanese occupation.

Till now, its been a nice read.

The Perennial Student, Karl Marx

2006-03-12T18:58:00.000+05:30

Marx – the perennial student

Completed reading a short biography of Karl Marx by Paul Strathern
This thin 55 page booklet gave me a lot of hitherto unknown facts about Marx of whom I first learnt in my history lessons when in class VIII.
Let me share them here.

Marx was born to a Jew family in German provincial city of Trier on May 5, 1818. Trier is (or was?) known for its vineyards. His father, Hirschel was a successful lawyer who himself owned couple of vineyards and he converted to Christianity. Marx’s Uncle founded the today’s well known Dutch company Philips.
One of Marx’s habits was to force his sisters eat mud pies!
Marx was sent to University of Berlin to read law but he ended up with philosophy. He was influenced maximum by Hegel in philosophy but influenced as being against him in interpretation besides having a major influence of German humanist philosopher and moralist Ludwig Feuerbach. Marx’s doctoral thesis extolled Prometheus – the ancient Greek hero who stole fire from the gods and brought it down to humanity and for his punishment he was chained to a rock in Caucasus where an eagle would return each day to peck out his ever-renewing liver. The Greek translation of Prometheus means “he who sees, or thinks, the future”.

Marx found his first job as a journo in Rheinische Zeitung (Rhineland Times). He was very successful and was promoted to be the editor within one year! He married his childhood sweetheart, Jenny von Westphalen who came from aristocratic family. People do wonder why an enchanting Jenny would marry a scruffy young Jewish hell-raiser who was four years junior to him!

Marx moved to Paris where he met Friedrich Engel and the friendship continued till the deathbed. Engel was the only friend with whom Marx never quarreled. And for his part, Engel worshipped Marx. Both Marx and Engel moved to Brussels and joined the newly formed Communist League. They were given the task of writing a manifesto for the league. Their writing was the first origin of Manifesto of the Communist Party.
Marx offered a list of reforms for the capitalism like the progressive income tax, abolition of child labor, and free education for children.

The Manifesto ends with its celebrated call to arms:
‘Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communist revolution. The proletariat has nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!’

Suddenly the two friends astonished the Communist League by turning their backs to them and returning to Rhineland where Marx took up the job of being an editor for Neue Rheinische Zeitung. And his writings there where against revolution and surprised all his friends. He now held the view that working class should collaborate with the democratic bourgeoisie if anything worthwhile is to be achieved. But this shift was short-lived as when in 1848 the assembly of Prussia was dissolved, Marx again jumped to advocating armed resistance to such suspension of democratic rights. He was arrested but his arguments in the trial were so cogent that he gained such popular feeling that he was unanimously acquitted, and even thanked by the jury, amidst a cheering courtroom.

Despite his nominal regular income, Marx kept asking and receiving financial aid from Engel.

By 1859 Marx completed first full scale work, Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. His philosophy was based on following analysis: Social life is founded on economic life, upon how things are produced within a society. Social relations are based on economic relations. Above these rises a corresponding superstructure of laws and social consciousness which reflects the economic structure. In this way the theological and intellectual life of a society is entirely determined by the way things are produced within it.

Marx termed the newly discovered idea of division of labor as destructive. As per him when the workers were reduced to continuous repetition of a single, mind-deadening task, they lost any meaningful relationship with the product they were helping to create. Instead of being creative artisans, they became dehumanized drudges.
Along with this, concepts like Private property, profits, and capitalism was dealt in length by Marx in his massive masterwork, Das capital (Capital) published in 1867.
Das capital investigates the mechanisms of economics against the background of the nineteenth century Britain which was most advanced industrial economy in the world and indicated future.

According to Marx, capitalism was basically unjust. It relied upon the exploitation of the workers, because the capitalists owned the means of production: the machinery, the tools and so forth. A cotton bale arrived at the factory door and left as garments which could be sold for a higher price. In this way the worker added value to the goods but he was not paid the full value that he added. Marx was a firm believer in the labor theory of value – a product has real value which could be calculated according to the amount of labor that had gone into its production.
For Marx, the dictatorship of the proletariat was only the first phase as this would be followed by utopia. The struggle between the classes will be replaced by a classless society. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Marx died in 1883 at the age of 64. A dozen friends and fellow believers gathered at the graveside on that cold March morning in Highgate cemetery. They listened as Engel delivered what then would have seemed to most a hopelessly overblown funeral oration, “His name and work will endure through the ages…”
Little did they know that in less than seventy years later, a third of the world would claim to be run according to Marx’s ideas.

The Monk who sold his Ferrari - IV (last)

2006-03-11T18:20:00.000+05:30

The Monk who sold his Ferrari
Robin Sharma

(Pg 150 – 198)

The book then dwells on discipline and says that lack of willpower is a mental disease. Enlightened persons do not seek to be like others. Rather, they seek to be superior to their former selves.
Don’t race against others. Race against yourself.
Discipline helps in taking control of one’s life as when you control your thoughts, you control your mind. When you control your mind, you control your life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your destiny.
The secret ingredient of building self-confidence is momentum. A good thought and a good habit need to be maintained like getting up a little earlier, going for a walk, switching off the TV when we know its enough.

