Addicted...

Lately I have been so addicted to this page that I can’t help myself from coming here…over and over again!! I will try and keep this short (Though I know that’s not my style) but none-the-less, when was the last time you tried something for the first time, right??!! ;)

So I had a couple of revelations the last few days (of course my friends contributed to these as well :) ) and I wanted to share it here with you (maybe open it up for discussion…MBA style…LOL!).

Murphy’s Law v/s Luck:

Murphy’s Law: It’s raining cats and dogs and you are standing in your business suit desperately seeking a cab. But you will not find one since YOU NEED IT. Two days later, its raining elephants and monkeys (more than cats and dogs) and you look outside the window from the closed (dry) comfort of your room and there are at least 10 cabs with their green light on in the last 5 mins, waiting to “service” people to their destination.

Luck:
It’s raining cats and dogs and you are standing in your business suit desperately seeking a cab. And you will find one since YOU NEED IT. Two days later, its raining elephants and monkeys (more than cats and dogs) and you look outside the window from the closed (dry) comfort of your room and there are NO CABS AVAILABLE waiting to “service” people to their destination.

Revelation:
Luck and Murphy’s Law: two sides of the same coin!!!

Walk on the clouds:
Honestly, I know I keep saying this but it never fails...EVER! I am happiest when I wear my sports shoes and tonight it was put to test ALL OVER AGAIN! We had a participant’s dinner for the teams who have flown down for Cerebration Finals at this awesome place called Villa Bali. And I was exceptionally happy. This was even without a drop of alcohol.

And then it came up, the sports shoes. I was wearing my “walk-on-the-clouds” Reeboks after ages and boy did I get my groove back. I was talking incessantly (as usual). Confidence level stretched further than Pluto and I was just plain HAPPY! Cause I can’t help it but it has this effect on me. It makes me feel in control and makes me feel like I can “just do it”. (Sorry that’s the lag line of Nike..Rival brand :O).

Amruta as usual was a great source of entertainment after she had downed a few drinks.

Ashpi was being her usual loud mouthed self (you are my favourite you know ;)).
Isha finally tried a few sips of beer (or so I believe).
Raghu was finally being Raghu (I missed the fun Raghu. So happy he is back).
Ankur was being you know..Ankur.
Chinmay as usual I have no idea what he was up to.
Anubhav was giving his usual pose in EVERY PICTURE (how do you manage it man).
Kunal was eyeing every chicken piece in the house.
Neha as usual had everything under control.
Srikanth was as usual on the receiving end of all my “fundas” and theories (Soon he is going to judge me and doubt my sanity…or maybe I already run that risk!)
Rohit kept referring to me as one of the guys (Ya soon you are so dead for this).
Abhay drank more than 1 glass of alcohol (This was shocking).
Omer…As soon as his team left, so did he. Poor thing…he was so home-sick after being buddy to a team from Canada.

So c’mon…Can we really blame me…Friends, Reeboks and me…Priceless! :)

Beware…Vending Machines Ahead!!

This has been a mystery I have been trying to solve since the last semester and finally after much statistical analysis, I have found the reason for my tendency towards higher BMI (ya I have to use euphemism here! :P).

December 5th, 2007 – 10:47 p.m.:
This was a day I had been looking forward to for months and finally as I landed at Bombay (ok Mumbai!) airport, I could feel my heart racing. For the first time in my life I had been away from home and family for such a long time. But now before you think that my heart beat was racing due to excitement then I am sorry to say that was not the only reason. It was due to fear…fear of my family’s reaction to my ever increasing BMI. I had stressed for days over which top would be appropriate that would help avert their shocking reaction. Should I wear the red one…or maybe a kurta…or hey wait maybe the brown one!! Finally after much deliberation and consultation I settled for the Black UCB top. Of course, I teamed it up with the denim jacket. Ya that would fool them!

December 5th, 2007 – 11:13 p.m.:
I could see my Dad waving out to me. I was so excited. I was gleaming from ear to ear and my face just lit up. Oh how I love Daddy (Daddy’s little girl! :-)). As I made my way out of the airport, I could see Mom and Didi standing there. And in all the excitement I forgot all my fears.

Didi: Hey honey!!
Mom: Hi Rohini (giving me a kiss on my cheek)
Dad: Welcome back dear! (One tight hug :-))
Me: Hiiii (I am pretty sure I sucked my stomach in…!!)
Didi: You haven’t put on weight! Why did you scare us so much (Yes, I thought in the interest of everyone at home, I should warn them before reaching. The last thing I wanted was to see shocked faces around me).
Me (in my head): Wow Oprah is right. We should wear jackets to hide our flaws. ;)

So I managed to fool them. In all the excitement and stories and more stories and some more, no one noticed! Thank God for the “constant chattering syndrome”.

