Thought Bubbles

Secrets of Success - in 8 words & 3 minutes

2011-02-26T13:15:00.002+05:30

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

2011-02-25T18:50:00.001+05:30

Here are the 15 min that changed my life

Passion

2010-11-06T23:29:00.002+05:30

Passion transforms ordinary into legendary

- Murali

Perspectives Matter

2010-11-06T23:23:00.003+05:30

In my opinion, "Invention" is a redundant word

The truth/fact is always out there

So, there is no "Invention", there is only Discovery

Discovery comes from a fresh interpretation of the truth

Truth/fact never changes or vanishes

Yet it is not enough to know that it is some where out there !

Perspectives are important to make progress

They make pursuit of life, understanding of the world very interesting & useful

Perspectives Matter !

- thought bubbled in a random train of thought
by Muralidhar Patnam :)

Love Story

2010-11-05T00:15:00.005+05:30

Well, Almost a month since i wrote a post

I was lazy. (I wish i could say i was too busy)
So, here is a post to break the gap

I recently read the book "Love Story" by Erich Segal

I read it because some one suggested that it would improve my vocabulary

No doubt. I learned more than 150 new words in this 132 page book

Learning >1 new word per page is cool !

Besides all the theory on vocabulary benefit,

It is an enjoyable book. Immediately after i finished the book, I went on to watch the movie "Love Story" released in 1970 to kind of re-live the story. It is one of those rare cases where both the book and the movie are on par !

The book doesn't stretch any description. Crisp !

The movie doesn't miss much detail & impact

I feel i should have read the book much earlier.
Pick it up if you haven't read it already

Only Rs 99/- on Flipkart
Worth every buck !

5 Rules - Better Presentations

2010-09-30T15:38:00.005+05:30

OWNERSHIP

2010-09-28T19:44:00.003+05:30

If you don't feel comfortable owning something for 10 years, then don't own it for 10 minutes

WARREN BUFFET

Enjoying Education

2010-09-26T22:48:00.002+05:30

I believe that education is all about being excited about something

Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message

STEVE IRWIN

Outstanding Presentations Workshop

2010-09-16T21:04:00.003+05:30

There is a free webinar workshop on outstanding presentations happening! Totally 8 sessions. I attended the first session yesterday and it is quite good. If you are interested, you can go to
http://www.outstandingpresentationsworkshop.com/ and register yourself for the remaining 7 sessions

You can also access the recording of yesterday's session once you register.
Why wait? All the best for your presentations !

There is only one problem. The sessions will happen at 1:30 AM every wednesday :)
Shouldn't be a problem if you are a nocturnal creature like me. Cheers !

Made In China

2010-09-15T18:29:00.003+05:30

One of the best self introduction speeches i have heard !

Truth

2010-09-15T01:10:00.001+05:30

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything"
Mark Twain

Imagining Leadership

2010-09-14T00:35:00.003+05:30

Amazing video on leadership conceptualized by Nitin Nohria, Dean, Harvard Business School

Azim Premji in Elevator

2010-09-13T22:53:00.005+05:30

It was 9:30 PM and time to go home! I was casually humming a tune and waiting for the lazy office lift to come down to 3rd floor. On a typical day, i would see one or two exhausted and half asleep GE employees once the doors opened. But, i was surprised once the elevator doors opened today

I saw a confident old man in grey suit. His white hair was dancing to the air blowing from above
He looked at me through his big spectacles. I took a second to recognize him. I couldn't believe my eyes. Azim Premji was standing before me, one step away

I walked into the lift, trying to put up a professional smile and stood behind him. I was looking at him top to bottom just when i realized his security guard was staring at me with suspicion. For a moment, i thought to move next to him, introduce myself and give him a shake hand. But the lift hit ground floor pretty fast. I couldn't get my elevator pitch (elevator introduction rather!) ready by then

Azim premji started to leave and looked back for some reason. I smiled back. The lift doors closed and i closed my eyes. The next moment the lift was making some noise. I opened my eyes and was in the basement parking area

Exciting ending to a regular day at office

Optimizing Resource Usage

2010-09-12T12:43:00.003+05:30

Read the following Buddha & his disciple's story on resource usage !

Buddha, one day, was in deep thought about worldly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human beings.

One of his disciples approached him and said humbly "Oh my teacher ! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don't you look in to the welfare and needs of your own disciples also."
Buddha: "OK.. Tell me how I can help you"
Disciple: "Master! My attire is worn out and is beyond the decency to wear the same. Can I get a new one, please?"

Buddha found the robe indeed was in a bad condition and needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear on. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room

A while later, Buddha went to his disciple's place and asked him "Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more?"
Disciple: "Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more"
Buddha: "Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?"
Disciple: "I am using it as my bed spread"
Buddha: "Then.. hope you have disposed off your old bed spread"
Disciple: " No.. no.. master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain"
Buddha: " What about your old Curtain?"
Disciple: "Being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen"
Buddha: "Oh.. I see.. Can you tell me what did they do with the old cloth they used in Kitchen"
Disciple: "They are being used to wash the floor."
Buddha:" Then, the old rug being used to wash the floor...?"
Disciple: "Master, since they were torn off so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as a twig in the oil lamp, which is right now lit in your study room...."
Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room

If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least make the best use of all our resources at home and in office?
We need to handle wisely all the resources earth has bestowed us with — both natural and material, so that they can be saved for the generations to come!

Acknowledgement

Ananthu

Navadarshanam

Indescribable

2010-09-12T00:25:00.004+05:30

My heart skips a beat when i think about you

It is not enough to say "I love you"

It's so much more

It's so much better

It's a feeling indescribable

Oh my dear, Look into my eyes,

Can you feel it?

Desktop Lyrics

2010-09-11T22:46:00.001+05:30

I just love this app - Desktop Lyrics
It enhances the experience of music on itunes to the next level
It neatly displays the lyrics of itunes current song on the desktop
Suddenly, i have taken an interest in listening to more english songs
The best part is that the applicaton is free !

Vinayaka Chavithi

2010-09-11T18:21:00.000+05:30

Vinayaka Chavithi Subhakankshalu (Happy Ganesh Chaturdhi to all)

Since childhood, every year on this day, dad and mom decorated an inverted table, with lot of fruits and leaves. My father would read the mantras himself, (better than any regular priest) and narrate the stories of Lord Ganesha. I used to sit there praying for 1st rank in the class (It was the ultimate objective of life then). This continued all through the school years. The prayers lasted for a good 2 hours. After my father passed away, for the past 7 years, the prayers were spearheaded by mom and were short. I go through that nostalgia for father's prayers every year

Our Ganesha, This year !

This year's prayer procedures were a different. After my mom pulled out the age old mantra book and story book from the cup board, my sister who celebrated her last year's festival in UK had an idea

Do you want to know what the biggest change was?

The recorded priest from Raaga sang out the mantras and stories out loud

The recording was very much customized for the occassion, where the priest stopped at regular intervals to guide what to do next

I wonder if it is time for virtual priests in some of our regular celebrations

Darkness/Light-Hate/Love

2010-09-10T18:39:00.005+05:30

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
  only light can do that
  Hate cannot drive out hate;
  only love can do that"
- Martin Luther King Jr.

If only everyone understood this concept and saw the diversity in India as an asset and not a reason for conflict, this country would be so different (in a good way!)
You know what? It is just a matter of having the right attitude

iPod Touch

2010-09-10T15:10:00.004+05:30

Apple released new generation of iPods on September 1st
I personally love what the new iPod touch has to offer. All the exciting features of an iphone (except the phone) and approximately at half the size and the price

I can't wait to get my hands onto one of them. It's time to visit an apple dealer store !

If only i had the budget to buy one, i wouldn't wait a second to bring it home

Productivity Apps

2010-09-09T23:41:00.015+05:30

With the every increasing demands for productivity, the use of task management applications is on the rise. I personally don't like the task management features that Microsoft Outlook offers. So, i fall into the category of people who look out for third party applications for task management/productivity

In this post, i will talk about a few apps that can serve your need

Things
The best productivity application available as on today is called Things
It is available only for Mac users

But, the application is extremely expensive. 50$ for a task management application?
You gotta be a business executive or MBA student to find value for that investment

TeuxDeux
TeuxDeux is a free online task management tool

It is very simple and easy to use. But, i doesn't have the sophistication that Things offers

TeuxDeux is ideal for people who want to keep their to-do lists simple, don't require sophistication and carry their lists with them ! They have an app for the iphone also

Producteev

Producteev is free like TeuxDeux and offers great sophistication and flexibility like Things

I have been using this from the past one week and i love it. Just create your free account and you will be amazed by the features it offers

Steve Jobs on Branding

2010-09-08T10:00:00.000+05:30

Hear Steve Jobs from one of those early years in Apple.
He talks about the idea behind launch of the branding campaign "Think Different"

Suggestion - Put your headphones on. The audio quality isn't great

This guy is one of my role models and never fails to inspire me !

