Wednesday, December 16, 2009

True reward comes when you least expect it.

Since childhood, I had been hearing that Geeta says 'Karm karo phal ki ichha naa karo' Do you duty and don't expect any reward.It never went to my head.How can someone work without thinking of any reward.Especially in today's competitive economy.Can you think about working on something without worrying about returns.But,finally I understood its meaning.Actually this is an epitome of life.When you start working on something without looking at returns your entire energy shifts from hanging fruit to your work.That energy transforms your work from good to better and better.You become much more efficient.You start enjoying your work.That adds great value to your work.When you stop taking work as means of getting some thing back but as something you want to do,you do so much more and better.And when you give your best,reward becomes inevitable.It automatically follows you.You get beyond your expectations and that gives you the true reward-Reward of greater happiness and appreciation.

What else can you enjoy more!!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Is modern synonym to west?

On hearing the word 'Modern' the term 'western' automatically pops in.I kinda agree that modern actually means western or in other words west is modern.But I completely disagree with the picture of west which is usually projected.For a common person in east a modern person means a person who wears western clothes,smokes,booze or go to discos.While these attributes are completely acceptable for an eastern male but for females they are completely No No.Well I am not debating the discrimination between males and females.My point here is do these terms actually describe the word modern.Is west all about clothes and parties?
I strongly disagree.In my view a person is modern if he can think and think logically and objectively without any prejudice.A person who is ready to accept the change.Someone who can understand the rules of society and knows the importance of it.Who can understand why those rules were laid and weather they still hold good.Who is ready to change these rules for the good of society.Who is not ready to accept those obligations because these existed or because his grandparents or his parents followed them.But he is ready to fight against or for them as he understands their importance.Someone who is ready to adopt the good without discriminating against its origin.At the same time someone who understands his and his societies weaknesses and is ready fix them.A person who respects not only his culture or religion but others too.
In all these attributes west is modern.People at west do not just destroy something because it is influenced from east.They don't vandalize other places of worship because those are not according to their religion.They treat their wives and mothers and ladies with respect and dignity.They adopt the good attributes from everywhere be it Yoga,Ayurveda,Clothes or Food.Take any modern female from west to the streets of Delhi.I bet in two days she will ask you to buy her a pair of 'salwaar kmeez' unless she already came prepared.Because a modern person understands and respects others culture.(I at least had two such instance in front of me).
Take a look at history-you will find modern people everywhere.I am thinking of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.He was undoubtedly a great modern visionary.Can you believe we were actually burning widows alive on the name of rituals.If modern people like him had not existed we would have been living in the stone age.
Hence wearing western clothes does not make you modern but its their thoughts which made west modern.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

What a difference!!

For past few months it was all chaotic. I was restless ,mind was wondering in all the possible directions. was feeling like I am lost in the world. Had no clear vision of what am I trying to achieve. Root of all this "My Job Hunt".(Experiences while hunting for a job needs separate post).All that chaos resulted in lost of direction. Everything,I was doing was just dumb. My work at current job was going in a hole. I was extremely dissatisfied of all the efforts. Feeling of 'good for nothing' started to dominate.
All this frustrated me enough that I decided to not to run in this rat race. Have decided to be more calm and think through my actions than just running purposelessly. Decided to focus on what i actually love - Reading and my job. It did not take longer to feel more relaxed.The moment I decided to focus my work efficiency improved dramatically. I can feel it my self.This feeling gives me immense satisfaction.Helps me in gaining my confidence back.Makes me realize that I am not that bad. Helps me in taking things lightly. Helps me in knowing what I want.Helps me in coping up with the pressure.
I am pleasantly surprised with the power of mind.As my husband always says ,"its all in mind".It truely is. Nothing has changed in terms of my current circumstances .I am still looking for a job but I am feeling much more content and confident.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Situations and Priorities

Few days ago my planning list included a vacation plan .Preparation for higher studies.Buy Diwali gifts for friends and family. Do shopping. Read magazines, books. Think and plan about savings.Search for a dream home.Buy a new Car.Relocate to a place closer to work.Think about my office work and make my code better. Then, I got the news that my Job is in jeopardy.Ever since I got that news my priorities have changed.