December 6th. 2007 – 8:23 a.m.:
I was happily sleeping in my sweet slumber on the bed I missed so much. As the sun made its way through the beige curtained windows, I was smiling in my head. Home. Everything was so perfect. The familiar pillow, the security blanket…oh how I love home. Until, I heard footsteps. My heart started beating fast again. S**t, I could hear Mom’s bangles. God no..I cant hide it anymore. And then almost as if I could sense it coming, Mom entered. Her first words to Dad who was with her at that point “She has put on lots of weight. Let her sleep today. From tomorrow she better go for a run”.

So from Day 2, it was “Operation BMI”. And I am proud to say, it was successful. I mean c’mon. I went home for 5 weeks ON VACATION IN THE SEASON OF GAJJAR HALWA and lost 2 kgs. Achievement! (I don’t want to boast but a lot of people mentioned that there was definitely some reduction in my BMI).

Present:
It was exactly at this time last semester when Chinmay mentioned that I was definitely thinner in Bombay when we met first. And exactly 6 months later while we were ALL enjoying our little treat for the evening, a Cornetto Brownie and Cream Cone, he mentions “So you have started putting on weight again” :O.
@Chinmay: Dude, it was your idea that we eat an ice cream!

Now it’s a different thing that I haven’t done anything about it. But here is where I start wondering. I led a sedentary life style even during my work days. Then why is it that the effects are showing now. OUR SCHOOL IS A PILE OF STAIRCASES. ALL YOU DO IS CLIMB UP AND DOWN THE WHOLE DAY. And climbing stairs is exercise, right? Then how?

And today, it struck me. There is a pattern. I start the semester thinking healthy. Eating healthy. We cook at home and I always feel in my 3rd-4th week at NUS that I have started losing weight. Then all of a sudden, like an avalanche, the assignments and projects start rolling down and I have no option but to keep up. This means sitting in school till late hours in the evening (though we stay closer now). And that’s when it starts…the VISITS TO THE VENDING MACHINE.

Vending machines are a rogue. They are present everywhere. They not only entice you into going closer to them by dressing up in colourful attire of red Doritos or Brown M&M with polka dots or orange “Premiun” peanuts or just some cute little bears with chocolate filling, but also keep blinking in a very sorry manner saying “Make Selection”…Pick Me…Eat Me…Give me freedom from this locker. And the soft-hearted person that I am, I can’t ignore their call for freedom, and before I know I “bail” them out.

As if all this wasn’t enough, they even keep a drinks vending machine next to it…you know in case you get thirty (after all the starchy food), help yourself to some (high caloric) Coke or Nescafe Coffee or even better Diet Coke. C’mon they deserve freedom too, don’t they?

Dear Mom,

You have always taught me to be socially conscious and help out those in need. You always said “Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think how you would have felt if they didn’t help you”. And that’s exactly what I am doing. I am helping the little helpless souls in the vending machine break free from the bondages of the tall black lock-ups and I hide them in places where they can never ever be found again. I hope you understand and appreciate my selflessness and the sacrifices I make in life for others. I hope I make you proud.

Yours Sincerely,
Rohini 0:-)

Unfulfilled Dreams…Realities I never dreamt of!!

Well this one is truly special to me. With a million submissions and assignments due this week and Cerebration next week (more on that later), I was convinced that I would not have time to leave my pawprints on the patio ;)! (Sorry I know that was very cheesy!! Cant help it sometimes). But something happened exactly 21 minutes ago and it just pulled me to this page. I received an email from my Tauji (Dad’s elder brother). Just two simple lines that mean the world to me right now.

Background:
As all of you know by now, I was part of a study trip to USA where we had a chance to meet the legend..Mr Warren Buffett (No words can do justice to how I feel about the trip…it was ABSOLUTELY M-I-N-D-B-L-O-W-I-N-G). And today after much persuasion from Mom, Dad and my wonderful (read nagging sisters ;)), I emailed the pictures home(Just the one with Mr. Warren Buffett. I am just too lazy!)

Reason for this blog:
So why am I happy? I had mailed my cousin the photos as well and she happened to pass it on to Tauji. And 21 mins ago (well now 23!!), he mailed me saying that he saw the pictures and that he is “PROUD of me”!!! Just 3 simple words. I don’t need to say anything more.

