Reconstruction

I understood, realized and repented my mistakes - mistakes that stemmed from my own insecurities, fears and lack of control on my frustration. If I blame circumstances, situations or people - that would be naive and meaningless. Because, ultimately those "reactions" or "behavior" was mine. It is my choice o my ability or my ignorance or mine to have acted in such a way. I realized no matter how others treat you, I should never treat them bad. No matter how others hurt your ego (could be unintentional or immaturity), I should never attack them back. 

I am working on never losing patience in relationships - especially the ones that matter a lot - family, friends and love. I should never ever take anybody or anything for granted - that emotional laziness might translate into impatience and you might react immaturely. I have seen it happen in my relationships. Even the best of you - the very noble and good part of you - falls badly to the gutters within seconds if one loses patience and composure.

People and society are least bothered about the trigger but consider you as the uncivilized or the indisciplined. In fact it is right I guess. When in love or true friendship, just give yourself endlessly without ever doubting the person even if hurts. I have a learnt a greatest lesson of my life - never ever analyze, never ever expect change or never ever tell the other person what to do. If they really care or love you, they would understand you and what is better for the relationship. Because of the nature of our jobs - I see we have become analytical, logical and result-oriented. This is overbearing itself on my relationships. But relationships, egos and hearts are very fragile, sensitive and irrational. Never question the friendship, trust and love what you are receiving - for it is the ultimate insult and pain to the person bestowing it upon you. They are the greatest and priceless things in one's life. By questioning or by doubting or by hurrying - whatever may be the circumstances or situations - one kills the beauty and magic of love and friendship. 

I have developed a trick to change myself. I always ask "SO WHAT" whenever I feel hurt or insecure. What is the worst thing that can happen now. For example, you discover your beloved lying to you. It is quite natural when to get angry and feel insecure. But instead of losing composure and peace of mind, ask her why did she lie. What was the necessity to lie? Tell her lying ruins the trust and it takes hell lot of work for her to rebuild it. That work will be so much that she might find it suffocating to bear. Another example, if your friend    takes your new sweater and loses it. Its human to lose temper, instead control your thoughts and ask "SO WHAT". In fact I did that. I didn't show any anger or frustration on my friend. I exhibited lot of patience and self-control. But there were some moments where I lost. Unfortunately, the people I was with remember only the mistakes I have done and forgot the good things and have hurt me dangerously to the point of insanity. No matter what, no matter how other treat you, I should always behave in the best possible way, in the ideal way. Now I have my life totally ruined and shattered, I am taking these lessons very very seriously to rebuild it. Hopefully I would be strong enough to reconstruct my life from ashes and rubble. God grant me power to think good, be good and act good whatever may be the provocations and situations outside. I want to be what I am all the times.

P.S: Even if someone belittles you, never disparage them back. It hurts their ego painfully and they cant forgive.

America, its you again!

With grand ignorance and lack of common sense, one can become sole super power - USa has been a sparkling example! And their success is so seductive it allures the rest of world to borrow its super-ignorance. Just like unalloyed belief on CREDIT RATINGS!

I can see how ridiculous some "standard" American guy poor of common sense tells "NO!! Her size is not AAA but AA" whole world starts crying!! Trust & reliability on the by-products of their ignorance, is matchless! Mr. Rater is so flawed and nonsense that countries like PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Shiva shiva Greece & lol Spain) who are BIMARUs of the world have better rating than India. If this is not whimsical sway of moody Fitch then what else! Please compare assets, real growth, or SAVINGS etc...India fares better. Baseless. Anyways let the credit ratings go.

Focus on the issue: US economy is a grasshopper, they never save. They spend 37% of GDP with only half of them paying taxes!! And now they have borrowed everything they can to the point of default, hence cannot borrow more. To make matters worse, they want to attract borrowers now either by increasing yield on their bonds or lessening the price or both! But how shall they redeem bond holders?? And how can they promise higher yield when their growth is almost halted?

