Almost happy!

Armstrong cleared of 1999 doping: lawyers

Wed, 31 May 2006 14:36:09 GMT

Armstrong cleared of 1999 doping: lawyers - REUTERS

Viva La Lance!!

HP's Strategy

Thu, 18 May 2006 08:12:29 GMT

Quoted from – HP boost profits by 51%

"On Tuesday he (Mark Hurd, CEO, HP) showed progress in achieving both objectives as HP reported fiscal second-quarter profit that jumped 51 percent, largely on sales of more profitable types of PCs and printers and from stealing market share from its biggest rival in PCs. The results contrasted with a gloomy forecast last week from Dell Inc., the world's biggest PC maker."

Mark might be executing like he was built to, but this is Carly's strategy working. HP may never have been in a position to make money from PCs if volumes from Compaq were not there.

I still think, Carly got booted out for the wrong reasons. A CEO cannot execute when the board is not supportive. A leader that created the strategy should be given the opportunity and support to execute it. To dispute the fact that Carly may not have executed as well, you need to look at HP’s results for the quarter after Mark Hurd took over. It reads on similar lines as above. I guess this is continuing proof enough.

It is interesting to see Dell's ability to fight in a more mainstream market, where resellers and distribution channels need to be paid. Why is Dell even trying to look at these channels, when IBM and Compaq gave up figuring this out. They should be focusing on moving more people to a platform they own for sales, rather than try their hand at distribution channels they have beat earlier. I guess you need Dell to be back in the chair as Kevin Rollins might not respect this fully.

Sania wins, creates history at Flushing Meadows

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:17:41 GMT

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1480332,0007.htm

Viva la Lance

Sat, 27 Aug 2005 13:06:26 GMT

It is sad to see the media being used in such a spineless fight. Printing actual news is one thing, but proliferating speculation is plain immaturity at best.

I have watched Lance, live on TV for the last three Tours and seen him win. He and his team have been masters at all the ingredients - Strategy, Tactics, and Endurance - that were required to win a relentless race like Tour de France, not to speak of technology. This mastery has been evident in every one of his wins.

In fact, Lance has said so in so many words. He has told his opponents how to beat him. Asking them to train harder and understand what it takes to win the Tour. His teammates, witnesses to his brutal training practice cannot understand what drives the man. He seems to be a sucker for punishment when his opponents are enjoying a break in their training.

Any athlete would know what it takes to complete an event that lasts 20 straight days covering 2000 miles. Let alone competing to win. If you run everyday, you will know that your 20 min jog in the park on some days become pure agony. Nobody loves it all the time. Yet, some of us endure it. That is the thrill. Training for a 2000 Mile cycle race over the mountains?

Tour de France, can be considered a sport all by itself.

This race cannot be won with endurance alone. The age of a majority of the winners stands mute testimony to this fact. One needs to think, plan, know when to push, when to take it easy, when to punish others, when to destroy their morale. Endurance aside, maturity delivers the other ingredients. Endurance plays a complimentary role in this equation. Anyone that has watched Lance over the years knows he excels in all three areas. He has dictated in public what he will do before a stage and then gone on to achieve it. He has publicly stated “what will win the race” in each race before it starts and he has been proven right every time. It was not an overconfident man, but a person who knew with certainty the terrain, the route, the conditions, and the capabilities of other competitors that made these comments. If you have watched these moments, you will not forget them.

Cheaters have always challenged the spirit of competitive sport. However, that does not mean armchair athletes playing journalists and spectators pass arbitrary or unilateral decisions on one persons creditability. In a democratic system, with a mature judiciary, even a murderer has the right to a fair trial. Give him one. You can only question the motives and the maturity of people that air their views without providing for a fair trial.

The latest test results reported by L'Equipe, have been conducted under whose supervision?
What were the protocols used and complied with?
How can you prove to me the samples were not contaminated?
Why use 1999 sample, when newer samples were available?
Why have only 6 of the 17 samples returned positive?
Why are the other 11 samples negative?
What are the accuracies of these tests and the test processes?
These are new tests, how many researchers believe these tests are foolproof?

If the media does not ask these questions nor answer them but print speculative “opinions” and “analysis” of so called experts and commentators who may have not even seen who Lance was on the Tour, they only pander to their self serving profitability needs. These people will sell their mothers, for readership.

