Crazy: IIM-B student turns down big bucks for music

Chasing your heart's dream and having a corporate career can be tough. But this student of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, may succeed in having the best of both worlds.

Manasi Prasad, second-year PGDM student at IIM-B, let go of an opportunity to work in New York with Goldman Sachs for a handsome salary, simply because she wanted to pursue her first passion music.

"It was a difficult decision to send that email rejecting the offer. People called me crazy to give up an offer to work in New York. But ultimately my happiness was important for me," the 25-year-old told TOI on Thursday.

She bagged the job offer during her summer placements and spent two-and-half months in NY. "It was a fantastic experience for me. It was challenging to be working for one of the best banks in the world. But then, I had to get back. If I want to be a musician, I cannot do that in New York.

I must be in India. And what better place than Bangalore to have a corporate career and live in a place with vibrant art?" Manasi said. Naturally. Manasi was just four-and-half years old when she began learning music.

"Music is in my family. My mother is my first guru. I have been performing for the last 10 years, both in India and abroad," she said. An engineering graduate from BMS college of Engineering, Manasi grew up in Gulf and completed her Classes X and XII in Singapore.

"That's when I decided I will live in India only." Denying that the salary offered by Goldman Sachs was Rs 1 crore, Manasi said, "It was a substantial package. I have not mentioned any figures. I will sit for placements and take up a job in Bangalore."

And Manasi has charted her career path. "My short term goal is to juggle between the corporate world and my music. But in the long run, I want to use my management skills and set up an institute like IIM for music. My experience in the corporate world will help me do that, which is why I want to work for sometime," she said.

Excerpt from Times of India

Cars: My Passion

iPods set the tempo in currency

Those who have studied Finance might be aware of this index PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) index. The price of a macdonald's burger is also used as PPP index known as Big Mac Index . Now, As a sign of the global reach of the iPod, an Australian bank has opted to use the music player as a benchmark to track currency values worldwide.
Great going Apple ipod! keep it up!

Freedom from studies n exams! Hurray! I passed MBA

Alhumdulillah, by the grace of Allah SWT, the almighty, the All-knowing, I have completed MBA in Information Technology from Symbiosis, Pune.
After completing B.E. and working for a few years, it was not that easy grabbing the books, spending nights before exams (yeah, sometimes i spent the whole nite studying, poor me!). But the course at Symbiosis was interesting, otherwise it wud be like doing MBA just for the heck of it.
Currently, I am doing Internship at Sonata Software, Bangalore. (www.sonata-software.com) After my internship I will join as Senior Systems Analyst.
I have joined the Business Intelligence division. I am working on Microsoft SQL server 2005 . My work involves studying the client's requirements and suggesting the rite solution. For suggesting a solution, one needs to know bout the technology himself. So, currently dirtying my hands on BI tools and other concepts. Long way to go, but I like to learn new n interesting things and I am a quick learner too.
Any one interested in BI can share his/her knowledge and views with me at mohdabdulaleem.q@sonata-software.com or comment on my blog.

Saudi Gets Its First Woman Pilot

Keeping in line with the reforms sweeping Saudi Arabia, the kingdom will soon see its first woman pilot taking over the skies.
Capt. Hanadi Zakariya Hindi will begin her flying stint with one of the jets belonging to Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, founder and chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, later this year as soon as she completes her advance pilot proficiency training programme.
Though this is a path-breaking achievement for the 26-year-old first accredited female Saudi pilot, she will still need to be driven by a male chauffeur to the airport, the Arab News said. Women are still not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.
“I am busy building my flying hours and will be attending a shortterm course to equip myself with more intimate knowledge of the jet owned by Prince Alwaleed,” Hindi said.
Hindi, who wears the hijab along with her pilot’s epaulets and trousers, was the only woman in her flighttraining course in Jordan in 2004. But, she said, one of her trainers, Lena Al-Rabdi, was an Arab woman.

Dada Returns!!

Sourav Ganguly staged a comeback.

Dada is back in the one day squad.

gr8 going dada, I knew u will cme bak one day!

and its just a matter of time u will be the captain of Indian Team.

All the best.

