Old wine in a new bottle

It has been long since I blogged and felt this article would be a good restart. Below is the review I wrote on Subroto Bagchi's latest book - The Professional for www.domain-b.com.

Through his latest book, Subroto Bagchi provides us with a toolkit to sharpen our edge in the 21st-century workplace. Arvind Sridhar reviews The Professional

23 October 2009

Published by: Penguin Group Price: Rs399 Classification: Non-fiction Subroto Bagchi conceived the idea of his third book, The Professional, when he realised an important ingredient was missing from his previous two books on business: Guidance! In his first book, The High-Performance Entrepreneur, the author spoke about the making of his company and in the second, Go Kiss The World, he wrote about his life-story, hoping to motivate readers to achieve what they want to. With The Professional, Mr Bagchi provides a prescription for achieving true professionalism to the young and the experienced alike; in other words, the much-needed and even more sought-after guidance missing from his previous books. In about 200 pages, he provides us with a toolkit to sharpen our edge in the 21st-century workplace. Mr Bagchi has drawn on experiences from his life to depict various facets of professional conduct under different circumstances. He has divided the book into seven chapters: integrity, self-awareness, professional qualities, managing volume, managing complexity, new world imperatives and the professional’s professional. The book is well-structured and easy to read. It won’t take you more than a couple of hours to finish, but I suggest you read it leisurely, in sequential order, internalise what the author conveys through each anecdote before you move on to the next subject. The book has a little bit in it for everyone. Mr Bagchi tackles the dilemma of firing a star performer, advises us on managing client expectations, and talks about personal issues at work: boredom, whining, personal loss, transparency, logic versus emotion, sexual harassment and other gender issues. You are sure to find yourself saying, “Hey! That's happened to me” or “Hey, that's what I wanted to know about!” The first chapter of the book leaves a lasting impact on you and sets the tone for the rest of the book. Making an important distinction between a professional and someone who is merely professionally qualified, Mr Bagchi mentions these two qualities as differentiators: “One is the ability to work unsupervised and, two, the ability to certify the completion of one’s work.”. And to illustrate this difference, he tells us the story of Mahadeva – the professional who disposed off unclaimed dead bodies and gave them a decent burial. Stark, but crystal clear! Another example that I found very enlightening was that of the recent Satyam debacle, where Ramalinga Raju, the founder and chairman of the company admitted to largescale fudging of the balance sheet for years. Mr Bagchi uses this sordid saga beautifully to stress the importance of “The Responsibility of Dissent”. He has made very discerning, analytical and thought-provoking observations, which should serve as a constant reminder to any professional, who might, in beguiling situations, be tempted to disregard his or her scruples. Mr Bagchi has made it easy to judge our actions on the yardstick of professionalism by drawing up a list of top ten markers. If you're looking for radical career solutions or fiery concepts in management, you're not going to find them here. What you will find is a practical, comprehensive handbook advising and guiding you on how to be a true professional. Like old wine in a new bottle, The Professional serves up time-tested values and truths packaged to cater to today’s world. Excerpts from The Responsibility of Dissent: “The entire board of directors that consisted of several independent directors of international standing simply agreed to a completely unrelated business acquisition with an interested party. Who were these men and women around the table who consented to one of the least transparent deal in Indian corporate history? What on their minds when they raised their hands and said, ‘Aye’?… “Eminent people all, but they individually and collectively failed the shareholders, 53,000 employees and their families, and the entire industry by their bizarre approval of the deal... “But the focus of the Satyam falsehood is not Ramalinga Raju. Your focus should be on the professionals who knew all along that the company was taking one wrong step after the other but chose to go along and earn their salaries and bonuses. These people were failing the unwritten code of conduct for any professional – the responsibility of dissent.” About the author: Subroto Bagchi is the vice chairman and co-founder of MindTree Ltd. Till 2008, Subroto was its Chief Operating Officer, a role he stepped down from to become its Gardener. His work involves co-innovating with MindTree’s customers, tending the top 100 minds in the organisation and serving its fifty communities of practice. He is also chairman of MindTree’s Innovation Council. His previous books, The High-Performance Entrepreneur and Go KissThe World were bestsellers and received critical acclaim. The Professional’s handbook: The table below ranks the top ten attributes of a professional and non-professional conduct Professional Non-professional Integrity Missing a deadline Commitment and ownership Non-escalation of issues on time Action orientation and goal seeking Non-disclosure Continuous learning Not respecting privacy of information Professional knowledge/skills Not respecting ‘need to know’ Communication Plagiarism Planning, organising and punctuality Passing on the blame Quality of work Overstating qualifications and experience A positive attitude, approachability, responsiveness Mindless job hopping Being an inspiring reference to others; thought and leadership Unsuitable appearance

Susan Boyle - epitomising inspiration!

