A stand up comedian with a bunch of B School alumni

Being Alumnus is about giving - not getting not networking. At least just being there! Being available. That is not difficult for me 

Evening.... 

A light drizzle... we took out the university umbrella ☔️, rarely used! 

Chandra went back to a campus in his forties. He had taken a semi-sabbatical during the same time and pursued some other certifications and short-term assignments.  

Ever since he has started telling everyone, who would care listen to him, gyaan:
'There are 3 things you should do when you hit the forties.  

1. Take a sabbatical and do something very different
2. Go back to campus and learn something that interests you, deep within. Not for ROI or to enhance your career prospects ('career is the worst maya')
3. It is very unlikely you go back or remain in the same job, industry or place. Follow your dream, live your #LifePurpose

Quickly it was bright & sunny. And clean, after the light showers! What would Bangalore do without this natural jaadu-pocha by Nature, with frequent rains?

Skipped Onam celebrations in the apartment to meet old & some new friends. It was less about the celebration, more about the Onam Sadya he missed!

Uber driver was not moving, on the app. He said, he stepped out for his late lunch and was now waiting for rains to stop, to get back into his car. Liked his 'authenticity' & confidence! He had no qualms about being late, Uber rating et al. He was courteous with me, though responded aggressively to drivers who were even mildly challenging him on the road. On a Saturday evening, going into the city, he got enough opportunities to tap into the 'angry young man' within. Chandra rated him 5/5. 'Wonder if I am at times too lenient when it comes to these taxi ratings. I want them all to get their incentives unless there is a violation or threat'! (The comedian said something similar later...!)

Late Evening.... 

The venue was right inside the stadium. Good place for the campus group! Always playful, in a world, chasing madness. 

Made some new friends, all connected by the common badge and some dream to make a difference. That is common among the middle-aged going back to campus. To re-discover ourselves. 

Introductions were made, with a new twist. There was a new twist to the program too. 

A Stand-up comedian.... 


His assistant came in first, like a proverbial bakra! He struggled to tackle a bunch of professionals, with his jokes and 'presence'! He will learn and get better, surely...

Then the main guy came. He started off asking an 'intelligent' question. 
Now stand-up comedians can be serious and ask intelligent questions too! Let's spare them from stereotyping :) 

Quickly he found what could work for the audience. That is a gift for anyone who takes the stage. Quickly identify what would work with the audience, and make the connect. 

Not sure if it was an intelligent analysis and decision, or just played safe! For the next 20 minutes or so the jokes were all on married men! Everyone in the audience was married (deliberately avoiding the adjective, 'happily'.... as I don't know!)

What transpired is beyong this blog post. Not what you think, but trade-mark, et al. It is his bread and butter afterall. 

Suffice to say some of us would get back and fire from the comedian's shoulders. What we could not handle as part of 'Crucial Conversations' with spouses, the comedian's shoulder would be a convenient artillery :)

Marriages are made in Heaven... Period!