Dear America, at least for economic reasons, you should have stopped investing in Iraq, afghan & other wars. You don’t have to borrow and invest in war. Unemployment in your country is not a result of outsourcing rather it’s a result of your govt's policy making and lack of progressive foresight. The catastrophe, which you have created, is indeed a triumph of your unregulated capitalism, unbridled globalization and canonized ignorance. Or on a second thought, you can consider it to be a last leg of official transition of power from West to East (rather from single point of concentration to globally distributed power poles!) in the background of strange economic cycles.

So what you can do to avoid catastrophe?

· First, present the inherent nonsense of these rating agencies & communicate to the world not to take seriously. Shut the agencies ass!

· For god's sake, make love not war! You can use all that budget and healthy workforce productively in spurring growth

· Keep a check on your love for capitalism. Because capitalism is not an adult, it is like a teen, there should be timely n friendly guidance.

· Tell academicians to teach CAPM is just a vague measurement and not to take American bond as Risk-Free while calculating :) This is a spoilsport. If ever possible, slowly integrate fractal geometry.

· And sell gold now.

Relationships at Work

My dad always tells the quality of one's life is strongly correlated to the quality of one's relationships. Relationship with oneself, with people and with everything in the world, if not universe. I could not stop recalling my dad while signing up for a training program "Building and strengthening Relationships at Business" at office. I was sweetly impressed by no-nonsense and non-cliche approach of the course. Session not only helped in refreshing our "known" concepts but also the importance of repetition. It reminded me if "known" things are not consciously functionalized they become dysfunctional not just non-functional! It was timeless lesson. And I thought why not share some important nuggets from the program with you:

- Respect and concern for the person builds strong relationship

- Seek out and spend time with them. Take an interest in them.

- Active listening

- Offer something for nothing

- Spend lunch hours with peers

- Serve on special projects and volunteer company-wide activities/committees

- Be truthful and open even if others are not

- Provide correct, clear and complete information when people reach out for you

- Avoid negative non-verbal behavior. Avoid complains

- Use please and thank you non-mechanically

- Evaluate criticism objectively

- Give more than you get

- Meet your inner circle + external circle at least once a month (6+6)

- Exude energy and enthusiasm for attitudes are reciprocal

Remember, its great to be liked but even greater to be NEEDED

Canine Corporatus - Corporate Dog!

Canine Corporatus!!!
No...not about corporate bitches which are easily found everywhere. Neither it is about those rabies-infected corporate-stray dogs like Sujeeth nor is it about squalid canines such as Rajaraman or PerCash, who fail to qualify even for the categories mentioned.

By corporate dogs, i mean dogs of/for an organization just like dogs at/for home. Meaning is straight and simple. Bulls, bears, stags, hen, parrots, sharks and foxes are all part of our corporate world. Why not our faithful and friendly dog be part of this world? What if each organization has its own pet dog? A dog that belongs to a company. A dog that lives in the company campus. A dog, which can be part of company's security. I think you got a fair idea of what I’m talking about. If each company has its dog, then we call them “Look its Infosys dog" "No no, its Capgemini dog"..."Stupid, are you blind or what?! it is Accenture doggy". And probably veterinary doctors and geeks from scientific brotherhood identify them as "Canine Corporatus!!! And dogs might feel honored for this respectful transformation in their Family name from Vulgaris to Corporatus ;). [I hear an imaginary dog barking "Every dog has his day]

