Tough calls in my Infy Journey...

Writing an e-mail (June 2007)

To one of my close friends, with unacceptable language. Very though time in my personal relations side. Came out of it in 3 months’ time.
A great lesion is that, Never use hard words with the one’s we value the most.

Working only for 8 Hr. in normal circumstances (starting from Oct 2007)

When I was consulting about work life in s/w, I got the same feedback from many folks, i.e. by the time we reach our home it will be always 8-9, when I enquired about the reasons, they say other stay and we need to stay. Otherwise managerial issues, peers issues, promotion issues and so on. After my direct observation for 2 months, I concluded that in majority of the situation, it is just planning time and project and be assertive. They solve almost all the issues. When my entire project people sits late for their own personal reasons, I used to just focus on my work and leave office by 5.45 Pm. I wanted to practice this even at the cost of so called speedy growth.

Joining in a marketing company (Nov 2007)
Joined a marketing company to taste the challenges in marketing which would help me in my MBA and post MBA venture. Mahesh and me decided to put the profits in our college scholarship program. Ultimately this adventure turned out to be a nightmare and financial burden for both of us.

Taking loan of 280000 (June 2008)
Want to clear off all the outstanding of my education, Sisters marriage and Marketing adventure, and to have a weight on my shoulders to not venture again. Majorly want to take my dad’s burden for couple of years.

Changing the path (from MBA to Civil services) (Aug-Dec 2009)
As my post MBA plans were of stating a venture to manufacture agricultural products and to
· Create value addition to the crops that are grown in my area
· Generate considerable employment for the agricultural labors and to the retired army folks who even after their retirement leave for big cities to earn money.

Considering my financial position and the impact of recession and realizing the impact of in-separable politics in human life, I made up my mind to enter in Civil services, where my financial position does hamper my performance and where recession like situation will have negligible impact although politics will be at their best here. This is ultimately delaying my marriage date (which was May 2012 as per earlier plans J)

Staying with Infosys after CRR3 issue (Jan 2010)
I always believe that I will perform to my best in the agreed context and would not be in the last 15 %, but the process I have undergone in Infy declared that I am in the last 15 % of the folks. I seriously though of the lapses in the system and considered myself to be on the wrong side of fortune. There are couple of reason to stay back
· To fulfill dream of working in Infy for 4 years.
· Do not want to have any other company in my s/w career.
· To reassure myself that I would not be in the last 15 anytime. ( I was in top 10 % as per my performance, and in top 25% considering my attitude) (My Manager words: you have done absolutely CRR 1 + work in this project, but the initial 2 months feedback from you first project pulled you down)

Rejecting award from DM on the stage (June 17 2010)

Not going to Delhi for coaching (Jan 2011)
I have been planning and accumulating money to go to Delhi for 2 years for preparing for Civils, but after my consultations, I have evaluated almost 28 points for the same. But with 17 to 11 points, I have decided to be at home.


Thanks for Reading,
Yogesh.

Money is yours but resources belong to the society

Straight from Mangalore Infy BB:


Germany is a highly industrialised country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country. In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.

When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.

There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates. We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.

As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed food on the table. When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody.

"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind," my colleague Gui told the old ladies. The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organisation arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly apologized to the officer.

The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.´” Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS.

We are from country which is not very rich in resources. To save face, we order large quantity and also waste food when we give others a treat.

THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.

My colleague photostatted the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir. All of us kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that we shall never be wasteful

Failed Diplomacy

When the wall of EGO separates two individuals, it is always difficult to see the other person positively.

                                                       In one of my recent adventures with relational-conflict, I tried to look at a matter which was in need of more experience than that I have. It was a 15 years relational conflict b/w two individuals, which ultimately turned out to be between two families. The two individuals were not talking to each other from the past 15 years. Interestingly there were no fights b/w them, not even a verbal fight. The two individuals are my dad and my dad’s elder sister.

                                                       15 years back there were few difference of opinions b/w them in few issues, they turned into, kind of perception where one was not respecting the other. That added with the social stigma and converted into literal boycott the other from the functions, parties and common gatherings. Both of them never seriously tried to sit and discuss the differences, so the small differences grown to an extent they don’t even look at other person. I have been observing this from long since, I had good relation with my aunt, and I was never told not to go to their home. This motivated me to clear of their perception and put the reality in front of them. During this period two marriages happened in my aunt home and one in my home, even though they extended invitation during the good times in their respective home, both sided did not responded in a positive manner which would have bridged the gap.

