Way2Top

I slept blissfully till 12:45 that I missed morning classes. So attended sessions with other sections to get attendance and to acquire the missed learning. Today I had the privilege of attending Section C and Section D. I already attended a class with Section A during previous term. So I have effectively attended sessions with all sections! Unique achievement

I was surprised to see some new faces as well. I knew some faces but didn’t knew their names. So sort of memorized their faces and names.

I also played 2 hours of badminton in the evening. For last 4 days have been spending considerable time in sports centre and watching movies, while managing to complete my readings. I have blocked the weekend for some disciplined reading on Investment analysis, a subject which I want to spend some quality time.

This is the last term where the Sections and Study groups are in effect. From Term 5, different classes for different subjects, as all the subjects are electives. So efforts are being made to make section parties memorable.

We had 2 classes today - Managing Organizations & Investment Analysis. The Class dynamics was drastically contrasting.

8:30 a.m - Managing Organization. People come in and settle in their respective seats. Many faces still engulfed in sleep. Unusually, Professor comes in 5 minutes late. Apologises to the class and gets on with his agenda. 20 minutes into the lecture and this is what class looks like. To my left, in the last row, some people were sleeping on their desk. Eyes of others were open but I cannot say they were awake! Around 10-12 seats were empty. Some people across me on the opposite side were busy writing something. Only when they met me during the break did I realize that they were drawing picture-perfect portrait of professor! Some people were playing tic-tac-toe. Quite a few were busy chatting in their laptops (with their near or dears??). “Stock kings” in the class were monitoring the stock prices like vultures. I could see rediff sites open on couple of laptops. Newspaper seems better utility to some..I am not sure why professor is unable to arouse interest on the topic.

11:00 a.m - Investment analysis. Class dynamics takes a 180-degree turn and I could feel the buzz. This professor is quite distinct in his dressing, teaching style, accent, speed etc., Highly knowledgeable but high speed! The experience is like touring entire europe in a week! The quantitative nature of the subject coupled with unique style of the professor keeps everyone awake. He also comes up with real gems of humour.

That’s for class dynamics.

This ‘Google Talk’ seems to have reduced the usage of telephones inside the campus. The ‘chat’ mode has settled in most of the people. Many people in the campus have blogs. Somehow they escape from my radar…Blogging definitely is ‘fad’..atleast in ISB.

8′0 clock in the evening. Constant humming sound of ceiling fan. Flickering light. Water flowing smoothly from the motorized mini-fountain on my desk. Sound of Crickets and frogs in the background. Course packs on the left side of my desk and Ben-Hur DVD on the right side of my desk. Lord Krishna on my desktop wallpaper staring and smiling at me. Clothes to be washed hanging on the door. Squash racquet, TT racquet and snack items that I purchased today spread on the bed. My mind is blank and numb. Should I call my brother who would be slogging in his TCS office? Should I call my mom and dad who will be worrying and thinking about me and my brother? Should I take my assignments for tomorrow? Should I complete the reading of “Autobiography of Lee Iococca”? Should I read Economist? Should I read HBR and MIT Review magazines? Should I reply to queries of prospective applicants? Should I spend 30 minutes with a prospective applicant who would be visiting me in another hour? Should I prepare the PPT requested by Media group? Should I write the article requested by media group? and so many other Shoulds lingering in my mind…

Same S*** Another day!

Anyway, Today we had couple of senior partners from Bain&Co attending our class on Government Society & Business. They are planning to visit ISB during the recruitment season for the first time. This is a sort of pre-assessment.

Hope is a good thing. May be it is best of things. And no good thing ever dies… [Shawshank Redemption]

I wonder why ISB library has considerable number of inspirational, motivational, philosophical films. It’s a good thing. Since the movies are purchased through student’s feedback, I wonder if students began rating inspiration as a key attribute when choosing a film. Watching such films sort of fires up your soul…

Weekend was a bliss [Sarcasm stripped]. I didn’t do any reading for 46 hours straight. Participated in Case competition conducted internally at ISB. We finished up as participant!. It was an interesting exercise. Participated in Cricket quiz competition in the evening. Again finished up as participant!. Watched a hilarious Tam movie of Kamalhaasan. Watched “Bull-fight”, a debating competition conducted within ISB. Great debating skills, great presence of mind from my colleagues. And now finishing my weekend with a mantra “Hope is a good thing.”

Thanks to a colleague here for sharing the pictures of construction days of ISB. It’s amazing to see such a barren land as a beautiful campus today…Really wonderful!