TiE Session on K-12 Segment - Quotes !

2010-09-07T00:02:00.001+05:30

I recently attended a TiE Session "Unravelling the K-12 Segment - Opportunities and Challenges"
It was a very interesting sessions and broke some myths i had around the education sector
I will be drafting a detailed post soon, with a summary of the entire session

For now, i have listed an thought provoking & entertaining quotes from each of the three panelists

"Lets not start test preparation in the womb. It will not get them into IITs and IIMs"
- Ashish Rajpal, Founder, idiscoveri

"The middle class parent in India is paranoid and has stopped thinking"

"If you pick up a real problem and find atleast 30% solution to it, you will be more successful than people who are chasing a part of the billion dollar market. You will go beyond your wildest dreams of a successful entrepreneur"
Sridharan Rajagopalan, Founder, Eklavya Institute

"We entrepreneurs have a disease - an incredible and crazy optimism. Add to that a layer of hype. The hype begins when the industry potential appears in economic times as a billion dollar market"

"I am still such a sambar eating desi, dollar (USD) doesn't make any sense to me"
Satyanarayanan, Chairman, Career Launcher India

Look forward to a detailed post on the session !

Objectivism

2010-09-06T23:05:00.004+05:30

When was the last time you witnessed some one who had great clarity of thoughts?
Watch a gut wrenching video interview of Ayn Rand that was shot in the 1950s

Feeling Inferior?

2010-09-05T23:03:00.001+05:30

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

Eleanor Roosevelt

Compare book prices in India

2010-09-05T21:55:00.001+05:30

There is a search engine to search books and compare their prices from different online book stores
It is called the India Book Store

This might be of interest to people who would like to get the best price for their books and want to spend time in decision making

For me, I would directly go to flipkart and order books
They offer good discounts and their service is awesome !
I am undoubtedly a flipkart fan
They blew me away right at the first order !

Save Water

2010-08-26T00:08:00.000+05:30

Life's Moments

2010-08-25T01:15:00.001+05:30

An awesome video on life's moments

Moments from Everynone on Vimeo.

I found this video on One thing to see . Check it out for other interesting videos

Invisible Mouse

2010-08-25T00:52:00.001+05:30

Watch Pranav Mistry demonstrate an invisible mouse

Geek's Love

2010-08-25T00:41:00.003+05:30

Why geeks gail in love !

True Vs Perceived Limitations

2010-08-24T08:27:00.025+05:30

"I had to understand what were my true limitations Vs my perceived limitations. Once i understood my true limitations, the next challenge was what choices i could create"

- Sheena Iyengar
Professor, Columbia Business School
& Author of "The Art of Choosing"

said this in an interview with Times of India
Download the complete interview from here

You can watch another interesting interview of her at bigthink.com

Did you know she is blind? Despite that limitation, look at her accomplishments. Absolutely Inspiring !
If you have 18 more minutes, enjoy this interesting & cheerful talk at TED. It brings new perspectives on life

Her book "The Art of choosing" is on my wish list. Will read it soon

Famous Failures

2010-08-23T12:48:00.035+05:30

Lucille Ball
Dismissed from drama school with a note that read "Wasting your time", she is too shy to put her best foot forward

One of the most popular and influential stars in America during her lifetime
One of Hollywood's longest careers

The Beatles
Turned down by the Decca recording company who said "We don't like their sound and their guitar music is on the way out"

One of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music
The group came to be perceived as the embodiment of progressive ideals, seeing their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.

Ulysses S. Grant
A failed soldier, farmer and a real estate agent, at 38 years old went to work for his father as a handy man

18th President of United States
military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America

Michael Jordan
Cut from the high school basket ball team, he went home locked himself in his room and cried

By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time

Thomas Alva Edison
A teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything and he should go into a field where he might succeed by the virtue of his pleasant personality

American inventor, scientist, and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb
Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany
Founded the company Edison Electric which is now General Electric (GE)

Walt Disney
Fired from a newspaper because he lacked Imagination and had no original ideas

American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur,entertainer, international icon and philanthropist
He and his staff created a number of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse
He has won 26Academy Awards out of 59 nominations (highest by any individual)

Abraham Lincoln
His fiance died, he failed in business twice, he had a nervous breakdown and he was defeated in 8 elections

16th President of the United States
He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery

If you have never failed, you have never lived !

Song a Day

2010-08-23T00:03:00.010+05:30

There is this guy, Jonathan Mann who
1. Writes a new song
2. Composes it
3. Sings it
4. Shoots it
5. Edits the Video
6. Uploads it to Youtube
Every single day !

Inspiring, isn't it?
If you think otherwise, You will be definitely inspired after you watch this video

I came to know about him after this video was shown at the start of Apple's recent press meet
I love the following lines in the song

" Hey! I've got an idea. Let's all sing this song
   Those of you who don't want an iphone 4, don't buy it
   If you bought one and don't like it, bring it back
   But you know, you won't ! "

After learning about this guy, I have got an idea !
How about writing a post on the blog everyday? Atleast every week?
The latter one should be easy. Let me start there :)

P.S - I am an Apple fan boy !

Long Gap !

2010-08-22T23:00:00.000+05:30

There has been a long gap in blogging

The following things have kept me busy

1. Co-founded and built a non-profit organization Jwalamukhi

2. Moved to a new & challenging role at work which demanded more time and attention

3. Spent more time with family and less time with computer

Best days for the blog lie ahead. Look forward to my further posts !

Lincoln's Letter to his son's Teacher

2010-07-20T00:57:00.003+05:30

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,

all men are not true.

But teach him also that

for every scoundrel there is a hero;

that for every selfish Politician,

there is a dedicated leader…

Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,

teach him the secret of

quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…

Teach him, if you can,

the wonder of books…

But also give him quiet time

to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,

bees in the sun,

and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail

than to cheat…

Teach him to have faith

in his own ideas,

even if everyone tells him

they are wrong…

Teach him to be gentle

with gentle people,

and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd

when everyone is getting on the band wagon…

Teach him to listen to all men…

but teach him also to filter

all he hears on a screen of truth,

and take only the good

that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…

Teach him there is no shame in tears,

Teach him to scoff at cynics

and to beware of too much sweetness…

Teach him to sell his brawn

and brain to the highest bidders

but never to put a price-tag

on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob

and to stand and fight

if he thinks he’s right.

Treat him gently,

but do not cuddle him,

because only the test

of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…

let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him always

to have sublime faith in himself,

because then he will have

sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…

He is such a fine little fellow,

my son!

If You Can

2010-05-14T09:06:00.008+05:30

It has been a long time since i posted on the blog. I have been extremely busy, building a non-profit start-up.

Today morning, i read this famous poem by Rudyard Kipling and felt like sharing it on the blog.

Read it many a times? But, still read on. Because it is worth it !

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Geeky Version

2009-11-07T14:06:00.005+05:30

During a conversation at office, one of my colleague was showing an application that he uses to teach rhymes to his daughter. To see how the application works, we were playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Three of us recited the rhyme along with the application.

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

How i wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky”

After the application finished singing the rhyme, another colleague who sits diagonal to me stood up and said that the rhyme has changed so much over time. He has a son in 2nd or 3rd standard, who is quite different compared to boys of his age group. So, this colleague recites his sons version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I need not know who you are

When i look through the spectroscopic gen

All i see is helium and hydrogen”

Wah! When a geek recites a nursery rhyme, this is how it will be. And this geeky version excites my colleague’s son more than the original version. I am so glad he understands that stars contain helium and hydrogen. I didn’t know that unless i studied Nuclear Fission and Fusion in high school.

This is called Generation gap ! There is a whole new generation growing up. At 23, i feel i am getting old :)

Windows live writer on imac

2009-10-09T00:16:00.001+05:30

My blogging has taken regular breaks recently. Many reasons which i don’t want to explain in this post. I am using this break effectively to bring more exciting stuff to you in the coming days!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever since i bought my new imac, i fell in love with the computer and the Snow Leopard operating system. I have been spending all my free time exploring the new OS. Frankly speaking, there is only one application that i miss in MAC OSX.

