The English Breakfast

The other day, I was watching a documentary about World War - 1. although, many things were known and some unknown. I am not the one who is interested in numbers, it was a great loss for the world. Almost an entire generation was wiped out. I am not here to discuss about the losses but to make sense of somethings which keep on lingering on my mind.

When they speak about the English food, they always say it is bland - no taste, whatsoever - except baked potatoes and roasted meat. This is noticed not only amongst the rich but also for the poor.

Ironically, that is one of the ways they managed for survival during their World War days. Government rationed the food, so that everyone gets to eat. Another reason being, all sea routes were blocked by German U-boats, import was becoming difficult and so was food. The good thing is both rich and poor did participate to face the situation as one!!! (Or it seems to be!!!!)

So, is it good to assume that the bland English food is an outcome of Great Leadership during those times?

On the contrary, this kind of rationing was not undertaken any other region of Europe. They cherished their food but in the end had to switch from meat to tulips and lost lot of farms, farmers and farmlands.

If I am wrong in my conclusions, then the other school of thought goes to the situation during those times. England has a colony in almost every corner of the world. they might have definitely bought some good cuisines / specialties back from these colonies. It is difficult to change but impossible to resist to the food for a long time.

So, again is it right to assume that they went back to their original feed habits? And this time everyone was treated equal - rich and poor????

Comments are welcome...

Helping randomly

I do not know what happened and how it happened and I am still wondering what happened.

While I was walking back to home for lunch, I saw a young couple a few meters ahead of me. A thought went through my mind that they seem to be normal couple just talking with each other.

When I was near enough, the guy approached me and asked whether I speak English. I thought they might have lost some path or looking for some directions and replied "Yes". In a polite but in a bit apologetic manner he asked particularly for 3€. I was taken back and glanced at the girl, most of her head was covered with the hood of her blue jacket but her eyes also said that she is sad and apologetic but helpless.

I asked a couple of questions and the guy answered with confidence as if sensing that I am ready to help. Then I asked "why do they need the money for". "To eat something - we lost our money". With the way they were speaking and their eyes seemed honest. My conscious mind was (and still) suspicious.

I had this split second to make a decision, whether to help them or not.A thought just came to my mind - I must help them but not entirely. My intentions are pure and to help someone, someone whose proximity is comforting and have answered initial questions of conscious mind. If they are honest and in need - I will achieve  what my intention was. If they are dishonest, I might not have achieved what I wanted but at least in my heart, I know my intentions are pure and will not feel bad for not helping the needy.

When I gave them 2€ their eyes were lit and said "thank you" as if someone has given them bread.

I still have lot of questions in my mind
- should I have given them more money?
- should I have taken them to a restaurant and paid for their lunch?
- there are lot of options - should I have done this or that!!!

I also ask myself, will I help any other couple next time? What if I meet the same couple again in the evening asking for more money?

Don't know answers for many thoughts yet but it a BLINK moment in my life and I will lets say - forget it and move forward as I would like to maintain this a silent "act of kindness" in my bag of memories.

Team Anna - Is media biased?

Recently there have been a lot of acquisition against people who are in Team Anna. I do not have any special consideration for Team Anna but indeed it is loaded with people whom I respect and so does the nation. One of main resources why I have developed a respect for these people is media. Media communicated the acheivements which made these people great!!! Sometimes like these I keep on wondering - is media biased now? Most of us know that people do not go into the main body of the news article, however headlines are read my most.

When I first saw this article - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kiran-Bedi-accused-of-inflating-bills-says-no-personal-gain/articleshow/10425634.cms - the first thing which came to my mind was -so what everone does it (considering that she used the money for herself. But when I read further the story was entirely different, one of the messages was that even the organizers knew about it and supported the cause... Also, this kind of arrangement is happening for some time now then why was this not published earlier? and why is it published now?

Leaving the question.. Is media Biased?

Getting out of Comfort Zone!!!!

