This will be my last blog for the year 2008…so thought of jotting down what I have learnt during the past year….
Lesson 1:- Don’t run behind money….develop a skill set and money will come running after you.
I had left my job at ICICI Bank tow years back(2006) looking for a job which would pay me well…I ended up taking up a job in a KPO which gave me a rocking pay but also gave me irregular working hours and a unstable mind…Work was routine and monotonous which required no use of my knowledge and skills….positive part of this work was that my excel and system skills improved…finally frustrated and irritated I started looking out for a job which was very difficult as all jobs I was offered were KPO jobs while I wanted a front end job….most of the places I was rejected or not considered as my pay scale was high….finally I managed to get a job in a leading brokerage at a 30% pay cut…
After working in the brokerage for a year I switched jobs this year and ended up working for a leading insurance company as a part of the fund management team…
This job would not have come to me if had not realized that what is important for me is not money but utilizing my knowledge and skill set…money will flow with time…..
I sometimes think I am behind the curve with respect to my peer group cuz of the 1 year I lost in the KPO but I know that experience will stand me in good stead in whatever job I take…..This year strengthened my resolve in this belief….
Lesson 2:- Office politics is present wherever you go…its how you handle it will determine how far you go….
The earlier brokerage I was working for was steeped in office politics and I had the bad luck of working with a colleague as a team who was the bosses pet. This senior of mine took all advantage of my work…he never worked hard enough to fulfill his potential nor did he ever give me due for my work…at the end of the year when the appraisal was on….I was given a paltry bonus and this guy got a promotion and a huge raise….this made me realize that you need for the credit of the work you do…never ever let someone take advantage of you just because he is your senior or anyone at work…fight for what is your due…..
Lesson 3:- The most difficult and complex thing ever made by god….girls
Right from my mom, sister to my friends…I have never been able to understand how a girl thinks…I have been able to crack and solve the most difficult of situations but have never ever lost…understanding a girl is one task at which I have failed number of times and continue to do so….I earlier used to spend a lot of time thinking about it but this year a few instances(too personal to mention) made me realize its no use wasting time on it….the end result is that I have decided “I am going to go with the flow and stop thinking too much about this”…in short…be myself.
Lesson 4:- The only cornerstone of your life is your family
Till a few years back, the only thing important for me was my friends…I never ever used to listen to my mom who used to say that “Have friends but family first”…the only people who will bail you out in the time of need is your family….
I made substantial losses in the stock market crash leading me to a situation where I had to pay my broker a substantial sum. I tried borrowing money from friends but the only person who stood by me at that point of time, it was my mom and dad who lent me the amount. Though I repaid the money to them later, they were my “Rock of Gibraltar” during my time of need…..As they say “In your life, people come and people go but the only thing constant is your family”.
Though the learning’s were a lot more…but these were the major learning’s…I hope I can imbibe something from them and be a good human being….
See you guys in the New Year……Have a rocking New Year…..
December 28, 2008
December 21, 2008
School or Bhool
Again a conversation with my pretty neighbourhood aunt made me realise the defunct and dysfunctional times we live in....the aunt in question has a 2.5 year old kid and she was looking out for a school for her...now the question arose which school is the best....the school closest to our place (the school where i studied) was mentioned by me and her response was "i don't want my kid to study in the Maharashtra board"....
So my response was then where do you want your kid to go....and off she went how bad the Maharashtra education board and how good a ICSE and CBSE was....she even went to the extent of saying she was looking for a school with a Australian board affiliation...
All this forces me to think about the times we live in..where the school the kid goes to is important but the education you give to him is not important...tats the biggest school the kid has....his family....tats where the greatest education happens...observing how your parents and elders behave....i am not against sending a kid to the best of schools...all i am against is that we forget that instilling right values in kids is more important than the school he goes to...there is a friend of mine who stays in Mira road but sends his kid to dhirubhai ambani school in bandra kurla complex.....i mean the kid spends half his life travelling...when does he speak to his parents, when does he play, when does he live his life as a kid....
I am not against sending a kid to the best of schools...all i am against is the farce we participate in the name of schooling...a kid who wants to study will study in the worst of schools...i went to a school from Maharashtra board but never have felt tat as a roadblock in any part of my life....
As they say " a child educated only at school is an uneducated child"
bye till the next time....
PS;- its that time of the year where i think and introspect about the year gone by...and create some new year resolutions...dont want to party and celebrate the new year this time around...want to jus pray for the departed souls of 26/11....
So my response was then where do you want your kid to go....and off she went how bad the Maharashtra education board and how good a ICSE and CBSE was....she even went to the extent of saying she was looking for a school with a Australian board affiliation...
All this forces me to think about the times we live in..where the school the kid goes to is important but the education you give to him is not important...tats the biggest school the kid has....his family....tats where the greatest education happens...observing how your parents and elders behave....i am not against sending a kid to the best of schools...all i am against is that we forget that instilling right values in kids is more important than the school he goes to...there is a friend of mine who stays in Mira road but sends his kid to dhirubhai ambani school in bandra kurla complex.....i mean the kid spends half his life travelling...when does he speak to his parents, when does he play, when does he live his life as a kid....