You cannot blame Lance for the hypocrisy of others that at first denied the positive doping results and then broke down. That same scale cannot measure everyone. Give him a fair chance. The person more than anybody else deserves the right to be treated an innocent until unequivocally proven guilty. Until then Viva La Lance!

More on HP

Thu, 18 Aug 2005 06:29:13 GMT

Hewlett-Packard, in its third fiscal quarter, earned $73 million (3 cents per share) versus $586 million (19 cents per share) a year ago, although the figure was drastically affected by a one-time tax adjustment, officials said. Revenue was $20.8 billion, versus $18.89 billion last year. HP's PC business was stable, the imaging/printing group saw profits fall but revenues grow, and the storage/servers division grew all around and made a profit, unlike last year. Services grew as well. Following recent layoffs, CEO Mark Hurd said he's still evaluating his next moves.

Me thinks this is still Fiorina's work that is paying off. Mark has not made many moves apart from a couple of layoffs. So HP may be sharper in getting things done now. But apart from that it is the Enterprise business that is working well with a massive 20% increase in revenues. PC is stable that is quite a achievement considering the market conditions.

I think this trend will run for a few more quarters before, new initiatives and thinking will be needed. So cheers to Carly!

516I0043

Sun, 10 Jul 2005 11:19:22 GMT

516I0043
Originally uploaded by beteljues.

Dad?

Wed, 18 May 2005 20:34:04 GMT

As alwasy I am cocky in the face of reponsibility!
God Save me.

Darwin was wrong!

Wed, 18 May 2005 20:31:04 GMT

There were exceptions!

Survival of the fittest was close.

But it should be "survival of the smartest……
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By association!"

I am going to be dad!

I want tamperproof meters on all Autos in Bangalore

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 11:45:47 GMT

I am sure most of us that use auto’s in India would have had a feeling of being cheated due to faulty or tampered meters. I had this experience the other day that was unbelievable.

Taking a auto to work daily has given me an idea how much it usually costs and the distance from home to office and back.

The other day late in the night about 11.00 pm or so, going back home a friend dropped me to an auto stand, which was a good kilometer and a half from office. At the stand the usual bickering ensued and they found a guy that lived in my locality and asked him to take the fare. This guy demanded twice the meter. I was not sure if they were supposed to charge twice the money at 11.00 pm, and anyways this guy was headed where I was I told him I will give him one and a half times the fare. We quickly and finally settled at Rs. 20.00 more than one and half times the fare, which was almost what he, had asked for initially.

By the end of the journey I realized this guys meter was tampered with and the fare showed about 30% more than what is normal. Before paying I just mentioned it to him in the passing. This guy just took off on me and started yelling. I said I will call the cops and complain about him. He did not believe I would do that and when I actually called the 100 number he got really quite.

As I was explaining to the cop at the other end of the line, this is what I got to hear;

Me: Hello, I have a problem with an auto guy, he is charging me more.
Cop: Why don’t you just pay him whatever he wants and go!
Me: But he is cheating his meter is very wrong…
Cop: (Rudely) how do you know?
Me: I know because I travel …..
Cop: (Cutting me off) what are you a meter doctor or what?

At this stage I hung up and this had given the auto guy a new fillip. The auto guy had heard everything that was said. He started shouting and abusing me even more till I decided to call the Local Police Station. This time the cops were friendlier and promised to send a patrol immediately.

At this he suddenly became polite turned the meter to zero and said he does not want problems and asked to pay him what ever I thought was correct. I paid him and he scooted before the cops came.

I thanked the cops and went my way. But I was really really mad at the first response I got. Where the cop asked me if I was a Meter Doctor? All this after the local cops spend so much money advertising that we should call them in case we suspect overcharging or tampered meters.

What should I do? Complain or assume that he was just one ass among many that we have to deal with.

The meek SHALL Inherit the earth!

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 10:26:05 GMT

Went to the Mark Knopfler concert. Well, loved Dire Straits. Love his new music. He was awesome. For a musically challenged guy like me, his guitaring was beyond phenomenal. The audio quality was a big letdown though.

At the concert I overheard a conversation that is becoming a buzz in my ear and causing a lot of thought lately.

