Be an Inspiring Boss, Teacher

What Difference a Boss/Teacher can make


Came across this interesting write-up on what difference a boss can make...  but as I read, felt is was more applicable to ateacher.

We all owe a lot to some special teachers in our lives, who helped us at different points of time. They came to us at school, college & beyond.

History was certainly not one of my favourite subjects - I was not lucky to be referred some "interesting" books either. Shall surely check out the two books author mentioned, The Killer Angels and Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory. 

I have some voracious readers among my friends - some of us have become less voracious readers too :) Let us not miss out on the wonderful world of books! 

Iraq: The Next Big Auto Market?

Iraq: The Next Big Auto Market?

Wells Fargo No.1

Wells Fargo is no. 1 bank in US in terms of market value, ahead of JP Morgan Chase & Citi... even HSBC, Europe's leader.

• ...focus on the more straightforward business of taking in deposits and doling out loans- thank God simplicity, common sense still rules, though we have tried to complicate. 
• It remains a strong community bank - staying really close to customer, we read way back in late 80's !
• Customer Service is beyond mere jargon 

These observation are based on the inspiring article.

But inspiring thoughts !

Check out
Well Fargo No.1

Flipkart Humour Books

Flipkart has compiled a list of books that should tickle our funny bones... 

Over the years, some of us have lost our sense of humour !

High time we re-discovered our fav authors in this category - my personal fav., PGWodehouse, figures prominently in the list !

Happy Reading !

Check out the link

Discover some of the finest humour books from flipkart

Green Initiatves in Corporate India

Circular issued by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on "Green Initiatives in Corporate Governance" Got this circular from one of India's leading banks, where I hold few shares. Delighted to note they will stop sending annual reports by post, will switch to paper-less format - soft copies. A "Circular from Ministry" was needed to make this small, but important step to a more environmentally-friendly shift ?? Better late, than never *%#€!!! Let more trees survive. Let us look for more innovative ways to 'Go Green'!!

Bangladesh cricket teamm in Asia cup finals

Bangla tigers have achieved the impossible.
The entire stadium was firmly behind them, along with their PM. What a stage to pull off the big win !!!
They played with a big heart indeed.

They just took a victory lap, after they beat Sri Lankans - they may not get to do it after the finals ! Pak may still pull off a win. But, I rate Bangla tigers as favourites.

They deserved to be in the finals. They amost beat Pak, beat India and thrashed Sri Lanka.

India & SL seemed to lack the fire to go for it. Was it the location or sheer too much cricket ? Was it the punishing weather for a game of cricket ?

May be BCCI need to take a holistic view 

Sachin Tendulkar hits 100th Ton

Sachin has completed the formality, of scoring his 100th ton, finally !


Friday in the Middle East, with budget-analysis on NDTV & Sachin's batting.. what a way to spend the week end! Especially, with the impact of the dust-storm still visible ! 
If the Union Budget was quite lacklusture, thankfully the Master blasted his ton. 


More than him, his fans ( yours truly included) would be relieved. 
Many of us felt he should have retired at 99 tons or after the world cup win, more like Bradman with his test-average of <100. 
Thankfully, he stayed on to score his ton. 


He got into a bit of tension once he reached 80's. He looked very emotional once he crossed the milestone. 


That shows he was afterall a human being. I always liked that aspect of the Master. 'Being Humane' ! 
His attitude, work-ethic, simplicity etc makes him more popular among his fans, along with his cricketing skills, & records!


Agree with Sunny Gavaskar - we are fortunate ....

Green Audit

Time to take into account environment impact too Go Green!!

Why I am leaving Goldman Sachs

Got this link from five of my friends... !!!!! (hence, five '!')

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html?_r=1

This must be going around the world - like forest fire.
In fact, it is actually as destructive as a forest fire. But, as always, we are presuming it is affecting them, not me... 'them' could be GS/banking/US/NA etc. But that is not the reality. The fact this powerful message has it us, we are in it someway or other.

It will be interesting to note how this will evolve over the next few weeks. He has criticised the very foundation of an institution of great repute ( at least till recently).

But don't we feel a sense of deja vu ? Are we not aware of this decline in value-system as the very core of all problems ? It is very very sad, but the truth...

Most importantly, we don't acknowledge it. Often, most of us, when faced with a choice do not embrace 'right' over the wrong.

Whatever our role, at whatever be the level in corporate/soecity, we can make a difference. No need to adopt a critical or messiah-type attitude either.

It is our choice !

Proton - Malaysia's National Car

Does Malaysia need a 'national car' ? 
Anchor at Bloomberg asked Dr Mahathir  Mohammed, former Malaysian leader - yes, he was a visionary leader. 
Malaysia owes a lot to his vision and execution skills. It includes a F1 track

But, should a Govt be in car-manufacturing ?
Should the govt be more concerned about the public transport ?
He accepted Germans make better cars, thanks to their work-ethic, apart from engineering excellence.But added cheekily, Proton was 'still around' !! Yes, surely alive, but not kicking!! 


He was candid, as always, to accept 'politicians meddled with the management'. Familiar, but wonder why that is not prevented, ab initio. He was a visionary politician after all.

India had its own Maruti project - but the joint venture is now well-managed by Suzuki. Now, a dominant market-leader, a 

Leadership in Cricket

…. What a difference the change of captain has made. Under Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka looked rudderless and stagnant. Under Mahela Jayawardene, they seem to have found their way again. What's more, Dilshan has rediscovered himself as a batsman too. Jayawardene has said that his appointment is short-term and his immediate goal is to make Sri Lanka win again….

Courtesy : http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2012/content/current/story/557103.html

Indeed, leadership is so very important in cricket also.

In Indian cricket, Saurav showed exemplary leadership skills. MSD started off very well, but seem to be losing the sheen of late !

Sachin & Dravid were not really successful captains.

Leadership …. Is not easy, surely. But mastering it is the true fun of it !

Happy Leading !

Brand Equity Program on State Tourism

Watching BRAND EQUITY program on celebrity endorsement of state tourism.

Pleasantly surprised to note Gujarat has won the best state tourism award, ahead of Kerala & Rajasthan !
Brand Amitabh works, whatever experts feel ( on program!)
AB's endorsements cut across numerous product categories & brands. But, perhaps his endorsement of Guj Tourism just raises the brand awareness by a few notches ?!

The 'Rang Barse...' star has done smart commercials, elegantly conceived & executed.
Did not feel same about the latest campaign by Kerala Tourism though. God's Own Country has nothing 'Godly' or SSpiritual on their campaigns. May be time to add Kerala's unique multi-religious/cultural destinations, and other attractions ?  Also communicate more appropriate to the target audience ?

One of the experts spoke against using any celebrity and also due to non-availability of suitable candidate. Perhaps he may not be thinking beyond Mammotty/Mohanlal or Yesudas/Chitra ( deliberately not mentioning Sreesanth). But how about the latest superstar of Bollywood, Vidya Balan? Riding on the super success of her last film ( Dirty Picture ) and all accolades thereof, incl the national award just announced... Her current brand profile will be an extension of the latest Kerala Toursim campaign !! ( Pun intended)

In an earlier posting, I had predicted TN roping Rajnikanth, Mumbai approaching Sachin, etc ( SRK brand ambassador of Kolkotta). That may still happen !!