This weekend, is one of the most relaxed weekends that I had recently. Though I am into a project where the work is not as demanding as it was in my previous project, my laziness always had something or the other task scheduled for the weekend. And most often than not, I again postpone them to the week after that weekend. Anyways, after sometime, recently this has been the week where I am most relaxed.
I am an ardent fan of Eenadu and in particular the weekly Sunday special from Eenadu. Back home, on Sunday's we still have competition to get hold of the weekly magazine every weekend. We feel the weekend is incomplete, if we don't get our hands over the Sunday special of Eenadu. Now that I am in this distant dollar nation, I don't have to compete with my family members to get to the magazine. In fact, I get to it even before my family members; thanks to the online version of Eenadu.
For me, the sections that I look forward to in the magazine are (in the order of preference)
(a) Cartoons by Sridhar: The witty picturization of the national and state politics. Foreign affairs and relations with our neighbours are worth appreciating. They are funny, simple and yet drive the point home.
(b) Bala Vindoini (Fun for Children): Though I have grown up, right from the school days when I started reading the newspapers, through my teens both in high school and graduation and till the present day of professional,..this is one such sections that I have never missed to pay attention to. Though this section is for children and kids, this still remains as one of favorites. The cartoon character (don't know if this character has any name)...still remains the same though I have grown young and has been my weekend friend who brings smile on my face with his funny quotes. The other interesting topics in the section are (i) Find the differences in similar pictures, (ii) the once in a while maze, (iii) the simple moral stories from the old extracts of Panchatantra, Akbar-Birbal etc., and (iv) the word puzzle, which i had rarely completed; not that it is tough but it did not attract me. Anyways all these collectively make "Bala Vindohini" one of my favorite sections of the magazine.
(c) Sachitra Katanalu(News with associated Pictures): This section carries news items along with the associated pictures. The usual culprits that are make their way into this section are (i) the short interviews with celebrities and their opinions on some day to day topics. (ii) silly point: a comedy section with some quotes that make you smile, (iii) Short biography of the artists /telugu film fraternity: This section usually takes a leaf out of the lives of the famous personalities from Andhra Pradesh and in particular from the lives of the Telugu film artists. The hard times that they faced, how they overcame the tough times of their life and the support that they received to make it big in the industry.(iv) Short inspirational stories; one such inspirational story that I read today, prompted me to start this post. Though the intention of starting this post was different, the content in the current post truly deserves a mention in my blog. Now my immediate task is to rename the post on its completion. And include that inspirational story in the immediate post.
(d) Cover Story: Discusses about the hot topics in the recent past, present or future in detail in this section. Though this remains the crux of the magazine, every weekend, I usually leave it to the week ahead to complete the reading. One main reason for leaving it for the rest of the week is the competition to get hold of the magazine at home and the second reason is leaving some tasks for the week ahead. I need to either watch television or read newspaper or some magazine while having my dinner / lunch, so I leave the cover story for the week ahead. After reading for so many years, one cover story that I always look forward to on the eve of every new-year is the round up of the news events that made the headlines the current year.
(e) Maya lokam (Imaginary World): This section in the magazine is reveals about the funny behaviours of the old time rulers and the funny behaviour / beliefs of the who and who of the world. This really makes you think of the funny attitudes beliefs people had in the old days.
(f) Katha (An imaginary story) and Idi Katha Kadu(Real story): These are the sections that read the least in all these years. The imaginary story though are interesting and try to deliver a moral to the readers, the stories are usually around the topics of human relations in families. The stories mostly revolve around the relations between parents and children in the modern days compared to the pre-globalization era where join families, family values had preference over the worldly attractions and wealthy (THE THINGS). Talking about the real stories, these are usually are the real and mysterious stories; there was a time in my teens when this section made it to be my compulsory readings. But I left reading this section as I have least preference to read crime stories.
All these columns make our weekend and week pass by in no time. As I was talking about the event that triggered this post, the initial title for the post was "Secret of Success" - a short inspiration story that I read in today's Sunday Special of Eenadu. I wanted to make a mention of that story in this blog, but as I started writing the post the topic of Sunday Special took over and I had to change the title to Eenadu Sunday Special ..oops - My Sunday Special.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Some Quotes..
Question: Jobs in US are ____________.
Multiple Choice: (a) Temporarily Permanent (b) Permanently Temporary.
"If I had an education, I would not have had time to learn anything else." - Cornelius Vanderbilt
Success is really doing what you love and doing it well --- Warren Buffet.To know the road ahead, ask those coming back -- Someone.
Whatever you dream, you will not achieve everything in your life. You will not achieve anything in your life, if you do not dream. -- Someone.
Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working -- Someone.
Every winner was once a beginner -- Dennis Waitley
Every winner was once a beginner -- Dennis Waitley
Have an attitude of adventure, and enjoy the journey - Doherty
Patience Pays ---
Turn the stones thrown at you into milestones and conquer them --- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Big Dreams, And The Desire And Passion To Chase It Is Important -- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Big Dreams, And The Desire And Passion To Chase It Is Important -- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Sachin Creates History!
Hats off to one of the great bastman's in the history of modern cricket, my hero, my role model and my inspiration - Sachin Tendulkar. On October 17, 2008 Sachin Creates history by breaking the world record for most number of runs in the history of test cricket and becomes the first man to score 12,000 runs. Sachin broke the record of most number of runs of Brian Charles Lara, the elegant left hander from West Indies, contemporary of Sachin Tendulkar. Interestingly Brian Lara also made the record of most number of runs in test cricket against the test in Australia. These great batsmen of 90's and 2000's have a liking for the best team in the world.
Co-incidentally this happens to be the birthday of Jumbo - the current captain of Indian Test Cricket Team, who eventually could not play today's match because of shoulder injury.
Lara and Tendulkar are the great batsman of this era of cricket which people like me have grown up seeing them play. Lara who happens to be the left handed batsman in contrast to Sachin being the right handed batsman. Both these men have been the spine of the batting lines up of their respective teams for most part of the last two decades. I would love to see them play all the time. These people have played all around the world and won the hearts of millions of cricket loving fans.
I am a die-hard fan of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. I don't mind what people keep talking about his game. I only want him to play as long as he plays. Sachin happens to be the humble person, who inspite of being the great batsman of this era is still down to earth and always lets his bat answer the critics. In this same match, Sachin's contemporary, compatriot and the southpaw who is the God of offside cricket, Sourav Ganguly crossed the mile stone of scoring more than 7000 runs and is the only 4th Indian to have done so after Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. I respect Ganguly for what he has given Indian cricket, the agressive face and the winning habit. Though I always think Ganguly had to face the unnecessary political issues of the cricket board in India but if I had to believe the reports that surfaced during the latter part of his captaincy days, it looks like he was part of the same politics in his time.
Anyways, keeping all the politics apart and being a true fan of Indian Cricket, I strongly believe that Indian team is going to miss the lethal combination of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and Sourav Chandra Ganguly. The opening pair that ruled the world of ODI's in the late 90's and ealry 2000's. However, co-incidentally, Ganguly has been around when Sachin scored the most number of test hundreds surpassing Sunil Gavaskar and scored the most number of test centuries surpassing Brian Lara. Sourav has no doubt been the great captain's India has ever produced. In the current test Sourav scored his 16th test century, 2nd against Australia and first against the neumero uno team in India.
These cricketing legends have been our role models to many of the younger Indian generation, they have carried the burden of the Indian cricket in the last two decades. Have enjoyed the status of demi God and at the same time have seen the anger of the cricket crazy nation. These great players of Indian Cricket Team.. Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Laxman and Anil have done there job and they have nothing to prove to the world, they have proved what they are capable of number of times.It's only that this cricket crazy, greedy nation always wants them to put India on top and have a short lived memory who almost always forget the achievements of these people and are ever ready to criticize them. As Sachin had put it after achieving this great feat that "turned the stones thrown at him into milestones and conquered those milestones." These people will live forever in the hearts of the cricket fans even after they leave the field.
Co-incidentally this happens to be the birthday of Jumbo - the current captain of Indian Test Cricket Team, who eventually could not play today's match because of shoulder injury.
Lara and Tendulkar are the great batsman of this era of cricket which people like me have grown up seeing them play. Lara who happens to be the left handed batsman in contrast to Sachin being the right handed batsman. Both these men have been the spine of the batting lines up of their respective teams for most part of the last two decades. I would love to see them play all the time. These people have played all around the world and won the hearts of millions of cricket loving fans.
I am a die-hard fan of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. I don't mind what people keep talking about his game. I only want him to play as long as he plays. Sachin happens to be the humble person, who inspite of being the great batsman of this era is still down to earth and always lets his bat answer the critics. In this same match, Sachin's contemporary, compatriot and the southpaw who is the God of offside cricket, Sourav Ganguly crossed the mile stone of scoring more than 7000 runs and is the only 4th Indian to have done so after Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. I respect Ganguly for what he has given Indian cricket, the agressive face and the winning habit. Though I always think Ganguly had to face the unnecessary political issues of the cricket board in India but if I had to believe the reports that surfaced during the latter part of his captaincy days, it looks like he was part of the same politics in his time.
