...outside but weather.com tells me that it feels like -22deg Celsius thanks to the howling beastly wind. This is the coldest weather I have ever lived in and its quite weird. Cant wait for the snow storms In February. There is ice on my Vicotrian semi-bay window panes. I am prep-ing for an unprep-able final tomorrow in a warm bed and thinking of all the books I can devour after I am done with awful phase of B-school.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Snippets of Wisdom
from our LEAD class -
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Quest for Inner Ring
CS Lewis's very relevant take on corruption -
Friday, December 11, 2009
A Thoughtprovoking Discussion
In our LEAD class, we were made to read a bunch of 10 year and 20 year memoirs of the HBS Class of 1976. The ensuing discussion in class was thought provoking. We went on to desribe our personal take on 'what is success'. It was an almost touching experience to hear how my very accomplished classmates measure success. And let me tell you it wasn't just coming to HBS or getting awards.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Simple Pleasures
I have 2 amazing books to read over Thanksgiving - Winterson's Lighthouse Keeping and Murakami's The Elephant Vanishes. I am as excited as a 5 year old would be on Christmas Eve, waiting to open her gifts. I wish it was perfect weather to go with these books. There are plenty of wooden benches beneath maple, birch and other trees here, which are so forlorn - yearning for someone to sit on them. But the cold is just too bone chilling to read sitting on them.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Flag Day at HBS
Flag Day is an important section event. It's the day we hang our national flags in our classroom. The # of flags raised in my section is 30; i.e my section mates come from 30 countries. Unfortunately, HBS's policy dictates that the Taiwanese national flag should not be put up. Fortunately, for my Taiwanese classmates, we hung the Taiwan Olympic delegation's flag. That diffused the uncomfortable situation a bit. To introduce our flags, we give a 3 min fun presentation of our countries - quirky facts, trivia, a bit of patriotism thrown in. The below hilarious map surfaced during the USA presentation, all in good fun. Notice Africa doesnt even exist!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Are You Here Yet? -2
I know the heights of egotism and pomposity is to quote oneself. But i cant help it, I want to remind myself a promise I keep making to myself. I need this reminder ever more so here at Harvard, to not get drowned with all the work and the many ways one can spend time here. Eastertide, here goes all over again March 09, 2009-
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Professors & Rankings
My 'homeroom' professor , the professor who is sort of the assigned 'spiritual' guide to our section, has been ranked #44 in World's Top Business Thinkers this year!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Bob McDonald P&G CEO at HBS
My husband asked me to attend this talk without fail. And being a dutiful wife, I did just that. And here is my report -
- Have a purpose in life. My purpose has always been helping people. That is why I was a Boy Scout, then went to West Point and subsequently the Army. Then I joined P&G because the purpose of P&G aligned with my purpose. It was touching lives and improving life. He listed the P&G core values, etc.
- Everyone wants to succeed, success is contagious.
- Putting people in the right job is one of the most important jobs of the leader.
- Character is the most important trait of a leader. By character, I mean (a) putting the needs of the organization above your needs. Have ambitions for the organization, not for yourself. (b) Integrity - at P&G we dont cheat, steal or lie. And we don't want people who do that. (c) Taking Responsibility - In West Point, for any problem or issue, there are only 4 answers - 1. Yes, sir 2. No, sir. 3. Sir, I do not understand 4. No excuse, sir. And I learnt through experience that the correct answer is No, excuse Sir whenever you mess up. Even if the causes of the failure were outside your control. Take responsibility. (d) Choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. Whenever something is turning out to be easy, think again. Maybe you are doing the wrong thing.
- Diverse groups of people are more innovative than homogenous people. We want our people to be exactly like our consumers. Diversity is key to innovation. And innovations are more about connecting the dots than straight lines. Inventions never get used for what they were meant/designed for. For, example, Graham Bell designed the telephone as an aid for the hearing impaired. Marconi meant the radio to be used to communicate from a ship. Certainly not for entertainment on land! Father of IBM's most famous quote is "I think in future, the United States of America may need one or two computers." P&G also uses the Platinum Rule (as opposed to the Golden Rule: Treat otheres as you want others to treat you): Treat others as they want to be treated.
- Ineffective strategies, systems and culture are bigger culprits than people. As a leader, when things go wrong, investigate processes and strategies first. Not people.
- There will be some people in the organization who will not make it on the journey. This is a difficult admission, as much as I am an optimist and an idealist.
- Organizations must renew themselves. The most important thing you will learn at Harvard is 'how to learn'. P&G wouldn't be celebrating its 172nd year this October if it hadn't constantly renewed it self. In 1980 (when Bob joined P&G from the Army), P&G's overseas business is 25% of the total. Today it is 60%. It had 60k people. Today 130k. It had zero billion dollar brands. Today it has 23 of billion dollar brands. It has 20 half a million dollar brands. (Quick aside: These 43 brands make up 95% of their profits. So Bob joked that what the other 180 brands were doing is a question he asks everyday and joked about cutting brands!)
