Hehehe

Bencho....

Usually don't do it on weekdays but then...there are days that cannot end without the help of Old Monk. #BuddhaBhikshuk #GumKaSaathiRum

Trip to Farm in the City

My Desk....Always Messy

Point to Ponder

People call Modi a murderer.

My two cents here....

(a) Courts and Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) have already given clean chit to Modi

(b) If someone is planning to vote for Congress then the question is what about Sikh riots, Assam riots etc. How come Modi is a murderer in your opinion but Congress is better

(c) If someone is planning to vote for AAP then one must know that AAP supports naxal/maoist leaders who have killed so many people including CRPF jawans in last many years. Moreover, they are pro separatists groups in Kashmir. They are certainly supporting murderers or taking support from murderers. How are they any better?

(d) If you are not voting for any of these three, who are you voting for?

(e) Personally, I would rather go with murderers than anti-nationals

3D

Between three 'Ds' - Development (BJP), Dramebaazi (AAP) and Dacoity (CONgress) - I pick development. What about you?

Some random guy has been going around saying that "main iss desh ke sabse shaktishaali, sabse ameer aur sabse bhrasht logon se ladne ke liye bhi tayyar hun". Considering the popularity, image and brand, 'Shaktishaali' to maan liya. But how many of you, who support this chap, truly believe that Modi is 'sabse ameer' and 'sabse bhrasht'? If you do not think so then why do you believe in this guy who is saying all this... but is not fighting against Sonia or Rahul? I am not worried as I do not have any doubt that Modi will thrash him all ends up. But...what is your reason to still believe in this guy? Beats me!!!

Impressive!!!

In the late 1990s, an employee of Adani Exports took a wrong call in sugar trading, resulting in a Rs 20-crore loss. Fearing he would be sacked, he apologized for the grave mistake and handed in his resignation letter. Gautam Adani, in his thirties then (now 51), tore up the resignation and told him with a smile: "I know you will not make a similar mistake in future because of this lesson. Why should your next employer benefit from this learning when I have paid the price for it?"

Weekend with 3 Friends

3.2 cops and 5 NGOs for every 3000 Indians!!!.......Hmmmm — feeling surprised.

Whats in my plate?

Have you ever had a meal involving 8-10 dishes where you do not know and cannot make out the ingredients of even one dish? And all of them were non-veg dishes. Donno how many different types of creatures I just had.... thanks to the client team — feeling sick in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

Brrrrr!!!!

Less than 10 degrees in Hong Kong and this is supposed to be spring — feeling cold at Victoria Park, Hong Kong.

Ananya Goes Traditional

'These days'.....

• When I am in office, I feel like a - Sweeper - As I am invariably cleaning the mess created by others!!
• When I reach home, I feel like a - Truck Driver - As I need couple of drinks to be able to get sleep after a hard day!!!
• When I wake up in the morning, I feel like a - Prostitute - As I get ready to get screwed...again!!!

Juggling too many balls

Last few days have been crazy and.....mighty frustrating. Getting pulled into 5-6 different directions at a time and am unable to focus decently on any task-on-hand. This is not how I work and this is not what the tasks deserve. Am trying my best to set and manage expectations but......this is not that kind of place. People pay attention only when shit gets into the fan. 

It is frustrating also because of the management gyaan I have to bear with. No concrete and actionable solutions. Just 'do it' type of suggestions in motivational and crappy packaging. 

The other day one of the leaders (by designation and clearly not by actions) gave me a speech regarding how I should start thinking beyond research. Nothing wrong with that suggestion but it is just that it was uncalled for. I was taking a client through the research methodology mentioned in a proposal, which this same leader had written. He had proposed that we will do X number of interviews and will do secondary research etc. I was assigned the task to take the client through the proposal. I did not propose 'research' and he did. Yet, he had a problem with that. And he was talking about consulting when he has not worked in any consulting organization or on any strategy consulting project. He has spent his life organizing boxes in warehouses, smoking cigars paid by company corporate card and making the life of his team miserable. I am not in his team....I would have stabbed him by now.