Its been almost 3 years now that I am out of Cranfield but never a day goes by when I think to myself and say... YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE... i think his is one of the learnings from Cranfield which I keep close to my heart and when things get tough I say to myself the magic words and things are so easy after that!!! It also helps me to recognize what is stopping me -- it is myself!!!

Confession: Sometimes out of lazyness I stay back in the comfort zone and let the things go by :(

Spam emails

I just received an email from one of my acquintqnces that I my mailbox is sending spam emails to my contacts. Althugh I did not click any link on my emails but there might be some reason for the same. After further analysis, it sent spam email to the id which were saved in my contacts list.

DOES IT MEAN THAT I SHOULD STOP SAVING THE IDs IN THE YAHOO CONTACT LIST????

Yahooo... can you help me with the answer?????

Jan LokPal Bill

Jan Lokpal Bill, as some other bills have created a new stir in the country... I am not aware of earlier bills which created such a big following and with such an international attention. Honestly, till now, I am not aware of what is happening with the bill and what is the key points in this bill. But I sure know a few things:
- If I ask the participants of this rally / excited exhibitioners on the street - "what is it about?" The answer would be - "It is something about corruption and politicians". And then the topic will switch over to the corruption in the country!!!
- If I ask - "how do they plan to eliminate corruption?" answer would be - "hey dude, have you gone nuts to ask this question? This bill will eliminate corruption!!! That's what we are fighting for!!!"
- If I ask - "Why do you think the politicians behave this way? Why are they so corrupt? Who votes forthem?" and some other question which might require some thought generating process... I am sure that I should not expect any answers to these questions... instead I should be ready for comments like -
"You have gone mad"
"You do not respect what the old man is doing for the nation"
"You are a novice in world politics"
and so on and so forth!!!!!
But
Did I get any answer for this question - NO!!!! I don't think so...
Did I disrespect anyone - NO!!! I don't think so...
Did I intent to harm anyone - NO!!! I don't thins so...

What's wrong? I ASKED PEOPLE TO THINK....

I am not being idealistic... But participated in a few discussion in the luxurious comfort of my house or my friends house or in hotel or restuarants and discussed the topic of corruption. Some say that it is to do with population, others say that it is to do with education system, some others have the opinion that it is the way it is, few others would comment that we cannot do anything about this.. it is the Jan Lokpal bill which should drive this!!!

After which I say to myself.... if I get an opportunity right now to go to some place where I have to stand for 4 hours in a queue to submit a form and instead if I have to pay extra to an officer to escape the queue and save time... I might go for the later one and I am sure that most of us (who have the luxury to go to internet and read this blog), whould do this!!! Then I ask myself the following questions:
- What is the source for all this corruption? It is me and most of us, who has increased the market value of that officer, who knows that if he is less efficient, he can earn more. In return we are sure that things can be done if we offer some additonal favours to the officer. Even if bill ispassed, rules and regulations are in place and what not, if this deal is known only between the parties... then what? so the question is - WHAT IS THE BILL TO DO WITH THIS?
- what is the root cause? It is difficult to identify - is it the population or education or the peer pressure or is there something else? It is due to the population that we have such long queues, but we belong to this society, if you do not like the population, being rude and blunt I say (to myself) that make yourself capable enough to get out of this population? it is again to do with yuor capabilities where you would like to talk but when comes to act - no answer!!! The other factor is education - Most of us are well educated and we see lot of people around us who do not have the previledge to go to school - How many of us have taught these kind of people and if none - why? firstly, we personally do not want them to grow for the selfish reason - if they grow then our lives will not be as easier as it is right now - who will wash our dishes, who will clean our houses????
- If we want to blame the politicians - Where do they come from and why do they do this? I must say I was lucky enough to have born and bought up in a previledged environment... there were a lot of people around who who were not fortunate enough and I know a few of them as well. And from my limited exposure to this I believe that they are most of the times friends, acquintances, felloew or somehow related to those people who we refused to teach the basic education above? So it is not their fault if they do it, becuase when we - who have more responsiblity, being more previledged one - did not contribute.. God balanced the things...