I am not against sending a kid to the best of schools...all i am against is the farce we participate in the name of schooling...a kid who wants to study will study in the worst of schools...i went to a school from Maharashtra board but never have felt tat as a roadblock in any part of my life....
As they say " a child educated only at school is an uneducated child"
bye till the next time....
PS;- its that time of the year where i think and introspect about the year gone by...and create some new year resolutions...dont want to party and celebrate the new year this time around...want to jus pray for the departed souls of 26/11....
December 16, 2008
George Bush vs Shoes and Pissed Off Journalist 12-14-08
Please do watch this video on the blog……
Was at work when I saw this video on Monday afternoon in which a Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at Mr George Bush…I really am happy that this Iraqi news reporter had the guts and gumption to show the entire world what a big fraud Mr. Bush is….My only regret is the shoe did not hit him…wish the gentleman would have taken some throwing lessons before doing the act….
If there was any person in world history who was single handedly responsible for ruining the world economy and peace it was Mr. Bush….and the entire American population was foolish enough to elect him once again as the president twice….Mr. Bush has a very interesting achievement list as given below;-
1) Pushed the entire world economy on the brink of bankruptcy by his mishandling of the US financial and economic situation
2) Failed to fight terrorism – Osama still rules in Afghanistan and our hearts tremble in fear with mere mention of his name.
3) Got America into its worst war situation in Iraq and Afghanistan since Vietnam
4) Has still not managed to find Weapons of mass destruction…the basis of which was given to attack Iraq….
5) Has dragged the American citizens into the worse situation of their life by making them live in a make believe world….so bad that it had to end someday and the new political dispensation would have to bear the brunt of a single man’s stupidity….
If you ever thought that Bush was good for India please think about the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai or have a look at the BSE Sensex……
As the great Martin Luther King Jr said “Nothing in the entire world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
And a Poem on George Bush to end with…..
Georgy Porgy pudding and pie,
Took cocaine which made him high,
When the sheriff came his way,
Georgy's pa sent him away.
Georgy Porgy wasn't daft,
Wanted to avoid the draft,
He found being a coward not too hard,
Daddy's friends got him into the guard.
Georgy Porgy businessman
With daddy's money his career began,
When the seed money all dried up,
Georgy's business went belly up.
December 12, 2008
Nice story by mukul sharma...worth a read
A little knowledge goes a long way
ONCE upon a time there was a high IQ cheetah who couldn’t run at a top speed of 120 km per hour. As a result, the Thompson’s gazelles that he chose to chase easily outran him and he was never able to get hold of one. Thus, in order to survive, he was forced to catch rodents and frogs and other small animals which lived in the Serengeti.
Of course he had to do this surreptitiously because if any of the other cheetahs ever found out it would be terribly humiliating for him. “What’s the use of being the fastest land animal in the world,” he would often say to himself, “if I can’t even run down a decent high speed deer for dinner?”
So one day he went to a cheetah who was renowned for her astonishing speed and blurted out his predicament. “I have all the evolutionary adaptations that enable our species to run as fast as we do, including large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake, and an enlarged heart and lungs which work together to circulate oxygen efficiently. Also, during a typical chase when I can accelerate from zero to 100 in three seconds my respiratory rate increases from 60 to 150 breaths per minute.
And, while running, in addition to having good traction due to my semi-retractable claws, I use the tail as a rudder for steering which allows me to make razor sharp turns, necessary to outflank prey who often make such turns. And yet”, he concluded lamely, “I can’t manage a top speed of 120 km an hour no matter how hard I try.”
“That’s interesting,” said the other cheetah who was staring at him wide-eyed by now. “Because you know, all this time I thought my nostrils were for only for smelling and my heart and lungs for keeping me alive. During a chase all I ever had time to notice was that the surroundings became a blur, my breathing increasingly deep and heavy, and by the time it’s over I’m pooped for the rest of the day.
As for my claws and tail, I just try to keep them clean. But, like I said, this is amazing stuff. If we were to live together I could do the hunting while you can teach me things about myself and the world so that I too can become as knowledgeable as you.”
So the two hitched up and soon the Serengeti had two cheetahs that couldn’t run at a top speed of 120 km an hour and had to live off rats and frogs instead of gazelles to the end of their days.
Moral: A lot of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.
ONCE upon a time there was a high IQ cheetah who couldn’t run at a top speed of 120 km per hour. As a result, the Thompson’s gazelles that he chose to chase easily outran him and he was never able to get hold of one. Thus, in order to survive, he was forced to catch rodents and frogs and other small animals which lived in the Serengeti.
Of course he had to do this surreptitiously because if any of the other cheetahs ever found out it would be terribly humiliating for him. “What’s the use of being the fastest land animal in the world,” he would often say to himself, “if I can’t even run down a decent high speed deer for dinner?”
So one day he went to a cheetah who was renowned for her astonishing speed and blurted out his predicament. “I have all the evolutionary adaptations that enable our species to run as fast as we do, including large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake, and an enlarged heart and lungs which work together to circulate oxygen efficiently. Also, during a typical chase when I can accelerate from zero to 100 in three seconds my respiratory rate increases from 60 to 150 breaths per minute.
And, while running, in addition to having good traction due to my semi-retractable claws, I use the tail as a rudder for steering which allows me to make razor sharp turns, necessary to outflank prey who often make such turns. And yet”, he concluded lamely, “I can’t manage a top speed of 120 km an hour no matter how hard I try.”
