Men and Women

I am asking my wife to let me know a topic about which I should dwell upon on the blog. I am waiting for a response, as usual in a typical professional fashion she has put me on the hold. (it's 5 Minutes since I had asked) May be thinking difference between men and women could be the topic I can write about.

On that, I had read the following books and I would recommend, people to read,it had helped me a lot. Remember, I had a Lady Boss for 6 years.It was a great time in my career. You may read about her here. I had also mentioned about her in my previous posts.Besides my ex- boss, a She friend at work, helped me understand women better. Her friendship also gave me a different perspective to know and understand "What Women Want" and for the first time(after 9 years of marriage in 2000, some Sagittarians are naive you may say !!!!) I had brought a gift for my wife on the wedding anniversary / birthdays and this is now a routine affair 17 years in to the marriage. Its also a coincidence that these three women who influence me a lot and lot are all Cancerians.

Please go through the following books, It for sure made a hell of a difference for me and I hope for you too.
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

Why Men dont listen Women cant read maps.

Its 15Minutes still no response, I guess, she has forgotten about the question. Not surprised aren't you.

Ok, I was very fortunate to hear Peter Drucker interview, I had read some of the writing of the great man,but was amazed at his clarity and humility, when I heard this interview. Pl take time to listen to this great master piece. The 45 minutes are worth it. Let me know your thoughts. I also want you to hear the tribute to Drucker by Various management gurus.

Ok, Here is Mark and Mike in Flesh and Blood in a sense. You might have heard the voice but not the face,Pl see Mark here.

I am saddened by the events in Hyderabad. My heart goes out for the families of people who lost the dear and near ones.

40 Minutes in to Blogging still no response from my wife.Thats what women are. Of course, She has seen this and I have green signal to post this uncensored.

Until next time, Take it easy and take care,Live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Class C cities Accelarating.

I am glad that I could find time today to sit in front of the Laptop.Its amazing that I haven't been out of Bangalore for 3 Months on business travel that when I got a chance on personal travel with my wife last week, it looked a new experience. You are so used to routine that a change is the thing you look forward to.

I was pleasantly surprised by the infrastructure available at the Madurai and Trichy airports. The facilities are much better in terms of passenger access, waiting area, catering etc. Infact Trichy airport expansion looks bigger than the present Bangalore Airport. This gave me a chance to travel on one of those rare occasions by Air Deccan from Madurai to Bangalore and to our relief the flight was on time. So some improvement. This visit also gave me a chance to visit the town Manamadurai in Tamilnadu. The town is 50 Kms from Madurai and famous for earthen pots. I did my First Grade here in 1969. I was with our uncle for a year as my father had been to Benaras for his higher studies. (He got his PG Degree when he was 28 and Ph.D at 58 in Corrosion Studies, more on thats for another blog for how I plan to follow his foot steps).

I was also amazed at the developments happening in Karaikudi, my home town. The one hour I spent on the morning walk shook me literally. I didn't recognize most of the buildings that have come up on the places I assumed something else existed. The houses of my school teachers, are razed and multi story shopping complex has come up. I couldn't even place the geographical coordinates to the nearness. Even street patterns had changed, so much so that my cousin who had come from New Jersey to meet my parents last week, missed the intersection to turn in for our house(He lived and studied with us for 3 years 15 Years back). Such is the mushrooming of real estate. The green trees and open space looks like thing of the past even in a C Grade town like Karaikudi which are quite and sleepy towns for educational excellence.

Changing subject, I am glad that Manager tools won the best Podcast award in the business category at Podcast Alley awards. I did my best to vote for Mike and Mark everyday. I am glad to see Anna too made it in the top 10. I am sure I had sent the Horstman's law to all in my email list.

Bye
Till next time, take it easy and take Care. Live Consciously.
Karthik.

Baby India 60.

I am sorry that I was away from Blogging for a couple of things,too many things happening at home front which involved lot of conversations on Sunday as well as personal travel. I apologize.

As India turned 60 yesterday,I just thought that I will choose the 44 moments (There I go thats my age) that kind of defined the India as a personality. The success, the failures, the shame, the People, the companies that made it possible.
Here I go. This is not in order of preferences or seriousness.

