Hitman, Foxclocks, HBR, Google

I came across this interesting video by John Perkins, the author of Economic Hitman. I had done some FCPA, (Foregin corrupt practices Act) work in my previous assignment and this kind of clear indication as to why FCPA was legislated in the first place. Wonder, if any of this would have serious effect when it comes to commercial interests.!!

It was pleasing to see the newly designed HBR website. The top 10 all time great HBR articles (Must read) caught my eye. Some gems and some Great authors!. Looking forward to go thro some of them soon.

Foxclocks is a good add on to know the international time zone on your browser.

As you would have been aware GMAIL is now available offline version to work and sync when you have connection to work and sync. Great leap for email usage. So what was missing to match MS products is now complete. Yes you need to install GOOGLE GEARS.

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Mintzberg, Google , Obama, Dangle

I am back to blogging, I thought I could take a couple of weeks off, honestly even last week I was like a fish out of water, of course last Sunday(18th) was our wedding anniversary so the day was a kind of tight schedule to indulge in blogging.

I guess, I would stick to blogging Sunday evening and may be try to do more than once a week on some quick thoughts during the week. Lets see.

I always read Henry Mintzberg articles with admiration. I came across his article on Musings on Management quite a fascinating one. This 10 pointer are designed to stir everyone up who cares about Management. He always take the practical stance. I remember my early days in my career (late 1980s)when there were huge debate that whether MBA folks alone can bring the turnaround!!. Some answers!!!.
I must confess I am not a die hard fan of Microsoft, this blog is composed using Firefox. Even I felt pity when I read the mint article on how MS missed the innovation on paid search advertising to take one on Google. Well as we say in this part of the world, Destiny I guess!!!.

So on 20th January 09 at 2238 Indian time History was made in USA when Barack Obama (140 Million search in GOOGLE!!!)took oath to uphold the job next to god. As a staunch GOP supporter as well as a person with more of conservative views, I was disappointed that Mccain didnt make it. Any way at this time of the world crisis, you need to put your personal feelings behind and rally for a cause. So here is to wish him all the very best for the next 4 years.

Please give a listen to the latest podcast on career tools by Mike and Mark on DANGLE. It is one in which you are informally promised of a possible promotion etc after you join in a present position for which you are interviewed. Very practical insights, as usual from them!!.

I close this week with sincere prayers to the almighty for the recovery of 2 people who had made a deep impact in the tech world as well to entire India. Our Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh has undergone Heart surgery, Saturday. He is the architect for all the financial reforms post 1991 and is a gem amidst all the Black coal!!. The other is Steve Jobs, Man, what a change he has made to the TECH world!!. Here is to wish them all the speedy recovery and a one as fast as possible. We need you back to complete more of the unfinished tasks. (Disclosure- my political views are different!!).

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Weeks off.

I will be away for blogging for a couple of weeks. Just to collect thoughts, ideas, to come out with better aspects.
Stay in touch.
Take it easy and take care; Live Consciously.

Karthik

Linkedin, Best and worst Jobs, HBR, Google.

I was checking the linkedin sites over the weekend answering some of the open questions when I found some cool add on features worth adding in to your linkedin home page.
a) Reading list by Amazon, you can find out what people in your network are reading or the books you/ others would like to read. So a chance to know the books that are popular or a must read. Of course, there are other platforms like Shelfari which helps you to know the best books in network, but this helps over a sizable size network.
b) Boxnet you can share your work for edit/view/ comment or let your network people read some of the files. Good file sharing site.
c) Bloglink helps you connect all the blog pages of your network in one page to browse thro.
Good stuff on colloboration which is the key these days.!!!.

Came across intersting article in the Wall street journal on the best and worst of the jobs. Mathematicican is number 1 and Lumberjack at 200. The safety, rewards, scope are all covered. I was looking for Health and safety manager (my profession) was ranked at 89, Not bad!!!!

I was delighted to see in my snail mail, the Harvard business training programs offering in India from the Harvard Research centre here. This was a dream once to many Indians. The travel cost to attend programs will be a great saver. I hope I get a chance to participate in some program in future. But the great feeling is as they say Mountain has come to Mohammed.