Every once in a while, nature provides us with a massively uplifting moment that makes us realise there does exist a supernatural force that controls this world.

One such moment for me was the performance of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent 2009. I am sure many of you have already heard of her and watched the video but I nevertheless feel compelled to write something on this. (See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY)

Time and again there have been 'born-geniuses' who have had humble beginnings, some have been shunned initially; but they later gave the world ample proof of their supreme talent. Albert Einstein, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan are a few who readily come to mind. Each of them was thought unfit for their profession but evenutally made it big in the same field and have had an ever-lasting impact on people's lives.

Einstein was thought to be a lunatic because of the unheard of theories that he propounded. Today, many of his theories prove to be the cornerstone for many more theories that we now believe in a jiffy. Tendulkar was thought to be tiny and weak to be a fast bowler at the MRF pace foundation. He did not make it as a fast bowler, but the world got a prodigy, who has given nightmares to bowlers across the world. Amitabh's voice was thought to be too deep and he was thus rejected from All India Radio. That very baritone voice now echoes in our ears through his hundreds of movies. SRK was intially thought to be a small time actor who wouldn't last in the industry beyond a couple of second-grade movies. He has been a prolific actor and today is one of the biggest brands in India.

47-year old Susan Boyle is well on her way to becoming another such celebrity. I was awestruck with her singing and it was truly a jaw-dropping performance. Probably flawless and could have been a one-take recording if she had sung it in a studio. And the choice of the song - I dreamed a dream, from Les Miserables - was poignant considering her background. The video shows the faces in the crowd who seem to pooh-pooh at the very sight of Ms Boyle. But at the moment she begins her mesmerising performance, those very faces turn red with embarrassment.

Imagine being in that position, where you have been written off before you can even begin to make an impression. And then imagine those very judgmental faces when they look at you with amazement of having achieved what they thought you never could. Imagine the unbelievable sense of pride that fills your heart because you gave it back in such a dignified manner! Ah, what I would give to get that feeling!

To find the world rooting for your victory after such an extraordinary performance is a feeling that is beyond words. A truly inspirational moment for me. Reminds us not to judge the book by its cover. Very pertinent today since many of us believe that ultimately it all 'Boyles' down to image.

All in all, it ain't over till the fat lady sings! (sic)

The television interview

I recently stumbled upon a story that made me think about the multifariousness of human thought. One man's meat is another man's poison; one man's loss is another man's gain; and other such idioms kept entering my head. 

These phrases tell us that every person can look at the same situation in different light. Here is a small story on the same lines. Read on:

This story is about an elderly lady in Arkansas. The state voted to increase welfare payments to the indigent. Hoping for a tearjerker story, a television interviewer went into the backhills where many welfare recipients lived.

The old woman he chose to interview lived in a one-room shack: draughty in winter; stifling in summer. Her bed was made of a few rough planks nailed together, with a pine needle mattress. A couple of thin blankets, and a fireplace, did little to protect her from the cold. Her furniture, a table and two chairs, were fashioned from the same rough wood as her bed. Some shelves held a few cans of food from the general store, a three-mile walk down the road. Several jars of preserves and a few squash completed her larder. She had no refrigerator or freezer. The fireplace provided heat for cooking. With no phone or television, her only connection with the outside world was an old radio that pulled in two or three local stations on a good day.

The old woman had one convenience: running water. A crystal clear stream gurgled a short distance behind her home. A small garden near her back door provided fresh vegetables during the summer, and some squash and turnips for the winter. A tidy flower garden brightened the front of her house.

The television crew arrived and set up their big expensive cameras. Their mobile station broadcast pictures of the woman and the place she called home. Eventually, the interviewer asked the old woman, "If the government gave you $200 more each month, what would you do with it?"

Without hesitation, the woman replied, "I'd give it to the poor."

Don't worry...be happy!

We often find ourselves not in the chirpiest of moods. A colleague pissed you off, or a close friend said something they shouldn't have; you thought of some old painful times or are super bored or probably just got off the wrong side of the bed - whatever it may be, we always have a reason to be unhappy.

But it comes to being happy we need to find a reason to be so. Most people would rather be certain they are miserable, than risk being happy. Strange, isn't it? We are so lost in mindless pursuits of materialistic pleasures that we believe will make us happy in the long run, that we tend to forget to enjoy small things and be happy every single moment of our lives.