1. Emergency 1975. Country put to shame. Indian express fought it tooth and Nail. Yes, as a 12 year old boy I saw things happening with clockwork precision, trains were on time, government servants for a change worked.
2. 1977 Election, Saw congress routed. Being a right winger at that age, I still remember chasing news in BBC radio as Indian media was suffering blackout of results.
3. Moraji Desai/ Raj Narayan. The first non Congress prime minister who I consider as a man brought practicalities in to economy. Raj Narayan was our own Dan Quayle, of course more than a political comedian, he made sure that 2 prime ministers lost the job.
4. Death Of Rajaji. I think he left a deep remark in South Indian politics for making sure that congress is wiped out as an entity in south India. Ofcourse, its a case of fire to frying pan as I guess this alienated south Indians from national main stream.
5. 5day work week for government employees/ retirement age 60. Great move to make the work society less barbaric. I am a strongly against 6 day week as it inhibits productivity. This happened in 1985.
6. Thermax. The great Indian company which can give a run for any multinational in terms of work culture. I am told things have changed a bit in the recent past.
   
7. Sanjay Gandhi. I think his ideas were good, execution poor.
   
8. Rajeev Gandhi Assassination. Welcome to the real world of terrorism of suicide bombings.
9. Phokran II Testing. Made World take notice of India as a super power.
   
10. Rakesh Sharma, Indias own Yuri Gagarin.
11. Indias cricket win over England and West Indies in 1971. Cricket matured.
12. India winning world cup hockey in KL in 1975.
13. APJ Abdul Kalam The people president.
    
14. Viswanathan Anand The world grandmaster champion of chess.
15. Bachindra Pal, the first India women to claim Mt.Everest.
16. Jayalalitha crushing the Tamilnadu government employees strike. I hope the goverment guys learned a lesson, Im told that they still get nightmare, good for them to get that to work.
    
17. Jimmy Carter visiting India to begin the cold relations that Nixon had.
18. 1971 War. Deeds of Arumugam.
19. Sam Manekshaw/ Nanda/ PC Lal, the Architects of 1971triumph.
20. Kuldeep Nayyar who took heads on Indira Gandhi during emergency. The yard stick for the fourth estate. Of course Indira Gandhi was our own Golda Meir.
    
21. Justice HR Khanna of Allahabad High court. Who dare to cross path with Indira Gandhi.
22. Kanishka Bombings.
23. Kausalya Narayan/ Mohan Kumaramangalam death in plane crash in Delhi in May 1973,loss of emerging talents.
24. Alliance air crash in Patna. The last we heard of aircrash in India (Touchwood).
25. MGR Death in 1987, choas in TN politics.
26. Emergence of private airlines, made air travel a common place.
27. Sholay.
28. Deaths in Kumbakonam/ Srirangam fire accidents. Never this should happen.
    
29. Cargil War the heros.
30. Formation of BJP. The Hindu alternative and awakening.
    
31. Indian edition of Economist/ HBR, you can pay Rupees to get it, Great, so the world is coming to you.
32. July 26th rain and havoc in Bombay.
33. Shame of allowing communists to have a say in governance, else where the communism is in the museum.
34. Reliance Industries, The indian industrial giant.You can hate or love them.
    
35. Sam Pitroda/ Airtel Broadband. Virtual work made possible.
36. Modernisation of US consulate for visa process, previously it was a shame to see the rush and chaos for visa. Some American thought enough was enough.
37. Jumbo passport booklet, Thank god, with visa regime everywhere,you can atleast keep passport current for some more time.
38. Availability of mineral water everywhere.
39. Prannoy Roy/ Rajdeep Sardesai. Brought world class TV journalism in to India.
40. Removal of hand pulling carts in Tamilnadu in 1977, I am still pained to see this in West Bengal and other states.
41. Deve Gowda speech in Parliament, once he talked truth and sense.
42. Godhra riots/ 1992 riots, I don't agree with Violence, at least this brought the knowledge to the world that Hindus can retaliate. I guess in some way things were squared and peace prevailed thereafter, I have seen enough curfew in Gujarat in my 12 year stay.
43. Indian space program brought satellite TV home. Thanks to Dr Kasturi Rangan.
44. Movie Swades. If I ever go back to work in Indian companies, this movie could have been the trigger.

Karthik
Jai Hind.

Harry Potter, Manager Tools

The family had been to the movie "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix" movie Saturday. This was a kind of an event as the movie becomes the third movie I watched over the last 18 years.(Titanic in 1998, Spiderman in 2003) as I always feel that the movies are waste of time. As the kids grow older, I realize that you may need to be accommodative to their needs and requirements. Yesterday was one of those days where you kind of change your views and marched with them to the INOX theatere. The movie itself was OK and kind of gave a first hand feeling of the Potter Mania and the magic that is going around. Bottom line, KIDS are happy, So I am happy. Personally too, it was a good feeling that I made them feel happy.

