Business to the Buddha

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  • Indian Elections – Divided we stand Together!






    You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; …they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    One of my friends – Vaibhav – called me last week. He said someone (Lets call him Ravi) came canvassing for a political party to him. Viabhav asked me if I can write something on Indian Politics! I plainly rejected saying my blogs relate to Business and Spirituality I wont write on politics.

    Economist'sHe further persuaded me, said- (Vaibhav speaks) let me give you my example, I said to Ravi – I am supporting who will form Govt! Ravi told me “good, are you sure you support criminals in politics, do you find corruption as chalta hai!…” Vaibhav said “no!” Ravi – than what is your take? Will you vote for corruption, criminals!”

    Vaibhav continued over phone “Pravin, it made me think. I shall vote for what I think is right even if that person loses election. Why dont you write?” I still said – no to political blog, I am favoring a better India, not any political party. Everyone must have their plans for a better India. Every party has different priority, we should respect each one. Vaibhav said do not write in favor of any party per se, ask people to vote for what they feel as right not necessarily for any party.

    Today I voted, so thought that I should speak my mind out.

    Earlier I have written on various topics closely related to governments, economy and corruptions. All these include crony capitalism as well (perhaps subtly). How can these big parties invest so much on election? Who funds them and what is the part in the flesh (of these invisible hands) in future policy making? According to news the Ad expense itself is in Crs ref Hindustan Times News! Forget about ground activities such as rallies, printing of leaflets and air travel of netas (buying votes by cash/liquor) etc. You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; perhaps they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    What I see in the current Indian political system is – lack of effective opposition. It is evident that the government also realized it. The UPA government has talked about everything except Janlokpal bill in 2011. Passed a weak bill (just to garner votes in 2013 state election & general election now). If we look at 2011 at various occasions Govt spoken to malign those who want to stand against corruption. The list includes – Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal (his wife) and Sri Sri.

    It has been observed that CBI can VERY efficiently work against those who can be threats to Govt. but CBI FAILS miserably to Find facts, File cases and Finish the proceeding against any political parties. It simply proves the current system does not work. I asked myself few questions about two years back – Will Mr Raja contest next election? Will Mr Sibal contest? Mr Digvijay Singh had been finishing his 10 years “Sanyas” after a comprehensive (Bijli, Sadak, Pani) MP Defeat, would he contest next Lok Sabha elections? All are answered now.

    Corruption has become talk of the history. No one speaks as passionately against corruption as we – citizen of India – voiced in 2011. The reason is simple – we are divided by political parties – we all want things to change, we do not want to change our narrow focus of political affiliation!

  • Showjumping







    It was a Monday morning I woke up at 6:00 AM, got ready for office. Call it Monday blues for others but for me Monday’s are s different type of race. Race to get to the main road, catch a cab (cabbies dont want to go short distance ~6 KM <60 INR), board a local train to Andheri station run from there too to catch an Auto or Bus; where there is already a big line! Seriously, at times I feel “life is a race” (reminds me of a dialog in movie 3 idiots), no one knows race for what and where! The story does not end here. Whenever I cross NALCO (a stop for buses in Andheri East area), I see kids walking to school. One thought comes to my mind – these kids too have their office! That office is called school.

    At least till 8th standard, I don’t remember if I had gone to school, after exams for 1 full month of April month. My niece, she is not even 5 years finished her LKG in March; goes to her office (e.g. school) at 8:00 AM in April Month – yes she is in UKG now – she has got promoted! In our offices too we have a system of promotion (at least examination in March-April) isn’t it?

    This does not seem to me as education – we are making machines. My sister teaches in a school – I asked her what is the purpose of education? Why are you a teacher? Her response was unconventional. She said I want to make the kids expand their horizons. I added do you think schooling is doing it right? She had a mixed response.

    I feel forcing kids to school is not education, it can at best be schooling. Here please think of “Schooling” – as a verb! Such as training a horse for Showjumping!


  • Change – is it welcome?







    I have a garden. Actually, I had a bit of open space.  It was an opportunity not to be ignored and I converted that open space into a garden. After a while, I put in some plants.  I however felt that the order, organization and quality of the garden could be improved. People visiting and sitting there felt good about the open space converted to a garden but were not happy about the quality of plants and some things which they could not articulate.