IBM Tops List Of Patent Recipients In 2006

For the fourteenth year in a row, computer maker and tech services giant IBM is the U.S.' top patent holder, according to a list released Thursday by the patent office.
IBM received 3,651 patents in 2006, easily surpassing second place finisher Samsung Electronics, which received 2,453. Optics and electronics manufacturer Canon was listed in third place, with 2,378 patents, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
More than half of the companies on the list are Japanese, with Matsushita, Sony, Hitachi, and Toshiba joining compatriots Canon and Samsung in the top ten. IT companies are also well represented, with Hewlett Packard, Intel and Micron Technology finishing 5th, 6th and 10th, respectively.
IBM has long been the nation's top patent generator, but has drawn heat from individual inventors and small companies for frequently patenting what critics say are routine innovations. IBM, however, is taking a number of

steps to place more of its research into the public domain. A year ago, the company offered up a host of patents -- from methods for encrypting data to network-monitoring techniques -- free of charge for use by open-source software developers.
Under the plan, IBM contributed 500 patents to what it hopes will become an industry-wide "patent commons," from which commercial and private developers can mine commonly used code and programming techniques. In December, IBM unveiled the Open Collaborative Research Program. Under the program, results from some work undertaken jointly by IBM scientists, university professors, and students will be released as open-source software code. Subsequent intellectual property based on the research also will be open sourced or made available royalty free. Universities participating in the program include Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Rutgers, and UC Berkeley.
On Thursday, IBM announced plans to host an online "Inventors Forum" to let researchers debate ways in which the patent system can be improved. The forum is scheduled to launch in the second quarter, and IBM says it has reached out to small- and mid-sized businesses to encourage their participation.

Apple launches new iphone

iPhone combines three products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device.

iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone.

for more details check out: http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/the-apple-iphone/

Warren Buffet's four Rules

Warren's investing theories have been talked about ad nauseum by almost every business/finance writer and is a cottage industry all by itself.
But one he finds closest to reflecting his views is a book written by Larry Cunningham - 'The Essays of Warren Buffett - Lessons for Corporate America' is required reading in a one of a kind course start at the University of Missouri School of Business.
The course is called Investment Strategies of Warren Buffett. It turns up Buffett is hot on campus too.
The Buffett playbook is taught, analysed and written about but it is best summed up like this.

Number one - Don't lose the money
Number two - don't forget rule number 1!
Number three - look for unique companies that are hard to replicate - he calls that a moat around the business.
Number four - he talks about the circle of competence, which means in simple English, do what you know.

Annoying colleagues at your workplace?

Very useful article on rediff.com also available on the following link:

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/dec/26coll.htm

With most of us spending 10-14 hours at work everyday, our workplaces have become our second homes. As a result, even the slightest of hindrances here tend to blow up into vexing issues, particularly if they are not tackled in time. Very often, these issues relate to our colleagues' behaviour. It can get a little awkward when it come to addressing some of these directly, as a lot of them concern subtle aspects of behaviour that are difficult to articulate.
Let's take a look at some of the most annoying aspects of workplace behaviour and what we can do about them.

Groupism
This is by far the most annoying aspect of a workplace.
"It can absolutely turn you off," says Revathi M, assistant manager -- sales, with an IT security company. "It takes a heavy toll on productivity because, if you don't belong in a certain group, you tend to feel left out. Then, you don't enjoy going to work anymore."
The snide remarks and covert glances that result from groupism are not only thoroughly unprofessional, they can also result in emotional hurt which is often difficult to express. It eventually leads to frustration and may result in people leaving their jobs.

Casual chatter
"The most irritating thing at the workplace is groups of women chatting endlessly about clothes, cosmetics and jewellery. Some of them even trade in these items at work. I think it's really unprofessional," says Purnima Gupta, a teacher at a reputed Mumbai school.
While casual conversations are fine when one wants to make small talk, one needs to realise extended chatter at the workplace disturbs other people. It also looks unprofessional.

Hypocrisy
This is widely touted as being omnipresent and is universally detested.
Sugary sweet behaviour in front of a person and backstabbing comments behind their back are known to prevail in virtually every kind of human interaction. The natural fallout of hypocrisy at the workplace is lack of trust, which greatly affects work relationships and productivity.