OK, I am pretty excited that my favorite podcast and blog, Manager tools is getting in to premium subscription mode from 1st Aug 07. I think Mike and Mark the show producers have done a great service to the Mangers by creating 130 Podcasts on various topics like OOO (one on ones), feedback, Performance review etc. Each is a gem with practical dos and dont's focussed on achieving the results. I think, in my opinion, their efforts are the best thing that could have happened to Managers since Peter Drucker. Mark Hostman's eight laws are the best practical dictum that a manager should follow in workplace.
Here they are:
1. It's All About People
2. More Communication is Better
3. You're Not that Smart; They're Not that Dumb
4. Control is an Illusion
5. The River is Wide, the Currents are Messy, but all the Water Ends up in the Ocean
6. There are No Secrets
7. How You Feel is Your Fault
8. The "Other" Way Often Works Just Fine

OK, I am short of time this week, Will dwell on some topic during mid week.
Till then, Take it easy and take care, Live consciously.
Karthik.

10

I thought I would spend time on 10 to change gear this week. (Not the Bo Derek, (She was the heart throb of our college days) 10 movie, Which we bunked classes/ college to see the movie) I also spent some time yesterday picking up recordings of Beethoven, Mozart, Pavarotti Yanni and Tchaikovsky besides some Indian Classical of Zakir Hussain, Shiv Kumar Sharma. I am sure to find some time to listen to all the classics.

By the way, the Harry Potter book arrived at 11am Saturday and the kids were relieved to read that Harry is alive. The kids haven't seen the 5th movie because of ongoing exams, Got to arrange for the viewing soon.

Because of the non availability of Star cricket TV Cahnnel in Bangalore, I am delighted to go back to internet and listen to CMJ, Henry Blofeld in test match special. Its back to good old days of 70s, 80s of school days. What a great feeling to listen over Bush Baron brand transistor on the roof top of the home with cups of tea,snacks and scoldings of parents.(nee oorupada maatae- meaning you will not come up in life) Of course we miss BJ and Alan Mcgilvary of ABC radio cricket who set the highest standards for the radio commentary. (Ball by description as they say in Australia)

10 of My all time favorite Songs which takes my breath away in that order.

1. Take On me Aha
2. Suddenly- Billy Ocean.
3. Heart and Soul Hewey Lewis and the News
4. Another day in Paradise- Phil Collins.
5. Down Under - Men At work
6. Top of the world - The Carpenters.
7. Greatest love of all - Whitney Houston
8. Fields of Gold -- Sting
9. Too late for Goodbye Julian Lenon
10. Imagine John Lennon
    

I also like some of the Indian Songs which are far and few. I can put the 3 best songs.

1. Mehabooba Sholay Video
   
2. Engae Nimadhi Poodiya Paravai Tamil
   
3. Paadariyen SindhuBhairavi. Tamil
   

10 of my great sports personalities who inspired me to watch sports (when I get time) by their sheer deeds.

1. Super Cat
   
2. Guy the Gorilla
   
3. Aryton Senna.
4. Karl Heinz Rumminegge.
5. Johnny Wilkinson
6. Hassan Sardar.
7. Bjorn Borg.
8. Michael Jordan.
9. Hristo Stoichkov.
10. Severiono Ballesteros
    

Great to share my thoughts.
Till next week, Take it easy and take care. Live consciously.

Karthik.

Chief Happiness Officer

Many thanks to those who had responded magnificently to my response to join my linkedin Network. My Network connection score reached 100. It's a small beginning compared to the 500s and 1000s I see some persons have managed to connect. I think as the saying goes in this part of the world as "Well begun is half done" is true. I am also glad that Jason Alba of Jibberjobber.com is the 100th member of my network. I was inspired by the podcast I listened to the manager's tools podcast. My idea of working the linkedin is to give give and reach out to people and have a Passion to work and interact with people.

Since fracturing his leg and was kind of immobile to do anything other than going to school and coming back as a physical activity, my son explored a lot on the web. He came across the music download website LIMEWIRE where you can download all kinds of music. He has downloaded all his favourite songs in to his Ipod. I thought after Napster, that music downloads are gone and a thing of the past and so it was a refreshing change. I am firm believer in original stuff and never believe in buying Pirated versions of the CDs or Books. (Would you buy a spurious medicine! that's what I ask my friends who buy these stuff). So I was glad that I could pay the US$18 as the licensing fee for the upgrade to the Limewirepro. I am glad I did that.