    I was obsessed with the success of converting the space into an acceptable garden. One day a respected person whose hobby was gardening visited and suggested that I should bring in more fresh plants and improve the look and feel. I followed the advice, brought new plants and planted them in the available space. That did not solve the problem. A few weeks later, these new plants could not survive. Some died/dried and some lost their beauty. I again asked for help from the same person. He asked to see the new plants that I had brought into the garden, I told him about those plants. He said that those were not suitable plants for that particular garden, for the climate this city. [This is our habit, we try to find out wrong with the possible change]

    He further added, “Why don’t you try different plants?” I did it again; this time too the results were no different. Now, I thought that I should go to some expert. Fortunately, I met one, shared my problem with him and gave him the history of the last couple of months. He too shared the same opinion as the hobbyist.  He however added that my plantation and watering process had issues, I should have put in some fertilizers etc.

    I was not convinced – Once bitten twice shy. This time, instead of relying on just advice and suggestions I asked a professional farmer/gardener to visit my garden. He came, I offered him some coffee; we discussed what had been happening and we visited my garden. He said everything was right but, you did not weed out the weeds! I didn’t understand so with all humility I asked him – to explain.  He said – “Pravin, over time, if you miss out on opportunities, if you overlook a few things, some plants become susceptible of weeds and unwanted – not good – plants also grow in the ground. At times this happens because of the soil with which your new plants were planted. That soil might have had those weed seeds.

    “So what is the solution?” I again asked him humbly.

    He said – before investing any further in your garden, you do a few things. Firstly make your garden worthy of new plants. Secondly, take care of the soil and make it a habit to water and fertilize the ground. After a couple of weeks go to the market, bring suitable plants for your garden, capable of flourishing in the local climate.

    Lastly, remember that you cannot leave your garden at god’s mercy. You have to keep an eye on it, keep on investing in fertilizer, watering, weeding etc and keep on maintaining the garden. Perhaps, find a person who can do all this over a period of time, if you are finding it difficult to do so yourself.

    Now replace as following –

    Garden as your organization.

    Plants as your employees – some of whom make the garden grow weeds!

    Water, ground, soil as culture and future (strategy)

    New plants – new hires

    Valuable advisers – You know who are they.

    PS – This is just a story, author does not own any land, not even a wheel of bicycle, forget owning material thing 🙂

    This was just a way to express how Organization change can fail. For knowing more on Change Management please reach the Author

  • Just arrived!







    I was standing at the platform, waiting for train. I was worried because rainy seasons trains are either late or cancelled. Naturally, platform was very crowded. Thankfully, a train arrived. Without any exception, unreserved category was already jam packed. People looming out side the gate as well. So, a few standing on platform jostled to get in, traveler standing on gate said – “there is no place why are you pushing me”. People standing on platform still tried pushing almost quarreling with – kind of – “gatekeepers”. They kept on pushing stating they want to get it and place can be made etc. Some reached from platform to the train compartment no doubt looming on the gate. Once they reached in – they started saying to those who were still trying – “there is no place!”

    Instead of trying to board the train – I was looking at the faces of those who had just “arrived” from the platform to the train boggy!

  • Solutions…







    The security guard welcomed with this question साहब, आज रविवार है! आज दफ्तर मैं? (Sir, its Sunday today! You came to office?)

    With a sigh I looked at the guard, asked him if someone is around ask him to give me a cup of coffee and some water. I’d not tell him – my wife and I fought, nothing new happens in almost all families. We were struggling with our personal relationship and there came another dispute of her relatives and my relatives. I could not stand that problem, came to office thought it would be a change and I can catch up with some of my deliverables.

    Neither coffee came nor water, it made me little annoyed adding fuel to fire. Well, I understand office boy was not in office on weekend. A couple of days went by, same thing happened next weekend. Again no water or coffee came in. Now I was very furious. No solace here too. I decided to join our office’s team which has organized a recreation trekking event the next weekend. My wife wanted a change she had already gone to her parents home.

    For a first timer like me the trek was tough. An accident happened and I sustained fracture and few bruises. I had to spend some days in hospital. My wife rushed to the hospital however there were same issues at the back of the mind. Those few days at hospital gave me time to think.

    I was running away from problems. I avoided one problem, just to meet with another. Running from this other problem, ended up in being hospitalized.

    How often this happens that we run away from one problem instead of solving that problem, just to bump into other. Solutions require patience and a serious thought. Why the problem occurred? What are the possible reasons, can we fix the reasons? In Operations Management these fixes are called – preventive actions and corrective action. According to ASQ corrective action deals with a nonconformity that has occurred. A preventive action addresses the potential for a nonconformity to occur.

    I observe short term quick fixes – patchwork (in Hindi – थूक पट्टी) everywhere. Look at the reaction to 2008 financial crisis. We should have strictly handled the responsible however some of the culprits made millions and left the world tattered. No action taken against them. We’re fixing the economies by pumping money, those who could not game the system earlier, came and made their millions. Now once things seem hunky dory, QE may going to put us back in trouble.