We've all had this quandary of not knowing how to be happy. The trick however lies in getting out of that unhappy zone as quickly as possible and how you choose to alter your state of mind. It's not an easy thing to do, however that is not reason enough to stop trying be happy. Sooner, rather than later, it is bound to be part of your system, and I am sure you won't stay low for long. Your ability to bounce back will increase manifold and nothing ever can wipe that smile off your face. Be sure, it will wipe that frown off your face in double quick time!

The obvious thing to do is to move away and/or divert yourself from the thing that pulls you down. And for that you need to know the things that make you happy. Here are a few things you can do to get out of the rut. One or a combination of these definitely helps me.

• Sing songs or listen to music that brings a smile to my face, Music almost always calms me and rarely do I need to do anything else.
  
• Watch something light and funny. Even if I have seen a movie or a sitcom many times, I watch it again. It is almost certain to cheer me up. Watching something light helps smoothen frayed nerves.
  
• Play some online games or watch a cricket match on Neo sports or Star cricket despite having seen it 14,500 times before.
  
• Talk to someone who usually makes you feel better, but preferably don't talk about the things that you are unhappy about. Staying away from the topic helps. It doesn't mean you are running away from something, but it is better to take a breather and then relook at your issues with a fresher and calmer mind.
  
• Take a walk, but only if you are able to keep a blank mind. Difficult to do, but if you can, this is worth its weight in gold.
  
• Call someone who I haven't spoken in long and just catch up.
  
• Reminisce about the days I spent playing with my friends and the old matches and the fun and frolic and the stupid awkward moments.
  

These are just a few of the things I do. What makes you happy could be similar or vastly different from mine. The important thing is to know what can make you happy at the worst of times.

Being low and unhappy is easy; being happy is not. You might think all this is easier said than done; but remember – nothing in this world that is worth having comes easy!

Once you know what makes you happy, force yourself to do it as much as possible. Slowly but surely you will be habituated to being happy and you'll realise how you are happy and cheerful more often than not.

Happiness is a state of mind; just as all emotions are. Happiness is not a destination but a method of life. Get into the habit of being happy and make your world a better place to be in.

'Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go. - Oscar Wilde'

More blots on the country...

Three news items today have compelled me to write this post:

• The Mangalore pub attack by Sri Ram Sene
• The Nashik school attack by MNS
• Sanjay Raut's bail
  

I was flabbergasted with the scenes of Sri Ram Sene activists felling blows on women and throwing them around. Yes, one guy actually flung a woman a few feet away. I now know what it feels when one's blood boils. Each of these incidents are utterly deplorable and are a blot on democracy. These parties seem to have forgotten that their primary duty is towards the masses and not use them as puppets in order to gain political mileage. It is a sad state of affairs that politicos (I am deliberately not calling them leaders) seem to enjoy every bit of publicity they get, even if it is negative.

Raj Thackeray is an apt example of one who gloats in this brand of publicity!

Whether in jail or on bail, we know Raj, your antics will never cease. Your public image just nosedived in the quicksand you already were in, when your folks beat up students, teachers and parents because they celebrated Republic day by singing Bhojpuri songs. How dare they? Do they not know that 15th August and 26th January are mere public holidays and not dates that celebrate India's independence and her sovereignty? You have shown the world how the MNS man (I don't mean mankind here, but the male species only) is an animal, not social but savage. It is absolutely despicable that you choose to hide your face and not come out in the public and condemn these acts. Oh, sorry I forgot! You are the mastermind behind this, so how can you venture out now! Had this happened to Maharashtrians anywhere else in the world, you would have raised a hue and cry and made it seem like the whole of India and the Maharashtrian culture were under threat by religious and political outfits. Just in case you did not realise, Nashik is in Maharastra, with a large Marathi speaking population. Aathvan aali tumhala?

We know you will soon show us your face during your inflammatory speeches just before the polls. Just so you know, Mumbai, Maharashtra and India has a larger educated mass than when your uncle brandished his brand of politics. He may have succeeded to a certain extent and achieved his ulterior motives, but it is foolish that you thought that the same strategy can be adopted to gain a political stronghold in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Now with the nephew making headlines, is the uncle going to sit back and watch? Obviously not! His party MP, Sanjay Raut ensured Balasaheb and his party weren't left out of the game. Even so, I was shocked to hear Sanjay Raut bellow, "Mumbai is ruled by Shiv Sena and our orders HAVE TO BE OBEYED." My immediate reaction was, '#*@*#*@&#, tere baap ka raaj hai kya?' He adds that their agitation will continue in the same vein. Thanks Mr Raut, for the forewarning. We will continue to show you our heinie's so that you can whip us for your merriment. How the hell do such swines get bail? How come non-baillable warrants are never issued against politicians? And if is issued, these buggers somehow get out within a day or two.