Let’s imagine this to be true. Then, that is my topic. Well then where would you put that dog- in a balance sheet or P-n-L? Do you think it is generating revenues/cash?? For my sake, assume it’s a lazy dog, which strolls around and enjoys its time with the company's security team. Company takes care of it..khana, peena and health but it does nothing eventually (liability or Expenses??) Can you think of how it adds value to company. How should I calculate its depreciation, if one possibly can? What if it’s a she-dog? How would you evaluate this canine asset? Is it based on number of pups that he might give birth to or its impact on the organizations security system? Guys, remember it adds additional costs to company in terms of living expenses, time that employees waste to pet her, and costs expended to clean its poo, here and there, in the campus.
What if pups are born out of an affair between SAP (male dog) and Oracle (female dog)? How would you distribute the new barking-assets? How much ownership does SAP has in this situation? Do tax benefits differ for male and female dogs like male and female employees? If it wags tail or appreciates the smell of any other dog on campus, do you think this risqué can be labeled as sexual harassment and breach of conduct??
What if Microsoft dog (she dog) likes Google's dog (He) and wants to date? Do you contain her sexual freedom in the name of conflict of interest because Microsoft doesn’t like any merger with Goog. Anyways and in any case, we don’t pay this dog for for its services and its loyalty towards company? These two points should raise brows of any watchdogs from animal activist groups, isn’t it?
If this faithful canine colleague performs exceptionally well and exceeds expectations in all Cir-KAMA-stances, Will it be able to break all the corporate ceilings and cross human-animal divide in this world where only performance matters. In accordance with Hindu philosophy, will his phenomenal, effective and progressive life (Karma Yoga) trick Karmic cycles to enable his next birth as a higher being, that is, Homo Corporatus!!
Dear HR, have you considered your dog's this exceptional privilege? Can you apply carry-forward in this case and prompt him through promotion cycles just like Karmic ones so that he is CXO.
Let me stop my stream of thoughts here. Eagerly waiting for your responses..

Rose, Smell Sweeter by Other Name

Guys, please think of girl's name NOT ending with A, E, I and Y...your quick list cannot be longer than 10 names.

Sparing Simrans n Nupurs in Punjab and Jenifers in western world, girls names’ still end in unchanged fashion! Entire girldom is confined by these four letters. Womankind that craves unending variety in everything that man has made for them strangely stuck with THIS stereotype, no? Simple glance at the girldom's nomenclature gives me some meta-relief that Men, indeed, are very easy-going and simple…with no rigidities or absurdities! Men make no discrimination between consonants and vowels, at least not for namesake. Isn’t it warning call for Feminist movements and the shopping-savvy ilk to address this verbal liberation...this omega-"Alpha" conundrum!!

Highly-reactive, fickle-stubborn combo, Thy name requires emancipation. Aye, multi-tasker, and heavily-coated beautiful counterpart, don’t you think, its high time, your entitlement needs urgent Name-icure or name-sculpting or whatever your last call is! Dear Forbidden fruit eater, why “dissonance” with “consonants”?? With a true nod to Shakespeare's take on Rose, its unchanged sweetness and vanity of a name, I still ask you to come with up girls names' that DO NOT end with A, E, I or Y.

A Walk to Remember

I don’t even remember the last time when I went for a walk with my dad. Just like that. Just him and me. I. I felt happy walk with my dad this morning. I felt something very pleasant. Morning charm of Sunday added special exclusivity. Still slumbering households, vanished traffic, a few heads n mouths here and there, soothing rays and calm breeze…
I did not speak anything important. I didn’t want to or I did not know what to. I guess I was giving commentary on the loveliness of BTM Layout in Bangalore.. its parks, gardens, peaceful locale, broad roads, homely n townish crowd (all of which I discovered recently‼). A walk that came close to my mind in terms of setting was that of TB Dam’s when I was in 4th standard or probably younger.
Felt sad to see him weak and old. Wished I could read his mind completely and fix all that’s causing him discomfort. I wanted to tell him there is nothing he has to worry, about me or about life. I wanted to tell him that he was an ideal man…values, ethics, principles, ---personified. I wanted to tell sorry for all the hurts that I have caused him in my last 27 years. I wanted to assure him that everything will be alright and wanted to promise him that I will settle down very soon.
P.S: On a very different note, “Walk to Remember” is one of my favorite romantic movies