And I am frustrated as I am unlearning (rather, compelled to unlearn) the good things that I have learned in my career so far. Juggling too many balls and few may drop. I will apply the most popular term in consulting and research and do the work on 'best-effort basis'.

Feeling tired, stressed and frustrated :(

FB Look Back Movie Sucks

I love being behind the camera. I love clicking pictures of people around me. I have more than thousand pics in my FB album but I am not there in most of them...and I am okay with that. 

Till....I saw my FB Look Back movie!!! It did bring back memories of some happy moments but it is not MY movie!!! In it, I am like the father who dies in the first few minutes of a Hindi movie %$#@

It happens only in India

Abu Salem married a girl on a train from Mumbai to Lucknow!!!! Policemen did not object. May be the honeymoon has been planned for the return journey. #KyaNaatakHai

Today's Learning: How Not to Manage a Crisis

If, by any chance, you want to learn how to create a crisis during a crisis management exercise, come to me. I will share my day with you. And I did not create that situation. If you know me well enough, you probably already guessed that.

To all those people, I just want to say that probably these are the reasons why even your most trusted generals have been making fun of you since Day 1.

Trip to A'Famosa Animal Safari (Melaka)

"However, XYZ said he/she has no proof to back his/her allegations"

Most news articles about AAP 'exposing' someone have this statement in common!!! :P

Chaar din ki zindagi thhi.....ab kal se office  feeling depressed

आखिर सोचने वाली बात है...

क्या अरविन्द केजरीवाल कुछ मीडिया वालों के साथ मिल कर अरुण जेटली को बदनाम करने कि कोशिश कर रहे हैं? क्या अरविन्द केजरीवाल मन-गढ़ंत कहानियां बना कर बिजली की कटौती और दरों में बढ़ौती की समस्यायों से लोगों का ध्यान हटाने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं?

Caught among percentages

The work-related 'Things-to-Do' list is getting so big that gathering enough motivation to even look at it has become an item on the list!!!

It has a project which others have worked on without much success. I would like to believe that they tried everything that was made sense and still did not get any (please note, it is 'any' and not 'enough') success. So, the project was assigned to me with the expectation that I would give 100% time (please note, 100% time) to the project.

Then I have another project that requires 100% time. Another project that requires less than 10% time unless there is a crisis. Then a research report that requires 2 more days of effort. Another project that requires some tweaking in the final deliverable and a final presentation in Hong Kong. And lastly, Business Development that should be given around 50% time!!! Not to forget the ever-increasing list of administrative activities, which consume a lot of time and more importantly, kill momentum.

However, I am not worried about the work. That I can do.....if I get sufficient time. This equation of 100% + 100% + 10% + 16 hours + 50% + x% is making me confused!!!

Guess I should raise a help desk to add more hours in my days anx more days in my weeks!!!!

Subsidy over Infrastructure Development

Delhi government has cancelled few infrastructure projects and have diverted fundings from few projects to fund the subsidy in electricity. Wow!!

This sort of naxalist thinking and strategies will make Delhi as developed as most places in the red corridor.

Anyways, Delhi deserves it as they voted for AAP. Never liked the Delhiwallahs in any case.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Happiness!!!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2014

Already in her Daddy's shoes

Need for Flexibility

Simon Doull made a valid point when he said that he was surprised by Indian team's reluctance to change things in the ongoing one day series with New Zealand. India lost the first two encounters and tied the third one, thanks to some unexpected heroics with the bat from Aswin and Jadeja. Then in the fourth match, India changed too many things suddenly. They decided to bat first, which they had not done throughout the series. They decided to bring in two players, including a debutante. And the best batsman in the line-up, who bats one down, opened the innings. Doull pointed that too many sudden changes seldom work. Of course he had the advantage of the hindsight but he does have a point. India lost the fourth match and the series.