I have installed new google themes of save the children, Action against hunger, Doctors without frontiers etc to my google home page tabs. They are great to remind you of the issues that exist in the world.

I look forward to celebrating the harverst festival of Pongal this week (Our thanksgiving). The summer officially starts here as the sun starts its journey back to tropic of cancer. This is also the month when the very old elderly wish they reach the heavenly abode.(As happened to my grandparents aged 97 and 90 on Jan 25th and Feb 3rd).

Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Board of Directors, Easy, RSS, Downloads.

First of all a very happy new year 2009. I hope this year is filled with peace, joy, happiness and health.

I remember reading an article in fast company some time back on creating your own board of Directors to help and advise you check on personal growth. Jack Welch has also some thoughts on how the board of Directors should steer the company in his Welch way podcast. So I was kind of surprised with the way things have turned out in Satyam Episode in which the famous and educated(!!) turned a blind eye. I also agree that the role of board of Director role in an Indian way is a lot different here in Indian perspective. The ego and power distance ingrained in Indian culture is a long way off from the western culture course correction that can be taken!!.The whole corporate governance it appears is a kind of Hung go, Go the herd way. Wonder, this could be the turning point on so called Indian Corporate governance. Of course, here is the alternate perspective!.

Came across an interesting podcast with Umesh Ramakrishnan on the 800-CEO read blog on the book "There's no elevator to the top". The conversation covers the author's interaction with various leaders and lessons and learning. A worth listening!. I plan to purchase the book if it is available here in Bangalore.

I was listening to Wayne Turmel's work week podcast on Management issues the other blog for the first time. Wow, there were 70 podcasts out there and it is not linked to ITUES to auto download. So as I was wondering how to download the episodes in to my IPOD without clicking and download each episode, the FIREFOX extension download all manager came to my rescue. Bang. All episodes automatically downloaded in 20 Minutes.!!!.

I read the summary of leadership from inside out by Kevin Cashman. One take away for me is Don't take yourself too seriously. That is a big learning and implementation for me in 2009. Some times that is root cause to various issues.

I am sure all are saving time with links to RSS feeds to view your favourite pages collected in one page! I use google home page. It saves lot of time. I just wanted to be sure!!. The watching the net just mentioned this today in an email so wanted to pass it on.
Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live Consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Feelings, Steelcage deathmatch, Careertools, Roomtoread.

I had received feedback on the performance review posted in my blog last week. Yes, it can be used as a tool by the middle managers to link the organization goals with individual goals with results and behaviors. Many managers miss this view.

I came across a very touching column in IHT which really expresses the view from the other perspective of secular Muslims. Having been to Pakistan more than dozen times during my Monsanto assignment, thus consider a second home. I cant help fully agree that you cant paint everything with the same brush as expressed by the author.It touched me somewhere, and I thought that I should share that feeling.

Kamla Bhatt does very lively, interesting radio shows on livemint. The talk with Sam Pitroda, Sridhar Vembu, Reid Hoffman. I enjoyed the show she did with Mitchell Baker of Firefox, the browser I adore. (My son chides me, Yes, I too like Google Chrome, but would take a while).

I found google profile which helps to find people on planet. I hope this extends to find the people from past to whom we were connected!!.

I was dumb stuck when I read an economist article recently that there are more than 30 Billion videos posted on Youtube and this would reach 1 trillion by 2013. I was way off the mark, I was thinking around 2 to 3 million!. What a resource, you just type and the video is out there!!. Ofcourse, I am pleasantly surprised that the search, that I didnt find first time comes up magically after a week or so!!. Some one is watching what is searched!!. Thank you.....

Manager tools have refurbished their website. They have also began a new series of podcast called Careertools (The same website). The steelcage death match podcast on Performance review in these downturn times is worth listening. Give it a try.

I was also amazed at the services done by roomtoread, started by John Wood (Ex- Microsoft) which works for children's education in a big way. Makes you wonder on the issues that are all out there to fight.

