A father’s letter to his daughter - 2

To remind you once again am neither a J L Nehru nor a Lord Chesterfield to write this letter but as a CEO of a small brick and mortar company I think am qualified to comment about this particular subject. Before going for your summer intern you asked me an interesting question of the position of E-commerce in India. That day I avoided my answer. In the corporate circles it is often told that "to keep silence is a crime...". So here comes my answer. As usually it is not crisp and sweet but a bit lengthy and bitter.

Few years back my partner and me attended a PNC meeting for an order. It was a big one and with that we are neither in a position to accept other orders nor we are sure about the execution of the same within that time frame. Added to that the margin was also not good because it was a big order. What they say “even we loose and odds also we loose”. So I was a bit scary. The meeting was at our client's board room which was lavishly decorated. On the wall of the room I came across a ship painting with a quote on it. "A ship in the harbor is safe but that's not what ships are built for."

I have not even asked my partner's opinion and taken the MOU and affixed my signature showing their MD their painting on the wall. He commented affixing his signature "Srinivas - business is all about taking risks". Working in Vajra for more than twelve years do I accept it now? No - in my perception "business is all about taking decisions." I used to joke with my team mates during their annual increments that "money neither can be created nor destroyed but it only changes places and forms".

So these two statements are my answer to the position of E commerce in India. It is all about taking risks / decisions and not getting worried about money what one is going to get at the end of the day. As simple as that? If not you guys answer and convince me in a different way.

Some time back I was talking about the Roman God Janus with his two faces one looking into the future and another one into the past. In my view for running any conventional business - one should be a Janus looking into past and future for the top line and bottom lines. But for a E com biz one should be a "Brahma" with all four faces facing NEWS - not North, East, West and South but Net sales, Earnings, Welfare of Promoters / VCs and finally and most importantly Supply Chain Management.

Please go through the following two articles -

http://www.businessinsider.in/Jabong-is-losi…/…/47185686.cms

http://trak.in/…/flipkart-amazon-snapdeal-revenues-losses-…/
 
It was clear that many e com companies in the world (other than 3 -4 if am right) are not making money as of now but are going to get in future. May be that is true with the calculations as on today. But you might have learnt that all economic theories revolve around a Latin phrase "Ceteris Paribus" - i.e. all other things remaining equal. In these days of instability we have to substitute the phrase "mutatis mutandis" and then calculate the above future predictions. Don't you think it is further complexly complicated with other riders acting on these future predictions? So try to calculate the much complicated equation from your side.

Affectionately – Your Old Man.

All titles and trade names belong to the respective owners and suitably acknowledged and all views expressed are my personal.

A father's letter to his daughter

My dear kid,

Am neither a Lord Chesterfield nor a J L Nehru to write this letter. Nevertheless am a typical Indian father who is proud about his only daughter. On your graduation day when an young lady (may be a junior) started the proceedings of the day with fluent english and good voice I was nervous about my daughter. When they first called the rankers I was disappointed because my kid was not listed. Finally when the 'Valedictorian' Ms. Anjana Jaladi called to the dais I was on the edge of my seat. They are one of my proud moments when you boldly started to deliver the speech and got loud applause a few times for the punch lines in front of the VC and all the teaching fraternity. Keep up the spirit young one.

I know - I got a baby girl who used to cry when she could not find her pencil box. But I wonder how come my kid has grown up to be a lady who is making the proud parents and graduating students to cheer. As parents we look ourselves in you guys - for the things we missed. As I could not get a seat in a campus college it was my obvious choice for you to join the OUCT four years back. Today I feel we have taken a good decision when you rubbed your shoulders with some of the best students of your time and got good friends who will be there with you for the rest of your life.

Welcome to the world of engineers - Beta. But very soon you feel it is not a professional arena but a man eating man corporate world. Am not cursing but soon you find out it is an unfair world over there. People do not cheer for you but jeer you when you present your work or try to show the best of you. You being a lady you have a glass ceiling to break. It is interesting to see how you face all this. But do not worry - people before you succeeded and they will after you as well. You are one among more than hundred and twenty crores of Indians. Always remember that.

once I told you - not try to please me so that you have to please me till the end of my life. It is your life you are going to live and you will live only once. But do remember there is a class of people who respect you for what you are not for what you have got or going to get. Try to please such a class or join such band wagon. You know I like 'Celia De grey' of AH and 'Florentyna Rosnovski' of JA. No am not asking you to become the CEO of a Pharma Co or the First Lady of USA. But like those characters I like you also fight in your life and "don't let lesser people dissuade you".

Also as my father told me am reiterating it to you "Do not frustrate about failures. Always remember King Bruce of Scotland". I wish and pray - Insha Allha - you get the best of all the things in your life. God Bless you my child.

Affectionately

Your 'Old man'.