Windows Live Writer

This has been my blogging companion for a long time. I did search for blogging tools for ‘Mac’ all over the web. Didn’t find one that matches windows live writer capabilities.

Today, i have installed Windows Vista on my imac through boot camp. If not for windows live writer, i wouldn’t have thought of installing windows.

Windows Live writer….You rock Buddy !

Note : Windows Vista is such a loser ! Over all, the OS sucks.

The opinion got strengthened after using Snow leopard.

An African boy makes History

2009-09-29T00:20:00.003+05:30

A very inspiring speech by Willian Kamkwamba, an african boy who brought electricity to his house and water to his drying fields.

What a fantastic presentation. When you have a true story to tell, the passion shows up !

A must watch for everyone.

His Message !

"Trust yourself and believe. What ever may happen. Dont give it up"

The effect of a glam auntie

2009-09-28T23:39:00.001+05:30

I found this pic on flickr, when i was setting up my flickr account.
It had the caption "The effect of a glam auntie"

Photography is supposed to be creative ! like this one.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Celebrations !! I bought an Imac

2009-09-28T22:50:00.004+05:30

After years of waiting, the day has come.

Today, iam a proud owner of 20" Imac

I am still transferring all my data. Havent setup my desk completely.

Here is a picture (Not the best one !)

Took it with my Nokia Xpress music phone and transferred it to my imac via blue tooth.

Life is so good in the company of a mac !

Will post better pictures soon !

Present like Steve Jobs

2009-09-22T23:54:00.001+05:30

Find out in the following video, what makes keynote presentations by Steve Jobs so effective.

I personally love his presentations. Enjoy the video.

Belief & Behavior

2009-08-22T01:12:00.001+05:30

It has been quite some time since i wrote my last post. I wont say that i was too busy. I will rather say that i didn’t manage my time well. So, my lovely blog took a backseat among the improperly managed and apparently urgent activities of life. Only a month back, i attended a leadership training where half a day was focused on time management. During the training, i thought that these techniques would change my life. But, I was soon wrong. I didn’t see much improvement in my daily productivity.

The fault is not with the trainer. It is with me. Trying to do effective time management using different techniques was secondary. I later realized, i have to change something more fundamental before attempting any secondary change.

My belief that my efficiency was limited by time, and i cant do much about it.

Immediate use of time management techniques provided only a cosmetic make-up. The true belief showed up very soon. Putting the to-do list in different techniques didn’t help because, i lacked commitment, energy and love towards my list.

When these three forces dominate, the vehicle of life moves at a decent speed. It doesn’t really matter whether i use one wheel at the front and three at the back or two wheels at both the ends, when my primary aim is to get the vehicle moving. The techniques taught at the training can only help me accelerate faster through design improvements. But, the fact still remains.

Without the driving force, nothing moves.

I realized that it is very important to check the primary requirements, before i focus my energies on secondary improvements. Without understanding why and how of my activities, and what is really important to me, planning and prioritization are meaningless.

I could draw an analogy between my personal experience and the “Personality Ethic – Character Ethic” concept illustrated in “The seven habits of highly effective people” by Stephen R Covey. I strongly recommend this book. It is taking me on a realization ride.

All the trainings try to change my personality ethic which attributes only to my secondary greatness. In tough situations, my original character ethic will surface. When it happens, i am are no longer a consistent performer. The key is to change my character and believe that the change is indispensible. Yes !

There are no Short-cuts.

Personality Ethic will only help me after i achieve Primary Greatness. To reach there, i have to work on my character and my beliefs. In any journey, slight diversions are okay. But, i cant afford to start in the wrong direction !

With this realization, i am trying to better my self.

I would like to end this post with a short video talk on “Belief and Behavior” by Devdutt Pattanaik, who is a thought provoking and inspirational author. He talks about his new role as Chief Belief Officer @ Future Group.

Friends, don’t forget to do introspection! Its important. Else, you will end up moving continuously in the maze of life, reaching no where.

Image Ref : http://spiddlement.wordpress.com/

Post from 24" IMac

2009-07-26T18:39:00.000+05:30

Posting this from a 24" imac in istore on MG Road. Will wait for the day when i will buy this...

Cheers

Warren Buffet’s Simple Advice for 2009

2009-07-23T19:25:00.001+05:30

We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations. Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older.

This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

Hard work - All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Laziness - A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.
Earnings - Never depend on a single source of income. (At least make your Investments get you second earning)
Spending - If you buy things you don’t need, you’ll soon sell things you need.
Savings - Don’t save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after saving.
Borrowings - The borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
Accounting - It’s no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.
Auditing - Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.
Risk-taking - Never test the depth of the river with both feet. (Have an alternate plan ready )
Investment - Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

I’m certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I’m equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.

Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.

Image source: BusinessWeek

P.S : Thanks to my friend Anjali, for directing me to this article

The Hot Chip Case Study

2009-07-14T23:16:00.001+05:30

Yesterday, when i came back from office, there was a power cut at home. I was getting bored & I wanted some thing to munch. So, I went into the main street to the nearest Hot chip store.

I bought 250 gm of potato chips for Rs 45. During the 5 min i spent at the shop, i saw that he could sell 1.5 kg of potato chips. I came back home and enquired my mom about the cost of potatoes. She said that the maximum price she had paid in her experience was Rs 25. I couldn’t resist from making these quick calculations

The calculations shown here are very conservative, considering the sale of only 2 kg of chips per hour.

Chips (in Kgs) sold per hour (Minimum)	2
No of operating hours (Minimum)	6
Total number of Kgs sold/day (Minimum)	12
No of business days	30

Revenues	Per kg (Rs)	Per month (Rs)
Selling cost of potato chips	180	64800

Expenses (Conservative)	Per kg (Rs)	Per month (Rs)
Raw potatoes	25	9000
Edible oil	10	3600
Salary of the only employee who makes chips	14	5000
Rent of the shop	19	7000
Electricity	1	300
Raw material transport	1	500
Miscellaneous expenses	8	3000

Total Expenses	79	28400

Net Income from potato chips/month		36400

Profit margin on each kg		56 %

Rs 36,400 is the profit (Munafa) which the 22 year old boy in the shop makes per month by selling potato chips.

The story is not over here. The raw material (Potatoes & Oil) cost is actually much less than Rs 25, as he buys them in bulk. Potato chips is only one of the items he sells at the shop. There are at least 10 other varieties of chips. I haven’t included the calculations for other items as i don’t have the data. So, the boy in reality is earning much more than Rs 36,400. Accounting for other uncertainties and losses, he would earn a minimum of Rs 36,400.

The boy’s profit is more than what an average engineer earns during his first year of job. I don’t intend to insult the education system or the highly qualified engineers in the country. The point i am trying to drive is as follows.

Some smart guys realize the business man in them at a very early stage. They know the magic of Dhandha.

If you start-up your business at the age of 18 after PUC and invest 4 years to make it a profitable business, you are an independent and successful business man by the age of 22. Wah, what a feeling.

The guess the boy in the hot-chip shop is doing the business for a survival. Some don't do it for survival. They grow every year, investing in the right areas and build a mighty empire around them. For example, Steve Jobs built “Apple” during the same years of his life and was worth 10 million USD at the age of 22. When ever i feel low, i listen to his commencement speech at Stanford University. Only accomplished people can deliver such great speeches.

Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian example of such heroes. These heroes don’t mind the initial risks and set-backs. They are very clear about their objective and are highly confident about reaching there. That’s why they are famous. They accomplished what many other people holding 3 to 4 academic degrees couldn’t.

In this thought process, I remembered the movie “Guru” (based on Dhirubhai Ambani’s Life story) by Maniratnam. I would have watched it over 10 times by now. Will watch it once again over the weekend for a dose of inspiration.

I wish i die as a founder of at least a small company or at least a shop, and rather not as a retired employee. Today is not the day. I wish it comes asap :) (A day of successful business, not death)

The Tea Cup Story

2009-07-12T23:57:00.001+05:30

Story shared by Ananthu from Navadarshanam

There was a couple that used to go to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.

"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, "Not yet."

Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips, as He shook his head, "Not yet."

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."

Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."

"I want you to remember," then, he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.

I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life.

