In God (only) We Trust...?

I used to joke with my USA settled NRI friends saying "In God You Trust." but we Indians trust in human beings. Now I want to comment that I do not want to trust anybody. Why so?

Today is a typical day where I am struggling with so many mistakes from morning to evening, now am praying when I can call it a day. Morning early hours I got a call that in one of the invoices we made a mistake by erroneously adding up the numbers and putting a wrong figure in the total column. From my accounts executive end it seems to be a small mistake. But I can understand as it reflected in an export invoice how much trouble it causes to our customer and in turn to us later. Ironically after preparation of that invoice I signed on it. My experience with my ex boss for this type of mistakes is that if somebody is asking to sign on a paper do not think they are asking your autograph. First read thoroughly and affix your signature on it after ensuring that there are no mistakes in it. So am cursing myself for that error.

Again today we got four cheques all stapled to separate vouchers from one of our big corporate customers. So we are happy for getting so many payments in one day and that too in these days of recession. After opening one of the covers alas the voucher is for us only but the cheque belongs to somebody else neatly stapled to this voucher. If it is only jumbling of two vouchers, then there are only two sufferers. Otherwise God only knows how many. I do not know when we can get back our misplaced cheque. Let me pray god. May be that is the reason technically advanced Americans are saying "In God We Trust.." bol ke.

We send a lot of items for further processing from our end. The process is one person to count and later another person also to recount and finally the master (myself) counts them. I used to remember the novel of Jerome K Jerome "Three Men in a boat" where in he quotes that all the members in that room measure for a specified mark and arrive at different figures. We too are no indifferent to this and all three members arrive with different figures and I wonder why at least any two figures are also not getting tallied. (I put a bench mark whoever weak in arithmetic can join our setup as the bottom line requirement.) The silver lining is after processing all the items are safely returned back and once again another three figures arrive. When any two of these figures tallies I want to announce a reward for the guy who guessed (not counted) that figure. Till now there is no claimant for that reward including myself. God save my setup.

With these back ground we have sent some items for plating purpose and later to save the transportation charge we directly dispatched the plated items to our customer. This time it is not the arithmetic problem but altogether one item is missing. Now I have to hire a professional detective to help us in finding out if we have already sent that item or is it still lying in our workshop some corner or it is with the platter shop or dropped down somewhere in between. Can anybody suggest who is the best detective to hire for this? Or shall I quote "In God only we also trust.." and keep quite. Let me think and finalise.

I used to get a statement from the bank with an additional deduction. (I do not know why there is no additional addition but always deduction?). When we inquire they say OK we will check and revert back? I used to remember a joke where one employee in an organisation got 100 bucks more in one month salary and he kept quite. Next month he got 100 bucks less and he brought this to the notice of the accounts department. When they asked why it was not brought to their notice in the previous month he sincerely quipped back " You know I always excuse one mistake but not two mistakes in a row..".

With a serious tone I want to comment in the good olden days where there are no personal computers and no excel programs to check the sums horizontally and vertically, people are working using the best and unbeatable human brains and doing flawless work. Now with all these facilities what is that we are doing? I want to know is it only with me or is there anybody to second me? To quote an ad from the TV (Jaghoo grahak jaghoo..) I am telling everyone "jaghoo aadmi jaghoo" and do the work in a flawless manner. In human beings we trust and let this trust take us forward so many miles to come...

Multi tasking and work study - my views

When I ask our office assistant Chalapathi to bring coffee after four o clock in the evening for some visitors - I used to wonder why we are getting it late even though some of the times, our visitors are leaving without having coffee. Later I learnt Chalapathi is trying to optimise his two tasks of bringing snacks for other staff which is slotted for six o clock and this coffee together around five o clock. What an excellent idea of optimisation at the expense of time which do not has any meaning in Indian conditions.

My elective subject in my final year of studies was Work and Time Study. I have not understood this optimisation of tasks those days. Immediately after joining my first job I learnt about optimisation very easily and effortlessly. I have learnt following others. Our departmental typist was saying "it is not my duty to fetch files.". Well of course some of the times typing also is not her duty when she is not in a mood to do it. So I also learned very fast what are all not my duties forget about learning what are my responsibilities.

In any case wherever I am, my tasks are always very limited and at my comfort I can trim them further. Working in public sector and other organised sectors always have an added advantage. There are always enough competitors to go for a finished task, piratically a few for a task which is about to begin. But for a failed task there are absolutely none and we have to wonder who has initiated that task and guided it all through till it failed. It is worth while to remember here that TEAM WORK is always YOU but not ME as long as it is yet to be completed and afterwords it is only ME.

In our college days our Professor KVK explained about the work study at length in a lighter vein explaining about the movie "The Modern Times". In that movie to increase the rate of production the conveyor speed was doubled - and to accustom to that speed Charle Chaplin used to move his hands off duty also and wherever he is. So whenever I want the rate of production at my factory to be increased I used to worry that I do not have a conveyorised production line so that I can triple its speed. So folks if you want to go for a production line choose the one which can be done with a variable speed conveyor as the bottom line requirement.

Recently my nephew Teja has brought an Apple Ipod from his US trip. So now am enjoying with ear plugs of Ipod playing "Nagaada - Nagaada... of Jab We Met" while the ipod is charging from the PC and the Plug and Play modem (once again loaned from Suresh. You know these small loans of so many things from so many make me happy always) jacked to another USB port showing me the internet world. Also there is a back ground request of my wife asking me to fetch her some thing which can be comfortably ignored . My kid is baffled with so many wires plugged to the PC and to me running pockets of info to and fro. What an opportunity for me to teach my daughter about multi tasking unlike my Prof who has to quote an old movie. Yes really these are Modern Times.

Multi tasking - in my understanding is doing so many tasks simultaneously with the same resources. But for me - multi tasking is doing a thing what I like and that too for my pleasure and showing the world that am doing so many things and that too for others sake. Confused a bit and want me to explain? Sorry right now am busy in plugging still one more jack to another USB port and answering a cell phone parallely - so just for now "You are in queue - please wait.."

"The Engineer who sold his Alto"

"Excellent (caption / idea) mama go ahead and do it"- Sammi my niece commented when I told her about selling of my car. I do not know what attracted her - selling of my car or the caption. In any case I have not sold my car thanks to the stocks crashing and the economic turbulence. Now I do not know when can I sell it and purchase a new car. It is not about changing a car am perplexed but how fast any country's economy can change within days am wondering.

