Sunday, July 19, 2009

Kalaivani, 20p, Bribe, Songbird, Indians don't give!!!

Good to be back to blogging after a couple of hectic weeks with the move to our new apartment.

I was very much touched by this story forwarded to me. This goes to show how Kalaivani a 17 or 18 year old girl as a sales girl at a book Shop in Madras manages the family... There are so many families out there. The story has a happy ending.....

I was touched to read this saga/ epic struggle of this entrepreneur who had refused to pay bribe to the authorities for carrying out the legal formalities in connection with the house he had built. Corruption in this part of the world is given, more so to escape the opacity and slowness of the process. This story gives the courage to face the situation.

When are the times the money you carry is more its worth!!???. I remember old story of a Petrol station agent melting the coins to make fortune as the Silver that came out was worth more than its currency value!. Read this story here in UK where some discrepancy in date makes 20p worth 50
£

The best of the 2009 Leadership blog survey is out, I had voted.Some interesting thoughts on leadership expressed in these blogs and this survey is done by Kevin Eikenberry thro his blog.

On the question of best business books I had come across an intersting link. Worth going thro and help you choose the best books in Print or audio form.

On the tech front, here is a challenge to ITUNES from Songbird. The Ipod software to sync your Ipod with a Computer. I have downloaded it and will begin using it. The reviews on Songbird are pretty positive.....

On the way of life in India, I came across a thoguht provoking article in mint on why Indians dont give back to the society like the way it happens in West. I have heard of stories of famous Indian personalities becoming tight fisted when it comes to charity..... Some truth I guess.. I assume the Hindu way of life of living as a zero sum game!!!.... Hmmmm...,,

As always I leave with obituary of two people who passed away recently, Robert McNamara, the first international figure I had known from my school days (As world bank president). The other person was Walter Cronkite, who was a famous announcer. Coincidentally both were in 90s, and both connected to JFK......

Lot reading to catch up!!!.....

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






Saturday, July 18, 2009

AMRITKALA





I am delighted to blog this post sitting in our new Apartment "AMRITKALA". We completed the legal formalities Friday, 17th July 09 and so our move is complete. Amrit= Nectar of God and Kala is Time. So more reign for things that have god's blessings etc.

We managed to get the Internet connection and wireless phone in this area Subramanya Nagar, Bangalore where the last mile connectivity is yet to be established. So things would go on. We are in the process of settling down and I expect the process to complete soon. Yes we are the 3rd owner to move in out of this 110 Apt of Renaissance Park III. I expect others to follow in 4 to 6 weeks. As for completion of construction I would assume it is 3 to 5 months to complete, so we got to bear with the noise associated with them as well as construction from massive adjacent project of Brigade Gateway(Photo above).

Here is the google map of the Apt. coordinates.


Our achievement was all due to collective efforts put in by all of us as the Renaissance Park III Owners association who chased things at every stage over the last 15 months. Every project needs a great leader and we got one in Mr Suparna, about whom I had mentioned before. The managing committee of our association was helpful at all stages to help when required. Yes, Renaissance Builders also did their best, to be fair in these tough times, So thanks to all.

I am posting some of the photos of the house and ceremony which we did before we moved in.
Hope to resume regular blogging from Sunday........

Regards
Karthik

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Rush Rush Rush

Last 10 days have been kind of rush with chasing for final completion of our apartment, Managing finance for shortfall (as usual and as expected dipping in to savings from my pension fund to take from government takes ages; so no help there- not surprising???!!!! ) Wimbledon also took time, seeing off parents to home town after 8 weeks here (With a surgery for dad)...... So Blogging took a back seat! (Lazy too!!!).....

OK, Take it easy and take care; Till then live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Balance, School children, Coffee, Good Boss.....

It is good to be back to blogging after last week ill health. It was tough times but it gave a chance to catch up on reading.....

One of the key aspect in life is work life choice. To choose and work balance between work and personal life. Both needs to be maintained, somehow in this part of the world one overlaps over the other most of the time. I saw an interesting aspect of this during my visit to Japan a couple of years back. On Wednesday evening, no one is allowed to stay late, they need to clear their work desk and leave for home. Exceptions are by prior permission from Boss's boss. A good chance to at least spend an evening with family. Wish some of our folks learn this and make a beginning.