And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us, So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Now that we have understood the moral, lets read a real life story. For everyone who wants to witness the heights of positive thinking, the following article is a must read. (click on the name)

Naga Naresh Karuturi

P.S: Image source - www.firstflush.ee

Focus on Performance, Not Power

2009-07-02T01:03:00.001+05:30

Quote of the month for July, 2009

I have a bad habit. My life’s greatest ambitions come to memory when i switch of my bedroom light and try to get some sleep. So, i lay in my bed awake for a long time thinking about the glory when i get there. While having big ambitions in life is good, i think i am wasting a lot of time thinking about the day when i get there. It doesn’t help me much and worse, reduces the energy for next day.

Recently i read the following story by Colin Powell, former secretary of US state and a retired four star General and it had a transformational effect on me.

“There was a brand-new second lieutenant who was very ambitious and wanted to be a general. So one night at the officer's club the young officer spotted this old general sitting at the bar. So he went up and said, "How do I become a general?" And the old general answered, "Son, you've got to work like a dog. You've got to have moral and physical courage. There may be days you're tired, but you must never show fatigue. You'll be afraid, but you can never show fear. You must always be the leader." The young officer was so excited by this advice. "Thank you, sir," he said, "so is this how I become a general?" "No," said the general, "that's how you become a first lieutenant, and then you keep doing it over and over and over."

Throughout his career, Powell says he had always tried to do my best today, think about tomorrow, and maybe dream a bit about the future. But doing your best in the present has to be the rule.

You won't become a general unless you become a good first lieutenant.

Ground Rule: Do your best in the Present. Focus on Performance, Not Power

Images: Colin Powell as a General and as the Secretary of State

Story Source: Online Fortune Magazine on money.cnn.com

Technical Presentations

2009-06-30T23:53:00.001+05:30

Who says technical presentations cant be engaging?

I am a big fan of Garr Reynolds, who i think is an extremely creative human being and i love the tips at his famous website www.presentationzen.com

His latest post on “Technical Presentations” is quite useful to many of us. He uses the TED talk by Dr. Bonnie Bassler to throw light on the techniques which are crucial for any technical presentation. In the video, Dr. Bassler gets the message across, using her special techniques in communication. Come, lets learn “ How bacteria communicate?” and how the knowledge of bacterial communication can help in the development of new therapeutic antibiotic medicines.

Here is a summary of the techniques which Dr. Bassler uses in her presentation, according to Garr Reynolds

1 There is a great clarity in her narrative and she speaks in a conversational manner. For example, For example, she often says "The question is then _______" or "So the question is this: _______."

2 she also answers the two questions we often have as listeners but that too often go unanswered: "So what? and "Why does it matter (to me/us)?"

3 She references the screen often but only to illustrate her point. She uses her hands a great deal to explain processes, just as you would in ordinary, natural conversation.

4 Dr. Bassler's visuals are quite simple and for the most part they were a good companion to her talk, yet the attention was on her and her descriptions. At times when she was not speaking about something on screen behind her, TED put up her video which gets all the attention back on her. You can do something similar in a classroom or at smaller conferences by placing black slides in between sections or using the B key on your notebook to make the screen black (don't worry: the room will not go dark because you still have the lights on, right?).

Voila !!!! Now lets try and put them into practice.

GE Edison Challenge – 2009

2009-06-29T18:50:00.001+05:30

GE-JFWTC Edison Challenge 2009 is here again ! A wonderful opportunity for all the college students to showcase their technical and business acumen.

Beyond the recognition and fame, a prize money of Rs. 5 Lac, is definitely not a small amount. More over, all the 20 finalists get a seed funding of Rs 20,000 to test their idea. WoW!. How many times were you looking for such funding? Here is the chance !

So, Spread the word. Tomorrow’s innovators could be you or from your campus or from your Alma-mater.

For details visit the following link

http://www.ge.com/jfwtc/edisonchallenge/index.html

P.S: Students, don’t miss the opportunity. Believe me, It’s worth a great deal (I am one of the winners of the contest, previously called GE –Imagination Breakthrough Intercampus Challenge conducted in 2006, and it has definitely added a lot of value to my resume)

BITS-Pilani Wins Bronze Medal @ Robogames 2k9

2009-06-23T23:38:00.003+05:30

The news has been around for quite some time. I know i am posting it a little late, but i couldn’t prevent myself from talking about this awesome stuff.

Acyut, India’s first indigenously developed humanoid (I am really proud that it’s development happened at my graduate university) won the Bronze Medal at Robogames 2k9, held at San Fransisco, between June 12 & June 14.

Two more students Uttam Grandhi & Ravi Shankar from BITS won a Silver and Bronze Medal at the same event under the category “Art Bots”

BITS-Pilani Rocks !!!

It continues to admit students who can sing its song of pride, all over the world.

P.S: Read about Acyut and the other two students in their corresponding hyper- links. I am sure you will be inspired.

Google Wave – The Game Changer

2009-05-30T01:41:00.001+05:30

It is not in anyway an exaggeration, if i say an application called Google wave which is going to be released in this year, is gonna change the life of every internet user in the world.

Image source: www.wave.google.com

The application is fabulous, fantastic and the best of its kind. Adjectives of all the languages of the world, combined together cannot really glorify the beauty, use and simplicity of the application.

The video below is not just a recommendation. I want all my readers to definitely and immediately watch this video. Why should i describe any of its features when there is a beautiful video out there.

The video is long. So follow this precaution: Don’t start the video if you have any deliverable in the next 1 hour. Because, i am so damn sure you wont stop it once started !

I promise, watching the keynote presentation about Google Wave, you will be thrilled, surprised and entertained to the top levels, you will be off your seat, clapping, jumping and trying to close your widely open mouth with your hands.

Friends, here is Google Wave…… The real real game changer..

Google, I love you !

Well, i managed to find a screenshot of the application on the web.

This is how your future email will look like. In this window, you will chat, orkut, blog, micro-blog, share photos & videos, edit documents collaboratively and fill forms collaboratively, play games do what not? The list is so endless…. All you can do now is to say WoW and wait for the release.

If you are smart, you will immediately go to www.wave.google.com and click on the button which says “Let me know when it is ready”

Today, i reinforce my definition that i have repeated a lot of times near my close friends

Google is GOD !!!!

10,000 BC /Hollywood Ramayana ?

2009-05-29T00:38:00.001+05:30

It all started when i was searching for a suitable picture of lord hanuman for my post on Hanuman’s Effective Communication.

To my surprise, i found a ‘human picture without a monkey face’ in the Google image search results. In the bottom area of the image were the letters 10,000 BC.

Out of curiosity, i clicked the image and it took me to an interesting post on the close resemblance of the movie, 10,000 BC to the famous epic, Ramayana. The post and its comments speak in depth about different versions of Ramayana. Kudos to the author.

The image below is taken from the same post to trigger your interest.

I don’t want to write any descriptions on the image, as it speaks for itself. The argument in the post is about “The real Ramayana”

Well, why am i writing about this now?

Today, i watched 10,000 BC. I wouldn’t have related it to the epic, if the referred post was not the inspiration to watch the movie. Yet, I liked the movie and enjoyed it in its true nature rather than its relation to the epic.

What about my opinion on the argument on Real Ramayana?

I don’t care a damn about the truth. I love the epic Ramayana, widely known and the morals it taught us. Likewise, i love the movie 10,000 BC (the Hollywood version) . Both movie and the epic have inspired me in mixed ways. I have witnessed great leadership traits in some characters of 10,000 BC. Will definitely narrate a relevant scene, in one of my future posts on leadership.

For people curious in history / controversies / Spirituality / Fun [:)] , this post will be a very interesting read. Thank you Pinastro. You gave me some fodder for thought.

Read on!

http://pinastro.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/hollywood-ramayana/

New Google Search Options

2009-05-23T01:17:00.001+05:30

First question: Are you using them?

If not, view this video immediately. I personally love the time based results so much !

Phulki – WoW !!!!

2009-05-17T12:44:00.001+05:30

(Disclaimer: This post is for those who don’t know about Phulki. If you are in the Known list, go and enjoy. Don’t waste time reading this post)

Wondering what Phulki is ?

I would define it as a Google++ for Hindi and Tamil Music. Shown below is the home page for Phulki. Doesn’t it look neat and tidy ? Having used it for few days now, I can whole-heartedly say that Phulki is unlike any other online Music Provider.

The good news is that it is also light and very effective. You can search Songs/Playlists/Albums, What not? You readily have lot of options to choose from.

There is a magical Player in the window, into which you can drag songs, make playlists, save them and the best of all, share the songs with friends on social networks like Orkut, Twitter.

You can follow Phulki on Orkut, on Twitter, and subscribe to Phulki Blog.

