Book Review: The 3 Mistakes of my life

‘The 3 Mistakes of my life’ is the third fiction from the well known Chetan Bhagat’s stable. Much alike it’s predecessors, this one is again based on friendship. It’s a story of 3 friends (Govind, Ish and Omi) from the industrial town of Ahmedabad.

Any writing could be evaluated on two broad parameters. First the content and second the writing style.

Starting off with the content, the script is a normal sort of. It’s certainly not an outstanding one, if we rate it with the debut one; Five point someone. Actually Chetan had set extremely high standards for himself in his first fiction. Thereby raising the expectations from the readers. As well setting the floor high enough, making it harder to outperform the previous ones. Besides this the depiction of incidents like Bhuj earthquake, Godhra riots, 9/11 attack on twin towers have dramatized the story a lot. Someone may counter argue here that, Chetan has used these as props for the story. I won’t disagree with that. However, I do feel that it’s an overdose of such real life incidents for a fiction.

Moving to the writing style, I would give 10 of 10. Much alike the previous two, it’s an easy going and casual reading stuff. Infact that’s one of the USPs that the writing is for the masses, not for a niche segment of intellectuals. Chetan describes the story in an easily understandable expressions. Besides this he uses a waterfall model in telling the story, wherein the events follow a freely flowing chronological sequence. Thereby not stressing your mind. Also I found the prologue too catchy and beautifully composed. It creates a solid foundation for the story, enclosing it in a fixed time frame, adding a curiosity factor, as in what would have happened.

And I liked the way, character Vidya has been portrayed. It has been so well explicitly described, that I could effortlessly craft a real picture of her in my mind.

Overall it’s a good reading for youth and people in age bracket of 15-30. I would say one should read this book, you will enjoy the overall package. Also it won’t burden your pocket, being nominally priced at 95 bucks, as always.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Goof Ups: Mobile phones were not so prevalent in early 2002, incoming calls were paid and the concept of SMSing caught somewhere in 2003. However, Chetan has shown extensive usage of SMS between Vidya and Govind.

Book Review: The McKinsey Way by Ethan M. Rasiel

‘The McKinsey Way’, a book written by Ethan Rasiel a former consultant at McKinsey, makes an easy going and a casual reading. Infact it could even make an overnight readable stuff for avid readers. The book talks about the problem solving approach at McKinsey, along with some tools that go handy throughout the assignment. I would be talking of some of the key concepts talked of in this book, meanwhile adding my own judgment.

Every McKinsite has to dig in loads of data and has to substantiate his argument with these facts and figures. They say “Facts bridge the credibility gap”. Quite well said. Then they rely a lot on Hypothesis, which is merely a statement or a theory that needs to be approved or disapproved based on facts, again. By negating a given hypothesis we can move closer to the possibly right solution or atleast it shows a right direction to proceed. It’s just like saying Delhi lies towards South of Chandigarh with a possibility of 45 degrees error from N-S axis on both sides. This essentially means that by using hypothesis we have zeroed upon this 90 degree arc and negated the rest of 270 degrees, thereby moving closer to the solution.

Then it talks a lot about 80-20 rule, brainstorming, interviewing the client, importance of team building, developing rapport among team associates and with the client as well. Now, these doesn’t seem something like out of the world to me. These are pretty much direct, easily understandable and have been widely exploited in the consultancy world.

There are however some new concepts like Elevator Test, MECE (Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive, a very nicely thought of and well structured tool) and Prewiring. (I can’t talk about them in details here). These are very simple, yet extremely effective tools employed in McKinsey. If we try to analyze these tools (premise: after reading the book), they are quite common sensical, but the way such a simple thought has been given a tangible shape, is extremely good. McKinsites follow a simple rule of 1 message per chart, without any 3D animation, to convey the message through a shortest path.

Overall it’s a good reading that reframes your problem solving technique and can act as a ready reckoner while actually being on a project. For those in the consulting world, it’s surely a onetime readable book.

