2 States

A book well written. Half truth, fact, exxageration - people may have their opinion. But, as always the Chetan Bhagat has been successful in hitting the nerve. It is a mix of various instances in the lives of so many. They may not be necessarily aatributed to one specific individual, but to a group of people and largely gives an appropriate picture of the world around. The society, the people and the way of life.
From hum ladke wale hain, to folded hands, to not asking for anything. All of these are the different prisms of life. Alls well that ends well - it is said. But, do all love stories end like that. Keeping away from the sex involved therein, the mention of real places around IIM-A lends it a real feeling.
Hey, dont think this is a book review. He doesnt know me, and hasnt paid me a dime. But this title and story surely resounds something in my mind and hence the background.
Its always tough in any such story when you have to convince the other kind of people. People are people, one may argue. Undoubtedly they are, but the way they think, act and feel differs from state to state, region to region and going even micro - family to family. Who wouldnt die to marry and love someone like her. She is just the kind of sweet, cute friend that one would want to spend the rest of their lives with. The contrary actions (e.g. I may go on a picnic and not call u for the day, but if u are out of the city, you are away from me, so u better call me thrice a day) to the contrary reactions (e.g. If i am sleeping, i need it. If you are sleeping, you are lazy and should receive my call), females have a way of getting what they want. God made them like that. With their pretty eyes, pretty faces and curvaceous bodies, they may be able to lure many; but its the heart and the mind that finally brings the final correct decision.
Like in the two states, however modern a household may be. There are certain rituals always to be followed. Many like me would underestimate their (rituals) potential. But, then education doesnt teach us those do they? Cost benifit analysis doesnt feature when emotions and egos take a ride. Its so far so good. With all in control (touch wood) the going doesnt seem to be going any tougher. But, it never is an easy ride. From the fears to convincing to believing it takes time. The story isnt as short as written in any book. It takes weeks, months at times a couple of years for the higher authorities to approve relationships spanning, forget over two states, but even over two different regions. All the pain, the distance (reminds me of 'ye duriyaan'), the fights is all worth it when you have that 100W smile flashing from the pretty face. When you have the lady love in your hands, hugging you tight and those golden words reaching your ears. Surely there are rough seas to face and a lot of heat involved. But, the testing times have to be handled with care and caution. Like in the story, both sides have to like the children, but most importantly they have to like each other. And for that purpose efforts have to be put in, executed to perfection and then left to God :)
Yea.. he plays a role only after you have done everything humanly possible.
At the end of it all, let me be candid - Pyar kya kuch nahi karwata yar :P
Wish u a very happy Diwali and a wonderful new year :)

Lets rock BD... !!!

Had i heard this is one of the hollywwod movies, it would sincerely have been taken differently. But, since this comes out from say Mr X daily, its the tiger and shepherd story. Basically - no meaning, no reaction, no action :P
To sum up the present situation. Its like the wrong people committed to the wrong people and expect us to be the right people to deliver the wrong :P
Na.. there is possible in im-possible, but then how in the world do u have a plan? Of course there is no plan. We cant possibly be playing on short term promises. We are here on a long haul arent we? Oh come on, i dont buy the thing that this month we do what we (Dont know who all approved) promised, then from the next month we are going to have a say in what is decided. Fck it, i dont need to have to take my company down the drain just coz i want more say in the Chairman's office. I can walk right in and talk to him. Monkey tricks to get attention ?? Well, seems nothing more than a gimmick. What is the vision? Mission? Long term plan and hence the short term actionable? I thought, there were mbas all through to the top, then why cant we follow this simple path?

3.5yrs and there has to be payback. I agree. I accept. But, 3.5 months and u want payback? I wouldnt agree with this philosophy and hence i remain quiet. It makes no sense to argue. How i wish, i could stand up and ask. who the fck promised ????
Also, what use knowing it. We have been over committed and how to do the needful when there is no one but u aware of the market and the forces therein? Why cant someone come in here and understand that this aint like any shit place in the country. This is so to say stingy land. We dont believe in doing anything in haste. Even if its just taking a free credit card, i would be making sure that i am not charged. I make sure how much I am getting and for what. So, if i were to invest my money, i would surely not be paying for something like MFs and that too for systems like these where more and more middle men come and play spoil sport. Its just too much for me.

Nevertheless, thanks to the festival season approaching. There is a lot of excitement and action to look forward to for the rest of the year. Work, is no doubt exciting, but hey !! come on, m a human and give me the credit. I have personally met and given more time to advisers amongst all teh BDMs. But alas, the amount is just about there. Cant really help much on that.. :(

But, i have a gut feeling. This would kick start once we have the non-wrap with us. Its something that would be a phenomenon. And then there is no reason for me to worry. I would be empaneling every tom dick and harry on to the platform and making them sell wrap and non wrap and retail wrap.. and whatever that comes on my way. So its like the target set for me.

