Update and Random Musings

I dont want this blog to die - I started this one thing and have been regular (not lately though) but these days its just gone dormant. I am not sure why people are interested in stuff I write but the hits dont lie I assume.

So what do I have to update?

Off one thing I know, that tomorrow I complete 9 months in my current job and not even faced Monday Blues once. Achievement? Or as Anshul put the other day, I may not be having enough fun on weekends.. I'd say my job is really awesome but Anshul ain't so wrong either.. weekends have been liability and sometimes we have planned stuff on two separate days only to make sure both days went off well.. sad stuff, I know.. but Bhushan Ben, now you are back and you better rock!!! 1-Altitude this Friday for SURE!! (Mr. Charan will laugh on this - we have planning this since his birthday)

On other things, good insights on earlier post - the post became too heated and I just avoided to get into soup there. But now, I got a fund manager to support - so profits shall come before religion. May be not when I manage my own fund, I'll form my own rules - listen you tobacco cos, you ain't getting money when I become a fund manager. Nor is AAPL.

I also found that no job is perfect. One thing I hate about my job is lunch meetings. Bloody I have to sit through hardly edible bland food while my other fund managers manage to clean their plates with chopsticks. I have started to detest them but then I have realised its a small price to pay (but frequently with atleast 3 days a week) if I have to survive in this industry. Or we will need to need more money to play with.. Anyone with spare few hundred thousand dollars, contact me..

Also realized that efficient market hypothesis is dead. Period. They should ban that from teaching that to new generation.

Has this happened to you? A day you crack a generic joke and the next day YOU are the joke?

This year I have been to Changi more than I have been to Clementi MRT. I'd say good year indeed.

I have become more active on twitter - thanks to @Purpleturple #likes #enjoytweeting

Btw, there is one post which I had started writing since April and I have just finished two points there. Lets hope I finish that before it becomes obsolete.

What MBA does NOT teach you?

We have always heard stories about how employee has to deal with ethical dilemma... and MBA cannot, and will never be, able to teach you how to get out of such situations..

now, thats happening to me.. after doing some prelim research on softs, I think best place to be in for next 6 months is meat industry.. but I am personally a hardcore vegetarian who does not even eat eggs (even in confectionery) but I am in love with the business model and macro factors and the whole industry dynamics.. how do I deal with this? I know I am not buying stock for simple reason I am not trading at all..  but should I pitch a stock which pushes meat consumption whereas I believe in spreading vegetarianism? Rather, should I chase profits by selling my religion and soul? Or should I restrict myself by not making my investor (hypothetically, if I were a fund manager) good returns just because I do not believe in the lifestyle?

Alums, Students and Aspirants, here you go with practical situation... leave the class, help me to face reality... winner shall get the right to receive my next best idea in their inbox..

Why Singapore's Future is Secure?

Yesterday, I witnessed this family travelling in MRT.. a couple with about 3-4 years daughter and 10-12 months son.

The father was feeding the son in his arms with a bottle of milk and his daughter sees this.. The daughter says "Cannot drink in train".. Her dad could only muster and say, "Baby can!"

Me, Apps and KC just could not stop laughing... (though as per KC's version the mother was not quite amused with the joke on her daughter)

Randomisation

Two Updates!

1) I am back to my library building habits! Bought 5 books over last 2 weeks!

2) FIFA World Cup 2010 is on! Go Messi! Go Maradona! Go Argentina! On realted note knaan is awesomely hummable

Karma

What goes around, comes around...

An year ago, I did a mistake and probably, I acted selfish.. And a faint chance that I misused the power I was entrusted with..

Karma repaid me there and then by acting.. and there, I sat haplessly.. The good Karma washed away by bad one...

I realized my folly and and apologized..

A year goes, but Karma has not forgiven me..

What I mistakenly did a year ago is ingrained my Karma for life..

I defeated one force of nature, but this time it was another one..

A year passes by, Karma haunts me again... I again sit haplessly..

Opportunity may knock at any time of the day... you just need to be really at your best all times..

Coz sometimes, you might not know but opportunity has a friend coming along with it..

Coz sometimes, the knocking may not be so audible, but you need sharp ears to hear slightest of knock...

Coz sometimes, you dont expect anything from the knocking, but its good to leave your doors open...

The Sunscreen Song for NUS MBA

The original lyrics -http://www.lyricsdownload.com/baz-luhrman-sunscreen-speech-lyrics.html

The song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

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Ladies and Gentlemen of the class 2009 (or 2010)… Use “depends”

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, “depends” would be it. The repeated benefits of using the word “depends” have been proved by MBAs across the world, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your student life at NUS; oh nevermind;
You will not understand the power and beauty of your student life until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at randomly tagged photos of yourself on Facebook
and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked...
You’re not as unlucky as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry,
but know that worrying is as effective as trying to crack Prof. Nitin’s case by eating Calbee or Rice Crackers in MBA Lounge.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 2 AM on your walk back to Heng Mui Keng terrace after worthless project meeting.