My first blog in Telugu

 మహకవి  పోతన పద్యం  ఒకటి 

డాక్టర్ వెంకట రమణ గారు తన బ్లాగ్ లో చిత్తూరు నాగయ్య గారి  పోతన సినిమా గురించి ప్రస్తావించారు. అంతర్జాలం లో మహకవి పోతన పద్యాలు చదువుతూ ఉంటె ఒక పద్యం నన్ను విశేషంగా ఆకట్టుకుంది.  క్షీరసాగరమధనంలో,  అమృతం గురించి సాగరాన్ని చిలుకుతుంటే గరళం వచ్చింది. లక్ష్మిదేవి, కామధేనువు, ఐరావతం, కల్ప వృక్షం  లాంటి శుభప్రదమైన వాటిని అన్నింటిని  అందరు పంచుకున్నారు. కానీ  హాలాహలం వచ్చి అందరిని దహించ పోబోగా,  దేవతలు ఆందరూ పాహిమాం అంటూ భోళా శంకరుడిని వేడుకున్నారట. ఆ సందర్భం లోని పద్యం ఇది. ఆస్వాదించండి మీరు కూడా.


మ్రింగెడివాడు  విభుండని 

మ్రింగెడిదియు  గరళమనియు  మేలని  ప్రజకున్ 

మ్రింగుమనె  సర్వమంగళ 

మంగళసూత్రంబు నెంత మది నమ్మినదో 

పోతనగారి పద్యాలలో సరళంగా ఉండి నాబోటి ఎప్పుడూ తెలుగు చదవని వాడికి కూడా  అర్దం  అవ్వటం కాకుండా ఎంతో మధురంగా ఉంది ఈ పద్యం.  విషాన్ని సేవించ బోతున్నది తన భర్త అని తెలుసు,  వచ్చినది అందరిని దహించ గల  హాలాహలం  అని తెలుసు,   కానీ సకల జనుల మేలు కోరినది అయిన సర్వ మంగళా దేవి,  తన మంగళ సూత్రం మహత్యం నమ్మింది కనుక తన భర్తను, ఆ  గరళాన్ని నిబ్బరంగా  స్వీకరించమంది. పార్వతిదేవి కి ఉమ,  అపర్ణాదేవి, భవాని, హైమావతి, భువనేశ్వరి  లాంటి  అనేక పేర్లు ఉండగా  సర్వ జనుల  మేలు కోరింది కనుక సర్వ మంగళ అని సంభోదించాడు ఇక్కడ పోతన అన్నపూర్ణదేవిని. భర్త చే గరళాన్ని హరించినది కనుక ఆ తల్లి అయింది జగన్మాత.  లోకేశ్వరుడు అయిన శివుడు కంటే, విరూపాక్షి దేవి మంగళసూత్రంబు గట్టిదని భావించిన కవి హృదయం ఎంత మధురం. 

నా మిత్రుడు మరియు కళాశాల రోజులలో సహాధ్యాయీ  శ్రీధర్ తెలుగు లోనే రాయటం మరియు ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరములు  జరపటం గురించి తెలుసుకుని, ఉత్తేజం పొంది నేను తెలుగు లో రాసిన మెదటి బ్లాగ్ ఇది. ఎన్నో ఏళ్ళ క్రితం నుంచి తెలుగులో సంభాషించిటం తప్ప రాయటం మర్చిపోయున నాకు శ్రీధర్  చూపిన దారి నచ్చింది కనుక ఇది మిత్రుడు శ్రీధర్ కి అంకితం.     

"We work to become not to acquire.." - Elbert Hubbard

Few years back to be precise in December 2007 I wrote in my blog "What for people work and why?” During the past four years in fact for the past twenty years or more I have been discussing about this topic with many of my pals. Because of these brain storm sessions, I even changed my perception about what for we work.

On this discussion I got some direct and indirect answers. The best answer in my view so far is from a net pal quoting Elbert Hubbard "We work to become not to acquire". But in the contrary many of us - am sure work to acquire not to become. Contradict with both the views? Just think and express what for you work.

In the past few years because of computer's penetration into work areas the methodology of work is changed. I heard at times people are staying back in the evenings to abuse internet or to have free snacks and dinner at work places. May be it is true in certain cases but in the manufacturing field where is the question of abusing the net when even a pc is not there at the work place.

Last four years of time has seen so many changes in the economic scenario in India as well as internationally. So nothing is taken for granted that it will stay with us - job, house, car, shares or money. During these days I came across somebody's joke in the net - "In the morning before going to my work place I am worried that my job is there or not and in the evening before going to my place am worried my wife is there or not." A good joke in deed.

Even if we work to acquire or we work to become - first thing that is required is to work. For me of late - work itself is not there. How foolish am to ask an inappropriate question!!

