There are so many books about self imporvements in stores that sometimes we get confused over which one to buy. On top of it daily dose of preachings from our frineds and family and motivational gurus. Here is one of those things about how to be successful in life I read in one gujarati magazine (chitralekha) and thought it was worth pondering over.
A pencil manufracturer's 5 point success mantra for newly made pencils
1. You will have to submit yourself to a capable hand to taste the fruits of success.
2. On the path to success, dont be afraid of being scalped freequently.
3. Allow your mistakes to be erased. Don't stay stubborn.
4. Remember your single most important asset is within you.
5. Always leave a mark on any surface that you are applied upon.
You just have to replace "pencil" with "yourself" and you have got the golden rules of success!!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Fall Street
It is very important not to lose one's sense of humour amidst this global financial crisis. Some might have gone belly up. Sevaral others might have been sold out and still many others might be facing the heat. Keeping your cool is utmost important especially during such unprecedented crisis.
Here are some funny quotes on the financial meltdown. enjoy...
What worries me most about the credit crunch is that if one of my cheques is returned stamped "insufficient funds", I won't know whether that refers to mine or the bank's. :))
A trader on Dalal Street: "This is worse than a divorce. I've lost half my net worth and I still have a wife."
The market may be bad, but I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every hour and cried. :)
The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions ;)
Here are some funny quotes on the financial meltdown. enjoy...
What worries me most about the credit crunch is that if one of my cheques is returned stamped "insufficient funds", I won't know whether that refers to mine or the bank's. :))
A trader on Dalal Street: "This is worse than a divorce. I've lost half my net worth and I still have a wife."
The market may be bad, but I slept like a baby last night. I woke up every hour and cried. :)
The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions ;)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tag me if you can...
Inspite of all my efforts to escape, I am tagged again. For once I thought to give it a pass but when two fellow bloggers (Chinmai and Kanan) tag you for the same set of questions and one even expects you to respond first of all the new recipients of the tag, you are left with little choice. (So now you know what you have to do if you want me to respond to your tags!!)
1) Last movie you saw in a theatre?
Taare Zameen Par. And it hasnt been that long for me. May be a month.
2) What book are you reading?
World is flat is still not complete.
3) Favorite board game?
How about Shun Chokadi? ;) You know those crosses and circles that we make !!
4) Favorite magazine?
ORACLE
5) Favorite smells?
Smell of fresh bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India. :)
6) Favorite thing to do in weekend?
Play table Tennis all day long.
7) Worst feeling in the world?
To find zero comments on my blog post!!
8)What is the first thing you think of when u wakeup?
SMS/Missed calls on cell :)
9) Favorite fast food place?
Mr. Puff
10) Future child’s name?
A meaningful fusion of the names of father and mother of the child !!
11) Finish this statement --- 'If I had a lot of money'
I would give it away. Because I believe in Infosys chairman Mr. Murthy's philosophy that the real power of money lies in giving it away.
12) Do you drive fast?
Yes, if you are talking about driving people crazy :)
13) Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
History has proved that humans are social animals. and science has proved that they are stuffed too.. if you see what I mean ;)
14) Storms -- Cool or Scary?
No idea what-so-ever.
15) What was your first car?
Yet to buy one but probably TATA Nano ...second is Honda City and third Toyota Corolla. And BTW unlike the USA, you do not start with Corolla's in India. We are a poor country you know :)
16) Favorite drink?
Water
17) Finish this statement --- If i had the time i would...
Read A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkings. :)
18) Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
No idea.
19) If you could dye your hair any other color, what would be your choice?
Not into hair colouring.
20) Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in?
Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Baroda. In chronological order.
21) Favorite sports to watch?
Women's Tennis...hmmmm make it Women's tennis - doubles :)
22) One information about the person who sent this to you?
Kanan reminds me of sunny california and Chinmai creativiy.
23) What’s under your bed?
Nothing. Believe me nothing!!
24) Would you like to be born as yourself again?
No need. Attaining nirvana in this incarnation itself. :)) quite confident about it.
25) Morning person or night owl?
Does one have to be either of these two?
26) Over easy or sunny side up?
Can you repeat the question please? :)
27) Favorite place to relax?
Rest room? I thought thats why they are called so. :)
28) Favorite pie?
American Pie, all three parts. ;)
29) Favorite ice cream flavor?
Abstaining.
30) Of all the people you have tagged, who is the most likely to respond first?
I don't do tagging.
1) Last movie you saw in a theatre?
Taare Zameen Par. And it hasnt been that long for me. May be a month.