As a conclusion, I would ask - how many of us have really tried instead of partipating in the rallies and discussing in the parties? Wherever there will be a human interaction, there will be some kind of exchange. However, I do like the internet transactions, but this cannot be implemented everywhere (for example, internet cannot instal a meter for you)!!!! But also we can introduce some new things where in the benefit goes to both - government and the public: We all know that there are lot of people in the country who are ready to pay more

Lot more things to say and discuss but if everyone starts thinking then do we need leaders OR will there be even tight competition for that spot? The question also remains open!!!!

No more 10th Board Exams???

The issues expressed here are my opinion and do not refer to anyone individual or anything else expet my present way of thinking and expressing.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090625/804/tnl-sibal-plans-to-scrap-traumatic-class.html

Dont know whether it is for good or for bad!!!

Reason for having such a big step is to reduce the pressure amongst parents and the students. Another reason reflected is about the freedom of knowledge.

I think it gets deeper than that. Most of the societies have been a result oriented society. In the vedas we talk about Moksha, that is also a result to achieve by the saints and the priests and other creatures. Invaders and rulers had their own objectives. Finally, in the present times, we are more critical about our sucesses, because we tend to compare ourselves with the result acheived by others.

So is education system. At the end of the day, every parent wants their kid to have a good job with a good salary and a good financial status. These days it has been focused on getting into the financial sector. SO the goal / result has been defined even before the kid is in nappies. Parents start expecting and training the kid for the result / Goal. So if the kid does not get good marks in Class X, he is unable to get into good school and then good univ and then into good company. I dont want to put any arguements against this but want to go back to the basics.. freedom to knowledge.

• Life is short and at the age of 16, most of us dont know what to do and what do they want to become. So he/she persues what his/her parents advise him to do. These advices are most of the times based on the present market and job situation. So it becomes a restricted knowledge.

• Next thing which comes is the peer pressure, you might not be learning anything from your courses but your peers are scoring better marks.. so you tend to read for exams without learning much... and this leads to the next question... Is that freedom to education? I would say it is forced education!!! So till the time you graduate (mostly by the age of 21) you dont have any freedom to knowledge!!!
• Where is the freedom of knowledge for the kids aged 15 / 16 who are taking the 10th board exams? Where does it stand???
  

I am 28, going on to 29, and still dont know what is freedom of knowledge in terms of textbooks and the courses. I learned a lot from the courses and subjects, how to anaylse different situations in life. How to face challanges and more importantly, how to face the world?

I think the freedom of knowledge is obtained in the hobbies and the extra-curricular activities. Here, the result / goal is not defined when you start. the motivation develops and then you are able to define the goals if you persist with them and instead of competing you collaborate. Collaboration to excell is more fun than compete to defeat. It changes the attitude and then you gain knowledge by sharing and with more freedom than forced or restricted!!!!

Every sucessful person has to face the first critical challange of competition. Although, we face challanges in every exam in the class but this gives you a platform to compete with a larger crowd and the unknown!!!

I might be wrong in the way I think but just a thought....

Life

Somethings are to be understood and some are to be carried along with. I was a happy man yesterday, when I thought that I did had achieved a recognition in the eyes of my boss. But today, I am feeling lost - and dont know the reason why.. and this things has to be carried along with!!!

Hope a good night sleep gives me a break from this feeling and I am back on track tomorrow

Cold Steel - Deja Vu

Deja Vu!!!!

A few months back when Richard was taking a course on MMA (Mergers and Acquisitions), he did mention about all these sensitive issues which an organisation has to face when targeting a company for a takeover or it being considered hostile.

While reading the book I couldn't have appreciated the teachings at Cranfield more. The focus was not on the hard-skills like crunching the number or knowing the process, it was more focused on the other factors which are to be taken care of while dealing in business environment. Somethings in life cannot be calculated in exact figures nor they can be explained by logic. This is what they have defined during the course, although things are not logical all the time, one has to understand why it is not so. Most importantly, how one can manage them.