The meeting with Warren Buffett could not have come at a better time. I needed to get over my disappointment of not being elected the MBA Club President. I don’t even want to talk about it any more. Yes people, I am over it! And the US Trip definitely helped me get over it. I wanted to be the President real bad and I truly believed that I could do it. It was a lot like high school all over again and losing out on the Head Girl position by a small margin (what’s the deal with me and my losing by small margins again and again). Guess some things are never meant to me. So the dream of being a Student President (or head girl) will just be an unfulfilled dream.

But it doesn’t matter anymore. My parents did not fail to tell me how proud and happy they were when I decided to run for President, when they read my mandate, when they heard that I didn’t get elected, when I was selected for the US trip, when I met Warren Buffett, when I returned and even when I sent the pictures home. Tauji’s mail just reiterates my support system.

These are my life’s biggest realities that I could not even have dreamt of. Everything else takes a backseat. Just the fact that they think this way makes me so happy. I owe it to them for making me the person I am today. I owe my confidence, my determination, and my optimism to my family. For always being there. For guiding me all through. And most importantly, being my best friends in the whole world.

This blog is dedicated to all of them. Love them all forever and forever and always and always. I feel lucky! Touch wood! :) They make me want to be my dreamcatcher...

It's got to be perfect!

Two pieces of information caught my attention in today's edition of TOI:

1. "Third Sex is official in TN"
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Third_sex_gets_official_status_in_TN/articleshow/2869909.cms)
Finally on the path of "Live and Let live". In a country that specifies "Freedom of expression" in its constitution, its a good feeling that we are accepting the choices (natural or adopted) of people in the country. We are finally maturing to the fact that the world is changing and that people must express themselves without fear and not lead a life of quiet isolation and solitude. We are finally waking up to the fact that for any country to growth and succeed, we need to address issues of transsexuality and homosexualism. We cannot turn a deaf ear to the long SOS calls of transsexuals asking for a respectable social standing and equal social status and rights.

Tamil Nadu has taken this bold step (and hats off to them!) and now its time that the country follows suit. Of course I know and I am sure that the extremists of in our country are going to object to this and there are definitely going to be regressive and conservative people making a big hue and cry if it were to be adopted on a national level. Its happened in the past and it will continue to do so.

But tell me something...The constitution mentions that we have the freedom of expression as long as we don’t not interfere and take away this right from other citizens of the country. How the hell does an individual with certain preferences that does not fall in the category of "Male" or "Female" affect someone elses freedom of expression. In fact if nothing else, the growing HIV/AIDS numbers in our country can reduce. Transsexuals can lead a normal life and not lead a life in the hiding. The country can educate them and advocate precautionary steps and help stop the spread of this deadly disease that is spreading like wild fire. We can stop STDs. We need to put an end to the stigma attached with this. And I am proud that the country has taken a step in this direction. But one earnest request, DO NOT STOP JUST YET. The step has been taken and we need to take it forward from here. India is the largest HIV/AIDS population in the world. We should not sit and gloat on out laurels just yet.

2. "The New Haat for Mumbai"
This one is more personal :). Everyone who knows me well knows of my liking for handicrafts and home decor and accessories. And all my friends with me on the Delhi trip were witness to this mania when we visited Delhi Haat on a comfortable winter afternoon. The setting of Delhi Haat is perfect. The architect and the interior designer of Delhi Haat definitely deserve an applause. The have designed a perfect ambience where you cannot help but shop. So all you men out there...don’t catch us...catch the retail and design consultants of such places. We are merely going with the flow :)

And now Bombay is set to have its own version of the "Haat" and boy am I happy. And what more...its going to be close to my house!!! :D :D So that’s extra brownie points for it. So Mom, Dad..Please be prepared. Let’s just keep an extra cupboard in the house...you know...just in case ;)

First day in USA!

So this one has been long overdue and after today's Debrief of the trip, I think its a perfect way to bring it to a close... (Though I don't think I want closure just yet...it was just too good :) )

23rd February 2008:

Of course it started of as a usual travel day starts off...I run around picking up and packing last minute items, I get ready in a rush and make it with just a second to spare before the cab driver shows up at the doorstep. We made it to the airport with loads and loads of time to spare (Thanks Amruta :)). After checking-in in a relaxed mood (my first time at that), we made our way to the café to grab a heavenly and much needed breakfast with conversations revolving around our past vacations and places we have stayed in. I spent the remaining time making an unsuccessful attempt at finding a gift for my cousin and browsing around the bookstore – Times Network at Changi Airport. What an awesome way to start a trip.