2) What book are you reading?
World is flat is still not complete.
3) Favorite board game?
How about Shun Chokadi? ;) You know those crosses and circles that we make !!
4) Favorite magazine?
ORACLE
5) Favorite smells?
Smell of fresh bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India. :)
6) Favorite thing to do in weekend?
Play table Tennis all day long.
7) Worst feeling in the world?
To find zero comments on my blog post!!
8)What is the first thing you think of when u wakeup?
SMS/Missed calls on cell :)
9) Favorite fast food place?
Mr. Puff
10) Future child’s name?
A meaningful fusion of the names of father and mother of the child !!
11) Finish this statement --- 'If I had a lot of money'
I would give it away. Because I believe in Infosys chairman Mr. Murthy's philosophy that the real power of money lies in giving it away.
12) Do you drive fast?
Yes, if you are talking about driving people crazy :)
13) Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
History has proved that humans are social animals. and science has proved that they are stuffed too.. if you see what I mean ;)
14) Storms -- Cool or Scary?
No idea what-so-ever.
15) What was your first car?
Yet to buy one but probably TATA Nano ...second is Honda City and third Toyota Corolla. And BTW unlike the USA, you do not start with Corolla's in India. We are a poor country you know :)
16) Favorite drink?
Water
17) Finish this statement --- If i had the time i would...
Read A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkings. :)
18) Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
No idea.
19) If you could dye your hair any other color, what would be your choice?
Not into hair colouring.
20) Name all the different cities/towns you have lived in?
Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Baroda. In chronological order.
21) Favorite sports to watch?
Women's Tennis...hmmmm make it Women's tennis - doubles :)
22) One information about the person who sent this to you?
Kanan reminds me of sunny california and Chinmai creativiy.
23) What’s under your bed?
Nothing. Believe me nothing!!
24) Would you like to be born as yourself again?
No need. Attaining nirvana in this incarnation itself. :)) quite confident about it.
25) Morning person or night owl?
Does one have to be either of these two?
26) Over easy or sunny side up?
Can you repeat the question please? :)
27) Favorite place to relax?
Rest room? I thought thats why they are called so. :)
28) Favorite pie?
American Pie, all three parts. ;)
29) Favorite ice cream flavor?
Abstaining.
30) Of all the people you have tagged, who is the most likely to respond first?
I don't do tagging.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
World is Flat
There was a joke making rounds some time back about corporate meeting culture. Let me quickly tell that joke first and then back to a more serious topic, which this post is going to be!
A senior colleague, whilst preparing for a yet another meeting, gives one idea to enjoy these boring corporate meetings to his newly recruited colleague. Write down these words on a piece of paper he tells. The words are: globalisation, innovation, leverage, customer satisfaction, high performance, intuition, out-sourcing and competence. Now the idea is to strike out each word as and when it is heard during the meeting. At the end of the meeting if there is a single word left on the paper he wins otherwise he loses. And as you would have guessed, there were very few meetings which gave the new entrant a chance to win!! The morale of the story: most corporate meetings are stereotype and mere lip-service.
Why did I remember this story now? Because I am currently reading a book - The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. A highly acclaimed book about present times and how globalisation is shaping our new world and some of the challenges in this “flat world” that we are and will increasingly be facing. And to my utter surprise each of the above words is mentioned so many times in this book, repeatedly, that I could not but pose and ponder over them. It is a lengthy book rather a thesis from a well travelled gentleman and journalist who moved around the world trying to find answers to why India and China are stealing American jobs and ended up with this amazing book, which I will recommend to every global citizen who wants to succeed in this new world. The title of the book was conceived when the author heard Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani say "the playing field has been levelled". (This explains why Infosys' annual financial statements reach its shareholders with THINK FLAT embossed on its cover page!!)
One idea that I liked the most is a simple mathematical equation. CQ + PQ > IQ. Curiosity Quotient + Passion Quotient > Intelligence Quotient. Suggesting that in the new flat world it is an individual’s curiosity and passion for his work, which will drive him to success and to a better paying jobs and ultimately to better standard of living and not as much as his intelligence. Quite an equation there!
So if you are up for some dose of global economic environment and some ideas about how to compete in the new flat world, this is a book for you. Go grab it.
A senior colleague, whilst preparing for a yet another meeting, gives one idea to enjoy these boring corporate meetings to his newly recruited colleague. Write down these words on a piece of paper he tells. The words are: globalisation, innovation, leverage, customer satisfaction, high performance, intuition, out-sourcing and competence. Now the idea is to strike out each word as and when it is heard during the meeting. At the end of the meeting if there is a single word left on the paper he wins otherwise he loses. And as you would have guessed, there were very few meetings which gave the new entrant a chance to win!! The morale of the story: most corporate meetings are stereotype and mere lip-service.
