Manisha's weblog

How the sea sneaked up to me!

Manisha — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 19:28:10 +0000

Wednesday, 17th Feb 2010
@private beach at the Sea Shells resort – Havelock.

The sea was calm – I mean really really calm. Not a wave; not a ripple. It was as if I was staring a pond rather than sitting at the sea shore — It was so calm and quiet. I wish my mind was that calm. The flood of thoughts.. all random, was crazy. But the sea…. it was calm.

With all my starting, the sea responded…. there were a few ripples. I looked straight ahead and saw nothing but a couple of mangrove trees. Thought I would see a dingy pass by in a bit which was probably what caused the ripples, or a crab or fish swimming, but there was none. I stared endlessly at the beauty lying ahead and enjoying every second.

The ripples appeared again!! This time, I stared at the sea, just around the shore….. that’s when I realized what was happening…. The tide was sneaking out!! It was time for high tide I have been to many places, a lot of sea shores, lived on an island for 4 years (was in Fiji) but have never ever see the sea so sneaky.

In Mumbai, high tides mean a few waves bringing the sea out — never have I seen it sneak out like this…. Wow… this was a pleasant experience.

What’s your weakness?

Manisha — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:59:27 +0000

I was reading this article on the discussion of strengths and weaknesses that happens in almost all interviews and it got me thinking. If I am asked what my weaknesses are, what would I say?

Chocolates
Procrastination (check my wardrobe / room out)
Lack of determination (you goota see me to believe it — i have been on a diet for about 4 yrs now and have gained 15+ kgs)
I do not finish the books I read
I am a romantic at heart

People who know me and are reading this, please comment. Let me know what your weakness(es) is and what you think mine is. Help me know me better!!

Have breakfast or be breakfast

Manisha — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:49:34 +0000

A friend of mine sent me an email which is actually a contribution by IIM B Professor Y.L.R. Moorthi. It is an amazing read; do read this.

“Have Breakfast… or…Be Breakfast!”
By Y. L. R. MOORTHI

—Dr. Y. L. R. Moorthi is a professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He is an M.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and a post graduate in management from IIM, Bangalore.

Who sells the largest number of cameras in India?

Your guess is likely to be Sony, Canon or Nikon. Answer is none of the above. The winner is Nokia whose main line of business in India is not cameras but cell phones. Reason being cameras bundled with cellphones are outselling stand alone cameras. Now, what prevents the cellphone from replacing the camera outright? Nothing at all. One can only hope the Sonys and Canons are taking note.

Try this. Who is the biggest in music business in India? You think it is HMV Sa-Re-Ga-Ma? Sorry. The answer is Airtel. By selling caller tunes (that play for 30 seconds) Airtel makes more than what music companies make by selling music albums (that run for hours). Incidentally Airtel is not in music business. It is the mobile service provider with the largest subscriber base in India. That sort of competitor is difficult to detect, even more difficult to beat (by the
time you have identified him he has already gone past you). But if you imagine that Nokia and Bharti (Airtel’s parent) are breathing easy you can’t be farther from truth.

Nokia confessed that they all but missed the smartphone bus. They admit that Apple’s Iphone and Google’s Android can make life difficult in future. But you never thought Google was a mobile company, did you? If these illustrations mean anything, there is a bigger game unfolding. It is not so much about mobile or music or camera or emails?

The “Mahabharat” (the great Indian epic battle) is about “what is tomorrow’s personal digital device”? Will it be a souped up mobile or a palmtop with a telephone? All these are little wars that add up to that big battle. Hiding behind all these wars is a gem of a question – “who is my competitor?”

Once in a while, to intrigue my students I toss a question at them. It says “What Apple did to Sony, Sony did to Kodak, explain?” The smart ones get the answer almost immediately. Sony defined its market as audio (music from the walkman). They never expected an IT company like Apple to encroach into their audio domain. Come to think of it, is it really surprising? Apple as a computer maker has both audio and video capabilities. So what made Sony think he won’t compete on pure audio?

“Elementary Watson”. So also Kodak defined its business as film cameras, Sony defines its businesses as “digital.”

In digital camera the two markets perfectly meshed. Kodak was torn between going digital and sacrificing money on camera film or staying with films and getting left behind in digital technology. Left undecided it lost in both. It had to. It did not ask the question “who is my competitor for tomorrow?” The same was true for IBM whose mainframe revenue prevented it from seeing the PC. The same was true of Bill Gates who declared “internet is a fad!” and then turned around to bundle the browser with windows to bury Netscape. The point is not who is today’s competitor. Today’s competitor is obvious. Tomorrow’s is not.