Few days back I was discussing about the cascading effect and the tumbling of world economy as if I know every thing not only the Indian but the world economy as well. Now am thoroughly confused about a theory a day including the "ripple effect". But I enjoyed by a sms joke saying that "Do not get panic. You have nothing to loose (Whatever you can loose - you have already lost)". Wow - what a beautiful way of summarising the present economic situation.

I was told that Indian economy was strong. We have not spent the future incomes unlike the developed countries. OK agreed but where is the future income? I have seen enough abusive messages on net for fall in the markets and economic conditions each one blaming remaining all people. Based on this somebody coined a new phrase "money can neither be created nor destroyed". Well I contradict that. Money can be created and destroyed as well like the great Indian rope trick this is the Great Indian Money trick.

In January 2008 when a mega IPO came to issue - people who are not having a demat account are jokers. In 2008 October people who are not having a demat account are wise. Mera Bharat Mahan. When they are telling so much on the TV about the stocks and I was thoroughly listening - my daughter asked me "Dad how much you lost?" I gave a diplomatic reply "well beta, it is difficult to say right now. It is all going to depend on what corrective actions am going to take on this immediately." Phew - the corrective action back fired and I lost again. So who said money can't be destroyed. Who is the fool who thinks it is wise to square up the stocks.

Well there are positive aspects of this market crashes also. On the starting of the week fresh in the morning as usually I start worrying about my problems in the workshop. All of sudden Ram Prasad gives me a call and announces that the market has lost around 1000 points. Well all other bigger problems are vanished in front of this. So for how many things one has to worry. So it makes life simpler. Keep telling yourself - " Do not get panic. You are not going to loose". I kept Geetha Saramsam in my work area. ”Why are you worrying? What you think yours now - originally belongs to somebody else yesterday - goes to somebody else tomorrow. …” How come Lord Krishna knew about Indian stocks that time itself?

No doubt our economy is strong because so many people can't afford a demat account because they do not have a PAN card. So where is the question of they loosing money (well of course gaining as well). There are no credit or debit cards for a majority portion so there wont arise a question of spending future money on EMIs. So for them the ripple and cascading effects do not matter much. There is no need to look into 24 hours analysis channels who are discussing at the top of their pitches with phrases like Mayhem in markets, another black Friday and blood bath in Dalal street etc.

So if any body not having a Demat account rush now and get one. You won't get a chance in near future to buy the stocks in numbers. Why so? May be my theory today is that they may offer on Kgs after weighing them. God bless India and me. Teja - how much you gained with your investments in the stocks and with this intelligent guys back up. Of late have you seen your portfolio? It melted and only 25% left. Poor sis. She do not know and is thinking that her brother and son are going to double her money in six months. OK we want it to be doubled and it tripled only the other way around.

Bapatla Engineering College, India - First Batch 1981 - 85

Hi friends,

Spare me a few minutes. This is PIDI SRINU. Do not say pidi who? If I say am Jaladi Srinivasa Rao also I do not think you folks recollect me either. So let me call myself like Pidi Srinu of first batch mechanical engineering student in Bapatla Engineering College 1981 - 85.

I was searching for my professor KVK on net and learnt that my prof and his MTech class mates are planning to meet at IIT Khargapur in December 2008. There is a thread in circulation in his classmates circle under the heading "Jab We Met..- not the movie". So I thought why can't I also contact a few of my pals or circulate a thread. My ultimate goal is to do something constructive for the community or for the society.

As such am taking liberty in sending a mail to those people am able to collect their mail ID's. If by chance - this reaches a wrong person ignore it. Otherwise reaches a right person and not interested to be disturbed spare me but not chide me. Why so? Few years back when I was traveling in a railway compartment with my mom I came across a college junior. I tried to talk to her but got a cold reception. later my mom chided me for talking to a lady - usually as all mothers do. Mom am sorry think I did a mistake that time.

So right now also am scared to say Hi. But down under the line 23 years - I think it is safe for me now to say Hi. (Mom believe me this time am not talking to a lady but only mailing to a few oldies. Accept the fun pals). By the way how are you professor? Still bitter about me for talking to you in that compartment two decades back? Learnt you have published so many papers and teaching so much to all young guys and gals. Wish my kid also become a student of yours and unfortunately she got a rank of 6840 this year and do not get a seat in your university. Think she takes after her father who could not get a seat after attempting the entrance twice and later purchased a seat in BEC. Hey do not reveal this secret to me - am most of the times under the impression that I am a great scholar and you people are unable to recognise it.

Unfortunately I could not meet my college friends when an opportunity came my way two years back as Vallabhaneni Satish asked me to attend a get to gather arranged at Vijayawada Bhavani resorts. Am sorry I could not attend it. I was searching the net rather pouring through it and came across a few people of BEC and learnt interesting things. From our college students and that too from the first two batches- there are people from contractors to engineering college owners, College HODs and Professors to Industrialists, Non resident Indians to only resident Indians. As far for me to quote from the words of our then reader Mr. DVR - I set up and ruining a small scale industry. No spelling mistake you have read it correctly. (In my roommate words "a guy working hard for the sake of a work shop to make it and its people sustain ". B ava how dare ? When both of us meet I decided to quote Sri Sri poem "I" from Maha Prasthanam. So any crazy idea of meeting me - drop it now).

My nephew was a student of a famous Engineering college in Vijayawada and I told him that his present head of the department was a classmate of mine. My nephew Teja wondered "How come - my HOD is from electronics and a doctorate and is highly intellectual, a would-be principal of a very big engineering college and .. you". May be his idea is am not big enough to be a classmate to his HOD. What a pity? Well dear professor what shall I say? I advise you to vouch for me yar.

I want to know "the auspicious stone outside our workshop lab" on which I got a sentiment that whoever sit before the exam they will good marks bol ke. Is it still there pals? Am completely nostalgic and trying to go back into the past ........rewind - twenty five years back......Do not wake me up or try to bring me to the present...

Cheers

J S Rao.

PS : Are you interested in joining a net community of BEC, or interested in putting your details and mail id in that? If yes let me have your concurrence. I wish good luck to all of you folks.

"Yeah Dil Mange More..." VS Satisfaction

When an advertisement came in TV years back with the punch line "Yeah Dil mange more.." am not sure what does that mean? It is not because of that caption being in hindi language but my query is how it relates with human life. In economics there is a chapter about human wants. "Human wants are unlimited in number, if one satisfies another one takes it place.." etc. I thought this advertisement is just reiterating the economic explanation of human wants.