Indian captain was furious. He played two good innings in the last two matches. Whenever he plays well and India loses, he usually is furious. Else, he puts a 'vague' blame on the batsmen. This time, he was furious with his pace bowlers. He even wentvon to say that the pace bowlers should learn to use their brains and that the spinners are more or less decided for the World Cup in 2015 but he is not sure which fast bowlers will make it.

I disagree on multiple levels. However, I would like to make it clear that I complete agree that the pacers did not bowl in the right areas and sprayed it all over the place. They were short and wide more often than not. Shami did take decent number of wickets but he was expensive as well. So am not trying to defend the performance of the pacers in this series.

My issue is the singling out of the pace bowlers. Of course, their performance was below par. However, the spinners did not fare any better. If a satisfactory performance from a spinner is taking 1 or at max 2 wickets and giving away 6 to 7 runs in an over, then I would be surprised if India would be able to retain its title in the World Cup next year. Indian captain has made it clear that he does not like 4 pacer strategy as it impacts the over-rate. Valid point. However, that empashises the need for quality spinners. Aswin and Jadeja may be the chosen ones but their performance was not great or even satisfactory either.

I believe Dhoni is more impressed with the batting abilities of both his spinners. That is again okay. Every captain is entitled to have his own strategy and gameplan. Dhoni clearly prefers to have more ammunition in his batting line-up. However, by being satisfied with below par bowling performance by his spinners, he puts unfair pressure on the pace bowlers.

The two spinners have done well in India. They restrict the opposition and take wickets. But so do Bhuvaneswar Kumar and Shami. Unfortunately, the World Cup would not be played in India or the subcontinent. India needs bowlers, who can take wickets in Australia and New Zealand - pacers as well spinners. 

Dhoni clearly prefers to have Aswin and Jadeja in his team - irrespective of the conditions. But if he wants to continue with this strategy, he needs another decent bowling option. Someone like an Irrfan Pathan (if he is fit, which he rarely is) would be handy. Or it could be any other medium pace bowler who is also good with the bat. If Irrfan is fit, it would be better to have him in the side. And I would go with Yuvraj over Raina any day. I believe Yuvraj would anyways be included but in place of Rahane, who is yet to pick full steam. I will not be too disappointed if that happens but there is a need for Raina to justify his existence.....and quickly.

Moreover, there is a need to try few other spinners. Mishra should definitely be tried. Am biased towards leggies :)

Overall, it is okay if India lost to New Zealand. They deserved to lose. However, it would be better if Indian team considers it as a learning experience and a preparatory camp and starts to unlearn and then learn a few things. Strangely, fielding is the only department where India did well. In every other department, there is work required to do. So it is unfair to single out the young and inexperienced pacers.

Stan won Aus Open, Rafa won hearts

Stanislas Wawrinka played great tennis in the last two weeks to win the Australian Open title. He is in great form; he also won the Chennai Open at the beginning of the year but that tournament is far less competitive than a grand slam like Australian Open. In the finals, he dominated and defeated Rafael Nadal. Rafa's game was affected by a back strain that he suffered in the second set but before that as well, Stan was dominating the court.

There are no two ways about the fact that Stan deserved to win. He played better and aggressive tennis. Rafa played short initially and was extremely slow later on, due to his injury. Stan produced some amazing forehand as well as backhand winners through out the match. 

However, the match left a bad taste in the mouth. Rafa took a medical break of 5 minutes that the players are entitled to but clearly, Stan as well as the crowd did not like it for some reason. Stan had an animated argument with the chair umpire and the officials. Later, the crowd booed Rafa when he returned to the court after the 5 minute break!!! That clearly had an affect on Rafa. He was already crumbling physically but the crowd behavior seemed to have affected him mentally as well. He was almost in tears after his return and physical pain did not seem like the only reason.

That crowd behavior was uncalled for. Indeed they had paid good money for the tickets and they wanted a full game but Rafa had more to lose than anyone else. Honestly, it did not seem like he would be able to continue and complete the match but he did. He did not play for the crowd, he did not play to complete the match and give a decent and deserving victory to Stan but he played as he had come over there to fight and to win. 