    The solutions we device in our desire for quick fixes are – avoid the problem. The same happened in above example at micro level, same is happening at macro level in national and international levels.

    Post Script – Author is unmarried. Story narrated is a work of fiction, any resemblance to living/dead is merely a coincidence.

  • Special situation needs special solution







    Crisis unites, for how long? I was thinking about Quantitative Easing of Fed in the US. While thinking undoubtedly read G20 communique of 2009 e.g. London Summit here. A prologue about this communique. In 2008, US financial market collapsed. This resulted in domino effect across geographies. Every country, its financial system and thus citizen of the country were adversely affected. Do not ask me – what happened to those who were responsible for this collapse? Many of them made huge money and (almost) vanished! as – according to the books – they earned legitimately. Coming back to the point – otherwise a competitive world became a co-operative world. The mindset changed like this –

    “…We will conduct all our economic policies cooperatively and responsibly with regard to the impact on other countries and will refrain from competitive…” (source – London Summit communique para 12).

    I am forced to think – do we need crisis to unite the world and people?

    The thought is in the mind because now, when things seem to be fine with the US economy or may be just because US Fed wants to reduce burden on its balance sheet they came up with a solution of QE and rest of the world feels US is renaging the agreement/communique.

    I assume, we may go in another set of moderate crisis in coming time, we have not come out of the crisis completely. However, perhaps, this time world would have lesser belief on Govts, financial system and the cooperation as agreed by the leaders, economists and Financial Organizations.

    The trust deficit we live in – or we will live in – requires special measure. A special situation demand a special solution. Since, I am more of an spiritual person I feel the solution is moving towards spirituality. This can be done two ways – bringing spiritual lessons in corporate life or making corporate values resonate, implemented and executed spiritual life. Signing a document does not solve problem in long term – we are seeing that happen through tapering of quantitative easing by USA.

    Disclaimer – Author doesn’t intent to criticize QE, author is of the opinion of looking at the basics of the problem – Greed. Author has written few blogs on Greed earlier here.

  • ‘Sahara’ – for whom?







    It was in early 2000 or 2001. I was standing at a small shop in Indore. A person came at this shop and the shopkeeper – Naresh – gave him 5/- (INR 5). They talked for some time about next day – Sunday shop being closed, how are the kids doing, what is happening in general. Naresh gave him a small diary; visitor wrote something in that and went. That diary looked like old time bank passbook.

    I asked Naresh what was that? Was that Hafta – That is “security money”? That money is paid unaccounted for to the local goons (as I knew it that time). Naresh smiled at my naivety. He said “no, its a bank for very small businessmen.” I had a question mark on face? “Does a bank come to you that too at 6PM or late?” I was not convinced. He said – “we cant leave our business and go to Bank, we are small people – lowest middle class if not lower class, many big banks wont take deposit from us as low as INR 5, that too daily. We surviving on small businesses dont have savings such that one day we will deposit huge sum. If money is with me, I will spend & sure on something worth its while. That way savings does not happen with us/me.” So, I said what is this guy doing, what is his business? Naresh told me – he is my school friend, he works with the banks, he comes and collects money. Generally, when we need money we tell him in advance he comes with some, gives it to us and makes entry in the passbook too.

    Banking at that time was not something interesting to me – MBA & financial crisis made it interesting. I forgot to ask him the name of the bank also I was more interested in knowing that things were lawful e.g. No Hafta. I had almost forgotten this incident, but during my MBA and post MBA remembered these things specially in case of micro-finance. When I read about Sahara group – I felt that incident was related to Sahara group. In fact I wrote a blog on the same- Collective Materialism keeping that experience in mind and after reading something more about Sahara group.

    Now, we hear negatively about Sahara group, sure there must be something wrong therefore Supreme Court of India and SEBI is behind Sahara group. Than recently I read Live Mint article – Is Sahara India’s Swiss bank? I was surprised and felt that yes, micro-finance is basically for people like Naresh; but who is stopping black money to be saved in this kind of banking system ? I am not sure, though. I support such initiatives in which marginalized people are empowered, and hope these initiatives will be lawful.

    “Sahara” is a Hindi/Urdu word that means support. I am not giving the verdict, I am questioning myself – this ‘Sahara’ is for whom? Naresh – a small businessman – or for black money of the corrupts?

    Check – Sahara Philosophy

  • Amazing, isnt it?







    When I was thinking about the title of this blog – I literally went to Thesaurus. I wanted to write the best possible word for <Hindi> “आश्चर्य”! This word reminded me of Ashtavakra Geeta. Janaka repeatedly says “आश्चर्य” in that – a different Geeta. Well, I am no scholar to write on most succinct knowledge bank – Ashtavakra Geeta –  on Enlightenment. That book takes you in a different dimension.

