Friends

"Saale, tu kuch karta nahi hai...", Chins said to Anky, and we all laughed at it. 

This was around 24-25th time, we heard this dialog in last 4 days. This was the last day of us together, at friends marriage, and the time was around 4.00 in the morning. This was certainly not the time to make jokes. But we did.

It has been around one and half year, after college and first time we all were together at one place for Abhi's marriage, for having fun, and for so called 'Reunion'. Everything changed after getting a stamp of MBA. Everyone is now busy with individual career. There have been so many commitments to everyone that we hardly got a time to get together. Finally we got an occasion,  AB's marriage. 

Sweet......Nothing, a photo by Vikram K. on Flickr.

One by one we all joined the celebrations, less of a ritual, more of a fun and recalling the days, we missed so very badly.

It will be a start of new life for Abhi, but for all of us, it was like reincarnating into college life, the countless nights spent in chatting, maggie and coffee. The computer games, the discussion about projects, exams, submissions and growing together as friends and every other thing we enjoyed, we shared and the moments we lived together.


Everyone is well connected with each other by electronic communication, but this was the first occuasion we all are together after college.


In the early morning, we all were waiting for autorikshaw, and may be for that last time that year, the very famous statement cranked on the laughter. But this time there was a tint of pain added to that, because for all of us, tomorrow will be bringing back our duties, routines and every other things which makes our usual life, except THE FRIENDS!

When everything fails, the hope rises again....

we shook the hands towards each other, wishing bon voyage, and with the assurance that,

"It will not be too long for next celebration"

(note - this was a long due post, I wrote last year, but hardly got time to complete it, thus posting it now)
Chins, Anky, AB, Tips, Vaibhs, Vishla, Esha, Mru, Archi, BK, and all others, who made my life special, missing you all...

Second thought

"Life never has rewind button", a thought used till flat by many hindi movies. Even we often think, if it was possible to do this, the result might have been better. 

Now a days I am busy like anything, hardly had time to give first thought to most of the things. But on a moment, I was in a position to give second thought about a thing, I preserved in a silent corner of my mind. For a moment, I thought its enough now...'n I am on the verge for second thought.

Every moment, contributed to me, one or the other way. What I am is a collaborative product of sum of all moments, rather what I am not is the direct result of it. Second thought is for looser, who are not satisfied with the situation they are in, though ironically they made themselves into the situation

 Its not a day or an hour, which made us think about our relations, our decisions or our life. Its the whole set of circumstances. If one wants to show affection about a decision, relation or life, this was the moment. In a movie, Matrix, NEO has been asked for two choice, Love or Life. He goes for Love. I think the reason being, Life is not possible without Love. He would have given second thought there, and that would have turned the whole scenario upside down.  Pessimistically, for me, suicide is the way to show your affection toward your life. If one don't have life as he/she expects, he/she has full right to ask for better beginning. But how many of the people think this much before it is a key question.

On the other hand, is it like second thought always gives wrong direction. The answer is 'NO'; atleast for me. The reason being, second thought is always a kind of dreamy creation about better future, built when nothing can realize it. Its like a horizon, which will extent further. 

Looking back is different again, when you are not worried about your previous decisions, then you can enjoy your journey down memory lane. 

"Night is off and there is morning again

All my dreams are gone

Back to life Insane"

Thinking like a consultant...

My idol, Bill Gates often placed a fact, 'Start Early in your carrier'. I hope its not that late for me to start with. I am now 26 and on the occasion of Hindu New Year, I registered my site, for a consulting service. I was much more skeptical about going directly in to the business, and it claimed almost one year up in my mind to finally settled with this.

As I referred in my post way back, where I compared the way Google, MS, Yahoo etc., we know the stories (just like our local legends) But there are so many other successful names in the industry, like Symantec, Native Instruments, ATARI etc. Hardly anyone knows about how they might have started. Even they would have started with something small, may be like startup company, Originated from concept, Supported by likeminded people, somewhere got the node of business and now they are on top of their chosen field. Its not always luck. Atleast I think so. and Whatever may be the story, finally I am into the business and not following any of these legendary names.