Why did I remember this story now? Because I am currently reading a book - The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. A highly acclaimed book about present times and how globalisation is shaping our new world and some of the challenges in this “flat world” that we are and will increasingly be facing. And to my utter surprise each of the above words is mentioned so many times in this book, repeatedly, that I could not but pose and ponder over them. It is a lengthy book rather a thesis from a well travelled gentleman and journalist who moved around the world trying to find answers to why India and China are stealing American jobs and ended up with this amazing book, which I will recommend to every global citizen who wants to succeed in this new world. The title of the book was conceived when the author heard Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani say "the playing field has been levelled". (This explains why Infosys' annual financial statements reach its shareholders with THINK FLAT embossed on its cover page!!)
One idea that I liked the most is a simple mathematical equation. CQ + PQ > IQ. Curiosity Quotient + Passion Quotient > Intelligence Quotient. Suggesting that in the new flat world it is an individual’s curiosity and passion for his work, which will drive him to success and to a better paying jobs and ultimately to better standard of living and not as much as his intelligence. Quite an equation there!
So if you are up for some dose of global economic environment and some ideas about how to compete in the new flat world, this is a book for you. Go grab it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tagged...again!!
Chinmai tagged me. 20 questions .uhh thats too much to ask from a "busy" guy like me ...:) Still I will try and entertain you. here I go...
Instructions:Remove 1 question from below, and add in your personal question. Make it a total of 20 questions, and then tag 8 people in your list. List them out at the end of this post. Notify them in their chat box that he/she has been tagged.
1) Who are the most & most important persons you like to meet in your life?
My better half . For as they say without her I am incomplete? ;)
2) Name Three Most Valuable Assets?
a. Rupee b. Dollar c. Pound
3) If you have the chance, what would you probably say to your beloved one?
That I am a good listener!!
4) What has been the happiest moment ?
This.
5) Where is the place that you want to go the most?
Pyramid, Egypt
6) If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?
To be able to dream dreams, that can come true...at will ;) (now thats what I call a perfect use of recursion)
7) (My own question). Thank god they give some room for respite in between :)) I pass.
8) Two things which you always wanted to learn but never did till date?
Cooking and Swimming
9) What would you do if you found a briefcase full of money?
Put my visiting card in it and leave it as it is in a hope that some person with high moral value opens it ;)
10) If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
Love is blind.............. and deaf ......................and dumb too..... ;)
11) List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you.
a)creative b)sincere c)philosopher
12) What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
She should understand SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) There are four phases in it.
a)Requirement gathering b)Development c) Support d)Phase out :-)
13) Which type of person do you like the most?
Logical with lots of sense of humour
14) What is your ambition?
Ok. if you are still reading (what??). Ambition is for losers. I like Hero Honda Passion :)
15) What is the thing that will make you think someone is a bad person?
Lack of integrity.
16) If you could do one thing different in life, what would it be?
Exercise daily.
17) Something that made u laugh today?
Idea of tagging people :) (ok I confess not that. But then the truth is censored!!)
18) How do you deal with a friend who has wronged you?
Gandhigiri :)
19) Name one favorite song of yours.
Yeah jo desh hai tera (Swadesh). Very inspiring.
20) If you are about to lose all your memory and you have an option to remember just one person, who will it be?
A person that I was before the mishap. :)
No tagging further. (Ok I know what you are thinking. I don't have enough readers to tag. Right? And they needed 8 tags??) But as they say don't let truth come in way of a good story. And the story is I don't do tagging. ;)
Have a good one. Cheers.
Instructions:Remove 1 question from below, and add in your personal question. Make it a total of 20 questions, and then tag 8 people in your list. List them out at the end of this post. Notify them in their chat box that he/she has been tagged.
1) Who are the most & most important persons you like to meet in your life?
My better half . For as they say without her I am incomplete? ;)
2) Name Three Most Valuable Assets?
a. Rupee b. Dollar c. Pound
3) If you have the chance, what would you probably say to your beloved one?
That I am a good listener!!
4) What has been the happiest moment ?
This.
5) Where is the place that you want to go the most?
Pyramid, Egypt
6) If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?
To be able to dream dreams, that can come true...at will ;) (now thats what I call a perfect use of recursion)
7) (My own question). Thank god they give some room for respite in between :)) I pass.