One interesting thing about the author I could make out is that, he seems to be a feminist, enamored by the feminine gender. Whenever he is quoting a loosely defined example of an associate or even someone senior in the hierarchy, he intends to fit the fairer sex in the skin of these roles. Anyways that makes it all the more an interesting reading.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Rediscovering a Forgotten Canvas

It’s exactly after 7 months and 19 days, that I have picked up my pen and paper and trying to pen down my thoughts. A lot had happened in this long period. India won the Twenty 20 World Cup, Sanjay Dutt got convicted, Salman got into trouble once again, Chak De rocked the box office, my life too witnessed lot many changes. I shouldn’t say nothing happened exciting enough, in and around to motivate me to write for my blog. Infact many interesting events happened, that I wanted to share, but somehow couldn’t materialize. I shouldn’t even be complaining of having no time, as I actually had a lot of it.

Not writing though, I had been constantly tracking blogs of my known twos. I wonder how could some of them manage to write, upload the same, beautify the writing with pictures, insert links, add friends. But the point is ‘quite so often’. Hats off to such writers. Wish I too do that.

Well now that I have composed a couple of lines, I would need a password to logon to my home page. I am sure, I don’t remember it. I am not sure, if I maintained a backup for it. Don’t really know if I alone would be writing and reading it too. But if you are reading what I am writing, means something worked out. But if you are not reading it, then anyways you are not. Hopefully, I get the password.

Now a logical question here is how come I start it again after so long or what exactly pushed me. Now there are more than single reasons to it. Firstly, I had read a lot of stuff on blogging, illustrating how fast the concept is picking up in the Indian context. Every week there is a cover story on increasing popularity of blogs in various magazines and other news dailies. Even celebrities like Amir Khan are today exploiting this form of media. Then at last week end’s D party my MBA friends reminded me that I had been writing well, so far. So I should stop this break.

Now that almost a page is over, I attempt infusing life to my long forgotten “my-canvas”. May God bless my blog.

P.S. 1) Partial credit for this goes to Abhishek and Hemant.
2) Thank God, I got the password.

SRKs "KKK.....KBC"

I rarely remember dates, infact I have to push hard enough to do that. But sometimes it occurs just naturally, without that extra effort, as some of these create a space in my sub conscious mind. Perhaps 22nd Jan, 2007 was one such entry. Just like million other SRK fans, I too had been waiting for it, may be coz I too have been a die hard King Khan fan or may be coz I have been also been a KBC fan or may be both.

Sharukh has returned to the small screen after almost two decades. (As a kid his amongst debuts ‘Fauji’ in late 80's impacted me a lot). He delivered major blockbusters like Bazigaar, DDLJ, KKHH, KHNH, the (in)famous DON, just to name a few. However, this time the challenge is tougher, perhaps his career’s biggest (at least I feel so). Because it’s a one-to-one fight with the invincible and charismatic Big Bachchan. Undoubtedly both have been the icons of the industry, both have redefined acting their own ways, both do posses that irresistible X-factor. Infact the duo had proven that, in past in the likes of Mohabbtein, K3G. However, KBC is a different game altogether. It’s not just another prime time soap, rather a perception in the minds of a billion. A perception whose contours were defined by Amitabh Bachchan. It’s not just the brand that Big B carried along (infact both enjoy a decent brand value and according to a marketing saying ‘only SEX and SRK sells in today’s world), I believe it’s the sheer elegance, a manner overloaded with sophistication, which acts as icing on the cake. He did posses the talent of hitting the right balance of humor and modesty. I feel this is where Sharukh couldn’t deliver as good. He had been quite a lot explicit in entertaining his audience, while crossing that very thin line between modesty and ridicule, at times. And that ‘massage’ & ‘give me five’ stuff were some of such instances, where Sharukh pushed himself real hard and actually diluted the flavor.