Episode One
A bunch of guys were running around the concert area in a human chain. Very obviously they were there for the fun of it and perhaps it was the thing to do. Apparently they got a little violent with a bunch of people during their run. 7 big guys against one or two guys is no match. These guys were gloating on the fun they had while pushing or beating the rest that wouldn’t give way. Some 3-4 instances of this occurred.

Folks with wife’s or Girlfriends who stood their ground and got beaten up for affirming their rights.

Episode Two
The other day I was chatting with an IT Industry veteran, among other things about the way big companies hire 1-4 years experienced people from smaller companies. Usually the hire gets no time to complete their notice period with the old company. As the offer is usually too good to pass up the young hire does not mind walking way from his current employer leaving things untied. This more than anything else, puts his / her colleagues through a burden that is unnecessary. The same guys that probably once worked as a team.

After all the usual reasons that did not quite provide a compelling answer, came a bombshell. “The biggest will do what they want. Try beating it, its survival of the fittest”

Episode Three
A couple of weeks ago, my brother got waylaid by a bunch of drunken political supporters of a small local election on the Highway to Bangalore at about 10 PM . These five guys pulled out a knife and proceeded to rob my brother and his friend of substantial amount of cash and two valuable gold and platinum chains.

The cops swung into action on receiving the complaint and as the details of the vehicle the description of the assailants was clear they were able to arrest the culprits the same night. Turns out, these guys were a son and relatives of a local panchayat leader. The father is running pillar to post to get these guys released without going to court. These guys are now pressurizing my brother and his friend to withdraw their complaint.

Behind bars and sober, the culprits and their family (which is very well to do) claim they did this for fun and can ascribe no reason at all for their behavior. Apart from robbery the act included almost stabbing my brother in the back and stomach with a fairly long knife.

In the first case it was educated people with professional responsibilities, in the second was a top management executive and in the third a bunch of hooligans that rule our nation.

In my opinion not much of a difference between these episodes. The common thread is that there is no need to fear the law or a self imposed code of conduct that respects everyone’s space and right to live in dignity. How long will this last?

I would say not long. There are not that many strong arms to go around. Once the weak rally, they will be a potent force. There will be no need to pardon the strong their sins. I guess the meek SHALL inherit the earth.

It is just a question of time, before the cup runs over.

Carly or the Board

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:20:04 GMT

My thinking is that HP first needs to decide what it wants to be. And any CEO that runs the business will need to define that. You cannot have a board interfering once the job has been handed over to someone it trusts.

Sure, the printer business is worth 90%+ of the HP valuation. But by same accounts GE Capital could see similar numbers; IBM Global Services will see similar numbers. Closer home the Tata’s and Birla’s face the same situation. These are big diverse businesses that can compare, with HP’s diverse businesses. It is a totally different ball game when you look at businesses that large and that diverse. You need many growth engines and not just one. It is another matter that most of these guys have one or at most two growth engines working for them.

What people do not seem to understand is that the growth engines of the future are built using cash flows from the not so glamorous foundations that you already have. Again, GE Cap, IBM Global Services, Microsoft Office, Project, MS Backoffice, Apple iMac, iPod, Reliance Infocomm, Finacle, Progeon, Mphasis etc. Yes you cannot ignore them.

When Lou took the top job at IBM, he was expected to cut up the company into bits and pieces. If he had done that he would have played to the gallery and IBM would have lost valuation in bits and pieces. The sum of the parts will never really account for the whole. Does anyone remember how much Aligent is worth now? You only discard businesses that are not strategically important to you. You rarely discard a highly profitable business.

My call is that Wall Street knows nuts about businesses or building them. So all the HP board has done was to play to Wall Street. Yes, the existing investors can get a big cash payout. But that is about it. The long term future of HP as a company it was, is in very serious jeopardy.

It is easy to say beat Dell. But one has to consider the ground realities of this statement. Dell does not have to pay dealers or distributors. This alone accounts for over 15-20% of your margins. Dell makes that money. Compaq sold out as it botched up its distribution network. They tried to emulate Dell but ended up antagonizing their dealer network that was driving their business. Big gamble that did not payoff. Different dynamics but the same goes for people that ask why cannot apple unbundled OS and Hardware?

The real money is in services, this is largely becoming apparent as the services business grow. The aborted PwC buyout was in that direction. Digital, has a large services business or a good foundation to grow one. That was what made it interesting to Compaq. My call - that is what Carly wanted to do too. Grow the services business (Growth engine) while depending on the printers div to manage the numbers. But unfortunately, the focus was all on the PC and server div.