He pulled up his game in the third set and won it. That was completely unexpected. Probably the painkillers had started to take affect. He clearly was not at the top of his game but he was fighting. And that was so heartening to see. He played and fought like a champion. 

Eventually, Stan went past Rafa in the fourth set to win his first grand slam but that does not matter. There would be other days and more battles. What matters is that Rafa had the will to fight till the end. Most of his die-hard fans gave up after the second set and did not expect him to complete the match. But Rafa proved them (including me) wrong and demonstrated what fighters and champions are made of.

AAP ka Dawood!!!

Another AAP leader made a controversial statement today. Anjali Damania said that even Dawood Ibrahim is welcome to join AAP!!!

This is precisely the kind of people and ideology that is making a large number of people to stay away from or hate AAP. What is the message that they are trying to give to people? They made a big tamasha after the Somnath Bharti led raid and wanted few cops to be suspended. So, they are against cops who do not obey their orders but are ready to welcome Dawood in their party!!

AAP leaders keep saying that Congress is corrupt and BJP is communal. They do not say that Modi is corrupt. Their issue with Modi is that he is communal as he was the CM at the time of Gujarat riots (though the courts have given a clean chit to Modi). Lets, for the sake of argument, suppose that Modi is communal and he is against Muslims and Islam. In that case, AAP is right in opposing Modi. However, it is baffling that they are okay with Dawood who was the person behind the Mumbai bomb blasts and riots. So, a person is communal if he/she is against Muslims but if someone kills Hindus, he is still welcome in their party.

Every political party identifies and focuses on its target segment. That is common across all parties. AAP has also attracted several popular celebrities and leaders. They do not focus on religion-based politics, which is indeed a step in the right direction. However, they have found/created another target segment that includes pseudo-intellectuals, naxalites and anti-nationals. These are the people who want plebiscite in Kashmir, blame Indian Army, oppose hanging of Ajmal Kasab, are okay with Dawood Ibrahim joining their party and encourage naxals to join their party. These are the type of people that Arvind Kejriwal should worry about more.

Going by recent examples, AAP may either say that Anjali was misquoted or that it is her personal opinion and not the official party stance. In such a case AAP supporters would come out beating their chests that how BJP supporters and 'paid media' tried to falsely blame an AAP leader or would say that "See!! Our party is so democratic that it allows its leaders to speak their mind". Have we not heard this way too many times in the last couple of months?!?!

AAP supporters keep telling others that it is a party whose heart is in the right place. Let us believe (again just for the sake of argument) that it is true. Even then it is high time that the party gets it act together and starts acting responsibly.

I never expected I would ever say this but one should give credit where it is due. So... WELL PLAYED JADEJA!!!!

Papa-Aanu

Earlier threats to disrupt the R-Day parade used to come from LeT and Co. Now, Delhi government is threatening to do that!!! What progress!!! Take that terrorists!!!

Inconvenience Fee - II

Dear Sir/Madam,

At the outset we apologize for the delay in answering your mail and the inconvenience caused.

With regards to your email, as the flights were cancelled by us, full refund is applicable including the Convenience  Fee we apologize for not processing the refund along with your e-tickets.

Please allow us to mention we have processed a  full refund of Convenience  Fee INR 315.00 back on the credit card.

This process usually takes ten days. We request you to kindly check with your issuing bank.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused to you.

Thank you,

Jet Airways

--------------------------------------

So they admitted their mistake and are refunding the money. Feeling proud of myself that I did not let it go :)

Confused....

Really confused about something......should I or shouldn't I? Will be a huge gamble.....and will cause a lot of trouble and awkwardness if it does not pay off. But still.....seems like....worth a shot!!! Confused.....

Trip to Singapore

Point to Ponder

If it is okay to give a discount and take a hit for a new client, why cannot the request for 'something extra' be accommodated for an existing but 'not-so-regular' client? In fact a discount makes it difficult to recover the investment or increase the margin in/through subsequent projects. On the other hand, giving something extra to an existing client strengthens the relationship and increases the chance of repeat business.