For those lucky fellas, who have an iphone or an itouch, you can listen songs even when you are away from your computer, using the Phuki App

I didn’t know about all these until my friend Shoeb showed me the home page. Just go to www.Phulki.com and i am sure you will love exploring it.

From here, its a enjoyable Do it yourself project. I have already told enough

Mr. Dude (Cartoon Art)

2009-05-17T00:32:00.001+05:30

This was an attempt to draw the front and side face of the same cartoon character.

ZooZoo Ads

2009-05-10T15:59:00.002+05:30

I love the latest Vodafone ads, for their creativity and variety. Here are the top three in my order of love.

1. Voice SMS

If voice SMS was so funny, i would love to receive a few every day

2. Dating Tips

Who would have tried this during dating, very creative

3. International Roaming

I love weird sounds, weird animated dances, and so, i love this ad

I know you want to watch more. Go to youtube, or switch on TV for the new ones :)
I am watching the IPL Mumbai Indians Vs Bangalore Royal Challengers now, and will wait for the zoozoo ads as much as i wait for the match.

The Alchemist & The Dialogue

2009-05-09T16:46:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading a book that i will cherish for ever.

It has refreshed me inside out, and threw me into a world of enlightened thought process.

I am not writing a review of the book. You will find lot better ones on net. I would like to mention a phrase that gets repeated many a times in the book.

“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true”

Doesn’t this remind you of some dialogue from Om Shaanti Om ?

“Agar Kisi Cheez ko Dil se chaho, Toh Puri Kayanaat usse tumse milane mein lag jaati hain”

I was wondering about the origin for such a wonderful dialogue. Today i find it in the book.

Jokes apart, this book is a must read for everyone.

I wish i should have read the book much earlier :)

The Grand Feast

2009-05-02T01:01:00.001+05:30

I live in the Whitefield area of Bangalore, where the street i live is definitely special for one reason.

The # of dogs and puppies in the street.

There are five houses in the street and 7 pet dogs in total. In addition, there are 4 street dogs and about 7/8 puppies. I have never seen such a small street with so many dogs. Except the pet dogs, all the others are always on the road. All the residents in the street love dogs and feed them very well. So, the dogs have a good time. Since, all they need is food & water, the dogs and puppies never leave the street. Between the 2nd and 3rd house on the street is an empty land, where all these dogs reside.

Our house owners also have a white fur dog, named Tommy. My house owner loves & cares about Tommy more than her husband and children [:)]. Her younger son Chandru loves animals a lot and feeds all the dogs on the street with the meager pocket money he receives from his parents.

Next to my house is a school which teaches Vedic Mathematics to children on Saturdays and Sundays. During weekends, the street which is usually calm, suddenly gets busy with a lot of vehicles which come to drop children at the school. The drivers have a tough time as these puppies keep moving across the road and some of them even sleep in the pot-holes. Most of the puppies which are brown in color, are hard to differentiate for a fast driver, especially while they are sleeping in the pits.

One Sunday evening, i was coming home on my new Honda Activa, and i saw all my neighbors gathered in front of the school. When i stopped my vehicle and went near the gathering, i saw a small brown puppy which was lying on the ground and gasping for breath and i was informed that it met with an accident. One of the vehicles which came to drop the students at school ran over the puppy which was sleeping on the road. Unfortunately the vehicle crushed its nose and tongue. Though the remaining physical system was untouched, the dog couldn’t breathe air and drink water offered by my mom and other neighbors. We knew it could die any minute.

Sensitive Chandru was almost in tears, and was red with anger. He would have cursed the harsh driver over a thousand times by then.

Me and Chandru quickly grabbed the dog, and drove to the nearest dog care center/vertinary hospital. The hospital was closed. We tried reaching the doctor’s number on the hospital hoarding. No one picked up.

Chandru immediately called the local doctor who gives injections to Tommy every month. Unfortunately he had gone to the city, and said that he would take more than 4 hrs to return. When we were about to go to another hospital which is far away, the neighbors intervened and said that all other vertinary hospitals will be closed on Sunday. More over, the nose and tongue of the puppy were completely crushed. The injuries were beyond repair. We realized that their argument made perfect sense.

The dog died a few minutes after that. Me and Chandru had to keep our emotions aside and say good bye to the puppy.

All through this incident, and for a long time after that, a story was ringing in my head. Its from the book “Stories to share and enjoy” by Partap C Agarwal, a retired professor from Cornell university. Let me summarize the story for you.

The author used to go for a walk in a park near his house in Hyderabad. Once when he entered a bush to attend a nature’s call, he noticed a little white puppy which was less than a month old. Slowly, he made friends with it. He called the puppy, Chitta (meaning white in Punjabi) because he was so plump and white that when he walked, anyone would mistake him for a rolling cotton ball. The puppy used to follow Partap, during his daily evening walks and used to play with him.

One morning he didn’t see Chitta and wondered what happened to him. When he went into the bush, he realized that Chitta was bleeding and was in great pain. When author asked Chitta what had happened, he answered

“Oh Brother, I am in great pain. I was run over by a speeding scooter. A young man was driving; a pretty young woman was riding on the pillion. The vehicle went out of control. I was lying half asleep on the side of the road. It went over my back crushed my legs and broke a vertebrae and pelvis. Should i blame the poor driver, the girl or my wrong choice of place to sleep? Perhaps all of them together and destiny caused the accident”

“I cannot walk anymore. The fracture is complex. I think my end is near. But, I am not afraid. Death will be relief from pain. I have found this secluded corner to lie down and starve to death. Fasting makes you groggy and subdues pain. Soon i will lose consciousness and that will be a signal to my friend the crow to come and eat up my eyes and make me blind to the world. Other birds too will get the message and descend to feast on my body. This will be good for I too will be in the feast as the host. I will give to my fellow beings what i got from life. After all what is death? Chitta will cease to exist but every bit of his body will feed life in his brothers and sisters. They too will some day die, and chitta reborn in a new body. The flow of life will go on and that is what counts”

I was wondering if the puppy which died on our street was thinking like Chitta, before it passed away.

A few days later i was going through the rough patch where the dead puppy was placed and i saw separated body pieces and scattered bones.

A Grand Feast would have happened, with the brown puppy as the host, giving away his whole body with joy.

My Feeds & Subscriber Stats are Back !

2009-04-27T02:21:00.001+05:30

Hurray, The problem is resolved.

My feeds are back, just as Google promised. I shouldn’t have taken tension for the initial hiccup. But, man i couldn’t resist myself from panicking when i saw the Zero count (Losing Subscribers). I learnt a lesson today. The conclusion is as follows.

Respect Google… Its a great company.

I feel my feeds are in more secure hands now. No more forgotten Pwds, No more multiple usernames. One Google account does all the magic ! WoW !

Hanuman’s Effective Communication

2009-04-26T21:23:00.001+05:30

The ability to communicate effectively is something all of us crave for. We want to impress our stakeholders, Boss, lover, family and almost everyone who talks to us. It has become more than important in the corporate world where every one has their own priorities and very less time to listen to others. Despite all the preparation, we are seldom successful in reaching our objectives.

Lets go back in time to learn from Lord Hanuman, who is portrayed as a very efficient communicator in Ramayana.

Picture credits: MantraOnNet.com

Ravana had abducted Seeta during Vanavasa and flew away with her to Lanka. Later when Rama went in search of Seeta, Rama wanted some one to make sure Seeta is in Lanka and he wanted to provide her condolence by letting her know that he is coming for rescue. When all other soldiers were scared and admitted that they were not capable enough, Hanuman came forward.

Hanuman flew a hundred yojana (Thousand miles or more of sea) to reach Lanka. When Hanuman entered Lanka it was dead night; and naturally all Rakshashas (a kind of generation known for destroying the peace and harmony of the society for the self centered motives) were indulging into sensual pleasures. They were all in their bedrooms with their wives, half nude, nude, heavily drunk and intoxicated! Epic says that Hanuman moved palace-to-palace; door-to-door; person-to-person but least perturbed or disturbed with emotions or with commotions. He was perfectly balanced in his mind. Though he moved in darkness in midst of unpleasant scenes, his mind was single pointedly focused in search of Seeta, only. So Sri Hanuman is known as a man with mastery over mind… “Manojavam”, he who has conquered his mind and so he was free from lust, greed or anger.

He over came the doubt of Seetha, that he is not another form of Maya by showing her the Ring of Rama. His speech followed after that non-verbal gesture.

