Like all of us, I multi-task. A bit too much. While on a call for work, I would be checking my email while trying to catch up on the blogs I read through Feed Demon.
One of the things I am trying this month, is from the book 'The Power of Less.' The simple idea - I will try my best to single task, and report my progress on my blog everyday. Not that my blog is followed so widely that I need to worry about boring my readers.
So today, I did make some progress. I concentrated solely on my work related call, and was surprised that I was able to come up with inputs that normally I don't. And I really listened. Now that I am blogging, I am just blogging. Not checking my crackberry simultaneuously - which is really a disease! I wish I could get rid of it. At least I have shut off the buzz when new email comes in. Now if I can figure out how to turn off the red light that indicates a new email, I would be golden!
UPDATE: I just turned the red light off!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
3 - D
Over the past few days I have come across 2 promotional articles on 3-D movies. monsters, mcdonald advertismemts are all taking advantage of the latest technology. They even included 3 D glasses with the time and fortune magazines. Is a 3-D magazine on kindle the next big thing?
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Power of Less
There is an interesting book I am reading nowadays. It is called The Power of Less, and as the title suggests, it talks about how to limit oneself to the most important things in life. It has some excellent tips on how to narrow down your commitments, how to organize a simple schedule and really how to enjoy life! I highly recommend it!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Monk and the Riddle: a MUST Read
I just finished reading the book 'The Monk and the Riddle : The Education of a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur' by Randy Komisar.
It is one of the best books I have read in the past few months. It is just 170 pages long, and it took me all of a day and a half to finish it. Rather, I could not stop reading it. The central theme of the book is simple: passion. The book marks a clear difference between passion and drive.
Passion pulls you towards something you cannot resist.
Drive pushes you toward something you feel compelled or obligated to do.
Looking back at my career, I realize drive often does win. Commitments made to others somehow seem more important than a commitment made to myself. This needs to change.
Another important point of the book is the Deferred life plan. Quite simply, today we often do what we must do, and postpone what we want to do for tomorrow.
For the rest, please read the book
It is one of the best books I have read in the past few months. It is just 170 pages long, and it took me all of a day and a half to finish it. Rather, I could not stop reading it. The central theme of the book is simple: passion. The book marks a clear difference between passion and drive.
Passion pulls you towards something you cannot resist.
Drive pushes you toward something you feel compelled or obligated to do.
Looking back at my career, I realize drive often does win. Commitments made to others somehow seem more important than a commitment made to myself. This needs to change.
Another important point of the book is the Deferred life plan. Quite simply, today we often do what we must do, and postpone what we want to do for tomorrow.
For the rest, please read the book
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Adversity
Whenever I face adverse situations, I cannot but think of one story my aunt told me recently.The story involves Biji (my maternal grandmother, on the left) and Bauji (my maternal grandfather).The time - around 1947, when India gained independence, and was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Biji and Bauji lived in the Pakistan side of Punjab, with their eldest daughter (my mom), their eldest son (my uncle), and with Biji preganent with another son (my younger uncle). With the partition, they decided to move to the India side - to Delhi. Biji started gathering all her valuables and jewelry . Bauji told her to just take the kids and leave. He said, "Zinda raha to sab kuchh phirse bana doonga." Translated it means "if I stay alive, I would make everything again from scratch."
Biji moved to Delhi with the kids. Bauji eventually moved there and found Biji. It was all based on trust - there were no cellphones, no way to track where she was. Eventually they did rebuild everything they had, and a lot more. They went on to have four wonderful kids and nine grandchildren.
Whenever I think of all the adverse situations I have faced, I cannot but think of how they all are trivial as compared to what Biji and Bauji faced. I cannot but feel inspired, and feel proud of having such grandparents. I miss them.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
How to be creative
Came across an excellent article
http://zenhabits.net/2009/01/the-secret-to-being-insanely-creative/
http://zenhabits.net/2009/01/the-secret-to-being-insanely-creative/
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Vonage Visual Voicemail
Vonage Visual Voicemail is a cool thing - it translates the voice message to text, and emails it to you, along with a .wav file of the original voicemail. I was so surprised that I got this voicemail this morning:
"Kathy, It's Alice. And I'm just looking at this snow, I'm wondering if you're gonna be coming. So, give me the word. It looks bad to seeing. Just like give me the word anyway. I'll be happy to see you no matter what. But, just take your time. Thank you. Bye-bye."
I called back, and got a retirement home. I had the message passed back to Alice - but the operator did not know which Alice. She said that she was going to try to find the right one. I would never know if she did. The woman who left the voicemail sounded frail and weak. I really hope she gets the message, and gets to see Kathy.
"Kathy, It's Alice. And I'm just looking at this snow, I'm wondering if you're gonna be coming. So, give me the word. It looks bad to seeing. Just like give me the word anyway. I'll be happy to see you no matter what. But, just take your time. Thank you. Bye-bye."
I called back, and got a retirement home. I had the message passed back to Alice - but the operator did not know which Alice. She said that she was going to try to find the right one. I would never know if she did. The woman who left the voicemail sounded frail and weak. I really hope she gets the message, and gets to see Kathy.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Ideas for Startups
Anupendra recently forward me the link to Paul Graham's article on generating ideas for startups. Amongst the best I have read for generating ideas.
Also check out this book - it gives some basic principles for generating ideas. They include:
1. The single biggest determining factor in whether you would generate a good idea, is a belief in your ability to generate ideas. You do not need to be a pony tailed artist to generate ideas.
2. Initiate idea generation with an idea; any idea for that matter. That will get your creative juices flowing and get ideas out
3. Not acting on a good idea is equivalent to never having generated that idea at all
4. To get ideas about a topic, you need to have insider knowledge on it. Expand your knowledge. Expand your horizons
5. Forget rules. Be illogical. Be silly. Ask Ask Ask.
6. When you have problems generating ideas on a topic, switch and start working on something else
7. Have Fun
P.S. If you are now inspired to generate ideas, and end up launching a startup with that idea, a 1% share in the startup would be adequate compensation for my contribution :)
Also check out this book - it gives some basic principles for generating ideas. They include:
1. The single biggest determining factor in whether you would generate a good idea, is a belief in your ability to generate ideas. You do not need to be a pony tailed artist to generate ideas.
2. Initiate idea generation with an idea; any idea for that matter. That will get your creative juices flowing and get ideas out
3. Not acting on a good idea is equivalent to never having generated that idea at all
4. To get ideas about a topic, you need to have insider knowledge on it. Expand your knowledge. Expand your horizons
5. Forget rules. Be illogical. Be silly. Ask Ask Ask.
6. When you have problems generating ideas on a topic, switch and start working on something else
7. Have Fun
P.S. If you are now inspired to generate ideas, and end up launching a startup with that idea, a 1% share in the startup would be adequate compensation for my contribution :)
CNN: Birds Destroy Planes!
Televising the recent plane crash, CNN warned of the growing danger of birds hitting planes. Really?? How often do birds hit planes? And if they do, what are we going to do? Kill all birds? Line planes with birdi-cides to make sure birds stay away? Let's wait and watch!
Meanwhile, excellent job Mr. PiloT Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger! That was some amazing maneuvering, and the people on board, and their friends and relatives would be thankful to you forever!
Some interesting details about the plane's trajectory here
Meanwhile, excellent job Mr. PiloT Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger! That was some amazing maneuvering, and the people on board, and their friends and relatives would be thankful to you forever!
Some interesting details about the plane's trajectory here
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