                                                       During a recent major festival in our village, my mom invited all my three aunts. But elder aunt did not come saying my dad did not invited her. As my dad gave permission to my mom to invite her, I saw the possibility for their reunion for the first time, and decided to put my best effort for the occasion. I know my age and experience will not suffice, but wanted to experience a different situation directly. Many times I heard my dad saying few issues about his sister, but to conclude, none of them were negative. I never heard my aunt’s version of the spat.

                                                                As always, I committed to give my best and prepared myself to face the possible consequences of the incident. I took my TVS XL and travelled 5.5 Km to reach my aunt’s home. As usual she invited me cordially. We sat couple of seconds silently, before I break the silence.(We all know It is always tough to start the first word during a challenging time.) First time in my 25 years I am hearing a voice which was directly pin-pointing each and every activity of my dad. It was one of the tough moments for me to hear those words. Here I used few common things I usually advocate

· When we are settling an issue we should be objective and not subjective. (I should think i am hearing two individuals rather than hearing Dad and Aunt)
· Story of a black and white ball (Other Side of the issue may be different)
· Story of a hill which is at a distant location (Generalization will not work in all conclusions)
· Finally ‘False vision of reality is the cause of suffering’ one of the great saying by Buddha, which I believe and practice in almost in all decisions.

As I already heard one version of the issues from my dad, I had a different perception about aunt, so came to a neutral position and concluded that, it is just the wall of Ego which is separating both of them and nothing else. I took time and explained her the 3 points carefully without hurting the so called ego. I saw no acceptance from her. But I saw some bright situation around. I observed my brother-in-law and uncle supportive to my view and they were trying to accept my invitation.

But she was expecting the same from my dad. Even he will not listen to me to invite her personally. I saw my watch and realized it was around 3 Hrs 30 min ago, I walked in to the house. Completely lost hope of taking her to home immediately, but clearly saw possibility.  My last words were, “Aunt I respect you opinion and leave the final decision to you, after hearing my words about the same, whatever decision you take, I fully respect it”; Her reply was, rejecting the invitation. I felt a difference experience, truly.  

  That is the story of failed diplomacy.

I came back to home in the night, and my parents were asking where did I go. I told I went to aunts home, but did not reveal the discussion. But story continues…

Next day morning my diplomacy doing the rounds in my relatives, these rounds put pressure on my parents and my aunt. After couple of days I returned to Mangalore, Then the same social pressure forced my mom to try once. This time my aunt came to home. Even though my diplomacy has shown an immediate negative result, but the positive result is that, it created a social pressure which re-united them. Hence the ultimate objective was fulfilled. :)

It is good to feel the experience of failure which teaches us how to succeed next time.

Beach Bath

There is always first time for everything, and the first time is always memorable.  :)


Sulthan bettery beach is one of the very good beaches in Mangalore and one of places that we visit frequently. To reach the Beach we need to travel around 5 km by bus/auto and 1 km by boat to cross back waters. On 18th Apr 2011, me and my friend Ravi planned to go to Sulthan bettery beach. Whenever we go out, only one person handles the entire expenses and the bill will be sent to all the group at a later point of time. This time also we did the same, So Ravi agreed to take care of financial matters. As most of the telugu guys left Mangalore only 2 folks (Ravi and Me) went to beach.

We went to the beach in shorts and T-shirts, both of us decided to take bath, then we were concerned about the security of our cheppal, as no one was there to look after, we kept our cheppal close to one family, assuming, they would keep a vigil on them. We were enjoying the beach and the bath. It is almost after an hour, Ravi came out of beach and searching for something. Initially I did not care much about his search, later I noticed that he is searching with anxiety. Then I passed an order to the waves to carry me till Ravi, the waves obeyed my order and did the same. I reached the Ravi who was still searching for something valuable in the waters, asked him, what r u searching for. With a confused expression he asked me, do you money with you?, as my shorts and T-shirt do not have pockets, I did not brought any money. I told the same to him, with disappointed tone he replied, I lost the money in the beach while bathing.

Whhhatt…Yeah we lost the money.

We were thing about, how to cross back waters, because if we cross back waters we can walk the 5 km to reach our room.

But we do not have even a single rupee, we were just realizing the value of 6 rupees (2 tickets * 3 INR = 6 INR), I was just thinking how many time I was in this kind of situation, the answer was NONE. So let’s utilize the new opportunity to tryout something new. That is requesting other to give us 6 rupees. The name we use for this is begging. The most common and easy job. But difficult job for us at that point of time. Fortunately we saw few Infosys guys at around 50 meters distance who were enjoying with guitar and songs. We approached them and explained the story and requested to help us. The response was ultimate, not because we were superb in begging, but because we are fellow Infocians. We took 10 rupees from two guys (10 each) and crossed the back waters. We purchased 2 tickets with 6 Rs and kept one 10 Rs note with me as a memory.
 
The next dat we returned 20 Rs to those guys.