“That’s interesting,” said the other cheetah who was staring at him wide-eyed by now. “Because you know, all this time I thought my nostrils were for only for smelling and my heart and lungs for keeping me alive. During a chase all I ever had time to notice was that the surroundings became a blur, my breathing increasingly deep and heavy, and by the time it’s over I’m pooped for the rest of the day.
As for my claws and tail, I just try to keep them clean. But, like I said, this is amazing stuff. If we were to live together I could do the hunting while you can teach me things about myself and the world so that I too can become as knowledgeable as you.”
So the two hitched up and soon the Serengeti had two cheetahs that couldn’t run at a top speed of 120 km an hour and had to live off rats and frogs instead of gazelles to the end of their days.
Moral: A lot of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.
December 9, 2008
People speak....
Was waiting in eager anticipation for the election results in the 5 states which went to polls with the terror shadow of 26/11 behind them....and lo behold the results did not surprise me.....
Congress won the polls 3-2 by winning delhi, rajasthan and mizoram and losing MP and Chattisgarh....
The overwhelming verdict was that people voted for development...terror was an afterthought and tats the reason why BJP which used this a plank lost badly....People voted for politicians like Sheila Dikshit in delhi, shivraj chouhan in MP and raman singh in chattisgarh cuz they believed that these guys were for constructive politics and development...unlike a certain maharani who thought she was a maharani and bought down to mother earth by the people of rajasthan...
Winning delhi thrice is not a mean achievement and this clearly shows the faith the people of delhi have in Sheila Dikshit.....this jus proves democracy wins over all forms of government at all times.....
I just wish we had more politicians like these people...and not people like vilasrao who believe in terror tourism and not in terror prevention.....
I hope i am not proved wrong by these people...u know u can never trust politicians....jus hope we get a stable government in the next election which not only speaks of reforms but does some reform....
bye till the next time....
Congress won the polls 3-2 by winning delhi, rajasthan and mizoram and losing MP and Chattisgarh....
The overwhelming verdict was that people voted for development...terror was an afterthought and tats the reason why BJP which used this a plank lost badly....People voted for politicians like Sheila Dikshit in delhi, shivraj chouhan in MP and raman singh in chattisgarh cuz they believed that these guys were for constructive politics and development...unlike a certain maharani who thought she was a maharani and bought down to mother earth by the people of rajasthan...
Winning delhi thrice is not a mean achievement and this clearly shows the faith the people of delhi have in Sheila Dikshit.....this jus proves democracy wins over all forms of government at all times.....
I just wish we had more politicians like these people...and not people like vilasrao who believe in terror tourism and not in terror prevention.....
I hope i am not proved wrong by these people...u know u can never trust politicians....jus hope we get a stable government in the next election which not only speaks of reforms but does some reform....
bye till the next time....
December 7, 2008
Terror aftermath....
A single statement made by one of my office colleagues opened my eyes to the world we live in....it made me think we have forgotten all the sacrifices made by our soldiers and policemen to protect our country....i always used to think....that we the youth are the future of india and looking at the youth participation in the rally held at gateway of india corroborated my thinking.....
A couple of us friends were having evening snacks (awful to say the least) in our canteen and we were discussing the terror attacks....and the solution proposed by friend who is well educated and a sophisticated person....."genocide of the entire muslim community"....for 2 mins i could not grasp wat was said....i felt disgusted to the core tat i was sitting next to a person like this....nonetheless i had a fight with this lady.....but left before i said somethin which would vitiate the atmosphere....
Just because certain radicals have created problems does not mean you need to belittle the entire community....one of my closest friends is a muslim....i never felt this way for her....i attended her wedding and was made a part of her family....i never felt left out or a miscast there....
I felt that day that my participating in the rally was no use...if this is wat my peer group thinks then i am not proud to be a part of them.....i just feel that our fight is not against the community but against the radicals who are dividing our lifes...so let that radical be a certain Raj Thackeray or some muslim radical.....
We dont need a Hitler to cause a genocide but a Obama to make some drastic changes.....
A couple of us friends were having evening snacks (awful to say the least) in our canteen and we were discussing the terror attacks....and the solution proposed by friend who is well educated and a sophisticated person....."genocide of the entire muslim community"....for 2 mins i could not grasp wat was said....i felt disgusted to the core tat i was sitting next to a person like this....nonetheless i had a fight with this lady.....but left before i said somethin which would vitiate the atmosphere....
Just because certain radicals have created problems does not mean you need to belittle the entire community....one of my closest friends is a muslim....i never felt this way for her....i attended her wedding and was made a part of her family....i never felt left out or a miscast there....
I felt that day that my participating in the rally was no use...if this is wat my peer group thinks then i am not proud to be a part of them.....i just feel that our fight is not against the community but against the radicals who are dividing our lifes...so let that radical be a certain Raj Thackeray or some muslim radical.....
We dont need a Hitler to cause a genocide but a Obama to make some drastic changes.....
December 4, 2008
A Poem on mumbai terror attacks.....plz read
Doob Maro by Ashish Khazanchi
Main deeth hoon,
Umeed hoon,
Moti chamdi,
Ki peeth hoon.