I just wish that I do justice to whatever they have taught in Cranfield and bring proud to not only my family but also who ever is assiciated with me in some way or other; including my country.

Is it fun or enjoying the learning curve?

My team was the highest profit makers during PMI (Project Management) Simulation exercise. It was scheduled for Wednesday (20 Feb 08). A simulation which was to be run for about 8 hours. To start with when we had a look at the case pack, we thought it should not be a difficult one to plan and should be thru within 3-4 hours of group preparations.

However, when we met on Monday, after lectures, we realized after 4 hours that we are going no where. Every member of the team has something or other important issue to say which others have not considered while reading. So we compiled all the data and distributed the decision making process. This was the first step towards a successful team - divide the work and utilize the time efficiently. Notice, a Greek, and I worked on the spread-sheet for cost calculations. Marina (Russian) and Taurai (zimbabwian) worked on risk management and Tim (Scot) and Rajesh (Indian) worked on the operations. Work was divided on the basis of interest and some sort of expertize as well.

When we met on Tuesday, everyone updated the rest of the team of what they did, so that anyone can comment on any improvements. Thus, we arrived to a strategy to execute the project in 6 hours. So 3-4 hours of estimated time was stretched to 10 hours already. The bug doesn't stop here, we did a trial run and then we were hit by a major loss, which was identified during practice run and this a mitigation plan was discussed. Everything was supposed to be visual so that we do not depend on the spread sheets for decision making.

The day of simulation, everyone was relaxed, as we were confident on our 14 hours of preparations and we had a trust on our team as well as the Project Manager - Notis. Finally, we made it within the cost predicted, rather more than what we predicted and pretty much on time.

One of the lessons learnt from this exercise was that evern if a project looks like a simple one, do not take it lightly. A good plan with contingency in-build will take the project in different dimension. Team-work, we did work as team and we had a trust on what others were doing. Not only that, we did updated on the activities to other teams to get their comments and have a proper communication flow. I think TRUST is the key word here.

Finally we came out with flying colors and just short of highest profits ever recorded in this simulation (just short of 9,000 dollars). This was because we became a bit risk averse and avoided the additional planning for procurement activities.

Last but not least, everyone enjoyed the exercise. It was an icing on the cake that we were the highest profit makers, but we had fun during the simulation.

MBA Band

First practice session was somewhere in October or November. It was a horrible session, where everyone was trying to remember what they have been playing 3-4-5-7 years back. It was fun as well, we started to jam a bit and relaxed when we realized that no-one is an expert. Then also we were determined to go ahead with it. Second time people did improve a bit. and then Third time it was fun. From then on, there was no looking back, we improved on each session and practiced few songs for the Christmas Party. I played drums with Sean Rickard, MBA course director, as well in the party without any practice. He is an excellent guitarist! It was a good experience and moreover.. it was fun!

We did not have drum-sticks for most of the time. I was beating the skin with spatula (wooden spoons). Once it happened that, I was not able to play with spatula and had to call it off for that session :(. Instruments do play an important role. Next session, drum-sticks were deilvered and we played for 3 and hours hours that day and the next session lasted for 4 hours.

We never played in public and our first perfromance was in front of the CRanfield University crowd in CSA CLub. Being nervous, was natural however we managed to pull out a couple of numbers with crowd's appreciation. Did a lot with our confidence levels!

Seems monotonic but facing the crowd, when they expect to be entertained is difficult and live upto their expectations is winning a challenge!

Murphy's Law

WACing the WAC is not a tough job. Few of us might say that but it is not so for others.

Let me take you through with WAC - Written Assessment of a Case-study. You are given a Case-Study on a lovely afternoon and have to submit a 1,500 page report on the Case-study or the issues related to the Case-study by another lovely afternoon which is exactly 26 hours after the hand-over of case-study.

