Friday, May 30, 2008

The BIG Picture:

A big company offered $50 for each money-saving idea submitted by its employees. First prize went to the employee who suggested the award be cut to $25 – Anonymous.

I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. Life in the corporate world can get to you sometimes. I’m not sure if I am made to live life in the corporate world. Does my employer look forward to more than what is achievable? Or am I not competent enough? Last night I dreamt about what it would be like if the salaries & perks were reversed with the designations. Wouldn’t that be overwhelming? People need to understand the importance of employee satisfaction and also need to be shown how m
uch they mean to the organization. And I strongly believe that just by giving a handsome paycheque is not going to make the employee happy. Good and bad appraisals could happen due to various reasons, and also depends on how well the industry is doing, the individual contributor’s performance, overall profitability of the organization and such like. Gone are the days when people look at the title, role and the growth that the company provides for them. People have become so hard to please and only want money. It is more of "What is in it for me?" rather than "How can I be of use to your organization for it to grow?" I’m sure if people join companies with a positive attitude to learn, grow and accomplish their goals, by giving not least but less importance to the monitory benefits, life would be so much better.

There used to be a time in India when the people used to walk-in and out of companies carrying huge files and folders with all their life’s accomplishments and certificates pleading for a job as an assistant or a clerk. The roles have absolutely reversed, with large organizations advertising on the newspapers and television, trying to build a brand and luring some of the young graduates and post graduates of our time. Wonder where this is all going. On the brighter side, the level of unemployment has dropped drastically over the past 5 – 10 years, with a whole lot of multinationals setting up in India, helping feed many more homes. It's just a whole vicious cycle I guess.

Here are some facts I came across on an article - "India's rate of employment generation has gone up from an average of 1.07 percent between 1994 and 2000, to 2.04 percent between 1999- 2000 and December 2002. The rise has been more in the urban areas as compared to the rural ones. Figures released by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) show that on an average 8.4 million jobs have been added over the 2.5- year period. The Tenth Five-Year plan aims to generate 10 million employment opportunities each year."

I hope my buddies and I find the time, money and a good opportunity to set up our dream restaurant at least in the next ten years. :)

Comments are welcome….

Sunday, May 25, 2008

A Tag from Mac:

I found this interesting tag from a good friend, and realized that I’m so similar. So I thought I’d add my list as well.

Ten things I wish I could say to people right now:
* Love you guys…you guys are the best.
* Please stop interfering in our lives.
* Wish I could help you in some way.
* Promise to find you one soon.
* Are you sure your ready for this big step?
* Are you really ready to take the plunge?

* Hope we go the same place after we die.
* A little gratitude would be nice.
* I’m OK with you thinking I’m a machine…do you expect me to be a magician too?
* It will happen when the time is right.

Nine things about myself:
* I can’t cry even if I want too.
* I hate people with a "holier than thou" attitude.

* I believe in Jesus.
* I have to watch at least 3 movies a week.
* I hate Wannabes’
* I love Chicken Biryani.
* I’m a good listener.
* I love long drives.
* My family means the world to me.

Eight ways to win my heart:

* Buy me a 52 inch plasma TV.
* Give me a hug or ask for a hug.
* Keep in touch.
* Understand me, without asking too many questions.
* Visit me at my new home.
* Pray for me and my family.
* Sing to me.
* Spend the whole night talking.

Seven things that cross my mind a lot:

* My wife, unborn children & my career.
* The day I might have to loose a loved one.
* Will I be a burden as I grow old?

* Will I ever have enough money?
* Wish the world was a better place.
* Why was evil made?
* Will I go to heaven after I die?

Six things I wish:
* I wish I never met a certain person.
* I wish I tried to know GOD earlier.
* I wish I could fly.
* I wish I could eat less.
* I wish I read a lot more.
* I wish I could go back in time and change things.

Five turn off's:
* Being clingy or over dependent.
* Public Display of Affection
* Working over time.

* Hypocrites.
* People with a bloated ego.

Four turn on's:
* Good mallu food.
* A trip to the countryside.
* Clean feet.

* People who remember old stories.

Three things I want to do before I die:
* See as much of the world as possible.
* See my grand kids grow up and get married.
* Own my own shack on the beaches of Goa.

Two words that describe me:
* Quiet
* Loyal

One confession:
* On this one, I'm most certainly with Mac. I wish I could erase all the men who disrespect women.

Comments are welcome...

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Guitar Solo

Have you ever played this game called Mario Bros? I’m sure most people who have spent their childhood during the late 70’s and early 80’s might understand what I’m talking about. It was one of the most addictive games ever made and the games tune still rings in my head. The video you see here is an amazing piece of guitar solo I found on YouTube. This guy is impressive with his fingers, they move like a spider crawling on the fret board. This guy is a genius.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Damn Tuesdays

Today has been one of those days when I had to drag myself to office. My butt refused to get out of bed, I was lying there thinking of all the excuses I could use to stay at home; food poisoning, grandfather died (5th time), cousins wedding, flat tire, loosies etc… I’ve used all these excuses in the past and nobody is going to fall for any of them. So finally I reached work at 11:30am, felt a little on the wrong side of the law for doing that, but I guess its ok for once, bearing in mind the number of times the rest of the staff do it.
Being a HR professional, the job can be relatively glamorous from the outside. Most people think it is as simple as “Hire and Fire”, only HR guys will know the real struggle.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Thank you, for smoking


“Thank you for SMOKING” is one amazing movie I watched recently, it really opened my eyes to the kind of harm smoking does to the human body. Can you imagine the amount of punishment ones body can take? Many years back my buddies and I were talking about our days in college and the amount of cigarettes & dope we smoked, I mean its hard to imagine that the only thing we didn’t do was probably suck out the smoke from an exhaust pipe of a car or a motorcycle. And somehow we are still alive; most of the credit goes to our wives for bringing about this drastic change in us - by cleaning us up. Luckily I’ve managed to give up “the ganja”, but with cigarettes I’m still struggling. There’s this famous saying that goes – “Smoking is very easy to quit, I’ve done it a million times.”

Best Buddies

May there always be work for your hands to do,
may your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane,
may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. – Anonymous.