September 13, 06 by Bharani
Prepared a presentation after 1 day of effort. Just 5 minutes before the client presentation realize that some crucial information is missing. Cool-headedness and some damage control tactics saved the day…Presentation went on very well…professionally..
Almost intimidated by a person who is taller than 2 metres. Almost intimidated by the size of the huge hands that shook my hands. Kept the focus away from size-comparison by engaging in conversations…After all, the other head had to look down so that I can proudly look up!
However, what made my day was the incident with Autowalla…Normally it costs me Rs.55 for a ride in autorickshaw from my home to office. Today, when I reached the office the meter displayed a figure of Rs.25.20!
I asked…”Aapka meter ko kya ho gaya?”.
He looked at the meter and was disappointed…”Psssch….Pssch…Arre sirr…phir yehi problem…Aap jo doge de do saab!”.
“Teek hai..Mein roz 55 deta hoon…Aapke liye saat rupya deta hoon!”…
The guy had a very innocent look in his face…He was all smiles…
“Aap meter ko teek kar leejiye..!”.
“Kar doonga sir…zaroor!”
“Aapka naam kya hain…?”
“Saleem naam hein sir mera..”
“Aapko Boolonga nahi…”!
He came out of his seat and stood…”Thanks sir..Thanks sir..” I walked away with a satisfied feeling…
It’s quite funny because only yesterday I exchanged the same line with another autowalla (”Aapka meter ko kya ho gaya?”)…Only difference was that the meter showed Rs.75..!! Nah…I didn’t give a rupee more than Rs.55…
Related Links:
1. Lessons learnt about life from auto-rickshaws…!
2. Indian Auto Rickshaw Challenge! First of it’s kind…Has a link for “News about Autorickshaws”…
September 10, 06 by Bharani
After a hectic week I decided to unwind on Sunday. The original plan of spending sometime in “Snow World” collapsed as we reached the venue late. Fortunately, Go-karting spot nearby kept my hopes of fun alive! I also wanted to check out the “Mirror Maze” that opened up in Prasadz multiplex recently, so did that too. I was impressed with what they have put up there. Vistors are even requested to wear plastic gloves to avoid fingerprint impressions on the mirrors. Then I tried the “Spintrix” thing that has been put up. Spintrix invoked the kid in me…I have never tried that illusion stuff before…but it is just fantastic….!
On one of the rooms in Spintrix, I was gazing at a 3-D image. Suddenly my friend called me from behind. I turned back to listen. When I reverted back to see the 3-D image, there was an alien standing right in front of my eyes, with its claw-like hands just inches away from my face…! It scared the shit out of me and I lifted my hands as if somebody commanded me “Hands up!” and made some arbit noise!…It turned out to be one of those human decoys to scare the visitors. My friend had a hearty laugh…! Well, so did I …:)
September 09, 06 by Bharani
For past few months, I have been witnessing some form of amnesia with crucial informations. The number of UserIds, Passwords and PINs that I have to maintain has gotten big that I have begun to forget a few. Actually, I am quite ok with remembering details. So this crucial-moment-amnesia is surprising me and at times bothering me! I am too skeptical to write it down in paper. I am too scared to have single password for everything (diversification of risk?). So, I have to remember the passwords by-heart.
Office applications, emails, blogs, mobile phones, online bank accounts, ATMs, online subscriptions…huh!
Can someone bring on the Biometrics everywhere soon…?
I do hope that I am not alone…!
PS: I did a very sentimental thing today. I created an userid/password for my brother to update my blog. In case I cannot update the blog, he will do it on behalf of me!
September 08, 06 by Bharani
Before MBA
Techno Manager: A Technical person or a programmer who was managing projects.
After MBA
Business Technologist: A Business person who applies his business skills in Technology companies.
Evolution:
Programmer –> Techno Manager –> Business Technologist –> General Manager. This is the evolution through which Technical skills erode and Business skills grow stronger…This is the evolution from “Details” to “Big picture”…This is the evolution from “Devil” to “God”…This is the evolution from 6 figure to 8 figure….Well, forget it 
September 04, 06 by Bharani
Now-a-days, my life in general can be summarized in 4 words:
Write, Read, Speak and Plan in the same order!
Write: Official Documentations. Blog @ way2top.org; Intranet Blog @ Office to record the progress, capture the learnings and fossilize the hard-earned-wisdom! Though it looks promising, it remains to be seen if the effort is sustainable.)
Read: Product and Technology related readings (work), Interesting websites and blogs (Personal), Books and Magazines.
Speak: Talk about our product.
Plan: Plan @ work.
August 31, 06 by Bharani
It’s been 29 years…29 awesome, wonderful years…
My dear Mom and Dad, Wish you many many more anniversaries…
My mom was ill on her birthday…She cried due to the discomfort and suffering…She is better now…
My dad fell ill on the eve of Anniversary…A very rare event…him falling ill…feeling marginally better now…
Both birthday and anniversary turned out to be a very sober event…Pretty bad month for my family with illness all around…Hope things turn around as new month dawns tomorrow…
August 2006…I will never forget it!
August 29, 06 by Bharani
Once in a while, I go into crazy introspection…Today, I was thinking about the money that I could save, if only I looked at the following items.
1. Transportation: I spend on an average Rs.50 to Rs.60 per day for auto-rickshaw. There is a shuttle service provided by the company. Yet, I utilize the shuttle service only one way. If only I utilizie the service both ways, I can save Rs.1100-1250 per month!
2. Dinner: My firm provides the dinner free of cost and the quality is good. Keeping the food cost at Rs.50 on an average, I could save again Rs.1000-1100 per month! Yet, I take food at home (and I have to manage crisis most of the time, as I reach home late!!) or go out for restaurants…
3. Telephone calls: I make telephone calls to local friends from my mobile. I end up spending Rs.10-20 per day on an average. If only I use the office phones, I can save Rs.200-450 per month!
In total, I could save Rs.2300-2800 per month (and works out to Rs.33000+ per year)! But, I forego this potential savings in the name of convenience and flexibility. My opportunity cost for convenience and flexibility (just in the 3 areas mentioned) is Rs.33000 per year!!
I am planning to buy X-box and some games when it is released in India this Diwali. If I compare the X-box with “Convenience and flexibility”, it motivates me to forego the convenience and flexibility 
August 26, 06 by Bharani
For little over 2 years, I have been dreaming about owning a scaled-down model of Bobbie Carlyle’s “Self Made Man” statue. The Statue is a very inspirational one (you can see on the right hand side bar). It depicts a man carving out himself with a hammer and chisel from a rock. It symbolizes the power of man to carve out his own character, own future…and own life!
The price of the smallest statue is 750$. Quite costly. I have not reached the stage where I can afford 750$ for a statue….But I will own the statue someday…! If any of you happen to come across the sale of this statue online at attractive prices…well, do inform me…I will be indebted to you…
August 25, 06 by Bharani
After 3 years of blogging (with webhostingmatrix and blogsome), I finally decided to buy my own domain name and web space. Today, I am the proud owner of the domain “www.way2top.org” and loads of web space.
After doing research about many hosting options, I finally settled for Bluehost. Price, Customer support, Own Data centres, Customer Reviews and few other factors were considered. Ultimately their customer service and loads of positive customer reviews tilted the scale towards Bluehost.
I badly wanted the domain name “bharani.com”. But the domain name was already booked. The only domains available with the same name were “bharani.biz” and “bharani.info”. So, I went for my second best choice “way2top”.
Now, I have this sensation of purchasing a huge but empty house. I have to slowly change this house to a comfortable living place and provide a pleasant experience to visitors.