Ek baat hoon,
Awaaz hoon,
Chal jawab de,
Naraaz hoon.
Aur jawab to,
Mein le ke rahoonga,
Choopa le moonh,
Par main na chupoonga.
Ke mein teri,
Tooti duniya ka haal hoon,
Tere apne hi zehen main udhta,
Ek chota sa sawal hoon.
Main deeth hoon,
Umeed hoon,
Moti chamdi,
Ki peeth hoon.
Ek baat hoon,
Awaaz hoon,
Chal jawab de,
Naraaz hoon.
Aur jawab to,
Mein le ke rahoonga,
Choopa le moonh,
Par main na chupoonga.
Ke mein teri,
Tooti duniya ka haal hoon,
Tere apne hi zehen main udhta,
Ek chota sa sawal hoon.
December 1, 2008
Lets not make another Afzal Guru out of this
lets not make another "Afzal Guru" out of the terrorist caught in the mumbai terror strikes....Afzal Guru who was the brain behind the parliament attacks( in which some brave gaurds lost their life and no politician died....though i wish they would have....) has been sentenced to the gallows by the courts but is still not being given death due to some political pressure from the Kashmir region....Do you think America would let Osama live if he was caught due to some petty politics....We as Indians need to rise above small gains and set a example so that whoever thinks of attacking us shudders to think of the consequences....lets not disrespect the sacrifices of our brave police force, commandos and army....Give the terrorist what he deserves?????
The chief minister of kerela after being thrown out of Major Unnikrishnan's house by his dad when he went to pay his respect says "If it was not Major Unnikrishnan's house no dog would visit his house"......Is this how we treat our heroes....
I pray to god to give parents of the major strength in their time of need and some sense to the stupid, incompetent and insane Chief Minister of Kerela.....
Please do try attending the rally organised on Wednesday - December 3rd(Gateway of India) at 6 pm as a sign of support for the departed souls.....Show you are a true mumbaikar and be there.....
November 29, 2008
The misery finally ends
After more than 50 hours and 195 dead bodies later, finally we are safe....i bow with deep gratitude to the commandos, policemen and army who made it happen and pray for the martyrs who lost their life....and want to hang a certain Narendra Modi who could not resist indulging in petty politics in this time of need....SHAME ON YOU.....
Hope we now don't discuss how much ration we need to give to the army and appreciate the help of the departed and learn from our mistakes...
Jai Hind
Hope we now don't discuss how much ration we need to give to the army and appreciate the help of the departed and learn from our mistakes...
Jai Hind
November 28, 2008
twinkle twinkle little star
Please view this video on my blog....made me remember my school days...real cute...:)
November 27, 2008
Gruesome to the core
24 hours and we are still fighting the terrorists holding up the entire of mumbai to ransom...Hope this mayhem ends soon....my prayers are with people who have lost their loved ones and our brave police officers who died protecting our lifes....
A question comes to my mind....how do we defeat them?
Simple ....
1) By learning from our mistakes of 1993 bomb blasts, 7/11 attacks and ensuring our defence mechanisms are proactive and not reactive(wish the boats these guys used were stopped before they reached the coast)......
2) By getting back to work and stop these cowards from achieving their goals of breaking our routines and create panic....
Hope my lovely city never sees this day again.....
A question comes to my mind....how do we defeat them?
Simple ....
1) By learning from our mistakes of 1993 bomb blasts, 7/11 attacks and ensuring our defence mechanisms are proactive and not reactive(wish the boats these guys used were stopped before they reached the coast)......
2) By getting back to work and stop these cowards from achieving their goals of breaking our routines and create panic....
Hope my lovely city never sees this day again.....
November 23, 2008
An interesting article...do read
A casual forward sent by my sister made me visit the site....http://www.adam-khoo.com/....This website is about Mr Adam Khoo who is a self made millionaire....do visit the website whenever you have time....worth a try......Found a interesting article on his blog which am enclosing below....do read and comment....
A Blog Posted by Singapore 's Youngest Millionaire
By Adam Khoo
Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.
Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is traveling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.
The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.
When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota's and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).
I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.
Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix.After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.
Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.
I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a meaningless life.
-- KEEP SHARING................
A Blog Posted by Singapore 's Youngest Millionaire
By Adam Khoo
Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.
Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is traveling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.
The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.
When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota's and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).
I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.
Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix.After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.
Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.
I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a meaningless life.
-- KEEP SHARING................
November 18, 2008
Help required
I have a close friend of mine who lost his job due to the recession...well qualified, hard working(i bear testimony) and extremely talented....he was given one months notice by his organisation and asked to quit......sitting at home and doing nothin with no work around is the worst thing that can happen to a youngster....i have been through it and know it.....its particularly irritatin when your pesky neighbourhood aunt comes home and asks...."Beta office nahin gaya"....as if she comes and delivers food to my place everyday.....
It is at these points in time when you realise the importance of being resilient and patient....your parents might not say anything but then you can see it in their eyes and thoughts....luckily i was out of job for a month and sitting at home....but then the situation at that time was not so bad and i had a ray of hope...but knowing how the situation now is....it is very difficult to be positive and stay focussed.....