But when I started observing things and experiences in life, am able to feel the complete meaning of that punch line. No doubt always for any person "yeah dil mange more...." and it keep on managing time and again. There are so many jokes on human psychology but I want to just mention the one that suits this subject. A guy wanted to purchase an umbrella from a departmental store which offers items on fixed price. Without knowing that he bargained the umbrella for half of the listed price. The salesman wanted to make fun out of our guy. So he said ok take it. No the deal is not struck. The guy again offered half of what newly agreed upon. So the sales guy now offered the umbrella free of cost. Then our guy insisted for two. I do not know what if he were given two..

In my previous job every year at the time of annual increments, I used to negotiate with my boss for increments for my team and myself. I know the easiest task is to ask the sky for me and a fortune for all my team mates. After a lot of discussions with emotional screenplay scenes finally the magic figures are arrived at. Prima facie majority of my team mates are happy. (Let me pray nobody worked under me read this blog and contradict this). Next day morning after the new scales are implemented, I used to get the feed back that an engineer in another department who is junior in duty by ten minutes (even though the time of reporting was a few years back) than an engineer in my team is getting fifty bucks more. My life is being tumbled for a week to ten days concentrating not on any design related issues but how to compensate on the fifty bucks.

Life is always difficult to work at "High Places" because of this Dil mange more. By the way I advised my kid to join the junior most position in the hierarchy in any organisation and stay there only. But this is not possible one day or other at least a few guys or gals reporting to you and you will subjected to the above difficulties. The next best thing is to try in politics to be elected as an independent MLA in a government which stops just with 1 - 2 seats less than the minimum majority. Then there is no limit for your dil mange more.

Most of the times now a days am representing the price negotiations, it is not because I am the perfectionist in that but due to TINA (there is no alternative) factor. In negotiations for a contract or for material supply it is a one man or two men team being put to negotiate with a committee representing purchase, accounts, costing, indentor, designs etc. So many dils mange more. You do not know where to start and what to offer. Even if you strip open (I used to pray every time that no lady members should present there or else the committee members are not capable of reading the lip moments - so that the file is bounced on the table itself) then also not even a single person is happy. I suggest to wear only half sleeve shirts or sleeveless while going for negotiations so that to demonstrate that we do not have any trick figure hidden up above the sleeve. At times to quote my supplier Mr. Subramanayam am happy I got the order and I were more happy had I not got that order because of the result arrived after satisfying a dozen departments.

In China government made it mandatory to have only one kid for a family. I doubt it is not because of the population explosion but due to this Yeah dil mange more theory only. My cousin is having two kids who always love each other. At times am jealous I do not have a brother to feel that kind of affection. Stay there with them for an hour, alas my feelings are changed. All of a sudden you hear a big war cry followed by few thuds... cut the scene the second kid who is almost seven years junior to the elder one is on top of his brother hitting on his face for a toy of 9 years old which is almost useless and that too originally it belongs to his brother and which not attracted him for the past few days. It has got the demand because he saw his bro playing with that. So this dil mange more has got no bars of age, region or religion.

OK - imagine every body is satisfied without manging more... cut the scene again we were living in the caves with leaves as our dresses. So let us pray that " Yeah Dil mange more...".

What for people work and why

Have you ever asked yourself what for do you work? I asked myself so many times. For me to work is a habit and a compulsion. May be in the Maslow's theory at times I feel - I am still standing on the first rung of the ladder trying to meet the basic requirements or stretching the separation line a bit further to classify that they all are my basic needs. Parallely at times I feel that - I have climbed all the five steps including the self actualisation stage as well. Am confused - hye na?

However I was told in another context by Ms. Renuka Mahaveer- an Industrial psychologist, that Maslow's Theory was too linear. If she is correct may be I have to compare my analogy with some other yardstick. So where is the yardstick? To compare with whom and to compare with what? So I started probing people. I asked all of my pals to answer this question. What is so great to answer that? Meera is a writer and she asked me what work - my domestic or about writing? A different window opened for me with her question. I never probed about work in those areas.

But typically what for people work? Is it not difficult to answer? That is the reason I first inquired you also to ask that question yourself. If you are working only for money and this answer satisfies you - you are not the person am addressing for. (If at all if somebody is reading this blog - I wonder?) I do believe that majority of us all are not working either for bread alone or purely for money. So what for?

Almost from the stone age people are working. Working for bread, working for comforts and working for luxuries and working for fun as well. But in the good olden days through mother nature - all the basic requirements are met, and still a person kept on working to improve the quality of life. So we came out from caves and started to live with all these modern facilities. So what made them to work in the days where no 'ESOPS' are there. I was told by so many that MOTIVATION makes a person to work. A good answer. So here comes the next question.

What is this motivation? Am not asking for the dictionary meaning alone. Because for different people motivation is defined in different ways. For some motivation is reward, for some it is financial satisfaction for some it is social recognisation and for some it is a black hole - all actions or efforts drain out. May be for me motivation is a gray area. Why so? Because am not sure what I want and what motivates me from time to time. Am greedy and "Ye Dil mange more.." theory always surfaces in my work area and as well as with my attitude.

Right from the days of modern civilization, industrial revolution so many theories are proposed by many of industrial psychologists or human nature observers. The father of scientific Management FW Talyor to William Ouchi and carrot and stick principle to Theories X,Y - modern days ESOPs, sharing of profits and win - win situations etc. How affective they all are? So am asking all of you to respond. Another angle is that majority of all these theories are talking about work at industries and service sectors only . What about domestic work? Work of home makers, poets, self employed? Who is going to answer? Am looking forward…

May be this is a starting point ... With a lateral thinking and getting views from all of you let me start correct my views or consolidate.

Some of the theories and suggested literature to read on motivation, inspiration and human behavior:

1.The Hawthrone's series of experiments (Elton Mayo, F Roethlisberger and William J Dickson) and the paradox of results

2.Abraham Maslow's hierarchical theory of motivation.

3.Douglas Macgregor's Theory X and theory Y.

4. Dr. Rensis Likert's management systems and styles

5.David Mcclelland Motivation theory.

6.Frederick Herzberg's motivation and hygiene factors.

7."Games People Play" a book by Eric Berne.

8."I am OK - You're OK" a book by Thomas Adams

9."The Monk who sold his Ferrari" a book by Robin Sharma

People who influenced me

In my life I might have came across a few thousand human beings. So many people and so many relations. Some touch and go relations and some shred warmth and comfort and with some - angry and hatred as well. How many of these people made an impression in my life. Not in thousands not in hundreds but for me there are only a few may be less than two digit numbers. It is very difficult to tell them in any order. So let me try to put them in a random fashion as my thoughts wander.