I think more than Carly, the HP board screwed it up. If they wanted someone to sell the company the mandate should have been to cut and sell as against innovate and build. Time will tell but Carly paid the price.

Nothing personal but about employee dislike, I just cannot help but say this, from what I have seen, employees especially in large corps have no clue about what is happening at the corporate level and are even less clued in on running the corporation. Oh! They are good at running their divisions and their dynamics, no doubt. But till they reach a corporate VP position they usually sport myopic views.

Baazee.com CEO Arrested! In India what else could be expected?

Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:13:31 GMT

First let me declare my frustration at seeing reports of Avnish Bajaj being on the receiving end of the hospitalities heaped by the State. I feel sorry for him.

But, I do not know what else could have been expected!

As anyone that has gone to any police station seeking help in this country will testify, it is not about upholding the law or protecting the innocent, but about making a fast buck. I guess the only reason that the brilliant minds at Delhi Police arrested Bajaj was to ensure publicity and make the money. Imagine the pickings from an American company; they pay so much for their employees why can’t they give me some? What will they loose? I am not asking for much!

First, we write stupid laws, these are then argued (?) and passed by people can ask questions or make comments like:

· “Why do we need Electricity / Computers / Roads (Our bullock carts do just fine)?” – Lalloo Prasad Yadav,

· “What’s wrong with Bangalore roads they are fine” – Deve Gowda

And a plethora more, I could go on but…

Add a bunch of educated, underpaid but mostly morally bankrupt and worldly lost bureaucracy we have a potent maltov cocktail. Not dangerous but of extreme nuisance value.

This is my protest. I am not writing this so that they free Bajaj, but to add to the growing voice that says we need saner and more qualified souls to run this country. This should also be an ode to people that believe they can do something out of this country. May your tribe increase.

Every time a bribe is paid, we may have got something accomplished, but we have definitely initiated a step back in the wrong direction.

Every time we turn the other way around when a crime is committed we have encouraged it.

Every time we have put up with atrocious behavior by those in power, we make it more potent.

Who has the time?

Why are we so surprised?

Malabar Giant Squirrel

Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:39:05 GMT

Shot at Nagarahole.

Another Movie - Monster

Fri, 03 Sep 2004 09:58:25 GMT

I also saw Monster. Left me sad. Not about the tale of Arlieen, but the fact that there are so many people in the world today, those are unfortunate enough, to not be able to recognize the good from the bad. Not to be able to logically conclude what makes sense for them, what is good for them? Not to be able to get up and ask for an opinion from someone as to where they could seek help. I am sure there are a ton of institutions and organizations working to solve these exact bunch of issues. Is it just a matter of connecting these people? Or is it deeper? Something I cannot understand.

The role of Lallan in Yuva, also got me thinking in those lines. But of course Arlieen is worse.

To think of being so fortunate to have had an education that drilled into me the power of logical reasoning. To be able to recognize when one is totally off base and to be able to ask people for help, even strangers if need be, is a challenge for some.

On the other hand, the distance that Arlieen goes to, just be discovered is a tribute to her persona. So of course you may argue that, this logical reasoning has left people in a not very curious state, and accept a status quo without questioning…. But surely in their own way everybody questions reality as some one put it, so I would not be entirely convinced about that line of reasoning.

However, it is definitely sad that a lot of our fellow humans have to suffer life and go so grossly wrong to just survive.

Kill Bill(s)

Fri, 03 Sep 2004 09:45:04 GMT

I just watched Kill Bill Vol. 2 on DVD y’day. I must say it rocks.

It is vastly different from Kill Bill Vol. 1, which I loved too. I guess between the two this must be the movie (series) that I have loved the most for its style, and unique way of telling a story.

While I enjoyed the attitude, single mindedness and swordplay of Kill Bill 1, the characters and relationships were very well handled in vol. 2 without pandering to the poetry in action of Kill Bill 1. Too much of anything is bad, even if it was beautiful.

After reading a couple of interviews of QT and many a critiques from a bunch of critics I began to wonder if I missed the Kung Fu Influences in Vol. 1. Because it was always lost on me. I wonder, if the so called critics were only mouthing the sentiments of QT. Or did they have a sneak preview of Vol. 2? I doubt it. I am a pretty cynical person, and assuming that these guys actually saw Vol. 2 before they wrote about the Kung Fu influences on the movie, would be surely taking it a bit far.