In 2008, who was the toughest competitor to British Airways in India? Singapore airlines? Better still, Indian airlines? Maybe, but there are better answers. There are competitors that can hurt all these airlines and others not mentioned. The answer is videoconferencing and telepresence services of HP and Cisco. Travel dropped due to recession. Senior IT executives in India and abroad were compelled by their head quarters to use videoconferencing to shrink travel budget. So much so, that the mad scramble for American visas from Indian techies was nowhere in sight in 2008. (India has a quota of something like 65,000 visas to the U.S. They were going a-begging. Blame it on
recession!). So far so good. But to think that the airlines will be back in business post recession is something I would not bet on. In short term yes. In long term a resounding no. Remember, if there is one place where Newton’s law of gravity is applicable besides physics it is in electronic hardware. Between 1977 and 1991 the prices of the now dead VCR (parent of Blue-Ray disc player) crashed to one-third of its original level in India. PC’s price dropped from hundreds of thousands of rupees to tens of thousands. If this trend repeats then telepresence prices will also crash. Imagine the fate of airlines then. As it is not many are making money. Then it will surely be RIP!

India has two passions. Films and cricket. The two markets were distinctly different. So were the icons. The cricket gods were Sachin and Sehwag. The filmi gods were the Khans (Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and the other Khans who followed suit). That was, when cricket was fundamentally test cricket or at best 50 over cricket. Then came IPL and the two markets collapsed into one. IPL brought cricket down to 20 overs. Suddenly an IPL match was reduced to the length of a 3 hour movie. Cricket became film’s competitor. On the eve of IPL matches movie halls ran empty. Desperate multiplex owners requisitioned the rights for screening IPL matches at movie halls to hang on to the audience. If IPL were to become the mainstay of cricket, as it is likely to be, films have to sequence their releases so as not clash with IPL matches. As far as the audience is concerned both are what in India are called 3 hour “tamasha” (entertainment). Cricket season might push films out of the market.

Look at the products that vanished from India in the last 20 years.
When did you last see a black and white movie? When did you last use a fountain pen? When did you last type on a typewriter? The answer for all the above is “I don’t remember!” For some time there was a mild substitute for the typewriter called electronic typewriter that had limited memory. Then came the computer and mowed them all. Today most technologically challenged guys like me use the computer as an upgraded typewriter. Typewriters per se are nowhere to be seen.

One last illustration. 20 years back what were Indians using to wake them up in the morning? The answer is “alarm clock.” The alarm clock was a monster made of mechanical springs. It had to be physically keyed every day to keep it running. It made so much noise by way of alarm, that it woke you up and the rest of the colony. Then came quartz clocks which were sleeker. They were much more gentle though still quaintly called “alarms.” What do we use today for waking up in the morning? Cellphone! An entire industry of clocks disappeared without warning thanks to cell phones. Big watch companies like Titan were the losers. You never know in which bush your competitor is hiding!

On a lighter vein, who are the competitors for authors? Joke spewing machines? (Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, himself a Pole, tagged a Polish joke telling machine to a telephone much to the mirth of Silicon Valley). Or will the competition be story telling robots?

Future is scary! The boss of an IT company once said something interesting about the animal called competition.
He said “Have breakfast …or…. be breakfast”! That sums it up rather neatly.

Test post

Manisha — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:35:10 +0000

testing testing testing

How To Change People’s Perception Of You

Manisha — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:39:28 +0000

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
- Warren Buffet

Other people’s perceptions are very important in business. First impressions are made within seconds and office gossip has the potential to damage a reputation almost beyond repair. Do you know how your colleagues perceive you?

who, me?

Have you overheard someone’s negative comments? Has your boss reprimanded you during your evaluation? Has a friend said something about your behavior? Perhaps people’s body language or tone of voice changes when you join a conversation, or maybe you just have a gut feeling.

If you want to find out how you’re perceived, ask someone you can trust and listen carefully to their comments, without taking offense.

Other people’s perceptions of you may be wrong, but rather than wasting time complaining, getting even or defending yourself, take action to change their opinion. Just keep in mind that your actions in the first few months at a new company or in a new position will set the tone for how others perceive you.

Here are eight common misperceptions, and ways you can turn negative impressions into positive ones.

take aim

1- They think you’re lazy

Take initiative
Ask for more responsibilities and go above and beyond your call of duty at work. No matter how full your schedule is, you need to be seen working harder.

