Ever increasing fuel prices...

Hi,

I should start by accepting that fuel prices in Delhi are still cheaper than in other metros of the country. I should also mention that roads are much better here than most of the other metros of the country. Both these realities point towards relatively cheaper travel-by-car lifestyle...but is that really so!

Even if that is so - does it matter to me that I am paying less than some other guy in Bombay or Madras (btw, I still like the older names of these cities). The point is - I am paying more than what I used to. The point is my entire lifestyle is travel-by-car dependant and now it has started to pinch (a little more than that actually).

I just hope that the fuel prices come down sooner than later, or else I would surely be on a two-wheeler!

My weight loss program continues...

Hi,

This is in continuation of my previous post "I have lost some weight..." and unlike the woman in cartoon above, I have lost a few kilos!

Its been a little over three months that I was first made to realise what a heavy (and big) frame I had become and that I had to do something about it. This something about it was also served to me on a platter, with booking receipts to a gym membership.

I joined the gym, which was for the first time in my life and did take a fancy to the treadmill and the cross-trainer machine. Coming back from office, changing hurriedly and rushing to the gym to sweat it out was great fun - I must admit. In a few weeks itself - I could see that there is some improvement and I mentioned this in my last post on the topic. That time I had lost about 2-2.5 kgs.

But then, unfortunately the gym got sealed out by the sealing authorities (it was apparently illegal to run a gym from the basement house of a residential colony). Along with this closure - came the end of my exercise regime as well. But to my surprise, today I stand 6 kgs lighter than the day I first went to the gym.

What caused this continued loss of weight - well I don't know...just that my wife had ensured that we eat a little less fatty stuff and manage to go out for evening walks a little more regularly than otherwise...

It is such a great feeling to have all my jeans loose enough to fall down unless worn with a belt. But, the supreme happiness comes when people start telling you that you have slimmed down. And I have not been told by one or two - but a plenty!

Now - even though the gym remains closed (despite being un-sealed) I have started doing Yoga. This does not make me sweat just as much as I used to in the gym - but it certainly tires me out completely...let's see if I can manage to lose some more kgs in the coming weeks and come closer to my target weight.

Is A Business Owner the Only One Responsible

Hi,

I came across an interesting question that someone had posted - what is it that a business owner understands and not his employees?

This question immediately struck me - as I have been on both sides with being an employee for much longer than a business owner. I still feel that most of me works, thinks, functions like an employee - but this part of me is fading, slowly but surely.

I have not been able to truly pin-point what is the difference between an employee and an employer - but in my understanding, it is the sense of ownership.

I think the biggest challenge that one faces when the 'cross-over' happens, is the fact that now ownership is all yours. And I don't mean ownership as just who owns a business, but ownership of thoughts, ideas, results, drive, motivation, learning, speed, finances (or the lack of it) - well, just about everything is your own. That means, the-buck-stops-at-you!

As an employee, whether in a large-scale organization of a small one, there is always someone else who was supposed to deliver something - and since that didn't happen, I didn't do what I was supposed to. When one has his / her own business, then these things don't matter. Work not done means lost opportunity and time-wasted.

Having said that, I think it is not only the business owners who can actually feel the pressure of ownership - there are many employees who would take complete ownership of their set of responsibilities and when these responsibilities grow - sense of ownership grows as well.

What it all comes down to is this, if all employees start taking complete ownership of their responsibilities, then their relationship with the employer would improve and thus the employer shall not look like a scary halloween character! This shall improve the overall work culture and atmosphere - thus the results, for one and all!

Cheers...Happy Working!

You Never Know What You Are Capable Of

Hi,

I no longer am as regular with reading books as I once used to be. But still want to get my hands on to something interesting once in a while. The latest I am reading is "The Education of an Accidental CEO" by David Novak, CEO of Yum Brands - owners of Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell.

I found the title interesting..."an accidental ceo" - wow! How cool is that / How lucky / How did he fall upon the CEO's chair??? Since the moment I came across this title, my mind was racing with such questions and I had to pick up the book for me to read. Also, this title had the word education in it, which made me wonder can this book really share something.

To be honest, this book was bought at-least three weeks back and I have not gone past the third chapter. This is purely because of my procrastication and need to spend sometime watching TV, instead of reading interesting books. Anyhow, even though I am still at the first 5% of books contents, but I have already come across the essence of it (thanks to the author). This post is about the essence:

"You Never Know What You Are Capable Of..."

What I take from this statement is - I know my current strengths and weaknesses but probably don't know what else can I do or what is it that I can do better. Let me give an example for this - I am a sales professional and have been in channel sales throughout...but am not sure how would I be in personal sales, how would I be in corporate sales or how bad would I be in finance. The last point being, I know I would be bad in finance but how bad - whether impossible or still manageable.

