30TH FEB - A Dream Chase!

I am talking about my entrepreneurial dream which is now a year old and tomorrow it marks the one month of its launch. 30th Feb Obviously Different Ideaz, that’s the name to my attempt, my venture. You can explore further at http://www.30thfeb.com/

Decision –
Yes, it had been a difficult decision with tempting jobs & hefty package offers alluring you to go back to the corporate world. Today I think that would have been easy. I did considered all these options with pros & cons of both. If one gives you independence to work other gives you independence to spend. In a job, you have a routine & hence daily timelines where as you ought to think & mentally work for almost 24 hours a day because the work is not just a job but it gives you the encouragement to excel & follow your dream. It was a tough one but I decided to go on…….yeah some people were there to stand behind me. And I am thankful to God, for they are still confident about the whole thingy.

Idea –
Servicing & selling ideas in an organized & planned effort. Creating brands and beautifying the existing ones with strategy, design & equity. To build a name & a team, this shall be synonym for Brand Ideas & Brand Concepts. 30th Feb is an effort which orients towards making small brands – Big and we make the big ones- even bigger!

Tomorrow i.e., 17th December, 2009 will mark one month of this decision of mine. Yeah, it has been difficult with almost 2 offers falling in place for what we say – a good job. And it has been difficult by acknowledging the start-up issues, the lacunae and the bad attempts. But aren’t the difficulties made to make easy. I am working for it.

Have a good day :-)

To Err is Human. To Run is Crime.

Today morning when I was on the way to work, I witnessed an incident. It was bad enough that I could not throw the thoughts out which are actually now becoming shallow in my mind & heart.

Our car was nearly 500 meters way when I saw that a Car stopped for a fraction of a minute and zoomed quickly. The sound directed me to the scene and as I saw the car roving, I noticed that there was kid of approximately aged 8-10 on the road crying helplessly signaling his right arm is in deep pain. While I was disturbed and reached closer, a man rushed towards him, he probably knew the kid (may be they were from one of the families staying at the roadside) and took him. We felt so helpless and void inside. At one point during those rush of events…I felt ashamed of being human thinking if it’s we-the human beings then who else shall take the responsibility. But I am sure, whoever that gentleman was, he/she would never be able to get out of this guilt of not hitting the one but from being running from there.

I just pray to God, for the little kid. May he be blessed with good health always.

Complicated!

The denseness in relationships, an intricate state of mind is what could be called as a perfect Complicated Life. There is lot to understand in the otherwise simplest statement I just made.

I always knew about me being complicated! I don’t know but I guess it was the onus of being good. When I say being good, I mean a good daughter, a good sister, a good wife, a good daughter-in-law, a good host, a good friend – no I guess those who stand by me – never bother about me being good or bad, Ah! just realized I have been ‘me’ at certain occasions. Anyways, the benefit of living with the onus of being good is that you never get carried away and you learn to self-restrict. Its like how could I?

Aren’t the words getting complicated? I say so, because I came back to this page after almost an hour after I finished the above paragraph. I have a loss of words. I am worried. Its not usual………I normally finish up my write-ups. I feel I am confused with my words & state of mind. Does this happen to you as well?

But yes, we were talking about the benefits of living with the onus of being good. Hey! What about the drawbacks….many of them. You always keep a part of you closed which shall be unearthed but you die waiting for the right time, right place & may be right people. You always carry this notion – that there is something which people don’t understand or may be something which you want them to listen & understand. You die with a heavy heart because there was so much to say for which you never managed to get an ear for. So many…so sad!

Anyways………I would end it up with what I always believed is the truth at the end of the day. Life is Beautiful. It’s either us or the situations which are complicated!

Being kind of perfect ;-)

Buddha says, "When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back & laugh at the sky."

Have you ever wondered what it means to be kind of perfect? Well! I think it means a lot. I totally agree to the saying that goes like, nobody is perfect. Whoever said this must have thought of making the chase to perfection a never ending affair. And I guess that’s the perfect idea! What say?