I leave with the passing away of Jorn Utzon the designer of Sydney Opera House. I remember the visit to this wonderful architecture back in 2004 during my Australian visit (of course also visited SCG, we grumbled at not seeing the visiting team dressing room) and I wondered who was the intellect to come out with such a great design!!. It is a pity he never saw the completed structure.May His soul rest in peace. Ofcourse! he is not world famous!! but such people create master piece and leave a legacy behind.

Till next week, take it easy and take care and live consciously.
ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2009.
Regards
Karthik.

Charsur, Strange, Type I, Great for sport.

I am posting this blog with practically the work year being over with unofficial shutdown for the next 2 weeks in view of the situation. 2008 was a reasonable year with lot of hits and a few miss!!. Lets hope the economic sitation do turn around in 2009. I came across this article on damming performance review in WSJ. Hm, interseting.

I came across an interesting website Charsur Digital work station from which you get a chance to access Great Indian musical classics. The work done by Charubala and Suresh(Hence Charsur) is great. I have put in some personal requests in their website for some of the devotional music I enjoyed in the Mid 1990s thro music cassettes, but seems to have vanished. Let me see if I can access to it.!!.

Ever wondered what happens when pilot is unqualified to land the aircraft in a rough weather and flies the flight back to destination jsut minutes to land. Having myself been on the edge of the runway for more than 90 minutes inside the BA flight from Madirid to Heathrow, waiting to take off,only to return to stand, this August, I can feel the heartburn for the passengers!!.

I attended the TYPE I diabetic club meeting in Bangalore today. The meeting was very informative and removes some of the misconcepts, misinformation as well as some diet misguidance we have about Diabetics. Also the approach to Type I and Type II diabetics are quite different. Dr Madhuri and team does a great job. It is a feeling to give back to society. She can be contacted at 99808 38108.

I end this weeks blog delighted to see South Africa pulling off a sensational win over Australia. I think the 60 minutes I spent over the last 2 days, wathcing it live on TV was worth the time spent on the quality of cricket dished out. Having missed the chance many times to pull up one on Aussies, I think this wins erases the bitter memory as well as anger of the miss out of Egbaston 1999. Australia sorely lacks the bowlers who needs to take 20 wickets to win matches!!. Hope they find the remedy soon. Yes,on cricket, one of my new year resolution is not to waste a minute watching cricket in dead tracks in India, whom I am told beat England this week. Let me see how to much I stick to it though I didnt watch much of it for sure!!.(Borning/snoring stuff).
Till next week Take it easy and take care; Live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Meeting, Openletter, Kungfu, Calendar

I had an interesting experience yesterday. As indicated in my earlier posts, we have decided to buy a flat and signed an agreement in August 07 with the promise that the house would be completed by May 08. Renaissance builders, who are building park III(The apartment built by Renaissance Holdings) are less than open about the changes in overall plan of the apartments as well as Inordinate delay. So all of us met yesterday (Saturday) in their office and had a meeting. Needless to say, the 50 of us, (Out of 100 potential owners) had a tough time controlling our emotions in check ofcourse we have a great spokesperson in Mr Suparna. This was kind of first time experience for me as meeting I usually attend at work or never about life or survival as it was for some of the people who had been asked to vacate their present dwelling and move out. What saddens us was the kind of hide and seek played by the Renaissance management with no formal communications over the last 15 months to us on reasons for delay, or when they would complete or would there be a kind of compensation. The senior management also sometimes seem to disappear letting junior staff manage the gauntlet. I was kind of fortunate that the time overrun for my flat is less than 5 months where as I did meet people who had booked 3 years back and had been promised possession in 2007. Such are the shape of things. So an experience!! While we appreciate, understand that the present recession conditions have made situation of builders funds, resources to make things happen slow and delay ( I just read delay of 2 years in Boeing, airbus!!), what is expected from them is honesty, transparency, and commitment to deadlines or timely communication when things tend to go off track. So much for professionalism I suppose. We hope that things move for good from hereon, and hope that construction completes in say next 4 months and that we should move to park III by May09.