When Rama, sitting on the shores saw Hanuman flying back from Lanka, his mind was filled with many thoughts and anxieties. “Whether Hanuman met Seeta or not? How is Seetha in Lanka?” When Hanuman landed on the shores, his first words were “ I Saw ”

Rama was immediately relieved of most of his anxiety. Then he handed over Seetha’s Choodamani ( a hair Ornament) to Rama, and then explained the status of Seetha and her longing for Rama. He could patiently listen to Hanuman, because his mind and heart were settled.

Hanuman never explained all his pain in crossing the sea, all the inconvenience he had to go through at Lanka to Rama. The priority was to convey the information to Rama.

When our manager/teacher asks about our work status, we often reply in this manner. “ Actually i had to take so many efforts to complete this. There were many problems i had to solve and circumvent to finish this work on time. The team members didn’t cooperate much with me” By this time, the manager’s/teacher’s interest is lost.

Though many mangers/teachers today are not as understanding as Rama, we have to first tell them what they want, and then convey what we intended to. That is very important to have a successful communication.

I lost my subscribers

2009-04-23T00:23:00.001+05:30

Hey, i think i lost my subscribers & Feed stats due to this shitty migration of feed burner to Google account.

When tried to Google on the issue, some bloggers say that things will be fine in 3 days. Can anyone tell me if this is really true. If not, i am in trouble.

This is a line from Google in this regard !

“Your readers will continue to receive your feeds. However, the reporting and analytics may take up to a week to adjust to internet traffic changes, so the number of subscribers you see in analytics reports may be lower for a short period of time.”

Subscribers, hope you are receiving this post

Well – Better – Best

2009-04-22T02:32:00.001+05:30

Quote of April month

“ Make things work well, then better, then the best they possibly can”

- Sam Walton in “Made in America - My Story”

One of the most practical statements by one of the best entrepreneurs ever. We often don’t practice this statement. We are in such a hurry, that we always want the best to happen at the first trial. When it doesn’t happen, we complain about the system and the situations.

We have to realize that many challenges in life, are similar to mathematical problems in which you cant proceed to the second level, without using the results from the first level and whose solutions are iterative in nature.

We never like iterations. right? We want things to fall in place right away. It never happens in life, like it never happened for me in a mathematics exam. In an exam, starting with a good guess depends on your practice, intellect and also luck. In real life, it comes from experience.

Those who have started their careers recently, please remember one thing. The experience you gather in the first few years, will form the core for the rest of your career(Like the first level results of a complex mathematical problem). If you go wrong here, then you have screwed up the problem (Rest of your career)

Make sure you learn as much as possible during this phase. Don’t withdraw yourselves to dogma and useless philosophy thrown at you by false colleagues. Look for opportunities with open eyes and use your common sense before you make any decision. Be very sure about your priorities.

Don’t be in a hurry. By running too fast on the road to success, you are missing the fruits of wisdom lying along the road side. You cant survive in the race for long, with out the energy from those fruits.

Once you gather the necessary expertise, you are the King !!!! You can make everything work in the best possible way.

Graphical Name Analyzer

2009-04-19T13:33:00.003+05:30

This is the result of Graphical Name Analyzer on Face book

Even i didn’t know that my name had so many hidden good meanings. I am not surprised why the analysis doesn’t show anything bad for any one.

I like it, though it genuinely doesn't appreciate me.

2 Reasons

1. The analysis is graphical (I love anything represented in art and figures)

2. I know, some descriptions here are true !

There are some stupid quizzes you can take on Face Book. But i like this one !

Nature’s Mahatma

2009-04-13T00:28:00.001+05:30

Art: Imagining Mahatma Gandhi in Nature

Today, we are living in a destructive civilization. Trapped in an imaginary world of selfish desire, we are exploiting the environment at such a rapid pace, where the nature’s inherent balancing mechanisms cannot come to our rescue. Mother Earth is a home for many other living beings other than us. We don't care a damn for them. The school time classes on food chain, photosynthesis and morals have faded away from our memory. What kind of intelligent creatures are we?

While we make such a fuss out of the current economic crisis which no one completely understands, many of us don’t spend a micro percent of that time thinking about living in sync with nature. Which Modern Mahatma is going to come and free us from this trap?

NONE……..

In my opinion, everyone who makes a conscious move towards living a better life, with out harming the environment is a Mahatma. We needn’t invent anything to roll back all the destruction we have made over the decades. Lets at least use the available resources in a holistic way. Lets contribute lesser and lesser to air and water pollution. Lets save the energy and water resources for our future generations. Lets use only what we really require. Lets leave the trouble shooting job to the most experienced Nature. It is very capable of saving us. All we have to do, is to help it and move along with it.

Otherwise, the end of the our civilization is not too far. The next generation of life on earth will read about us, like we read about dinosaurs today.

By the way, I see a mahatma in this cute video, which was shared by my friend Chhavi.

Do you ?

The Seven Social Sins

2009-04-10T22:50:00.001+05:30

by Mahatma Gandhi

1. Politics without principles
2. Wealth without work
3. Pleasure without conscience
4. Knowledge without character
5. Commerce without morality
6. Science without humanity
7. Worship without sacrifice

I have a strong feeling that great people like Mahatma Gandhi, above all had a great spiritual self. The seven golden points mentioned here, reinforce the fact that any change should start from within and then spread to the surroundings. After visiting Navadarshanam, my interest in Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and his philosophy for life has increased by many bounds

I would soon write a post on my visit to Navadarshanam. I need real time to write about it, because its kind of tough for me to explain that wonderful experience in words.

Portrait – My Sweet Little Sister

2009-03-28T22:25:00.001+05:30

It has been quite some time since i have drawn portraits. Yesterday, i recollected the forgotten art with my sister’s portrait.

CEO of Twitter, started blogger !

2009-03-15T17:54:00.001+05:30

I never knew that the CEO of twitter, started blogger. Of course, i don’t know so many things in life. Not a surprise to me.

I am using twitter from a few days, and i like it. I love my blog, and my blog host – blogger. Today i read about Evan Williams. The man behind blogger and twitter.

Image credits: Rafe Needleman / CNET

I would recommend you to read the following articles.

Know about Evan Williams : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/jobs/08bosses.html?ex=1252468800&en=7097b81922bb0367&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=JO-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M085-ROS-0309-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click

Know about Twitter’s Business-model: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10112037-2.html

Quote of the month – March

2009-03-14T23:13:00.002+05:30

“Happiness is not something that you find, its something that you create”

Source: Fwd email in Gmail

Hmm.. yeah.. We find it sometimes. That’s when some one who loves us creates it for us.

Though i don’t agree with the quote completely, i do believe that happiness majorly depends on you and your thoughts.

Keep smiling :)

Picture credits : www.animationxpress.com

Namma Bangaluru (Witnessing truthfulness)

2009-03-10T00:04:00.001+05:30

I hated this city, when my Sony-Ericsson W910i mobile was stolen, in a BMTC bus with in a week after its purchase.(That’s a long story… ) I like this place for many reasons. But, a lot of thefts happen in Bangalore. You gotta be extremely careful.

Today, when i reached my office, i couldn’t find my wallet. I knew i misplaced it some where, or lost it. I was extremely depressed with the series of losses, i underwent. I called up the phone-banking service of my bank and blocked my ATM card. I knew i had to give away the wallet and the cash in it.

AT 9:00 PM in the night, i suddenly get a call from a kannadiga, named Venkat. He asks for my identity, and asks me to come and meet him in the Whitefield Bus Stop. He said “I have your wallet” I rushed to the Mayura Bakery next to Whitefield Bus stop where Venkat was standing.

I collected the wallet, thanked him and admired him. Not for bringing my 650 Rs, ATM card and the wallet back, but for being so truthful to himself and the society.

He said, he found it on the road side. i cursed my carelessness & absent mindedness during the short-walk to office. That was when i guess, i lost it.

I witnessed truthfulness today. A small percentage of bastards, cant bring down the spirits of this great city. Namma Bangaluru !

Prodigy – What it takes?

2009-03-08T21:51:00.001+05:30

When i was reading through the blog of abhilash, one of my campus seniors whom i admire a lot, i stumbled upon this Thirty30 list. It details 30 things he wants to do, before he hits 30 years of age. Very soon i found 30by30 lists by many more people on web. I felt inspired when i saw it. It is always good to have deadlines. I would come up with mine soon.

The post made me go through a series of thoughts. What about those who make it big in child age? Yes, there are a lot of them living in this world. They break all the rules and conceptions of skill Vs (age & experience).