Now, I don't spend time in any of my favorite activities like reading blogs or books.Not able to concentrate on any book be it magazine or official guide to GMAT.I no longer enjoy the work I am doing at office.Can feel that my performance at work has declined sharply.Good number of websites,I visit include Job portals or prospective employer's websites. All I read,now a days, is about available job opportunities and job descriptions. Suddenly, my phone is seeking the most of my attention while waiting for an interview call. I read technical books to memorize the jargon which I have forgotten.I need to remember my previous projects.I have no clue weather Real Estate market is inclining or declining now. Plan for buying home or new car has been deferred.

Thinking,how priorities change suddenly.How a single day can change the plans forever.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Does she deserve our Empathy?

Today's Headlines - Nalini begins indefinite fast in Vellore prison


What the *$%&# ?Whats wrong with our country. Any one can go to hunger strike? How can an accuse of assassination of none other but countries' Prime Minister has guts to do that. Does she realize the depth of crime she has committed? I don't care how many years of imprisonment she has served and whether her only kid has no one else to look after. All I know is :she is an accused of murder of PM. No matter what her circumstances were and why she committed that heinous crime. Whether she was ignorant or not. But I want everyone to know that there is no escape route once you are involved is such an act. So think not once or twice but hundred times.

Also whats wrong with Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Ms Priyanka Gandhi? With due respect want to say that Don't look at Nalini as a murderer of husband or father.Please don't try to take any political advantage by advocating early release for her. She is a murderer of Prime Minister of India. Entire country lost a valuable and honorable leader. She deserves no empathy.

She should remain behind bars until she dies. Be it due to hunger strike or suicide or natural death.

Pardon me for my harsh comments.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

On the other side of equation

Yesterday,I got the news that my project is ending in two months and for next project they will not need any workers here. They are going to outsource it to the teams at India, China. Makes perfect business sense.But that is not a happy news for me.As that means I will not have a job in few months.

Other than several thoughts which pass my mind -like what next, how are we going to manage and blah blah ,I was also thinking about the reason given to me. It was easier to just blame and start hating Bl**dy Indians if I was not one among them. Certainly, I can't do that. That is my home.I got my first job there because of outsourcing itself. Did I think at that time that this job actually belongs to some one else.So obviously I don't have that choice of cribbing for the cause which benefited me some time back.

Though, I have an option to go back to India. But Is that a guaranteed success path? Probably not.Sooner or later some other countries will emerge with same skills but less cost. So does that mean my skills are getting cheaper day by day? difficult to answer but answer is 'Yes'. Hence moral of the story is In this new globalized world need to develop skills which are not so globally available.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Luck Vs Karma

Have you heard people saying - "Its all pre decided. You cant do much about life. God has written your faith even before you were born". I have heard it numerous times. Every time I hear it I wonder then why do we need to work. Why do we need to work even hard. Why don't we just sit and relax.After all everything is pre decided .Things will fall in place by itself .We have to do nothing. But then the same people start saying ,"You should do your Karma and forget about reward".Geeta says that.

It always leaves me wondering which statement to believe in.Though I am a strong believer of Karma but then what is this luck all about.Is it just a condolence term?

After years of thought process ,I finally came to conclusion. Both statements are equally true. Its like a flow diagram.Complete flow is predefined but then there are decision boxes. At various points in life you need to decide and make choices. Rest of the flow depends on the choices you made.

So though everything is pre written and pre defined, depending on your Karma you will encounter different choices. And as I said earlier these choices impact rest of your life


So moral of the story is - Life is all about choices you make.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Do we need Innovation team??

'Innovation' is the new trend. Companies are spending thousands if not millions to be called innovative and survive in the continuously changing world. But how to identify the innovative ideas.Many companies actually have teams and people designated for innovation. But could this type of arrangement actually work and succeed.

Yes this is the general practice at many places. But normally this practice limits the true innovation. People who are part of so called 'innovation team' are either so busy in innovating that they actually miss the true essence of it or they start thinking of themselves the only 'Innovators' around.