I was moved by the open letter to our Prime minister by an IAS Officer. He had expressed his disappointment over his performance as well as him tolerating mediocre bureaucrats over the last straw on the camel back- the Mumbai carnage. Would some change happen!! I wonder like other incidents we will forget and move on after a victory in a cricket match.

My Son over the weekend persuaded me to sit with him and watch the movie Kungfu Panda. Comedy / cartoon movie it was, I could correlate many leadership aspects in the movie. The ability to be ready for challenges in unforeseen situation, determination to learn and win, strive for excellence as well as success is all due to positive mental attitude were some of the great take away. Worth the 90 Minutes on a Friday night!!.

As the year is coming to an end I was looking for 2009 calendars in excel format and came across this magic calendar. Lot of useful information on almanac, distances to cities etc to work through.

Ok, till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

DISGRACE, Top 10 management guru, 7S

I had a first hand experience this morning of the inept and incompetent way as well woeful lack of infrastructure at BIAL airport. I had gone to receive my brother who was returning from his stint in Oman(for the past 2 years). Due to the usual problem in Winter (Today was the first of many for the next 2 months) of high FOG early morning at Bangalore the flight was diverted to Madras. I had to wait for 4 Hrs from 6am there as the airport is so far away from city centre(30 Miles) that it is impossible to return home and go back. I saw the pathetic state in which I always call BIAL as match box airport, (Some of the people referred as Dignified bus stand) being exposed, there was no drinking water fountain, no toilets, no telephone booth, no place to sit for people waiting for passengers, no announcements, no help desk and to cap it all the access to common visitor area was closed due to so called security reasons which is not a surprise as in any public sector institutions the withdrawals are always faster. What shame, disgrace to inherit such a public infrastructure. And to add insult to injury, the arrival section is such a mess that visitor can go out from any gate without knowing there is no coordinated channel. My brother did come out after 5 Hrs delay( NO instrument landing system here!!) and the parking lot was chaos with more than 30 minutes waiting to get in to the car. It is an insult to the people of Bangalore and how they could be taken for a ride. Can we do something!! Nothing you bet!!!!!.

I will leave with the top 10 management gurus who has taken shape.
Came across this 7 S principles for strategy. Good one.
Sorry to leave it short time to catch up with brother after 2 years as he is just spending a day here.

Till next week, take it easy and take live consciously.
Karthik.

Waiting for Rumsfeld, Gauntanomo, Homeland security

I am still to recover from the shock and awe that was meted out to the city which I love most and spent 20 years of my life. While we in India are philosophical and leave things to fate and destiny and are witnessing with a sense of helplessness over the last 16 years, the events over the last 4 days as come as the last straw on the camel's back. I am as angry as anyone else could be. Innocent lives lost, women, children not spared!!. Deaths runs in to 100s. I just wonder where the solution to all this lies?. I agree that terrorism has become part and parcel of life and you need to be professional to face it and hope that you are not in the wrong place at the wrong time. But at the same time, the civic infrastructure, the governance process has to be an enabler so that the sense of confidence exists in individual. As usual, Indian media did the screw up!!. I was wondering whose side they were on!!!. Yes, I did a see a great placard on the TV.
Terrorists have no face but a great agenda that you can see.
Our politician have a face but only have Hidden Agenda, which you cant see!!!.

I am all for human rights, liberties, right to information etc. But some amount of law that goes to make a proactive approach is required. Yes, it all begins with leadership, which is a big vacuum. I think to set right, even if we need Rumsfeld or a Gauntanamo to work a better system, so be it!!!. If safety and security of homeland has to come at a price of little less freedom, expression and human rights to some extent, I think I am willing to let go a bit less as a prisoner with restrictions. So be it!!!.

Yes, Bangalore, did have its loss in the form of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the NSG commando who lost his life. I salute all the officers and the Mumbai policemen who gave up their life, so that many Mumbikar can live to see another day. May their soul rest in peace!!.

JAI HIND.

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Drucker, Damp Squib, Gomad thinking 11/22/63

Celebrations are on from this week to mark the 100th Birth anniversary of Peter Drucker, looking for updates here.