I urge readers of this post and news channels like NDTV, CNN-IBN, Star News and the other mighty media persons to cover these events and enlighten masses with the same intensity that they possessed while covering the Mumbai attacks. This is yet another attack on our country - by these internal terrorists who masquerade as politicos. I hope the media uses its reach to highlight the atrocities of these fascist groups. Aaj Tak and India TV have spoken a lot to terrorists and made news items of aliens abducting cows. I think it is time to show some of the true power that the fourth estate is known for.

Isn't it high time we ban such parties who are a bloody disgrace to the very values and ethos of a free country like ours? I am beginning to get tired of this tyranny and my threshold is fast approaching. I have restrained myself with the choice of words in this post, and I still can't seem to show my anger and disgust enough.

I strongly harbour thoughts of forming a politcal party, whose leaders will uphold the responsibilities of an ideal party - one that exists to serve the country and not use her like a prostitute!

Saina vs Sania

My first post of 2009 had to be on Indian sports. With 2008 being a golden year for Indian sports, I thought this was the best topic to write on. The title would have given it away that I am comparing two sportspersons - the young and highly talented Hyderabadi girls, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza.

Saina Nehwal, the younger of the two, was born on 17th March 1990 in the city of the Nizams. Currently, she is badminton's world number 10. She is the reigning national junior champion and is following the footsteps of her coach Pullela Gopichand, yet another illustrious son of India. In 2008, she won the World Junior Badminton Championship. Saina is the only Indian woman to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics (in the 2008 edition). She is also a Dronacharya award winner has also been named as the most promising player in 2008.

Sania Mirza, born on 15th November 1986 in Mumbai, spent her

 growing years in Hyderabad, just like Saina. She won the 2003 Wimbledon girls' doubles championship. 2007 was her best year, with her finishing 8th in the Australian Open singles. She fared better in the doubles (partnering Mahesh Bhupati) and mixed doubles (partnering Bethanie Mattek-Sands), reaching the quarters in both the events. In 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA championship. A recipient of the Arjuna award, Sania has been out of action in the recent times due to injury. Her rapid ascent to the top 50 in the tennis world gave her instant stardom. But her slump thereafter and injury has led her to remain off the court until the recent Australian Open, where she has lost in the second round of the singles event.

Now you wonder what led me to write this post. In a recent interview, the 18-year old Saina said that she currently is working towards being in the top 10 in the world by the end of 2009. Sania on the other hand, who has flattered to deceive seems scratchy and a fair distance from regaining the glory that she was once showered with. Circa 2006, Sania claimed that she will get into the top 20 in the next two years. Poor form coupled with an injury has hindered her progress.

Many sportsperson suffer for stress related injuries and the healing process takes considerable time. But those who have taken this time off their favourite sport and ensured their 100% fitness have come back stronger, fitter and better at their game. Zaheer Khan is a perfect example.

Initial success has to be backed by consistent performance. To sustain that performance, one needs to have the attitude of Arjuna, who could only see the eye of the bird. He was an  unparalleled archer and this he became by practice, and practice alone. Winning is a habit and it comes only with hard work and dedication. A Sachin Tendulkar or a Brian Lara did not become great players by just stating their goals.

I definitely see Saina working towards her goal, mainly because she seems intent only on playing her sport and not on featuring in newspapers and magazines as another celebrity. Sania, on the other hand, is usually visible in social and glamour dos than on the court. Even when she was injury-free, she made more headlines off the court than on it. The controversy of a muslim wearing a skirt and showing her legs was surely not her problem as much as it was that of the orthodoxy in the community. But her multiple losses after being touted as a world-beater was very much her own doing. Lack of intent and preparedness and probably a touch of overconfidence has brought about her to this downslide.

Being romantically linked with cricketers and models has not helped her in any way, and thankfully, Saina seems to be out of that net for now. If only the media spares her long enough to ensure she is able to concentrate on her sport, I am sure she will achieve the heights she has set for herself.

My angst is against those sportspersons who think they are greater than the game. Every sport, as those who have played at any level will know, has it's own way of bringing you crashing down to the ground, the moment you think you are the ultimate! Both the girls need to keep this in mind and not get overwhelmed with the eye of the media on them.