But out and out classic.

Of Shiok and Dosas

Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:05:16 GMT

I am posting this stuff here because of what happened in Shiok, a couple of months ago. I have visited Shiok and enjoyed their delectable cuisine, excellent ambiance and service with friends and family. All in all, a great place to be!

If you're in Bangalore, visit Madhu's new restaurant, Shiok Far-eastern Cuisine that serves good Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Singaporean food. The restaurant is on CMH Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore.

But I guess every one of you that have been there will testify to the fact. I would like to narrate what happened when I took my “normally cynical about hotel food” Mom to Shiok on Mother’s Day. Everything we ordered was a mess, a disaster for me and my Mom, whom I had promised a good meal.

Knowing the waiters well, we all commented on the food. Generally let it be known that food just sucked that day. They came up with excuses like we have a new cook etc., no this stuff tastes like this only etc. etc.

Finally, after trying over six starters and four main courses, thoroughly disappointed with everything and profusely apologizing to mom about how this place was much better and we have never had a bad experience here etc., we asked for the bill.

The folks just refused to give us the bill! They said, you were not satisfied, so no bill. Man, now this was different. Not wanting to accept the favor, we insisted, they insisted right back! We were adamant, they adamanted back! Finally we gave up and decided that we will come back some other day and give this place another shot.

I swear, I would not have gone back to that place again after that experience. But the attitude of the folks at Shiok, made me do it.

I am glad to declare that they are back with the same good food. I have visited Shiok a number of times after that, entertained more friends and acquaintances. Things are back to being good.

Contrast this with “Dosa Camp” in Jayanagar (The one in the corner, next to Gaythri Stores). We went there one Sunday hoping to get a good breakfast. The place was dirty, busy but we prevailed, found seating, and ordered for our dosas. Over thirty minutes and still no dosas made us enquire with our waiter.

Man that was a sin, because this guy just erupted and declared “What do you think I am doing? I will get it when I get it” and rushed off! We were stunned. We had just politely asked him about our order. While we were contemplating, our next steps, this guy comes in and bangs our dosas in front of us. We were famished but decided to walk out, but since the dosas were on our table we offered to pay for them while registering our complaint with the manger that looked like an educated bloke. (Could have been the owner’s son or relative). His reaction was even more astounding; he took our money acted as if this stuff happened every second at this place. His answer was, eat it if you want, else it is alright, we have other customers.

We just walked out feeling foolish for even trying to provide the feedback, still famished.

Crows attacking people?

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 07:40:45 GMT

I knew that crows are very sociable creatures; I have seen them help other crows, communicate well and coordinate well with their own when abundant food is available. I have also seen them take on hawks, eagles and the like when they feel threatened, want to steal food or I guess when they feel like bullying other life forms.

I was amazed when two crows attacked and kept buzzing people at a park near my home. They must have had a nest or something, but these guys were just in the vicinity, and were just minding their business. Moreover this is a walking path for the people in the park and attracts high rates of traffic. I am sure the crows would have noticed this before or while building their nest. I must happen often as I have seen other guys in the park protect themselves using a branch or a bunch of leaves. Was wondering what were they upto till I saw this.

DVD's Rock. - Want wide screen TV with Surround Sound

Fri, 20 Aug 2004 08:15:19 GMT

DVD’s Rock!

I just went to symphony (among the better managed theaters in Bangalore) to book tickets for the first show of the evening. I am a little picky of where I want to sit and watch the movie. (From completely unbalanced, loud sound to the rowdy asses unable to respect women that you will have to share your aisle with and other such problems irritate the hell out of me and spoil the experience)

So, I asked for the choice of my seats. They were not taken according to the chart that the joker had at the box office. (These were not the ones booked by the Dial a ticket guys, they were different) But he claimed that they were already booked. I pointed out a different choice, to which he responded by saying why don’t I take something else totally absurd. Finally, I had to be extra nice and plead with him to give me my choice of seats. To which he grudgingly agreed. This is a perennial problem as I have faced it over a dozen times in the last 12 months.

My question is - why should these people have these charts if my choice is not respected?