I rarely write about negative things, keeping those feelings to myself. But the exception this week as I cant just hold on to myself and here I go. The Leadership summit which I tracked over the web. (Yes,that was a good initiative) The event was a damp squib, barring a couple of sessions. The questions asked were mediocre with no aspect of innovation or probing (9 out of 10) The presenters, moderators were forgetting that they were going out live to the world. The interactions were closed ended with leading/loaded questions. If this the quality of leadership, god help us!!!. Our presenters try to ape Larry King or Wolf Blitzer or Tim Sebastian and fail miserably. My American Indian friends who come to India and see our TV shows always complained to me about the lack focus, quality and trying to put close ended questions in a predetermined way. I never realized it till I spent 7 Hours over 2 days in front of the webcast to realize, how right they were. Yes, for me idiot box is never more than 20 min a day, so never looked at the goof ups and pathetic situations that happen. Thank god.!!!!. So watch out for the summits before you commit yourself to the time and energy to spend!!!.

I came across the website gomadthinking, a good site for the podcasts on personal development.

I listened to the excerpts on Principle centered leadership by Dr Stephen Covey. (about 90 Min). A great must listen. Dr Covey covers personal, interpersonal, Managerial and organisational mastery. The more you build trust, the better you grow and trust forms the basis for the growth. Dr Covey also talks about Paradigm shift.
Usually, you never look back and history and wonder as to how different things would have been if things have been as you take it in your stride and move on. 22/11/1963 is an exception. Wonder how different the world would have been!!. I was fortunate to visit the Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston in 2001, to go back to the moments of the past.

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

CHANDRAYAAN, 4000, TIPS, Drucker.

First of all My hearty congratulations to the team of scientists at ISRO for successfully launching and completing the CHANDRAYAAN Mission thus planting the tricolor on the surface of the moon. (The idea was that of our former president Dr Kalam). Great acheivement, We, all Indians Feel proud!!.

I am delighted to see that visitors to my web page has crossed 4000. When I put the counter in my web page as a widget, I expected around 500 visitors a year. So that is almost 8 times over. So I guess the search engine is doing its best to pull the visitors to my page!!!. I also should mention that over the past fortnight, my linkedin connection reached 500. That also was unimaginable aspect as most of them is people I know or with whom I have interacted for some reason over the past 17 months. Lets see how things shape up from here. There have been a steady growth of network portals and blogs. Some next generation aspect would emerge soon.

I plan to keep more about IT and Web in this post.

I was delighted to find that Google calendar has the option of sending reminder to your mobile/ cellphone when the appointment occurs and you are not near a computer. You may set this option on settings----> Mobile setup in Google calendar. Cool. The provision to acces google calendar in SMS is yet to be available here in India. Look forward to that soon. Google email has also enabled forward all which can help you to forward all the conversations to a person. Open message and select forward all in the message on the right side bar. For ages, this feature was missing!!. Google has also allowed CONTACTS to export and import in to Excel files and work around for backup. Use the older version tab as an option to do to the task smoothly.!!.


I was desparely looking for printing contents of windows explorer this week to reconcile my printouts and there was no provision in XP or vista for this in MS. I found a help that allows you to do that and helps you print the content of file data. Great stuff from this site Watching the net on tips and tricks. Also as you build up favourites the duplicates can add up and there is a tool in firefox addons to delete the duplicate links in favourites to declutter.

I will end with couple of blog / web info. My good friend and ex collegue Anand Padmanaban has started a blog (Reality bites) on management thoughts. Anand is the CEO of a startup talent assessment company called SurgeForth technologies.

I also found Zig Ziglar podcast very thougth provoking and practical to listen to.

On a personal note my daughter Radha had sent an article to the the National newspaper Hindu on the dilema facing school children on college admission. It was published this week. Way to go for Radha, she wants to be a journalist!!!.

I am also delighted to find that Manager tools has won the best podcast award in business category. (Oscar!!). We all made that happen thro our vote as a gratitude to the great work done by Mike and Mark.