Show your accomplishments
Don’t brag; use a little creativity to turn the office gossip from criticism to praise. People like to be thanked. Try saying something like, “thanks for the figures you gave me; that really helped me get my report ready for the Board of Directors.”

Watch your body language
Don’t slouch or lean against the nearest wall or desk. Keep your feet off the desk — literally and figuratively. Approach your work with energy and enthusiasm to counteract any suggestions that hard work goes against your nature.

2- They think you’re unprofessional

Master etiquette
Courtesy is contagious. When you’re respectful and polite, it makes it more difficult for people to judge you unfairly, blame you unjustly or otherwise disrespect you.

Accept criticism
Don’t be defensive when you receive feedback or when you overhear things about you that are inaccurate. Being open to comments and listening to constructive criticism is a sign of maturity and professionalism.

Filter your comments
To avoid putting your foot in your mouth, think carefully before speaking. No matter how angry you are or how sloppy someone else’s work is, hold back. Watch what you say and whom you say it to.

Look the part
Dress appropriately and speak well. Know the corporate policies and lingo. Be prepared for meetings and be sure your workspace looks organized.

3- They think you’re the office clown

Shut up
You’re there to work so stop telling jokes and trying to make people laugh. There’s plenty of time for humor over a beer after work. When your colleagues pressure you to entertain them, put the focus on someone else. “I can’t think of anything funny today. How about telling your joke, Charlie?” deflects the attention on to someone else without alienating anyone.

Laugh less
It’s great to be known as an open and fun-loving kind of guy, but there’s a limit. Leave a crowd of employees who are laughing it up, by saying you must return to work.

Tidy up
Maintain a professional-looking workspace. Take down the cartoons and limit the number of e-mail jokes you forward.
You might want to remove that lampshade from your head…

4- They think you’re a party guy

Tone it down
Don’t talk about your experiences. How late you stayed out and how much you drank is no one else’s business. Don’t consume alcohol during working hours and behave at corporate functions like the annual holiday office party. Treat after-work gatherings as networking opportunities instead of a party and you will change people’s impressions.

Get serious
No matter how valid your excuse is, don’t show up late unless you want people to speculate about your extracurricular activities. Arrive on time, and be alert and ready to be productive.

5- They think you’re a womanizer

Be discreet
Don’t boast about your sexual conquests. No matter how tempted you are, never flirt with your colleagues, your boss, your staff, or your clients.

Clean up your act
Don’t use any sexual innuendoes, don’t forward jokes of a sexual nature and, of course, don’t surf pornographic sites at work.

6- They think you’re always late

Be on time
Get up earlier and be the first one to arrive at work. Be realistic with your schedule and build in extra time. You’re setting yourself up for criticism if you routinely neglect to plan for travel time between appointments. Being late is perceived as a sign of disrespect and disorganization.

Plan ahead
Prepare and follow a to-do list, updating it regularly. To be safe, overestimate the time it takes to perform your tasks. Don’t procrastinate. Plan your timeline well and you’ll be able to hand in your projects before the deadline, no matter what unexpected problems arise.

7- They think you’re unethical

Be honest
Be careful what you propose. Don’t suggest stealing the competition’s ideas or plagiarizing someone else’s research. Be sure that any claims you make about your products are accurate and proven.

Demonstrate integrity
Follow corporate guidelines to avoid any perception that you’re abusing the company’s fringe benefits (for example, making personal long-distance calls or using the company photocopier for multiple personal copies). Know the policy on accepting gifts from customers or suppliers, and don’t get caught on the golf course when you call in sick.

Be responsible
If you make a mistake, admit it. Take ownership instead of blaming someone else or making excuses.

Make the right decisions
If you are asked to do something you feel is wrong, reflect on the long-term impact it will have on your image and professional reputation.

Be community-minded
Donate money to charity in the company’s name. Suggest doing a fundraiser at work to help a charitable organization or ask employees to bring in non-perishable goods for a local food bank.

8- They think you’re not a team player

Be friendly
Learn and use people’s names. Take the time to get to know a little about your coworkers’ business strengths and outside interests.

Be dependable
Don’t poach ideas from colleagues and always give credit when it’s due. Offer to help a colleague if you can and praise your teammates for a job well done. When upper management hears your colleagues saying how much they enjoy working with you, you’ll be seen as a natural leader.

Focus on your goals
Whether or not their perceptions are accurate, what your colleagues think and say about you can potentially make or break your career. Ask for feedback from a trusted colleague or your boss on a regular basis. You want to turn negative comments into positive ones. Many of these suggestions are interchangeable; just remember not to be defensive.