2009-2011: Last 18 Months

-My sister (Soumya) got married. Most happiest day of my family.
-Ravi, my cousin, got married. Another celebration!!
-Best friends, Krismo & Prasad successfully earned MBA degrees from international B schools, UK & Spain respectively. Proud to see them as international graduates\m/
-Ricci started earning and spending in dollars. He lives in American Malgudi, Wisconsin now
-I too achieved by MBA degree from a good B school in France.
-Travelled many countries and can say I saw 3 continents
-Spent an year with friends from 26 different countries : learning, unlearning, working, traveling, sharing, playing and achieving.
-Learnt cooking, managing a house and accomplishing anything, anywhere on this planet
-Did skiing, shark-diving and casino-ing (yes even in Monaco‼). Touched wild shark in the middle of sea
-Tasted some zillion types of alcohols..spirits, liquours, beverages, and all that fall in between them. Learnt a great deal about them.
-France was one of the best things that happened to me.
-Krismo and I left together left carbon-footprints on international skies from Dubai to Banaglore!!It was THE MOMENT too meet your friend in some other country and then fly together!!
-World has become a sweet place for now I have friends all across the globe
-Saw Mediterranean sea, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean. Liquid Magnetism!!!
-Experienced first snow-fall of my life
-Had never kissed so many girls/ladies in one year (Thanks for French way of greeting)..hence smelled so many exotic perfumes…doink doink
-Exposed to so many new thoughts, authors, concepts, musicians, companies, cultures, achievements and challenges.
-Spent lots and lots of money..till the last penny. Never imagined that I’d spend as much money in one year.
-Professionally and personally maturity was ruthless tested. My leanings, if evaluated are priceless
-Saw the darkest and weakest side of relationships and people.
-Put on lot of weight. Tone has gone for a toss, have become curvy‼!
-Met Nagashree; her plight still agonizes me.
-Prasad became CEO of a Spanish company for India
-Raj, atlast came to a place, where one ought to be—Bangalore
-Tried eking out in Hyd but got some job in B’lore..this company resembles my primary school..LOL, peanuts are better than penny-less, isn’t it..

My Penthouse

Sitting on the floor with my back reclining on to the sides of my chic low-level bed, I was enjoying the most romantic and soft light oozing through the very large windows of my new suave penthouse. Soaked in tranquility after the storm in whirl of life, disturbed only by cozy light coming from these windows, I am looking across the evening humanity and its lovely spread from this vantage point. Its a beautiful view of city lost in buildings and trees except the super tall aptmnts dotted here and there on the rim of horizon. I wanted to take an spacious, airy and naturally lit independent flat but staying in a penthouse is not bad too. It’s equally sexy place.

Looking at evening sky with light sprayed romantically, I cannot help think all these:

"I think I want some peace, rest and certainty. I will and want to be in India at least for another 6 months. I want to anchor in time and space for I am feeling as if I lost ground and have been running. It dawned upon me that I was really far away. I want to come back to societal plane. The society where my parents, friends, relatives, families (Real people) family values, ethics and life-enriching order still live. Where the meaning of love, friendship, willingness to sacrifice and go out of one's way still thrive. It might not be glittering or flashy but its million times more worth than Gold, it’s real and priceless.

Its in these relationships: father, mother, siblings, friends, son, daughter, wife, husband, neighbour..we find many tributaries of "purpose" "meaning" and "joy of life". (Of course there are many more too). Companionship, Trust, Loyalty, Sensitivity, Utmost value for relationship and compatibility (for god's sake, not to be read as having same likes or dislikes!!!) are quintessence of any meaningful and true relationship especially for marriage and friendship. I think all those come naturally when you choose to LOVE the person and respect life."

Finding this unbelievably beautiful penthouse in an unexpected locality of Bangalore rings the bells of serendipity. 

What is All This???

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Why? For what?