Ask one question in every lecture that scares prof

Drink

Don’t be reckless with other peoples hearts don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Eat at Edwards

Don’t waste your time on jealousy on jobs, CAP or awards; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind...the race is long, and in the end it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive on your creative projects, forget the insults from individual tests; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old Gtalk chat transcripts, throw away your projects and case studies.

STRETCH

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know if you want to be in Marketing, Strategy or Finance...
the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 26 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year old alums I know still don’t

Get plenty of caffeine from Toscana

Be kind to your own MBA Lounge, you’ll miss it when you’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry someone you met NUS, maybe you wont, maybe you’ll have multiple promotions, maybe you wont, maybe you’ll turn entrepreneur at 40, maybe you’ll address the parliament on your 75th birthday...
what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either - your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your brain, use it every way you can...don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, its the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance...even if you have nowhere to do it but in Student Activities event after half a bottle of wine.

Read the mails from Arthur Wong, even if you don’t have a clue where NUS Museum is.

Do NOT read placement statistics (outside NUS), they will only make you feel ugly.

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Get to know your project group mates, you’ll never know when they’ll be gone for exchange.
Be nice to your roomies; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you when you are frustrated with internship scene.

Understand that exchange students come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in Boon Lay once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Pasir Panjang once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, fees will rise, students will cheat, you too will graduate, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young fees were reasonable, students were honest and juniors respected seniors.

Respect your seniors.

Don’t expect anyone else to give you a job. Maybe you have a CAP of 5.0, maybe you have a connection with a partner; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your laptop, or by the time semester ends, you will be running to Sim Lim.

Be careful which alum or seniors’ advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the best parts from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling the “gyaan” for more than its worth.

But trust me on the “depends”...

HIMYM Season 5

So I have almost caught up with the newest season of How I Met Your Mother and I hardly enjoyed it...

suddenly its suffering from the same issues as most corporations... from this awesome small company it goes on to become a legendary giant... over a period of time, it loses its critical identity... its just for sake of continuity that it goes one....... and then giant has a fall... a big fall..

dont we see a parallel here? why is it easy to achieve success but very difficult to maintain it?

And the old friends leave.....

Its 17 months course (at least officially) and then you have people leaving right in the middle of the course...

Thats one thing I am not quite happy about joining NUS... The course is so flexible that it affects the belongingness of the batch... You check in together... but you can check out anytime you want... Whining apart, I miss my friends.. friends who made last year the best in quarter century of my existence!

To start with, people who completed the course...

Roli - The kid of the batch - The "Mata" - one with most "age jokes" - to be on the wrong side of 1985! And according to unofficial records, she is the youngest alumnus of NUS MBA! My best memory of her would be the "Do-it-yourself" dialogue! You shall be missed - especially for your roaring laughter!

Anuj - The Real Estate dude - the quiet guy with deep work experience - the guy who gauged that Moctiar Riady building would be finished soon in first month of the course!

Tulika - The most silent one I know - Could be only found in three locations - Home, Class or Carrels!

Now, the people who went exploring the world... (in no particular order)

Suvira - The "Partner" - for all those rejects we received from applications, it almost looked we would open the chaat stall at NUS soon! Alas, we got employed and Singaporeans were devoid of lip smacking delights we could have offered! The super-active, super-smart, always cheerful friend shall be best remembered for the fight against suar!

Yudi - The cool Ad guy with max number of kurtas - If I were to pick up my alter ego in marketing, Yudi would be it! Be it mutual love for Scotch and Whiskey or the cool attitude towards everything! Never seen him tensed in one year! Sporting a french beard, he shall be missed for creative ideas!

Debashish - As they would have told you, Bengalis are eccentric and Deba is no exception! Hilarious guy to be around with... and once drunk, the most daring one as well!

Ankita - The most learned person about Fin in our batch she knew her fundas inside out - one of the very good friends I made initially in the program, she shall be missed for the Sem 1 days and impressive grasp on markets!

Nikhil - People thought he had delhi attitude - to me, he was a street smart - a smooth talker, he could convince anyone! A guy with very good brains, just that I am not sure how many people would take him seriously! Our interests again were mutual - Fin and Whiskey!