In my school days Naga Sena was our captain. He has identified that I take catches almost 8 out of 10 and made me to hold the position in first base in the game of soft ball in group B. That was a privilege for me for the rest of three years in The Hindu College High School during 1975 to 78. Kolli Eswar was my play mate and we jumped the walls in the nights for lifting crotons from a few houses of our then lecturers and were cycling to the nearest Manginapudi beech in Machilipatnam to bath in the salty / muddy Bay of Bengal waters.

Jahnavi my neighbor (May her soul rest in peace) thoroughly grilled me for a croton (for its peculiar leaves and colour) where I got because she wanted to purchase one without accepting my offer of having the same. Sis - I did not tell you that Eswar has lifted it for me from Babu Rao Sir's house and now I want to confess to you. But where are you now and what made you to end your life yar? I still remember the discussions I had with you about the book "Picture of Dorian Gray" and Ian Flemings James Bond Movies for their technical values.

During engineering college days Satish and Srinivas are my classmates and companions with whom I hardly have any secrets left to share. I already mentioned about all these guys in my earlier posts. All of them made my early childhood days to late teenage days quite a bit memorable. Bava read my blog and praise me yar... Hey in orkut there is a community BEC ladies hostel bol ke. Hi all those oldies why can't you try and join. I thought of joining but hesitated because the moderator has not informed that visitors of the hostel can also join. Hey you gals you missed some info of the first batch students by not providing me that chance.

Prof Karumannchi Vijay Kumar was our professor during graduation and his thoughts on organisational psychology was a fascination for me those days. Because of him I gave a seminar on "Hawthorne’s Experiments and its aftermath.." in March 1985 and all the final year mechanical students of BEC are baffled and thoroughly confused. I was told that Sreeramurthy my class mate was fainted completely. Still this Industrial Psychology is a subject I am interested and joined a few communities on Orkut and trying to learn what is happening on this subject in India.

Mr. Srinivasan Kumar was my first boss in the organised sector and he is the man who taught me to have a contingency plan like the one in the book "The Prodigal Daughter". So now also in every project I used to follow this theory but you know how difficult it is to have a contingency for every person and action plan in every stage. By working under him for the projects of Marine Radars and SART got the chance of traveling on board of Vessels from Visakhapatnam to Chennai and Mumbai to Cochin for sea trials of our equipment. These chances made me to sit on the navigation bridge room round the clock and talking to captains and first officers and rest in the owners cabins of the ships. For how much price I can purchase that?

Dr. Ramana Rao under whom I worked for so many years as a consultant to manager has influenced me quite a bit. He has got a vision and also he is highly optimistic about projects and delivery schedules. That was a challenge for me those days to rise for his expectations. In my productive life of Electronics Packaging field the best products still I rate are done for / by him with the help of team members all are cream in their field - Mr. G V N Rao, Muni Kanya, Latha, Kolli Sree Ram Prasad, Satyanarayana, Sambhayya, Vikram and all the best people in the Telecommunication field. It is like playing with the dream team selecting all cream from their field of respective strength from the world cricket members. But things and actions are dynamic and you can't keep all those dynamic people togeather.

Our auditor Mr. Mohana Rao, FCA who is still my occasional walk mate has got tremendous knowledge in financial matters and excellent drafting power. If any query is to be answered or a decision is to be made in a tough situation he is the man I remember first. During our walks we used to discuss what for a human being work? His financial back ground coupled with the knowledge shared by me through him helped me in my project to understand the hidden requirements of so many people.

Meera is my guru and a deep critic of human life. Her blog talks about human misery to human enlightenment. She commented once we all are class mates in a college called LIFE. She taught me not to look into the good and bad of any human being but try to understand the human nature and try to see a big picture inside each person. What a noble thought dear teacher! I appreciate your qualities and bow to your knowledge. Accept me for my rudeness and our difference of opinions on life and about human beings.

Durga my classmate and an NRI friend has got so many bitter experiences in this world and her exposure to this global village helped her to come out of the blues. I strongly feel she is fighting with everyone to make her work a perfect deal and in the process makes her life a wee bit difficult. To talk about her I used to quote Arthur Hailey from his novel The Strong Medicine “.... this gal has got so many facets.." bol ke. Hey Durga - how foolish am in calling a 40+ years oldy as a gal.

As Meera once commented that human life is like a merry stream and keeps on flowing. Also I recollect Newton's saying that am a kid playing on the Beach of the Ocean called Technology. So many people and so many experiences. With my old analogy in this blog else where am a blind person and touched a tiny part of the elephant LIFE and now describing it with my perception. Keep on correcting me my dear Pals.

Human Relations - Personal and Work Related

The toughest subject on this earth, I was told, is to understand any human being. I second this statement firmly. I tried to understand so many people in my life - my family members to friends in my personal life - my superiors, peers to subordinates at my work place - my suppliers, customers to my partners at my business etc. If I look back am I succeeded in understanding any one of them? Have I at least able to judge even a single person for his / her requirements and attitude? I do not think so - I do not know as on today what exactly so many of them or at least any one of them wants. I ask a question "Do I know what I want?”

To be frank with this question I have to answer in negative. So what is so difficult in understanding a person's attitude / requirements. If that is the question - to get the answer, I was told one has to read so many subjects like Psychology, Motivation, Economics and HR management etc. Based on my interest I studied some of the theories on this subject. Leaving behind these theories of Douglas Macgregor to Abraham Maslow I had lively discussions with my then guru Prof Vijay Kumar and my pals K V Mohana Rao, K Eswar Babu, Meera and Durga in USA. The more I studied and discussed the more I confused.

From my perspective, I divide human relations into two broad categories. One our intimate and personal relations with our family members / our loved ones and the other work related relationships. The major part of our life is sandwiched between these two. In addition to these we have casual relations like our walk mates in the morning and a street end supplier to our postman etc. But my feeling of late - our relationships are getting strained in understanding what the other people want.

To emphasize on this I used to explain in a design seminar that - before going to buy anything or asking a supplier to visit us we should be clear what exactly we want upto the last specification. But in most cases I also fail in identifying what I want. I go to a shop some of the times without knowing what type of shirt to buy. I ask to show the best shirts - then the sales guy asks "Checks or stripes or plain?" what one? What make? What color? What size at least? With me (so called Electronics Packaging Expert) I do not know and just buy a piece or two and my mom just comments saying it is similar to what I had three years back. (I really appreciate the female side of this great remembrance).

