Ah! Today I received my first testimonial (ever, I think). It was indeed a rather different feeling, to have something (or "things" :p ) written about you by someone you have known and been close with :-) Okay, there is plenty people write about you when they give you little greeting cards on various ocassions, but what sets testimonials apart, is the fact that, they don't get locked away in treasure chests or lockers, they slip into public domain, for the world to come and read what your dear friends have to say about
By the time i finished reading the testimonial, i found myself unconciously smiling away to myself. It was a wierd sense of joy to read what your friends think about you. Its pleasant to see how the things you have said and done in the past has affected people's opinion about you, and it gives you a true moment to reflect on yourself.
Just as dear, is the experience of writing a testimonial for a friend. The one moment when jokes are shoved a little aside, and you seem to have the courage to admit how you really feel. For that moment, reminds you of how that persons presence has really made a difference to the life you have lived, and are to lead.
Testimonials... the small joys of life :-)
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Anonymous!
Well, this post follows on from the numerous comments posted by a few friends (I think!), to my previous blog posts. Okay, what exactly is the whole deal about anonymity?! Here are some examples...
From my post called - "outsourcing - the price"
" Anonymous said ... Alriiightyyy, this is terribly off-topic.. but jst wanted to say, i remember u frm school (IF ur Arun)!
I was in abhimanyu house ;)"
(!!)?????
From my post called - "A sweet sour experience"
"Anonymous said ... profound"
"Anonymous said ... glad you made it!"
So I am supposed to say, "Thankyou Mr... err... Ms... Err... anonymous?!". I can understand if you were posting some kinda ad or even letting me hear a few "not so nice" things about me... but then friends and well-wishers making themselves anonymous makes no sense to me! So what are you scared of?! The world would know that u wished well for me?! Didn't know that would be such a dear crime!
Anyway... this is just pure frustration, when i look at some comments as sweet as the ones above are, it hardly puts a smile on my face. It only gives me a wierd knot in my stomach not knowing who is talking to me.
I would rather have one dear friend, who wouldnt be shy (or scared, maybe!) of standing by me in front of the world, than a 100 well-wishers who will hide behind a cloak of anonymity and just make themselves heard from time to time.
If you dont have an ID sign off with your name or nickname for that matter! And if you are thinking of being funny and leaving an comment as "anonymous" for this blog... worry less, the comments are moderated, and they will never make it here :-)
From my post called - "outsourcing - the price"
" Anonymous said ... Alriiightyyy, this is terribly off-topic.. but jst wanted to say, i remember u frm school (IF ur Arun)!
I was in abhimanyu house ;)"
(!!)?????
From my post called - "A sweet sour experience"
"Anonymous said ... profound"
"Anonymous said ... glad you made it!"
So I am supposed to say, "Thankyou Mr... err... Ms... Err... anonymous?!". I can understand if you were posting some kinda ad or even letting me hear a few "not so nice" things about me... but then friends and well-wishers making themselves anonymous makes no sense to me! So what are you scared of?! The world would know that u wished well for me?! Didn't know that would be such a dear crime!
Anyway... this is just pure frustration, when i look at some comments as sweet as the ones above are, it hardly puts a smile on my face. It only gives me a wierd knot in my stomach not knowing who is talking to me.
I would rather have one dear friend, who wouldnt be shy (or scared, maybe!) of standing by me in front of the world, than a 100 well-wishers who will hide behind a cloak of anonymity and just make themselves heard from time to time.
If you dont have an ID sign off with your name or nickname for that matter! And if you are thinking of being funny and leaving an comment as "anonymous" for this blog... worry less, the comments are moderated, and they will never make it here :-)
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Outsourcing - the price!
With the outsourcing wave getting ever more stronger, Western outsourcing civilisation felt the first effects of Indian political framework on their business. Recent death of the Kannada cine actor Rajkumar was followed by riots and violence and public nuisance for 2 days. For a person born and brought up in India, this is a normal news. And the western world never felt any effects of such local disruptions in India. But it was not the same story this time around.
With the violence and threat to safety, infosys and wipro offices among many other outsourcing offices shutdown for 2 days, and the industry in the west suffered severe set back losing 2 business days from their outsourcing offices. Now 2 days may sound trivial, but when you come to think about it, consider 365 people not working for 2 days. Simple math will tell you thats equivalent to the work one person will do over 2 years, or simply 2 man years! Now make your own estimation of how many people work in such outsourcing outfits in bangalore, an inevitable low whistle escapes through my lips.