Then it takes up the most precious commodity – time. If youth only knew, if age only could.
Set priorities – enlightened people are priority driven.
You got to be ruthless with your time. Learn to say no. Having the courage tom say no to little things will give you the courage to say yes to bigger things.
The best time to plant a tree was forty years ago. The second best time is today.
The remedy to break the spell of frustration is given as Act as if failure is impossible – wipe out every thought of not achieving your objectives – do not set any limits on the working of your imagination – never be a prisoner of your past – become the architect of your future.

It then lets out the purpose of life – to serve, selflessly.

It finally gives some good nuggets of wisdom:
Happiness is a journey not a destination – you got to keep practicing being happy.
And to be happy you got to – live your children’s childhood, love the love of your beloved – savor the blessings of parents – bathe in the joy of friends – put a smile on a stranger’s face.

Grow your destiny!

Definitely a book to spend one week with and to keep in the head for life!

The Monk who sold his Ferrari - III

2006-03-09T22:28:00.000+05:30

The Monk who sold his Ferrari
Robin Sharma

(pg 100 - 150)

The book then dwells on leadership. It says that those who express their lack of knowledge and seek instruction, often find the path to enlightenment before anyone else.
Those who keep their minds open to new concepts – those whose cups are always empty – will always move to higher levels of achievement.
It urges us to improve the self – kaizen. It reasons for the need of kaizen by asking – how could a person possibly lead a corporation if he cannot even lead himself? How could he nurture a family if he hasn’t learned to nurture and care for himself? How could one possibly do good of one did not even feel good?
The words are indeed full of an impact.
It tells the way to improve self is to indulge in things that we fear of – like public speaking, maintaining relations etc. It encourages writing an inventory of our weaknesses – the weaknesses that keep us from living life.
What sets the highly actualized people apart from those who never live inspired lives is that they do things that less developed people don’t like doing – even though they might not like doing them either.
The book then lists the Ten Rituals of Radiant Living, much on the lines of the Ten Commandments

Ritual of Solitude – to mandatory spend some time say 30 min in solitude, complete peace – with oneself;

Ritual of Physicality – to care for the body by keeping it fit through regular work-outs;

Ritual of Live Nourishment – to eat good food;

Ritual of Abundant Knowledge – to maintain a thirst for knowledge and living as a student – a student of life;

Ritual of Personal Reflection – to talk to oneself and realize one’s right and wrong deeds and thoughts; It’s a complete circle – “Happiness comes through good judgment, good judgment comes through experience and experience comes through bad judgment”

Ritual of Early Awakening – to get up with or even before the sun;

Ritual of Music – to have a regular sessions of good music;

Ritual of Spoken Word – to repeat mantras that have a profound effect on one’s personalities;

Ritual of Congruent Character – to take a daily incremental action to build one’s character;

Ritual of Simplicity – to live simple.

It defines failure as not having the courage to try, nothing more nothing less. Courage is in turn a character about which the book says,
"You sow a thought, you reap an action;
Reap an action, you sow a habit;
Sow a habit, you reap a character;
Sow a character, you reap a destiny"

Then talking about the necessity of willpower, it says that the lack of it is a mental disease. It goads us to have our own views and never try to be like others. It asks to believe in being superior to the former self. It asks us not to race against other but to race against self. The ways to develop willpower is continuous repetition of some words and the other is to vow silence for a day.

The Monk who sold his Ferrari - II

2006-03-08T23:20:00.000+05:30

The Monk who sold his Ferrari
Robin Sharma

(pg 70 – 100)

Next the book gives another principle – the purpose of life is a life of purpose.
It goads us to recognize our purpose and pursue it. It says that the real source of happiness can be stated in one word: achievement. Lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidently in the direction of your life’s purpose. To reinforce, it quotes Benjamin Disraeli: ”The secret of success is constancy of purpose.” It says that “You will never be able to hit a target that you cannot see.”
The book then gives five steps to follow to make our desires come true which are:

have a clear vision of our outcome;

create positive pressure to keep us inspired;

never set a goal without a timeline;

application of magic rule of 21 – cultivate a new good habit for 21 days after which it becomes a habit;

a day without laughter or day without love is a day without life.

Keeping alive the passion is very important to reach the goals.

The Monk who sold his Ferrari - I

2006-03-05T22:06:00.000+05:30

Monk who sold his Ferrari
Robin Sharma

I am through with 50 pages of the book and that makes it almost 25% of the book.
The book though seems to be just another on how to raise the standards of one’s living; it does so in a little different way. Excuse me for the cliché – zara hatke
Till now the book is talking about control of the mind.
It seems very easy in the printed matter but even though in practice it may be tough but I believe that it is no way impossible.
It talks about taking control of the mind and its thoughts. It talks of bringing the mind closer to nature. It talks of recognizing where your passion lies and then following it with one single concentration and it claims that then you will realize true happiness and calmness that seems so elusive.
It says that there is no such thing as objective reality or “the real world”. There are no absolutes. All events, all persons, all things have different effect on different people. My enemy could be someone’s friend. It depends on interpretation and a positive interpretation keeps your mind clear and calm.
It further claims that there are no mistakes in life, only lessons. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a wonderful teacher.
It goes on to say that focus of the mind should be on the act and not on the result and then the results are faster.