I was listening to the Podcast on the Anna Farmery show (The engaging Brand) and came across the podcast on "Chief Happiness officer and Emotions at work". The Blog by Alexander Kjerulf (First Danish personality, I have come across, I guess, other than Hans Christen Andersen ). More like the rare breed of Norway Music Group, A-ha of the 1980s. (Of course, their song "Take on Me" is my Number one favourite even after 23 years. I will stop anything I do and listen to it with my closed when I get a chance to hear it). I suggest that you do browse through his site and has lot of good information as to how to be happy as well as keep emotions on play at work.

Please visit Tom Peters website and down load the fantastic PowerPoint slides of 7 presentations. I did shamelessly Steal from his site. A very good information to have and mull over.

I just finished reading the 8th Habit by Dr. Stephen Covey for the second time. I analysed myself and practicalities around me the as I read the book this time. I suggest that its worth reading and gives lot of perspective of Spiritual, physical, emotional, Inteligence Quotient. The books is also about listening to your inner voice and make other people hear their voice. The video that accomapnies the book gives a lot of practical insight. It Costs Rs.495.

So I am fast approaching to complete my first year with Honeywell. Time just flies, looks like yesterday. Somethings are definitely different in the year I think. (The 8th Habit book was purchased when I went to Pune for the Honeywell Interview last year).

Untill next time, Take it easy and take care and live conciously.

Karthik.

EVIL HR Lady

Hi,
I am amazed at the response I am getting to my request to my network thro Linkedin. This is a good tool to establish your contacts and networks. I thank all those who accepted my request(some of them blind) to be part of my network.

Ok, on to the subject. I came across the interview with the Evil HR lady at the Cranky middlemanger podcast. The lady who is HR manager at fortune 500 Company, anonymously blogs on HR aspects. HR is mostly Evil, I guess, and many of us would agree. I think HR is mostly set out to Hire and fire in most sense and most of the time are there to make the hiring of people at the lowest cost to the organization. I waned to see how it is to be a HR person, thats why I chose to do my MBA in HR. Its an interesting experience, Will share that some other time. I also agree with the Evil HR lady that one thing that an organization really need to introspect and work is the compensation structure.

My interaction with HR during offer stage has been mixed. In 2 situations, I was extremely fortunate. I have my own personal doubt such HR professionals do exist any more. One was my Sandoz hiring in 1991. The HR Manager stunned me completely (after 3 rounds of interview) by offering me a monthly basic salary in the offer, which was more than the monthly gross salary at that time (all perks included). At that situation, I was so raw person, (Forget soft skills I was just 5 years in to my career) that I asked for Still Rs. 100 more in Basic salary, ( I was just married and I thought that Rs. 100 would help me for the Milk powder for the Baby that was to come in 10 months time) and he readily agreed even to that and increased the offer by Rs.100/-. I was on the 7th Heaven so to say, I can still remember that moment as to where it happened and how it happened. So that was a great experience in contrast to these days where everything is calculated in terms of % increase. Of course, Sandoz always valued people the most. We always worked there with the philosophy that rules are meant to be broken and are to be used as an exception.

The second experience was the BASF offer in 1997 for safety Manager, the then GM BASF HR, sent me the offer letter, (there was no discussions at any stage during the interview about compensation) and I just went through the offer letter (Waited for 2 days anxiously as there were no courier service) and joined the company. The offer was more than I could have even imagined in my wildest dreams. (More of perquisites too,which was till then unknown commodity to me).

All the other job offers were kind of bargain and negotiations which calls for a kind of compromise on both sides. No wonder, I gave my best best of the best effort from my heart in these 2 organizations. I had to leave these two organizations for totally very personal reasons where the Job situation mattered a little in making the decision to move. Also the Sandoz and BASF experience made me a complete HSE professional and career Manager respectively.

My thoughts to pen the blog were also triggered by the Manager tools podcast on Set the bar on effective hiring by Mike and Mark. My 2 job offers are the real life situations which are explained in the podcast which go above and beyond the need.

Also wanted to touch up on the liveearth concert. I remember the 1984 Band aid concert for the famine stricken Africa, where we struggled even to listen to it live on Radio. So much technology has moved. The global warming is a big concern, no doubt. I am touched by the efforts kid put in to it to make the earth a better place.(My thoughts on that later).

I have subscribed to the Economist magazine, I tell you,its a great one stop source of information to know all the happenings in the world. My Sunday morning,is spent in completing the 100 page magazine. (8 to 12). No Email, computer till 4 pm on Sundays.

PS: I was also excited by the comments posted in my Blog last week.

Till next time, take it easy& take care and Live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.