Yaadein.....

Masterpiece

Movie Marathon

Watched 5 movies today!!!! Must be a record for me. I do have such movie marathons sometimes but I do not think I have ever watched 5 movies in a day.

I started with 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. It is a highly acclaimed and popular movie by Martin Scorsese. Had high expectations from the movie due to the director and the lead actor i.e., Leonardo Dicaprio. I must say that I did not quite like the movie as much as I expected. The movie is about a stock broker who has this unsatisfying hunger of getting rich. He is also a robinhood of sorts for his employees. He does drugs and women like people breathe. It has a predictable storyline and the performances are not anything special. It has fetched Leonardo a Golden Globe (I am told), so clearly mine is not a popular opinion.

Then I watched the 'Grudge Match'. It is a movie about two champion boxers who used to be arch rivals. They get old but they still do not see eye-to-eye. Hence a 'grudge match' is arranged. Again, a very predictable storyline. I watched the movie as it stars Robert De Niro and Sylvestor Stallone. I like the later and truly admire the former. Moreover, both of them have played extremely popular roles as boxers in the past. I expected the movie to be funny, which it is. But it is not hahaha kind of funny. Moreover, it is not gripping. Not the best work of either actors and not the best movie that I watched today.

Then I watched 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'. It is a movie about a 'Negative Assets Manager' in Life magazine. The guy is shy, introvert, always drags himself in awkward/embarrassing situations and is a DAY DREAMER. The part is played by Ben Stiller, who is also the director of the movie. Ben Stiller has played similar roles in the past. There is something about Mary, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Duplex....you name them. But this movie is different. It is not a comedy. Or lets say that the movie wont tickle  you but it will bring a smile on your face. Sean Penn plays a cameo in the movie. Overall, the movie is interesting and not predictable but still does not have a strong story. My wife did not like the movie. But.....I did. I could relate to the shy, introverted day-dreamer!!!

Then I watched a long due movie that I wanted to watch in theaters and in 3D. GRAVITY!! Extremely gripping story. Nice cast (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, who has a small but extremely good role). I really liked the first half but the second half started to drag a little. Getting sucked into space from one space station.....then reaching another space station.....and then another one.....and then landing on earth was too much to digest. They could have added a crocodile or a lake monster in the lake Sandra Bullock finally lands in but thankfully did not do that!!!! Overall, good engaging movie that could have been better.

And then I watched 'The Purge'. The movie was recommended by a colleague, whose last recommendation ('The Iceman') was not bad at all. The movie stars Ethan Hawke (not the greatest ingredient for a so-called good dish). The movie is about a scenario in United States of 2022, where the government legalizes any crime (including murder) in a 12-hour window, once a year!!!! What was I thinking!!! Do not want to waste more time on this movie so lets just say.....STUPID STUPID MOVIE!!!

Political Banter

Comment

Sir, a lesser mortals like me look forward to your posts. 

Unfortunately they are becoming more towards promoting propaganda and less factual. 

AAP is not a congress tool. It never was. And you know that. 

If it was, then it makes no sense for kejriwal to so humiliatingly defeat Sheila Dixit. If it was it makes no sense to expose vadra land deals. If it was it makes no sense to reduce water and electricity bills. If it was it makes no sense to still keep abusing BJP and congress in same breath. 

There is no subsidy being given either on water or electricity. 

In case of water, his logic is - water us basic. You can argue on amount, but you can't argue that it is as mandatory as air. So how can govt charge on something as basic as that ? It is a question of state responsibility. 

On electricity. Ask any of your Delhi friend about bills. They were unreasonably high. There is no reason for the companies to shy from audit. And checking of meters. Let that happen and see the fun. 

On Kashmir : Bhushan has always been a voice of dissent. For gods sake don't beat him up if you don't like what he is saying. 

I can go on....... 