    I was amazed with Nature. This is what this brief story all about.

    It was January 2000-2001, I was traveling to Gwalior early morning train reached Jhansi at about 1:30-2:00 may be 3:00 AM. Of course I was a student and thus was traveling in General (unreserved) boggy. It was so cold that I was wearing 1. thermocoat 2. Banyan 3. Shirt 4. Sweater and 5. a good quality jacket. I went on platform for having a cup of tea. Cold was such that I was shivering, even after wearing those many cloths. While sipping tea, hands were shivering and jaws wrecking. I have that image always as definition of cold one may face in North.

    Recently, I went to Indore and Gwalior. I have been living in Mumbai for 8+ years so had not seen in that cold thus didn’t have cloths of that kind with me either. The experience of winter I have raises hair, thinking of cold of Gwalior 3-7 degrees scared me. No doubt it was cold in Indore & Gwalior; for a Mumbaite (now at least), it was too much. Nevertheless I survived, in fact I did not have trouble in facing the cold. Neither I fell sick (which I was afraid of).

    No, before coming back to Mumbai, I asked my Art of Living Teacher Dr Shrikant Agashe – a professional MBBS Doctor. How is that possible? I haven’t been living in Indore; I was in Gwalior more than a decade ago, how could my body not give up on this cold? How is that possible, when every month or quarter – may be – at cellular level we are completely new! What he answered me, amazed me about us – more precisely the nature!

    He said every cell has a memory (somewhat amazing! For example, in case of any allergy even if you think that 25 years would be enough for forgetting about something at cellular level – your allergic nature wont be lost. Bigger amazement.

    I still remain amazed about this memory stuff. This amazement is overall for the nature, isn’t Nature amazing, functioning in its own surprising ways? “आश्चर्य”! I know I am no Janaka, nonetheless, I can be amazed with Nature

    Ashtavakra Geeta in English here

    Here Sanskrit verse, word meaning and English translation

  • Three Avocados







    You may argue with Management professionals that investors invest because they want better returns. An investor weighs his investment options, considers his risks profile et al and make a decision of investment expecting certain returns, right? But I think we are living in a time when many of us are thinking and should think about what bigger return based investment we can make and how can we reduce risk. Risk of the society!

    Three Avocados
    Three Avocados Logo

    A couple of months back a twitter handle @nonprofitcoffee followed me. It sounded strange, so I visited the handle, eventually the website. I was impressed and thought to write a blog on the same.

    Three avocados is a Non for profit company operating out of Uganda. Their product is coffee, order from here. Avocados and coffee does not gel well together, right? The company is named so because a destitute widow gifted three avocados, the only possession she had, to the founders of this company when they visited a village.

    This business has a purpose, not the cliche – to increase “shareholder” value. The purpose is different than many other businesses. They want to help Central African country – Uganda – with clean water. Young girls and women have a responsibility in their homes, the responsibility is to collect water for their daily chores. Well this is the story of many Indian villages as well. So can we think of such an initiative in India or other parts of the world? There are many social issues to handle e.g. women security in Delhi (just an example).

  • Why wait?







    Last week I wrote on being at a crossroad. Generally, we are all making some or the other decision. I specially like entrepreneurs who need to be constantly analyzing situations their business and survival + growth. Life becomes very interesting, challenging and driven by passion. One has to balance between Guts, Analysis and if possible one can work on instinct with the help of awareness. Follow my one tweet recently.

    I am no expert, yet feel there has to be a balance in life. Balance between extremes. Whether its about love or hate, passion or dispassion, emotions and logic or Socialism and Capitalism. The balance (which we professionals) generally is restricted to something such as Work-Life balance. Balance goes beyond that limited definition. Yet for the time being assume balance as work-life balance. I want share a news few months back.

    Founder of Hexaware, Mr Atul Nishar sold off his stakes in the company and the news was that he wanted to go for a 10 day Vipassana meditation. Read the news here – After selling Hexaware, Atul Nishar longs for ‘nothingness’. I am no one to comment on a very successful businessmen yet in the news one point made me think.

    QUOTE – “I have been constantly working for more than last 30 years and never took a break. This is a great opportunity for me to take a pause and feel nothingness,” says Nishar… UNQUOTE

    I was thinking that there are two options – 1. learn from this statement and start bringing balance in life now or 2. struggle tirelessly and – may be and may be – one day we’d be next Mr Nishar to experience “Nothingness”. Question is, why wait? concurrently why go on any extreme? Grow as businessman/professional and spiritually together?

    Related blogs – “Balance”

    The Middle path, Balancing Act, Irony, Dichotomy on happiness…