Narrating the story of a boy who traveled far and wide from his home to study under great teacher and on meeting him his first question was, “How long will it take me to be as wise as you?” “Five years”, said the teacher. “But that is too long. What if I work twice as hard?”
“Ten years” was the teacher’s response. “How can that be. But what if I study all day and night?” “Then it will be fifteen years” replied the wise teacher.
“I don’t understand” enquired the pupil.
The teacher explained, “With one eye fixed on the destination there is only one eye left to guide you along the journey.”

This part of the book gives three techniques viz, the heart of the Rose, Opposition Thinking and The Secret of the Lake.

The gist of this 1/4th of the book:
The secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it. Once you do this, abundance flows into your life and all your desires are filled with ease and grace.

days are going fine

2006-01-20T19:24:00.000+05:30

Fine, as of now. Classes have begun but the steam is yet to catch up.
This sem with guides like sango, fakih the sem will ask for blood alongwith sweat and sleep.
Am i ready? Got to devote more time to things that i've in plans for myself.
Will i achieve it?
More importantly, am i serious enuf as of now?
shame that this ques comes to my mind.

new year

2006-01-01T23:11:00.000+05:30

The year 2006 is here and do i have any resolution?
Is there any use if am gonna make it now and break it tomm?
But i have some decisions and the resolution is that i will stick by them unlike in past.
I shall not do those acts that make me repent later.
I shall do such acts that make me proud.
I shall do acts that help me avoid say sorry.
I shall make it sure that i move closer to realise my dream.
I shall not marry.

am sorry

2005-12-31T20:44:00.000+05:30

It hurts when someone comes with hopes and you know that u'r gonna hurt them by saying no.
It happened second time today when parents invited someone for the marriage proposal. I know it was my worst behavior for which am just not known and feel ashamed myself too. No i did not say or do anything that would have belittled the guests. But a silence and terse replies is no way to treat guests either. They must have sensed something wrong. How i wish that they reject me before my parents say them so.
Why do my parents have to do so. Have told them clear and think i need to sit and tell them once more and the final time that this is what i have decided to make out of my life. i may fail i may succeed but that it is to be.
But i carry the burden of being unpolite to the guests and hurting parental feelings of my own and of someone else.

am sorry.
Lord, please don't forgive me and punish me severely.

a story gone wrong!

2005-12-26T23:31:00.000+05:30

It was drama all day long at least for me. Saw a story about a couple on a blog yesterday night and i mailed to my office id to enable myself to take a print of it which i did today morning. But as events would have it, i forgot to collect the print from the printer and the pages landed in the hands of Manohar and as is his style he promptly delivered the papers to NS Prasad/Bhagwati thinking it to be a similar case as that happened in July/Aug. The papers then were brought to the notice of the DGM who read through them and seeing my name called me to ask about them. I confessed and told him in clear terms that it contains a story and nothing of the sort experienced by the department few months ago. Though he understood, he asked me to be careful with the personal prints.
Think that it was the best that he could do.
We bode farewell to Vamdev and Anil for their joining UTI Bank. Kishore and Girish are in line and many more in next one/two years.

its getting heavy

2005-12-24T19:44:00.000+05:30

Though its a rest after exams got over long time back but the rest is no where to be seen forget having it. I think i am into too much of work but the fact is that my desk is still not well defined. Half of that and half of this with the complete of my own.
The new DGM is very supportive but as of now the support seems to come out of his being new to domestic treasury operations. When he gains comfortable confidence then the real him will be known as he then may act on his own.
Have not been able to go to the gym for the full week now. Mom is angry at me for that.
Got to make it smooth and orderly from now onwards.
Best of Luck!

Another public sector way of work

2005-12-15T23:16:00.000+05:30

Day would have passed smoothly, but for the proposal of Rights issue of Hindalco. We came to know from HO that the same has been rejected. It was a shock. Rights of a share ruling at 130 available at 96 will be anyone's call as the price cant get cheaper than this.
A call from the DGM forced the GM to reconsider his decision and approve it.
On looking at the note wherein the proposal was denied the remark for decline was "Let us wait for a better opportunity to enter at appropriate time". No what is better chance? Are they going to write to the board of Hindalco to declare rights when they find the time appropriate? Ridiculous! Jaya had a correct one-liner for suck top management - let them sit for that psychometric test!
It was nothing but yet another functioning style of public sector. Whims and fancies of an individual. His own moods drive the part of organization under his jurisdiction. I wonder what more it will take to weed out the rot?

another day

2005-12-15T00:08:00.000+05:30

The day was without much to comment about. Proposals were put and proposals were rejected. We really need to work in a way so that HO has confidence on us, on our wisdom. But an underlying feeling prevailing in our department of having a high opinion of each every issue is not justified as that can never be.
I really need to work hard on my desk now.
Had another "stretching" evening in the gym.

and the change came

2005-12-13T21:53:00.000+05:30

Yes, the change was there. Surprising it was though! Never expected it to be the way it was. But then, there is much to be said about the change both in favor and against, more in against actually. Lets see how long it prevails - it has started with a period of one month but we all know its for eternity or till treasury incomes make a comeback.
Nothing special today except that i went for gym. Nice experience and wish that i be regular. Hope so.

another change?