The engineer who sold his Alto - Part 2

In the current days of sequels nothing stops with part 1. So taking cue from telugu tv soaps (with their uninterrupted 999th episode and still continuing) my blog part -2 has also so many miles to travel as well. But do not afraid I am planning less than three digit figure only.

Stock markets in India have recovered and business is gradually picking up. But I could not change my Alto and this time am not confused for the reason. Reason is not financial (even if it is financial also I prefer not to accept that fact because I consider myself as one of the richest in between one to five hundred millions of Indians from either side) but my capacity to analyse the complete aspects of any tricky situation like changing a car.

In any "To be or not to be - that is the question" scenario - it is always preferable to chalk down the pros and cons of that issue. So I explored the idea of changing the car deeply and at the end of the brain storm session result arrived is no need to change. Some of the reasons influenced this decision collected from different sources are listed categorically.

1. While driving my ALTO am more relaxed because it is battered from all the possible directions so nothing is going to damage it any further. So even in the thick traffic jams of Hyderabad I can always ram into cars who have just overtaken me and wink at them happily.

2. If anybody want to learn car driving one can try readily on mine without me objecting much. Anjana - hurray hurray.

3. Laaysa alias Buddi my apartment care taker's little daughter and the latest entry into Sri Manu Homes is able to identify that JS of Flat 302 is coming from the far end of our street by the sounds offered by my car free of cost to the general public.

4. I strongly feel her father also object for my changing the car because whenever she is not going to sleep he first try with a lullaby and even if she do not bulge with that song then he pretend to put her into my car and this trick never failed once. I do not want to disappoint Satyam by changing my car.

5. Chalapathi our caretaker at Vajra feels bitter with a brand new car because his cleaning the present car hardly noticed. Right now even if his cleaning is offered as an ad "before and after" difference I bet a thousand bucks for anybody identifying the difference at all. So he does have a point to offer to me in changing my car.

6. when Barack Obama has offered bailout packages to banks in USA - bosses claimed bonus out of the package sum and that lead to severe criticism. Similarly in India also in the days of recession it is a bad example to set by changing the car and I do not want to give a chance to the CNBC and NDTV guys to have a debate of me changing the car right now. Who knows somebody from BBC will also start a lead show and this becomes second hottest topic in TV other than current Common Wealth Games fiasco.

7. I was told one should not be selfish but should think holistic by "extending the boundaries" and try to see a " big picture" in each and every issue. This inspired me to take care the benefit of car manufacturers also. So me changing a car frequently for every ten years put lot of stress on car manufacturers in India to upgrade their models frequently as well. Why can't somebody consider me for a national prize for these futuristic thoughts.

8. If I change a car - I can write in my Directors remarks in my company's Annual report "Executive director of your company is happy to announce that he has upgraded his car for the benefit of all the share holders ..." which definitely shows the progress company has made in the past year. But Vajra is not a listed company to put this and make our stock price soar. So there is no need to change unless we are listed.(Why can't it be before Vision 2020 or a bit around?)

on the contrary there is not a single strong point found to change the car even though I tried my level best to find the trival points also. SO based on this till a decade to come - come on "Let's Go..." in my old ALTO.

Defeat, defeat how cruel you are?

Else where in my blog I wrote "Ask a failed man how he failed, so that he can explain at length, but not a man who has succeeded because he do not know how he was successful". Is this statement correct? Few weeks back I was watching a tennis match of Wimbledon - gentlemen's final 2009 between Swiss FEDEX Vs Yankee Andy Roddic. What a match it was? I was biting my nails, watching the volleys, deuces, tie breakers, games, sets and both the sport men’s struggle to win that match at any cost. No doubt it was a clash of titans and a match to be remembered for years to come.

Finally it was ended with the highest ever games fought in a grand slam - if am right about the records. My heart bleeded for Andy Roddic for his defeat. I have not seen (or missed) tears in the eyes of Roger Fedarer (unlike when he won the title at Rolland Garrows) or in the eyes of defeated Roddic other than greatest disappointment. To compensate that situation I have tears in my eyes which I want to hide in front of my daughter because she may think that am emotionally weak bol ke. (Incidentally even with books also, still after reading the same book so many times I will have tears in my eyes and one such book to quote is "A train to Pakistan" by Mr.Kushwanth Singh).

I do not know that I will have tears in my eyes for a tennis match fought by two non Indian players. I asked myself later so many times, what made me to move in such a way? The answer is the defeat in such a fashion. I know how it hurts when you loose something after coming to the verge of winning the match and after fighting savagely for more than four and half hours or so. when Roddic commented "But I tried Pete..." for the greatest player Pete Sampras watching from the stands, every body watching that match know what he meant by saying "I tried..." and how he tried to win the match.