Anyways, keeping all the politics apart and being a true fan of Indian Cricket, I strongly believe that Indian team is going to miss the lethal combination of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and Sourav Chandra Ganguly. The opening pair that ruled the world of ODI's in the late 90's and ealry 2000's. However, co-incidentally, Ganguly has been around when Sachin scored the most number of test hundreds surpassing Sunil Gavaskar and scored the most number of test centuries surpassing Brian Lara. Sourav has no doubt been the great captain's India has ever produced. In the current test Sourav scored his 16th test century, 2nd against Australia and first against the neumero uno team in India.
These cricketing legends have been our role models to many of the younger Indian generation, they have carried the burden of the Indian cricket in the last two decades. Have enjoyed the status of demi God and at the same time have seen the anger of the cricket crazy nation. These great players of Indian Cricket Team.. Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Laxman and Anil have done there job and they have nothing to prove to the world, they have proved what they are capable of number of times.It's only that this cricket crazy, greedy nation always wants them to put India on top and have a short lived memory who almost always forget the achievements of these people and are ever ready to criticize them. As Sachin had put it after achieving this great feat that "turned the stones thrown at him into milestones and conquered those milestones." These people will live forever in the hearts of the cricket fans even after they leave the field.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The bug in the mind..search for inspiration.
I am searching for an inspiration to motivate me to work hard. These days I have spent most of the time at work reading the counter productive editorials on cricket and politics. Though I am a fan of cricket and politics, it is not fair on my part to spend the time reading the newspaper articles during office hours. Also, I think I need some strong motivation to work, to proove myself and to work hard. I wish to find one (don't strain your minds..I am referring to inspiration) soon and apply myself at work.
Other than the editorials there is a bug in my mind that is bothering. The bug is a dream that I had with me since childhood. I need to seriously consider turning this dream into reality / inspiration. If that works out, itz going to be amazing.
Other than the editorials there is a bug in my mind that is bothering. The bug is a dream that I had with me since childhood. I need to seriously consider turning this dream into reality / inspiration. If that works out, itz going to be amazing.
Pool..Networking.
Networking has been the buzz word since the day I started my consulting career. These 4 years in consulting has made me digest the word Netoworking. In the initial stages I always felt that one should be judged by his actions than by his networking skills; always felt that Networking was some kind of a demon which cannot be befriended by a person like me. Don't know if it is for good or bad, i feel, i am getting closer to the art of networking. I somehow realized the importance of networking and also feel that I have had lots of success with my network, though unknowingly. Its time that I master this skill of networking, as I have started to realize that my constant criticism to networking, resulted in understanding the importance and befriend the demon, I thought it was.
Itz the initial friction that needs to be overcome, after that it is always a smooth ride. I learnt the art of playing pool when I was in LA with my friend Mr.Cool and company. Pool was another art that I thought needed lots of skill to play. I remember the first ever team event in my first project in LA, at a billiards place. Everyone was playing pool, and it was all a new game for me which I never tried. That day I spent watching other folks play and chatting with the elderly crowd about the experiences in consulting. Don't know if that served as an inspiration, couple of months later i made my first move towards snooker in the neighbourhood of Irwindale, as usual the credit goes to my friend Mr.Cool for making me take the first steps. After the initial hiccups, the game improved as we know "practice makes a man perfect!". Though there were several other factors (that cannot be revealed here) that inspired us to play the game or do i put it this way 'inspired us to visit the pool place'. Although our other intentions were not successful, we improved the game. After about 3-4 months into my first assignment pool turned out to be one of the must do activities for the weekend. This made us play a better pool that we initially thought we were, ofcourse in our own style. I attribute 90% of my success to my luck and the other 10% to better form. Sometimes we played the game to get ourselves relieved of the regular day to day project pressure. As I always do, play any game with the intention of winning resulted in further interest in the game. After go-live of that project, and departure of friends I landed into the other project based in Mid-West America, my cool friend into UK.
Now in this mid-western town, the project is much more relaxed than the first project. There is always lack of inspiration to work, however searching for reasons to keep myself motivated to be a good consultant. After couple of months into the new project, most of the team had joined together for the first time; as most of the folks were on tax break for sometime. The coming together required a party to get to know everyone in the team. A party at Dave and Busters...
Unlike the first assignment, most of the junta in the project was older folks. As always, I believe I am still the youngest in the project. Living up to the Indian punctuality reached the place 30 minutes after the scheduled time of the event. By the time we were in, most of the junta was already into the serious business of satisfying their hunger. My initial reactions "man where did I land, in the group of oldies; don't know how to spend the rest of the evening." Slowly, junta (the crowd) started moving towards the pool tables. I was with the regular desi team, chatting about the food, etc. The adrenalin gush inside made me slowly move towards the pool table. Waited for an opportunity, grabbed a queue and started playing. I had to lie to my partner that I was playing for the first time. A few minutes into the game, the truth was revealed and I was getting into the rythm. After couple of games I was the man of the hour, being watched by the everyone in the crowd. Thanks to our weekends in the remote pool place in LA, I was transformed into the most watched player at the party, with the shots that found there own targets.
