Professional Ruminations

wow to BSNL

Yes, I should start this blog with a 'wow' to our BSNL (The biggest Indian Telecom provided). Just like every other Indian national, I do carry the same notion about our Telecom provider in this country. Perhaps, that would have came from my own real personal experience. Having said that, with a very recent sealed envelop that came all the way from our local BSNL office - that too with a check for Rs. 112/-. How cool is it? Read on.

It was roughly 2 years ago when I wanted to take up a new telephone and internet connection for my family in India (during this period I was in the US of A), I was asked to provide a deposit of Rs.100/-. I simply showed Rs.100 bill across the counted and waited for nearly 2hrs to get the receipt of the same. Finally, I got it (just the reciept). Then the real story unfolds..

After a couple of days, with no sign of new connection, I inquired at the same office and got a reply that "your home is in a remote place (village), and there are no nearby telephone posts / poles we probably will not be able to provide a new connection". This is weird right? when every government, even the central government initiates / aims at every development projects to promote villages / remote places, why not a new connection can be provided? - I asked this question to myself and just the place.

It was just 2 days ago, when I got this envelope with a check for Rs.112 in it, I realized what a wonderful organization.. which made me wowed for this act.

Things that not changed!

Yes, this blog has come all the way from Coimbatore - India, and that too after a long pause - which I should have avoided or rather, I shall avoid in the future. In this blog, to narrate the real challenges that I encounter after coming back to the home town - after spending nearly 4 years, yes its just 4 years out of India.

Things are changed in my OLD (Now very new) office. Almost all are provided with the laptops, centralized HR team, centralized payroll system, centralized time office management, centralized billing pattern, computation of billing recovery etc., etc., The filing (client records) procedures are different than that of what I have seen / done 4 years ago. Almost everything is system driven. There is a minimum fees criteria for every assignment.The T & E system also system based and policies are different. More imporatantly, the pay scale is different. Barring a few, almost all staff members were new.

Having said that, I notice some of the unchanged (rather will never change easily) in the SAME office. Yes, the attitude, friendliness and mechanisms. The culture of calling people at all levels with the prefix of "SIR" - in my humble personal opinion which impliedly generates some sort of gap between the persons / team mates. This is typical Indian office culture, that I want to strip out. And, if I don't use the term "SIR" and call them with their names (yes, its their own names only), there starts the problem of disrespect to the other person. But, I understand from my little experience, what the people believe in the western / other asian countries (corporates), is calling with their names increase bondage of the persons. For e.g. I used to call the US Finance Controller and Asia AMET Finance Controllers with their names - no matter how old are they!

I'm just wondering, if I never got a chance to go abroad, I would also be in the same league. Therefore, I'm facing bit difficulties RIGHT NOW.. Hope things changes.

What are these "G"s?

Just a while ago, I was thinking to know the differences between 2G and 3G network after reading the unveiling of 3G Network in Coimbatore. I just googled out in the net and here is the write up that I got from wiki answers:

First 1G service was based on a TDM voice infrastructure -- built around class x switches and 64 kbps slots. It had data, but circuit switched over a 64Kpbs voice bearer.

Second, 2G service had the same switched TDM backbone, but added a true Data Bearer and a digital voice bearer. Data rates were still limited to the max 64kbps of a single time slot.

2.5G added a packet bearer to the mix, still limited to 64kbps slots.

Third generation (3G) changed the backbone slightly to allow a full T1 or E1 or J1 to be consumed by a data sub-scriber, but is still based on an ISDN style backbone. Sure you have packet switched data, but its carried over a traditional TDM backbone. There still a circuit voice backbone and while the data rates are high enough for VoIP, the latency of the data service is to great to base all of the "bearer services" on it, so you still have circuit voice, circuit data and packet data bearers.

Finally, 4G systems will utilize a packet infrastructure rather than a traditional telephone architecture. Services will be horizontally layered on top of a proper low latency, QoS enabled packet switch (read IP) infrastructure. Gone will be the circuit voice and circuit data bearers.

So "G" has more to do with the infra-structure and less to do with the data rates. The data rates over the air are driven by the organization of the infrastructure and other than that have little to do with what generation they are.
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Literally, to me, it is evident that with a 3G network you could make video calls and in case of 2G you could make only voice calls. At my level (not a techie) this is the basic thing that I could conceive in my mind. Lot more "G"s down the road queued up :)

Job Changing - how to justify??

Some, rather most organizations reject his CV today because he has changed jobs frequently (10 in 14 years). My friend, the ˜job hopper™ (referred here as Mr. JH), does not mind it. well he does not need to mind it at all. Having worked full-time with 10 employer companies in just 14 years gives Mr. JH the relaxing edge that most of the ˜company loyal™ employees are struggling for today. Today, Mr. JH too is laid off like some other 14-15 year experienced guys “ the difference being the latter have just worked in 2-3 organizations in the same number of years. Here are the excerpts of an interview with Mr. JH:

Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?

