I took a walk on Carter Road today...everytime I pass through a crowded place, I think...so many people, so many lives...are they happy...or are they lonely...are they just going through the motions of life...are they living their dreams...what if I were one of them...

I sat down on the pavement in one of the open spaces, on the opposite side of cafe coffee day...it's a really nice place...there were kids running around...owners playing with their dogs...other people sitting on the pavement and steps...there was a group of youngsters playing some instruments and singing along...I couldn't tell what they were singing though I could hear it through my ipod music...but they seemed happy...they were moving to the tune of their songs...

And as I sat, listening to my music, watching the activities near me, I saw the sun slowly go down and the sky and the sea turn orange...it felt very peaceful even amidst all the commotion...and for a moment I felt I was living a life different from my present one...it felt a bit surreal...like I'd risen above and could see everything below, myself included...

(bad quality pic taken from my motorola)

That everybody -

• thinks they're good listeners 
• thinks they're very self reflective
• thinks that they think a lot
• thinks that the above are unique/rare qualities

This is a very sad day for me, yet as I look back and remember the times we shared together I feel like the happiest man. I knew I would marry Tiku the moment I laid eyes on her. I met her when she was 23 and I was 26. Though she was 23 she was as innocent as a 10 year old and in the last 60 years I’ve literally watched her grow from a baby to an old but beautiful woman.

She was a very special woman: warm, caring and understanding. She was shy when I met her but as she grew, her confidence also grew and she became one of the most outgoing persons I’d ever met with friends in almost every country in the world. And I think the fact that most of you are here at this moment speaks a lot about her.

Her sense of humor was different yet so cute and funny. Her resilience – for someone so tiny she was surprisingly very strong. Her elegance – I remember her showing off when someone said she looked like Audrey Hepburn J She was so positive and vibrant…she brought sunshine with her wherever she went. She touched so many lives, her work and her life exemplified her belief that you don’t have to make a loud noise to make a change.


by shivani_smith

Her zest to try new things, to make people happy and to make a difference inspired so many. She found beauty in everything and yet was so blissfully ignorant about her own beauty. She had me believe that I taught her a lot, but I know I learned a lot from her as well.

I will miss her.

Plan --> Brief --> Execute --> Debrief

People errors are the exception, not the rule. More often than not, organisational processes, organisational behavior and system failure are the true culprits (leadership, organisation, teamwork, communication, discipline)

Future Picture - Picnic scenario - different people have a different idea about a perfect picnic - show them the picture.

Break the processes into tiniest steps - master the steps

I envy those who know what they want to do, what they want to be from the start. I just found a friend on Facebook who was in my school in class XI and he knew he wanted to be a lawyer then...10 years later, he's exactly that and doing extremely well. I, on the other hand, didn't know what I wanted to do then and until recently.

I took law because one my dad was a lawyer and two because my career counselor at school, after various tests, said I would be good at it. Quit that to become a social worker within 2 years of practicing. Taught kids from the slum communities at the same time doing HR for the organisation. Completely enjoyed both of that and now I feel that HR really is my calling. I love developing people, making them believe that they have the potential and that they can realise it...perhaps because I know how frustrating it can be if you don't and how simply happy you ca be if you do.

But now, when I want to join the HR department of a company, I find myself stuck - because everyone wants an MBA - the law degree and work experience is not enough. So I have the following options:

1. Do an MBA - I can only apply to colleges next year since all admissions procedures have already begun for this year. So that means I can only get into a business school in 2009 and therefore

(A) I can only begin my career in 2010 at the earliest, possibly 2011 if it's a 2 years course. i.e. at the age of 31.

(B) Since most good colleges have compulsory residential courses, I'll have to stay away from hubby for that 1-2 years.

(C) We had planned to have a kid when I was 30 i.e. in 2010 and now it doesn't make sense to start a family in the middle of or immediately after graduation nor just when I've started my career. And so that gap keeps increasing.

(D) Financially - we've already taken a home loan and I don't even know how we can think of affording my study loan.

2. Get a job without an MBA

(A) It's difficult to get people to even look at your resume if you don't have an MBA

(B) Even if I manage to get into a company, I'll have to start at the most basic/entry level - where young MBAs would be my managers

(C) In terms of career progression, lack of a degree may be a hindrance and in case the company decides to downsize I'm afraid I may be amongst the first ones to go (so if the choice is between an MBA and me at the same performance level, I would most definitely be the one who's shown the red card)

3. I could try and get into a company even if it's at the entry level and at the same time apply to a business school - but I don't know if it's worth doing a long distance/part time course and if I would still have the same disadvantages; even assuming that I'd be able to balance work, study and home. 

I feel stuck... :(