Sunday, October 24, 2010

Google, Friends, Food.

IYou would assume that Google is well used all over the world, well,my experience in the USA last week,was that there are some people still who dont google to find out things that are beyond LA to NY( That they call World series!!!).

1) A friend asked me if Budhism is the biggest religion in Pakistan? (He has double master's degree). He had been to this part of the world!!...
2) 2 folks from Latin America had no clue where Bangalore, (I was too embarassed to ask if they know where India is!!) is and what is it's commercial signifiance? I too struggled to explain them, thinking it is obivious!!....
3) There was also confusion/ hesitancy in many people I met to know whether I am a MUSLIM? (My beard didnt help). Yes, I guess the Pakistan work association must have paid off for this Madarasi, Indian Brahman!!!!...

So the world has lot of catchup to do??? What intelligent software/ implant would do this!?

So this visit also helped me to do some important things.

1) Met my first working boss, Dr M V Patel ( 1986-1991, Unique group, Ankleshwar) at Chicago after 19 years, did lot of catching up over  Gujarati dinner at his place in West Chicago. It was great to meet his family too. 


2) Met Wayne Turmel, the Host of Cranky Middle Manager podcast show, over dinner at a Sea food restaurant. 2 hrs just flew by. I always felt that great people always squeeze out time from their busy schdeule to interact with people. Wayne is no exception. Thank you very much for your time Wayne. We appreciate what you do over CMM.


3) Sat behind a wheel of a car( Toy Car) at GO KARTING at Lanciano, Italy at a team event. This was my first experience behind wheel after 10 years, as Bangalore traffic is hazardous to self driving and leave it to professionals. Some initial nerves, things worked out.


Dr Patel


Go karting

Wayne
 It was sheer delight to be back at the CASTELO DI SEPTE,hotel in Mozzagrogna. The hotel is in my best hotel list. It looks a castle and rooms are standard with basic amnities. Wireless internet (Free) is bonus add on since my last visit in 2008. The food in the resturant is amazing.
We had been to a restaurant (more like a Agri tourism farm house), the Italian food was amazing!!. (more than 3 course dinner and we finshed at 1am!!)....

One of the other learning on the trip was the airline food has shrunk in long distance flights, the food they serve is simply not enough. I learned the lesson quickly and started picking up food from counters as an addon to the served flight food to prevent going hungry for hours. Yes as usual, the baggage didnt make it during the short flight to Chicago. (4th time!!)So rushed to Walmart to get some clothes, (My relatives helped for the trip for 2 mile drive, if you cant drive you are in trouble over distances in USA!!)


I was also very very much disappointed at absence of paid lounges in TERMINAL 5 at Heathrow during the 6 hrs transit. (I lost my BA Silver status due to lack of inernational travel for some time!!)The absence of Shower facility is an insult to the clean traveler like me (Who shower minimum twice a day come rain or shine, (I even did at -15 deg cel at Salt Lake city). I hope some one listens and do something to install some showers (Paid one also would do!!).......

By the way finished reading Frederick Forsyth's COBRA. A must read to know the intricacies of COCAINE Trade. Master story.


Until next week,take it easy and take care; Live Consciously.
Regards

Karthik.



iPad posting

I am posting this blogpost from the Ipad. The Ipad was an impulse purchase last week when I was in Chicago. I had been to the Apple store at woodfeld mall for an ipod for Lalitha. So impressed was I with the Ipad features that I picked up 16gb wifi version. My friend Clyde Roe ( ex-Monsanto) helped me for the shopping trip.

Yes, the good news for my son is that the ownership of the Iphone3GS is now 100% his. I used to pick it up once a while.


I will post the Europe/ US travel experiences soon.

Take it easy and take care, live consciously.

Karthik.,

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.