Play your sport well, practice hard and play hard. Once the world notices that you are a fighter, irrespective of you losing a game, you will win respect. That is what a sportsperson should play for. Respect, which ofcourse will grow if you win consistently, but we know that isn't a cakewalk, especially in global sports. An Australia did not dominate cricket forever. It's hard work through the 80s and 90s made it a top team for almost two decades. Michael Jordan did not become a hero overnight. Roger Federer did not have a two-year winning streak because of good luck. Dedication, hard work and single mindedness only pays! Sania could do well to concentrate only on tennis for the next few years in her life. A sportsperson's career is short-lived. They have to achieve a lot in very little time. There is time after it for everything else.

An interesting fact that I came across while I was looking for photographs of Sania and Saina to put on this post. I came across Saina's pictures, most of which were of her playing badminton. No glamour, no social dos, just plain, sweaty, in-action pictures. Pictures of Sania, on the other hand,  were mainly glamour shots, or shots on the court, which did not focus on her play as much as it did on her skirt and other features.

Yes, I would blame the media more than I would blame Sania for this, but there is never smoke without fire. Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, both, infinitely clicked more than Sania, definitely were known more for their game than for their glamour and glamourous they both were.

Saina, it would be great if you continue to maintain your poise and win more glory and fame through your sport. Sania, I wish you do the same and win many more tournaments for India and regain our respect and love. And incase you forgot, your Russian clone Anna Kournikova - never won a major title in her short tennis career! 

Now is the time...to act!

It has been over a month since the Bombay attacks, and apart from increased pressure on Pakistan, a few PILs and some candle light marches nothing has changed.

 Well, that is not entirely correct. Some things have changed. People have moved on, expectedly. I obviously did not expect people to mope about this and not earn their daily bread. While we can, we have to catch our evening trains from VT station to get back home, or grab a beer at Leopold's. The Taj and the Trident have opened their doors to customers and people have yet again begun talking about the solidarity of the city and its ability to bounce back.

However, I am still anguished. I don't like this nonchalance. The new mantra - getting back to normal life is our answer to terrorism - is the poorest excuse I've known for us being unable to do anything significant.

Oh please!!! Like the terrorists will stop because of this! Do we honestly think they are going to feel it’s a waste of their time because Bombay was back on her feet in no time? Let us not be under any false notion that only Bombay has this ability!!

New York and London were back on their feet very quickly too. None of these cities can afford to sit on their bottoms and whimper. They are global financial hubs and world economy will plummet further if they did. So let's, for God's sake, stop producing such statements to hide our incapability and accept that we still have not done anything of significance to prevent the next attack.

What the US did post 9/11 is something that we need to do and in double quick time. We were and still are sitting ducks. We need to ensure that we have sufficient multi layered checks at different points of entry to all cities. Yes, I do understand that it is probably impossible to have a foolproof plan, but the least we can do is ensure strong vigilance and not provide easy access to these lowbred.

We need to fast develop a homeland security strategy. Indian technocrats need to fast update their skills and formulate a bird's eye-view level strategy and then zoom in to different levels, identify the issues and formulate strategies based on that. These could well form the cornerstone of the ground level operational strategies that was so found wanting during the recent attacks.

We need to develop a two-pronged approach - development and security. One cannot sustain without the other and we all know how developed we are. What development, you may ask - education, basic amenities, critical infrastructure, etc. We have a lot to do even now and the ever-expanding population is no help in this anyway. We need to up the ante on our investment in our people, our public health and education.

India needs to have stronger and real-time information sharing, quick decision making powers, no bureaucracy and redo our existing strategies. Having an NSG platoon in each of the metros in not a solution. They cannot restrict terrorism but merely counter it. A counterterrorism initiative needs to be a synergy between a various intelligence agencies.

Work with the international community - something we haven't done much of over the last few years. Well, we aren't entirely to be blamed in this regard, thanks to the chaotic neighbours we have around us. We need to strengthen relations beyond this region and the information and knowledge shared with these countries can only help us manifold. Terrorism is not just a national threat, but also a global one.

India needs to set higher standards for herself. Why? Because she needs to! We need to create postgraduate level courses in emergency preparedness. Right now, we can probably send some bright minds to other countries to learn and implement what they have from their experiences. We can then put it in a learning format for students in India and train them. Combat training is not the only thing.

It is not that the US is not a threat anymore post 9/11. It is very much a threat, but they are better prepared. India's regression variable is corruption. We need stronger systems and quick punitive action against those implicated.

The key word is speed - speed in thought, in action and implementation. We virtually have our backs to the wall and the only way from here is forward.

We have it in us to be a champion country. I end this post with the words of Vince Lombardi, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious!"

Let us work our hearts out, please!!