I want to help my friend but dunno how....i am not a position that i can create a job for him or recommend him to some place...the only thing i can do is keep a eye for openings for him and send across his resume.....hope that someone recognises his talent and my best wishes are with him....its at times like these that you recognise the importance of friends and i would like to help you my friend whichever i can.....
take care and see ya till the next time.....
It is at these points in time when you realise the importance of being resilient and patient....your parents might not say anything but then you can see it in their eyes and thoughts....luckily i was out of job for a month and sitting at home....but then the situation at that time was not so bad and i had a ray of hope...but knowing how the situation now is....it is very difficult to be positive and stay focussed.....
I want to help my friend but dunno how....i am not a position that i can create a job for him or recommend him to some place...the only thing i can do is keep a eye for openings for him and send across his resume.....hope that someone recognises his talent and my best wishes are with him....its at times like these that you recognise the importance of friends and i would like to help you my friend whichever i can.....
take care and see ya till the next time.....
November 16, 2008
November 14, 2008
Vertical or Horizontal growth
Promotion list was released in my new organisation which i joined a few months back...It made me wonder what is best for a person..Horizontal or vertical growth in a professional career...
To be frank i have never been among the lucky ones to get vertical growth in a organisation...the prime reason for tat being " i have not spent ample amount of time in a single organisation"....
3 jobs in 5 years is a big number for me....though it might not be tat big a deal in normal world of recruitments and placements....this has made me come to a conclusion tat you need to give yourself and the organisation you are working for sometime to recognise each other's worth....every person has their own skill set and that skill set is sometimes recognised early or sometimes with time....so being patient when the time is against you is wat one needs to aim for....it has its own pitfalls where your growth might be stunted....but once you know a organisation's ecosystem you can work around it to further your goals.....
so my goal in my current organisation is to wait till i get some vertical growth....i dunno how long it might take or if it might or might not happen....But i am prepared to wait....praying hopefully tat i can prove myself to my current organisation....
Hope tat happens....Bye till the next time.....
PS;- have been working on saturday holidays to complete a project.....hope it turns out well.....
To be frank i have never been among the lucky ones to get vertical growth in a organisation...the prime reason for tat being " i have not spent ample amount of time in a single organisation"....
3 jobs in 5 years is a big number for me....though it might not be tat big a deal in normal world of recruitments and placements....this has made me come to a conclusion tat you need to give yourself and the organisation you are working for sometime to recognise each other's worth....every person has their own skill set and that skill set is sometimes recognised early or sometimes with time....so being patient when the time is against you is wat one needs to aim for....it has its own pitfalls where your growth might be stunted....but once you know a organisation's ecosystem you can work around it to further your goals.....
so my goal in my current organisation is to wait till i get some vertical growth....i dunno how long it might take or if it might or might not happen....But i am prepared to wait....praying hopefully tat i can prove myself to my current organisation....
Hope tat happens....Bye till the next time.....
PS;- have been working on saturday holidays to complete a project.....hope it turns out well.....
November 9, 2008
Is it a crime to be 27 and a bachelor....??????
I am goin through a situation in my life where it seems the entire world has ganged up against me, particularly after my sister's marriage. And their single and sole objective is "Get Suraj married".......I have been recently facing a situation during my recent interactions with people who are elder to me.....Here goes a recent conversation with a aunty who stays in my building.....
I had just come home after a jog and was visibly tired when i met the aunty outside my building.....
Suraj;- Hi aunty how are you....seeing you after a long time...
Aunty;- i had gone to meet my son in the united states....
Suraj;- Aunty tat is nice....how is he?...u missed chanda's wedding( my sister).....
Aunty;-I know tat....i saw the pictures when i met ur mom.....
Aunty;-So now ur line is clear....when are u gettin married.....
Suraj;-Bye aunty i am tired.....Need to go change and get 2 work....
this is the conversation which normally happens whenever i meet elder people nowdays....
this has led a lots of questions in my mind which go as follows....please help me in solving them....
1) Do people turn gay if they dont get married?
2) Is marriage the sole purpose of life?
3) Does the world not have bigger issues to solve like global warming, corruption, crime and pollution, rather than worry about getting me married?
4) Is it necessary to get married just to make the society and parents happy?
5) Does a person lose his freedom(which i dread) once he gets married?
6) How can a person spend the rest of his life with someone?
7) Can a person not be single and still be happy?
8) Do you lose your friends after marriage?
and the final question......
Should a guy not be in love with a gal to get married to spend the rest of the life with her?
I am still waiting for tat love 2 come in my life and i am running out of time........
Bye friends till you hear from me the next time.....
I had just come home after a jog and was visibly tired when i met the aunty outside my building.....
Suraj;- Hi aunty how are you....seeing you after a long time...
Aunty;- i had gone to meet my son in the united states....
Suraj;- Aunty tat is nice....how is he?...u missed chanda's wedding( my sister).....
Aunty;-I know tat....i saw the pictures when i met ur mom.....
Aunty;-So now ur line is clear....when are u gettin married.....
Suraj;-Bye aunty i am tired.....Need to go change and get 2 work....
this is the conversation which normally happens whenever i meet elder people nowdays....
this has led a lots of questions in my mind which go as follows....please help me in solving them....
1) Do people turn gay if they dont get married?
2) Is marriage the sole purpose of life?
3) Does the world not have bigger issues to solve like global warming, corruption, crime and pollution, rather than worry about getting me married?