2005-12-12T22:29:00.000+05:30

The repurcussions of the sat meeting were felt today. So its almost final that one from the FO will have to move to BO. Who is the only and main question. Its more than clear who are wanted to be moved. But more than that what troubles is the stubbornness of a man who is soon reaching a stage where he may have none but avoiders.
Tomm's gonna be a big day - for all in the frypan.
Could not attend Gym today due to the delay in leaving office by 20 mins and those 20 mins stretched the delay in reaching home to 1 hour. Big cities, big differences!
Will be leaving for office an hour earlier now onwards and will see if i can leave office for home before 5.30 pm. If i can, early departure from home in the mornings will be stuck with.

day of issues and non-issues

2005-12-10T22:01:00.000+05:30

The day was as a saturday is but for the meeting with the new DGM, the forex DGM having taken over the charge of domestic operations too. I dont know how far is the news of one lady DGM coming to head the domestic treasury is true. The meeting was as all his (the DGM) meetings are - long and even at the end u dont feel like its ending! Nothing of concerete was finalised except that the mainstay of the today's meeting will be discussed again with the Chief Manager (Dealing) and Manager (Back Office). How typical of public sector (hey, am i getting too critical of public sector - but wait. No, i am not. I fully subscribe to the fact that public sector still has some of the most intelligent and most innovative employees but only if they are allowed to work to their potential....alas!)
With the end of the meeting at around 1 pm, i had no mood to work and was helped by the news that some entries for the 09th of dec were yet to be passed which saved me from working on form a prov right then. Will have to but for sure complete it and send it on monday and that will make monday a bit busy with two proposals also lined up for the day.
Nothing else. Yes tomm going for Neal n Nikki. Dont expect much but it coming from the stable of yashraj films one can look forward to in any case.

free. am i?

2005-12-09T20:43:00.000+05:30

with exams over there is indeed a feeling of being free. However, the happenings in office do give feelings, that one can only wish to avoid. I dont know why he behaves the way he does? I can accept his contention if he displays to the minimal that he is organized and try to focus on what is supposed to be done at the given time instead of wasting his time in just observing others. I am sure that he is not as simple as he projects himself to be. Though i regretted my altercation with him a month back, but i think what happened then was right and i should not have any qualms about it.
Anyway, tomm seems to be a big day with a meeting scheduled to decide who goes from Front office to Back office. We have some favorites and its almost sure that they will continue to be favorites. So the choice narrows down to obvious scapegoats.
Maybe that puts us in a position where we concentrate more on what we are dreaming of - IIM/ISB.
God Bless.

sem 3 comes to end

2005-12-07T21:39:00.000+05:30

Its over. Or is it?
With tax paper going seemingly smooth, it seems to be over and i feel a bit realxed at the thought that i may not have to repeat it contrary to the opposite feeling till the time i got the q paper in my hand.

Watched harry porter today, rather slept through the movie. A resolution - never watch it again. Suggestion - watch govinda instead.
Was gifted a watch by JB frds. Really feels nice to know that u among people whom u can call and mean "friends". Fills mind with memories and heart with joy!
Relaxed. Am i? with exams over, i fear the memories of her dont start filling my mind again. But this habit of blogging may help me.
Have plans in lot on this hobby. Better i take them all hog and keep myself away from what gives nothing but pain now.

It's the pressure, Stupid

2005-12-03T11:43:00.000+05:30

What else could it be? Am banging my head with Mr Singhania & Mrs. Singhani (the authors of the book “Students’ Guide to Taxation) for the last 4 days now. And everything seems to defeat rocket science (actually rocket science has total logic but taxation – naah). It just reminds me of my condition when in school & college – jittery, panicky, trembling, hungry, sleepy – when I used to study that most dreaded subject on the earth – “chemistry” (God saved me somehow, why - I don’t know)
But chemistry still had some logic, but this taxation – my Lord. Do the people in IT department have any brains? Or is the neural matter composed of only white matter and the grey color has faded away? Why can’t they keep it simple. Someone surely needs to give them a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Anyway, today I gave myself this day as the last day for studying taxation. And am astonished how easy the things start seeming to be. Don’t tell me that am reading the easier portions of the subject. But I am certain, it’s the pressure that’s making the mind and the grey matter in it work (am glad my grey matter hasn’t faded yet).

Nothing much to write about since my last post, mainly because nothing was allowed to happen as I am on leave from office studying tax – can anything worse happen ? Hope it ends smooth on 7th dec and I can get back to reading Marx.