One disadvantage Sharukh definitely had right from the very beginning is that he would always have been juxtaposed against Mr. Bachchan for KBC. And that created a lot pressure on him. Fans in this regard are quite a lot unkind and even Abhishek had been haunted by the same in the past. If Sharukh attempts another Mr. Bachchan, he would unanimously be accused of imitation and if he doesn’t he would be tagged for not being dynamic enough. Either way he is going to be punished. But yes, imitation is definitely not ‘THE KEY’. One thing that could help him is ‘Being Yourself’. At least he would have to stop giving the Munna inspired ‘Jaddo ki Jappi’ every now and then. Of course it would take some time for viewers to digest the fact ‘Yes, this is Sharukh and not Big B’. Till then journey could be not so kind for SRK.

Till then, All the Best

P.S. Don’t forget you are Sharukh, Sharukh Khan……

Truly US

The landmark Indo US civilian nuclear deal has finally matured and it has its own undisputed benefits. India would now be getting an instantaneous access to more than 3000 tons of spent fuel to feed its nuclear power plants. This could otherwise have taken, India more than 30 years to accumulate the raw material on its own. However, I believe US is still the most self centric, self driven nation which has an obvious strategy of ‘Use and Throw’. In response to Pakistan’s contention of having a similar pact, US termed the Indo US deal as a unique deal with a unique country. This exhibits the thanklessness of US, as Pakistan was ‘the nation’ which enabled the invasion of Afghanistan, by letting it use its Air Base. A few years back US had been patting General’s back for the much needed help.

Without contending the importance of deal here, for India, I simply try to highlight the commitment and loyalty US has displayed with its so called ally. Today US has left Islamabad like a parentless orphan, which is now forced to pin its hope from China, exclaiming it to be a historical and true friend. I extend my true hearted sympathies to the General, who had till recently been deluding himself and the nation, perceiving Bush as their Godfather. Infact Islamabad’s foreign policy towards its neighboring countries too, to a large extent had been governed by the same perceived mirage.

That’s just a drop in the ocean. A few days back General disclosed that Islamabad had been warned to be bombed back to stone age, by the then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in case it opted to stay away from the Bush’s quest (still a coveted quest) of Osama. To this President Bush expressed his unawareness and offered his apologies to the General. To me this highlights an innocent Mr. Bush, who can dare to invade any nation (that too without UN permission), be responsible for thousands of lives and who can also be unaware of what his own right hand is doing. I can understand that.

One thing I definitely couldn’t convince myself is, how come America be so liberal, that it could afford to change the rules of game for India, how come it could sign the pact with a nation which has earlier refused to budge to international pressure for signing the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. Well my concern here is that, even though India might be gaining today from US policy, but the same may not hold tomorrow. US is a non reliable ally which uses the nations, solely to serve his own means. Since India is on the receiving end it has to be very much cautious while dealing with it and it should maintain diplomatic relations with it. It should not let it’s foreign policies be affected by it’s relations with any other nation, US in particular. It must have an independent opinion of every nation, not biased by a third party.

Dead End

Wednesday, September 6, 2006, 7 am
They have already left the beds. Splashing some water on their wrinkled faces, putting the same tethered filthy uniform, carrying the trademark safety caps with an electric torch, they are almost ready, heading for yet another journey of their not-so-kind life. Barely aware that this might turn out to be the last one.

Some of them had the luxury of seeing the faces of their loved ones, with an eternal optimism in their eyes saying, ‘See you in the evening’. While some others couldn’t avail this opportunity, it being like any other normal routine day. Housewives got to address the chores, while kids picked up their bags to school. After all it was still a normal routine day. None had hardly imagined that one news is going to change the course of their lives, just a single hit of a seconds hand and the world would never be the same again.

They picked up their equipment and fearlessly boarded the bogies that gradually carried them away from rest of the world; forever. The greatest irony of the instant is that, inspite of yourself being the subject, yourself being the actor, is still unaware of the role you are going to play very soon. Every single moment passing, is inching closer to the dead end.

