Sunday, September 26, 2010

Rolex vs Rolodex, podcasts, Mallory

I came across this brilliant website on building your network by Harvey Mackay.Listened to the great podcast by Wayne Turmel; Cranky middle Manager show. There is also an intersting podcast on project management.

Manager tool at it's best with 2 podcast. My Manager Resigned and Manager & Government politics. As usual MT way, it is all about behaviours and you are there to fulfill what the organisation needs.

I completed the paths ofglory by Jeffrey Archer. A brilliant account of a true event. The climbing of Mt. Everest in 1924 by George Mallory. My Gut feeling says, Mallory did it. 


The Indian connection in the weekly leader podcast.Lidsay Levin discusses the Indian common man who possess great leadership qualities thro her oranisation Leader's quest.


Untill next week, take it easy and take care; Live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

taxi, tollway

Last week I was on travel to Madras and Pune.

The Learning at Bombay(to reach Pune) was that the airport taxi system can test your patience. It took me 20 minute to get a token to board a taxi(Queue and system billing) and another 20 minutes to flag a cool cab. So 40 minutes lost. My learning is for next trips is to make sure that Car is prebooked and some one waits with a placard. Considering traffic chaos in Bombay, it imakes practical sense. Even at 9pm, it took me 90 minutes to reach Bhandup (30 Km away from Airport). Yes, the cool cab which I tried for the first time is good.

The next day, it was a different experience, I took the toll expressway from Bombay to Pune. The 130 Km was done in 3 Hrs flat. The 3 lane road is dream. Yes there are odd potholes and Jaywalkers on the elevated expressway. There is also a good resturant near Kapoli. The toll US$4 is worth it as it easily saves good 3 hours.

At the Pune Airport, after years, I picked up 2 fiction books. Theodore Boone by John Grisham and Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer. Boone is a dream kid lawyer in making( Ideal Child). Archer's book is about George Mallory the unconfirmed first guy to climb Mt. Everest.

The economist has released list of best MBA colleges. University of Chicago is the number 1 college, Harvard at 4th. No Indian school in top 50, as expected!!!???.


Ok, untill next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.





Sunday, September 12, 2010

Ganesh, 9/11, Milk, typo

This week the festive season are in full swing. Coincedentally all religions had some festival to work about. Virgin Mary feast for Christians, Eid culminating the fasting period for muslims and Ganesh Chathurthi the elephant god for Hindus. At Park 3, this was the first festival celebrations as a community with about 65% occupancy. We did our little bit.


This week also was the 9th anniversary of 9/11. This year for various reasons, the sombre occsaion had its own conterversy. I can only hope all the issues are sorted out to every one's satisfaction. It calls for give and take and look for a win-win solution.

I was very much touched by this story in Gaurdian, story of a Afgan child went without milk in the midst of flies and stench. Fortunately, the story had a happy ending as some good hearted folks from Pakistan worked out to collect aid and served. The child could get his milk and food.


I came across this intersting article about how the work will change in the next 10 years. This will be more about colloboration, Remote working etc.

I leave with the intersting post on typical typo error found in public display. 


Untill next week, take it easy and take care; Live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Back to Blogging, festivities, WTC, Birthday, 3cups of tea.

It has been quite a while (2 months) that I have not blogged. Yes, I was active on Twitter(@Karaikudy) and posting comments and thoughts in that medium. I begin to feel that the personal touch comes from blogging.
We had some celebrations of Independence day, Janmastami over time and I thought of posting the photos here.

The Independence day celebrations were the first one to be celebrated at PARK 3, and we called Dr Ashwath Narayan MLA Karantaka State, Representing our area, Malleswaram. He has been instrumental in getting railway gate open 24 Hrs (from 8 hrs which saves 3 km of circutous route) as well as doing all the lighting and hygiene aspects. The local corporator was also present. His speech was more on participating in civic leadership and not to look at politicians with cynicism. We also arranged some programs for the kids and adults with lot of of patriotic songs.

Some of the Programs.

This week also marked the celebrations of Janmastami, the birth celebrations of Lord Krishna. The celebrations were special as my parents are here. The foot print of lord krishna as child.....



Our Apartment, Renaissance PARK 3 is now officialy adjacent to the first WORLD TRADE Centre, Bangalore. The Brigade gateway project Building NORTH STAR has been declared WTC Bangalore.

3rd Sep is also a red letter day. MY daugther turned 18 and so now a Major and free to choose her path and way forward. We did some small celebrations.

Ok, on to the general happenings.
I am listening regularly to the weekly leader podcast. Great interview, discussions, social media min as well as podsafe artist. Peter Mello and Pam Fox Rollin do a great job. 
This week interview with Bob Sutton on Good boss- bad boss gives a divergent perspective. Yes, I have been blessed to work for great bosses for over 25 years now, except for a 24 week period in 1999, yes that triggered the desire to look for change.!!...
Finished 2 great books...........1) 3 cups of tea; The story of Greg Mortenson on building schools in Af-Pak. I am sure one day the nobel peace prize will redeem itself by going to Mortenson. What a way to fight terrorism!..
2) In to thin Air. The Disaster at Mount Everest 1996,12 deaths. More so as a safety professional, I correlated the various discrete incidents to the multiple causation theory.
3) I am more than half way done with WAR- Sebastian Junger. Mind blowing account. Never knew Bullets travel at 2000miles/hr and you get .25 sec reaction time and some shells at 18" away from you too can cause skin burns...!! A must read.