Indian Double Standards

2005-12-01T11:24:00.000+05:30

Double standard – that’s the phrase that describes well we Indians most of the times.
On considerations are many thoughts at the same time. Primarily, the thought is of our relations with the neighbor – Pakistan who has just too much in commonality with the northern part of our nation. We are all hog on improving the relations which have been soured since the time we started to breath freely but with that fresh breath came the pain in the heart (I being born 27 years after the independence/partition – but was kept close to the feelings of the same by my granny and other old hands & hearts in close relations). Second we call ourselves citizens of a modern developing nation on its path to breaking the myriad shackles it’s been caught since time immemorial. Art is being once again been given the highest podium in the social strata. Then we have the corporate India and its vocabulary including social responsibility. With them, the ever self-proclaimed torch bearers of just cause – the NGOs.
After having put all these points in the mind, now consider the news report in today’s ET “NGO shows Pak troupe door for anti-US stance” In Lucknow, a Pakistan based cultural action group (Tehrik-e-Niswan – women’s movement), invited by a prominent NGO (a women NGO) to stage plays in India, has been abruptly asked to go back by the very NGO after its first performance on the grounds that it displayed an anti-US stance. The occasion was a festival “Staging Peace – a dialogue in theatre: A women’s endeavor to create the culture of peace” by the Women’s Initiative for Peace in South Asia (WIPSA). And, the play staged was “Zikr-e-Nashunida”. The reason is that the play contained some anti-US references and since WIPSA was being funded by American Ford Foundation, they cannot allow this.
Now, the Indian NGOs, who are always ready with the brickbats at any fellow Indian who seemingly bows to the west or at the time when half of the world (recently in case of Iraq standoff) is against west will join them, have showed a very downtrodden attitude by towing along the wishes of their western funding house. NGOs have always had a dubious characteristics and this one instance just reinforces the fact known all along. If it was at the behest of Ford, it talks shame of the MNC, who cannot allow freedom of speech – one just wonders how are the employees in the company treated as – ducks – who are not allowed to speak their minds and hearts?
That apart, where goes the bonhomie that we are aspiring to develop with our “lost brethren”? Is that endeavor under a dictation from such MNC (I recollect the article on EHM – Economic Hit Men – and start to feel that my opinion of that article being a crap was utterly wrong)?

It’s just a case where Art is humbled by the politico-economic interests – I wish I get to hear what Mr Raja has to say on this.

Anyways, the day leaves me with just 4 days before the exams and its becoming trembling to sit with the subject of taxation. Hats off to guys who study it in CA and above all – clear it!

Preparations

2005-11-30T19:06:00.000+05:30

It’s not the first time that I am realizing that continuous studying helps in the end when the exams are just at the corner of the week. And the realization is more so for a subject which I never ever had thought I would be studying – taxation. And after banging my head for two days now, I can very well understand why Einstein had said that taxation is something that can’t be understood and explained. Yes, the paper of taxation at my level does not cover much as it’s only the basics, but it is giving me jitters as I never studied the subject during the semester – regretting and resolving not to repeat it henceforth.
Need to get back with Singhania (author of the text book on taxation).

Little gyan on FII and PN

2005-11-29T10:55:00.000+05:30

Coming back after little gap. The last few days were depressing with some bad memories haunting the day thoughts and taking away the sleep. As such am not a deep sleeper but when you don’t get a minute of sleep for 3 continuous days, it starts taking a toll. With the exams round the corner, sleep and good sleep is as necessary else nothing stays between the neurons in the grey matter and gives a blank feeling even after hours of study. Thus I am bracing up for the exams. I am on leave from today till the last exam.
I had taken all care at the office but at the last minute I get a call from CM, Mr Ravi about CGM desiring complete change in the note of swap. It was astonishing as all upto MD had gone through the draft note and had concurred. This sudden change of stance left me wondering. It just goes to show the public sector working and how it makes the decision making capabilities extremely impaired of confidence and guts.
Now I will be working from home and coordinating with Nambiar. He will be a great help being a dealer and in the thick of the things.
Lets see of the next note satisfies the weakness of public sector top management.

Till the time, this Monday carried timely ET in class room on FII and PN the two most responsible entities for the soaring capital markets in India.
The same is represented here below.

A foreign institutional investor means an entity established or incorporated outside India which proposes to make investments in India. To ensure that such funds are not just a front for one wealthy individual, the government has prescribed that an FII must be broad based fund.

Q. What is a broad based fund?
A. A broad based fund means a fund established or incorporated outside India, which has at least 20 investors with no single individual investor holding more than 10% shares or units of the fund. But if the fun has institutional investors like banks or a pension outfit or a similar established entity, then it shall not be necessary for the fund to have 20 investors. However, if the fund has an institutional investor holding more than 10% of shares or units in the funds, then the institutional investor must itself be broad based.

Q. What is a sub account?
A. A sub account includes those foreign corporate, foreign individuals, and institutions, funds or portfolios established or incorporated outside India on whose behalf investments are proposed to be made in India by an FII. Similarly, a designated bank means any bank in India which has been authorized by RBI to act as banker to an FII. There is also a domestic custodian, which is an entity registered with the SEBI to carry on the activity of providing custodial services in respect of such securities.

Q. What sort of entities can be registered as an FII?
A. Under the SEBI (FII) Regulations, 1995, the following entities and funds are eligible to get registered as FII. This includes pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies, investment trusts, banks, university funds, endowments, foundations, charitable trusts, and charitable societies. The SEBI (FII) Regulations 1995 also says the following entities proposing to invest on behalf of broad based funds are also eligible to be registered as FIIs. These are asset management companies, institutional portfolio managers, trustees and power of attorney holders.

