Way2Top

The Business Unit is 40-50 strong. It is small compared to the size of other Business Units. The director of the group is pretty jovial, technically strong, broad-minded and informal. He has almost 20+ years of experience. I report directly to the director. The director reports to the Managing Director of the India centre. So,in a way I am only 2 levels from the top

I am given in-charge of an initiative. The initiative grew out of an organizational need. But gradually a vision to carve out a commercial product out of this initiative is emerging. Time will answer.

The initiative needs buy-in from higher levels. Fortunately, we do have buy-in at Vice-president level. That’s a big bonus for us. The initiative is not funded by the organization. So, the Business unit has to fund the initiative through its own budget. This currency constraint coupled with human-resource constraint is trying to drag the initiative down. So, we are undergoing the same emotions as entrepreneurs undergo while setting up a venture.

Activities performed by me: Research [Analysis of existing products in the market, Identifying the needs for the organization, Proposing the features to be implemented etc.,], Design and Architecture [Working with Technical leads to come up with Scalable, robust, component-oriented design], Requirements Analysis [Business Analysis for the first customer], Project management [Planning, Scheduling, allocation etc.,], Training and mentoring, Chairing tele-conferences to demo the product [High level people participate in the conference]…The Business Development part [Selling the concept to other business units/customers once the initiative takes shape] will come later, though it largely depends on the success of the initiative initially.

Though there are organizational red-tapes, I enjoy relatively more freedom and command [I am talking about the command of situation, resources I have, style I can follow etc.,] compared to many others in the organization. That part I am happy about.

I have joined at a level/grade which is normally given to people with 9-10 years of experience. That is a significant ladder-bypass for me.

Since I am working on the organizational initiative, I have some concerns in terms of not learning/mastering enough domain expertise relevant to my firm. I have made some plans to cover the weakness by utilizing the resources/facilities available within the organization. In few months time, things should take good shape.

One thing I would like to mention here is “Manage your expectations. Sometimes, what you expect might be vastly different from reality. Give some time before taking rash decisions. Patience is a virtue. If you leave the job, do so only after making sure that it is not for you.” Another point. “Just because your role is Strategy consultant/Business development, you are not necessarily insulated from project management or people management. The promised role will be given to you. But it will come as a part of package containing other mundane roles too.”

The problem about expectations can be published as a book in itself.

PS: A dialogue that I had about expectations some time ago…

Talk was about marriage…
Me: Dude, I don’t have high expectations.
Friend: So, why don’t you marry a girl from slum?
Me: I don’t have high expectations. But I do have expectations

I am thinking about how to make this post honest yet interesting I am thinking about how to realize my long term goals. I am thinking about how to manage the organizational politics. I am thinking about why I have stopped thinking about others and thinking more about self? I am thinking, so I am alive!

I said
“If my wife earns a good salary, then I would not mind sitting in home and pursuing the things I like.”

“People criticize generously and praise stingily. That’s how the words Aw’ful’ and Awe’some’ came into existence!”

I want to build a beautiful and spacious house. And yes, it should have a breath-taking garden. I want to be a fantastic orator who can capture the attention of audience and mesmerize them for long period of times. I want to contribute to the society, especially to the down-trodden [Astrologer has said that I will be doing lot of good to lower-rung people…I am yet to figure out that trait in me…For everything there is a time!]. I want to be a popular figure and as a role-model for others. I want to dress well. I want numerous other things..so I will stop here…

I wish always that everyone in the world remains happy with a sense of fulfillment..”Lokha samastha sukhino bhavanthu” [Sanskrit equivalent of the wish] is a phrase I utter to myself atleast 10-20 times a day.

I miss my child-hood days, miss the days when we had to spend each paisa after thousand thoughts, miss the days when I fought with my brother for petty things, miss the days when I had my first crush…Basically I miss the bad times as much as I miss good times…That’s the essence of balance to me.

I hear to my inner voice more often. On the negative side, sometimes I hear only what I want to hear [Selective hearing] and that puts me into trouble. I am still learning to hear the person across the table without any bias or preconceived notions. Believe me, it is not easy. Compassion and empthy are not the traits one can acquire easily.

I wonder about lot of things. In particular about my future. What will I be doing 5 years down the line? Am I doing the right thing? Reading the Freakonomics has made me to wonder a lot and ask lot of questions!!

I regret for being vertically challenged. I regret for not doing anything constructively to the society.

I am unassuming. No non-sensical. Not good-looking but pleasant-looking. I am someone who does not contribute a lot to the fun, but enjoys the fun. I am a great fan of kids…

I dance sometimes in my room when nobody is around. I play some “Ghana songs” with great beats and try to imitate the choreography performed on the silverscreen. I do dance in parties once in a while.

I sing in bathroom. I hum a lot. I do think that I sing well…but my talents have been long buried within myself

I cry. Yes, I have sometimes. But I would not cry before others. If I want to cry, I will go and lock myself inside a room and then cry. I can remember only one instance when I cried uncontrollably before others. Even now, If I think about the instance my heart gets heavier.

I am not feeling like disclosing my long list of weaknesses!

I write (well type) a lot of crap. I write so that someday I will become a great author. I actually ‘write’ to maintain my good hand-writing.

I confuse between What I want and What I need…

I need a perfect life-partner! I need a mentor in career!!!

I should learn a lot from books, from the experiences of others, from other culture. I should learn to maintain the smile on my face even during tough times…should learn many languages…should start writing quality blog posts…

I finish this post now…God, it has to come to an end..:)

I tag

Ramkumar
Ramki
Indian Blogger
Anuj Kadyan
Ankur Warikoo
Karthik Ramachandran
Vasanth Dharmaraj