- Recruiting is the top priority. We have a culture of promoting from within. This is why, I am here today and try to be here at HBS every year. This is why I am going to talk to you after this speech. Because, I am looking for the future CEO of P&G.
- The true test of leadership is the performance of the organization when he/she is absent or after he/she departs. He gave the illustration of how the true test of your parenting is how your teenager behaves when you are absent or on a holiday.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Aldrich Art & Life's Little Things
The other day, I remember walking along the halls of Aldrich and coming across this piece of art I found quirky and yet haunting. I shan't quote it just yet because I want to get it exactly as the artist said of the piece. Tomorrow, I will go in search of it. And I will quote all of it. It reminded me of life's little things. A reminder to not be buried in the hurry burry of everything, and to marvel at the strange fates at work that brought me to Harvard, to Aldrich, to that hallway, standing at that very art piece on the cusp of the beautiful moment that will be so full of comprehension and beautiful simplicity.
If I Could Tell You, Auden
.... If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.
There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know. ...
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
First Day of Serious Classes
Today has been the first day of serious classes. And you all may or may not ask, "How has it been, H?" and other variations questions. Well it depends -
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thucydides said
Thucydides said, "The secret of happiness is freedom. And the secret of freedom, courage"
Advice & Wisdom
"He advised those who had no government of themselves never to taste of things that tempt a man to eat when he is no longer hungry, to drink when his thirst is already quenched, because it is this that spoils the stomach, causes the headache, and puts the soul into disorder."
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Welcome Party Antics
Yesterday I came across an unfinished post recollecting the embarrassment I and my cousins put my sister through in 2001 while receiving her at an undisclosed airport in Arizona. It was loads of fun planning the whole sham. It was winter vacation. I went to my uncle's place in an undisclosed great American suburbia in Arizona. So, did two other cousins from up North and Canada. My sister was the last to fly into Arizona. So, we all put our heads together to make her feel very 'welcome' by organizing a welcome procession at the airport.
Banner
Every welcome party, needs a banner. So, the first task was to make one that screamed "Welcome Name-of-Sister!" I employed the talents of my uncle's 3 year old, Cousin A to come up with the artwork to 'decorate' the screaming letter written in pencil. She scribble mysterious things that vaguely looked like lop sided flowers with wings, dogs that looked like a horse with three legs ("it hurted it's leg and it dropped off"), stick figure and other such crap that parents gush about when kids like A draw them. In case u dint get the idea, she did a disgusting job out of it. Which was the general effect we wanted of course. To hold up the banner, we glued the banner to two tall twigs we found in the backyard.
Garland
Garlands made out of money are a common gesture in India. So, we decided to make one with monopoly currency. My aunt though was a fly in the ointment. She absolutely refused to allow us to waste good Monopoly money on this mad sham. So, we just glued cut white paper with dollar sign. The skilful artwork was again provided by the 3 year old Cousin A (who by now is beside herself with self importance as we found her talents crucial).
Music
Cousin Ash (all of 6 years found his toy plastic drums (the kind that you sling around your neck for marching bands) meant for 3 year olds. I dug up a toy cymbals that made quite a ruckus.
The Welcome
Uncle drove us to the airport. He was armed with a camera. We are a very mature family, I suppose. The welcome party consisted of my uncle, 3 year old Cousin A, 6 year old Cousin Ash, 26ish Cousin K, 31ish Cousin G and myself. My aunt politely opted out of this sham.
Anticipation was high as we waited at the arrival gates.
We caught sight of her. She was a 30m away.
She waved.
I signalled.
The hideous, lopsided paper banner with glue stains and Dali-esque artwork was popped up and unfurled to full glory.
My sister blinked.
We chanted "Welcome, welcome to Name of Sister"
She stopped.
Everybody stared.
Cousin Ash added the background score. He began thumping his heart away on the plastic drums.
Everybody stared some more. Some sniggered. Others shook their heads.
This was a lot more embarrassing for us than I thought it would be, but oh heck, damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!
Meanwhile my sister was wildly looking for an escape route.
We were making our way towards her. Then the final touch – the paper garland was extracted from the plastic grocery bag.
She abandoned her cabin bag and tried to run.
Amused passerbys made way a little.
Cousin Ash abandoned the toy drums and lunged at her thighs, I latched on to her shoulders. Then Cousin G, pushed the garland over her head. The welcome was complete. Needless to say, my sister sputtered with rage and embarassment or at least half a day. She thought we were all terribly unclassy and vulgar. Garn! I say, we had a load of fun, as long as it was someone else being welcomed.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Most Important People in the World
Friday, May 29, 2009
Meetings 101
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wisdom & Humility
"I come to embrace it, to heartily concur, to affirm that one's title -- even a title like president -- says very little about how well one's life has been led," he said. "That no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, more to learn, more to achieve." ~ Barack Hussein Obama
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
A Woman's Life
... is a taxing one. And it is an unfair one. Tomorrow, I shall rant. Today, I shall just be plain old sad.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Are You Here, Yet?