Q. On what basis does SEBI decide the eligibility on an application from FII?
A. The parameters analysed include the applicant’s track record, professional competence, financial soundness, experience, general reputation of fairness and integrity. The applicant should have been in existence at least for one year. It also checks if the applicant is registered with an regulated by an appropriate foreign regulatory authority in the same capacity in which the application is filed with SEBI.

Q. Who can get registered as sub account?
A. Institutions, or funds, or portfolio established outside India, whether incorporated or not, proprietary fund of FIIs, foreign corporates and foreign individuals. An FII should apply on behalf of the sub account. Both the FII and the sub account are required to sign the sub account application form. The maximum limit of FII investment in any company as of now is 10% of total equity of the company. With the sub accounts, the aggregate limit is 24%. For the sub account registered with under foreign companies/individual category, the investment limit is fixed at 5% of issued capital.

Q. What sort of financial investment can a FII conduct?
A. They can now invest in almost any dsort of products in the stock markets including primary and secondary markets. This comprise shares, debentures, and warrants of companies, unlisted, listed or to be listed on a recognized stock exchange in India, units of mutual funds, dated government securities, derivatives traded on a recognized stock exchanges and commercial papers.

Q. What is a participatory note?
A. PNs are instruments used by FIIs, not registered in the country, for trading in the domestic market. They are a derivative instrument issued against an underlying security which permits the holder to share the capital appreciation or income from that security. PNs are therefore like contract notes and are issued by FIIs to their overseas clients, who may not be eligible to invest in the Indian stock markets. PNs are used as alternative to sub accounts by ultimate investors, who prefer to avoid making disclosures required by various regulators. The government as asked FIIs to wind down their exposures to such PNs and eliminate them from their books within five years. It is likely to be whittled down to three years.

Bad start and good end

2005-11-26T01:14:00.000+05:30

The day’s start was not good. I don’t know what happened to me in the train. Without wanting I picked up a slight argument with a fellow passenger. The fault was entirely mine and I rued it all day long.
I had my first lone talk with the new DGM. He seems encouraging but how far is he going to walk the talk is to be seen.
Evening was great. I attended Anju’s marriage. Anju looked pretty (not cute as Pratima insisted on). It was my first attendance at a Christian marriage. It was all fun. Till we don’t expose ourselves to the festivities of other cultures we are not able to appreciate the niceties in other cultures.
Rajsekhar sent the farewell pics today. Here are they.

Day with mixed feelings

2005-11-24T22:57:00.000+05:30

Two things of import happened during the day. The DGM got transferred. Yes, it was surprising. Though the news had reached us last week but the likely consequences were felt today. Actually, it’s a fact that we don’t get to see the positive qualities of a person till the time (s)he is close or near but the moment the distance increases to make him/her not easily available, one gets to know the value that person held. But in his own style of being high on personal matters, the DGM called each section of the DT and had a close face to face one to one talk. I have never experienced a more nice gesture from a boss who is bidding good-bye. Wishing him all success.
Next is matter of my being in turmoil concerning my MBA and my job. The news that PAD is contemplating transfer of guys pursuing MBA just because few of our other colleagues have quit the job to join UTI Bank, kept me on my wits end for over a month now. But Arvind has come to my rescue and I hold the faith. Still I think I need to ready to face the event of my resignation.

The days seem heavy and long drawn.

Back in Office

2005-11-21T22:59:00.000+05:30

Yes, I was back in office today after a gap of 4 days. I did not find much work pending thanks to my late sitting on Saturday last. But quiet a good number of IPOs coming in.
It seems, therefore, that I will be occupied for the rest of the week. But, coming Friday I need for myself, especially the evening as its my group’s presentation that day.
The talk of transfers is gaining weight.
Lord, please help me!

Sunday

2005-11-20T21:43:00.000+05:30

Quiet a short day it was.
Nothing much to do, so read the last one week newspapers which were lying unattended due to exams.
Here is a nice article in todays TOI.