The movement to cherish was the one, when the director of the project was asked by one of the senior managers in the project to pick any one from the crowd and play the game. The Director picked "ME". Wow! There I go to play the game of pool with the Director of the project. Awesome! Started off definsively, got into the rhythm, was never in a position to win; at the same time never far away from my winning. However to one of the daring shots that I took, which did not materialise into the desired result, I lost the game. However, this is one of the first opportunities that gave me the much required recognition in the eyes of the senior folks in the project. Pool gave some time to have a one on one discussion with the director about the project, after the game. By the end of the party, I played 3 games and lost all the 3. However I felt, I was the winner..per the saying "Jo haar kar bee jeet tah hai,,,woh Bazigar keh lata hai". The only thought that was in my mind returning back home was to ..Networking is not a demon any more, but turning out to be good friend..and I think, I have overcome the inertia...I should make it to be a smooth ride...
Itz the initial friction that needs to be overcome, after that it is always a smooth ride. I learnt the art of playing pool when I was in LA with my friend Mr.Cool and company. Pool was another art that I thought needed lots of skill to play. I remember the first ever team event in my first project in LA, at a billiards place. Everyone was playing pool, and it was all a new game for me which I never tried. That day I spent watching other folks play and chatting with the elderly crowd about the experiences in consulting. Don't know if that served as an inspiration, couple of months later i made my first move towards snooker in the neighbourhood of Irwindale, as usual the credit goes to my friend Mr.Cool for making me take the first steps. After the initial hiccups, the game improved as we know "practice makes a man perfect!". Though there were several other factors (that cannot be revealed here) that inspired us to play the game or do i put it this way 'inspired us to visit the pool place'. Although our other intentions were not successful, we improved the game. After about 3-4 months into my first assignment pool turned out to be one of the must do activities for the weekend. This made us play a better pool that we initially thought we were, ofcourse in our own style. I attribute 90% of my success to my luck and the other 10% to better form. Sometimes we played the game to get ourselves relieved of the regular day to day project pressure. As I always do, play any game with the intention of winning resulted in further interest in the game. After go-live of that project, and departure of friends I landed into the other project based in Mid-West America, my cool friend into UK.
Now in this mid-western town, the project is much more relaxed than the first project. There is always lack of inspiration to work, however searching for reasons to keep myself motivated to be a good consultant. After couple of months into the new project, most of the team had joined together for the first time; as most of the folks were on tax break for sometime. The coming together required a party to get to know everyone in the team. A party at Dave and Busters...
Unlike the first assignment, most of the junta in the project was older folks. As always, I believe I am still the youngest in the project. Living up to the Indian punctuality reached the place 30 minutes after the scheduled time of the event. By the time we were in, most of the junta was already into the serious business of satisfying their hunger. My initial reactions "man where did I land, in the group of oldies; don't know how to spend the rest of the evening." Slowly, junta (the crowd) started moving towards the pool tables. I was with the regular desi team, chatting about the food, etc. The adrenalin gush inside made me slowly move towards the pool table. Waited for an opportunity, grabbed a queue and started playing. I had to lie to my partner that I was playing for the first time. A few minutes into the game, the truth was revealed and I was getting into the rythm. After couple of games I was the man of the hour, being watched by the everyone in the crowd. Thanks to our weekends in the remote pool place in LA, I was transformed into the most watched player at the party, with the shots that found there own targets.
The movement to cherish was the one, when the director of the project was asked by one of the senior managers in the project to pick any one from the crowd and play the game. The Director picked "ME". Wow! There I go to play the game of pool with the Director of the project. Awesome! Started off definsively, got into the rhythm, was never in a position to win; at the same time never far away from my winning. However to one of the daring shots that I took, which did not materialise into the desired result, I lost the game. However, this is one of the first opportunities that gave me the much required recognition in the eyes of the senior folks in the project. Pool gave some time to have a one on one discussion with the director about the project, after the game. By the end of the party, I played 3 games and lost all the 3. However I felt, I was the winner..per the saying "Jo haar kar bee jeet tah hai,,,woh Bazigar keh lata hai". The only thought that was in my mind returning back home was to ..Networking is not a demon any more, but turning out to be good friend..and I think, I have overcome the inertia...I should make it to be a smooth ride...
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