For once, in my work life, i have been personally able to set some goal for me. Meet all nut heads by december, so that. When we launch the non-wrap , it can simply penetrate into the market without much of an issue.

Whoa !! now thats what i would call conincidence. Nothing pre-empted or pre-planned. I hope that would be possible and would work to my advantage. Business in terms of monies are something i would have to steadily work towards. Increasing the width of the cone mouth is something i would look forward to rather than trying to count my chickens. Its time before we start calculating our return on investment.

Sadly, either the middle layer has forgotten what they learnt in college, or possible i m wrong. Why not create a resource that would last us for long rather than trying to dry off the tap a little too soon? Either way, its hardly having an impact on my way of functioning apart from frustrating me and making me really upset and angry at times. I am more or less working in the same fashion and pace at which i used to. Just that now i have become more polished and aware of the systems and how people work and behave.

Looking forward to having fun, this wonderful extended-weekend ;)

Iftar parties

Iftar parties -- how in the world would i come up with something like that as the title to this conversation?
Well, it has little to do with the festival, but more with the celebration. Why is there a holiday on Id? Why do we all love to celebrate festivals of other faiths? Well, thanks to the secular fabric of our fore fathers and the compassionate heads that we have a constitution celebrating the rich and old cultural heritage of the country. However, sadly in spite of all efforts, each of these festivals remain nothing more than a holiday in the calendar of any working class individual. But, is it a little more than this? It is a lot more some would say. It is the time when people come together for celebrating, when people take time out of their busy, sick schedule and meet, greet and slow down. It is something which is necessary especially when lives today are polluted by emails, mobiles, laptops and all those necessary inventions which eat away 90% of our day. I have always loved the amdavadi tradition of keeping business shut when there are festivals. Staying with family and making sure that there is relaxation and enjoyment all around. Its these small iftar parties during the festivals that keep people going. Call it faith, or simply a ritual it is simply a wonderful feeling when ur house is lit up with lights, and oil lamps.
The peace of mind is just amazing. And its thanks to these, that keep the bosses at bay and let our minds be in peace.

Well, so as the festive season begins, lets get set for these wonderful family times and let our minds and businesses to rest for the time being.

Id Mubarak to all my dear friends..

Lost

No, I am not lost literally when we mean lost as in, not aware of where to go.. but rather literally, meaning lost as to why? how?
Havent really gone as crazy as this in the past. Its a new phase and hence the feeling no doubt. But then yes, this is what happens when you start working. When u shift focus from being friends, having fun, enjoying life to earning life, earning more money and even more ego. Friends are the things that have always had me sailing thick or thin and m sure would remain that way..(Drr.. u are the best one of course). But amidst all the work, the pressures and the un-necessary hassles of the work place and systems.. where is the fun lost.
Surely, going out and eating with all of them is not fun. Having a laugh at the end of the day is not something that makes my day. I get that kiddo like adrenaline rush when i happen to talk to my buddies or simply go check out a friend's ol NM album,or the Nirma album, or the school pictures. This is immediate remedy to my sorrow and feeling of utter boredom, sick feeling. Nothing cures heart ache better than a batch of awesome old memories.. photographs, chat anything i can lay my hands on.
Apart from all of this hooplah, there is also the issue of the friends themselves becoming a little more aloof, rather, more involved in their daily tribulations.
Been ages since i spoke to the wonderful juniors... Been ages since i ever went out to simply hangout and chill.. Be it on the beach, or simply on marine drive and had those endless, useless, pointless discussions. Surely, it has been a real while since i last fought in the real essence of a fight over something that we were all completely not concerned about, but emotionally attached to - SCR :P
My roomies and the late night chats on whose butt that is.. (inverted picture identification :P) to talking of who is doing what, where and since when.. it feels like far and as if disconnected..
IN SHORT ....!!! I AM LOST. Why ??? Coz my friends have disappeared. There is actually nothing to talk about when we talk if we talk. Some have stopped calling. Yes, seniors are gone and we are the seniors so why remember them?? Apart from the normal gossip.. we have all become boring..!!! I hate this life. I want my college life back. I now realise what it means as being in college and having fun.

