SOP on Coffee Table

Yesterday, I could really understand how the ambience influences any piece of literature. Although my written works have been miles off from the literary fireworks but still i could see the difference in the way i think and write about something when there is right kind of atmosphere.
For the whole of last week, I had been planning to put together a decent statement of purpose. On Monday, while i was at home i tried delving into the subject and finding out why i wanted to go to a grad school. But the flow wasn't there in any of the write-ups that i wrote. Thats because early in the morning i simply wasn't in the mood to let loose my creative self. Tuesday was a similar story. The entire morning I dabbled with the write-up / SOP. But the only thing concrete that came out of it was a bucket full of paper trash. On Tuesday, it was the chaos at my work place that kept disturbing me. Also my apartment security knocked at least 5 times on the door for various reasons.
I had given myself time till Friday to put down at least answers to questions like a) Why i needed an MBA b) Short term / long term goals c) Any specialization that i particularly wanted to enroll into.
So as the deadline approached, On Wednesday I tried to shift into a subtler environment that could inspire the writer in me. The lounge music which i had put on to ensure that i write something, was soothing enough to inspire me to go n sleep...(see I am such a lazy bum.)
Then came Thursday, that’s yesterday something amazing happened. First in the morning got the news that a couple of my batch management trainees have left for greener pastures. It was nice to see them try n make the most of the Indian Job Scene. When i met them at office in the morning lots of old dorm talks / gossips emerged. Everyone was a bit nostalgic and everyone had a good thing or two to share about our first year in ABB.
I returned to work feeling a little sad that some of my closest pals had left. Soon I will also leave but exactly when that I don’t know. The morning get-together led me to think that how we worked closely on different projects together. Unknowingly I wanted to pen down everything that came to mind. But due to my hectic work schedule for the day I couldn’t put anything on my blog, forget about writing it down in a diary.
The evening was amazing as I grooved to the latest hip-hop tunes. Mayur and Heer as usual gave the best moves, which we tried to follow. But time and again, the mistakes seemed inevitable. Finally One routine of 4 bars was performed … and only three repetitions (wow …that’s the best I have ever done in the past six months with spin’s instructors).
Although my performance was marred by some errors, but it was all-fine as I could complete the routine with finesse. I left the premises of class with an urge to pen down something about the day. I went straight to Barista, ordered my favourite bru afagarto (…incidently this drink has lots of sweet memories attached to it so generally I have to order this @ barista) and with this started writing out on the note pad, which I had in my bag. After the first draft, the words started flowing smoothly. Revisions / Redrafts happened on its own. After 5 revisions I atleast had a motive as to why I wanted to attend a Grad School. An hour and a cappuccino later I was absolutely ready with several drafts of my SOP. Then I realized that barista was bustling with crowd by 9.30 pm. Families were enjoying the outing, couples were spending quality time in cozy corners and groups of youngsters were bantering over a cup of coffee. In the midst of this seemingly chaotic scene, I was so preoccupied with my coffee and the task on hand that I didn’t realize that how time flew by. It was almost 12 am when the guy behind the counter interrupted the linkin park song and announced that it was time for last order of the day. A moment later with my espresso on one side of the table, I started giving finishing touches to my statement of purpose.
Writing this 600-word document has been nothing less than writing an epic for me. I will put down in detail how one should go about it once I get any worthwhile admits. But admits or rejects, I have decided to pen down these moments (struggle while apping) of my life because this process of application simply makes u aware of who u really are and what purpose u plan to serve in this short productive life span. The process really (and I mean it) lets u know what your goals are and how you are going to go about it.
Lets see where I end up. Maybe 20 years down the line I can reflect back on this blog entry of mine and update it. With title……… “20 years hence”…

Sri's Routine ...

Last week Jaimin, Sri and myself had a couple of hours to spare n hence decided to
brood over a cup of coffee n a burger. Incidently Sri recently got his promotion. So his treat was pending anyways.
I have known sri n jaimin since quite some time but never had the time to actually go hang out with them. Sri actually is an amazing guy (not because he was treating us) but simply because he maintains such a hectic schedule without cribbing.
The good thing i learnt from him was time management. The guy actually uses (in the real sense) atleast 20 hrs of his day if not 24. Twice a week gymming for coupla hours and dance classes for the other 2 days. On sundays, this guy gets up at around 5 am and travels 60 km to attend his karate classes . Thats the time when iam
in my bed and in deeeeeeeeeep sleep.
Also consider this ... He has been following this schedule since the past 2 years. Truly awesome for a working professional. Hatz off to u dude.

8 Commandments that govern my life

This week i have been juggling around with my study schedules. The sole reason for this is the design on which iam working on. Now i "generally" don't pen down the complications happening in my professional life. But somehow after working on this i have realised i think i should write bout it.
The first aspect that it is the largest transformer that has ever been short circuit tested by any manufacturer in India. Second aspect n the aspect which i fear the most is that its reference design had an intial set back before it cud get smoothly tested.
This design from day one has been a roller coaster ride. The things which i assumed were a cake walk have turned out to be really messy . On the other hand the thing about which i made a big hue n cry was nothing but a 30 min job.
In the middle stages , i felt totally on my own...no reference n no one to guide cos one of my senior colleague (Mr. K) was on vacation. So dilemma a) follow the reference design n pray that there is no setback thereby meeting the deadline b) wait for Mr. K to return n then proceed , but with a delay of 7 x 3=21 working shifts.
One hotch potch solution to solve the dilemma has been worked out as of now. Teleconferencing with Mr. K for an hour in the morning....interpreting the result of it (which i am generally bad at :-)) ) n then proceeding with the modifications.
I dunno the fate of the design ....but the most interesting things that i have learned from this (n just for which i wrote the above 4-5 crappy paragraphs ) were....

a) Watever be the time frame u have worked on in the project .....still there is
something that u have forgotten to incorporate till the last minute that will stall the release of the product design.

b) Try n keep things as plain n simple as possible. Too much of innovation results in ......... a kick on ur ass (as top bosses always agree to plain simple version ...spice up the things n ....dhooom ....there u go flying out off the conference room)

c) Never trust a client.....( they r generally smooth operators...n use ur sense b4 u commit any thing. Believe them blindly at ur own risk !!!!)

d) Believe in Murphy's law.Watever can fail, will fail(...my interpretation of the law .dunno if thats the correct one ). Don't ever take printers/workstations/laptops/PENDRIVES/CDs for granted . These devices can and will screw up ur life the day u r about to present ur design to ur boss/VP/MD etc etc.

e) When u feel that 80 % of the project is done......in an hour or so u realise shit iam back to square one n have to start from near bout scratch.

f) Don't ever relax till the complete design is signed off.. just when u thought u have done it....there r some natural forces that will act and somehow client will ask for a change the very next day ......n this throws off ur schedule n weekend/holiday plans .

g) The day u make grand plans with ur family/girlfriend/boyfriend/friends.....ur boss has to give u a call and inform u that u will be required this weekend and u have to cancel all plans that u have made.

h) Last but not the least....expect urself to slog it alone...cos when u will be heavily loaded.... by fate or coincidence all ur colleagues will have loads of time for fun n frolic in office as well as outside it.
Hence when ever u have free time...live life king size. U never know when u will get that weekend off/holiday again :-))