The great (Anshu) Man

It was during the first year of my MBA course that I heard about it. Our HR professor mentioned that one of the major reasons behind a person switching his/her job is a bad boss. It is not always about the money, being the moral of this argument. Upon experiencing this in my first ever stint post MBA completion, I realized this argument was infact a fact! My boss (I am itching to mention his name but I am refraining myself from it) had made my job hell. It was ofcourse the worst phase of my life for several reasons and boss was making sure to be on top of those reasons of my dismay. Fortunately, I got into Logicserve and it was a changeover, a satisfying one.

In professional life you know you look up to certain people. They really stand out for you. You are in awe, grateful to them for unusual reasons at times. I really want to appreciate one such person who will no longer work with us for quite some time, may be never ever. But, for me, he stands out. He is one person I will certainly look up to for advice related to my professional career. The great Anshuman Misra. 

I have had the most enlightening pleasure of working with him, as he served for Logicserve as Senior Vice President - Sales and Operations. I remember going to him right after 2 months of joining Logicserve, with a totally confused mind. I asked him, "What is expected of me? What is it that I am doing? Am I doing good?". That was the first thing I learned from him, that people senior to you always keep a close watch and they know if you are doing good or not. And you should never ask whether you are doing good or not. If you are doing good, you will surely get that feedback.

That interaction probably set the tone for the wonderful professional relationship, or mentoring, which I have had with him. He was certainly one among those who elected for me to be promoted to Team Lead role. Weekly Hits and Misses discussion with him was the best which could have happened for me. Constant interaction, receiving a mature outlook towards business was sinking in really well. At times I was overwhelmed by the judicious ways in which he tackled strife between my team and other teams. At one on one level, he is the best negotiator I have ever came across with. Some inputs related to work conduct like formal attire, clean shave were also registered in me by him. He once quoted, "If you want to be a manager, behave like a manager!". I still follow some of these things which he mentioned supporting that statement.

The best thing which came to me from him was his guidance regarding a job switch I was considering. Ofcourse it was his duty to retain his employee, but he went beyond that. He made me understand what and how to consider before a switch, what kind of company it is and some other relevant inputs. I was convinced not to join that company, and I will always cherish that decision - that company has gone bust now, in just 1 and half year of setting up. 

He was like a Godfather to me, as for numerous other colleagues. I would seek him in times of corporate conflicts, career advice, profile and role clarity and job expectations. Now that he is moving on to venture into uncharted areas for him, career wise, I can notice the vaccum he leaves behind. But I know he will be available to me for guidance, always! 

Anshuman Sir, I have had a few people influence my life, shaping it the way it is today. But for my professional career so far, it has majorly been you. Thank you will not suffice my dues to you. Yet, I appreciate whatever you have done for me and wish you have a very long and successful professional and personal life. You will always be (career wise) my Super Man, someone I will always look up to!

It happened for the Master!

16th March 2012 will be etched in one of my happiest memories forever. After a year long wait Sachin Tendulkar completed his 100th International century. I have been avoiding watching him play since the England tour because I felt I was being unlucky for him. Even today, as he neared this milestone and my friends started passing comments I just left the floor, restless, desperate for him to get this gorilla off his back.

I wont say his 100th ton went in vain on account of our loss. He never had an ODI century against Bangladesh before, even when we consider them to be a weak cricketing nation. This ton is the check mark against all ODI playing nations of his generation. And it is his 100th international century while representing India! So why do you think it was a lost effort? Yes, the win would have made it sweeter but has he announced retirement yet?

For quite some time now I have been hearing and reading FB posts by many people saying India loses when Sachin hit's a ton. I think it is really hard for them to believe that 76 of his hundreds have helped India win or draw matches (references below). Now consider below stats. 2011 onwards whenever he has gone on to make a big one, the team has let him down. Is Sachin the unlucky charm?

Result
Period	Tally	Win	Draw	Lost
1990 to 1995	12	7	4	1
1996 to 2000	39	20	8	11
2001 to 2005	22	14	4	4
2006 to 2010	23	13	4	6
2011 onwards	5	0	2	3

One of the passing comments I heard was Sachin playing selfishly for his milestone 100, as his strike rate was lower than his ODI career average. I don't buy this but lets just consider anyone in his place in this scenario. Tell me that person would not have done so, would not have tried to achieve such an impossible record having been so close to the finish line? You cant say that right, coz you are human; isn't he one?

Perhaps you must have assessed my frustration level behind this philosophy, research and number crunching. Hearing and reading a lot of stuff about the much awaited ton, retirement, breeding youngsters had really frustrated me to the core. I can't even say I imagine what level will be Sachin's frustration.Could there have been any other person to endure what he has done so brilliantly?