To develope this thought further, Mr. Novak explains his learnings over the years that led him to the CEO's chair. But in my view what is more important is the attitude, with which he welcomed each change and took on each challenge, that allowed him to have all these learnings in the first place. Starting with life in a trailer, entering a journalism course, becoming an advertising professional and then becoming a CEO - during all this, Mr. Novak was not only open to new ideas but also bigger challenges. Some of these had the potential to wipe him out and he didn't know whether he had all the solutions with him - all that he had was self-belief!

After M. Novak managed to tackle each of such 'difficult' issues, he looked back and thought - would I have believed ten years back that I am capable of doing this. And that my friends, I think is the essence of this book.

Do tell me what is your opinion on it...take care and be open to challenges!

So True!!!

Hi,

Is there more that I need to write to convey what this post is supposed to say...

Happy blogging fellow bloggers...Cheers!

Don't know why - but can't write today...

Hi,

I wanted to pen down something today - but can't get my mind to frame anything...

Through this post I want to share that though I wanted to write but I can't...till next time friends!

Bye - take care and keep smiling.

Murder Mystery - Is It Solved?

Hi,

I write this post about a topic that I would usually ignore. There is something in this story that somehow got me to know more than I would like to and thus I feel for it more as well.

All are by now more than aware of what's happened to Arushi, a 14-year old girl who was found murdered while her parents claimed to have been sleeping in the next room. Latest is that her own dad is the killer (who is as of now maintaining that he's been framed)...it is sort of unbelievable - but then, it could be true as well.

I just hope this case is solved and the real killer is caught and dealt with.


RIP - Arushi!

Working on a Sunday

Hi,

I write this post to emphasise upon certain benefits of working on a Sunday. Before I start, let me clarify that I am not a workaholic nor am I single (who has nothing better to do on a Sunday).

From my experience, following are the benefits:

1. In all likelihood, you are alone (or at least lonely) in office - thus your per capita output increases

2. In all likelihood, you have a reason to work on a Sunday like unfinished presentation, important first-thing-in-the-morning Monday meeting preparation, pending e-mails or work...what ever be your reason, Sunday allows you to focus on that issue - since it is less likely to get phone calls, have fires to fight, have anyone distract you

3. You can put on your kind of music, without worrying about what others might say / feel about it...it is your time, the way you want to utilise it - and the best part, you are finishing up work

4. One other benefit is - earn brownie points in your boss' eyes...

5. Last on my list is - get to write posts for your blog while you are still pretending to be working!!!

Anyhow - this is it from me...Ciao!

Understanding Women - IMPOSSIBLE

Hi,


I knew my wife for a decade before we decided to tie the knot...but still there are just too many things that I don't understand about her!

I wouldn't go into the depths of our fights and of my inability to understand her (at times), but would just like to share what she sent me (as a forward) a few days back:

"To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.

To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all!!!"

I hope I have managed to convey the feelings here my fellow confused brothers...hope you shall too manage to read the above mentioned words and try never understanding your partners.

Take care...

A new thought - reality check!

Hi,

This post is in reference with one of my earlier posts, 1999-2000 - The Best Phase of My Life.

I have mentioned in that post that I learnt how to deal with hard-ships, developed sense of self-belief, learnt and grew by reading books and listening to music. Well...all this did happen...I did learn all that, I did develop my personality for the better...but I didn't write about the side-effects of all this (for me and should not be taken in general), which now I feel that I should.

I have believed in being honest and content with what I get. I have always managed to convince myself that whatever happens; happens for good. And I have, thus, managed to lead a relatively less anxious life and have rather pitied my friends and colleagues who participated in the so-called 'rat-race' to climb higher.

I have had an eye-opener, rather a series of them in recent past that have completely shaken me up. These events have not only challenged the way I work, but the way I think and the way I live my life. From being a highly 'satisfied' person to now not knowing what is actually the right way forward!

As of now, I can't even explain what is going through my head. I am torn between the philosophy that I have lived with so far and the new challenge / opportunity that I have been made to see. The idea of living in a safe environment (probably a shell) and calling it God's will is quite safe. What-ever goes wrong is then treated as God's doing and managed through with the belief that there must be something good hidden in pain. But now, I am being asked to move my butt out, I am being pulled into the world that is actually out there and compete with the best and the rest. More than anything I am being asked to think what future I want than just sit and accept the future that comes.

I think I have been shown a 'mirror' - something I hadn't done in a long time. There is something good that will come out from this mental churning - I am sure. The question is, how soon and how much am I ready to change!