You have to be a Jack of all trades. Being a Master is overrated. You need to be able to sing a ditty, dance the lindy hop, discuss the Palestinian situation in Middle East, solve a cryptic crossword, be content with your own company,be comfortable going to parties alone, steer a sparkling conversation over lunch, climb a peak - kilimanjaro or kinabalu - once in a while, run a marathon, swim a kilometer, backpack across continents, be kind to the dog or the kid, know all about wines and yet remain a teetotaler, know all there is to know of cigars, and yet remain a non-smoker, learn a language, give a dime to the old man selling tissues, canter and gallop with your horse. To all this, you need to have a sense of humor nothing can diminish, a goodness nothing can tarnish, a soul that is free and that transcends all this and everything. Are you here, yet?
Thursday, March 05, 2009
God Has a Great Sense of Humor
God has a great sense of humor. Almost the fiendish kind. I have known it more and more recently. But today, was just. Well, He just took it to another level, today. Eastertide, remember. Remember today. March 5th. You felt all these feelings within 10 minutes.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Peter O'Toole's Oscar Speech
I think of our colleagues our old friends, now gone, who played their parts in this earn
I think of the sumptuous talents alive well
I think of the astonishing young, the gifted and able young men and women, of whom i grab energy in handful."
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Arsonists
I just don't get it. Why would people start bushfires? Why? No, this is not a tirade. Put aside my complete outrage. This is me completely baffled by the psyche of the arsonists. To relieve boredom, to bring chaos and excitement, to crave attention and recognition, I am told. Still, that's just too simple to explain away the psychology of someone who would deliberately cause such damage. Plus it's puzzling that Australia has so many skulking pyromaniacs.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Decency Is Heroic
Gregory Peck was the best Atticus Finch there ever was and there ever will be. For me. And for Harper Lee, at the very least. 'Cos she said, her Atticus Finch was a role that allowed Peck to play himself. Peck. A quiet man. A quiet, decent man. He had to " put everything I had into it – all my feelings and everything I'd learned in 46 years of living, about family life and fathers and children. And my feelings about racial justice and inequality and opportunity". Peck was a decent man. The quietly decent kind. Decency is special. It is such an underrated virtue. Decency is heroic in these trying times. Hollywood, please, no remakes.
Friday, February 06, 2009
A Lethargic Soul
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Are You Afraid
My life's motto was compactly summarised in 4 beautiful lines at the base of the Jaipur Column decades ago-
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
MBA Updates
I have been accepted into the Kellogg School of Management (1 year program) as well as the Harvard Business School for my MBA.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
One Egg
There was a store in our colony where we did most of our grocery shopping. I often ran the chore of getting a dozen eggs from the store for Mother. I liked that chore. I liked to feel eggy cool smoothness. Hunt for cracks. Jiggle 'em a bit. Pick the largest. I took my time. The owner didn't mind. He knew me since my toddler years and he let me select my own dozen eggs.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The Cure for Emptiness
There are days when you feel utterly empty. You will yourself to feel something. Anything, and yet you dont. Not a tingle. Not a whisper. What is the cure for those days? A change? A walk in the park at eventide? Getting a dog? Or a goldfish? Reading a book? Cuddling up to mom? What is the cure? Tell me right now!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Travel Agents
I had a bit of a nasty experience.
One chirpy day was spent being put on hold by their really advanced telephone system for 50 minutes, being directed to the wrong branch (they have all these silly branches which serve you depending on the region of travel, the mode of travel, your race, ethnicity, mother's name, last name, time of birth. No seriously!), spending 1 hour in the queue system (again supah advanced) and talking to the officer and then being directed to the correct branch, only to find it closed.
At this point, I stood up, snatched my money from him, l.i.t.e.r.a.l.l.y and stopped nearly short of swearing at him cuz I was brought up to be well mannered and polite to people who serve you. Then i told him how utterly stupid that statement was. He said I could take my business elsewhere.
Of course, after this, i took charge of this whole situation - entirely.
I gave him my money, agreed to his condition and walked out thanking him.
And 10 min ago, I see my Staff Club organising a trip to the same destination for a decidedly cheaper fare.
The Agony of Many Options
Suddenly i have a guzillion books that I have to read and are staring at me from my bedside table. The Known World, Cloud Atlas, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Prozac Nation...just to name a few. And, i am so terribly excited that I could jump up and down on my mattress had I been 5 years younger. I want to read 'em all at once.
A new year and a new resolution to be more disciplined. That has saddled me with the burden of bearing the agony of many options and only one choice.