After a long silence

I am back after a long silence. Thanks to Shias for triggering this thought of blogging again. Writing has always been an interesting and through provoking activity where I could actually say things much coherently than when I talk. Also, when I sit to write it allows me to reflect upon what has been happening around me. I never believed writing for the sake of it, would do any good to one's personality. Hopefully, this time around I will be able to pick topics that I always wanted to write upon and execute the act of writing consistently and frequently.

How to do?

I have written this an year and half back but somehow never published:

Focus on "what is done" and "what can be done" seems to be rather too stressed by sales functions in any organizations. But when sales functions aspire to build strategic growth paths with long term goals, in my view, there needs to be lot more focus on "how to do". Planning meetings must focus on "how to do" as much as "what to do". I agree that the evolution of "how to do" must be coming from a series of brain storm sessions rather than single planning meeting. But planning meeting must set the tone for this. You do a day long planning meeting and end up not discussing the "how to do" sounds quite disappointing. It kind of gives wrong signals to the members of the team that are focused on "how to do". Instrumental to the success of long term goals, are the base-lining of the set of offerings (How to dos of the equation) to go after during planning meeting. The details of offerings could evolve during the detailed brainstorm sessions, but seeds need to be planted and senior management must be on the same page with architects on these offerings (how to dos). It is not up to architects alone to decide in silos on the offerings and up-sell to senior management. It should rather be driven by a combination of field intelligence from sales directors & account strategists and domain knowledge plus the product technical knowledge of architects. Senior management must see value in the offerings set and approve formally to go after this. Where can you set the tone for whole of this process? It must be the planning meeting where everybody is involved. An eventual realization and postmortem after an year or so will not do any good to the strategic goals.

First one in 2010

Each time you discover a new thing about yourself, you wonder what else do I have in my store which I am not able to see as of today. But I realized one thing, how much ever you try it is hard to discover things about yourself ahead of time. It does not even come into your imagination that you possess such a thing within your self and hence there is no question about trying for such a thing. This leads me to really think that there seems to be something called "destiny". For sure, I can't put my finger and say that this is my destiny. Not even close !! At the same time there is a sense that tells me that I am surely destined for something which I can't even imagine now. Now, this very sense makes me think I should try (probably hard) to clear the hazy picture to see what is beyond. But the temporal logic comes in the way and makes me think that I am probably trying for something without any purpose. The dilemma continues !!

Cross roads

Well, I guess one can consider this as "at being true cross-roads". On one side there is certain amount of patronizing of the current state and yet one can't ignore the fact that you have come to cross-roads where there are perceived set of paths ahead including the current one. One could stay put without really making any choice which will probably allow to continue in the current path. There are some certainties about the current path and there is a sense of confidence that it could be managed. At the same time there is certain amount disgruntled mind-set which only makes one think negatively about the current path. There is chaos in terms how you will be evaluated in the current path going forward. The chaos is partly due to uncertainty in the minds of evaluators on what should be the criteria. There is this fashionable thinking among evaluators to send "messages" without really making any effort to bring out clarity in terms of "vision" and "mission" and hence the criteria. Well, if you keep aside their problems and issues it is time to make a choice. Let us see ! how it goes..

planning for 2009

At least 50% of the planning activity for 2009 is done. I have put in mind map and tried to elaborate each primary goal into mid level activities. Daily plans are not yet done. I have not done such a thing so far. I mean spending about 20 hours on planning for the new year and further. So, probably I might face issues going to day-to-day level activities. In the worst case, I have a decent set before me to measure myself against. Overall, it is a good exercise. The current plan might sound ambitious but having plan with full of activities allows me to be on top of things and I can remind myself constantly. I have realized, of late, I can do so many things if an only if I add efficiency factor deliberately to my each effort towards each activity that I attempt. Let me implement that from tomorrow onwards. See you soon !!