It makes me wonder, does this make India more vulnerable as a nation?! So is it just the back office and slog work thats been outsourced or does it come with an additional price? A rather dangerous price. With the growing outsourcing business and stronger ties and dependancies on the outsourced framework, I cant stop pondering about the proportional rise in the security risk. When a simple disruption can cause an discomforting effect on the western corporate world, a major mishap, perhaps natural or "man-made", even locally can have adverse effect on a more global scale.
Is this investment a calculated risk by the corporates? I dont know, honestly. Do they have an insurance policy to tackle such emergencies, or would they take something like this lying down? And what is the Indian government doing/going to do about this security risk? If not on its own initiative, would the global corporate world be able to pressurise the government set in motion adequate planning and action teams? Or are they going to wait until they have had a better taste of the bitterness?
Well, panic takes us nowhere, and ignorance leads us worse. With positive steps, i suppose all parties stand to gain, but i suppose its not to be forgotten, that as a nation India stands to lose more. I only hold hopes, fingers crossed, that may not be the case.
With the violence and threat to safety, infosys and wipro offices among many other outsourcing offices shutdown for 2 days, and the industry in the west suffered severe set back losing 2 business days from their outsourcing offices. Now 2 days may sound trivial, but when you come to think about it, consider 365 people not working for 2 days. Simple math will tell you thats equivalent to the work one person will do over 2 years, or simply 2 man years! Now make your own estimation of how many people work in such outsourcing outfits in bangalore, an inevitable low whistle escapes through my lips.
It makes me wonder, does this make India more vulnerable as a nation?! So is it just the back office and slog work thats been outsourced or does it come with an additional price? A rather dangerous price. With the growing outsourcing business and stronger ties and dependancies on the outsourced framework, I cant stop pondering about the proportional rise in the security risk. When a simple disruption can cause an discomforting effect on the western corporate world, a major mishap, perhaps natural or "man-made", even locally can have adverse effect on a more global scale.
Is this investment a calculated risk by the corporates? I dont know, honestly. Do they have an insurance policy to tackle such emergencies, or would they take something like this lying down? And what is the Indian government doing/going to do about this security risk? If not on its own initiative, would the global corporate world be able to pressurise the government set in motion adequate planning and action teams? Or are they going to wait until they have had a better taste of the bitterness?
Well, panic takes us nowhere, and ignorance leads us worse. With positive steps, i suppose all parties stand to gain, but i suppose its not to be forgotten, that as a nation India stands to lose more. I only hold hopes, fingers crossed, that may not be the case.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A sweet sour experience
7 months into my 1st Graduate employment, and I find my company is recuperating from a major down slide in the market. And ever so often when a plc faces such a situation, the organisation goes through a major organisational re-structuring, which often leads to a fixed-costs cutting measure, and redundancies. Leading on from the events, my position in the company was listed as one of the positions being "at risk of being made redundant". Quite heavy stuff for me to handle during my first graduate employment, honestly. I had a weekend to think over the facts, and the tuesday following I was informed that my position had been wrongly listed, as my job role had not been recognised correctly. I could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
But the 5 day ordeal had put me in a more so uncomfortable position than just facing the risk of losing my current job. The knowledge of the fact that there are some 30 odd positions that are at risk, and the high possibility that atleast 1 out 6 of those positions being terminated was very discomforting. Anybody facing the risk of losing their job, will inevitably wish it dint happen to them, but the bullet which misses you is going to hit someone else, and that gives me a knot in my stomach.
The 5 days was a hard deal trying to find a balance in my thoughts and prayers, but at the end of it I can't help but wish me nor anyone should have to go through such a situation again. When i was informed on tuesday that i was no longer "at risk" of losing my employment, I knew the bullet had missed me, but i am ever so afraid of what i would find when I turn back to look. The overwhelming sense of relief is stopped hard by a fierce sense of helplessness, when I look at the smoking gun.
But the 5 day ordeal had put me in a more so uncomfortable position than just facing the risk of losing my current job. The knowledge of the fact that there are some 30 odd positions that are at risk, and the high possibility that atleast 1 out 6 of those positions being terminated was very discomforting. Anybody facing the risk of losing their job, will inevitably wish it dint happen to them, but the bullet which misses you is going to hit someone else, and that gives me a knot in my stomach.