Tony - Another Bong Babu Moshai with eccentricity! Most carefree guy with either alcohol or a firangi by his side... with almost different city everytime he uploads new album on Facebook - but, his earliest memory is still the funniest one - "Call me Tony" ;-)

Ram - *Bow* - One of the guys, I truly respect! A hardworking fellow with exceptionally good brain! Not even an inch of him is nerdy but at the same time, has best CAP of all! But, if you had to take one quality which makes him stand apart in crowd is his humility! Salute him for one of the best persons I have ever known!

Pavithra - Another kid from the block to be on the wrong side of 1985 - Like Roli, butt of all "age" jokes - Energetic and chirpy with awesome culinary skills! One of the desis who actually learnt a new language by coming to Singapore - Hindi! I am not sure but she supposedly made fool of all desis in Sem 1 by pretending not to understand Hindi!

Taniya - With energy, equivalent of almost three guys put together, she is most outspoken of all people in the batch! Talkative and chirpy, she was always ready to help!

Now, for two people, whom I will miss lots...

Alex a.k.a Alexadrous the Greatest - My flattie who would always address me with "J-Bhaaai" ! The totally secretive guy with a confused look 80% of time! The guy who really experienced the "diversity at NUS"! The guy who knew the essence of "Networking"! The guy whom everyone should learn time management! One of the closest friends at NUS, he shall be just missed... for nothing in particular... except his presence around!

Rohini a.k.a Bhushan Ben - My partner-in-crime for almost everything! She could discuss almost everything under the sun (may be above as well)! Had strong opinions as well as strong expressions! Added life to everywhere she went! Most carefree to the world, but with deep running thoughts inside her mind! Our interest never matched - but I guess, a classic case of opposites attract! Gave me the nickname, I love the most - shall be missed for everything!

For the sole one, whom I miss most...

Shreya - fondly call her "Taai" - elder sis in marathi - the closest and bestest friend at NUS who also was a psuedo-flattie! Although not technically from the batch, she became a psuedo batchmate when she exercised the flexi-option at NUS! Discovered common interests pretty late... but the only one whom I could share anything I felt... A level headed person who had her priorities in life so clearly laid out... Happy that she has gone back to aamchi mumbai.. From lectures to lounge and from cooking to walks and from PJs to life... I miss her almost everyday!

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Now, I just wish that our paths cross atleast once in lifetime... it would be sooo good to have a super reunion at the commencement!

MBA, Movies and Seasons!

Off late, I have been on movie mani - watching so many good movies which I had missed during last 4-5 years (may be more)...

Of course, working from home has its own advantages (like working at 1 AM when MBA's concentration is at peak and waking up at 11 AM)

One of the advantages I discovered was that I could manage my time more efficiently to watch a few good movies... so I have abused torrent and my flatties are perennially complaining of slow internet...

A few were suggested by friends... a few from IMDB.. a few just random...

A lot of movies reside on my comp but sometimes I am just too lazy to start it...

A few discoveries...

1) Chittrangada Singh is HOT! Watch Sorry Bhai - a movie ahead of its times! If not for movie, for the actress!

2) There is no dearth of unrated movies which Bollywood should be proud of! Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Manorama Six Feet Under were brilliant discoveries!

3) For no reason, hollywood movies are labelled as classics - The Shawshank Redemption, The Last King of Scotland and Goodfellas were brilliant!

4) Bigflix is boon! But how does it intend to make money - most movies are free and I have no clue if it has any sales!

5) Borat is such an overrated piece... I hardly enjoyed it... Never mind the gross things...

Now - to the part which is uncharted for me.... My friends prefer to watch seasons of TV shows altogether... and I get lost of their every mentions... apparently, FRIENDS is too old.. the current favourite is HIMYM (How I met your mother)... The next mention of sitcom is Coupling - all these names I have just heard of - I havent watched any though I intend to watch atleast one season of each soon... For thrillers, its Prison Break, Heroes and The Lost...

So as soon as I finish the stockloads of movie, the seasons shall start....

Tradeoffs

So all this while we have been taught that tradeoffs are necessary evil which you cannot escape....

so what would you chose?

Money over aspirations? Would you get paid to do something you dont like? Or work for free to enjoy work? Or just take everything in your stride and decide as and when it comes?

Would you work with someone who gives you business cards or with someone who probably has more business possibilities?

Would you work in a plush office in CBD? Or at home?

Somethings are just meant to go in opposite directions.... the good part is that I realised my belonging...

And as my good friend pointed after the courageous decision few days back - I have evolved as a person!

The soft learnings from NUS MBA, i guess!

There is a thin line between courage and stupidity....

and we have inherent bias to believe that choices we make are right... atleast they looked right at that point of time....

or how we hope that we should not have made such choices in first place...

and then we are again faced with dilemma... courage or stupidity?

Courage showed me way today.