I always wondered when I hear from my American friends that children participate in so many extra curricular activities!. I always wondered how do they find time for all such events beside studies. I got some of the answer from Lexington this week, that American children spend 32 Hrs a week in school with 3 months vacation vis a vis 45 Hrs a week here in India.(6 days) and 6 weeks holidays. No wonder there is time, but I am glad at least many kids there spend it usefully in extracurricular activities!. Good for them... I hope.

This article made me wonder!! May be it is a joke! That Comrade Chavez fears that President Obama is more to the left than himself or Castro!... Yes, the way economy is shaping up.. Staling may stir in his grave!!.

Here is an interesting snippet on the drink to which I am addicted. Coffee is good for health so says HBR so justifying my 7 cups a day (large 400 Ml cups)..... I almost gave up coffee in the year 2000. The addiction picked up during the Maiden USA visit in 2001 kicked in the habit back and since then the resolve has gone downhill... More so with cups presented in USA as souvenirs didn't help.. Talking of HBR, here is a great article I read by Prof. Sutton on How to be a good boss in bad economy. I only hope, we don't put this in to execution!! and as good to know. I begin to feel HBR is beginning to revamp itself under new editor Adi Ignatius. I wish him success and look forward to great compilation serving practical aspects of Management and leadership.

Mr Suparna, our good friend (Park III Home owners association) has forwarded me an email on Vivekananda university on Yoga here in Bangalore. Thought of sharing this information in the blogosphere.

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




Monday, June 22, 2009

Emotional Being!!!!!........

I am down with VIRAL Fever since Friday evening and hence couldn't post Sunday evening.The Bone crushing pain was horror and sleep deserted me for 3 nights. I am hearing many of my friends / colleagues here did suffer effects and didn't attend office last week.

I assume it was also linked to psychological/ emotional well being as some events / situations during last week were disappointing; from there on could have let the mental guard down!!. I guess there is connection between Physical well being and emotional state!!!......

Amidst all this, the good feeling Sunday was my son's team Winning the basket ball tournament and picking up a medal, certificate and a cash Prize of Rs. 151(US$3). I don't remember ever doing one!!!!.


Will post this weekend.
Until then take it easy and take care; Live consciously.

Karthik

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Emergency, Traffic, Soderling, U-Turn.

This Blogpost is worked from IE8.0 for a change. The search for this blog post is done thro BING. Let me post my comments next week on how this worked out.!!!

As posted in my facebook page, My father has been hospitalised in Manipal hospital for an emergency (but not life threatening) surgery Friday evening. The surgery went well and he is recovering well. We hope to have him back home, Tuesday. The Manipal hospital (near my home so makes the commute easy)is one of the best hospital with team of good doctors and support staff. Yes, I do find the administrative section like paying doctor fees, getting appointment, retrieving medical reports are irksome and frustrating. I wish they could take advantage of technology, Medical Record management systems to manage information/ access/ for patient interaction better. !!

Also Friday was a significant day for other event, yes, if you had read my recent posts, I have been covering the progress about my upcoming home and issues etc. We did get an appointment to meet the CEO of Renaissance Holdings Mr Ramanj. The meeting went well in a cordial atmosphere(!!) and we got to understand each other's perspective and issues. The good news is that CEO has committed himself to end our Park III project, in about 4 to 6 weeks. We are also seeing some evidence like permanent Electric supply restored etc. I will for the time being put an end to this topic and lets review in say about 6 weeks to see where things stand!!.

Over the last 2 weeks, I had first hand experienced the perils of traffic jam in Bangalore. The heavy rains in low lying areas at which my office is located made experience of commuting a 10 mile drive in over 120 minutes.(twice in a week!!). Yes, the positive side for me is almost after 2 years, I switched on the CD system in my car and listened to the music/ FM Radio. Hmmm, something positive. The rains had its share of tragedy with 2 people being washed away in the open storm drains in to which they were sucked in by the flood waters. You would assume the city is safe!! Not so. Yes, there are changes in civic administration, but it calls for more of execution I would assume.