One such example is Nischal, who broke a Guinness record at the age of 11. (Read details here)

I would like to quote another small example i have witnessed in my street at hometown. I did my all my schooling, in a small town called Gudur in Andhra Pradesh, before i went to Pilani. I used to cross a Samuel uncle’s house on my way to catch the school bus. He had a daughter by name Sugandhini. He had a dream to make his daughter a very good singer. He used to take her for music classes everyday and make her participate in all the singing competitions that were happening in Gudur. I remember, people in the street commenting on Samuel uncle, that all his efforts will go in vain. Of course, she wasn’t the best singer in the town.

Recently when i joined job here in Bangalore, i was watching the finals video of “Padalani Undi Juniors – A prestigious music competition by Gemini TV” in you tube & suddenly i was surprised, i could recognize her immediately, one of the finalists was Sugandhini. I guess she was the runner up in the competition. I called my sister immediately and found details. As a child singer, today she has fans all over AP. She has already sung in many events and occasions.

Today, i was watching “Super Singer Juniors” in MAA TV and she is again one of the prospective finalists. Those people in my street who criticized Samuel uncle and Sugandhini, few years back, take pride in seeing a singer from their town on TV.

Prodigy is not always gifted. It comes through commitment, concentration and continuous effort & practice. I bow to the parents of all those wonder kids.

I wont be surprised one day, if Sugandhini becomes a successful playback singer or Album Artist and sets new trends in Indian songs.

Priorities – Your life compass

2009-03-04T00:51:00.001+05:30

Is life-time really a very long-time? I believe all of us have huge expectations on our lives. We may be happy today, perhaps our today was a dream in the past. But this is very clearly not a destination for most of us. We dream for a better tomorrow.

Life is finite, but our desires and expectations for life are not. If we have to put it in a numerical value, how much time do we have, to reach a state we wish for?

Assuming that the average life of a human is 60 years, all the time we have is 525600 hours. Doesn’t the figure looks like a very small number? For me, it looks like a micro digit. I am 22 yrs old. If i have to reach a state of glory (definitions of glory differ from person to person) at-least by 50 years, i have just 245 K hours left. Is it just 245 K hours or a real good time to make it BIG ? The question applies for each one of us.

Yes, it is a real good time, if one gets his priorities right. If one has constant focus, and very clear on his goals. AR Rahman won an oscar, Sachin became the highest run getter in world’s cricket history only because they had their passions as a priority and pursued them constantly. They did it in very less time. Why can’t we ?

It is very important to do most of the things that interest you, entertain you and make you feel yourself. How much time do you allocate to each of those activities ? Decide what’s most important for you and plan Well. God hasn’t given us infinite lives, but he has definitely bestowed upon us, a smart brain that helps us make the right decisions and make our lives more meaningful.

Who doesn’t want a successful life ? To reach there,

“Priorities are your Life Compass”

Shantakaram

2009-03-01T21:24:00.001+05:30

I am a strong believer of spirituality. Shantakaram by Gopika and Nadaka is definitely a soul stirring song. Ever since i stumbled on this song, i would have heard it countless number of times. Thanks to twitter, where i found the link for nadaka’s home page http://www.nadaka.com/

It relaxes you and translates you into a different world all together. Have a great time listening to the song, and watching the video.

I’m on Twitter !

2009-02-28T13:15:00.000+05:30

I have observed some of my friends, on twitter and heard them praising it many times. My curiosity took a back seat all these days. I was lazy to do one of the most easiest things in the world. May be, i was waiting for today.

For those who still don’t know about it (I believe there are ppl in the category), let me share the definition from Wikipedia.

“Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length”

Those who want to know more details on twitter, especially new-bies, Read the article @ http://www.adventcreative.com/best-twitter-advice-ever. I found it useful

Why am i on twitter? because, its time and i don’t want to be too late !

Note: The Pic was picked up from web! (by searching twitter logo in Google images)

Learnings - Quote of the month !

2009-02-23T23:53:00.001+05:30

Life is all about continuous learning. We learn from our experiences and our mistakes. Self-motivation is probably one of the most important characteristics for a man’s success. From now on, i will try to write a quote every month, based on my learnings. Would love to listen to the reader’s opinions. Some of the quotes may be taken from sources that have inspired me. But, will try to be original most of the times, like the one for this month. They may not be poetic as those written by great people. But, what you will see here after every month, is more of a truth learnt, than a preaching.

Quote for the month of February

“It is easy to give up, tough to stay patient and keep trying.

But giving up will RUIN you” Picture credits: http://www.allposters.com/

Who is not affected by the crisis?

2009-02-22T15:37:00.003+05:30

The corporate world is going through bad times. Pink-Slips are flying all around. The person who sits next to me every-day in the company bus, is not seen the other day. Talk to any one, you have daily updates on which company has fired how many people. Yes, the situation is scary. Losing a job which is a standard source of income, is a tough pill to swallow. What would i do if the same happens to me? What other job am i qualified for?

How have people survived in past few decades ? Why have we dependent so much on these jobs which pay fat salaries? Who is currently not affected by the current crisis?

There might be a few sectors which fall under this category. I will speak about something that is most convincing to me. Its the local food industry (The Local hotels ie. messes). We are hearing about people vacating houses and moving to places with lower rentals. We are hearing about decline in the purchase of gadgets and other luxury items and decreased number of people going to big restaurants to party. But, the local messes remain un affected by any changes in the stock markets.

Why is this so? Because they operate in a different business world all together. Because, what the daily customer pays in these hotels is a very reasonable amount. Here, its the volumes which matter rather than the margins.

At the same time, it is not at all easy to run a hotel of this kind. Not all of them see great profits, which can match our salaries. But there are a few of them which really excel above others and earn much more than our earnings.

Let me give you an example. I stay in the Whitefield area of Bangalore. I usually have food at home, since mom stays with me. This week, mom had gone to visit a marriage at our home town and i had to depend on out-side food. There are three Andhra messes in the lane i live.

The first one is close to the main road, and one of the oldest. It does attracts a decent number of customers every day. Since it was the first mess i encounter on the way home, i had food at this mess for the first 2 days. Though the ambience in the place didn’t appeal much to me, food was okay.

The second one in the lane, is owned by one of my local friends. He became a friend of mine, while i was searching for a house in the white-field area and he is the one who helped me find the beautiful house i currently live in. Out of gratitude, i did go to his hotel a couple of times. The food wasn’t great and the atmosphere wasn’t very comfortable. But, yeah.. this is how these hotels operate. Since, i am not from a rich family, and such places are not new to me, i could peacefully finish my food and go home.

On Wednesday, one of my bus-mates informed me that a new hotel was opened recently in the same lane, much beyond these two hotels. Though i was lazy to walk a few more steps, i did go with them as i wasn’t convinced with the first two hotels (People who have food at home cant be convinced that easily)

The third hotel was named, “Sree Lakshmi Venkateswara Andhra Mess” and with a first look, i could understand that the hotel ambience was great. I could see lot of people in the hotel, and couldn’t believe it was a new mess. I had food that day, and let me tell you.. It was awesome. I didn’t eat anywhere else after that. Everything else i had towards other hotels got shattered, leaving only this as the preference. There are a few reasons for this hotel being a success.

1. Quality in the food: “Nothing else sells your brand, better than the product itself”. Ex: The sambar is not a colored liquid, but full of necessary vegetables and as good as the one you have at marriages.

2. Variety: You have food ranging from normal meals to biriyanis both in the afternoon & in the night. In addition, you have all kinds of tiffins. The other hotels lack on that front.

3. Awesome Service: You owners who do the administration always have smiling faces & the boys are more than happy to serve. You don't have to ask for anything. you always have more than what you want. It can be clearly understood that they follow the mantra “ Customer is god”

4. Word of mouth Advertising: The impressed customers, who were pampered bring more people the next day. And the hotel doesn't bring down the expectations.

Its a family business and everyone (from the old father to the young brothers of the owner) work together to keep things in place hygienic, lively and full ! I love the way they do business. They can make much more money if they put up a hotel near the ITPL area or near our JFWTC campus (Vydehi hospital circle). The caterers inside our campus charge humongous for the quality they deliver. People are craving for good taste and there is a huge business opportunity.

If i had money for building the infrastructure necessary for the hotel, i would go and partner with the owner, let him bring the cooks and boys from his home town in AP, and give 60% profits to him and keep 40% with myself. I still think i will break even very fast and make lots of money. Shit! i don’t have the money for investment. Some one else will grab the opportunity now !