Second question arises is, does working on couple of projects with some name, makes you an entrepreneur??? Tomorrow if someone offers me some catchy salary package, what I'll be doing? Was that would be ignoring myself and my decision or will be rejecting the opportunity of cashing up. Its like either way I am loosing.

Another thing is, the classic management theory (Thanks to the great stream of HR managers), says that, while starting something, your mission, vision and goals should be set. For me the decision was just powered by opportunity. I don't have anything like mission statement or vision. It would be rather, like planning upon that today I'm going to breath these many times. What I know is I can work and I have to work. Till now any mission/vision or goal thing haven't stuck me. It might be necessary for future growth, but on the other hand, Goals should be practicable, achievable and S.M.A.R.T. The contradiction here is how can someone decide upon the goal, without trying it whether is it achievable or practicable. These concepts look good in book and sometimes in interview.

Once I started, I observed some different nature. Some of my friends/relatives/well-wishers are happy to know about, some are skeptical, some are opposing and most of them are clueless. It will be too early to post about my results and analysis. But I'm into serious business is the most important thing.

One more mistake, I did till now was, I labelled myself, that I can just lookout for job or I can do these things, nothing can be done other than that. Year 2009 offered me a platform to build myself, to develop my unsharpened skills and finally to gain confidence. It comes with time.

There is only fact in the world, 'Time is the healer and time goes on....its not gonna wait forever...'

Its the time which will decide, whether I am right or wrong..

Wish me luck

Welcome Change

This is the first post in the year 2010, after a good break of one whole month and getting older by one more year. I have been consistently inconsistent in writing something here, rather getting open up with myself.

More the things change, more they remain same. I felt something like that, when I celebrated my birthday. This time everything was different than last two years, hardly any friend wished me in person. Instead I was at a place where I celebrated most of my birthdays, in company of countless memories and with my own family. One more reason to celebrate this time, I was bearing my all expenses for this birthday. Being independent financially is good feeling and somehow adds to responsibility.

I am not happy with my current position neither I am satisfied with whatever I am doing. But somehow I am happy about somethings are changing, I am making them change. This almost a years break given me so many things. Now I can say that I am no longer fresher. Experiences enriched me, more than anything else. Now I am not afraid of rejections, no fear for failures and neither interested in running behind the success-stories of those who followed the well-laid ways.

Just saw a much discussed movie '3-idiots', which states, 'work for your self, your interests and success will follow you.' Somehow I am realizing that, exactly this is the thing I have followed for last few years and will continue to do so.

Finally this is a war, and we are soldiers. Failures can come for us at any time, in any place. Now consider the alternative. What if I am right? What if tomorrow the war could be over? Isn't that worth fighting for?

Its all about keeping the fire within...let the reason be different every-time.

Welcome CHANGE...

Rust

Everyone often asks me, “How are you?”, I always look for someone who will say, “you are lying”, when I say, “I’m fine.” When I smiles at stranger, it’s just another layer on me, which unsharpened my feelings, which keeps me separated from the reality and allows my thoughts to remain just for me.

In other words, I found myself always being in two different lives and everything I do, I always prefers one side without ignoring another. Sometimes, my emotions overload my thought, try to buzz up the situations, and strongly point me towards the less preferred side, which sometimes, I found rusting within me. This can be considered as a coincidence, for me the situational reactions were not always the obvious or not always as expected. It’s just a consequence of the inappropriate proportion of two lives, I am handling together.

People often term this as the volatility, short-temper or any other thing. I always look for someone, who will try to understand the reasons behind this consequence, or at least understands that this is a consequence. On one random day, the search ended up with the result, not with a person but with a reason. The reason, which told me that “it’s not someone other, but you who can understand yourself better.” The battle within me was always between outer and inner souls, but, when I tried to take the rust off, on my own, I got the meaning, reason and cause behind almost every problem I fought. Personal life influences many of the professional decision, and when someone like me, tries to attain win-win situation, it’s not always the apparently best solution. Again this affects the personal life and the cycle starts again.