But ‘Feeling Perfect’ sometimes is good for health, happiness & life. One must feel at times and say to oneself... ‘Oh yeah! I am kind of perfect’. If you find this idea weird- all I would say is try this once & experience. When life ditches you at times, people don’t understand, friends don’t have the time and loved ones are ignorant, the technique of feeling perfect works wonders. This feeling itself fills one with lot of confidence & courage. It brings the otherwise negative vibes back on track and a sudden rush thrills us. It makes us feel that everything around is Perfect like Buddha says!

‘Feeling perfect’ not only gives confidence, instead it’s a quick dosage of assurance & conformity. Only thing one should be careful about is Arrogance. This kills the beauty of being perfect. This pulls in negativity & eventually starts ruling over the brain and then captures the speech. Arrogance must be avoided to the last extent.

So, all I am trying to say is, Next time you feel low just look at yourself in the mirror and say – I am my good. I am what I am. O yeah! I am kind of perfect ;-)

And yes, share with me – the difference you feel. Cheers!

OPRAH WINFREY ON RELATIONSHIPS......!

This is just an e-mail fwd., quite good & interesting read..........

WHAT OPRAH WINFREY HAD TO SAY ABOUT MEN

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behaviour.
Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.

Slower is better.

Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't 'be friends'. A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.
Don't settle.

If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is
Don't stay because you think 'it will get better'
You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.

He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant,
why would he treat you any differently?

Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.
If something bothers you, speak up.

Never let a man know everything.* He will use it against you later.

You cannot change a man's behaviour.* Change comes from within.

Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...
Even if he has more education or in a better job.

Do not make him into a quasi-god.
He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
Never let a man define who you are.
Never borrow someone else's man.

A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.

All men are NOT dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending...
Compromise is two way street.

You need time to heal between relationships...
There is nothing cute about baggage...
Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship

You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...
A relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...
Look for someone complimentary...not supplementary.

Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.

Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him - he takes it for granted

Never move into his mother's house. Never co-sign for a man.

Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.*
Keep him in your radar but get to know others.

Scared of being alone is what makes a lot of women stay in relationships
that are abusive or hurtful: Dr. Phil

You should know that:
You're the best thing that could ever happen to anyone and if a man mistreats you, he'll miss out on a good thing. If he was attracted to you in the 1st place, just know that he's not the only one.

They're all watching you, so you have a lot of choices.
Make the right one.

Ladies take care of your own hearts....

Share this with other women and men (just so they know)...

You'll make someone smile, another rethink her choices,
and another woman prepare.

IIM Shillong tour Aug'09 - Twist & Turns and the rains!

What else could be great thing to do right now? I am sitting at the Guwahati airport and just cannot wait to reach home. I had come from Delhi on 18th for a 3 days tour to IIM Shillong. Well! The entire tour was great and adventurous every day. It was a tour of bad weather & constant delays and more delays.

On 18th, I was supposed to reach Shillong in the afternoon. I remember queries were made on what I would prefer to eat in lunch. The flight took off from Delhi with an hour delay, the reason – bad weather. Then the aptain made an announcement before Bagdogra that there is – zero visibility so while us (me & other passengers) enjoyed our stay in the sky, the air hostess told me that in this case we would be reaching Guwahati around 12.15. With this I realized that I am going to miss my helicopter to Shillong scheduled at 12.30pm. I anyways reached Guwaati at 12 only to realize that I have not missed the helicopter, infact, its been cancelled on account to bad weather (heavy rainfall) in the region. Phew! I was so excited about the helicopter ride. Huh! Anyways, that’s what we call life is! Finally the staff of IIM had made an alternate arrangement for a taxi and that’s how I could make it to IIM Shillong around 5.15pm. Did ya noticed that I had a session at 6pm. Well though they had asked me to relax and the delay can be done, I don’t know why it din’t appealed me and as a result my session began at 6.20pm. I am glad to write it, that it was well received and appreciated. So I can say with that half of fatigue was gone with that.