Student Village

Class rooms

Today, some of my chennai friends organized “Illayaraja nite”, where we relived melodious songs of yesteryears. They arranged all microphone, speakers and had karoake sessions. We had couple of classical singers and a “Mirudangam” player (our own Ram). All of them were awesome…Especially Ram rocked…So much of talent hidden inside…Great evening. Also, we had our GSB Party (Theme of Retro dresses). Wigs, big-collared shirts, bell-bottom pants, weird coloured shirts were rented for free to encourage participation. It was entertaining to see people dressed up in weird dresses. After a strenuous first week in Term 4, this break was much needed.

I am Internet Coordinator officially. Along with Ravi, I would coordinate ISB related communications happening through Internet. I see lot of work in upcoming months. Should be interesting though. Also, I have been given responsibility to cover ISB in Hindu, chennai. ISB has tried before but couldn’t succeed, let me try my luck!

While I enjoy most of my days in ISB, I don’t enjoy few days. Today and yesterday were one of those not-so-fine days. Severe mouth ulcers. Lack of sleep.

Placement Committee members have been identified. This year, the entire ISB population is split into three groups. 0-5 years, 5-9 years and 9+ years. The placement committee members with corresponding experience will be incharge of others in the same experience range. The official allocation of students to a placement committee member will soon happen.

Grades continue to surprise me…pleasantly!

So far I have made improvements in many areas that I identified…except for one. Class Participation. I am hoping to make more opinions in the class this term. Even if my colleagues don’t like it, I would go ahead …Let’s see what happens…

1. Don’t give up on anybody, particularly people close to you. I didn’t believe he would change his behaviour. But boy, didn’t he prove me wrong…He has completely transformed, to my utter disbelief. I learned a lot from him.

2. You may be concerned about others. You may be really worrying about someone. But it’s of no use, if you don’t express it.

3. MBA is thrusting a false confidence. Sometimes injecting arrogance into your soul without your knowledge. If you find it at the right time, cleanse it. Else, the arrogance will cleanse you!

4. Follow the 3 principles that Bhagwan said. Praise others generously and indiscriminately. Be enthusiastic. Be Optimistic.

5. Follow the 6 steps to greatness that Rajeshwar suggested. Reverse the way you think. Look for the good in people and situations. Learn to greet people. Establish some symbols in life [to which you can anchor upon]. Give importance to physical well-being [Exercise, yoga, meditation etc.,]. Feed your mind.

6. Don’t think twice when your praise others. But Think twice when you express your anger or frustration.

7. If you are in full flow and able to complete your work quickly, do more than required. Similarly, If you are unable to do your work, atleast let the team know, so that they will plan for you. Otherwise, there will be expectations on you and you will only disappoint them.

8. If you have improved as a human being, as a person, then that’s the biggest takeaway from ISB. The readings, formulas, cases, book knowledge don’t last long (unless you apply them). Emotional quotient is becoming very important in organizations. EQ is essential ingredient to make it to top.

9. Sport a smile ALWAYS. It’s free of cost, less taxing to facial muscles and relieves the pressure instantaneously.

10. Telepathy works! If you are thinking about a person in a positive way, the other person reacts the same way. If you are thinking about a person in negative way, the other person reacts the same way! I have no substantiation for this, but I have seen this work. So use this to your benefit…Always think positive about a person!

The term-break was worthwhile. I had a great time in my home with my family.

I reached ISB by morning 7:45 and made it to classes at 08:30 a.m. Term 4 began with Managing Organizations and Investment analysis. After 4.5 months of quant-heavy subjects, it’s time for qualitative subjects. Apart from Investment analysis, all 3 subjects are word-intensive.

The subjects this term are:

1. Managing Organizations
2. Investment Analysis
3. Government, society and Business
4. Strategic Analysis of Information Technology

Description of courses.

This term is tightly packed than usual. We have classes on 5 days. End-term examinations arrive in 5th week as against 6th week. What’s the upside of this? We get 9 days of term-break! (Marking the end of core-terms!!)

Today, while reading an article Managing organizations, the following paragraph caught my attention…Most of you will be able to relate to this…

“As you advance in your careers, many of you will discover a growing mismatch between the competencies that helped get you where you are, and the competencies you will need to continue to progress. Early in your careers, your technical competencies were usually sufficient. Your primary responsibility was to perform specific tasks, for example, in sales, engineering, financial analysis or work on consulting projects. Your success was based principally on your individual expertise, actions and contributions. Even in your first managerial positions, excellent technical competencies might still be sufficient. But, as you continue to progress, technical competencies will not be enough. Your success will depend more and more on your human competencies - your ability to do the important interpersonal work of developing effective work relationships with key individuals.”

Most of us here fitted exactly in the profile mentioned above. And all of us has to transition into the type highlighted in italics!

Thanks for many who blogged about Horrors of war and signed the petition.

The following is the seating arrangement for Term 4…Gives an idea of how a class seating is arranged. I received a seat in the last row…corner most!!