Good Times

It is such a pleasure to know and share so many good tidings. I am so happy to see my darling sisters and ALL my friends immensely happy and well settled. Prasad not only became India Head but also the Director for Spanish solar company. I cannot write how proud and delighted I am by this great feat. I know that he will take this company to great heights. I wish him all the very bestest!! Then comes naughty Ricci, who have found his type of place in Madison, Wisconsin and is happily settled there. I travel along with him through photos he shares. It is so nice to see him happy, content and successful. I wish that he gets award from the CEO this time too...for HATRICK sake!!
Raja, bestest friend more than my cousin, now is flooded by so many offers inspite of being on board to Germany for 3 long years. Though I miss him, I dont want him to come back for another 3 years but for the wedding (mine or his!!). It gives me such a relief to see him going places literally n figuratively, and make so much money, experience and growth. He deserves a lot more and want to see go lot farther. Dearest Balli, KrishnaMohan, smiling buddha, successfully completed MBA from the top business school of UK. Its a rejoice to know that he is a consultant in world's major telecom giant and is home now. I did miss him a lot last 15 months. Suman, my silent and undecipherable friend, whose professional life always caused discontent for me gave a super positive jerk. At last..at last he found very satisfying job, big bucks n the right place. From now on, his life should better be bed of roses. All his problems are on the verge of disappearance. Pri, happiest and healthiest friend, is too busy playing with Riddu blissfully. She too is blessed with all the good things of life and joyfully settled. Should i tell how much I miss her
when she leaves India to Shanghai??? Other mischievous devil, and my insane conversations partner Kako the CD, whoz getting married (FINALLY approved a guy..hehhe) to Ankur, honest and good chap. I am very happy for her. So she too will leave India for Singapore. Last but not the least is my cousin Ravi, who has found his soulmate and is getting married in another 25 days. Its a celebration. I must tell how greatly he changed the course of his business from the painful start-up to current halcyon times.

What a way to celebrate the ending months of 2010!! What more I can ask for..than these wonderful times and happy gifts from my kith n kin :))

Yaava Mohana

yaava mohana murali kareyitu
doora teerake ninnanu
yaava brindavanavu seLeyitu
ninna minchina kaNNanu

hoovu hasige chandra chandana
bahu bandhana chumbana
bayake toTada beeliyoLage
karaNagaLadee ringaNa

sapta sagaradaache yello
supta sagara kaadide
moLeyadalegaLa mooka marmara
indu illigu haayite

vivashavayitu praana - hah!!
paravashavu ninnee chetana
iruvudellava biTTu
iradudareDege tuDivude jeevana

yaava mohana murali kareyitu
iddakiddale ninnanu
Yaave brindavanavu chaachitu
tanna minchina kayyanu

yaave mohana murali kareyithu
doora teerake ninnanu

Scarecrow

Once I said to a scarecrow, "You must be tired of standing in this lonely field.”
And he said, "The joy of scaring is a deep and lasting on, and I never tire of it."
Said I, after a minute of thought, "It is true; for I too have known that joy."
Said he, "Only those who are stuffed with straw can know it."
Then I left him, not knowing whether he had complimented or belittled me.
A year passed, during which the scarecrow turned philosopher. And when I passed by him again I saw two crows building a nest under his hat!!!

(One of my most favorite stories told by Khalil Gibran)

Freedom

One of the un-relative and un-iversal values and ethics is Freedom. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, prime influencer of the French Revolution as well as the Modern thought, once remarked "Man is born free but is chained everywhere".

Equally true is the profound interpretation as the one intended by Rousseau that man is chained by his own internal forces as much as external ones. Unavoidably aware of external/existential forces that snare him, Man has lost his freedom to his life's internal inertias like conditioning, prejudices, untempered emotions, one's mental schema, bounded rationality, failed-willpower, obsolete and fossilized assumptions, irrelevant outlooks, cognitive dissonance, unregulated instincts, inherents like laziness, habits, and lot more. After cycles of deep thought and sifting, I came to conclusion that the five strongest chains of Man's enslavement are:

Poverty (isn’t poverty a lack of freedom?!)
Illness / Ill Health
Guilt
Fear
Absence of Love

So you know what to do..Let us strive to remain unchained. Enjoy Freedom :))

My Calendar

My calendar, today, now, reads like this. Today & tomorrow are now singular. It is a very memorable day.