The major problem with BJP has been it has been shouting from rooftop about Hindu nationalism, Mandir, pride in Kashmir, Pappu bashing, and now latest Hindu pride. Which many are simply not interested in. 

And here comes a rookie and stumps the bigwig on something as basic as water, electricity, street light, door to door smart campaigning. 

They are not agents of USA or Pakistan. They are Indians. And they have support of Indians. Like me. 

Will AAP vote result in hung assembly ? If you are worried. If anyone is worried, then vote for AAP. Or give a non Mandir, non Hindu pride, non "they are agents/ anti national", cogent reason why I should vote for BJP and I would. 

This is w

here you will see that BJP is hollow and AAP fills the void.

Response

Sir, I am sharing what are MY political beliefs and point-of-views of experts that I respect and follow. I believe I have every right to do that. I am not questioning the beliefs of anyone else and if the supporters of other parties find my views/posts/forwards promotion of propaganda then be it.

Honestly, I do not think that AAP is part of Congress but I do believe that there is a pact. Congress is certainly using AAP. Congress realizes that now it is not going to have the kind of results that it enjoyed in the last general elections and unless the votes get divided, BJP will have a strong hand. They are using AAP for that. So, for Congress, AAP is god sent.

Vadra's land deals were not 'exposed' by Kejriwal and Bhushan. Everyone knew about them in any case. I myself had read about all the details and more in a leading publication (cannot recall which one) at least an year before Kejriwal's press conference.

Kejriwal had once shown a 300+ pager document, which (as per him) contained strong evidences against Sheila Dikshit. What happened to that document now? Why is he not taking any action against Congress/Diksit? Before the elections he kept saying that Congress is corrupt and BJP is communal (I do agree that he did also say that BJP is also corrupt). Now he wants BJP to produce evidences against Dikshit and then he would order an inquiry!!! Awesome

It is up to you if do not want to believe that water and electricity related decisions made by AAP are not forms of subsidies. Several prominent economists see them as subsidies. And I read an interview of Daniel Yergin yesterday and he said and I quote,"subsidy does two things: it stimulates demand and reduces the drive to be more efficient. And there'd be cost, cost to companies, cost to economy. In general, over the years we have come to believe that where prices are market-based, those are the markets that work more efficiently in the long run. Markets are smarter (than governments). There are ways to take care of the poor without having very broad subsidy. Subsidy is a very expensive form of social policy". My question is even bigger. Are the measures helping the poor? They do not have metered connections. So the benefits are actually going to people who can afford water and electricity. Yes, do audit the companies. But do not give freebies. Indian economy cannot afford that. There is no outflow without an inflow. If the government runs out of money, inflation would rise, taxes would increase.....most would not be able to afford that. If the government has money, by all means give free or 'subsidized' water and electricity. And why stop there. House is a basic need (no rent, no property tax). Food is a basic need as well. In today's times, roads, communication, internet etc are pretty basic requirements as well. Lets not charge anything or enough on these as well (without impacting the economy) and I will certainly vote for AAP.

Though I have a strong urge, I did not beat up Prashant Bhushan. I swear.

Yes, they are Indians and are supported by Indians. But so are naxalites and naughty people of Indian Mujahideen. I am just questioning the logic. If someone believes that Naxalites and IM do not have the backing of friendly neighbors, I wish them a happy stay in their wonderland. 

As far as I am concerned, I am more anti-Congress than pro-anyone. I do not want Congress to come back in power and I see BJP as a good substitute. AAP is likely to (may be unintentionally) keep a door open for Congress. I like the development model of Narendra Modi and I am a firm believer in his governance model. I do think that he has a vision. People may call him communal but no one says that he is corrupt. I think he would be a strong leader. 

I do not care about mandir.

Gujarat has improved a lot in 10 years. Electricity (a basic need) is not an issue over there - they in fact have a surplus. The infrastructure has improved significantly. Several infrastructure projects have come over there. They have managed to attract investments from several Indian and international companies. Modi and some of the other BJP leaders that I support are considered to be honest by most. Those are reasons enough for me. 