“Personal or Professional?”

This question is exactly like the difference between focusing on single thing and diversifying the approach. Both has its own pros and cons. Both has its limits, and both has its cost, or consequences. When I find someone talking on Work-Life Balance, I wonder that either this person is great or a liar, but he/she doesn’t appears like either of them.

Because in my approach to this question is mostly situational. Finally I perceive every question as a demand by the particular situation and the things like planning and strategies can guide you towards the decision but not to the solution. I never think about focus, but I never advocate diversification, because these are just the standards, finally it’s you, who will attain the success, because again success is consequence of identifying the exact needs of the situation and acting properly upon it, without fail. Again sticking up with the strategies is also not wrong, may be that can be the demand of situation.

Finally it’s the rust within everyone, leads him towards the safer and may be less ambitious decisions.

Compulsive Habits

Its almost been two weeks after the FAYAN cyclone, and life is returning to its routine. This cyclone was an thundering (literally) experience for me, and the post cyclone days were exactly like the restructuring a city. During this phase in the life, I came across some of my compulsive habits, without which I can live and enjoy, still, they were part of my routine, scantily.

During this period, there was hardly any electric supply. I have to manage charging for my cellphones and laptop, no television, no lights. In general one can consider it a boring life. But this situation offered me a break from my usual routine of getting online anytime. After returning from a whole day out in town with college schedule and my open-source consulting stuff, the silent evening pointed me towards my guitar again. I again had a walk down memory lane into my golden days at school, college, friends and family. After some months, I again recalled some of the Jagjit's creation, some of the Gulzar's work and ended up with a thought,

Holy smoke, I haven't done this for months...

Now life is almost on routine, still, I hope I can accommodate my compulsive habits again...

These were the things I don't think I missed by choice...

a lot can happen

Cafe CoffeeDay, a place very close to my heart. especially during my Bangalore days. I shared almost every special moment with a good coffee and special friends. The celebration for first friendship day, plans for intra-college fest, may be the decent propose, or even the celebration for getting summers joining, CCD was the place which shared everything.

Right from first cause to celebrate 'a bunk' to 'the last moment in college life' a good coffee always secured the place in my life. The things went so smooth with it and numerous times came up with the solution to some of tedious tasks. The reason to recall this was my recent trip to Ahmadabad.

My friend took me to a rocking place Shambu's Corner, which is a similar place like CCD. I was thinking about the name, and he clarified that, the person shambu started his business from a simple corner, and now owns some 4-5 exclusive outlets.

The place, like CCD is providing an ambiance to the crowd, which is necessity for every busy place. No wonder that these places soon becomes cultural hotspot. Everyone coming there is from varied backgrounds and situations, some might had a fight with boss, someone may be want to spend few moments with the dear one, other may be jus looking for time-pass. There are different occasions, causes and reasons, but together it blends with the relaxing and refreshing ambiance, everyone forgets the worries, problems and challenges. Even then, someone gets a guitar, or a mouth-organ and the venue itself becomes the celebration.

Once I was alone at Jayanagar 7th Block CCD, catching my fav roadside seat, I jus observed a couple, may be a new affair I thought. The girl was fuming with anger and the guy was trying to explain her the reasons may be. but there started a romantic song by a group just next to them, one guitar and added to it a hot coffee, after few sips, the girl was quite relaxed and started enjoying the songs. Lastly, they left the CCD with cheerful mood and holding the hands.

On the totally other side, I had some really great brainstorming and gameplans on the same venue, just the time is a bit early evening.

Now I am missing those moments, and the CCD, place which recharges, the thought, the mood and the person.

Truly "A Lot Can Happen Over A Coffee!!!"

being just me

There is a Chinese proverb, "what doesn't kills you makes you stronger." Experiences, the thing which is purely on you own, teaches you some really important lessons of your lifetime.

I consider myself a fortunate kid, with the stable childhood, no restrictions on trying new things and thus full of different experiences, good and bad, both. When I think about experiences I had, till now, I consider the thing with a perspective of other person and try to locate the reason behind the action generated because of it. Often, I found that its the situation, which makes you vulnerable, also in-turn, suggesting you about the weaknesses and even some neglected portions in you, which otherwise, you would have ignored.