That was just the start of it. That night it rained and next day –it rained again and it rained almost the entire day. This was the reason, why I couldn’t capture the scenic beauty of Shillong in my camera lens. Anyways the session went really well on second day. I was able to help my audience understand the concepts with tints of humor and as a result the journey was worth it. It was a good batch to interact with and I am now returning with good moments with me.

But wait! That’s not the end of it. The real fun was yet to begin. My departure from Guwahati was scheduled at 4.35 pm, the next evening and taking a lesson from how I had reached I decided to start real early as I thought its always better to sit at the airport almost 2 hours before the flight then to make last moment hush. So I started at 10am sharp. And I enjoyed the drive till 1pm, though it was a bit slow because of the numerous carrier trucks being stopped on the way to Guwahati. I never actually enjoyed the car rides in hilly areas; somehow it makes me uncomfortable with certain goose bumps at the curvy u-turns on hill slopes. But since it was almost a not stop rainfall (sometime heavy, sometimes teeming and other times pleasant), the weather was too pleasant and I was actually enjoying the little drops on my face (I decided to keep the window open). The water falls on the slopes were amazing. It was wonderfully beautiful. But what after 1pm – yes, here comes the twist, a traffic jam; a huge one which I found lasted to some 20 something kms.

I am patient.

I realized God has blessed me with immense patience and lot of hope. Though I was praying but I did not panic. The drivers as they are known for, were spreading all aweful information right between the jam. Few were, It’s a 4 days long jam! Almost everybody has returned. People are here since last 2 days! Oh! That meghalaya cabby returned! They say it’s till Guwahati! Almost 60-70 cabs have returned! And what not….huh!

Finally, since they had already made a cartel over there, one of them was able to make his passenger hop on a bike to be dropped at the next town. Indirect suggestion came to me as well. Undoubtedly by then I was scared. I decided to inform the professor at IIM Shillong who told me just not to leave the cab at all. So, now I was sure of one thing. I then called up my husband – who dint looked that vary that time as still there were almost 3 hours left for my flight. Am sure, he too was hopeful that time.

Well, I was tired, hungry, disturbed and alert. Something about the crowd around me made be alert. May be the fact that it was a traffic jam in an absolutely unknown area with no relatives, friends or even acquaintances around. Though the mobile battery was full, I was praying that it should last till this jam.

Finally, it was 3.45 and I was almost 50 kms away from the Airport, very much in the jam when I decided to cancel my flight and I did that. By then, there was some movement in traffic and we were moving with some tiny steps. And finally, I reached the Guwahti airport at sharp 6.50pm only to find out that there are absolutely no flights after 7pm from the airport. By that time almost all the permutations/combinations were explored & discussed with my inviting Prof. from IIM, my husband & one of my friend. The delay had put all in vein. Apart from that my husband was told to tell me that not to roam out in the region and to prefer some government hotel in Guwahati. All this added to my worsening situation, Then the cabby started showing tantrums as he had to go back and the deal was till the Airport (as if it was me who ordered for a JAM to be arranged on the way). Once again the IIM staff came to the rescue and within minutes I was informed of my stay being arranged at the NEHU (North Eastern Hills Univerity) guest house which is just 5 minutes drive from the airport. Though, I was fine but at the same time I was bit panicky by then, thanks to the rains to make the evening dark even at 7pm and then the cabby did the rest.

I reached the guest house and asked them for a quick tea and a vegetarian dinner later (In North East, Vegetarianism is not a common phenomena). Only after reaching there did I realize that I have been sitting in the car for almost 9 hours with just a sandwhich & coffee being consumed at 9am.

Anyways after the tea, I was at peace with all concerned informed & assured of me being fine and also that I will be reaching home tomorrow. Incidentally, right now I am in the flight on the way to home in Gurgaon. I would say I am tired and still disturbed on once again being put to test by God. I wonder why he loves me so much. But then I am assured he makes sure I am fine and at ease all by myself.

I would like to thank the IIM Shillong staff for their kind co-operation & support. And also to those who kept on calling & messaging just to show that I matter 

Be a teacher.

