A Bend in the Lane

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! http://www.thinkers50.com/biographies/44/2009

My husband asked me to attend this talk without fail. And being a dutiful wife, I did just that. And here is my report - Bob McDonald talked about his 10 maxims for leadership, a work in progress through his many years of leadership in the Army and at P&G. I have condensed a lot of points and hence may not be as eloquent as his speech. Anyhoo, here goes - 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) In...

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 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. ... I always always always end up connecting with Auden's magical, lyrical haunting poetry. No matter what I read or don't. 

Shock of the week - to find out that of all the famous people in the world, George W. Bush was from my section.  Just one question. Why? PS: Mitt Romney was too.

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 - On Cases & Classes -  I like it a lot. I think, I am going to actually like my 'fluffy' classes quite a bit- LEAD (Leadership) and Maketing. We also looked at a case of Lapdesk, a for profit social enterprise in South Africa. I haven't been as concise and articulate as I wished to be during class. But, I will get there. I better as 50% of my grade is dependent on the quality of my comments.  On Diversity of Classmates - The sheer number of things my classmates have achieved in their 'personal' time was plain outstanding, their careers, I felt needed some room for diversity. Most had followed the consulting and private equity route, if not the IB and private equity route. So much so that I quickly realised that I was the exotic diversity candidate at Harvard, the 'poet'! Where are the promised ...

Thucydides said, "The secret of happiness is freedom. And the secret of freedom, courage" I often thought that I ranked 'way above average' when it comes to courage. Not the kind of  'let's jump off a cliff for a skinny dip' courage, or 'let's sleep in a haunted house' courage, or 'let's do a 100m bungee jump' courage. Nay, not that kind of courage.  Rather the kind of courage that doesn't think twice to confront a misbehaving stranger on a bus, the kind who doesnt hesitate to call the cops on some random jerks on the buses trying to molest women, or the kind who doesnt take it low at work be it a colleague, or my boss or his boss if I dont like something (and hence is often not well liked).  But, at times, I have this nagging doubt that I am courageous not because I am aware of the precariousness and the dangers of my actions, but rather, I am foolish and naive to know of them. Or lack the tact and sauve to tackle the situati...

"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."

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 le...

The other day, while I was driving past IKEA, a billboard caught my eye. A billboard announcing the sale of childrens' furniture. The hoarding read - "For the most important people in the world" - obviously referring to children. What struck me was what a load of marketing balderdash the statement was. At least in my opinion. When did the world gang up and decide that children are the most important people in the world? They ARE important. But surely they are not the MOST important? Look, it is a given that I would do just about anything to protect a baby.   But what about the old and the aged? Dont they figure as the most important? They have lived decades and have attained, hopefully, wisdom. We have many lessons to learn from their experiences, from their mistakes. We have wisdom to partake. If there were no old, there would no wisdom to teach the young. And what is a generation sans wisdom worth?   And what about women? Dont you think they are much more importan...

In a meeting, if someone is not arguing with you, dont join the argument. Not even to defend your boss, Or boss's boss. Bosses can take care of themselves. That is why they are bosses. Its not a fisty-cuffs in the school yard. Its Machiavellian maneuvers in the board room. The Lessig style of presentation is all nice and jazzy and gets you lots of attention usually . But not always. Sometimes, it looks shallow and like you haven't put in enough effort. Especially if you do not know the difference between Scheme and Fare.  Which brings me to - there IS a difference between Scheme, Fare . Dont argue. Especially with policy makers. Especially with big honcho-policy-maker. It's foolish. And my best learning - shut up. If you cant shut up, sleep. If you cant sleep, doodle. They will survive fine without your two cents worth. They have till date. 

"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

... is a taxing one. And it is an unfair one. Tomorrow, I shall rant. Today, I shall just be plain old sad. 

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? 

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. One disbelief.  Two Curiosity  Three disbelief, the excited kind.  Four Realisation  Five Sinking   Six Panic  Seven Desperation  Eight Panic  Nine Desperation  Ten Dread 

Whattay an eloquent speech. No tears, no thanking the whole world and its aunt. Just plain dignity.   "... and i am honoured. The magic of movies enraptured me when I was a child. As i totter into antiquity movie magic enraptures me still. Having already bagged this baby, spared uncertainities prior to the opening of an envelope, I am able to think. 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." They gave him the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. He is probably one of the 5 actors who deserved an Oscar for acting, but, alas, never did get it. The other 4 are  Barbara Stanwyck  (she made it all seem far too easy),  Edward G Robinson  (a phenomenol powerhouse of acting),  Cary Grant  (probably because comedy isn't so terribly appreciated by the Academy), Charles Boyer ( it's an...

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. 

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.

Sitting down to quote oneself is the heights of pomposity. But right now, I cant help recalling what I once said, "  A bit o' sun, a gust of wind, a patch of blue skies, a twinkle in the eye and an insouciant soul are good things for the lethargic soul."  Aye, I said it right. Today I need all of that.  Today is one of those days I am tired in the bones. 

My life's motto was compactly summarised in 4 beautiful lines at the base of the Jaipur Column decades ago- In thought, Faith In word, Wisdom In deed, Courage In life, Service It is easier to carry them around as words engraved on a medallion everyday than to live them everyday. Especially the line that speaks of deeds of courage. And to find comfort I turn to Auden and he mocks at me from his grave - Pick up a fight, go to war. Leave the hero in the bar. climb a peak, fight a lion, let no one guess you are weak.