Own the Problem and Solve It

Problems are problematic and sometime so much problematic that this demand last pint of efforts from us and still challenge us more. But, problems are part of life and will continue to be there. Hence only way to deal with problems is to 'Deal' with these.

One of the common phoenomenon I found is, we are more worried by thinking about problem than actually by the problem. We keep on thinking about problem, by doing all permutation and combination for all possible scenarios, outcomes, what if situations, and get defeated multiple times even before facing the actual problem. Seems, this is more problematic than actual problem. This mentality or habbit (quite common, you are not special) creates more pain for us than what actual Problem can do. We keep on struggling with these problematic thoughts for days,  months or years sometime, but won't take a step to solve it. Result, many a times, we are making a Mountain out of a Molehill or a Bigger Mountain from a small mountain, or pushing our head against that Mountain rather than to take a step to side and walk around this.

Why we do this. What is the solution.

Let us address it step wise. We do this because many a times, we stuck in a loop of thinking, anticipating, visualizing, fearing and the repeating all again. We don't take even a single step considering that result won't be good. We have high inertia.

What is the solution. Solution is to take first step towards solution. We all have solution. It may not be perfect, or may not be the right one.  But we all have capacity to think about solution. So taking step towards solution is the only way out. It is perfectly fine to make a wrong decision. However, it is good as long as we have courage to review it and change our course of action. But what absolutely wrong is, if we don't even take a step. So the solution is to own the problem, think about solution, pick the best from your options, and start executing. If it is right, your problem will be solved. If it is not right, at least you will learn to take next step.

Problems are part of life, and will continue to be there till we exist. Problem free life is not a reality and is not going to be happen. However, a life with solutoins for problem is feasible. So strive for that. And only way out is, Own the problem and take first step to solve it.

Thank You Mentors

When I started moving in professional career, I came to know about term 'Mentor'. Wondering what it is, I found that many of the people were talking about being mentored by various great personalities. And it is said to be a great opportunity to learn and grow. I was not even aware about it, hence I started feeling insecure and kind of left out. Am I not worthy enough or I am not looking for one. Why I haven't found one so far..

However, eventually I found that it is not always the single person who comes in formally, wearing a hat of 'Mentor' and bestow her blessings. Rather, it could be more than one people who keep sharing their wisdom and experience informally with us, either intentionally taking interests in us or casually just sharing few hints from their wisdom and life experiences.

At the age of 19, when I joined my first job to manage a mechanical workshop of 20 people, I found it very difficult to deal with people who are much older and experienced than me. Then my senior 'Dinesh Sharma' hold my hand and said, "You have to be bold and confident to deal with them. Also, Understanding their context, Respecting everybody and Integrity in yours 'words and action' is an important ingredient to manage the talent". And that lecture worked for me.

My few first days as Software Engineer, I was completely lost in a whole new world. People around me were using terminologies which were unknown to me. I was feeling like I don't know anything, especially when anybody comes to you and said, "Hey, you are working on this since morning.. that is 2 hour job if you use xxxxx". I got a supportive voice from Vikas Joshi who came and sat next to me, saying, "Let us see how we can solve this problem your way". He made me aware about new terminologies, and at the same time assured me that there is not only one, but multiple ways to define and solve any problem. A specific terminology can be good to communicate, but is not the core of solution. He encouraged me to keep learning and keep working steadily and sincerely.

There are even more. My mother who keeps sharing her priceless hard earned experience of life with me, who keeps on mentoring me since childhood and taught to face the life 'seeing in eyes of challenges'. Many of my friends, who shared one or other important lesson with me at every foot step. Many of the great writers, who have shared their valuable experiences in form of great books. One taxi driver, who met me one morning and shared important lesson of life saying, "Life gives us hints about next path. It is we, who want to stick with existing roots or beliefs. Best is to recognize the hints of nature, accept it and move on". There are many more ranging from my childhood teachers to my office cleaner who shared few dews of wisdom from their life experiences unknowingly and unconditionally.

So I feel confident now that I got so many mentors in life which shaped my thought process, the way I am. And what more, life gives us what we wish for, when we need it. Recently I got Ramesh Dharma as my first formal mentor. Since last one year, he is listening to me with all good patience and sharing his fine tuned experience with me. I don't know when I crossed the formal lines and even started reflecting my emotional side also. But he is managing every aspect maturely and is sharing his best of life experience to shape a new path for my journey.

Thanks to all of my great mentors for shaping my life, my journey..

#ThankYouMentor

Leading by Example - An Interesting Approach to Lead

Albert Einstein once said “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.”

To compliment this quote, let me tell you a story. Story begins 16 years back when I started working as shop supervisor in a mechanical workshop. Workshop had around 25 skilled technicians. Most of them were in age group of 30s to 50s. It was a challenging job for a 19 year old boy to manage these experienced and skilled workers. Hence I had various wonderful learnings during this job. Following is one of such interesting learning.