8) Two things which you always wanted to learn but never did till date?
Cooking and Swimming
9) What would you do if you found a briefcase full of money?
Put my visiting card in it and leave it as it is in a hope that some person with high moral value opens it ;)
10) If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
Love is blind.............. and deaf ......................and dumb too..... ;)
11) List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you.
a)creative b)sincere c)philosopher
12) What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
She should understand SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) There are four phases in it.
a)Requirement gathering b)Development c) Support d)Phase out :-)
13) Which type of person do you like the most?
Logical with lots of sense of humour
14) What is your ambition?
Ok. if you are still reading (what??). Ambition is for losers. I like Hero Honda Passion :)
15) What is the thing that will make you think someone is a bad person?
Lack of integrity.
16) If you could do one thing different in life, what would it be?
Exercise daily.
17) Something that made u laugh today?
Idea of tagging people :) (ok I confess not that. But then the truth is censored!!)
18) How do you deal with a friend who has wronged you?
Gandhigiri :)
19) Name one favorite song of yours.
Yeah jo desh hai tera (Swadesh). Very inspiring.
20) If you are about to lose all your memory and you have an option to remember just one person, who will it be?
A person that I was before the mishap. :)
No tagging further. (Ok I know what you are thinking. I don't have enough readers to tag. Right? And they needed 8 tags??) But as they say don't let truth come in way of a good story. And the story is I don't do tagging. ;)
Have a good one. Cheers.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
No More a Gentleman’s Game.
“Only one team was playing in right spirit of the game.” These were the words of Indian test skipper Anil Kumble on Sunday after losing a nail biting game of test cricket match with Australia. Those who know Kumble would know that it is very unlike him to have come up with such strong words for the opposite team. So what prompted Mr. skipper? Well, a series of wrong decisions by umpires - all going in favour of Aussie - was just a tip of the iceberg. What really was behind Kumble’s anger was the total lack of sportsman spirit shown by Ricky Ponting and his team.
As the rule goes you cannot and must not question umpire’s judgment on a cricket pitch. Fair enough. I personally also don’t think there is too much to read in the way both the umpires behaved on field (except Sourav’s decision when Benson ruled him out on Ponting’s version.) Umpires are humans and they are bound to make mistakes. It is very easy to find excuses when we lose. The fact of the matter is India could not bat even 2 full sessions to pull out a draw.
On the other side the champion Aussie wanted to prove a point. They were on the verge of equalling a world record of 16 consecutive test victories. The earlier record was with them only but it was regarded as Steve Waugh’s team!! This was the Ricky Ponting’s team. And if they had an opportunity to show their might they will - even at the cost of cricket. So their batsmen (Ponting, Symonds) stood their ground even after knowing they were out. They appealed incessantly for LBW’s and caught behind’s even after knowing the batsmen (Sourav, Dravid, Dhoni) were clear cut non outs. They used all the dark tricks in their book to see that they win a match which seemed a clear candidate of draw and at the end secure their name in record books. Umpires helped their cause by playing their part. (by giving Jafer out on a no-ball, not involving third umpire on numerous occasions when needed)
And the result? At the end ,Australia might have won the match and secured a world record but for me the proverbial game of test cricket has lost a tag. Tag of being a “Gentleman’s Game” that is.
As the rule goes you cannot and must not question umpire’s judgment on a cricket pitch. Fair enough. I personally also don’t think there is too much to read in the way both the umpires behaved on field (except Sourav’s decision when Benson ruled him out on Ponting’s version.) Umpires are humans and they are bound to make mistakes. It is very easy to find excuses when we lose. The fact of the matter is India could not bat even 2 full sessions to pull out a draw.
On the other side the champion Aussie wanted to prove a point. They were on the verge of equalling a world record of 16 consecutive test victories. The earlier record was with them only but it was regarded as Steve Waugh’s team!! This was the Ricky Ponting’s team. And if they had an opportunity to show their might they will - even at the cost of cricket. So their batsmen (Ponting, Symonds) stood their ground even after knowing they were out. They appealed incessantly for LBW’s and caught behind’s even after knowing the batsmen (Sourav, Dravid, Dhoni) were clear cut non outs. They used all the dark tricks in their book to see that they win a match which seemed a clear candidate of draw and at the end secure their name in record books. Umpires helped their cause by playing their part. (by giving Jafer out on a no-ball, not involving third umpire on numerous occasions when needed)
And the result? At the end ,Australia might have won the match and secured a world record but for me the proverbial game of test cricket has lost a tag. Tag of being a “Gentleman’s Game” that is.
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