Act Fast

• Case 1: Were you in a situation where the other person is talking things that you already know? YES. We all come across situations like this.
• Case 2: What if that person starts talking something that is downright cliché for you? How would it be if she starts explaining a topic/idea that you have played, fiddled, toyed, exploded, distorted, bent and dissected..uff...since ages on your cognitive clock.
• Case 3: Even worse, imagine this: You know something deeply, which is result of your Metacognition, analysis, intuition, reflection, and learning. Say, it is internalized for quite some time. After few years/months, you help somebody understand such ideas or thoughts of yours. Time passes by...and one fine day, the same person, our dear "talker"/Alec Smart comes to you and starts flaunting the very idea/topic as if it is HER eureka or as if it was spark of his absolute reflection and as if it is NEW.
• Case 4: Can you beat this: what if the same person repeats case 3 or case 2 or case 1 innumerable times to such an extent where those iterations convince her/him that what she/he is talking/discussing is indeed her intellectual property and it is NEW & it is not at all boring to you..

Guys, I don’t know what you go through when you are subjected to such torture (philosophical, intellectual and emotional) and helpless moments but I experience irritation, frustration, unresponsiveness and state of eternal not-knowing what-to-do almost like social/conversational stalemate!! I totally understand all the possible reasons for dear Alec Smarts intellectual childhood, fudged-up innocence or handicapped socializing………..The point is what the fuck I should do to manage such situations and people? How should I respond, how should I react and what I should talk back.

I have been tormented by countless episodes and now i have reached my threshold. Please donate a suggestion and save a poor and helpless soul out there. ACT FAST.

The Divine Proportion

At least most of us (Indians) are familiar with the truth that the Golden Ratio or Divine Proportion was discovered/invented by Indian mathematicians. But my friends in this part of the world still believe that it was Leonardo of Pisa, fondly called as Fibonacci is the founder. I think I can safely assume that we all know how it is applied, confirmed and reinforced through almost all aspects of life and universe like physical proportions of our bodies, definition of beauty both in humans and nature, movements in stock market, harmony in arts and architecture, determination of ethics, and of course music and natural world. While hunting for the video that I had watched long back, which captured all this quintessence, I stumbled upon this one. Though I didn’t get the one which I was looking for, I am quite pleased with this (temporarily..). Enjoy the video and read through the link below it.

Theory Behind This Movie

Where Should I Goeth?

World is sprucing up again, as the best season of an year reckons all the travellers worldwide. So is my tiny mind pestered with this yearly question "Where should I go this season?". Exactly a year ago, I was in same grave situation (of course with my friends) unable to figure out from the choices that I had in mind. Sometimes history repeats itself and now I have same choices as last year jumping across my mind. I need your comments to reshuffle the list:

• Fafa Islands (Polynesian Islands): I'm sure Krismo, Pri and other friends un-fondly remember this place. Trip to Fafa faced such a vehement opposition as British faced from revolutionaries for unknown reasons. I was lip-stitched by their nonstop and emotional arguments. So Fafa is an entry in this year’s list.
• South Pacific Islands: I'd do anything to go there this season. You'd notice a spark in your own eyes and in the eyes of those red-blood globe trotters describing what it was to become one with those still pristine and noble places. Have a glimpse of these places in the spectacular videos below:
• - South Pacific Islands
• - 100% Pure
• Confluence Festival: It’s been three years, they have made impressive exponential progress. I am all sport for this bunch of guys like us. Last year I was unable to make it. But this time, I cannot stop myself from indulging in this spirit-shaking creative festival at LEH, Ladakh. Ticket bookings are fast filling and its going be a wild blast for sure. So guys, this tops my list. All I need from friends is promote this event and also join me so that we can go and paint our memories with resplendent times. Here is the link: The Confluence Festival

Now you know the competition for my destination. So what do you think..