4) Is it necessary to get married just to make the society and parents happy?
5) Does a person lose his freedom(which i dread) once he gets married?
6) How can a person spend the rest of his life with someone?
7) Can a person not be single and still be happy?
8) Do you lose your friends after marriage?
and the final question......
Should a guy not be in love with a gal to get married to spend the rest of the life with her?
I am still waiting for tat love 2 come in my life and i am running out of time........
Bye friends till you hear from me the next time.....
November 5, 2008
Summer of '69 (cover) - Bryan Adams
Tend to hum this song whenever i am down and out....surely pulls me out of the blues.....
Summer of 69
got my first real six-string
Bought it at the five-and-dime
Played 'til my fingers bledwas summer of '69
Me and some guys from school
Had a Band and we tried real hard
Jimmy quit Jody got married
I shoulda known we'd never get far
Oh when I look back now
The summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choiceYa -
I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
Ain't no use in complainin'
When you got a job to do
Spent my evenin's down at the drive in
And that's when I met you yeah
Standin on your mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Back in Summer of '69
OH
Man we were killin' time
We were young and restless
We needed to unwind
I guess nothin' can last forever, forever, no
Yeah
And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Somethimes when I play that old six-string
I think about ya wonder what went wrong
Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me it would last forever
Oh and when you held my handI knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Oh yeah
Back in summer of '69
November 3, 2008
Extended Sunday
Did not go to work today....an extended sunday for me.....yawn......
Watched Golmal returns....a dead movie except the last 5 minutes which are one of the funniest moments which you will ever see in a movie......
was instrospecting about my life in general the whole day and where i am goin wrong...will try 2 put plan in action and goals in place....will surely share it once i finalise em.....
one of the major goals is stop being lazy and spend less time in front of the idiot box......:)
bye till the next time.......
Watched Golmal returns....a dead movie except the last 5 minutes which are one of the funniest moments which you will ever see in a movie......
was instrospecting about my life in general the whole day and where i am goin wrong...will try 2 put plan in action and goals in place....will surely share it once i finalise em.....
one of the major goals is stop being lazy and spend less time in front of the idiot box......:)
bye till the next time.......
November 2, 2008
Music review of Dasvidaniya
Heard some really awesome music after a long time.....
Please do hear the music of Dasvidaniya.....all the songs are unique in their own sense but special mention needs to be made of the song "Mumma" sung by Kailash Kher.....it makes u go and give a hug to your mom....
Next comes "muskura" sung by Sonu Nigam (he is back with a bang) which has a old movie song feel but has excellent words....no one can not like this song... a song which creates a niche in ur heart slowly......
There is also the title song "Alvida"...again sung by kailash kher...again a rocking song with very sooothing lyrics...... album also has a remix of alvida and a muskura instrumental.....
A small album but neverthless worth listening to a number of times....please do listen.......bye.......
Please do hear the music of Dasvidaniya.....all the songs are unique in their own sense but special mention needs to be made of the song "Mumma" sung by Kailash Kher.....it makes u go and give a hug to your mom....
Next comes "muskura" sung by Sonu Nigam (he is back with a bang) which has a old movie song feel but has excellent words....no one can not like this song... a song which creates a niche in ur heart slowly......
There is also the title song "Alvida"...again sung by kailash kher...again a rocking song with very sooothing lyrics...... album also has a remix of alvida and a muskura instrumental.....
A small album but neverthless worth listening to a number of times....please do listen.......bye.......
October 31, 2008
Vishy wins the chess world championship
Vishwanatahan Anand (it think Vishy is better...:) ) won the world championship beating Valdmir Kramnik this week....an awesome achievement considering he won it in a sport which does not have the financial muscle and physical backing as cricket has in India.
Vishy has won in all major forms of chess (rapid and the traditional form) and this goes on to prove he is once in a lifetime player.....attributes which i believe which set him apart from others are ;-
1) His very modest and earthy mature
2) High levels of concentration (chess is the most mentally demanding of all sports...probably a reason a dimwit like me is not gud at it)
3) Dedication and discipline towards a goal.......
and a lot more attributes.....
Hope i can imbibe a few of these attributes....
Way to go Vishy.....we are proud of ya.....
Vishy has won in all major forms of chess (rapid and the traditional form) and this goes on to prove he is once in a lifetime player.....attributes which i believe which set him apart from others are ;-
1) His very modest and earthy mature
2) High levels of concentration (chess is the most mentally demanding of all sports...probably a reason a dimwit like me is not gud at it)
3) Dedication and discipline towards a goal.......
and a lot more attributes.....
Hope i can imbibe a few of these attributes....
Way to go Vishy.....we are proud of ya.....
October 29, 2008
My favourite poem
have not much to write so am posting my favourite poem......i read and think of this poem whenever i am down.....do go through it......
Don't Quit Poem
by anonymous
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit
Don't Quit Poem
by anonymous
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit
October 26, 2008
Happy diwali
the festival of lights is here.....the victory of good over evil....
May we all rise above our restraints and fulfill our expectations and take a step towards being good citizens of a great country.....
Happy diwali.......:)
May we all rise above our restraints and fulfill our expectations and take a step towards being good citizens of a great country.....
