Forget the wrinkles, the graying hair or the fading memory. As you near your 40's, you suddenly look up from your mundane life only to realize, that life and the small pleasures you once took for granted aren't the same anymore.
People whom you could turn to for advise are no available most of the time. Slowly but surely the thought sinks into you that you have grown old and the set of friends that were once around have moved on, while you continue to cling onto them. Once among a bevy of friends, now there are none when you need advice on a decision or have an overflowing cup of sorrow to share.
Those pals that still exist are too busy with their lives, with their children, and most importantly very busy in working towards ensuring their family's financial security. They have no time even Saturdays and Sundays to even attend phone calls leave alone meeting old pals. Those that remain are strictly the 9-am-to-5-pm-type pals. These are types one would never dare to call after office hours even if one is lying on the death bed.
Well, dear blog considering that I have realized that none of the friends have the time or patience, I will frequent you more often. Hopefully we will have a more endearing relationship unlike the ones I presently share with some humans. :)
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Lessons well learnt
Dear blog,
Its been a very very long time since I wrote something on my wall. Trials and tribulations; tears and fears that's what sums up my experience in the last few years.
The 15+ years of work experience has taught me the two biggest lessons that I shan't forget in a hurry.
Lesson 1: Never stick your head out for a team that doesn't want to stick theirs.
Here I was a project lead in this Indian manufacturing major. I was pained by the wrongs on my team, I battled with the management against all odds, only later to discover one of them was taking me for a ride, while another used my shoulder to put across her point.
The result was that I ended up antagonizing the hierarchy while getting nothing in return. Lost travel opportunities, billing issues, backbiting were some of the consequences of standing up for my team with nothing in return from them.
Lesson 2: Never work hard in a place where there is no recognition for talent
I left the job to join a Singapore-based startup. I had 10-12 member team reporting to me. I worked assiduously, with little care for the long hours that I put in. Keeping my family and friends away even on weekends to work on proposals, RFPs, and even proof of concepts. Process documentation, SME interaction, scripting the content - yes - I did it all.
But it was soon clear that the family-friends-run business needed a sycophant not a leader. They didn't need a person with vision but an individual who would rat on the team.
They wanted a person who would act as 'The Eyes and Ears' (read spy) for the Management, a view which I didn't subscribe to. The 8 months there was hell made worse by an incompetent management with no professional values. My key takeaway - recognise the place and work accordingly.
Bye for now.
More later perhaps
Its been a very very long time since I wrote something on my wall. Trials and tribulations; tears and fears that's what sums up my experience in the last few years.
The 15+ years of work experience has taught me the two biggest lessons that I shan't forget in a hurry.
Lesson 1: Never stick your head out for a team that doesn't want to stick theirs.
Here I was a project lead in this Indian manufacturing major. I was pained by the wrongs on my team, I battled with the management against all odds, only later to discover one of them was taking me for a ride, while another used my shoulder to put across her point.
The result was that I ended up antagonizing the hierarchy while getting nothing in return. Lost travel opportunities, billing issues, backbiting were some of the consequences of standing up for my team with nothing in return from them.
Lesson 2: Never work hard in a place where there is no recognition for talent
I left the job to join a Singapore-based startup. I had 10-12 member team reporting to me. I worked assiduously, with little care for the long hours that I put in. Keeping my family and friends away even on weekends to work on proposals, RFPs, and even proof of concepts. Process documentation, SME interaction, scripting the content - yes - I did it all.
But it was soon clear that the family-friends-run business needed a sycophant not a leader. They didn't need a person with vision but an individual who would rat on the team.
They wanted a person who would act as 'The Eyes and Ears' (read spy) for the Management, a view which I didn't subscribe to. The 8 months there was hell made worse by an incompetent management with no professional values. My key takeaway - recognise the place and work accordingly.
Bye for now.
More later perhaps
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