At our work, some of the times we were asked by a few of our customers to visit them urgently because their entire work is stopped and things are boiling up as we are not visiting them for one of their enclosure design. When we go there, to our dismay we find a few functional heads join for a meeting in front of us and start arguing upon what exactly they want. It seems that they have not done the ground work and they do not know what they want even when things are burning. I am not exaggerating the issue. It is the order of the day with some of the organisations in Indian conditions including ours.

Even in personal life also we do not know exactly what we want. We suffer with possessiveness as well as identity crisis and thrive for so many things. We want our spouse to enter into our inner heart and try to learn what exactly we want and act based on this. How fair? How many of you agree with me? So what all these things to relate with the human relations. There is a lot depends on this. If we are clear about so many things our life is also fair. But unfortunately this clarity in most of the cases is not there at all. Or otherwise even if we are clear our life partner or team member may not be clear. So there arise conflicts.

I was told in Indian conditions a person who is quite efficient at work is a poor relationship oriented at his/her personal life. Is it true? I don’t know but some of the times I do vote for the same feeling. I used to suggest my guys - do not work hard and show always very good results - because more is expected from you every time. This I coined as a "Yeah dil mange more theory". In that process everybody and every time expects high and your life will become miserable. Similarly the other way around if you do not produce results every time either you will be kicked out or out dated. So the best method in life is to follow the Parle advt - 50 : 50.

Working in the odd hours and late hours, more work related stress, approaching dead lines and boiling issues making us vulnerable and ulcers, IBS, migraine and work related health issues eating us away like cancer cells in a human body. Because of the work pressures the thin line between personal relations and official relations is getting erased and more and more people are getting involved into EMOTIONAL based relations. To ease out from these tensions or to vent our feelings we need at times a friend or a soul mate. The lending shoulders at times are causing more problems rather than solving the issues.

So one thing is sure - we have to help ourselves but nobody can bail us out from the tensions we are into. So am keep on telling myself - Boss help yourself and then help the society. JS - are you listening?

BEING LUCKY - FATE?

Some time back a friend of mine has asked me to send my experiences and feelings on LUCK. I told will write about my feelings not on being lucky but with a broader concept on FATE. So here am expressing my views now. I do not think am qualified enough to speak on this complex subject. Because I have not much studied even in my own religion (leaving apart other religions) about Karma Siddantha and Puranas. But based on my own feelings and experiences - I want to express something on this critical issue.

I used to observe our great grand parents and grand’s saying that so and so are lucky persons and whatever thing we do for them it fetches fast results. This they might have rated it definitely after a few observations only. So this being LUCKY starts from quite an early age for the people who are blessed and keep on continuing with them in every aspect of their life. If you observe the pattern in which things are happening for any individual over a long time, based on your observation you can guess or predict the content of difficulties in their life.

For blessed people - things come in their own way almost half completed for others they go back half way. For certain few they are like a stick with a bunch of green grass tied in front of the horse. The horse imagine it is reachable with a jump and can gulp the bunch and will be running to get but it is tied to the cart in front of it, it never reaches. May be for me to define luck - it is as simple as that. But what causes for a certain group to be blessed? Why can't every one of us are blessed and be in that band wagon?

My father was quite a bit interested in palmistry and used to observe all of our hands and predicted the future. For me - he predicted that his son will become an industrialist. Well of course those days I have not even completed my high school. Later when I completed my engineering and while working in public to private sectors also I never thought I will become an industrialist. I was doing hard work and thought that was what my father predicted being like industrious.

But FATE dragged me to become a promoter of an Industry. Yes now - am no doubt an industrialist. So even though it is a dream for me I wonder based on what he predicted about my future? But after becoming an industrialist also what happens for me in future? What are all the twists and turns? But in a generic fashion it can be assumed - not for me for every one of us all. To be certain life is like a sine wave for every one. It can't be good and generous in each and every aspect of life. There are always an upward curve followed by a down fall. There is a dialogue in a telugu movie "Kastams + sukhams = Jeevitham".

I casually asked my dad to sign in my scrap book (later within few years we missed him completely). He wrote "Success you achieve surely and definitely if you keep on working without frustrating about failures. Always remember King Bruce". Whenever am in blues I read those lines even as on today. For me things always come in my way but in a very tough fashion. So I always remember King Bruce and TRY AGAIN.

I, looked into my past and observed things or my ideas and how they are taking a shape. I learnt that with much hard work only am getting my things done. Every time I have to struggle hard to get anything come my way. (This may be true at least for half of the people because every body think what ever job they are handling is the toughest on earth). But with that also am happy because am able to reach my goals whatever am keeping from time to time. So I consider myself am lucky enough.

But I wonder how my father predicted that I face hardships and asked me to remember the king of Scotland who fought and fought so many times. Or may be is it my illusion that I face hardships? No I am in general - interested in human nature as a whole and keep on observings things in my life as well as with others. Based on that I analysed that for me things come in a hard way only. I started my career so many times and every time I have to prove myself. Even as on today all our projects are one of their kinds and every time they have to be proven. Nothing repeats with the same criteria what in economical laws they say cetarus paripus (all other things remaining equal).

What is fate? Once Dasu my supplier was commenting with me "Sir, if you have got a desire to do something - it will burn you from inside and takes you like a whirlpool along with it - into its own path and make you rich or a popper..". May be he was elaborating what our elders have said "BUDDHI KARMANUSARINI". In my tenth class my teacher Mr. R S K Murthy was telling - there is a supreme being controlling the total acts of this universe (may be that is GOD) and based on the intricate set of commands given by the Supreme Being all things will be working in this universe. If that is the case why the Supreme Being commands are working good for some and not so good for others and bad for the rest?

One of my colleagues was commenting - luck is like a sum in our savings bank account. If more of it consumed we have got less and less for our future use. Is it so? I do not know. In fact if at all, there is a chance to measure how much luck is there in my account and if am at will to use it in a fashion I can, I spare it for major issues. As I already mentioned in my earlier posts - we do not have much of options in exercising our choices at our will. Life is like a guided missile and it takes rather being guided by a Supreme Being into the path. But into what path and what decides the nature of path?

At times every one of us all ask why this happened only to me? For such a question so many of people have offered so many answers. I personally feel there is no answer other than our fate. It is supposed to be like that only but no way else. Yes - it is supposed to be like that only. I was told Karma Siddhantha answers for some of these doubts - where as Karma is what causing the changes in life.