My daughter who is also there in front of the TV watching that match asked why am I disappointed? She knows to whom my respect goes to because of my moist eyes. It is not for the defeat as we all know that no looser will ever respected but for the way Andy Roddic has accepted the defeat and responded later. Am sure we will all have a few occasions of watching this final in years to come under the golden moments of Wimbledon. At the same time we have to bow for Fedarer without loosing his patience fought and won the match.

Any defeat is cruel and merciless and how a person takes it is more important. Some take it gracefully and some do not accept it and blame it on everybody including the empires, judges and deciders. A few examples to quote is the reality shows on different TV channels. At times it is boring to see people weeping for a defeat in those shows. To help this situation I think anchors are also trying their level best to build up the tempo for the elimination round. I have left these shows for good and resumed my old habit of reading books. I forgot to mention here that I watched a few of the elimination rounds of a recent Swayamvara - a different cup of tea to taste. So in this for somebody who is eliminated can we say that he is defeated? I do not know and somebody comment on this.

Also in another channel there is a contest (I do not know what it is to be termed a game show or a reality show) to win in that you have to tell the truth in the presence of your family members. They ask you few questions which will pain you. I was told a few families are already broken by this. Good for us. We deserve what we want. Participation in this is a devils alternative in my perception. Here it is not the question of loosing or gaining but probing the inner thoughts and confess with a poly graph machine connected to you. This contest, I think has opened a Pandora's Box. Let much discussion go on this show and hope the muddy waters will be settled. Even though these channels are commercial, I hope human beings are there behind these concepts and are they not listening what India is saying? Mera Bharat Mahan.......

"What's in a name?"

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." - Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) - Shakespeare.

But in my perception there is a lot at stake in anybody's name. People whose names starts with a higher order of alphabet always struggle when they are called for a debate or in getting invited - not by first came first serve basis, but on the order of alphabetical priority. I know this because of my name with an S. That is the reason I put my daughter's name with an A - Anjana. But she is complaining that she did not have enough time to think about any subject when they are calling to talk her in her college assignments. So there is a point to be noted here as well. So point no 1 is name should start with a "C" or a "D" preferably.

I have an identity crisis till my late age in the life. This is because during my childhood days I was timid. In contrast my elder sister is ferocious and she used to protect me and my eldest sister in our preschool quarrels. Because of her peculiar name "Muni Kanya" I was always Muni Kanya's brother only. For me being two years younger to her is not an issue but for my eldest sister who is two years senior to Muni Kanya also known as Muni Kanya's sister only. Phew - bad luck. In Hyderabad telephone directory Muni Kanya's name is only one of its kind. So point no 2 is try to put a peculiar or odd name. (Also try to be ferocious as well - Sis am sorry and I tried to be like you and learnt that it is not possible for everyone to be like that).

Srinivas is a such a common name in Andhra, so many of them are there with same initials also in every class. During my college days my roommate is also another Srinivas. But Sekhar has christened us Pidi Srinu 1 and 2 which followed for the rest of the years. Later during my job in MACE there are three SRAOs and all are named KS, JS and VS based on their initials. So this JS struck to me finally (other than Muni Kanya's brother) and I liked it because of the simplicity. I thought there is no confusion until one day some body is inquiring about one Mr. PS in stead of JS. To be further simpler like Americans I have to call myself Mr. S. But what is the guarantee that some body may call me Mr. Z. So point no 3 is no name is not so simple to avoid confusion.

In contrast longer names do have advantages. Let me quote a joke. (source of this is not identified but duly acknowledged). In one of the international flights Bond sat by the side of an Indian and an Andhrite. Casually Bond introduced himself in his typical way "I am Bond - James Bond". Our friend snapped back "I am Rao, - Subba Rao, - Venkata Subba Rao, - Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond frowned), - Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond yawned), Satya Siva Naga Venkata Subba Rao (Bond fainted). The joke ends with our friend commenting "Do not play games with Indians..". Point No 4 long names are comfortable because you can trim yourself in whatever way you like and your spouse call whatever way she / he likes and a bit of that name always exist over there.

Also some times a few names of persons or places just ring a bell in our memory and recollect that person or an activity immediately. For example if you want your daughter to become a tennis star put her name in such a way that it ends with a Pova, Eva or a Nova. Cut the scene you are sitting in Rolland Garrows or Wimbledon waving your hand from the stands vigorously cheering your daughter against William Sisters if they do not retire by that time.

There are other ways of world recognizing us with our name other than the above guidelines. Now a days it is the famous TAST (Throw A shoe Technique). Throw one on the face of a famous personality and chances are there that we may land in Teehar jail but next day we will become a personality of Who is Who in all GK books. Generations next will remember you with your name being sought for a quiz contest. Some body kindly advise other than this any short cuts to become famous with our names over night.......