It has been a good experience

It has been two and half months since I made the move to come over to Manchester, UK with family for a longer stint. It has been a good experience so far. There are some difficulties in the day to day life which actually helped me gain a good perspective and helped me learn relax myself naturally. For example, in here I have no car to commute to office or to take my family around. It made me commute to office through public transport system. I walk to the tram station for about 10 minutes each way and that too in the increasing cold conditions from autumn to winter. That in itself can't be regarded as a comfort and yet it I find myself relaxed better executing this daily process. Sounds a little funny when I mull over it. I read somewhere that when a man stays close to the life style that make use of his body parts for the purpose they are made for, he will be much happier. It doesn't necessarily mean that I would want to walk to Manchester from Bangalore rather than taking a flight. My intention is just to bring up a point that naturally occurred to me. A good exercise to your body in manner that is not too deliberately decided by the mind, will actually help relax your mind better and as a consequence it helps you make better decisions and this resultant cycle indeed lets you flush out some of the temperamental idiosyncrasies from your personality as well. Well, that is one side of the story. On the other side, there are issues when you want to go and bring weekly groceries or want to take kids to a park, shopping or a restaurant. It requires a good plan and more work ahead for any of these things to happen without much struggle. So, this time around it is the deliberate design and guidance from the mind that actually helps me relax. Sounds contradicting !! but then it is true that it naturally occurred to me that I am actually relaxing by planning better in this case. May be I am actually having a right mixture of exercise for the body and the mind in the day to day life. Possible! it is just a thought for now. I might have to think deeper to understand how I am able relax better in two contrasting situations. I had better comforts and better time for several things in the past but was never able to relax as much as I am able to do now. Is it because of the change of circumstances? or is it because of the compulsion to adapt to new circumstances? does that mean when you are learning or adapting you are more relaxed? Is there something called steady state or we only have milestones in the journey? Much to ponder over until the time I write again. See you soon !!

My Stay in Manchester - 1

Hope this blog finds you all in good cheer and great vitality. I am doing very good with lot of activity both at home and at work. It has been 2 weeks since I have arrived in Manchester, UK.

One thing I have been harping about since I arrived is not seeing the Sun at all, so far. It is a very peculiar feeling that you see the light around and never the originator. It is then I realized how much we (in India) are all blessed with sunshine almost 365 days in an year. The need and essence of worshiping the Sun is something that I am starting to understand. I suddenly realized that the things that I have been taking for granted so long are actually the basic building blocks of my being.

Apart from sunshine and four other elements of nature, there is this other part of my being in the world which I am missing so much by being here so far away from you all. I think you can guess what (in fact who) I am talking about. It is about my family, I am missing them so much. But, I am sure it is just transient (temporary) in nature and soon I will be back among them. There is enough activity for me not to be too much thinking about you all. Lot of work at office in a different kind of environment which, indeed, is challenging and at the same time I am cherishing the positive excercise it is giving to my mind.

Coming to other activities, I have been consistently cooking something or the other in the evening which is surprising given my lethargy, but is indeed out of compulsion. This country is full of cheese and meat. So, it is better I cook and eat than eat those thing from outside.

I have been doing constant research on homes and schools since I arrived here. I have made some good connections with Manchester city council. Here in UK, city council provides us with information about all community related things like driving, schooling, homes etc., I have narrowed down to two places Didsbury and Whitefield which have good primary schools (at least 3 of them) and where we can live comfortably. Along with other persons (who have come here for the same project) I have gone to this place (Didsbury) last weekend and was able to get a good feel of the area first hand. We met a real estate agent there and he gave us some idea about what are the sub areas and rents. One good thing about IBM's foreign service policy is it gives you good money to have a nice and comfortable living in a fully furnished home. In this range, I see very good houses here in Didsbury with at least two bedrooms (some of them 3 bedrooms)and fully furnished.

By the way, while coming back from this place we have walked down to a place called Rusholme which is full of Indian and Pakistani restaurants and shops. There is one mile stretch of these shops and well known as "Curry Mile". We had our lunch in a place called "Sanam" and some of our friends here purchased some food items (like frozen chapatis) from a shop which could be an Indian or Pakistani shop. As you know, it is difficult to distinguish between an Indian and Pakistani, after all, it was one country once upon a time. Couple of things I observed here is, if you want to you could walk to any main places here without any problem. There are plenty of buses, trams and taxis available. The famous "Picadally Gardens" is just a stone's throw from the place I am living (Premier apartments, Manchester city central). Hence, you can see that I am getting positive vibes that will enable us to live here for an year. I feel this trip will be essential to help Minnie and Chittie get a different perspective and good learning experience.

Alright then it is good that I am able to sit and write a blog this length after a long time. I have just cooked rice and sambar and need to eat before it becomes too late. Also, I need to go and see the condition of clothes that I have put in automatic washing machine.

Bye now !