Why should I have to explain why I need those seats when this guy’s job is to give out the ones of my choosing if they were available?

This leaves me frustrated as hell. I am sure a lot of others if not all have the same set of issues! No wonder it makes sense to get a DVD at home and watch the movie peacefully even if it is pirated. These guys are pissing in the same plates they eat from. A National Indian Pastime. Of course you will have to contend with the fact that these theater owner and their asinine employees will take out dharnas and rasta roko’s to make life miserable to save their jobs or demand more subsidies!

To all of you nuts that are a part of this business first learn to respect your customers, if not they will find other ways to entertain themselves, even in this overpopulated and lacking for choices country!

If anyone reading this knows the owners and managers of Symphony please let them know of the rant or give me their contact info I will post it to them.

Hmm now....

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 10:01:46 GMT

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I am ...

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 09:54:31 GMT

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

It's not business, it's personal.

Sat, 14 Aug 2004 07:12:54 GMT

Just read a small but interesting clipping about work and work attitude. It is longish, but thought provoking. Unless you are managing people or genuinely interested in getting the best of your team, this may not be of interest.

The Origins of Unengaged Employees
Think about the birth of an organization: typically, it starts with a founder that combines three essential ingredients: Vision, Courage, and Energy. The founder(s) had a vision of how to make the world a better place, the courage to pursue that vision, and the energy to make that vision a reality (notice that money wasn't necessarily one of the essential ingredients?).

With any kind of luck, the business grows and the founder hires people. The first few hires are often people the founder knows and possibly share that vision thing. These new employees don't need the same level of courage the founder had, but at this stage courage and energy are typical as the business is in its infancy and there is still a world to change - vision to be materialized.

As the business grows, we've got to put some structure in place... and we know how business is supposed to look: an IT department, marketing department, finance... and... HUMAN RESOURCES. By this time we've hired people that don't share the owners visions. This is where it gets scary.

The next evolutionary step in most businesses is when the founder is no longer the one doing the hiring. Not only do we allow people in the door who don't share that vision thing, we allow non-visionaries to hold open the door for people simply because they have some qualifications (a degree or relevant experience).

So now we've gone from 3, 5 or 10 original people who came on board because of a belief that they're changing the world, to a 11 or more people who don't share that original vision. It ain't work to these original folks, they are there because they believe in the work they're doing and there is no need for an employee manual, or timecards. I'm sure you've been one of the 3, 5 or 10 in an organization - what a great time it is, huh?

But for employee 11 and up, it's different. It's a job, and we told them so when we invited them in for an interview:

Wanted: Specialist - someone to put round things in round holes. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits; health, dental & life. 2 weeks paid vacation... etc.

As a breif aside, it's interesting to note the definition of vacation: "leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure." But for someone changing the world, it ain't work, is it? As an energetic, courageous visionary, it ain't work... so why do you need a vacation?

Anyway, now we have rules & guidelines, processes & procedures, and people who don't share the vision. We've taken people in off the street and invited them into the house even though we don't have anything in common with them.

We probably wouldn't do this at home... so why do we do it at work?

Why aren't we Vision Testing? Why do we continue to seek out specialists who couldn't care less about the "why" of the business? Wouldn't you like to know, when someone comes in for a job, that they're interested in the job because of the "why" the company is doing "what" it's doing?

Why aren't we Vision Testing? Why do we continue to seek out specialists who couldn't care less about the "why" of the business? Wouldn't you like to know, when someone comes in for a job, that they're interested in the job because of the "why" the company is doing "what" it's doing?
But we don't do that.

Instead, we hire people because they fulfill some qualifications and then we're forced to spend millions of dollars on misguided initiatives to get them engaged.

Consider the following story:

The famous New York diamond dealer Harry Winston heard about a wealthy Dutch merchant who was looking for a certain kind of diamond to add to his collection. Winston called the merchant, told him that he thought he had the perfect stone and invited the collector to come to New York to examine it.
The collector flew to New York and Winston assigned a salesman to meet him and show him the diamond. When the salesman presented the diamond to the merchant he described the expensive stone by pointing out all its fine technical features. The merchant listened and praised the stone but turned away and said, "It's a wonderful stone but not exactly what I want."