Discrimination
"When we are angry with something our boss does, we try hard to control our emotions and behave in a subdued manner. However, if a peon goofs up even slightly, a lot of us don't think twice before yelling at him. Is this justified?" wonders Revathi.
Dignity of labour and respect for all kinds of work is a prerequisite for a healthy work environment. We must appreciate that people at all levels provide value with whatever work they do. It can be discouraging if they are not treated with dignity, considering they work to the best of their ability, given individual constraints.

Messy cubicle partners
Another trait that can really upset people is messy surroundings. Eating at the workstation and dropping tidbits of food, or having heaps of papers and files that spill over to your neighbours' desks can be very bothersome.
A lot of people are fussy about cleanliness and are used to a certain standard of hygiene around them. If those standards are not met at the workplace, it can be very demotivating.

Undue inquisitiveness
While it is common for colleagues to turn into good friends over time, a certain level of formality is expected while one is at work. When this formality is breached, not everyone may take it well.
"When colleagues are unduly concerned about where I went the previous evening, with whom, why, etc, I really feel like telling them it is none of their business. If I wish to share personal thoughts with someone at the workplace, I need to be comfortable with that person. It has to be voluntary. The concept of personal space and privacy is rather alien to our culture," observes Purnima.

Taking credit
It is but natural that we want to be appreciated for the work we do. However, since most of the work we do in an organisation is team effort, it is important credit is accordingly shared.
"When it comes to getting work done, the higher-ups often give pep talks on how team work is important. However, when the results come in, each individual and department wants the credit. Typically, in any organisation, the frontline sales people take away the appreciation. The back-end operations group is conveniently forgotten, even though they contribute significantly to the success. This can be extremely frustrating for the people who have worked behind the scenes," says Revathi.

Talking loudly
"I wish some people had silencers fitted into their throats!" says Purnima exasperatedly. "At work, one must realise formal, subdued behaviour is called for. Etiquette demands we keep our voice low so others are not disturbed. The most annoying bit is when people excitedly almost yell over their phones for no reason. I'm sure it's equally annoying for the person at the other end of the line."
Talking loudly is often associated with rustic behaviour that lacks sophistication. It is advisable we keep our tone and pitch low when we are around colleagues.

Tackling annoying behaviour
It is indeed difficult to keep your cool and focus on productivity when behavioural factors affect performance at work. But it is necessary to be assertive if one has to solve the problem.
Of course, assertiveness is different from being accusatory. Assertiveness is all about talking in a factual manner without being judgmental. It involves conveying facts and their possible repercussions without getting emotional, or rude, in the process. Though it is easier said than done, professionalism demands one remain objective while dealing with such situations.
At the organisational level, the HR department -- and managers and supervisors as welll -- need to have a keen eye for observing team dynamics. Active intervention and counselling go a long way in smoothing ruffled feathers.

Avoiding annoying behaviour
As individuals, there are a few things that may help us avoid being in the bad books of our colleagues:

Avoid backbiting
At the workplace, never discuss a person in his/ her absence. This simple rule goes a long way in maintaining a healthy environment.

Seek feedback
If you think a colleague has been shying away from you for a while, casually enquire to find out if your behaviour has upset him/ her. If that is the case, patiently listen to your colleague's feelings without getting defensive. Once the person has opened up, it can be easier to resolve the issue.

Respect everyone
Imagine the situation if the entire housekeeping staff goes on strike. We often take a lot of people for granted simply because they may not demand attention. But that does not mean their work is any less important.

Observe formality
A lot of your colleagues may become good friends over time. However, work ethics dictate you remain sensitive to the feelings of everyone at the workplace. Hence, over-friendly behaviour ought to be avoided.

Alhumdulillah, It wz my elder brother's wedding (24 Dec 2006) n I am very happy for him.

May Allah (SWT) give him health, barkat.

I wish him and my bhabhi a happy married life.

Link for Business Plan by Deloitte

http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/DI_writing%20business%20plan.pdf

My Crush

I saw her on tv in the serial kahi to hoga on starplus. She is popularly known as kashish. Her real name is Aamna Shareef. She is a real beauty.