Be a teacher. This is an effort, a try, a pray which is been initiated by one of my friend for a quality education with raised standards, infrastructure & facilitators.

For more details, you can read here.

If Only.....!

We shall fall in love today....if only its love!

For past is not to be remembered and for future so unknown....

For you never know I will be pulled away.....why repent later?

That I could never say...what it was to fall in love and feel loved by you!

But today...I could not recall a surprise from you! Our last date or a carefree smile!

For I wanted that all, for no reason...but for us being together...these are all the celebrations.....!

I feel the little moments are real treasure......what we call a carefree leisure!

You believe in building future and I am afraid we are loosing today! I am scared of your fears....though I know you think of future and of me!

I count my days to spend with thee... Life is unpredictable and I might flee!

For now I hope you agree that, If only it is to live....

Life is to love and to smile.....So! Again I say, We shall fall in love today!

Circle of Growth & Change!

I am a little lost….

For they have changed the roads I traveled!

I am a little lost….

For I can go back never!

I am a little happy….

Because I have saved some hope!

I am a little tense…..

For more loss of sense!

I am a little of me….

And a lot of me am lost for no better!

I am a little shy….

For I know there are no answers to my whys?

I am a lot more…..

But most of me am lost forever!

I am my Dad’s little girl……

What pity! I am a grown up what for that matter!

Dream Deadlock!

I believe in dreams. I always believed in dreams. Now-a-days I am struggling to keep them alive.

The life circumstances have been changing so that I am becoming nervous about my dreams. When I look back I realize, that I am struggling with a situation which is somewhat like - I dream, I plan and I resist. It’s like a struggle between dreams, wishes, aspirations and ambitions. Nothing is permanent and nothing will stay forever but we don’t stop working towards dream. There is conflict between my dreams-wishes and my ambitions-aspirations.

At times I am unhealthy and at times I am negative. There are two things attached to this statement. A bad health results in a step back from my ambitions-aspirations and the negativity disheartens me about my dreams. The continuity of both is resulting into a deadlock. There is lot of uncertainty about life and I am becoming cautious of my dreams I was certain of. There is war in my mind; not of right & wrong but of, this & that. I am fighting hard with my priorities and those of theirs. I am entering a Dreams Deadlock!

Nothing is stopping me but the circumstances. There is no hindrance but the expectations. There shall be no delays but I have lost the direction.

This is called Life and so far I am a die-hard optimist, fighting for the key to this deadlock of dreams. And here I would like to write those two lines which were momentary and still have so much of truth & depth – “Positivism resides in me, that’s why I am alive. But, I reside in negativity that’s why I am dying every moment”

This Sudden Loss of Appetite

This Sudden Loss of Appetite

Recently, I have noticed a sudden loss of appetite for my dreams and for my aspirations. A sense of distraction protecting me from what I once used to call Career, Challenges, Ambition. I have been so dragged in the customs & obligations pertaining to the society that I am finally becoming a part of it. A loss of spirits, of undertsanding & making people understand. My expectations have turned towards my loved ones, I seek empathy, compassion, an ear to listen and a heart - willing to understand. Once I wanted to stand strong in the winds and here I am waving in the fear of winds.

I looked for, I tried and I got - the opportunities.
I seeked, I asked, I begged for - the support.
I avoided, I ran, I couldn't escape - the transition.
I fell, I stood, I stand, I want to emerge - the Identity.
I crave, I did, I won, I lost - My Appetite to Dream.
I cry, I weep, I console - the Heart.
I shut, I open, I avoid - the Eyes

Life - A Vicious Circle

Life – A Vicious Circle!!!

We all have heard this, we live just one life. And that’s the chance to make the most of it.

At times it’s beautiful, at times it’s not.

At times, it’s the way it is and at times it’s adjust (ment).

At times it’s about me, at times it’s us. At times it’s about love, at times it’s just.

At times its everything, at times its must.

At times we seek more of it, at times it rusts.

At times it’s more smiles, at times its mad rush.

At times its what we want, at times its we have.

At times its what we say, at times its keeping mum.