On the other hand people around them become so complacent about all this 'Innovation' talk that they think -Its not my job. Even if they have better idea they feel no one will actually listen to them or explain to them and they prefer to remain quiet.

Doesn't this actually kill many potential successful ideas before they are born? I am not trying to say the ideas presented by non designated people will be significantly important . But not listening to those ideas actually inhibits the further thought process.

I believe -A true innovative idea can come from anywhere even from a kid or form an outsider. So having a team or a person dedicated for innovation is not only wasteful but harmful too.

In my view there should only be a team who implements innovative ideas but not solely designated to innovate.The responsibility of innovation should be given to everyone and should be shared by all.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Google It!!!

As I always say - 90% of Software development for 90% of Software Engineers will become impossible if 'Google' vanishes suddenly.

All the Software Professionals know what I meant by above. For rest its like whenever a software developer encounters an error : doesnt matter whether he has seen this error before or not but he knows the solution.And the solution is - Yes! Google It.

I was just thinking the way Google has replaced all the dictionaries ,encyclopedia and books :Is it coming closer to replacing 'Leads' and 'Mentors' and teachers and your 'social friends' and may be Doctors too? Because Google has solution for each and every problem. If you dare to ask your mentor a doubt-I am sure he will reply back saying "Havent you googled it?" So why do you need him ?

If your friend just starts talking about some stuff which you have no idea and dare to ask - he might point you to http://justfuckinggoogleit.com .Yes that happened. Isn't Google just destroying all your social network(Not on Facebook or Orkut).

If you are worried about pain in chest -just google it and see if you actually need to worry or not? Google will tell you that chest pain could be simply because of acidity.So skip some caffeine and save an expensive trip to your Doctor.

Moral of the story is --If you have any doubt or question no matter related to your health or career or personal - just Google It!!!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Attitude makes it all

Just ended another phone call with a customer representative(CR) who said she is a Relationship manager.As usual disappointed again. Disappointed because these CRs are so irresponsible. They are not ready to listen to what customer has to say. I get hurt not because my issue is not resolved but by looking at the level of Irresponsibility. I come across same kind of people again and again . I feel bad because these people never grow up. They are happy to take pay checks without fulfilling their duties.

I started pondering whether it is the mistake of Hiring Manager or Hiring System or Education System . Hiring system which gives more emphasis on paper degrees but look no further to check the attitude and ambitions of a person. Or Education System which is so focused on embedding the hard skills in students in hard way and completely neglects the most essential soft skills. Or is this the mistake of parents; who are too busy to teach their kids about important Values. They just want their kids to get good grades without thinking about how the kid is actually growing.

This female said she has an MBA degree. And the way she replied to my mails was no better than a 5th grader.When I asked her on phone whether she knew what was i asking for - she said and I quote "You were getting some error and I reset the password" . Actual issue was -I wanted some person from their team to help me in doing my stuff when I was out of country. My password was working correctly and ever since she reset my password I could not check my account. Reason - I did not have my mobile with me where she sent the password. I had already told her this in mail. The error which she misunderstood was internal error on their website which I was not able to access. She just did not read my mail and replied in haste doing exactly opposite of what I asked for. When I said "Do you realize your mistake." She said it was not a big mistake. That showed the value she gives to time. And just to let you know this time was costing me money. In a week's mail communication she had no clue of what I was asking her.

If I attach my mail you can clearly read my query in three of my mails in bullet points. At last I had to read my mail word by word on phone. To which, I was atleast expecting an apology.I was surprised and annoyed at the same time to get a reply like "It was not that big of a mistake.You send me another mail and I will send you the reply" .

Atlast I realized there is no point in showing the path to a blind person and raising my Blood pressure.I asked her if she could give me her Manager's email id. I was lucky.Without excuse or may be in arrogance she gave me her manager's id(Hope it is actually her Managers's) and I hung the phone thanking her for her time.


Lessons Learnt:

1) Brands are important. After all Brands are not made in a day. Brands are made with consistent performance and quality. People who want to build brand know the value of quality they provide and clients. They hire smart staff who share the same passion. They have values and make sure those values become guiding mantras for their employees.So no matter what you are buying or dealing with think about its brand value.It reflects the management.