Best Place to Stay in Paris

Imagine Paris and so many adjectives pop up in your mind. All of them are indeed true. I love Paris for a short stay but don’t want to live here. Anyways, purpose of this post is to give you some no-nonsense and useful information to make the most of your Paris trip.

I suggest you to stay either in La Citie or Chateaux area. La Citie is a river island in the middle of everything that is worth seeing and enjoying in Paris. And moreover it is high density shopping and eating area. But if you to poke other option, the best ones would be Chateaux which is on one side of the Island La Citie or St Michel area on the other side. La chateau is in fact epicenter of all major attractions that you'd want to explore, but on the mainland/proper Paris. You have plenty of choices to stay but as a thumb rule stay close by the river or near the metro station. In Chateaux area, never miss a chance to savour at Zimmermans (splurge) and it is sin if you don’t try roadside rum crepes or Salt and Cheese crepes. The one that pulls crowds and best is opposite Zimmerman at Chateaux metro circle. It costs around 3 Euros. Then hotels from every corner of the world (Tibetan, Peruvian, Mexican...every country), 10s of pizza shops, etc. are scattered all around till midnight (very unusual for European/French standards). If you are student, you better be in St Michel area that offers cheap hotels, restaurants, pubs, discos and shopping zones. Go there only if you are in groups.

If you are missing Indian food or to know how it is sold as “Indian”, go to Gare Du Nord (North Railway Station) which is 4 stops away from Chateaux metro. Once you are out of the Gare du Nord station, it’s hard to believe that you are NOT in India/Srilanka. I don’t want to write what you can: see, buy, fashion, culture etc which you'd get from any website. I believe that the location where you stay determines the length and breadth of your touring experiences for many reasons. Therefore this post. If you need any to-the-point practical info, do ask me in comments.

P.S: If your wife/girlfriend are shopping evils, please don’t go for a walk in the evenings in any of the areas I mentioned. She'd loot you for inescapable fashion and luxury temptations all over.

Tales From the Southern Hemisphere

It was my first time that I crossed the equator and travelled to a country in South Hemisphere. Rich wildlife, stunning marine life, Zulu, slopes of wine yards, beautiful mountains, marvellous beaches, friendly people, soft sun, innocent n super cute villages, adventure sports of all kinds, black diamonds, shark diving, Springboks and cricket....this is my comprehensive and concise definition of South Africa. My base was University of Stellenbosch Business School, where we met management students from USB and EADA, Barcelona. I was besotted by a cocktail of delightful coincidences in the fun land. I don’t want to bore you with the fun side of what we did but want to share Country Due Diligence, first hand experiences and my perception of what RSA really is.

I love exploring so does adventure with it. For now, I will start with Agriculture. One day, when we met this wine grower who is world number 3 for carbon neutral farming, we were spellbound by his business acumen, management skills and how he makes sustainability work for him. Please have a look at the videos we shot while he shared his wisdom:
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

For more videos, please leave your mail id as a comment.

Who Made Hay?

Last week, when "Volcano " was all over the place here in Europe, everyone was discussing air bans, stalled travels, halted auto industry, disrupted tourism, suffering supply chain companies, etc but some of us "sunshine" minds (my friends and I) were discussing how and who can make money out of this volcanic ash cloud effect?? We're really thinking of someone other than the obvious hay-makers like railways, media and telecommunications guys...

...A few days later, i.e. yesterday, I read this volcanic-hot piece of news in FT that read Cisco Systems completed its acquisition of Norwegian video conferencing company Tandberg!!!! Wow, what a sweet timing it is!
If you look at the video-conferencing business curves for last 5 days, its historical high!! Extolling the contributions of internet and digitalization to gloabl sustainability and economics, Cisco's take-over feat also underpins a strong business lesson of choosing the right metal to strike and accelerating the process at the right time. Kudos to iron-strikers!

Click on the link to see the spectacular side of the volcano: More From Eyjafjallajokull