I was also heard a theory where every deed we carry out has got some result and based on that we will be getting overall credits and debits into our account the balance after present life's consumption also carry forward for the next reincarnation. May be that is the reason all religions in the world teach to do only good deeds and have a positive balance so that you will automatically become a blessed person in your next life.

I also heard a story where a rickshaw puller was pulling a rickshaw with a person inside. Half way through there is an upward inclination and the person sitting inside the rickshaw has observed the rickshaw puller facing hardship and want to get down till the rickshaw reaches the down slope. The rickshaw puller denied for it and said - am supposed to be carry you for so much a distance and let me complete my task so that at least this part of the RUNA being paid back. An excellent explanation. For the money what we pay he is not carrying us he is just doing a part of his duty to be performed in his life cycle.

I feel there is no conclusion for this subject and we have to keep learning from other's experiences. So keep on reading my dear friends. If something explains you more logically for this subject - let me know and I also change my way of thinking. Meera - I do not know if am satisfied your query but let me still keep on adding views in future on this and other subjects as well.

An Evening with Eswar

Really I do not know what made Eswar to ask me to spend that evening with him, so I have accompanied him to his hotel and was with him talking about all and sundry - otherwise I would have missed the other and hidden angle of an efficient Indian. Eswar is my pal and was my class mate during my high school to undergraduation. He used to narrate poems, lots of text and quotes from the novels he was reading - from Sri Sri's Maha Prasthanam, Shadow Madhu Babu to Yendamuri and Malladi were all the writers we used to discuss those days. It was a fascination for me to talk to him and I used to wonder for the knowledge and his dynamic nature. Those days we used to play under the captaincy of Naga Sena my other classmate I do not know where he is now. But Remebering Naga Sena is like reading a short story of Mulk Raj Anand.

We separated during our graduation. I went for Engineering and he has chosen Dairy Technology as his field and did his masters also in that in Karnal, Haryana. We used to write snail mails in 80s and used to meet once in a year or so. Slowly there was a gap. So after two decades of gap, I longed to meet him and poured the internet for his address and searched all the data. Also send mails with eswar and kolli in so many combination's, some returned and some might have reached a wrong person.

Do you believe in miracles happening in real life? One day my auditor Mr. K V Mohana Rao told me that there is an internet site where you can get back your old classmates. I told him casually I was longing to meet one of my class mate. He sat in front of the computer and asked me the full name of my pal. I told him Kolli Eswar Babu. He stopped for a minute and asked what is his profession and I told him - might be working with a Dairy still. Pressto - from his pocket then and there itself, he has taken out a visiting card. Eswar was dealing with my auditor for one of his business affairs at Hyderabad. So that's how I got him back. In life there are certain things under your nose you fail to identify unless somebody guide you.

In my April, 2006 posting I was asking what for people work. What motivates them towards a profession or to work hard for earning a fortune. I am still searching for that. I think spending an evening with Eswar I got a partial answer for my thoughts and questions. He has not changed a bit. Years of rotten work in Indian conditions worned him off or polished him I do not know. May be he is the guy who has to answer that.

So Eswar was talking not only about novels in vernacular language but Indian and English literature as a whole. Fiction to non fiction and quoting Larry Collins and Dominque Lapirre to Mr. Robin Sharma from his famous book "The Monk who sold his Ferrari.." to the movie The Dollar Dreams. So after that evening's discussion with you what shall I say my dear pal? Definitely there is a hidden angle in every person which when surfaces others will be surprised. But with Eswar am not surprised because I know he got that spark in him from his young age and still it is burning inside.

I do not know Eswar has earned a fortune or not but the way he talks about human life and its twists and turns am impressed. I read an article in a business magazine how to run a small business. As a Manager turned into an enterprenuer I contradict with some of its contents. But in my view dynamic people always want to do something their own. If it fetch money and fame - excellent - if not then? Think, think and answer me. Eswar left an excellent job for a unit of his own, so is Satish and so am I. We all have our own dreams. But if dreams do not take a shape?

At times if you travel a long path and half way through, if you stop and look back (I definitely feel) you wonder, is it - you only who traveled all that way? Because the path has so many obstacles and hills and vallies. In half way, to that extent with after every step in our life we keep on thinking for the next step involuntarily. So to make the thinking further easy let me conclude - in so many cases only the first step is in our control (is it also there?) remaining all lead our way like a guided mechanism of a missile. What do you say Eswar? Let me know when we meet again...........

I got an SMS from Eswar quoting the song "Woh teri duniya nahin, woh teri mehafil nahin, uss taraf rastah tho hai par manjil nahin...". What an excellent thought. I also remembered the poem of Robert Frost "The Path less taken..". At a junction when we are not sure which road leads to where - what path shall we take? At least for Eswar he will take the Road less traveled. But my dear Friend in the way we are traveling there are shelters and houses and homes but only thing we are commuting so fast without rest we failed to notice any thing. But the ultimate question is what for we are traveling and where to?

Visit to interiors of Guntur District

I last visited my Alma mater (Bapatla Engineering College at Bapatla) in 1986. Afterwords I have not visited that place or other interiors of Guntur District in the past twenty years other than passing through that area by bus or by train. I attended a ceromony in Pesarlanka village near Repalle. I had been to that place in 1984 last time. So in the span of two decades and that too visiting that place during heavy rains and floods I got strange feelings and thoughts.

I was joking with my colleagues that I used all means of transportation other than ship and plane for this journey. Narsapur Express from Secunderabad to Guntur then Delta Passenger train to Bhatiiprolu, then RTC bus to Vellatoor, rikshaw to near to revu (river over the road) then boat for crossing the flood hit low area of Krishna waters followed by auto rikshaw to my sister's in laws place.

The journey is wonderful and so are the nostalgic feelings. I was born in Guntur and studied in Krishna and Guntur Districts of Andhra Pradesh. So life at coastal belt, the cyclones and depressions in Bay of Bengal, seasonal changes and once in while floods to river Krishna all - are part of life. Also in my engineering days, my roommate and me were crossing the River Krishna from Mopi Devi to Penumudi and then to Repalle with so many short trips on boats and in between short walks inside River Krsihna bed. The journey is a wonderful trip and at times if we walk slowly it was taking 3 - 4 hours also. That ride finally reaches to Penumudi and then travel by a rikshaw to Repalle. This is followed by a bus trip to Bapatla on a Repalle - Chirala RTC bus via Chandole or by Nagaram. Touching villages like Pittalavani Palem, Cherukupalli etc I feel I visited them the other day,

Now there is a bridge on the River Krsihna Connecting Mopidevi and Repalle. I have not travelled on that may be to keep the fragrance of remembrances of the boat trips and also when the river is in full swing a direct motorised trip from one end of the river to other end. The small huts inside the river bed and people of two districts crossing for their day to day affairs and meeting people. Now I was told that it is only a 15 minutes trip on the bridge. So modern infrastructure is doing a lot of advantages but at what cost? Are we not damaging a lot of natural way of things? Am not saying still we walk across River Krishna even in 2010 also bol ke. (I came to know that in both Godavari Districts also there are villages one can visit only by boat.). At times I like nature in its own wild way.