Happy diwali.......:)
October 24, 2008
Do fundamentals work in a bear market
Equity markets are a nightmare nowadays....sometimes when i get up in the mornin i feel why am i goin 2 work....investors are trusting my insurance company with their money to manage and when i see that we are not able to protect the money, guilt arises but then you realise tat nothin in life is permanent so nor will this phase be.....so long term investors keep on pumping in the money......
I believe this is the best time to invest if you are sitting on cash.....i know you will kill me for sayin this but one never knows where the bottom will be....its better to take a risk at these levels than regret it later.....signing off with two great quotes.....
"Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful" - by the great Warren Buffet
"Before the dawn the sky is the darkest"........ so be strong and hang in there as i am.....
I believe this is the best time to invest if you are sitting on cash.....i know you will kill me for sayin this but one never knows where the bottom will be....its better to take a risk at these levels than regret it later.....signing off with two great quotes.....
"Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful" - by the great Warren Buffet
"Before the dawn the sky is the darkest"........ so be strong and hang in there as i am.....
October 23, 2008
How could one person take control of our lifes
Tuesday -21st october 2008.
i get up in the morning to a message of my sweet boss ( he is one of the few good ones left in the world...touch wood) that Raj Thackeray has been arrested. I put on the T V to see what i feared. MNS party workers ( are they party workers or anti social elements) vandalising a taxi, burning tyres on the roads. My mom asked me to stay put and not to go to work. But knowing how brave or in her words stupid i was she gave up.
I my house at the normal time to catch my private bus to work( am few of the lucky ones who travel in relative comfort but through the dreaded POWAI!!!!! route). to find out that none of the buses are working. The poor drivers of these buses are north indians and they were afraid to venture out with their vehicles...i finally had to travel by a best bus (which i managed to find after a lot of trouble) to work and reached office a hour late and on my last fumes on the verge of collapse (a great way to start work isnt it).
Leaving from work i decided to leave early and again took a BEST bus back to work. I reached home in record time but the bus left me a few kilometers from thane(where i stay) where riots had started. I tried catching a rick and lo behold the rickshaw driver asked me 150 rs......i told him i want to go home and not buy ur rick.....finally i decided to walk and after walking for 30 minutes reached home......
Sitting at home as i write....i feel bad not for myself but for the poor bus drivers of my private bus service who are afraid of their life....for the poor biharis who were beaten up by MNS hooligans....for the taxis and rickshawalas of mumbai who had their livelihood taken away from them....WHO GAVE A SINGLE PERSON to determine my life....is this the country our freedom fighters fought for....where a person is not forced to earn his livelihood just because he is from a different state.....
There are times when i feel ashamed that i am a indian and tuesday was one of those days.....the leader of MNS stays in a upmarket locale, drives a mercedes, his kids have taken german as a subject in college and he says he is fighting for the marathi manoos.....i say if he wants to fight for the marathi manooos but have u asked the marathi manoos what he wants....he wants peace, he wants that to reach home on time, he wants safety of mind, body and soul.....
i feed sad to conclude that we as indians have given a person who believes in the sadistic nature of politics the right to rule our lives....if a young politician thinks this way i wonder what others do.....please think about this the next time you vote...
DO YOU WANNA VOTE FOR A YOUNG POLITICIAN WHO FIGHTS FOR THE MARATHIS MANOOS OR FOR MUMBAI.........
bye tilll the next time......
i get up in the morning to a message of my sweet boss ( he is one of the few good ones left in the world...touch wood) that Raj Thackeray has been arrested. I put on the T V to see what i feared. MNS party workers ( are they party workers or anti social elements) vandalising a taxi, burning tyres on the roads. My mom asked me to stay put and not to go to work. But knowing how brave or in her words stupid i was she gave up.
I my house at the normal time to catch my private bus to work( am few of the lucky ones who travel in relative comfort but through the dreaded POWAI!!!!! route). to find out that none of the buses are working. The poor drivers of these buses are north indians and they were afraid to venture out with their vehicles...i finally had to travel by a best bus (which i managed to find after a lot of trouble) to work and reached office a hour late and on my last fumes on the verge of collapse (a great way to start work isnt it).
Leaving from work i decided to leave early and again took a BEST bus back to work. I reached home in record time but the bus left me a few kilometers from thane(where i stay) where riots had started. I tried catching a rick and lo behold the rickshaw driver asked me 150 rs......i told him i want to go home and not buy ur rick.....finally i decided to walk and after walking for 30 minutes reached home......
Sitting at home as i write....i feel bad not for myself but for the poor bus drivers of my private bus service who are afraid of their life....for the poor biharis who were beaten up by MNS hooligans....for the taxis and rickshawalas of mumbai who had their livelihood taken away from them....WHO GAVE A SINGLE PERSON to determine my life....is this the country our freedom fighters fought for....where a person is not forced to earn his livelihood just because he is from a different state.....
There are times when i feel ashamed that i am a indian and tuesday was one of those days.....the leader of MNS stays in a upmarket locale, drives a mercedes, his kids have taken german as a subject in college and he says he is fighting for the marathi manoos.....i say if he wants to fight for the marathi manooos but have u asked the marathi manoos what he wants....he wants peace, he wants that to reach home on time, he wants safety of mind, body and soul.....
i feed sad to conclude that we as indians have given a person who believes in the sadistic nature of politics the right to rule our lives....if a young politician thinks this way i wonder what others do.....please think about this the next time you vote...