A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.

Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?

A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.

Q: Which number of job was that?
A: That was my third job.

Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?

A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying ˜employer loyalty™. But I was an idiot.

Q: Why do you say so?

A: My salary in the first 8 years went up only marginally. I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a ˜permanent™ job, so I need not worry about ˜what will I do if I lose my job™. I could never imagine losing a job because of economic slowdown and not because of my performance. That was January 2002.

Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.

A: Well, I had learnt my lessons of being ˜company loyal™ and not ˜money earning and saving loyal™. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving “ I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.

Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?

A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me “ can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.

Q: What have you gained by doing such things?

A: That's the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process to wait for the company to give me a hike.

Q: So you decided on your own hike?

A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a ˜debt-free™ life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.

Q: So are you debt-free now?

A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq.. feet) plus a loan free big car without bothering about any EMIs. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.

Q: Who is complaining?

A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me “ why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.

Q: What is your advice to professionals?

A: Like Narayan Murthy had said “ love your job and not your company because you never know when your company will stop loving you. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company's needs. Companies can keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.

Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?

A: When a company does well, its CEO will address the entire company saying, ˜well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you. But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO will say, It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go. So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.

I received this through forwarded emails - worth sharing therefore posted to the benefit of my friends :-)

First Christmas outside India

Last year (2008) I terribly missed the Christmas at America as I was supposed to leave well ahead of Christmas. Therefore, I just missed 2008 white Christmas at Green Bay. But, this year (2009) god created that chance with my wife. Here in Singapore, celebration of Christmas started well in advance - much before indeed. Streets were decorated and sparkling lights everywhere - especially at Orchard Road. I was just stunned to see those - that too a National govt. spending like heck.

Last 2 nights went to roam around at Orchard Road, it was fabulous. I really admire their enthusiasm in celebrating festivals. Be it Christmas, Be it Deepavali, Be it Chinese New Year or Be it Hari Raya - all with full energetic - however, Christmas is THE grand one.

And on Christmas eve and on Christmas, the Orchard road was closed for vehicles and people (including me) started walking on the roads. Mid of the road, there was an orchestra group from LA, CA, USA. That was another sparkling thing at the Orchard.

At office, everybody start sharing sweets and gifts to each other. I really admire this culture of sharing love and gifts. This is how an organization cultivates a good working culture and relationships among workers.

SALE? - No scarcity for sale in Singapore and that too in festival season.

Overall, it is a real great feeling and good experience indeed. God Bless!!

ART - for everyone

what is ART? - Average Reading Time. Interesting one that I came across at the local library. The average human ART is 180 to 200 words per minute. Good to know isn't it?

Real balance in Life

I came across this particular mail as forwards, but worth sharing. Of course, I didn't vouch for the authenticity of the origin of the message - whether this was a real speech by Chetan Bhagat - BUT something good that worth sharing. Here we go:

Speech by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis ...must read...

Don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

"Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die...................

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? ................

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices........." :)

"Don't be serious, be sincere."!!

Mount Faber Walk - Singapore

Been to Mount Faber Walk Singapore. Really a nice place to visit. And we enjoyed each and every minute over there. Its a very good place to visit on a weekend with family or friends or even alone - if you are that kind of a person.

It really exhibiting the architectural amazing in there. Henderson waves & forest walks and many more. Since went on a week end evening, the climatic condition coupled with drizzling rain took us to the peak of romantic mood. We went with packed food (home made) and had over there - real fun.

Many of us might tend to forget this place (after one year I came to know about this place) as its in a very reachable distance. Try visit once or whenever you get time. Awesome bird's eye view of Singapore and the nearest islands - from hill top.

How to?

Get down at Harbor Front terminal (NE line or Purple Line)

Head to Exit B and go to McDonalds Taxi Stand and catch a taxi.

Get down at "Jewel Box" - Cable Car Station.

Start exploring the entire hill station with a walk.

You can get down at Henderson Road to catch local bus service to reach back the Station / City.

I gave up - at present

Yes, Finally, I've decided (rather pushed towards) to give up CPA. Circumstances, Time & Money is not favorable to me at this juncture to continue with this course. But I am leaving with loads of memories of this course - dream course. Let the time answer. However, who read these guidance posts can better make it - successfully. You can take me as just another bad example on this ;-) ciao.....

Just Hope that prevails - a vision of future coimbatore

Just wanted to reproduce my mail that I sent on 07 Aug 2008 (23:33 CST). For which I'm still waiting for the reply from local authorities of Coimbatore.