The 5 days was a hard deal trying to find a balance in my thoughts and prayers, but at the end of it I can't help but wish me nor anyone should have to go through such a situation again. When i was informed on tuesday that i was no longer "at risk" of losing my employment, I knew the bullet had missed me, but i am ever so afraid of what i would find when I turn back to look. The overwhelming sense of relief is stopped hard by a fierce sense of helplessness, when I look at the smoking gun.
The F word!
One of my mates asked me today, "So tell me, how is your life as NOT a student?", and I replied "I spend too much time thinking about the F word."
Ditch the thoughts, I mean FINANCE.
5 years back, i left a lot of things i cherished behind me, chasing a dream, and 5 years now, I am still undecided which was the right step. But one thing I am certain is I dont feel I have taken a wrong turn yet.
Life as a student in a forgein country was an ordeal and an adventure in itself. Life changed from waking up and finding warm milk and mom-made breakfast on the table, to waking up and wondering if i shld go thru the hassle of making any breakfast. Only comfort was, i could bunk school without having to make excuses to parentals!
So what has changed from that student to being a pro now ? I still wake up and wonder if i shld hassle myself with breakfast, but I have to make excuses if i wanna bunk work... But who wants to make excuses when I love the work I do anyway :-) Its nice to have a nice chunk of money flowing into your account every month, and knowing u worked for it. Its nice to walk into a building and feel a part of a team who is doing something that is changing the world.
Its nice to finally feel independant and find yourself building your own identity. But in the first week of orientation, I figure I have to decide who gets a big chunk of money if i die during employment. What pension options do i want?! What health insurance do i choose?! Planning my education loan reapayment... And the story goes on! And thats where it all started. Apart from earning and spending, you now worry about "future", "savings" and the BIG I (, no not myself, but ) "Investment". I can hear many of you saying "Chill out man! you just started!". Don't you wish it was that simple?! Wait till you start reading the fine-print on Taxes! And lets not even get started on bills!
Things felt far more smooth, when all you had to do was attend lectures and chill out with mates in the evening... better still - bunk lectures and chill out with mates all day! Just as much as all this seems like a bother, life has a twisted sense of humour - just as much as u hate it, you develop a liking for it. The whole sense of complication, planning, understanding and acting gives you a cruel sense of satisfaction.
Not to go without mention, is the fact that I do have a increased respect for how hard the parents try. And I defenitely have to mention the perks of owning a car, and driving over 10,000 miles in less than 6 months! I Love it!
Ditch the thoughts, I mean FINANCE.
5 years back, i left a lot of things i cherished behind me, chasing a dream, and 5 years now, I am still undecided which was the right step. But one thing I am certain is I dont feel I have taken a wrong turn yet.
Life as a student in a forgein country was an ordeal and an adventure in itself. Life changed from waking up and finding warm milk and mom-made breakfast on the table, to waking up and wondering if i shld go thru the hassle of making any breakfast. Only comfort was, i could bunk school without having to make excuses to parentals!
So what has changed from that student to being a pro now ? I still wake up and wonder if i shld hassle myself with breakfast, but I have to make excuses if i wanna bunk work... But who wants to make excuses when I love the work I do anyway :-) Its nice to have a nice chunk of money flowing into your account every month, and knowing u worked for it. Its nice to walk into a building and feel a part of a team who is doing something that is changing the world.
Its nice to finally feel independant and find yourself building your own identity. But in the first week of orientation, I figure I have to decide who gets a big chunk of money if i die during employment. What pension options do i want?! What health insurance do i choose?! Planning my education loan reapayment... And the story goes on! And thats where it all started. Apart from earning and spending, you now worry about "future", "savings" and the BIG I (, no not myself, but ) "Investment". I can hear many of you saying "Chill out man! you just started!". Don't you wish it was that simple?! Wait till you start reading the fine-print on Taxes! And lets not even get started on bills!
Things felt far more smooth, when all you had to do was attend lectures and chill out with mates in the evening... better still - bunk lectures and chill out with mates all day! Just as much as all this seems like a bother, life has a twisted sense of humour - just as much as u hate it, you develop a liking for it. The whole sense of complication, planning, understanding and acting gives you a cruel sense of satisfaction.
Not to go without mention, is the fact that I do have a increased respect for how hard the parents try. And I defenitely have to mention the perks of owning a car, and driving over 10,000 miles in less than 6 months! I Love it!
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