The unfortunate moment has struck. Sometimes I wonder this ‘Time Machine’, its such a flawlessly programmed device, that it not only executes everything as scheduled by the Big Boss, but also the most cruel and heartless as it wont give an instant more than it has been programmed for.

News has broken out. Reporters, journalists, cameramen are a common sight all around. ‘Breaking News’ has got a brand new story. It’s a huge commotion.

Deep down there 250m below the surface, were 50 men caught totally unaware by the leaking methane gas, resulting in an explosion powerful enough to rip apart the coal bogies, that sent people slamming across mine walls. Within a few moments the oxygen levels fell to zero, filling the entire mine with lethal carbon monoxide gas. Explosion, suffocating gas, followed by mine inundated with water was enough to kill all of them in a few moments. The 50 souls witnessed those atrocious moments , when life is worse than death. The end stands in front, ready to embrace, while the victim has endless thoughts playing on his mind. One moment comes a thought that lot many tasks are yet unaccomplished. The entire life cycle is reduced to a single snapshot and it gets hazier every moment. Then comes a thought if at all God gives me a second chance.

At times one is left totally helpless, with little control over our own life. There is little any of us could have done. All we can do is to pray for peace to the souls.

Why Japan

My 6 months of work experience with an automobile component manufacturer, plus a brief stint at a Public Sector Navratna, provided me a reasonably good opportunity to get accustomed with the concepts that made the country’s manufacturing sector stand apart of the entire crowd. Tools like 5S, TPM, TQM, Kaizen; just a few to quote here, lie at the heart of its success that helped the nation to establish global benchmarks in the industry. Undoubtedly, the subject here is JAPAN. Organisations around the globe are today trying to implement these tools and emulate the Japanese success model. Substantial amount of money is being invested for Japanese Consultants, to guide through the methodology and nitty gritties of these concepts.

If you ever happen to be in a Japanese partnered company, yellow striped floor & the hanging sign boards will themselves direct you to the destination, sans any assistance. Neatly stacked files, flawlessly oriented furniture, labeled equipment, attention seeking warning signs, clear and perfectly sorted table tops; well that is a way of life in any such company and is notoriously known as a 5S company.

In Indian parlance, 5S refers to sorting, sweeping, cleaning and segregating. This was infact the first training session I attended after induction in my first job. Barely within one month of joining, I realized Indian companies take too much pride in claiming itself to be a TPM or a 5S compliance company. With another month adding to my experience, I concluded Indians corporates are actually obsessed with something as rudimentary as sorting the stuff on your study table and putting the unwanted under cover. Precisely, this is something my mother (and infact everybody else’s) had always been trying to convince me when I was a kid.

My two months summer project at the above mentioned navratna was to assist in implementation of TPM. ‘Total Preventive Manufacturing’ or ‘Total Productive Maintenance’ even I get confused sometimes, but that is immaterial, trust me. What matters here is that a 'Totally Focused approach' to get rid of unpredictable breakdowns. I find the Japanese to be the most organised creatures on planet. TPM involves identifying the worst nightmare machines in your manufacturing facility. The first step is to clean, inspect and to lubricate the machines, meanwhile rectifying some minor flaws and identifying the critical issues. Followed by ‘Why-Why’ technique to reach the root cause of a trouble. The driving force here is the challenge, to make your machine ‘The Best’ and a benchmark.

I found, the Japanese begin with a target, set up practically achievable time frames and then they execute the action plan. I often hear people saying, a Japanese will start from home at 8:02 am and by the time he will reach the traffic signal at 8:07am , it would be green, thereby saving him one and a half minute. They are certainly not born like that. Indeed it is the self discipline inculcated within. It is not the jargon, but the self imposed discipline and commitment that made the small patch in south east , a cynosure on Globe.