By trying to change people’s perceptions of you, you’re not necessarily admitting to any of these shortcomings; you’re simply trying to get those you work with to see you in better light. So don’t try to change your personality. Remain sincere and true to your values. And if all else fails, start fresh at a new company.

Avoid Living Paycheck To Paycheck

Manisha — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:38:03 +0000

In these trying times, people are having difficulty putting money aside for their long-term benefit. Here are a couple of tips to consider when planning your long-term financial growth.
Living from paycheck to paycheck is something you want to avoid, as it’s a bad habit that is easy to get into. Pay yourself first because no one else will. The best way to do this? Take out the savings portion before you use it unwisely.

Automatic savings plan

An automatic savings plan that puts money aside into an emergency savings account or your retirement account, on a fixed day of the month, is the best way to start. Typically, people prefer having this luxury on the same day they receive their paychecks.
By growing accustomed to a saving regime, you will be able to save a reasonable amount and at the same time live a manageable lifestyle.

Getting into the habit

We are creatures of habit, which is why living with a reduced paycheck is not as hard as people think — once you adjust to this way of life. And once you establish the amount you can put aside, altering your spending habits will be as easy as 1-2-3.

This will also allow you to realize what kind of lifestyle you can manage and handle. Living with these reduced means is the key to your financial success.

No one is saying that you should lead a boring life, although realizing what you can handle in relation to what you earn and what you want is essential. The easiest vice to fall into is the constant and easy availability of credit, which can be extremely damaging to your long-term financial success.

Habit becomes second nature

By instilling this regime, you will realize in no time that it will become second nature and that your spending will be reduced automatically. In this scenario, your spending is now based on what you have available rather than what you are earning.

Knowing that a certain amount of money is going to be withdrawn on a certain day will make it harder to spend it on something frivolous.

Your new exercise regime

Making any conscious effort to change requires discipline and time. Remember to be realistic in your savings effort and that it’s a gradual process.

We always look to improve ourselves, or at least many of us do. Apply this to a new exercise program where you’re looking to lose or put on weight. It is never done overnight and if it is, it’s unhealthy.

Instill a pace that is manageable for your situation so it is easier to stick to. The harder you make it on yourself, the more likely you will get fed up and just continue on your downward spiral.

Let’s say your goal is to put three months’ worth of your income into a reserve account. It is then logical that you spend 80% of your pay while the balance would be put into a savings-type account.

You should also consider putting any surprise forms of income into the savings account, so your goal can be accomplished earlier.

Something to achieve

By having your savings plan mapped out, it is much easier to motivate yourself. Once your spending objective is put in place, you should be on your way to a financial path that meets your needs.

Lazy me

Manisha — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:06:57 +0000

I have been an absolutely lazy person when it has come to my blog.
I haven’t written in over 2 months!!! Shame on me… Will be better now.

BTW; how do you like the home page and the theme?
Feel free to comment – I am open to feedback and ideas

Vishnu Sahasranamam

Manisha — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:41:12 +0000

I am listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam recited by M. S. Subhalakshmi. In a blissful state right now. Its a shame, I used to recite it when I was young and now for the life of me I can’t remember the verses. I am gonna learn the whole thing by this month end – it’s a promise to myself!

Thinking Language

Manisha — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:40:03 +0000

I watched Ghajani last night (finally) and while I was discussing it with a friend of mine (who has a technical eye out for most things around), he made a sensible point. How, a person who had stayed and studied in the West most of his life (I am guessing the charecter was around 25-30 years of age), wrote a Diary in Hindi as opposed to English – which would come more naturally to him? Of course it’s a Hindi movie so crap has to happen in Hindi only

This got me thinking, what language do I think in and what language will I choose shoule I maintain a diary (if I ever do)? My choice, most conveniently and naturally, was English. What’s your’s?

To know this, just think if you had a bundle of money to count, what language would you count it in? Me, I will do it in English, rarely in hindi (I get stuck after 25 )

Though being a Tamilian by birth, (I am ashamed to say this) I can not read or write in Tamil. Hindi and English have been the languages which come to my rescue at ALL times. So, I think in English, mostly, Hindi at times – may be 20-30% of the time. What about you?

Wedding Planner

Manisha — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:01:33 +0000

I am watching “Bride Wars” – it is a typical chick flick… have loved the 20 mins I have watched so far. While doing all of this, I have been thinking, what will it be to be a wedding planner? I am gonna give it a thought. Lets see how that works out?