4) Came across email alert on 10 must read HBR articles. All are great lessons. Very fortunate to have read all of them. Print subscription to HBR helps. 
5) I am very disappointed to see that Wall Street Journal print doesnt do same day delivery @Bangalore. The day it happens I am in. Hope this happens sooner... Many  Indian cities are covered.....
Ok, till next week; take it easy and take care; Live Consciously.
Regards
Karthik.





Sunday, June 27, 2010

School, Ethics,Anonymous,

I was saddened to read in newspaper that a school kid was crushed to death by her school bus here in Bangalore. It was a just an irresponsible act. I recollect the school bus in western countries take so much care. Wonder when the responsibility will take over.

I keep telling my overseas friends when I travel there that in India we progress in-spite of our government. The corruption, irresponsibility are so much. The resignation  here in Bangalore of Mr Santosh Hegde is a classic case. In this connection the open letter written by Mr Rajah Iyer to the PM is worth going. I follow Mr Iyer's blog very closely and lot of lessons to learn.
Some of the articles I came across this week.
1) Taking criticism personally wont help you; It will retard growth. 
2) Why I returned my Ipad HBR Blog. Peter Bregman
3) Inside the mind of an anonymous online poster.  How emotions flare up as response to events. 
4) Japanese folktales. Very interesting.


I am back to regular podcast listening and catching up. Would post links from next week. The Worldcup football is reaching fever pitch. 


Till next week, Take it easy and take care; Live consciously.
Regards

Karthik.


 

Sunday, June 13, 2010

K'naan, Schools, Twitter,

It is the time that comes once in 4 years when everything is set aside to focus on the action on the field and watch through television. It is truly the world cup  with 180 teams reduced to 32 exciting stuff not to miss. I am spending as much time as possible to watch action. I also blocked as much time in my outlook calendar to coincide the match timings as out of office.Luckily most matches are after office hours, yes some calls needs to be multi tasked. My four teams to quarter finals are France, Brasil, Uruguay/ Argentina and Germany/ Italy. Let me see. Already some exciting stuff with South Korea and England goal keeper making action.
The world cup Theme song has caught my imagination and I have been singing it umpty times as well as in the head. The singer K'Naan from Somalia just catches your imagination.

Came across this interesting post on testing your 1)focus and 2)Multitasking on the Newyork times tech page.


I was appaled by this news on attack on school in Bombay by some political activists. Where are we heading? It is sheer act of terrorising young children. There could be issues, but this is not the way. A far cry from the west where even presidential motorcade stops for school bus. When we will learn to be more civic! I wonder. On being Indian, I felt the resonance with PriyaRamani on the Indian way of thinking and interaction, her thoughts are very valid.


Here is an intersting cartoon on Remote conrol a woman might want! Hmm. I have not shown to my wife so far.(Now showing her!!).

With Twitter getting more and more part in our lives(Looks like 2 Billion tweets and counting), you need a client to handle. I came across Journotwit which helps to create column and manage contacts and behavior. My Handle is @karaikudy.
OK, It is short post, Will come back more next week. Till then take it easy and take care. Live Consciously.
Regards
Karthik.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Success; Rewards; Social Media; Zakumi

It is good to be back to blogging after 4 weeks. I must apologize for this sluggish frequency over the last 3 months. This was due to travel, Construction work at our apartment as well as serious discussions on children education/ admissions as well as catch up on periodicals. Yes, it is also laziness to some extent. Moreover I was also more in to Twitter.(@Karaikudy); I love blogging as Chris Brogan's post and would posts more frequently. Needless to say my podcast activity is also at all time low. Should work that out too; So my excercise... It's time for serious review!!!

Glad to let all know the children are done thro school admissions, Daughter got in to St. Joseph college, with 93% she had walk in interview and done with. Son also made it in to NPS in science group 11th, having secured 99.5% in 10th CBSE. So it was not much of an effort chasing admissions which can be a nightmare for parents. Thankfully the kids spared that. Credit to them and my wife for having made them realized that education is the key asset for middle class to come up in life.
So with all good performances, son's favorite team Chelsea winning the EPL and his God Drogba winning the golden boot, I had fulfill his demand for an IPHONE 3GS. So that was given to him as a gift. He enjoys it, I also get a chance to work around it once in a while and I find the APPS amazing and user friendly and reliable as well enlightening.
Ok; Enough of personal info;
1) As indicated Twitter micro blogging site has lot of useful add on applications. This helps you track followers, find people with common interest. Here are 27 apps; some links
2)I am also in to GOOGLE BUZZ, which is 4 months old, cant believe, so much happening. It is also a good social trend and helps you to stumble up on new aspects in tech/ social/ every aspects. Buzz, I sense is more personal then twitter. Up on using them I came across so many acronyms that I was required to get a ref page for all symbols, short forms.
3) Here is an excellent article on Managing virtual teams posted by Economic intelligence unit. A very practical aspects in this cross knowledge/ functional/ frontier of managing work place. I am aghast at some of the goof ups / Faux-paus that happen when cross cultural interactions. 
4)One of the tough task is to register every webpage for freebies or product info, download and it is a tiresome task. I came across this site which helps to capture data and auto post to a temp email account which wont cause spamming of your genuine email in box.
5) Here are some good productivity hacks and Myth; This is a good site that allures the myth associated with. 


With the world cup foot ball starting this week; it is time to spend must time in front of the idiot box to capture the real world cup where 180 teams fight for a cup. I look forward to a fascinating, non eventful (safety, peace) football with ZAKUMI. The timings are also right. My 4 teams for semi final Brazil, France/Italy, Germany, Uruguay. Let's see.!!!..


Till next week, take it easy and take care. Live Consciously.


Regards
Karthik.