Become a Baniya. Let me tell you.. It works!

The way Microsoft works - (Whazz up with Windows 7)

2009-02-20T23:39:00.006+05:30

When i started writing the post, I remembered the lines from a recent employee meeting, where James cash who is one of the independent board of directors of Microsoft. said, “Microsoft releases products with lootttt of bugs (Bhugs). But, they learn from the bugs and correct them very fast”

I see an immediate relevance to the operating system Windows Vista. Every one knows that windows vista was a FLOP. During the recent release of the Aluminum uni-body Mac book and Mac book pro, Windows vista found place in the top six reasons for computer users to shift from PC to MAC.

Windows 7, which is the successor to windows vista is expected to clear all the loss and confusion that vista has created. It has many features like touch, HD blah blah.. Read about them in this link http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

Microsoft has offered free download of the beta version, for the first 2.3 million users or so. I have grabbed one copy of it, and have been using windows 7 for the past one week. The OS is very similar to Vista, The major change being the task bar. Since i do not have a graphics card on my system, i cant take the maximum use of the new task bar and the several aero features that come along with Windows 7.

It still has compatibility issues with software, though not as much troublesome as vista. It has an option to install any software in the compatibility mode, and it works. I don’t understand why it is built that way. Why do you need do click a couple of buttons extra to make the software compatible.

I like windows 7, better than Vista. Its faster, more compatible and consumes less computer resources than Vista. Here are a few snapshots from my computer.

My desktop !

The new paint. I loved it !

The new calculator and Word-pad

The new media player

Other interesting software that come along with Windows 7 include IE 8, Snipping tool and stickies. Another interesting upgrade is the Movie maker beta that comes as a part of windows live and is compatible with windows 7. It looks like this.

There are quite a few features that make the OS easy to use. Though Apple claims that LEOPARD is the worlds most advanced operating system, (I completely support the statement), windows runs on more than 90 percent of the worlds computers. And a meaningful upgrade to windows is what PC users have been waiting for. Lets hope Microsoft has corrected all the bugs in this new OS. I am not the best person to comment on its performance.

Lets wait till the main release of windows 7, and let experts talk.

Until then, Thumps up for windows 7.

Exploring Windows Live Writer !

2009-02-08T14:11:00.010+05:30

Since, i am working on close to 3 different computers everyday, i saw the need for having some of my most important files on the cloud. So, i started to explore the Sky-drive feature from Windows-Live. It offers you 25 GB of online storage for free. When i went to the home page, i found many other interesting applications. Most of you must be using these applications by now. If you are not, i would suggest you to go and have a look at www.windowslive.com. One such useful application, is the windows live writer.

View Full Album

This post is being written using the windows live writer application. You can use it to post simultaneously on different blogs of yours, and create posts more effectively with the different tools and plug-ins available. Just check out the album i created using the application.You can find my art and my photography in the album.

You can even integrate different blogs from Blogger, Wordpress or any other blog provider. So, bloggers who haven’t used it yet, go ahead and have a look at the windows live home page. You can download the writer application alone, at this link http://download.live.com/writer and voila !!!

Though, iam a big fan of Apple and would love to use mobile me, i wont mind to using Windows Live till i buy an imac or a macbook. Take the benefit when it is FREE !

What say ?

Chairman & CEO - Just 2 feet away !

2009-01-31T00:10:00.014+05:30

Imagine sitting just 2 feet away from the Chairman & CEO of a 195 billion $ company. Wow! this day is gonna be a very memorable day in my life.

Jeffrey R Immelt is the man who runs the company, i work for. After several years, he visited the GE-John F Welch Technology Center, Bangalore today. Everyone in the company were in high spirits. Of course, seeing a legend in real life is definitely a big thing.

Times since i knew about him (even before i joined GE), i have been a fan of Jeff. There would be thousands like me in the JFWTC campus. But, as it happens everywhere, very few people (250 approx) got the invitations to be a part of the auditorium. Though i was desperate to listen to him, being an unimportant chap who joined a sea of scientists and engineers only 6 months back, i was among the last few employees who may receive the invite.

But, where is a will, there is a way. After, a long negotiation with the HR, and after providing logical reasons, i made it. I think i had fabulous luck today & my heart pumped with happiness when i saw the entry coupon in my hand. I sat in the corner of 4th middle row . I noticed a little later that, i was surrounded by senior managers, scientists & business executives. Among them sat a junko, with oily hair and unshaven beard.

What happened later was more than a coincidence. Jeff walked over and stood next to me , just 2 feet away, and delivered 80% of the presentation approximately in an arc with me as the center, and a radius of 2 feet.

It was a Wow! feeling. I could feel the positive energy diffusing into me as he spoke. His charisma entertained & inspired everyone in the auditorium. This post would be endless, if i wish to capture the experience i went through. Today is definitely gonna be memorable day in life.

If i was a fashion designer : Easy Art

2009-01-06T23:14:00.006+05:30

If i was a fashion designer, my model will look like this....

I made this in an attempt to capture an ancient costume in a modern girl. This is an example of easy cartoon art.All it took is some simple strokes using different color pens. Didn't take more than 15 min to complete the cartoon. There are people who can do it much faster, but this is my best personal record.

Who am I ?

2009-01-03T01:47:00.010+05:30

I am

A Sensitive String,

vibrating to the chords of love & affection

A serene swan,

trying to extract good from the earthly emulsion

A relentless warrior,

fighting inability and pessimism

An ambitious young man,

dreaming to change the world

An animated Character,

bubbling with joy, energy & enthusiasm

I am Murali &

I am Celebrating Life......

Imagining LOVE

2009-01-03T00:33:00.042+05:30

I feel

as light as Air,
as soft as a Petal,
as lively as a Fountain,
when i think about you !

My heart Sings and Swings every moment,
I feel i am the happiest man on earth,
when i think about you !

I am writing lines that i have never written in my life
A feeling called Love, made me a Poet !

2009

2009-01-01T16:41:00.010+05:30

It is New year day. This time, it came more quickly than last year. I feel, most of us are translating into accelerated time frame year after year. When time moves faster than you what you are prepared for, you postpone things and pile up tasks. I have not been good at managing my time , in 2008.

I see the need for meticulous planning. I have two very important resolutions for the new year

1. Understand priorities & Don't postpone anything (for what ever reason)
2. Sleep for a minimum of 7 hrs everyday

I would like to end this post, with a funny gift i received from my friend, Shoeb

http://www.worldsgreatestbusinessmind.com/20081224-%20%20%20Muralidhar%20-%20Patnam%20-create.html&WT.mc_id=WGBM|Create

Buddha -My Art work

2009-01-01T16:16:00.006+05:30

Art has been an interest and a hobby since my childhood. Recently, i have found very little time for the hobby that has refreshed and entertained me for years. Today, i need very strong motivation to draw something. After reading the book "Buddha - A story of Enlightenment" by Deepak Chopra, i could not resist myself from doing this piece of art.

Dhruthi - A commitment

2009-01-01T16:09:00.008+05:30

Many of us see issues and ideas suddenly popping up in the head, and getting washed in the daily routines.But, some of them come back to us very often and with time, become a dream, a passion.

I have a passion to bring change in my society and my country. How am i going to bring it, such that it makes an everlasting impact, is not very certain. But, the seed is very strong. So, why not join with some more like minded individuals and find a direction to realize the common dream?

That is what Dhruthi is all about. A fellowship programme called Grassroutes organized by Yofa brought us together. Though we didn’t make it to the final three teams, our passion and commitment haven’t withered. Here is the video we made to apply for the programme.

It presents a casestudy on Guddukeri, a tribal village located in the elephant migratory corridor, 20 KM beyond Bandipur forest. Visit the video where Dhruthi explores the plight of the villagers and poor living conditions.

You can follow Dhruthi and its activities @ http://dhruthispeakup.blogspot.com/

You can follow the roadtrips of the top three teams selected for Grassroutes over here: http://grassroutes.in/

Why a New blog Now ?

2009-01-01T14:14:00.011+05:30

Some of you who have followed my blog "Thoughts Unleashed" will know that this is not my first blog. Why did i create a new blog, with a similar name? I started with "thoughts unleashed" when i was new to blogging. Over the past few weeks, i was trying to change the look and feel of my blog, post better content and post them more regularly. I saw the need for starting fresh. Here after, i will talk @ Thought bubbles

So, Whats new for the year, a New blog..