(What got you here, will not get you there): (White Tiger)

Read two books during two weeks... This post is not a book review ( although I may tag it as one )
(1) What got you here, will not get you there:
(2) The White Tiger

First title, I came to know because my friend gifted this book to a friend of ours who was leaving the company ( and i gited "last lecture"!! ). I dont like reading that much "organisational behaviour" book because i feel i am a spontaneous person, who does random things, and somehow converges the actions to produce results. And i cant be tied up to manners/norms/rules. But still it doesnt hurt to know what experts say, choice is still ours. I felt it as a boring read, but atleast he has brought out some points which I agree whole heartedly. So i was kind of in sync with him. I dont what to disclose what are those points.. And he ofcourse has pointed out in that book many of my bad habits like favouritism, passing judgements, less listening habits. But over the years i think i have improved on these.... ( The book which is my favourite on this line is First break all the rules .)

"White Tiger" - I liked, just l liked slum dog. The life of "haves" and have-nots" is mentioned in a very nice manner. And when the have-not becomes the king, same story repeats. Kerala doesnt have land-lord stuff, so dont know whether these type of things happen in other parts of India. Anyway I liked it as a fiction.

The Alchemist.........

Found the Novel "The Alchemist" in philosophy section. Wanted to get some book to be read in the train journey back home to thiruvananthapuram. Picked up as i had heard that was a good read from several of my friends.....

In train I got totally immersed in that Novel. "Dreams of Santiago, the shepherd" and his journey to achieve the dreams was inspiring. Read around 70 pages. Was feeling myself just in the shoes of "Santiago". In the pursuit of dreams, but reached half-way, leaving all the loved ones ( sheeps and lover!), and found myself washing the crystals in shop confused on whether to pursue for the dreams, or go back where you are used to....

I had a strong feeling that I should also be an adventurer like him in pursuit of treasure.., and not feel like a victim.

Then like always the good feeling remained only for a short time. The feeling of loser and victim again conquered me.... Threw the book away....

On saturday night, sleep was not coming. So took the book again.. The remaining pages were not that interesting. But still interesting to keep the pages moving... Finally I liked the climax. Pursuing for dreams all around world, and finding it at the place where the journey started. And it also reminded me to enjoy all kinds of days - whether good or bad. Each day is different, and it needs to be enjoyed.

Hmm.. with possitive mindset I started my journey back to Bangalore. At Thirunelvelli the bus stopped for dinner at 10pm. I had the hang-over of "Sivakashi" movie. And 7-8 steps from the bus I found myself in a waste water drainage ( gutter ). One slab was missing, and Anoop didnt realize and fell into the trap. I landed in two legs, and found myself lucky not to have hit my chest or head. I said to everyone - "I am fine", but nobody cared! One guy told me where i can find water to wash my legs and chappals.

Travel continued... Alchemist gave me the necessary enthu to enjoy the new experience.. !

And then back in bangalore... Feeling myself as the "crystal merchant", and not as "santiago" the hero. Myself I am inproving my attittude towards life. But too old to receive the omens send to me ( or omens are not coming at all).. And no dreams except day-to-day life. Feeling afraid of the new things coming in life, and just want to settle with the old things. Dont like to realize that I can achieve more, and should pursue for dreams. I seem to be happy ( or unhappy) with the way I am now..

Thats depressing.. I want to be "Santiago".

So bought the next book.. for next week's travel - "The Last Lecture"!!

The Leader In Me

Bought and Read a new book from Stephen Covey - "Leader in Me". Waste of money. It just states in 200 odd pages the names of some schoold who implemented 7 habits in curicullam.., and how the results improved.

I didnt get what i wanted from the book.... I was hoping to get some compass for guiding my child.. But the compass is still "7 habits", so just read that book..

I saw the advt of "7 habits for happy kids" in that book.. May be will try that also.. Better to give her emotional strength at an early age, than late thirties...

Rich dad, poor dad

After buying three years ago.., I finally read the book "Rich dad, Poor dad". It is a very easy read. Read during my autorickshaw time between BTM and EGL campus(domlur) during last week...