Winston, who had been watching the presentation from a distance, stopped the merchant going out the door and asked, "Do you mind if I show you the diamond once more?" The merchant agreed and Winston presented the stone, Winston spoke spontaneously about his own genuine admiration of the diamond and what a rare thing of beauty it was. Abruptly, the customer changed his mind and bought the diamond.

While he was waiting for the diamond to be packaged and brought to him, the merchant turned to Winston and asked, "Why did I buy it from you when I had no difficulty saying no to your salesman?"

Winston replied, "That salesman is one of the best men in the business and he knows more about diamonds than I do. I pay him a good salary for what he knows. But I would gladly pay him twice as much if I could put into him something that I have and he lacks. You see, he knows diamonds, but I love them."

Simple, huh? It isn't selling or work if you love what you're doing. But, it isn't enough just to hire people whose desires match that of the organization. They have to be allowed to do what they love - that is of utmost importance. You can't hire someone and then continuously put barriers between them and what they love doing.

Yet we do. The average organization today has so many different departments and reporting structures - I saw an org chart the other day that was for just one department that had to be reduced to 23% just to fit it on my screen - ONE DEPARTMENT. No person on the org chart, and it was 6 layers deep, had more than 10 people reporting to them.

The average manager today has fewer people reporting to them than a 5th grade teacher has students in their class. What's wrong with this picture? Think about that: the typical manager is responsible for fewer adults than a teacher is for children. Yikes!

Yet we need organizational charts because that is the only way to ensure that we can keep a watchful eye on each of the members of the "team".

Well - it really comes down to something very simple: It's not business, it's personal.

It's not business, it's personal.

If you think I'm wrong consider the following:

If you've ever lost sleep about something going on at work, it's personal.

If you've ever argued with someone at work (or wanted to) about the way something should be done, it's personal.

If you've ever come home and bitched about work, it's personal.

If you've ever hit the snooze button in the morning - instead of rushing out of bed, it's personal (in the bad sense).

If you've ever felt like something you have been asked to do is "stupid" or "wrong" or "boring", it's personal...

It's not business, it's personal.

And the quickest way to ensure that you'll be forced to spend time and money trying to get employees engaged is denying this very basic fact.

People don't leave their ambition, needs, desires, and hopes at home when they come to work. Since the beginning of time people have asked the same questions:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What can I become?

Can each of your employees answer that question and do those answers match your customers goals in life?

Every organization is in the people business. Plain and Simple. Customers, Employees - same thing. The questions aren't "What can I sell to them?" or "How can I make them more productive?" But rather, "What do they want to do?" and "What do they want to become?" and "How can I help them get there?"

So, what business are you in? How are you helping people become the better versions of themselves that each of us aspire to be?

I also read in a blog of some one saying they *got* the following in a company training... I Quote...

Well I was finally forced to attend this weekend , and since most of my batchmates had already attended the above I went along with the freshers. It didn't seem too bad , thought I could make some new friends , which I did and with all of them.
After the training..
a) I love my company and I'm always interested in its growth.
b) I'm always going to be polite and kind to my co workers.
c) I will always hide all kind of personal feeling behind a mask of professionalism.
d) I will always try to be cheerful to my team,and ensure that I give everyone a pat on the back encouraging them.
e) I will come to office neatly dressed and try to come on time..despite having flexi hours???? thats an oxymoron of some sort.
f) I will try my best to have my goals defined.10 years from now I will have to become a solutions architect and I have to work each day to strive to that goal.

......End Quote

I seem to understand both the view points, especially so if the employee is a intelligent and a sensitive person.

I completely disagree with something however.
Vacations - everybody, however involved needs them.

I wonder what could provide a balance?

The first one

Fri, 13 Aug 2004 14:29:58 GMT

The first one, just for the record.

Been thinking about writing for a long time but then never did. This seems like a good opportunity since it gets read maybe. Could have fun with this bloging stuff.

I am no big talker, usually have nothing to say. But am lately becoming more adventurous. Let's see what it brings on.

Hallelujah and all that.

By the way I am an awful speller, not that I care, but thank god for spell checks, saves the already tormented and unsuspecting reader from further frustration. However the point I wanted to make was the spell-checker in LJ does not recognize blog, or bloging. Strange, I thought that is what I am doing now. Unless the folks at LJ (bless their souls) want to rewind a piece of Internet history and not recognize the term.

Boy! don't I have stuff to say for the quiet type. I am liking this already.