This week was the 3rd death Anniversary of Peter Drucker. I would leave you with the article Managing oneself. A masterpeice, the truth is every time you re- read Drucker, you find a hidden gem to follow and practice. Such was the versatality of that man!!.

Ok, till next week, take it easy and take care; Live conciously.
Regards
Karthik
Bangalore, India.

The Man, Despair, Hot Flat Crowded, TED Briggs.

So the Elections are over and yes it is a personal disappointment for me to have seen John McCain lost the race. I think he did an admirable job in making an effort to turn the tide and it is all the anti incumbency factor. But What our Indian politician should learn from McCain was the concession speech putting national interest first and working for an unified America. Good luck to the new president elect, but it is going to tough times and I think even with the sweeping back up of congress and senate, the damage is much deeper to work miracles.(Some how I am reminded of Jimmy Carter days, lets see!!).
Incidentally, Obama becoming the president has made fiction come true. Back in 1982, I read the novel The Man by Irving Wallace. It is a story of back becoming a president of the united states and faces the consequences. While it was a fiction and strange as they say truth is stranger than fiction, I guess still America is too much divided to still reconcile!! Let's see.!! I always felt sure, that I would for sure see a black president of USA in my life time, A Woman President! I am not so sure!!.( I hope I am proved wrong!!) UK, India and Israel are far more matured to select woman leaders!! that too half a century ago.

Saw an interesting website called despair.com. Interesting stuff to see the views from other perspective. Some times, big issues can be made small by creating a biggest issues!!.HMMMMM. Interesting thoughts.

I have just began reading Thomas Friedman's "Hot flat and Crowded" Interesting approach to global issues.(Energy, Oil alternative, Green issues, Crowding due to expanding middle class). Enegrgy food scarcity, Petro dictatorship, biodiversity loss, climate change, energy poverty are the 5 Key issues when flat meets crowded and leads to a tipping point which should be addressed as per Friedman. I look forward to a great reading.

I agree with Indian are more individualistic in fighting issues. The right to information act (RTI) is not understood and worked out. An interesting discussion here with Shalesh Gandhi the RTI Commissioner.

I read an interesting obituary in Economist of Ted Briggs one of 3 out of 1421 to survive the Hood sinking by Bismark in 1941. It is said that he had resigned himself to death and was thrown up like a champaigne cork in to an air pocket to survive for next 67 years. Still need more proof for GOD????!!!!.
Ok, Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live conciously.
Karthik.

Nickname, Alan Iverson, Get Abstract, Top 10 Airlines

So I guess every one had a good festive time and it is back to business. I had a good time celebrating and went little overboard on sweets which I got to burn out.

I was amazed how the childhood nicknames/ pet name come handy. I had a chance to catch up over phone my junior from my school (Alagappa Model High School) from Karaikudi and we talked about our school days. Still he couldn't place me. So when I told my nick name (I was called Fletcher after England Cricket player/captain at that time Keith Fletcher) he could immediately connect. Such are the power of nickname I guess!!!!.

I was amazed to see the video which my son cherishes as one of his favourtite. Here, Alan Iverson missed a practice basket ball session and justifies. Wonder this in a interview situation. Enjoy. Wonder of Inteview here is a one from Miss. South Carolina when she asked a question. Just to ponder!!.

Came across an intersting Fortune Magazine article, Why talent is overrated?. I agree sometimes, it is an instinct, as well as Being at the right place at the right time to be a considered succesful. Yes, the hard work and perseveration plays it's part too.

Came across the concept of Business book extracts which supplies you the key Summary of the excecutive books which you can read and then decide to buy the book. This is also helpful when you are hard pressed for time to go thro all the books that are out there. I have seen BBR, Soundview before. I came across Getabstract this week. This looks more consolidated with take away from each book. I plan to explore this further, let me see.

Came across an interesting podcast on Wharton/ HBR podcast with author Hal Sarkin on Globality. How competing of 3E (everyone for everything from everwhere). It appears that globalisation is the thing of the past and globality will soon be here. Interesting thoughts!!.Hm.