It gives us two important thoughts:
Assets: "One which creates money for you"
Liabilities: "On which you have to spend money"

Real Estates, Mutual Funds, Bonds, FDs all may come in my assets columns....

House maintenances, Car EMIs all may come in my liabilities column...

He advices us not to spend our income fully.. But to invest... And to spend the money generated from the investments...

These are the few things I learnt from that book.....

One of my colleague commented when we discussed about these concepts. According to him:
" Assets are one which buys you happiness, and liabilities sorrow". We all agreed with his new definitions. A better one indeed.....

Now restarted reading - "The Goal" ( I am now reading that book for the third time).. May be I have started feeling myself like Alex Rugo - the hero in the book... Let me see if i can bring victory like him in the end !!!!! :)

8th habit - boring!

I think effectiveness is enough.., greatness not need. The book 8th habit - by Covey is a boring read.

May be self-improvement books are enough for me.. i have gone through 100 pages. but nothing has gone to my heart or mind.

I visited the nearby bookstall and its full of these type of books ----- "how to stop worrying", "how to influence", "how to build trust" etc....

May be i should try relegious scriptures instead..... than these man made books.

"My philosophy has roots in religion not political science.Dr.B.R.Ambedkar "

Stephen Covey

I am into one Stephen Covey book - "8th habit : from effectiveness to greatness". Its not that i practice 7 habits! I like learning, than practising. But atleast that make me recommend books or gift books to people.... ( i like even ground, so i even recommend good practices/books to my foes also )

I have read these books ----
1 7 habits of highly effective people
2. First things First
3. 7 habits of highly effective teens ( by Sean covey )

He is different from Marcus Buckingham . Marcus relies on detailed researches, focuses on inherent talents, how to build your recurring patterns to strengths, and capitalize on that etc. Covey believes on universal principles, how to practice better habits that will help u as a better human being in family, social and work life.

The first chapter on 8th habit have many references to Marcus book "Now discover your strengths" and also regarding Strengths etc.

So may be i will be able to find some convergence between these two after reading the book.

So I am starting to read it.

disclaimer: i certainly wont mind me becoming a better person. But more than getting the results, I like the "learning part". May be thats why i am called a learner in my StrenthsFinder test.

Marcus Buckingham

I have now gone through his three books -

(1) First break all the rules
(2) Now discover your strengths
(3) One thing you need to know

All his books say the same these - "Focus on your strengths"

Its one idea i always have adored and was in my mind before reading the book. So when i read the book, my initial thought was - hope many would read it!!! ( because majority tried to fix weakness in themselves and in others, and does not try capitalizing on theit strengths).

"First break all the rules" is one book everyone should read. It talks about what great managers have in common - they capilatilize on each person's unique strengths.

It talks about the different roles Managers have to perform efficiently.
1. selecting right people
2. defining right outcomes
3. Focussing on their strengths
4. Rewarding

Bad managers spend most of their time with their most unproductive employees, but good managers do the reverse. They spend the best time with their best ones.

So can weakness can be left untouched. Perhaps no.......
1. may be you can stop doing that activity, and reassign someone else
2. may be partnership helps
3. some workarounds may help etc etc . some tution :) perhaps
4. put some of ur strengths in place to work around weakness ( my writing skills are not that good, but i do follow-up regularly with chat or phone and make sure that acknowledgements are received when its necessary, also have no hestitation in saying apology wherever unnecessary. so i have never had an uncomfotable moment except in appraisals where my communication skills are put to low :) )

The 12 questions Marcus/Gallop has derived for their polls is excellent. It gives you a clear picture whether your employees enjoy their work:

"1) Do I know what is expected of me at work? 2) Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? 3) At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? 4) In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? 5) Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? 6) Is there someone at work who encourages my development? 7) At work, do my opinions seem to count? 8) Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important? 9) Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? 10) Do I have a best friend at work? 11) In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress? 12) At work, have I had the opportunities to learn and grow?"

I tried interviewing people in my last company during my IIM project and it gave me a clear picture on what happened ( will talk about that sometime later )

This is one book you should read, definitely.

The second one: Now discover your strengths is attractive since you will get a "key" for doing a StrengthFinder test. I did mine - see the results.

The book is not very attractive. You better read "first break all the rules a second time".