Life has not much changed in my land or in my roots where I belong and the modern communication revolution is seen with people using their mobiles every where. Roads are not improved much - even for a coming lorry to give way RTC bus has go down the road margins. Journey between Repalle to Tenali is the same or in fact more than it was nearly a decade back. So we are also developing but at what pace is the question and to what extent? Why can't we take the cue from the Chinese in curbing the urbanisation? Why every body have to come to metros and cities leaving all our small townships? (Am also in the same bunch - reached Hyderabad for starting my own business).

It is pleasant to meet people after a gap of nearly a decade and more. So many relatives and all are having a high time with a sorrow note for a relative's loss and at the same time inquiring how is life bol ke. Also in the conversation I heard somebody saying every passing day is good compared to the days that are yet to come. There is a lot of meaning in that statement. When I said living in the past also has advantage. There is no need for you to worry what happens in the future because that is what you are very much aware of.

A mail that I sent to my pals

Friends, Indians and countrymen,

Lend me your ears. I came here to preach you something but not to praise myself... (oops. I am interested in
literature. So I tried to imitate Mark Anthony speech from famous Julius Caesar - but no good so let me be
myself) but on the contrary that will be there as an undercurrent. So ignore that and take the stuff
whatever you feel is useful. (If that is the case to tell you a joke there is nothing worthwhile to learn
from this mail. OK?). But otherwise also spare a few minutes to read the mixed bag of feelings of this guy
and about his pals experiences and working in Indian conditions etc.

As I became an oldie (am over the hill now what the Yankees say) some of my first and second cousins are
asking me what do you suggest for this and for that bol ke. Am I fit to suggest anything at all for those
young and dynamic engineers / future entrepreneurs? So I just mentally scanned my entire career and oops I find
more failures all the way rather than hardly any success. Yes now I accept am fit to be consulted. As
an old saying says ask about success to a failed man because a successful man do not know how he has
succeeded bol ke. So am here to say a few words on the path I have taken. (But in any case am not a person to
travel on "The path less taken.." - Robert Frost).

With all those failures behind me now I do not have any option other than to get success. In an interview
a candidate was asked an imaginary question. You are in a desert and there is a lion in front of you then
what you will do bol ke. He said I run and climb a tree. He was reminded that he was in a desert. But
still he replied I would run till such a time I find a tree in the desert. Ya I have to run till such a time
I get my result. Result need not be money but more than 50% I also say money is required after all for a
living and to lead life. What is a result without money as well?

So where to start? I started my career with a small firm in a private sector and worked on its behalf as a
site engineer In Hindustan Shipyard and Vizag Steel Plant. Then I worked in a public sector undertaking
then moved to a private Limited company, which eventually turned, into a public company. Then I
became a freelance Design consultant and finally ended up (now) as an entrepreneur in a span of two decades.
For what? Prima facia not to earn money only. Some of you know sheet metal do not have fast bucks. But let
me quote Rajeev Gandhi at 42 years of his age here "I am young. I too have dreams..". Strangely am also 42
and I too - too have dreams.

Sowja - you always affectionately inquire, "Bro how do you feel after turning into an entrepreneur leaving
your career as a Manager?" bol ke. What shall I say Sis? So I quote Charles Dickens time and again - "It
was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the ages of wisdom and it was the ages of
foolishness..... A Tale of Two Cities". confused? Let me elaborate below dear young and future Entrepreneur.
I want you to become one Sis and you are in right path now as far as I am concerned. Accepting the bitterness
of working with Indian public sector. Keep going coolly a day will come I look myself in you.

Let me here slightly deviate from the theme (is it there at all?) and tell you a small story. Four blind
people want to to explore an elephant. One guy touched - the trunk, the second one - the tail, the third one
- the foot and the fourth one - the ear. Later everybody defined elephant like this.

a) It is cylindrical but tapered towards down.
b) It is cylindrical and small and has hair at the end.
c) It is cylindrical and uniform from top to bottom.
d) It is big, flat and like a fan and always swinging.

Excellent. All are partly correct on the face of it and absurd if you look at the big picture. Defining
our life and experiences are also similar. All are correct looking from the individual's side but anybody
has seen only a tiny part of the world and feels he/she has seen the entire life. So am also defining
the mammoth life after seeing only a bit of it and that too only from Indian Conditions. Accept it first
and analyze it in your own way afterwords.

Years back I was foolishly asking Satish my class mate and a hard core mechanical engineer and the then
efficient manager in Eicher Group when he left his job to become a business man -"Satti are you going to get
the fat salary you are getting now?" (Hi Satti - in fact I was thinking you are mad yar. Now humbly I am
withdrawing all my words.) You are no doubt - a dreamer. But you got it what our prez has said. Dream
first and try to realise it with a long-term goal and short-term milestones. After all in life money is not
every thing. It took years for me to understand that yar. Satish want to have an empire of his own. A unit with
his ideas and things taking shape and also money what he can earn out of his own ideas and products. (Yes -
you did it Satti. BTW when is your Uttaranchal unit getting commissioned pal? Please speak out and let
these young people learn something). So predictions and estimations are different and realizations are
different. Let me quote Swami Vivekananda here - "...in any case you have to think. So why can't you
think big?". " Never say no, never say not possible. You can do anything and every thing. You are
almighty...".

My college roommate again a Mechanical guy was in a paper Industry in Bangalore for more than 15 years.
(Bava - in our college magazine I told about you "My roommate, cousin, companion and guru". Still I feel
the same way down under the line after two decades. BTW am coming to Bangalore and got some work with you
- Ha ha. So told you like that. Do not pat your back yourself). I was thinking myself what a mechanical
engineer do in publications. So once again my predictions are wrong he rose from a shift engineer
to...(What are you now Srini? Bava have you left any land or stocks for others in Bangalore / India? Now is
it your turn to purchase some from Hyderabad?). Dear Srinu we want to hear about your experinces Pal.