DO YOU WANNA VOTE FOR A YOUNG POLITICIAN WHO FIGHTS FOR THE MARATHIS MANOOS OR FOR MUMBAI.........
bye tilll the next time......
September 17, 2008
Love the people when they are with ya
This is a post i am writing after a very happy event in my family. After a lot of bad falls and trials my sweet sis finally got married. Her marriage has made me realise tat you need to respect and love the people who are in your life when they are with you.
Me and my sister always used to fight with each other. In fact we fought jus a day before her marriage. we used to fight over silly things like tv, putting clothes in their place, money etc. I just needed a reason 2 fight with her. My mom and dad had given up hope tat we both would understand each other and asked both of us not to speak 2 each other.
Then all of a sudden the day of her marriage, the pandit was performing a ritual and he told us all a story on relationship between brothers and sisters and how they cant stand each but are always there for each other. That single instance brought all my entire life in front of me in a flash. How she had stood behind me in my time of crisis, how she helped me when i needed help. It mad me see my sister in a new light which i has never seen before.
It was only the next day when we (my mom, dad and me) started feeling how empty our house was. I miss my sis and realise her importance now tat she is a little away from me. I know we will be there for each other whenever we need help.
God bless my sis and i pray to god tat i treat all my near and dear ones with all the love they deserve when they are with me and not away from me.......
lots of love and poem for my sis.....:)
Suraj.........
Me and my sister always used to fight with each other. In fact we fought jus a day before her marriage. we used to fight over silly things like tv, putting clothes in their place, money etc. I just needed a reason 2 fight with her. My mom and dad had given up hope tat we both would understand each other and asked both of us not to speak 2 each other.
Then all of a sudden the day of her marriage, the pandit was performing a ritual and he told us all a story on relationship between brothers and sisters and how they cant stand each but are always there for each other. That single instance brought all my entire life in front of me in a flash. How she had stood behind me in my time of crisis, how she helped me when i needed help. It mad me see my sister in a new light which i has never seen before.
It was only the next day when we (my mom, dad and me) started feeling how empty our house was. I miss my sis and realise her importance now tat she is a little away from me. I know we will be there for each other whenever we need help.
God bless my sis and i pray to god tat i treat all my near and dear ones with all the love they deserve when they are with me and not away from me.......
lots of love and poem for my sis.....:)
Suraj.........
MY PERFECT SISTER
My perfect sister holds me tight
My perfect sister kisses me goodnight
My perfect sister knows when I’m mad
My perfect sister helps me when I’m sad
My perfect sister is so smart
My perfect sister has my heart
My perfect sister is good and nice
My perfect sister holds me at night
My perfect sister loves me lots
My perfect sister ties the knot
My perfect sister is here to stay
My perfect sister I have until this very day
My perfect sister I wish you well
My perfect sister yes I can tell
My perfect sister asked if I lied
My perfect sister knows if I’ve cried
My perfect sister has moved away ->My perfect sister is in my heart to and will always stay<-
May 1, 2008
Politics at work
Hi All,
Had my appraisals done last week. As usual were on expected lines and got jacked royally. Politics is one thing which i have never been able to manage. The way people manipulate the system, their bosses is beyond my comprehension. I know i need to learn how to manage the system to survive in the corporate world. But i have philosophy which says that let your work speak for yourself, slow and steady wins the race. How true it is the present context is what i need to understand and evaluate.
I worked hard for the entire year with my colleague on a number of reports but at the end of it what i came to know was that he has taken credit for my quota of work. Whose fault it was? His or mine. I would say mine cuz i let him take credit for it. This was my major learning for the year. Dont let someone else credit for whatever work ya do. No matter how much you have to fight for it, you need to stand up for yourself.
Life is not fair and wont be fair. I know my capabilities, my strengths and my weaknesses. I just need to learn how to project it in front of other people and not rely on other people for any help. I trusted people at a higher level who i thought knew and observed the work i was doing but it was sad that they were biased and hypocritical in their judgement.
I have bounced back from a lot of setbacks and am sure will conquer this one and come stronger and better.
Amen and stay in touch
Had my appraisals done last week. As usual were on expected lines and got jacked royally. Politics is one thing which i have never been able to manage. The way people manipulate the system, their bosses is beyond my comprehension. I know i need to learn how to manage the system to survive in the corporate world. But i have philosophy which says that let your work speak for yourself, slow and steady wins the race. How true it is the present context is what i need to understand and evaluate.
I worked hard for the entire year with my colleague on a number of reports but at the end of it what i came to know was that he has taken credit for my quota of work. Whose fault it was? His or mine. I would say mine cuz i let him take credit for it. This was my major learning for the year. Dont let someone else credit for whatever work ya do. No matter how much you have to fight for it, you need to stand up for yourself.
Life is not fair and wont be fair. I know my capabilities, my strengths and my weaknesses. I just need to learn how to project it in front of other people and not rely on other people for any help. I trusted people at a higher level who i thought knew and observed the work i was doing but it was sad that they were biased and hypocritical in their judgement.
I have bounced back from a lot of setbacks and am sure will conquer this one and come stronger and better.
Amen and stay in touch
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