2) India Shining is no where closer . Lots and lots is to be done.

3) Attitude is the key: No matter what you do and where you are its your attitude which makes the difference. You cant garland your paper degrees everywhere.And look no further than your computer to know what attitude can do. After all Bill Gates never finished his college.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Quest to be the Best!!

When I was in high school - On showing answer sheets to mom, was always confronted with same question ,"Who got the highest?"

Later there were many debates on this topic . Whether it is a good practice to relate? Or Whether each student should be appreciated for what ever S/he got. Whether it motivates a student or does the opposite?

I am not here to debate but just to write my thoughts. I think it has definitely motivated me . Always inspired me to be among the best. No doubt, there was always an extra burden while writing exams and more while getting back answer sheets. There was always more curiosity about knowing the competitors marks than your own.

Today, after more than a decade; I realize how important this question is. If handled with care, it plays a very important role in one's life. It is the quest of being among the best which differentiates . It is the quest which makes you to go out of comfort zone. It is the quest which innovates. It is the quest which prohibits you from being complacent.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

I dont get it.

There is so much hue and cry about homosexual marriages getting legal status. Every week there is atleast one news about it. Some where people are protesting against it and somewhere for it. It has become a deciding factor in making or dropping the governments in various countries.

On the other hand each day I see many people becoming a part of live in relationships. Day by day the value of marriage is diminishing.It limits their freedom. People give excuses - they dont want to commit, not ready, dont want to face the challenges of marriage and so on.

It leaves me thinking - what do people want? I think people always want what they dont have. Its the natural tendency to go against the rules. Break the rules. Go and get what other say is not for you.

I dont get it. I am still thinking.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Books Vs Online Material

In case you noticed In my previous posts I have always been a technology admirer. Have always mesmerized by the new inventions and specifically Web. This time I have contradictory views.

I was thinking about how we use google for any to all things. I always say if google is not there we cant work(code) . But then I think Is google (online material) good enough to learn? Can online reading replace the books? I strongly think there is no match.

Books have many many advantages over online material.

1) You can only read the stuff online which you have an idea about. Normally the topics which you have some doubts or which you have some issues with .But what about plethora of material which you dont even know.

2) Books teach you step by step. You get to know many things which you never think about. Since you never think about them you can never google them .

3) Dont forget the old time markers. Yes I know you can book mark pages which you read online but still books come handy when you need to go through those topics again. Once you finish a book you brain always keep an impression of topics with layout of pages. You can easily track the old topic.

4) You can read book anywhere .Yes I know everything is getting Wi-fi equipped but still there is a long way to go.

5)Book gives you a direction and you always have a goal to finish.While you can easily forget about online links. If in case your computer shuts down before you book marked it ,there is 90% chance you will never revisit that page and In case you already bookmarked there is 95% chance you will never open your bookmark list again.

6)Online material usually have links to other pages.Clicking on those links will distract you and you will end up reading a totally different topic which had no connection to what you were reading initially.

7) Very Important in my view Books give you a common platform . You can talk about those books to other people.This helps you understanding people from their taste of books.

These are my views so If you want to actually learn some thing keep Google as a reference and buy a book. Atleast you will have other motivation to read it since you have spent few bucks on it.

How kool is that!!!

Last time when I was reading Thomson Friedman's book " World is Flat" , I was amazed when he cited the incident of Japan.Wherein he, with his friend was sitting in a train. His friend opened up his lap top and they were connected to world through Wi-fi.

This time I was all the more excited as I experienced it myself . I was able to chat in India and US while I was traveling in Europe.How kool is that ,I was connected to whole world at the same time :)

More to it, I did not need to take leave for this trip. Surprised?? Yes, thatz true I just took two days leave for my entire trip of ten days.No, I did not club my trip with public holidays but I was working remotely. Again thanks to technology. I was able to work over VPN using free Wi-fi from hotel.

This is really kool Isn't it!! Kudos to all the Geekiez who made it possible.