This one is about Vittal, literally a member of our family. Vittal came to us from the time I can remember, which means he was probably in our home from my early childhood or thereabouts. More accurately it was around the mid 1970s so even prior to my birth. To call him a house help or a servant would not do us any justice to his memory. He is probably no more than 10 years elder than me, perhaps a much lesser difference, actually. Yet, he took the role of an elder brother, a help that was al...

This one is about Vittal, literally a member of our family. Vittal came to us from the time I can remember, which means he was probably in our home from my early childhood or thereabouts. More accurately it was around the mid 1970s so even prior to my birth. To call him a house help or a servant would not do us any justice to his memory. He is probably no more than 10 years elder than me, perhaps a much lesser difference, actually. Yet, he took the role of an elder brother, a help that was al...

I have always loved the window seat - for as long as I can remember. Is this a sign of introspection or an inherent curiosity? The window seat offers a view, but much more. It offers a connection. My earliest memory of jockeying for the window seat is in the train rides from Bombay to Madras. We used to go down South once in a while, to visit relatives, or to visit our native village in Tirunelveli or some of the religious locations such as Tirupathi. I fought my grandma most often for this s...

I have always loved the window seat - for as long as I can remember. Is this a sign of introspection or an inherent curiosity? The window seat offers a view, but much more. It offers a connection. My earliest memory of jockeying for the window seat is in the train rides from Bombay to Madras. We used to go down South once in a while, to visit relatives, or to visit our native village in Tirunelveli or some of the religious locations such as Tirupathi. I fought my grandma most often for this s...

Remember that feeling when you walk into a classroom, join a training camp, board a bus or come late to a party? Your eyes scan furiously for that one known face, that connection with someone, or just friendly eye contact with the first retina. Just an acknowledgment, a minute gesture, perhaps that nod or those first words is all you seek. If you are an extrovert, you may be the one that initiates this, but if you are an introvert, this can be horribly uncomfortable. This post is written from...

Remember that feeling when you walk into a classroom, join a training camp, board a bus or come late to a party? Your eyes scan furiously for that one known face, that connection with someone, or just friendly eye contact with the first retina. Just an acknowledgment, a minute gesture, perhaps that nod or those first words is all you seek. If you are an extrovert, you may be the one that initiates this, but if you are an introvert, this can be horribly uncomfortable. This post is written from...

There is something about names and likeability. The name has some effect on the brain. It is often the first thing we see these days, whether on LinkedIn or a text message, an email. Gone are the days when you would bump into someone randomly in a bus or at the market and get introduced. These days, it is about purposeful connections, so the names play a role. But this is not a very recent idea either. More than 2 decades ago, my parents were starting the matrimonial process to try and “arran...

There is something about names and likeability. The name has some effect on the brain. It is often the first thing we see these days, whether on LinkedIn or a text message, an email. Gone are the days when you would bump into someone randomly in a bus or at the market and get introduced. These days, it is about purposeful connections, so the names play a role. But this is not a very recent idea either. More than 2 decades ago, my parents were starting the matrimonial process to try and “arran...

Frugality is a trait that I have respected, admired, and worshipped over the years. I have thought about the reasons for this long and hard. It comes rather naturally due to a few significant influences in life. My maternal grandparents were always frugal as they had to be, they had several kids to cater to, within limited means, had to get them college education, get them married and settled. They were smart parents that maximized their output for the amount of input. They were never poor, n...

Frugality is a trait that I have respected, admired, and worshipped over the years. I have thought about the reasons for this long and hard. It comes rather naturally due to a few significant influences in life. My maternal grandparents were always frugal as they had to be, they had several kids to cater to, within limited means, had to get them college education, get them married and settled. They were smart parents that maximized their output for the amount of input. They were never poor, n...

Today is the 40th anniversary of my paternal grandfather’s disappearance day. It was a stormy night at the tail end of the monsoon rains in Bombay in 1983. I vividly remember getting the news as we were taking a taxi from Chembur to Ghatkopar en route from my periamma’s place in Chembur. It was not completely unexpected, just the timing was. Thatha after all had been back and forth to the various hospitals increasing in hierarchy of specialized cardiac facilities and expertise/qualification o...

Today is the 40th anniversary of my paternal grandfather’s disappearance day. It was a stormy night at the tail end of the monsoon rains in Bombay in 1983. I vividly remember getting the news as we were taking a taxi from Chembur to Ghatkopar en route from my periamma’s place in Chembur. It was not completely unexpected, just the timing was. Thatha after all had been back and forth to the various hospitals increasing in hierarchy of specialized cardiac facilities and expertise/qualification o...

