'The Last Lecture' - my inspiration

Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted

This is a lesson that rang true in my head the first time I watched this video. It was at an opportune time, a time when I was 4 months into my very first job.

My first career objective: Be useful! let your job be effective enough to help people around you gain tangible results.

I was raw, ambitious and cocky (being the first and only person to receive a pre placement offer made me believe that I can do anything well!) Yeah! notice the difference between the objective and the attitude!

However, due to the pre placement offer I never got to sit for placements and had to be satisfied with a salary which was considered below industry standards. Who does an MBA without having an ulterior motive to make money..Not me!

The nature of my role was something I never expected. Freedom, unlimited exposure to tools and training aids and a free canvas. However, i didn't know how to paint. This role was dynamic and not clearly defined. Such a role did not even exist as a norm in the industry. MindTree was ambitious and wanted to create efficiencies and tools that would clearly become a benchmark. I wasn't sure if I could handle the responsibility of being the first member of the analytics team.

I was big on ideas, but not yet there on implementation. The inherent dichotomy that exists where there is a continuous and free flow of ideas but not enough resources, time and energy for implementation was always a bother..

Who came to the rescue!

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture!

This is the video I kept going back to.

I found strength to have clarity and structure to my responsibilities.

Being in MindTree was not merely a professional choice. It was an acceptance of a unique lifestyle which made people become better humans.

It is an organisation that believes that a fresher can be nurtured into a leader under the right environment. The leadership had complete faith in me. They probably saw in me what I didn't realise about myself. They gave me training and exposure that many organisations may not expose their middle management to. They were always positive, patient and willing to go the extra mile to make me comfortable and enjoy the work I did.

Wouldn't it be a shallow dream to associate the importance of my role to the amount of money I made?

The more I went back to the video, the more I learnt. The bonds of friendship and loyalty in MindTree extended beyond office hours. People had a smile on their face and a rhythm in their step when they came to work. If I didn't grow in an environment like this, where would be a better place.

Today I can claim some knowledge of TRIZ, minitab, project management, data warehousing tools. I went and met Engineering and MBA students as part of a workshop through MindTree. I co authored a paper presented at the world TRIZ conference. I got to reconnect with Janaagraha(my first internship was with their communication team) All of this happened as a result of that one opportunity with MindTree and the inspiration of the video.

I watch this video again, everything has changed.

I am married now. Very proud that Kumar went to CMU(although it would be a fitting tribute to Randy if I tried to go myself)

I live in a different country teaching math to 7th graders.

I no longer belong to MindTree.

I want to teach, write, read and be involved in a continuous flow of knowledge.

There are lessons learnt and dreams dreamt and people who became a part of my life - who continue to inspire and influence me.

And it's important that I share this inspiration with them..Watch the video -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Live your dream! in dreams begin reality!

OCD on Susan Boyles performance

There are N number of blogs about her today. Britains got talent has unprecedented hits on youtube and other search engines, thanks to her...She is Susan Boyle- a 47 year old singer from a non decrepit group of villages as she calls it- she dreams of singing like Elaine page and what have we?

Tears rolling down our faces as we listen to her performance I dream the dream as we have our ritual tea together - its her song that's made it a ritual!

This is an Obsessive compulsive disorder that I dont want to rid myself of- every time I listen to her- there are many thousand dreams I dream up of - of writing poetry that would make people cry, of running on a moonlit beach, of being able to realise the true meaning of visioning, of being able to understand what innovation truly means, of answering as many unanswered questions, of being able to make myself as useful as possible to the world- to feel and believe in trasformation not as a transient but as a constant truth, of sitting on a swing and teaching geometry to little children, of trying to write a one pager on what the real indian spirit is, of being able to make my better half feel proud of me everyday...ohhh the train of dreams never cease...

I shouldn't say more- but listen to her and you will know what I mean-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

There is enormous talent untapped and hidden and it is a true privilege to dream of enjoying it everyday of one's life...here's another indication of Susan's impact- her mention in South park - http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b120345_south_park_proves_it_susan_boyle_star.html

And I dream again - of having a funnybone, a wishbone and a backbone that supports and encourages many a Susan Boyle out there :D

P.A.S.S.I.O.N

The week that went by seems to be one of the most inspiring one's that I could recall.

Children of teachers would identify how important the 5th of September is for their parents. I cant recall of a 5th which didnt have a student giving my mother something, or saying something that would make her smile like a Cheshire cat that Alice would bump into - there were many anecdotes that we grew up with which were interesting,inspiring and at times hilarious! :)

This year it was extra special as we celebrated 'Learner's Day' at work. Was fortunate to have accompanied a colleague to receive and host the guest of the day and his family.Proff.Anil Gupta is one of the few people who invokes a sense of responsibility and ignites a spark of energy within anybody who meets him within a short span of time. Having lived a life of example, hes an example to people who are committed to causes they are interested in despite the many constraints that many of us shy away from. Proff Gupta is an evangelist who has done extensive research and has helped many a rural innovations become acceptable in mainstream - read more on http://www.sristi.org/ What was further inspiring about Dr Gupta was his view towards life itself, he conversed with us about a concept called 'fun economy' imagine if one had to create more fun to receive fun- the world would be a much happier and peaceful place :) His wisdom also simplified the essence of life where he described it as an intersection of living, loving and learning. I couldn't agree any less and I must be forever indebted toProff for this profound and powerful message.

My observations of him made me feel more comfortable with the unanswered questions of my life as it helped me understand that time would allow things to reveal themselves. His grandson was a bundle of energy with whom I enjoyed playing, the flood of questions, the logical sequence of them and the ever observant and kind eyes that held me made me see the world through the eyes of the little boy. His daughter in law's sister who happens to be a filmmaker and writer made me realise that if one had the drive and passion to do the things they wanted to the world would stop and take notice.

With the joy of these learnings i stepped into my Saturday where I enjoyed a movie - 'Rock On' whose script was a tempered mix of energy, beliefs and realism just like the multiple notes of music that define the foundation o the movie :) Movies like rock on work not because they are the most perfect, but because they are the one's that one could identify with and would recognise as movies with a heart :) Arjun Rampal definitely raced into many of our hearts by carrying his beautiful tresses with panache - only hope that most men don't get overtly inspired and become bad imitations hehehe but the best performer in the movie would undoubtedly be Farhan Akhtar- we all knew he could direct- now we know he could sing and act equally well! Luke is the most convincing rocker and Purab was the most endearing and hilarious of the foursome. Prachi as a debutant was very subtle and played a supporting and strengthening role! Apart from the cast, the screenplay and the symbolism used in the movie is to be noted too - the bus stop board over Arjun's head has 'exhale inhale' on it suggesting his state of mind and the picture of the music director with Javed Akhtar made me laugh out loud :) Ill watch it again soon :)Keep rocking team rock on! hehehe (my grammar teacher would've a fit at the redundancies in my statements :))

As a toast to the wonderful things happening in and around me- 2 of my friends hosted a reception to celebrate their wedding - one of the most well planned and beautiful events in recent times. They have always been a couple whose creativity, sense o well being and innocence has made most of us who know them embrace them with gay abandon. Cheers to many more beautiful memories dear Venks and Pallu :):)

Now for the rainfall of these words that went pattar pattar recounting the many memories that I hold dear, i wanna decipher my interpretation of passion

P- purpose
A- acceptance
S-simplicity
S-sincerity
I-inclination to believe in the power of the unknown
O-Om
N-negativity eliminated

All the above words only keep giving me one message keep writing and cherishing!