It comes to the team-work, stream-work and then personal work! So it all goes well and you sit in a comfortable place, writing your report and at midnight, your laptop shuts down automatically! - Murphy's Law - it never happened in last 2 months and now when I have written most of my report this is what happens! Best part is that you cannot get any technical support at this hour and the next day as well, being a Saturday!

Another wonderful scenario - you are ready with your report and about to shoot a print out. Imagine your screen goes off and you cannot see anything on the screen!!!

Imagine these 2 situations. How do u deal with it? How can you keep your cool when your 50% of marks depends on the report on which somehow you cannot do anything? Dont worry! you have friends out here. They are ready to help others in any circumstances. It is just you have to shout and you get help from unknown corners. It was just because of this trust and the atmosphere of team-work rather than Competition inculcated in most of us, I was able to afford a cool head and avoid a panic situation! In the end, I was able to retrieve my document and take a print-out of the report and submit it before the dead-line. Believe you me, these two incidents happened for two different reports.

Welcome to Cranfield!

Some of the interesting quotes which I learnt from Cranfield:

- It's Your MBA... Make most out of it
- It is a Risk-Free Environment
- Get out of your comfort Zone

It all sums up to Aglie Philosophy where everyone is encouraged to take decisions. In Cranfield, everyone has some kind of professional experience or other. At some stage or other each one of us might have considered to not to take a particular step, wondering how will it be pursued by others. With the quotations above they eliminate the feeling of being off-track. You can try whatever you want, should be legitimate.

In past few months, I did few things which I wanted to do and learn or improve. One of them being Presentation skills. We formed a group who share similar feelings about improving Presentations Skills and practice at least once every week. It gave me a confidence and few tips, how to move around and body language. These are things which I know but did not practice because I was not able to find an opportunity to do so in professional career. As well, I ignored a few things which I considered as minor corrections. But when I actually did it on-stage, these small things needs a lot of tuning. Anyways, on a particular day I gave 3 presentations in class and tried a lot of things during those small ones!

Another Comfort Zone was regular studies! during my graduation years, I never used to study regularly, it was a matter of last few days which got me scores in the exams. However, if you are a team-member then you have to teach your team a topic everyday and each day it will be a different subject and topic! I did not want to annoy my team, so not because of self-development but for the sake of the team I did so... studied regularly.

Third one is my favorite, I used to play drums with my friends in my under-graduation and it was just in a small music room! In Cranfield, we formed a music band - MBA Band - and most of us were perfroming live for the first time on 20th Dec during Christmas Party. Wow!!! It was fun and I think audience did enjoy it. But it was again getting out of Comfort Zone and that too in front of the entire batch!

Interesting status messages 2

- Every relationship has an expiry date (Ashwini)
- Gone with the reports... (Anonymous)
- I believe in copying - 'NOT TO INNOVATE' (Barun Moitra)
- some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night! (Anonymous)
- issi duty ke naam pe pichle 48 ghante se hum log maut se jhoojh rahe hai, aur humara department humari hi thokne mei laga hua hai (Shreyes)

Competition Vs Team-work

I was recently reading a diary entry by one of the students from Cranfield School of Management http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/mba/yourlife/entry.asp?id=676

Which one is better? Competition / Teamwork???

Most of us will answer, it depends what reference you are putting in...

But going along with the context as specified above.. I think Team-work in better!!! Why?

Competition sets up a benchmark amongst peers and the one on top will try to retain his/her position nad will do whatever he/she can to retain that position! Hence, in most of the cases, learning is reduced in form of scoring and good marks and NOT knowledge. With team-work, knowledge is distributed and shared which might not lead to good marks in the end, in few cases, but when actual situation arises, one can exercise his / her learning better than the person who has studied for marks / scores and NOT actual learning and sharing!

Moreover, one of the major aspects on MBA is Networking, with Competition one tends to cut corners with few vis-a-vis with team-work, everyone is a team-member and move ahead as a team.. a close co-ordination required!