I was amazed to read that google is thinking of putting up floating server station in seas that would use wind power and sea water cooling to keep stations for storing 1000s of petabyte, Exabyte of data. Wonder where this would all reach as culmination. Remember my early days of computer when 1Mb was a big deal to go crazy.

I finish the week with the results of World's ten best airlines in terms of Service etc. No surprises. There is not a single European or American Airliner in the list. Having traveled everywhere I am not surprised!!. Yes, Lufthansa could have come close, I guess. Singapore Airlines, Quantas, Thai, Qatar, Emirates, Cathy Pacific, Ethihad,Air NewZealand, Malaysian Airlines, Asiana Airlines makes the list.

Ok, Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live Conciously.

Karthik.

HAPPY DEEPAWALI.

HERE IS TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI. LET THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BRING PEACE, JOY, HAPPINESS. Lets do this in an eco-friendly way. Say no to fire crackers.

Some interesting thoughts here.
KARTHIK, LALITHA, RADHA AND SHRAVAN.

Mahalaxmi, Engineers, Podcast Alley,South sea Bubble, Immunisation.

Saturday, I was away to Bombay(Mumbai as they call now, I am an old timer so still go around saying the old name) and had a chance to visit the famous Mahalaxmi temple only for the second time in my 23 year venture in to the city. I am a firm believer in the ongoing theory that this goddess of wealth keeps every one counting money and chase dreams.( Be it gotten in any form!!) and makes life goes on for every one. Ialso accept the myth that goes around that whoever has started his career in Bombay had never failed in life. Myself (1985) and my father (1960) are the personal proof.

I came across an interesting HBR article of the 1950s "The Engineer goes in to Management" written by Willian B Given. The article explains how engineers get stumped when they are given people or managerial roles and responsibilities which are alien to their technical abilities. 50 years on things are still the same. It also explains about the coaching as well as mentoring to turn them around.

So it is time to pay back to the efforts of all the pod casters by voting in the Podcast Alley's annual awards for the best podcast. You can vote every 24 Hrs, till 6th November, on the various category. I am doing this every day to show my sense of appreciation and gratitude to all those who put in lot of efforts to make us wiser or richer or feel good or to entertain us. You may vote here.

With all the financial meltdown happening and the insecurity that goes around it. It is not shocking to read the story of trouble in GE. Sometimes you wonder when the company loose focus to move from the proven core competence to make big gains thus the fall is also big and irrecoverable. I can only wish the mess cleans up soon and things get back to normal(Say in 12-15 months time). Till then it is going to be tough times!!. While I thought that the depression of 1930s was the starting point, I got link from my boss on the southsea bubble (Enron of England) of 1711 where this all started. Hmmm!!.
I guess we all need to be watchful so that the dreaded layoff's dont come!!. Yes every thing needs a contingency plan should things go wrong. I suggest give a listen to Manager tools podcast on Immunisation against layoffs as well as on Finance rules. (6 Month cash flow) When we see the email on cost reduction measures that float (before the inevitable/ unwanted layoff come) that are on!! involuntarily I went back to these podcast and gave a listen.

Ok, till next week, take it easy and take care. Stay Healthy and live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

G1, Great place to work, Social Intelligence, Dr Covey.

I had been asked the question on the font color RED on the blog. Why Red. Well, just to make the color contrast to point out the hyperlinks which go in to the document. Saw some blogs being done in Google Chrome!!. I am a die hard FIREFOX fan so would stick to it. Yes, I like Google chrome tried it and found it to be different. On the software side, kind of cool Firefox attachment called Hyperwords which can take you to the website without having to google it. Cool.!!. On the technical side, I complete the tech review of G1, the new phone on Wall Street Journal.

In view of the turmoil over the Jet Airways fiasco, I quickly did a scan to see what constitutes a great work place. I guess it is all to do with Respect, Dignity, Work life choice and Rewards and Recognition. Of course, I am off the strong view from an individual perspective, that an organization is as good as your boss. Nothing more, nothing less.!!.

I read with great interest the summary of the book Social Intelligence by Karl Albrecht. The concept of Linking Social intelligence to general intelligence, Emotional intelligence. He explains in great length the concept "SPACE"(Situational awareness, Presence,Authenticity, Clarity of expressions, Empathy) and good guide to work out.