Our flight to San Francisco with a stopover at Tokyo Narita was food fun. Though I slept through it (thanks to the childhood conditioning by Mom Dad to stop me from throwing up on flights). We landed into SFO on 23rd itself at 9:30 a.m. (Thanks to the time difference...For the first time it was on my side). San Francisco is exactly how I had pictured it...Wide streets...little houses and 2 storey buildings...the Inns on the way...Taco Bell and Sears at regular intervals...Motels with neon lightly...it was just perfect.

Our next stop...Motel 6. Our haven for the next 3 days. It was like any regular clean cozy motel so I wont bore you with these details. After a quick check-in, we headed to La Salsa - A cozy Mexican Restaurant. Of course I don't need to start about the burritos I had there (read A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!) and then we walked around for a bit. Of course Amruta brought her "compulsive shopping disorder" with her all the way from Singapore and she just had to buy the pair of Boots...had to!! Lol.

The rest of the afternoon we spent relaxing and watching Seinfeld (these are episodes I haven't watched...Life is Beautiful) and warming our hands in front of the heater. The evening was again filled with some more walking around, a visit to Rasputin Music and Books stores (I like that about USA...they have book stores at regular intervals) and then of course dinner at an Italian Pizza place...Oregano. But please note that they serve Oregano only on request!! :)

In the night Vamsi, Manu, Gagan, Amruta and I went to downtown Palo Alto and had an amazing amazing time. The highlight of the evening of course was when spotted the office of "facebook"...lol...I still maintain that facebook is a big waste of time. But none-the-less I was excited. It felt like our little adventure out in the city. We encountered a big scary looking guy who was very helpful, we ran through the underground subway cause Amruta was convinced that there was a man there waiting to MUG us (:-)) All these movies really screw her head), we entered the Apple Store and yes my eyes lit up, we clicked pictures in front of the Cheesecake factory but didn't enter it, browsed through books and music at Borders Store, had a heavenly scoop of brownie gelato at Michael's Gelato and Cafe and took pictures with an odd looking EGG sculpture that had images from all over the world!! And then called a cab to get us home...and our luck he was a Sardarji who was kind enough to let 5 people travel in a cab. So all in all...an AMAZING and FUN first day in USA!

Changing face of the Internet!

Finally after months of speculations and appeals, Google bid to merge with Doubleclick came through on Tuesday sending Google prices soaring with a rise of $13.68 to close at $427.30.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/technology/11cnd-google.html?em&ex=1205467200&en=03e8d1f1d0134c93&ei=5087%0A (Free sign-up required)

Not only does this reinforce Googles dominance in Internet advertising, it definitely comes as a big setback to Microsoft and Yahoo that have been opposing this deal from the start. Microsoft was opposing the deal and putting pressure on the Federal Trade Commission regulators to not approve the deal. The fear being that this would give Google too much of a pricing power for online advertising.

However, what will be interesting now is Microsoft's reaction to this. Will they push for Yahoo even more in order to strengthen their position on the net (Yahoo has stronger online advertising position)? Or will this put an end to the Microsoft-Yahoo bid since even the combined effect will not surpass Google-Doubleclick dominance on the Internet? And even more so, will Google-Doubleclick merger succeed?

Watch this space for more details :)

Has it really changed?

Came across this really interesting article (Though you may need a login for this. Sign up is free):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/asia/10surrogate.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th

This article talks about how the cheap labour and the relatively easy labour laws in India makes it a lucrative option for another kind of outsourcing model...that of "reproductive outsourcing". There are companies in India who have successfully created a business out of surrogate motherhood. The clients are typically foreigners and couples who want to have children of their own.

We are all aware by now that most global business houses around the world are capitalizing on cheap labour in India and have outsourced their back end operations to India. Great advancements in communication and technology have been the drivers of this. Till even two years ago India was known as the land of outsourcing. But lately that has been changing. With the booming Asian economy and specially that of China and India, this has been changing. Large companies have been growing in India and adding processes in place to cater to the Indian clients. (And the fact that 4 of the top 10 richest people in the world are Indian is definitely a testimony for that). Therefore, India is no more just about outsourcing. (Though outsourcing has definitely been a contributing factor towards this). India is now looked upon as an IT hub and the Silicon Valley of the East. It is increasingly being known for its consultancy services and as a knowledge centre.