Interesting Status messages

Almost all of us do log in to the Yahoo Messenger and Gtalk. I recollect some of the interesting ones I have read:

--- I am going for an MBA - Masters in Beer Administration
--- SHIT Happens!! Learn to Flush
--- what goes around!!
--- We are ashamed of everything that is real about us; ashamed of ourselves, of our relatives, of our incomes, of our accents, of our opinions, of our experience, just as we are ashamed of our naked skins
-- I need money!! MORE MONEY ;-)
--- Success is hard to achieve
--- It is hard to succeed until you try!
--- If winning is not everything then you do they keep scores? Tell tell...
--- Inspiration makes us better!
--- Hard work beats talent, when talent fails to work hard !!



Will include more in next to come when I recollect more!

The First Milestone!

The First Milestone
If I retrospect then there are many things, which led my way to pursue a Fulltime MBA Course at Cranfield SoM, but I will proceed from the date I actualized the first mile stone! It was approximately a year back in the month of July 2006 that I scheduled my GMAT examination for September 2006. Intentionally, I scheduled the exam six week hence to avoid the fluctuating mood and motivation required.
I started my preparation started with high spirits. However, within a couple of days I realized that I need to work a lot in the Verbal section.

The Power of Orkut
Another moment for my friends to come for a rescue! Also, it was the moment when I discovered the power of Orkut and plethora of resources available on this site. People with the same ambitions to score good in their exam do interact frequently, sincerely and aggressively. During which I did meet few people and still cherish those discussions.

Daily Timetable
Hmmm… this comes out to be a obvious question to most of us - will we get time to study during the job. But don’t they think - they are not the ONLY one thinking about this. Even people who have been successful have made it thru the final round and with flying colors. In the end… What I did and said to myself - Where there is a will, there is way! Got up early, did quant problems while I was still in sleep and when back form office take a bath, have dinner and back to the books. Life, a bit different from sleeping or chatting after dinner and that too for a short time - just 6 weeks!

NOT AS DIFFICULT AS IT SEEMS!

IF NOT NOW - THEN WHEN?

Confession
I do agree that I did not score good on the D-day. With all that comfort at home and facilities available, still feel that should have done better! Never the less… I was confident that I did secure the minimum, if not the maximum, to apply for the universities. Everyone thinks so and I am not

Vicious Circle

Isn't it the same for everybody.. at least for the people in India

When you were kids.. parents teach you to get good marks (compare your marks with the best in class) in the school examinations esp the boards and your life will be easier! - OK DONE (life should be easier now!)

Then you should get into a good college or university to get a god repo in society (compare your position with the best in your family social circle)! after which you will get a good paying job (Oh no!! Neways just one more step) ... thts also done!

Get good mark in the univ (compare your best senior) and try to follow him to get a high paying job (Ok.. if not the best then a decent pay package will do - hope now i will be independent and will be able to lead the life as I want it to be)! - GREAT got a above average salary in an MNC

Hey!! Now I have a good job, Can I lead my life as I want??? Parents: BULLSH!T - You have turned 22-24 - It is time for you to get married! (MAN - In my teens i studied for this moment to be independent, in college I had encountered with the fairer sex! But had to study to enjoy the encounters at my own will and wish without any explanations and NOW WHEN I THINK I CAN ENJOY - they are taking my freedom away!!!)! (I am not married at this moment but do think the same)

Some of us do think - WHAT IF MAY! I Will never lead my kid into this Viscous circle

But do we really get into the root of the problem?

I think that this is not because of an individual or a single personality - it is the society where we do make our idols at every moment (which change at every stage) and compare our achievement with them without understanding the various skill sets available in the market vis-a-vis the skill set available within ourselves or OUR KIDS!

It is the parents & teachers responsibility to identify the skill-set in a kid and hone his / her capabilities so that he can enjoy whatever he does in his / her life.

Nevertheless... LIFE GOES ON!