Who remembers a loser!, we may wonder. The way Robin Solderling, conducted himself in the presentation ceremony of the French open final at Roland Garros is an example of some times the winner gets overshadowed, the way we enjoyed himself made me wonder as to whether he had won the open?. He treated us to a great exhibition of Tennis. Well Done Sir.!!.

It was interesting to read Andrea Jung interview in which she says Fire yourself and do an introspection to come good. Very true!!, the issue is we don't let go the ego in us to do a self search!.

I leave with an interesting article which I read in WSJ, on the reverse brain drain the great U TURN. Who would have thought that thing would come to this!!!. Anyway!!.

Don't wait till next week, I am more comfortable with GOOGLE. Switched after doing half the blog.!!.

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

PS: Meeting a school senior after 29 Years in the hospital yesterday. Dr Latha; whom I met in Hospital Saturday, is a senior (3 years) from my school at Karaikudi. Amazing is the human memory to recognise some one after 29 years in a split second!.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Temper, Kindle, Recession,Art of living, AF 447

Posting this blog with the multitask of watching French Open Men's final.

Saturday was a new experience for me from holding emotions/ temper perspective. As I had been indicating in the previous blog that I am planning to move to our new apartment, and I was indicating that the project at Renaissance Park III in Malleswaram, (Renaissance Holdings) is almost 18 months behind schedule. Yesterday, we had been given to understand that we will be meeting the CEO at his office to express our concern and request a speedy progress. When we reached the office, it was a shocker to see none of the senior executives had turned up and tempers of some of the flat owners assembled (About 40 of them) was flaring up; after a lot of angry exchange over phone, the mid level staff came to the office and met us stating that the project is slow progress but definitely not a no progress. After great reluctance, they have committed to bring the CEO to meet us next week. Let us see how things shape up!!. What saddens me personally was the lack of communication on progress, No regret at deadlines after deadlines being missed with no sense of remorse!. What was a shocker yesterday (with people who had come there by chance,) was other projects are also painfully slow. We hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, the market is slow; all projects by other builders are also delayed and flat owners having no say, but a honest, transparent communications and treating customer with dignity and respect as said by Gandhi would go some way!!. Looks like lack of emotional intelligence. Yes, some of the flat owners were in angry mode, but that is understandable.

Not sure that if I had mentioned about the Amazon Kindle, the new revolutionary ebook reader. Having seen a couple of them in old version over the last 18 months during the flights, I was impressed and the new Kindle version as well as Kindle Dx. No wonder it can be the Iphone of ebook industry. Yes, the price at 359$ is high and and is not available outside USA. I am sure with the popularity it would soon come out in other parts of the world.

The more I read international articles, the more it appears that India and China have escaped the deep effects of Recessions. Looks like the Decoupling has happened. I am seeing signs when I talk to my Indian company friends, who ask me back, "Recession,!! What Recession!!???". It is good to see India and China would lead the recovery. Of course, the effects on long term would be worth waiting and watching.

This week on the personal side, I attended the Toastmasters session as a guest and found it interesting!!. I might give a serious thinking to become a member. Worth the efforts it appears. Also, for the first time I attended the Art of living session conducted by Sampath Althur who did a great job guiding us to the right way. It was a great experience to undergo the session. While the activities, per se, were nothing more than an ergonomic stretch,I feel the effect of refreshingly different from within comes from the deep peace and the way breathing in and out which kind of cools you a lot. Let me see how I take this forward to the next level.

I leave you with tragedy of AF 447, and pray that the trauma of the family of dead is settled soon with the discovery of the wreckage and bodies. That will give the family members a chance to give decent funeral and feel an unknown is resolved. Also with the black box, when found would lead to the mystery unveiled and lessons learnt will be implemented to avoid recurrence and to take aviation safety to the next level.

As I finish blog, Federer has won Roland Garros, the last frontier for him.!

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