MIND SET

Spiritual VIBES

Who said God doesn’t have an interesting sense of humour, asks Mark Pitstick

Relationships are one of the best and toughest paths to self-realisation. Yogis who fast, remain celibate, take vows of poverty, and live in caves have selected a difficult course. But that’s child’s play compared to being a house-holder, a term used in India for one who pursues the spiritual path while having a job, raising a family, maintaining a home and all the concomitant responsibilities. Now that is an arduous path! Some say soulmates are the ones who can push our buttons the best and who drive us crazy at times. Others believe that everything flows effortlessly and peacefully with soulmates. Either may be true at different times depending on the agendas of the souls involved. Who said God doesn’t have an interesting sense of humour! The issue of relationships becomes very interesting when we remember we each are eternal souls. Relationships are not coincidental or unimportant. Think of the thousands of persons we encounter in our lifetimes; why do we form close and lasting relationships with one person but not another? We have to deal with recurring negative relation-ships sooner or later. Why not now? Don’t be held back and experience a hell of lower quality living because of unresolved relationship issues. Serious spiritual seekers will make optimal relationships a priority. Love is the key and relationships provide a life long workshop for giving and receiving love. If persistent problems plague your relationships, consider the soul or karma aspects in addition to usual counselling considerations. One way to discern if you’re relating to a soulmate is to recall the first time you met in this life. Remember the description of memory triggers or cues that are planned just before souls return for new incarnations? In reviewing my first meetings with loved ones, time seemed to stand still for a moment. My brain seemed to whirr faster than usual as if trying to comprehend the various energies and feelings. I felt happy inside as our eyes met and we held the gaze longer than customary or comfortable during first meetings. As one progresses toward greater personal growth and heightened consciousness, relationships may encounter a new type of stress. The relationship may suffer if the gulf widens and interests remain markedly different. The rapidly changing partner may be in an overzealous or self-actualising phase while the more orthodox partner may be content with the status quo. Spiritual wake-up calls may be misinterpreted as a marital problem. A major key to healthy relationships is to see the Divinity in each other. Relationships based solely on lower chakra energies of physical attraction, dependency issues, and money are break-ups waiting to happen. The body may grow old and the mind feeble but, viewed through eyes of love, the soul’s beauty always shines through. Recall your first loves and how you were thrilled to look deeply into each other’s eyes, the windows of the soul. The problem is, most people limit opening their hearts to just a few others. Then they’re crushed when the relationship ends by death or parting. When first encountering fourth chakra energies, perhaps during puppy love, we may erroneously think love is something we can lose. As we grow into higher awareness, we realise love is inside and all around us. Love does not come from another person nor can it be lost since we are beings of Love. Then, whether in a relationship or not, we’re always enjoying an internal state of Love. Brian Weiss says “From the experiences that some of my patients have in the between-lives state, I have come to believe that we actually pick our families for each lifetime before birth. We chose to live out the patterns that will afford us the most growth with the souls that will most effectively manifest these situations in our lives. Very often, these are souls we have met and interacted with in many ways in other lifetimes.’’ If we picked each other, let’s love and appreciate one another and — when it’s time — let go lightly, remembering the Truth. The older I get, the more I value loved ones. I love my family, and friends and, during trying times, know that they are providing the perfect environment for soul growth. Real friends are there to share. Loved ones are worth their weight in gold and are a key ingredient for spiritual progress.

Break in exams

2005-11-19T23:39:00.000+05:30

The second paper went good. It was again a general paper. With the first stage of exams over, end my leave and Monday will be working day again. I have still got the Sunday before I resume at office.
I reached home to find mom not well. She was having her palpitation problem. Due to having a hearty lunch, she was not feeling comfortable and with vomiting she was at ease and after some time the palpitation also got normal.
She watched parineeta part and I am copying “the great train robbery” onto my system for leisure viewing.

First paper...

2005-11-18T21:46:00.000+05:30

The exam went off well. As expected the paper was general but spoke of V P Raja’s standards – being practical. It was a strain on the hand to write continuously for close to 3 hours.
If what is happening in the PAD concerning us at treasury does see some way, it will lead to some real tough decisions to be taken. Will have to utilize all the fielding that I can but with that levy thing, already the association is against us. All wrong things happening at the same time. Sad. Cant do much but wait and see how things move. Not even clear when to act.
Lets hope things sort out on their own.

Good News

2005-11-17T22:11:00.000+05:30

Good news! Dad got discharged today. The doc is confident that the stone will drain away through hydro-therapy. Anyhow, the process of discharge took most part of my day. It was 2 pm when we reached back home. I then decided to take a good sleep and do “jagran” the whole night and that’s what I plan to do. I have, almost gone through all the topics once. A good second revision is to start now. Then I will set on to mug up some things while digest some important points that will help me in building answers.
Wishing myself best of luck.

A nice pic i received in mail today.
Look at the pic. Concentrate and u see one pink dot moving round. Then concentrate on the central "+" and the color of the dot changes to green. Further concentration on "+" will dissappear the pink dots and only one green dot seems to be encircling. However, in actual there is no green dot, its illusionary and affect of the same on our brain.

Click on the image to get full working pic.

Need Strength

2005-11-16T22:37:00.000+05:30

I woke up at my normal time i.e. around 6 am. But took to the bed again as I was on leave. Second time I was woken up by telephone ring. Mom told me that Dad went to Karuna Hospital for his pain in the stomach and the doc suspects stone and has advised to get admitted. I had to rush to the hospital. Dad did seem to have lost strength, maybe on hearing about the stone thing.
Sonography was done and report was to be given in the evening when the doc comes for visit. Doc confirmed the stone and has decided to see if it can be washed off with hydro-therapy else its surgery or laser.
I could not study anything. Dad admitted in hospital and Mom bedridden (though she now manages to get up and has even started to cook). Suddenly feel the need, just one day after I decided to gain back the lost strength.

A day spent at home

2005-11-15T21:28:00.000+05:30

I was at home all day long. The finger is hurting and the leg is also paining. Got nothing to say much, so I post here along my new desktop…..