Hell yaaaaa.......... chuck the sorrow.. look at the brighter side.. Its going to be a busy and involving next week in Singapore :P

Success

A word that motivates, one that eludes many, something achieved by those who believe. Surely success has its own definitions as you go around asking people. But, how do you achieve what you set out for yourself. You do that by making sure that you work, you focus, you dedicate, you dream and ... you change.
A new product, a new concept, a price sensitive market. Everything that you may not consider as the best reasons. But then, had it been so easy, why would you have been asked to do it. Looking at a micro perspective, its a challenge. One which you have to succeed in. You lose, you dont deserve to be where you are. You have all the time in the world and the expertise that you may want to call, but at the end of the day, what you really have to have is the dedication to achieve what you set for yourself. How, one may ask. By evaluating your own performance, identifying the basics of the market and playing along to be successful. Most of all, you shouldnt be upset by the 'No'. You should be able to live with it. Live with the word No and accept that it is a part of the business. It is just but obvious. Dont you say No to any salesman who comes knocking on your door? You are just another, with a different prodcut/service. Selling ice to an eskimo is something to reckon. Till the time you hone such skills, you must, must keep working. Try identifying and understanding the needs of the individual and focus on those aspects.
There have to be setbacks or so to say hurdles. But to beat them and progress ahead is the name of the game. You have to be on your toes. Make sure your pitch is correct. Make sure you are sure of what you say and also of the offering and the competition. That is possibly the only way to push your way to the top.
How would i do it ??
1. Make a note of all the people who have said yes and reason out why?
2. How would you position your service in a market which is price sensitive?
3. Hone your pitch to suit the adviser and see how you can mould them.
4. Get the superior to tell you what is the kind of adviser group that would join us in this proposition?

You surely have succeeded in making them turn and listen. You surely have managed to get them to hear you. But how would you close onto them? How would you make sure taht you have them with you?

Well, as i ponder on these very serious things.. there are far more important things in life to worry about.. like whats the sweet i would get at home today :D

Defiance

Defiance: Meaning in simple terms to go against. It may sound rebellious at the first instance. But it may be just the opposite, it may mean trying to find a way to live. It might also mean, trying to uphold the truth.
Just the other day I came across an article mentioning about the iranian regime. Not really barbaric, but a little short is where i would place them. The methods no less closed, dictatorial than the nazi and the facist regimes. Undoubtedly, the people would have to fight, there would have to be defiance. It may be aggresive in nature, or simply for survival. There have to be leaders. May be of the beliskie cadre, or some other. People have to raise their voice against what they feel is incorrect. If not them, it would benefit the rest. If not today, tomorrow it would bring light into the lives of the many remaining. Undoubtedly, it calls for a lot more. It calls not only for the sacrifices of the people involved, but also of a sane mind who would be able to take charge, take care and be there when the group needs him.
Be it the lady in iran, or the jewish lads who warded off the german troops. It always took and would for every reason take a lot more than simple courage to defy.
But then, hasnt it always been the case. Take the case of Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela.
It is probably God's way of guiding the right and differentiating the right from wrong. However powerful, nasty and ugly the wrong may be, they finally have to meet an end. A sad and sorry end. No fraudster, gangster or a corrupt politician seen a happy ending story. If even one was lucky, he surely left a sad trail behind him for his epitaph.

Last, but never the least the entire meaning of the word defiance has changed for me thanks to the movie.
Owe it to whoever gave me this one :)

The path to follow

Well, now just the other day i was reading a story about a painter and another scientist and yet another social reformer and an educationist. These people are the greats as we see them. They are not Gods, but humans. Some like you and me. But what draws them apart is the way they have led their lives and in a more useful and appropriate manner. What to do with the phenomenal amount of energy and capabilities? What to do with the network that you have? What to do now? Something that is more thrilling, more exciting and more intriguing.
Long gone is the fun to court. So also is over the fun to organize. Now life wants to be more meaningful, more mature and more practical. Everything is seen from the view point of whether it can be or cant be. It is seen from the perspective of what will help and how instead of the earlier care-free attitude in life. Everything is accounted by the amount that is credited in the bank, to the effort that is put in. It is a dog eat dog world. With the numerous opportunities at hand, it is all the more confusing. However, there is always a reason to everything for an educated. And so also, some dim nit-wit like me would want to know why and why not !! Heavens bless our soul. It though seems like i have decided to continue with this life of mine, trying to balance both what i want and what i wish. Which is what is again an enigma. And of course there is always a feeling of being sure of what i am doing and whether its the right way to go or not. Whatever be the case, its decided. I am going to go for it come the end of the fiscal. Go on and jump into this quick sand. To survive is something that i would have to manage and learn by that time. I have to know how. And so only, its necessary to excel at both places. Work while you work and play while you play is the perfect model of the life and the manner of existence that i am going to be subject myself to.
Anyway, not that i really intended to convey something path breaking. But this was just something that dawned on me lately. It has to be good both places. I have to perform. I have to prove that I am better than the best and have to do whatever it takes to achieve that.
Had a decent weekend though :) back to work tomorrow !!!