Sometime I fills that, there is hardly any celebration for me. Because every-time, I enjoyed something, I paid it back with some setback, major or minor, but it happened very next day. But this doesn't mean that, enjoyment is not for me. There have been days, when I was enjoying the every moment, without looking at its importance or lessons, but I dont consider this a wastage of time, instead, those were days when I was happiest person on the earth. Now I think I know behind everything there is a cost, and if one want to have something, he needs to pay the price, in any possible way. Somehow I think I am getting stronger with it, with every rejection, with every denial and with every ignorance to me.

Will there be any payback time for me, I don't know and I don't care. May be because I don't want to offer then something very valuable, "Experience"

Still, I always think about I missed so many things very badly, like the chances, which was denied because of some small and really worthless issues or even some more events, which are unforgettable, some opportunities for which everyone else envied for and finally some really great time of my life, I spent discovering myself.

The life is only compromise to living, still whatever remains, however improbable but I'm getting ahead of myself...

Best HR ever

It was a busy Sunday for me, as I have to face one more bank exam. As we got the answer-sheets, one typical girly voice whispered from last bench, "What is the post code?, They havn't specified any..."

"I think we are supposed to keep it blank, otherwise they would have specified the thing" I replied.

"Oh, may be... anyway, thanks!"

"You are welcome, 'n all the best.."

A casual conversation followed by long & irritating paper.

As per the schedule, there was a break inbetween two papers. She again asked me, "Hows the paper?"

"It was good, except the Data-Interpretation section, what do you think?", I replied while opening a biscuit pack. "Hi, I'm Vikram, may I know your name?"

"Hi, this is Vaidehi, MBA-HR from Indira College, currently working with thisthis consulting. Whats your specialization?"

"Nice, then I should handover my CV to you. My specialization is in Systems and interest is CRM."

"Oh great, but I hardly found that subject interesting."

"I have some different opinion about your stream HR", I was in assault mood. "Dont mind, but I think HR is worthless place in the organization, they hardly add any value to it. Why you chose that?"

`

"Because I only know that. You are right, no one can calculate exact impact of HR practices in organization. But I think HR do possesses some value, as organizations like Infy invests hugely for that. There must be some reason behind it."

"I think an core-domain specialist manager, with some training can manage the human resource in better way, as he knows how to do get it done, and what can be the better way. This in turn can eliminate the need for HR and some huge sums they are claiming. Can you specify return on investment for HR investments?"

"Listen, there is a difference between running a mercenary gang and operating an organization. ROI is not everything for organization. Its not all about money and more earning. The effective and efficient utilization of manpower is the aim of HR, which inturn supports the core function of organization."

"Alright. when you say efficient, it comes to a ratio of outcome and cost paid for that. When a resource is exploited efficiently, it means you are asking the manpower to add more value, without spending for that. Dont you think that is exploitation. and one more case, when someone switches the organization, you HR people, offers him more money. If job is more about work-satisfaction then why is that additional offering? If there is difference between gang and organization, why it happens?"

"That additional money is for shifting the faith and accepting the change. Work satisfaction is the drive behind the job-shift. One more contradiction is that, when you ask your core-domain managers to do HR job, dont you exploit them?"

"I will be paying them for that and that ensures better workflow for them, which in-turn improves the quality level within the organization, is what I think. I don't want to place a point that HR branch is useless, I just want to say that, organization don't need it as a special department. Just the managers are need to work as people managers as well."

"You have a point, I appreciate. But I hope I have changed your viewpoint atleast upto some extent", She concluded the topic.

After asking a formal cup of coffee, I told her, "You are too good to be HR, See you, Good Luck"

"Yes, may be at interview", She laughed & walked away.

I dont have her email or contact, Now I can hardly recall her face, I might forget her name in few days. But only thing I will remember, She's the best HR, I ever encountered with

note- The photo is by Moriza, taken from his Flickr.