At times its you only, at times we are lonely.

At times its being in love, at times it’s a tied dove.

At times its a lesson, at times it's frustration.

At times its what we gain, at times its my loss.

At times its about ambitions, at times its dreams.

At times we call it life, at times a Vicious Circle!

A Dogmatic COO

Recently got to witness, what an SME’s COO, the Chief Operations Officer had to say to his employees. A small venture started by just 2 people, came to a team of 25 now…..in some 8-9 years. Commendable! I would say.

But what I doubt is their illogical mindset and pre-conceived opinions. Having ideals is good, I agree but one must get to understand the success path followed the making of that hero, the struggle & strategy. Yes, we have the examples like Mr.Dhirubhai Ambani, Mr.Bill Gates, Mr.Sachin Tendulkar etc, but these are again exceptions. One percent of the lot and not to forget that they made it big, but they couldn’t run it all alone. They believe in management principles, they believe in delegation, they believe in strategy and they believe in the word ‘We’ and not just ‘I’. Our venerate COO, unfortunately couldn’t use the word ‘we’, though he demanded again & again, that his employees should carry a part of him, should leave a footprint like him, wherever they go. The problem here is not expecting too much but what amazed me, asking too much so straight without a pinch of modesty was little too much to digest. Coming to his people skills now, he once mentioned to the team, ‘there shall be no second thoughts on what he thinks, he feels about the work, the business, the leaves etc.

At times, I feel I should plainly ignore the facts stated above, but somehow I am so disturbed after listening to all this. It feels like the helplessness at the cost of he being the owner, the runner & the boss. People must be sitting with the attitude to listen & forget, some even mentioned that we just went out, we ignored, and we weren’t with him. He sounded like a hypocrite & dominating union leader but of course not a manager, not a leader. Yes, I appreciate him thinking big, but one more thing which is more disturbing is the ever seen Myopic business mind. Dreaming big is different from planning big. Or I should say that dreaming big is not enough if you have no people skills or if you deny respecting the people working for your firm just because you are the Boss. It’s terrible!

Not talking much about this anymore, few more (disturbing) things I would like my readers to comment on are:

1. Do you agree that the Business Volumes is the only difference between a Big & Small Organization?
2. Team spirit is carrying the boss’/ head reflection in each employee?
3. As a working professional, for growth all a person needs is to compare himself/herself with oneself. (Something I remember was termed Peer Group)
4. A rocksolid professional is one who never complains & gives reasons like a family problem, an accident etc.
5. Who believes in leading by treading on the ego of his employees?

Why have I mentioned all this here on my space? Because I want to know your opinion and confirm that if education really makes a difference or it’s just that I am too sensitive!!!

Not Shattered but Inquisitive

God is gracious! May be that’s the reason that I don’t feel shattered but yes, I do feel sad, defoliated at times and inquisitive at the end of the day. At times, things happen to us which are unexpected, undeserved and more to that, they become unavoidable as well. At times when we do things with all good intentions and the perceptions differ and it’s suddenly disqualified from the purpose, without a reason being given, even without a chance for explanation, this abrupt end to the effort fetches a sudden exhaustion. And the mind goes blank, the sight dark and a lost spark. And by the times, we console ourselves of the unnecessary distress; we are left with some inquisition. Why me?

Then there is a feel of defeat, a defeat to life, when we try to be happy by all means, in all times, through all riddles & obstacles, when we break our own promises to ourselves to be happy and cheerful; come what may! It happens, disagreement is one reason, anger in another. Showing anger is not appreciated but keeping anger again causes shattered feelings. When you know you feel awkward but you can’t express, when you are not convinced with what you do but you can’t deny, when you know you could have changed things but you know you won’t do.

All these things………are not negative in thought, unobvious to understand, these are the obvious feelings we all come across at the obvious times of life for may be some unobvious reasons. This could be at home, at work, with friends, colleagues, even in the family…..!

All I pray to God is to give us the patience, the strength & the willpower to excel.

Keep Smiling!! Have a courageous 2009 :-)