Dear Sir / Madam,
Hope this mail finds you in better health & greater spirit! Try spen at least 5-10mins goin thru this.

Introduction

I am basically an Indian Chartered Accountant (27) and traveling major part of the world upon my professional requirements. At present in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the USA. I’m currently an NRI (Non- Resident Indian). I was a member of Town Hall & R.S. Puram library during my school & college days (from 1993). Right now I’m a member in Brown County Library (in Wisconsin State, USA). I’m so surprised to see lot of things offered in this library (though it’s a village of 100,000 populations only). Therefore, I wish the same can be made in Coimbatore - if everyone works together.

Purpose of this mail

To make everyone a mankind!

I wish I could help or at least try in providing thru library some basic necessities of current students / youngsters – who are all in needy and un-affordable people -to enlighten their knowledge starving. I know how much I starved (even now) for knowledge resources. I wish I could give back something to my society – especially Coimbatore – my own town.

I have lots of ideas – of course it’s a big project can involve more youngsters / college students who love to help the community. I strongly trust that education / books are only the back bone of every advanced society. I see this from here.

My ideas / Project

I’m unsure how much it’s practicable AND you are interested in this or even I don’t even know if you take up this from me – simply because of the fact – that you are the controlling authority and I’m just a simple person – thinking globally but acting locally – without sufficient resources. I foresee 5 to 10 years down the line and coming decades with all enlightened people out of this project. This is 100% non-profit motive and 100% serving the community.

In short, I would like to concentrate on these areas:

Integrating all the 300 libraries – under Coimbatore
Consolidating all books’ catalogues – accessible thru internet.
Setting up an net library – with user ID and Password to access eBooks
ILL – Concept of Inter- Library Loans. (If particular book is not available in local library and getting from some other library – from same dist. Or other)
Introducing weekly once a free trip to and from the local libraries – age group 12 to 17 (up to class 12) – say, every Saturday between 1100am – 0300pm. (off peak hrs.) On showing your library membership cards – should make tie-up with TNSTC.
Online book request and renewal.
Organizing old used book sale – every 3 months – at cheaper rates.
Organizing college student volunteers – for No. 1 above – for computer related technical activities (this will save cost).
Introducing free internet access in selected libraries – 15 mins - 30mins per member (max.) – can tie up with CTS in Coimbatore or Some other software companies resources.

What you can do:

Analyze the feasibility of all these above and you will want to get more clarity / further step by step things – for which I’m mostly available from here / or any part of the world AND – you may budget the hours / money resources + getting appropriate approvals from various line authorities.

You will want to visit my local county library website: http://www.co.brown.wi.us/library/

What I can do:

Support at least 1 hr. per day – by any means – having discussion / email replies / even can have teleconferences.

Planning simulate the whole American library system to Coimbatore.
I’m not affordable to provide financial assistance as – I’m still a student and not self sufficient.

What WE can do:

Hold our hands till this on-going project. If possible – hold a meeting in my next week Indian vacation. Between 08/12/2008 to 08/20/2008.

Conclusion:

GOD BLESS COIMBATORE!!

take care,

Best Regards,

ALN

--

Hello...Hello.. is there anyone hearing this (rather listening??)

Educated Vs. Intelligent

Food for thought – with pure fun J ENJOY!!

A big city lawyer went duck hunting in rural North Cowra. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, “I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it."

The old farmer Peter replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here."

The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial lawyers in Australia and, if you don’t let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own."

The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we settle disputes in North Cowra. We settle small disagreements like this with the 'Three Kick Rule.'

The lawyer asked, "What is the 'Three Kick Rule'?"

The Farmer replied, "Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, I get to go first. I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up."The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees!

His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer's last meal gushing from his mouth. The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer’s third kick to his rear end, sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.Summoning every bit of his will and remaining strength the lawyer very slowly managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, "Okay, you old fart. Now it's my turn."

The old farmer smiled and said, "Nah, I give up. You can have the duck."

Moral:

When you are educated, you’ll believe only half of what you hear.

When you’re intelligent, you know which half.

Strange Indian Tax on Windows 7

How a country can impose more than ONE tax for a single thing / person / whatever..Yes, it's possible only in our beloved INDIA. A beautiful article which nudes Indian tax system by my ex-CEO tick here..

2012

It's really an amazing thing to view such a thing in the screen. Nearly 2+ hrs. movie. I also reviewed the behind the scene and learned that it was 50,000 sq ft. space that was built to pictuarize the earthquake scene. And the whole 2 hrs. we were totally surrendered in that and were really heading to China to escape.

The most important thing in that movie was - the thought originates from INDIA. I wish this shouldn't happen. It was really scaring concept that north pole moves to wisconsin (where I stayed nearly for an year -2008) and India moves upward. I recommend to see at least once - real thriller while you come out of theater. The Director touched the part of civilization as well - good try.