The third one - "One thing you need to know - about great managing, great leading, sustained individual success" is a great read. I liked his writing, his examples. It does not much, but still its more worth than the 300 odd Rs i paid for it.

The one things are:
Managing: "Discover what is unique about each person and capitalize on it." Leading: "Discover what is universal and capitalize on it." Sustained individual success: "Discover what you don't like doing and stop doing it."

I liked the third one........ I have never done that. May be i should try!!!!! The "one things" may not be that attractive.., but read the book to get his perspective.. it has real work-life stories, perspectives and how they achieve excellence and statisfaction at work place.

Time is the most constraint resource we have - perhaps moving away from what we dont like, may be a good idea!

7 highly effective habits for Teens

I gave this book as a Vishu gift to my Teen cousin.... he was excited receiving this.

Its written by Sean , son of Stephen R Covey - the author of "7 habits of highly effective people".

The contents are same, but the language is very simple, the book is a very easy readable one with lot of cartoons, inspirational quotes, exercies etc.

The only drawback i found is too much references to sex, drug addictions etc.

You make Habits, then Habits make you.....

This book can help you a lot in making habits that will help you lifetime.

It deals with the habits that can give you private victories:

(1) Be Proactive

(2) Begin with the End in Mind ( mission statement)

(3) Put First Things First

The ones that can give you public victories:

(4) Think Win-Win -

(5) Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

(6) Synergize

And the most important one - continous renewal

(7) Sharpen the Saw

Whatever said in the book is based on natural principles. It helps you in the same way a relegious scripture guides you.

I am sure, I have done a good thing by presenting this book instead of a shirt or few bucks!

Critical Chain - Part2

Estimations are usually fun. We tend to put a lot of buffers for individual tasks.

Should we do that ?

Buffers are not needed for individual tasks. Buffers are needed only for the whole project.

People should be motivated well enough to target the individual tasks well in time.

The book "Critical Chain" addresses these issues.

Back in our DDG group, we had tried to address this problem while estimating. While estimating individual tasks, it will be reviewed aggressively and buffers were added to the end only.

Critical chain - part 1

Started reading Critical Chain book again --- it deals with the interesting subject of "throughput" - "identifying the critical chain of the project" etc etc - More on the book on later blogs..

I always had troubles in laying out the schedule of the project in GANTT charts. First of all estimation will be bull shit.. and secondly we dont open that estimation document again in the life time..

While scheduling the project.. we have some counts - like 7 days design, 8 days coding, xx module testing etc etc... we always put some number, some buffers in between and do some scheduling.. finally some how we will complete at some time..

My knowlege on this has not increased much despite 9.5 years in service...

In one of our projects -X( 5ys ago) , we had three modules running parallely.. depending on the code size I put Mod1 implementation - 15 days , Mod2 - 7 days, Mod3 - 13ays. Shameer(sr) was working on Mod 1, Shans on Mod 2 and me on Mod 3. It was in parallel path. Our Manager Riyaz asked me to postpone Mod 2 for 5 days as it does not affect the critical path.. That was the time when i first heard ( may be noticed) the critical path concept.. I was angry, but he wanted to use Shans for another important and urgent task.. he was looking at the "global optimisation" of the group.. But i was less concerned.. i am bothered about only my project.. why should i risk ? i was against the late start of the task, which may put me into trouble later on..! i disagreed. But being a theoretical person, he also disagreed. Finally we reached a consensus in the weekly meeting.. I admitted, we may find problems in the module, and based on his advice put 5 more days in that path for module testing.. so he agreed to retain shans.. although that added more cost to my project in terms of planned man-days..

Finally it came like this - Mod2 was delayed further because of the problems found in design review and that caused slight delay in the project also.. anyway that point i dont want to stress..

This incident came to my mind when i started reading "Critical Chain"..

Another practice which i always liked is - of Gopan. He used to do the full schedule in MSProject for scheduling and always review the estimation with schedule in proposal stage itself.
The reviews will be in different views -
=>Will see if the planned deployment matches estimation,
=>Wll see if the estimated days of each task are planned in schedule etc

These things and thoughts are simple, but we dont practice, do we ?