Thoughts thru' the Day

2005-11-14T21:47:00.000+05:30

Why does it happen that we know something is out of the question and still we look forward to it? Why don’t we have the power to erase something that keeps haunting? Why does the mind sometimes seem to be so weak in-front of the heart? Why did I wait when I knew it won’t happen?
Why does it seem so hard to start afresh? I know I have much better things to do. I have things that can keep me busy for the rest of my life, but why do I apply breaks for them who, I think, don’t care. Why do we tell lies? Can’t we live one life? A life that’s as simple as 2+2. Why do we have to wear masks? Do I wear one?
Perhaps, I will get my answers by starting afresh. Today, there were quiet a few surprises. And I concluded that shutting myself off will not help me and moreover it can upset my near and dear ones. I got to overcome. I am not weak. Let the countdown begin. There are so many who love me – my parents, my siblings/cousins, my uncles, my aunts, my friends, my colleagues. DGM’s gesture today will be hard to forget even if it had subtle connotations (which again is a figment of my imagination – can’t I reign it). Is the love of all of ‘em not enough? It’s more than sufficient to spend the short lives we have. Why wait for the corner when none exists. Its existence was a chimera or was it a mirage. It’s not necessary that we get what we want always. Sometimes the few moments are enough and those times can be a source of life for rest of the life. One just needs to be strong enough not to let them over awe you. Having tasted a relationship, and both its zenith and nadir, it helps to remember both the extremes and derive strength lest the nadir tears you apart.

You have got to be focused. You don’t have to fear the memories. Crushing them, avoiding them will strengthen them to haunt you even more. Taking a path and just moving along seems to help the most – as they say. Let’s try that. Don’t cut off; rather get back to normal self that has been lost. Its there inside and finding it should not be difficult.

Take care and keep the faith. Crush the ego – “Bulla ki jana main kaun”

"Accidental" day

2005-11-13T22:49:00.000+05:30

The day was OK. The training was better. The last day of the program did indeed teach the intricacies in the swap pricing. It’s an exciting world out there. Wish to be a part of it.
There’s so much to explore.
The journey back home was “accidental”. Had a minor accident while driving back to home from the Bvli station. Index finger got badly bruised, with the cover for the nail root more or less peeled off. Good amount of blood spilled. I had no choice but to drive till I found a clinic. It was a strange feeling with the finger bleeding and me driving and looking around for a doc. But all the clinics that I came across were closed as the time was around 4.30pm – the time for a siesta. Eventually, searching for a doc I reached close to my house. Then the good old chemist in the neighborhood helped me out by telling me the way to a maternity clinic of which I was not aware of. The nurse was kind. She offered me water & cleansed my wound on the finger. Well trained she seemed to be too as she could remove the hanging skin with ease and did not cause much pain to me. Though the bandage was loose, I did not mind. She also injected me with Tetanus and asked me to see the doc tomm evening.
Now I am in double mind of going to office tomm or taking a leave. But I think I should go. Nothing’s pending but I will be glad to see the note on swap dispatched. Worked hard on it and so, want to be present when it sails for the HO. If I go, I will try to leave early and then start with my Sem 1 preps.
The calf is paining a lot.
It will be better if I lie on the bed and do some reading.

Interesting Day

2005-11-12T23:57:00.000+05:30

With an initiation into FRA pricing, the day gave a feeling of knowing something new. The training went great today. Wish to emulate Ashish Ghiya. Long term plans.
Completed all my pending work as on today. Will be taking leave from 16 nov till my first set of exam-papers ie 18 nov.
Had a long talk with Nagaraju after the office hours and he as usual was an excellent player of words. But now I know what Das has in mind. I don’t mind till I am getting what I want. Wish it to continue till I am ready to make a changeover.

Feeling tired today.

A day I would not care for

2005-11-11T22:10:00.000+05:30

The day started normal. It was not as heavy and sad as yesterday. Reached office some 10 minutes early and wanted to mail the top 20 statement to planning department before they reached office and was able to do so. Not very sure of Pyramid Retail and would have a talk with Mr Dash tomm. I called up Anju to tell her that she is with my group and that we will be presenting together. Rest of the day spent casually with not much to do. Evening training was ok and it was good that I did not feel sleepy as I felt in the first half yesterday.
When I reached Borivli, I met Benoy. He is back in India and looks handsome with a stronger body/physique.
Over all the day was not one I would care to remember.

An uneventful day

2005-11-10T21:56:00.000+05:30

An uneventful day
Started heavy, as usual. Was not in the mood and could not get place on the gate of the local so that put me off even more.
We were being visited by our new GM today, so all were set. Nice fellow he is and looks sterner than the previous GM. He complimented me on my work on the swap note. I wish we could have had a discussion and I should have then told him the futility of the exercise. He was in hurry to attend the meeting at RBI. Had lunch with Sanjay and it was heartening to know about his married life. God bless them both and the little kid. I just pray no harm comes to him in the differences that have cropped up between Sanjay and his wife Moonmoon.
The first half of training was boring and I was in a slumber sitting in my usual favourite seat. But second half was lively with basics of swaps. Tomm should be more interesting with problems solving.
Mom’s blood and other reports reveal better condition. So though the day started of heavily, it has a happy ending.

I got this in mail today…………..

How Much You Are Worth?A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"Hands started going up.He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me dothis." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still, the hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?"? And he dropped it on the groundand started to grind it into the floor with his shoe, crumpled and dirty."Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air."My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what Idid to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.It was still worth $20.Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirtby the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel asthough we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what willhappen, you will never lose your value in the eyes of those who love you.*You are special - Don't ever forget it!