All the best 'Prince'

You have done it before and You can do it this time too. You have worked hard to come back now show what you are capable of. My best wishes are with the prince of calcutta!

Who is a Consultant?

A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in an Armani suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie (Corb), leans out the window and asks the shepherd, “If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?”

The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, “Sure. Why not?” The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his AT&T cell phone, surfs to a NASA page on the internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resoluti on photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, “You have exactly 1586 sheep.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep.” says the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car. Then the shepherd says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep? “

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not?”

“You’re a consultant.” says the shepherd.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”

“No guessing required.” answered the shepherd. “You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked; and you don’t know crap about my business. . . ” … Now give me back my dog.”

I love Biryani!!

mmmmmh mouth watering, really tempting...
I am in hyderabad for Eid/diwali vacation. Njoyin Hyderabadi delicacies esp. Biryani and Haleem.

I just don't want to forget this..

It is said that the gaps between our fingers are made so that the person who is made for us can one day fill those by holding your hand. I just don't want to forget this..

Importance of productive working atmosphere

Recently, I worked on two assignments. I was a part of a six member team. It was a great learning experience.

Here is a list of Do's and Don’ts which I have learned during this experience.

Do's

1. Every team member should give 100%.
(I was not able to give much time as I was doing a part-time job, but I worked hard to complete my tasks on time.)

2. Always keep in mind that we have to meet the deadline, in this way we will be focused.

3. Check the status of the work on daily basis. If daily milestones are not met, spend some extra time and complete the task.

4. Respect each member's idea.
(I am so focused on my own idea that I tend to ignore other's ideas. Henceforth, I will listen to others ideas and try to give feedback on his/her ideas)

5. Ask your team mate to review your work and give feedback.
(I have this sense of perfectness and feel that whatever I do is perfect. But since I am also a human I tend to make mistakes. Henceforth, I will ask my team mate to review my work. In this way I get feedback and also the end-product is error-free.)

Don’ts

1. Don't digress. There is lot of time for frivolous jokes, flirting, puzzles etc. after the job is done. A joke once in a while is fine but a person with an all-time jovial mood can be a project spoiler.
(I like solving puzzles, and often discuss with my colleagues. Henceforth, I will try not to discuss puzzles when I am a part of a team when there is a deadline to be met.)

2. Don't spoil the working atmosphere. You may be interested in listening songs, watching friends on ur laptop (Some even watch porn, so disgusting n cheap, don't they have self-respect), playing games on your laptop, or going out for a snack or a walk when the other team members are busy doing serious work. Firstly, if you are a serious worker, you won’t think of anything other than work and even if you want to take a break, move out silently without disturbing others.
(Sometimes, I feel like listening to a song. Henceforth, even if I feel like listening to a song, I will try to focus on my work and if I strongly feel like listening to a song, I will use earplugs to listen songs. In this way I won't disturb others.)

3. Don't shout or scream at your team member.
(Sometimes I am so pissed off when a team member is not focusing, I feel like shouting and screaming at him/her. Henceforth, I will try to control my temper. I have learned a better way to convey the message to the team member who is not concentrating. I ask his/her views about the point being discussed, in this way the team member himself feels guilty that he was not participating, and will try to avoid this in future.

Hey folks! That’s it; I hope my team mates too read this, coz this post is for them too. And I hope to be a better team member in my next assignment.

New Part-time Job

Hi all!
In my previous post I had written about an interview for a part-time job. Alhumdulillah, I got selected for this job.
I am very delighted to be a part of this startup company AASHMAM. www.aashmam.com
I will be working as a Business Development Consultant and Business Analyst.
Since this is a startup, lot of work has to be done in developing a prospect management system. This is quite challenging as well as interesting. This profile suits me as I have worked in the same position in my previous company, Bartronics. The best part is that I work from college lab. I attend classes till 3:00 pm and then start my work.

I came to know about entrepreneurship during my engineering and since that day I used to wonder how entrepreneurs work. Now, I am a part of a startup company - its very exciting.

I know I have a daunting task ahead, but those who dare to dream only succeed in life.

Will write more about my new job soon...

Memo to myself

I will never ask a person (with whom I am not that friendly) to buy me something.