If you have reasons that do not include giving away freebies, giving away Kashmir and initiatives that are not there already in most BJP ruled states, please do let me know. I would consider switching my loyalties as well. And would love to see Kejriwal as Prime Minister, Bhushan as Home Minister and Lord Kumar Vishwas as Minister of BC

And lastly, FB allows you to hide the posts of certain people. Please hide my posts if they offend you in any manner :)

Hmmmph!!!

Inconvenience Fee

Hi Jet Airways,

I do have a question. I see that the amount that Jet Airways is refunding is not the total amount that I paid. It does not include the convenience fee of INR 315. I do realize that the ticket mentioned that it is a non-refundable amount. However, I did not cancel the tickets on my own. The flight was cancelled by Jet Airways. Why should I lose the money after it already caused severe inconvenience to me. 

My flight was from Ranchi to Kolkata and from Kolkata I had to take a flight back to Kuala Lumpur. I was forced to take a last minute, inconvenient train journey to be able to reach Kolkata on time. If anything, Jet Airways should pay me an 'inconvenience fee'.

Though the amount in question is a small amount, I question the logic and intent. If Jet Aiways cancels such a flight with 100 passengers, it will make INR 315 * 100 = INR 31,500 on a flight it never flew!!!

I look forward to a response and explanation from your end.

Regards,

Animesh

I really do not understand why should airlines not refund the convenience fee when the cancel a flight!!! Though convenience charges are usually small, across all the passengers it can be a significant amount. That is good money for an airline for not doing anything!!! I am not sure if I will get the money or not. It is a small amount and it does not really matter. But if it is the usual practice, it is a big scam!!!

Mind your own business

Jab kisi se koi gila rakhna,

Saamne apne aaina rakhna

Easier said than done. Its not that am able to do it. I get too excited and worked up when am angry and then say things which I would never have said otherwise. However, when there is no heated argument, I try not to say things as I know that I am no god. I havd sinned as well.

But there are others who seem to truly believe that they are always right. And in this frame of mind they go on passing comments on others and preaching things to others!!! I truly despise such people.

And then there are others who do not say things directly. They hide behind rhetoric or poetic words. Such people are cowards 'as well'.

They try to keep a backdoor open so that they can go back and say that they were 'misunderstood'. Have seen enough of such crap to understand their true colors.

Do not forget that I and several others truly understand how dramatic you. People understand the hollowness of your emotions, smiles and tears. You have suffered in life and I do not get any kind of sadistic pleasure out of that. But you have asked for it. And you have made others around you suffer even more. Most of them do not realize it due to a brainwashing that has happened from an early stage. But others do understand it.

'Some of them do laugh at your tears'. Getting my drift? Well...as I said....I do not laugh at your tears. I have become emotionless as far as you are concerned. I do not get moved by your emotions. And I do not cry on your shoulders when am sad depressed. So please do not comment ('if you did') on my sorrows. You do not have any business doing that.

And if you have anything to say to me or ANYONE else, please be direct.

Daal mein kaala ya kaale mein daal!!!

Midnight Creativity

Santa Claus does exist!!!

Free stuff....waivers.....subsidies!!! Did not realise that Indian economy is doing so well!!! Long Live Kejriwal!!! Santa Claus does exist!!! Delhi junta....stop paying your utility bills, taxes, challans etc....they may be waived off in any case.

Ma, Aayu and Maow

48th Death Anniversary of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. A selfless and honest character. Wish he had served the nation a little longer.

Hum

Tarboooooz!!!!!