There is often a dilemma that I face these days on whether to write content by myself or entertain some ghostwriters. This includes AI writers at times. While the thought is tempting and sometimes it is necessary given timing and engagement constraints, for someone that takes pride in writing, it is not gratifying to engage someone else to do the writing. For one, I can’t read the writing and be okay with it, usually, I always end up re-writing most of the text; and on the other, attaching my...

There is often a dilemma that I face these days on whether to write content by myself or entertain some ghostwriters. This includes AI writers at times. While the thought is tempting and sometimes it is necessary given timing and engagement constraints, for someone that takes pride in writing, it is not gratifying to engage someone else to do the writing. For one, I can’t read the writing and be okay with it, usually, I always end up re-writing most of the text; and on the other, attaching my...

This phrase came up in 2 very different conversations today.One at work and another at home regarding work. But both led to the same question, whether one does something expecting something else in return? Intriguing. At some fundamental level, it is human to expect. Whether an outcome, or something in return, some material feeling or object, whether joy or a favor. Most of us get attached to these things or products we expect. That leads to disappointment or greed if that outcome is not achi...

This phrase came up in 2 very different conversations today.One at work and another at home regarding work. But both led to the same question, whether one does something expecting something else in return? Intriguing. At some fundamental level, it is human to expect. Whether an outcome, or something in return, some material feeling or object, whether joy or a favor. Most of us get attached to these things or products we expect. That leads to disappointment or greed if that outcome is not achi...

This is a thought that surfaces every day but more so today where a dear friend has been suffering from health issues that recursively hit one after the other. They have been braving it with a lot of family support, a killer attitude and a firm cause to continue. Admirable as it is, it is a stark reminder that the greatest machine of all, our body is limited and the limitations may be by the design of the maker, won’t be known until it is time for us to find that out. Once we find out, some o...

This is a thought that surfaces every day but more so today where a dear friend has been suffering from health issues that recursively hit one after the other. They have been braving it with a lot of family support, a killer attitude and a firm cause to continue. Admirable as it is, it is a stark reminder that the greatest machine of all, our body is limited and the limitations may be by the design of the maker, won’t be known until it is time for us to find that out. Once we find out, some o...

Pivots are hard. But pivots are necessary. They are the way to break from the norm. They are the way to get out of the mediocre. When it is a successful pivot, people will know. They will acknowledge and they will resist before they embrace. Sometimes a pivot means letting go, letting go of erstwhile success. You let go, and you will fly, you will reach heights you did not know existed. You release yourself from the bonds of expectations, from boat anchors and fly you will if you had the conv...

Pivots are hard. But pivots are necessary. They are the way to break from the norm. They are the way to get out of the mediocre. When it is a successful pivot, people will know. They will acknowledge and they will resist before they embrace. Sometimes a pivot means letting go, letting go of erstwhile success. You let go, and you will fly, you will reach heights you did not know existed. You release yourself from the bonds of expectations, from boat anchors and fly you will if you had the conv...

These were the words from Running Coach Benett on Nike Running Club. These words were important during that first 10k run in double-digit months, but what was more prophetic was the impact of these words. He said that when we compete or run, we do not remind ourselves to take that step back when things are going right, instead we do it too late, when things are going horribly wrong. We are not in the right physical or mental state to take that step back to analyze what went wrong as much as w...

These were the words from Running Coach Benett on Nike Running Club. These words were important during that first 10k run in double-digit months, but what was more prophetic was the impact of these words. He said that when we compete or run, we do not remind ourselves to take that step back when things are going right, instead we do it too late, when things are going horribly wrong. We are not in the right physical or mental state to take that step back to analyze what went wrong as much as w...

Or is there? I was included as part of a celebration for the 30th birthday of a product. The original founders were there to celebrate and it was a special occasion. I am a history, tradition, heritage, and culture buff. For me, celebrating a 30th anniversary of a product was a first-time phenomenon.“There is no substitute to experience.”That was the quote I used at the celebration. Experience that is gained over the years is not something that can be shortened by someone starting new. Grante...

Or is there? I was included as part of a celebration for the 30th birthday of a product. The original founders were there to celebrate and it was a special occasion. I am a history, tradition, heritage, and culture buff. For me, celebrating a 30th anniversary of a product was a first-time phenomenon.“There is no substitute to experience.”That was the quote I used at the celebration. Experience that is gained over the years is not something that can be shortened by someone starting new. Grante...