And here I am thinking that the mindset is changing and that people dont actually think that an average Indian leads a life like that of the 6-7 protaganists of "One Night at a Call Centre", while outsourcing is taking a whole new meaning in the country. These clinics pay for your travel et all. While I agree that its a good to connect two people who need each other (the couple wanting a baby and the surrogate mother needing the money), what I am only worried about is that with lack of strict labour law, the outsourcing model may actually end up ignoring the interests of the surrogate mothers. And will in turn lead to worse health issues.

While this is a good "business", its not one of the best businesses to be in. Its a painstaking long process and uses cheap labour to leverage on it, However, "reproductive outsourcing" can definitely make an interesting canvas for future fiction. Maybe we should get Oprah to talk about it ;)

Entrepreneurial DNA!

Ok this is the first of its kind. Usually I always write my blogs on a Word Doc first and then after being completely satisfied with it I paste it here on my blog. But today i have taken the brave step (or rather the sensible) step of starting the blog right here on the compose section of the blog. Wow...big step. Well the reason you are on the receiving end of all these (unnecessary) details is because I was curiously going through the "Personal Documents" folder in my notebook and came across a number of unfinished blogs. And there are more than 6-7 such incomplete docs. While some were intentionally abandoned, some of them just didn’t see the light of the day because of "lack of time"...ahem!!! There I go again...

Yesterday was a rather interesting day for me. After 3 days of absolute homesickness, the evening turned out to be quite a welcome change. We were part of the Corporate Dinner hosted by us for the Sponsors and Strategic Partners of Cerebration 2008. We had the top management from DBS Bank, Brewerkz, Expressions International and SPRING Singapore all under one roof. It was attended by our Vice Dean, Professors and MBA office.

I had the privilege of sharing the table with the Founder of Brewerkz micro-brewery and am glad I did. Devin Kimble opened doors of Brewerkz in Singapore and has met with a lot of success. And now they are looking to expand outside Singapore and hence the reason that they are case sponsors for Cerebration.

We had an interesting conversation on our table with Prof. Bob Fleming also present with us. Devin spoke about how he was a trader and a lawyer before completing a master's degree and becoming an entrepreneur thereafter. For him, the CSF (Critical Success Factor) to be an entreprener is to have a lot of ideas. And gosh is he right. And then suddenly there seems to be a common theme in the discussions I have been part of for the last 2 weeks.

For the uninitiated, I was part of a study trip to USA last week where I had a chance to meet personalities like Scott McNealy, Sumir Chadha and (hold your breadth) Mr. Warren Buffett!!!!!!! While the experience on the trip is going to be another blog(s??) in itself, what is striking is the similarities in the personality types of these entrepreneurs. It’s almost as if there is a DNA type!

1. All these people: Great Great Communicators
They all have a flair for words and humour as well. They can really engage an audience for a long span and have very interesting take and insights on things and subject matters in life. (I am in awe of Mr. Buffett!!)

2. All these people are very very personable. Very approachable and very friendly and so humble. They treat all of us (people at least half their age) with respect and at par with them. (I mean c’mon me on par with Mr. Buffett!!!! What a dream!) :)
Of course, if they weren’t humble they wouldn’t have even reached half way where they are today.

And while they all agree that an MBA education is definitely a value add, in Scott McNealy's words "You don’t need an MBA to understand that you need a positive bottom-line...and to know how to get the positive bottom line all you need is a great CFO. If you want to be an entrepreneur what you need to be is 'Be Controversial and Be Correct'. If you don’t differentiate yourself you will not have pricing power. If you have a brilliant idea, make sure you have enough people who think you are crazy. That’s differentiation". According to Scott, the best take away from an MBA are networking opportunities on beer nights, on social gatherings. "You never know who can be your potential partner".

Interestingly, Devin had somewhat of a different take. An MBA gives you an opportunity to work in groups and in projects and that’s how real life is. You brainstorm and you share ideas and once you have lots of ideas, you can be an entrepreneur.

Devin's conversations also revolved around how they lived in simpler times without seat belts and computers and how they had to hang outside in crowded buses to get to school (though small towns in most developing nations still face this). They all know where they are coming from and that’s definitely one of the reasons for their humility.

So all in all it was an interesting evening. And its conversations like these that reaffirm my faith in my abilities and my yearning to take up my ideas (at most times ideas that don’t seem to have a sustainable revenue model) and make them see the light of the day :). And I know that there a number of people who think that the ideas are crazy and that I am not capable of doing them. Makes it all the more challenging and makes me believe more and more that "I can make it!" :)