Sachin is my role model. I love him far more for the kind of person he is than a great cricketer. Sachin always shows you how important it is to be a good human being more than anything else. We belong to the same hometown and are maharashtrians, in which I take immense pride. He has always handled praise and criticism equally well. He has always made sure his work speaks for him. He is so very passionate about his game even after such a long career. His philosophy about his work is simply to improve what you do and results will follow. Be patient and humble. Quite certainly is a rare specimen, isn't he?

In today's press conference a reporter mentioned, "Are you aware this is your maiden ODI ton against Bangladesh?" to which he replied, "No. I didn't know that. I don't get involved in numbers. If I do that I will end up spending too much time, might as well put that time to practice for games to follow!" That's so true. Another century in ODI cricket by him will be the first ever 50 centuries posted by one man in history of ODI. 650 odd additional runs will make him the first ever batsman to post over 19000 ODI runs. And many more we wouldn't even had thought about.

It's my genuine request to everyone interested in the game of cricket. Enjoy Sachin's game till you can! These are his sunset years and you never know when you will cease to witness such a human being with this overwhelming aura, talent and conduct. We are too meager to comment, suggest or criticize him. Somewhere you know you love him for what he has done for India. Your envy for him is useless coz you can never match him. He is not an ordinary human, you see. He is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the God of Cricket for so many and the Master, for me!

Stats references - 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_cricket_centuries_by_Sachin_Tendulkar

Happy Holi - Women's Day

What makes this year unique? End of the world rumour? Leap year? Naah. It's about today. It's coinciding of Holi festival and International Women's day. Confused? Well, this uniqueness is related to me. 

So let me start by wishing all women, more specifically those who have been a part of my life, a very Happy Women 's day. I think today is about taking some time out to appreciate the role a women plays in your life. I am proud to mention that I have had the pleasure of having a good number of female friends (and more than friends) and now when I look back I can appreciate the little (and in some cases, huge) differences they have made to my life. Women change you, temporarily or even permanently. They have such powers, trust me. And I am not complaining about it.

Holi festival is one of those few which I do not celebrate. I don't remember playing Holi after the age of 12, with just one exception (more about this follows soon). The reason had been the violence with which people from my residential building played it, not to mention the booze. Colors and water always had the least preference. It was all about mud, dirty water, kicking and throwing and other such ruthless stuff. I experienced it once and decided never ever to face it again. I used to lock myself inside my house on Holi, when people from my building came on our floor. I preferred being neat and sober on Holi. But exception happened in the year 2004.

I was trying my luck with one of my more than good female friends and things were shaping up good. We had become close friends. Holi was approaching and in one of our conversations, she mentioned that she plays Holi with her school friends every year. I thought it would be a good idea to play Holi this year with her. Some of her school friends were my acquaintances as well, and they knew I had a crush on her. So when I expressed my request of playing Holi with them that year, they happily obliged.

My mom was a bit surprised to hear that I was gonna play Holi that year, quite obviously. But she did not bother much when I told her it's my college friends. She knew I had better friends in college than at our locality. So I left my house at about 7 that morning and reached Girgaum. I met those friends of mine. Without further ado, I was showered with colors and water. Those guys picked me up and dropped me in a mini pool of color water. Some of them kicked me as well. Focus kept changing from one person to another. So even I got my chances of doing these things with other guys. 

We left from there in some time heading to her locality. By the time I reached, she was already colored. For a moment I did not realize her at all. I applied some color on her cheeks, wishing her "Happy Holi". She did the same and soon all her friends joined in. Some of the guys went berserk and also smashed eggs on our head. I was one of those (un)lucky guys. We really enjoyed a lot!

My energy dried up in some time and I decided to leave for home. In the bus, people were staring at me like crazy, often murmuring as well. It was when I reached home did I realize what might have been the reason. My mom was shocked to see me in that avatar. She asked me, "What's that awful smell?" I told her about the eggs and she made an awful expression. It was my stench which irritated the people in that bus. Mom told me she would have to throw away my tshirt and shorts, which I was wearing that day because there was no chance of that smell going away. I was sorry to hear that because I really liked that tshirt, but had no choice. And that was the last time, of me playing Holi, so far :)

Women, I tell you, have magical powers of making men do things they have refrained from. It's good to be in good books of women, saying this based on personal experience. Women are much worse than men when it comes to being bad. But, with a right women, the man can never be more happy. Women have a significant impact on a man's life and I am glad I can realize it. Just appreciating the same by wishing all women, Happy Women's day!