Remote places in Malaysia

It happened to me along with my family went to a small city called "ipoh" in Malaysia. A cool, calm and peaceful city where no adulteration of any of today's hi-tech city things entered into. One important thing to note is the language the people speak. Yes, no wonder it's "Tamil". Most of the people speak tamil. Then we visited to "Penang" aka "World Heritage City - given by UNESCO". I would say that this city or island is another Singapore. Such a high rise buildings and amazing beauty in and around the city.

Another great thing worth mention - is again, yes, its "Tamil" again. Majority of the people speak tamil. Point to be kept in mind is security. You need to be very careful while roaming in both the places. Wonderful journey - just starts.

Singapore..How different from Tamil Nadu?

This particular post, I wanted to post long back but just now I got the right time - probably yes! Well, my first visit (rather my first international travel) to Singapore was in Sep. 2006. I did not made exhaustive visit out side by that time - meaning, just as a tourist visit. I was just surprised with the "tamil" name boards / hoardings on the streets. And it was after my US of A trip i.e. Dec 08 that making me to explore nook and corner of Singapore - the country city.

Singapore is in a way akin to Tamil Nadu in a sense that lots of life styles which reflects our Tamil Nadu life. If it happened to you to go to "Little India" you could witness it. I was just surprised why the SAME people (tamil) unable to follow this same "discipline" at our own country..is it because of the administration? or the mentality - you are not good so am I!!

I meant everything, the bus travel, littering on the streets, standing in a lane, waiting at the restaurants..almost in everything. Is it because of penalties & imprisonments that made them to behave like that? Yea, I agree to some extent. Having said that, allow me to pose a question too - is it not possible to do this without penalties & imprisonments - can can... (Singlish) - how? - just simple way - self discipline.

The greatest salesman in the world

I am just reproducing this great blog from my ex-boss!! Really worth reading..

This weekend's light reading (or viewing I should say) is something that my good friend, Subroto Bagchi, sent me some 8 years ago. Thanks Subroto for sharing something very inspirational.

This is the story of Bill Porter. Born in the US in 1932, Bill moved to Portland at an early age where he lives now. He was born with cerebral palsy and lost his father early. They told him he would never work and nobody would employ him. He refused to go on disability and convinced Watkins Inc. to give him a job as a door to door salesman.

He needed help to dress. He could not drive. His speech was slurred. He was often in pain. And what did he do - he became the top selling salesman in Watkins. He was hit by a car in 1998 and broke his hip. He could no longer do door to door - Instead he has turned into an online salesman. (visit his online shop here). Some 50 years after they told him nobody would give him a job, he's selling fine, thank you. And when asked how he overcame all his obstacles, he says I don't have any obstacles.

Shelly Brady first met Bill as a teenager when she worked for him to help him deliver his products. Since then she has become a close friend and now she is a motivational speaker. She has written a book - Ten Things I learned from Bill Porter. You can read an extract from the book here.

In 1995, The Oregonian, wrote a story on Bill Porter in the newspaper. that brought Bill into the public limelight. He was featured in The Readers Digest and ABC's 20/20. He was the subject of a made for TV film on TNT called Door to Door. The film won six Emmy awards.

There's a film on Bill Porter in Shelly's website. Its 30 minutes long, but a fascinating watch. Grab a cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable and watch it. Trust me; you will be inspired, for Bill Porter is a remarkable man. Click here to watch it

Fed up with failure - again!

Yes, I'm ashamed of updating this blogspot after getting the same result in BEC. This time got 67. I still don't know where am I heading - should I give up CPA or Continue. After spending 8 months and more than one grand $, couldn't even clear single paper. Well, again started my preparation for FARE. Hoping to see some miracles and good things in the near future.

Took BEC second time

Well, back from India, my journey started towards Madison,WI again for BEC exams. Without even fully recovered my jetlag, took the exam at 0200PM ( I was still in Indian Time Zone bio-clock - that is 1230AM IST). Lets again pray after the exams for starting of good results atleast from now on. Then back in Green Bay, I decided to totally / completely go thru Becker Materials and tests. Some times wiley too for FAR & AUD exams. See what happens!!

Back to India for a while.

During Aug 10 to Aug 22, 2008 spent some good times back in home / home town. Hopint that I could spend much time for studies - but didn't work out well. Having my BEC exam back on Aug 25, 08, just did some studies and some more important stuffs - AGAIN.

I don't know what to call this?!?!

Yes, AUD results are OUT! I flunked again. Is this lack of luck, lack of preparation or hurry? Whatever name I give, the bottom line is - I failed again. Thousands of Indian Rupees gone with this 3 failures. Let me try hard again! May God Bless Me!

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