Also listen to a short interview with Dr Covey on the Lives and legacy in Technorama podcast. I guess I don't have to mention about his life changing book 7 habits of Highly effective people and 8th Habit.

It is going to be kind of next 10 weeks to spend time with family with the implementation of cost saving initiatives. I look forward to spending quiet time with the nice fall setting in and enjoy the time.

Ok, till next week, take it easy and take care; live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Vote, 1001 Nights

Good to be back to touch my laptop, The background was I took opportunity of Pooja holidays (5 days from Tuesday evening till Now) to stay away from my laptop and the Blackberry. Of course, Checked the personal email once a day on my son's computer in a flash. The children were also happy with one day, on the occasion of Saraswathi pooja,(Godess of education) when you are not required to study to offer her prayer and thanks.Yes, it was a good feeling to stay away completely switched off and spend quality time with family and try to restore some work life balance /choice.

Economist magazine offers you a chance to vote for your candidate in the AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. While, your vote may not be able to swing the fate of Barrack Obama or John McCain. It would be interesting to see how the world votes. India has vote value of 1500 delegates per vote against say California has 55 delegates. (China has 1600). I had been a follower of USA elections in since 1976 over radio (When I was in 9th grade and I am fascinated by the electoral college systems) when Jimmy Carter won. I go by canidates stature to support at every election. This time my flow is with Repbulicans. I would rather see a first women president (being a heartbeat away) in to the office. Obama, have to wait a while, I guess!!!. You may vote here.

I was also amazed with historical similarites in the age when there was no inter regional communication (say 500 years ago). I was reading Bagehot's comments in the economist, on the Arabian Night's 1001 Nights story of Schehezazade Princess to tell a story every night to remain alive, (Comaparing 1001 hrs to Brown). We too have a similar stories told by Betal (Spirit/ vampire) to king Vikram and it asks questions and he has to answer,else his head would blow in to 1000 peices. Looks like human thinking to spread message ( Communication) was the key to establish civilisations/ ethics, I guess.
I did spend time to listen to Brain Britton podcast on leadership gold. Practical aspects to leadership. Enjoy.
I also listened to Warren Bennis talking to Patricia Wheeler. Great Insight from a great man worth the 60 minutes!!. A Must listen.

It is Holiday season for the kids, so going out.
Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Career Crisis, Work place issues.

I am horrified by the couple of events that caught my attention.
The first was a suicide by a Nokia female worker in Bangalore due to workplace harassment which was both discriminating and sexual in nature. Any one who was thinking that issues are far apart from a closely knit Indian work culture are in for a rude shock. The work place is getting more aggressive and it is up to you to fight for and survive. A strange reality and people are to be ready for it. Why the harmony cant exist, I wonder.

I am also shocked to read a week back that a CEO of a Italian MNC was beaten to death by an agitated workers (Near Delhi) over industrial dispute. I am just wondering, are the ugly days of industrial disputes of 1970s associated with trade unions is back. I am also puzzled about the value of life?. Are there no chance for dialouge/ discussions to resolve the isssues. My thoughts are with both the vicim's family. Work place violence are the order of the day and we need to be tuned for it and work out.

Yes, there are some hopes, I was touched by Manager tools gesture to condut a 1 day workshop for career crisis counselling free of cost in Newyork city. MT had earlier given out its premium content on preparing for a crisis free. It goes to show people are out there who cares for others. Mark always mentions give give give and it is a great feeling to see words transfering in to action. I am MT premium content member and I feel proud to be part of this community.

The coming week is the culmination of Navaratri, the festival that goes for 9 nights. I look forward to the celebrations and wishing everyone a happy dasera. Enjoy the festive spirit. Its now time for festivities and gala with Diwali round the corner in 2 weeks.
I came across some intersting thoughts in blogposts. Marshall Goldsmith advice and Tim Sander's new book interview.

Till next week take it easy and take care;Live conciously.
Regards
Karthik.

More Shanghai Snaps (Day time)