Am not talking about success stories and failures alone but people who are working with a rhythm and
concentrating on the goal in India. May be my idea is to promote that concept. Who said India is not a land
of opportunities? Am not degrading people who left for US nor condemning that as wrong bol ki. Also to earn
money - technology is not required. One of our friends started a marriage consultancy in Hyderabad and
earned a fortune in two years. Am not exaggerating things.

So my wife was complaining - "You go with a Tiffin bucket early in the morning and return around 10 pm
(other than quoting Charles Dickens to Robert Frost and arguing with your nephew, niece and kid in English
to Hindi) with all your so called cutting edge technology (?) and an imported turret punch press
behind you what the hell are you doing in the last two years in your factory?". Yes what the hell am I doing
in the last two years? (I second you Indira - life is not fair - Dear. But you know - I do not know how to
run a marriage consultancy).

Satish and I have got a personality conflict. (Satti agree with me or as usually contradict whatever I
say?) We argue but strangely our ideas coincide on one point. Working in India and fighting with Indian
conditions and excel here one will get kudos. I appreciate and no doubt accept him/she the most
efficient person if one is successful in India. (May be we could not get an opportunity to go to US. May be
we are jealous of them who earned a fortune over there? Am questioning myself). Mr Jaya Prakash Narayana,
IAS is also expressing some views of his own. We all are trying to see a big picture in India.

What is that we are looking at? We have enough manpower here along with enough potential
opportunities. I know lot of obstacles as well. You are challenged to show results overcoming the
obstacles. Once Mr. Digwijai Singh was asked - "You are a crisis buster in Indian politics - how are are getting
results?" bol ke. He snapped back "Politics is management of conflicts." No here I correct life
is nothing but management of contradictions. What is that? You think and answer me pals.

I was told "the yardstick for the efficiency of a person is the money one has earned." That is the
culture of the society. I am also a member of this society. But I contradict with it and do not accept
money is equal to efficiency. (Still may be even if you think that I have not earned money and defining
like that bol ke). If you have got a will to work and a project to succeed then come on there are 1000 ways
to get it provided if you have got patience to cash the experience and core strengths you have acquired by
toil and hard work of over years. Am not quoting the Principles of Management by Koonz and Odonnel. May be
Vissi my dear young manager - you are the best judge to comment on Indian management at this stage with
your education and experience so far yar - and later can correct based on your further experiences.

Satish in a lighter vein you were telling me "If a man does not know what to do - then he will get marry and
if he knows he can't do anything at all - then he retire". So I already married yar and I do not want to
retire now itself. So I should do something. Years working with the above said organisations at times I
feel I was the odd man out. (Mrs JMK - what do you say on this? Sis - I was fighting with you also in MIC in
our managerial meetings. But I invite you now to join us so that we will fight in our Board meetings bol ki.
What do you say -  the logistics lady in Indian Industry for more than two decades again from public
sector to private sector?. "To keep quite in modern days is a crime .." - once again a quote from Satish.
So speak out Mam).

In all the R&D meetings in my earlier organisations I used to raise my finger and saying that it was not
possible bol ki. But if I look nobody is there to second and support. Others also know it is not
possible but kept quite. Felt bad for this and could not adjust and started my own business. Now my people
are telling me that it is not possible to do this bol ke. History repeats you know. So I met my old boss Dr.
Ramana Rao and told him is there a chance of we going back into the past I want to take back some of my
words and actions.

Like Sowjanya am also asking myself. JS what are you doing yar you quit a job. What for? What is that now
you are doing? Yes I was earning in my own words only - more than I want but less than what I deserve
working in MIC. So I left it and now whatever am earning is what I deserve. Ha ha. Accept the pun.
Earlier I was bitterly complaining for a late salary. But now I have not taken any salary for eighteen
months. Still am not complaining because now it is my baby to feed the company and take care of it. So lil
Vajra is my second daughter. So let me feed her make her comfortable and wait patiently.

Ya I am learning there is a gut feeling inside every person to en cash what he/she has learnt over years. I
know I had behind me two decades of toil and managerial experience. Even if I fumble here and
there, there is every chance of we getting success. But always there is an element of failure attached
with every action. So now for my another project am looking for people with higher caliber and capacity.
At what price? Anybody is ready to accept the challenge? I started discussing with people from
different sections of the industry. Now I realised I have to still learn so much about life, success and
accepting challanges and Insha Allha about our own fate as well. It made me to write this mail.

We all are human beings. So as many crores of them with as many crores of our mentalities. But there is a
law in life. Be patient and sustain. In Indian business sustaining is the key. You know we bring our
kids from tiny toddlers to well educated grown ups. We love them rear them and make them educated. So like
that only we incorporate firms make them self-sufficient and wait patiently till they show
results. But some body has to wait more patiently and for some who are blessed results reap fast. So what
are the results?

Once again I will deviate again and tell you a saying. Mr. D V S Narasa Raju has wrote in his column
"Akshinthalu" - Any person earns money and as long as it meets his/her requirements and 20% more or less
then it is like LAKSHMI and if it is more than that it is DURGA. So am talking about Lakshmi but not Durga.
People with rich experience behind them if they setup something with their core strength you have to know
that they are trying not only to earn money but want to get result in the form of realising their dreams.
Try to see the big Elephant but not individual parts. Try to see the big picture. Satti am now trying to see
the big picture what you tried to explain me years back but I refused to accept. Now I am trying to teach
a thing or two to the co community.

I was patted on my back by all of my well-wishers for the thing whatever I have taken up. I was even
supported by friends and classmates by sending books on Plant Management and lending moral support. (Durga
- thanks for "The Goal" and the mails and seconding my ideas and contradicting on my opinions. Am suggesting
all my future entrepreneurs to read it. Also read The Strong Medicine and In High Places by Arthur Hailey
all young gals and guys).

So my dear countrymen am quoting (Rather repeating what Mr. Anil Inamdar IIT and IIM alumni before I was
born has told us in an old managerial meeting) - You are born with certain qualities and acquired core
strengths by working over years. So concentrate on them and get results with them only. If you are at the
starting point of the career just concentrate and work as hard as you can in diversified working conditions
and try to learn maximum. But once if you feel you have got the strength to work and get results on your
own - come out the world and accept the challenge and fight and fight till you win in INDIA.

Let me close this mail by quoting Robert Frost again.

"The woods are lovely dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep..."

Bye

JS.

Anybody want to contradict on these opinions please do so. You are welcome. We will start arguing. Let the
saga continue...