A Project Manager in Vigg Voss: Project Costing Task

• Vigg Voss asks a Project Manager to prepare a proposal
• Project Manager prepares the proposal keeping in mind the client requirements
• Vigg Voss suggests that more deliverables should be included to make the project bigger
• Project Manager points that other deliverables are not the core requirements and if we suggest them, the client would…..want them…. in the same budget
• Vigg Voss smiles and says “Yaaaaa”
• Vigg Voss then takes the Project Manager through his own experiences and how he became the Vigg Voss
• The additional deliverables are included
• Project Manager calculates the effort required
• The required hours are entered against the required resources in the project costing tool i.e., Project Form A
• The tool gives the project cost and also indicates the profitability
• Vigg Vosses gets excited about the prospect of making that money
• However, at the same time Vigg Voss is not sure whether the client has that kind of budget
• Project Manager points that with the existing scope, the costing cannot be reduced without impacting the profitability
• Vigg Voss points that the project costing tool is flawed……but needs to be followed
• Vigg Voss suggests that the number of hours should be reduced to be able to reach a figure that Vigg Voss believes the client would be ready to pay
• Project Manager points that with the current scope, the hours cannot be reduced
• Vigg Voss smiles and says “Yaaaaa”
• Vigg Voss suggests that the hours should be reduced in costing tool but in the productivity tool, the resources would get the required number of hours
• Project Management finds this….’wrong’….but Vigg Voss is THE BOSS
• The reduced costing is prepared and submitted to the client
• Client says it is ‘slightly’ out of budget
• Vigg Voss decides to reduce the costing…without reducing the scope
• Project Manager points that the client may think that we had a high margin earlier and that is why we have been able to accommodate the reduction. This will impact future business as well and thus, we should defend our costing…at least slightly
• Vigg Voss smiles and says “Yaaaaa” and reduces the costing. Still no reduction in the scope
• The reduction means even lesser hours for each resources in the project costing tool….but as per Vigg Voss, the tool itself is flawed
• Client commissions the project
• Project Manager assigns ‘required hours’ to each team member in the productivity tool and sends it for approval to Vigg Voss
• Vigg Voss approves the hours….though they are more than double than what has been shown in the costing tool….and when the policy is that the hours should match in both systems
• Project Manager gets the required hours and thinks that Vigg Voss is fair
• After few days, Vigg Voss has another project for the Project Manager
• Project Manager points that he is completely tied up with the existing project and he has full time billing
• Vigg Voss points that the hours in the costing tool are much lower so Project Manager MUST find a way to deliver the same scope in much lesser hours!!!
• Project Manager is confused
• Project Manager asks that how come the effort to be put in should be proportional to what is being charged to the client and the scope has no correlation to the costing?
• Vigg Voss smiles and says “Yaaaaaa”
• Vigg Voss comes up with a solution….he suggests that “since the client is paying us less….we should tell the client that we will drop a few deliverables”
• Project Manager points that it is not fair to do that after the project has been commissioned
• Vigg Voss smiles and says “Yaaaaaa”
• Vigg Voss comes up with another solution….he suggests that “since the client is paying us less….we should spend less time…..but at the same time ensure that all the promised deliverables are taken care of……but spend less time on the project…..but that does not mean we should compromise the quality”
• Project Manager asks that how can the exact same work with the same quality be done in …for example…both 300 and 150 hours? Lesser hours would translate into lesser work or lesser quality
• Vigg Voss says “Yaaaaaa”
• Vigg Voss tells the Project Manager that the Project Manager is the best judge and he should take care of it. If it requires more hours, it requires more hours
• Project Manager is not convinced and is sure that it will impact his prospects in the company…err…the show
• As expected, later the Project Manager is given a feedback that he should “learn to multi-task” and “should add more value” and “should not over-deliver”
• Project Manager points that he could not multi-task as the existing project involved (and required) his full time involvement
• Project Manager points that he did not over-deliver…he just delivered what was promised to the client
• Project Manager reasons that he has been adding more value as happy and satisfied clients are more likely to come back with more projects and his clients have indeed been coming back
• Project Manager points that in consulting, one has to nurture existing relationships instead of going for a new relationship every time
• Vigg Voss says “Yaaaaaa”
• Project Manager feels he would soon be eliminated

1(Note: Management Consulting version of the popular reality show, Bigg Boss)