Very first day, when I entered in the workshop, I found it very unclean and untidy. There were some obvious reasons for being dirty. Like being a mechanical workshop, there was lot of scrap production daily. Lot of oil was being used for lubrication along with various coolants also. However, still there were good reasons to believe that it can be comparatively cleaner. I felt a need to change or improve. Being very new to the Organization, I decided to wait for sometime. Eventually I started discussing with team members about cleaning the place. One day I got a simply reply from few workers for not cleaning the workshop, that was, "Either we can clean the workshop or can complete our day job. You tell us what we need to do". Sound familiar :). Even today sometimes I heard similar reasoning that, "Either we can improve the code/process, or can make the delivery". I understood the problem and gave it some more time.

One morning, I thought that I should clean my place at least. My place comprised of one table, chair, cupboard, some documents and lot of dirt. I spent 3-4 hours and cleaned it completely. All the workers were looking at me quite surprisingly. At the end of the day, I was happy that I did what I liked and what I should have done. There was no expectation around. Next morning, 2-3 of the workers came to my seat and told me that they also wanted to clean their place. They asked, can I manage the time break for cleaning. I took the responsibility and told that I shall manage it. They called all other workers and discussed with them. That day, all the them worked as a team and cleaned the workshop for 4-5 hours. Results were obviously pleasant. Workshop was completely changed, air was purified. All of the co-workers were appreciating the change themselves. Earlier they had to find a clean place to have their tea, now whole workshop was cleaned enough to sit anywhere.

Improve Productivity with these Desktop and Mobile Tools

Productivity, improvement in efficiency is quite a hot mantra nowadays to be successful and to achieve the growing number of goals. With the fast moving life, demanding expectations, people are in continuous pressure to improve what they are doing now, to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and to remember many things which they need to complete in a day or probably in few days. Won't you feel, sometime our mind gets exhausted with this sea of information and tasks. However, to meet the expectations, we have to manage it. Managing information, planning ahead, scheduling, remembering the schedule and then execute it, is the key to success. But one point is certainly clear that we need some help to manage this bulk information and tasks etc. So how should we do that? Are we talking about having a personal secretary.. sort of :). But everyone can not afford to hire a personnel for this management. So.....

Alternative good solution, in this high tech world, is to use available productivity and hobbies related tools on mobile phone and desktop computers. There are many good tools available on phones and in browsers which can actually help us to manage our day, to manage our task list, schedules, alarms, goals and can keep us updated for all information which we want. Now the need is to identify these and utilize these properly. We have explored and used few tools as need arises, which we are sharing here if these can help. These are very simple tools and many people must be using these. These can give a good start to the beginners.

Let us start from desktop. On desktop if you are using or can use Chrome Browser, following tools can definitely help you. These are:

Google Calendar: It helps you to schedule your events. Events can be one time, or recurring. It has good facility to schedule as per requirements. Moreover, there are various ways to remind you for these events like

1. It can send you email before any pre-defined interval. It can actually send multiple mails at multiple time gaps.
2. It can send you the daily agenda as per your calendar event schedule
3. It can send you SMS on your register phone number
4. It can show you alert on your computer screen, if Google calendar is opened in browser

Isn't that great to have reminders for all of your events beforehand, and moreover, you can define the reminder's frequency and style. That is actually like having a personal assistant, who reminds you for every event you want to be reminded for. You can access it anywhere anytime, even on your mobile wherever you are.

Wings of Fire - Agni ki Udan

'Agni ki Udan' is the autobiography of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. This is a wonderful book for the professionals who want to read some literature to have a direction in their profession, and in the life that how to utilize their knowledge and skills for social good and the country and for the Organization for which they are working. He is among one of few great scientist who have devoted their whole life for the progress of science and technology in country. Dr Kalam has shared their experience in this book which may not be able to describe his complete personality, however gives us a brief about him

• As an innocent boy in the streets of 'Rameshwaram Ji', who has lived a simple life with his religious and simple family, 
• As a student in college who came from a small town and left his home first time for studies; and then left an everlasting impression on many teachers with his sincerity, 
• As an graduate engineer who had a dream job in mind however landed at some different job and still made a enourmous contribution everywhere with his passion, dedication and commitment to the work, 
• As a true follower of Gurus like Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr Satish Dhawan, Dr Brahm Prakash, who has followed his seniors with utmost faith and respect and hence manage to change the future of country with their guidance and his efforts, 
• As an amazing scientist who learnt from each experience and used all of his amazing intellectual power for his country without ever thinking for earning money outside the India, 
• As a true and caring leader during PLSV and Indian Missile programme who has motivated a big big group of people across the institutions to work like a team with a single and defined mission in mind, 
• And moreover as a good human being whose only mission was to do good for his country and even now is contributing to welfare of society in whatever mean he can do. 

Tips for E-Mail Communication

Here are a few points which may be helpful for mail communication:

• Subject of the mail should be chosen wisely. 
1. It should explain the motive of mail, i.e. receiver should understand from the subject itself that why this mail is here and what would the purpose, and even sometime, what is the expected from her.
2. It should not be too big
3. It should not be generic like Hi , until you don’t have any other choice after much thinking.
• Mail should be started with formal salutation. It put the reader in good mood with the start of the letter. Like
1. Hi/Hello - If you interact quite often
2. Dear Mr/Ms - More formal communication
• Writing a name directly to start the mail is not always recommended i.e.
1. 'Name'
1. Please do the work as discussed.
•