Sudden changes in life means knowing who you can rely on when things aren’t under your control!

There's one thing that you can count on in life – It’s totally unpredictable! Unpredictability can lead to pleasant surprises. But it can also lead to very difficult adjustments, confusing uncertainty and a painful feelings of loss.

When any person in a relationship undergoes sudden changes, the relationship will inevitably also change. And it is simply to be expected that the other partner(s) in the relationship will view the changes with some degree of anxiety.

The suddend changes applies to your job as well. Perhaps you've read Robert Reich's cover story, Your Job Is Change , in the October 2000 issue of Fast Company magazine.

Below lines are taken from this article.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change insurgents come to the job with a clear set of understandings -- both about themselves and about the work. They know that by prodding the company outside its comfort zone, they are playing a high-risk, high-reward game. If they succeed, the company thrives, and they earn both personal credit and the chance to stay in the game. If they fail, the company may falter, and they risk losing personal standing. But sometimes, almost perversely, even if they succeed, they end up losing: They expend so much energy in the process that they begin to question the value of the effort, or they burn so many bridges internally that it becomes clear that they're no longer welcome, or effective. Or, sometimes, they leverage their way to a better opportunity either on their own or with an organization that appreciates their approach to change. The final job of the change insurgent is to know when it's time to go.

The most undeniable truth of the new economy is that there is a surplus of exciting, challenging, and worthwhile work to be done -- and a deficit of change insurgents to do it. If you're a smart, hardworking, talented change insurgent, and your company can't change, won't change, or doesn't even recognize the need to change, you may simply be in the wrong place -- at the right time. Look for a company that genuinely appreciates the need for constant change and challenge. Or launch your own company -- and find other change insurgents who will run with you.

Business is constantly changing. Competition is constantly changing. Technology is constantly changing. Face it: There's no better time to be a change insurgent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

 
I just finished reading this book The World Is Flat. After reading this book, I asked the same question to me, “where was I when I realized that world is flat”.

As such only after I started reading this book, I started realizing that I am living in a flat world but when I went into my past and try to relate things with the flat world, I can say that I realized that world is one and our competition is not with some one living on the same side of the globe as I am but with people across the globe is when I was in US at Odessa, Texas working for my client.

Through this book the writer (Thomas L. Friedman) explains very well how flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty first century. What affect does it have on countries, companies and individuals? He also explains how they can and must adapt to this flat word.

This is a brilliant book and good start for those who want to make an impact in the new flat world.

Editorial Review on Amazon.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim, in his new book, The World Is Flat, as in his earlier, influential Lexus and the Olive Tree, is not to give you a speculative preview of the wonders that are sure to come in your lifetime, but rather to get you caught up on the wonders that are already here. The world isn' P < to. prey inevitably least--are at ones optimistic futurists--the that sheen polyester Epcot-style the from it saves also which and urgency, its of much narrative breathless Friedman?s gives flat, is be to going t>

What Friedman means by "flat" is "connected": the lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet. This in itself should not be news to anyone. But the news that Friedman has to deliver is that just when we stopped paying attention to these developments--when the dot-com bust turned interest away from the business and technology pages and when 9/11 and the Iraq War turned all eyes toward the Middle East--is when they actually began to accelerate. Globalization 3.0, as he calls it, is driven not by major corporations or giant trade organizations like the World Bank, but by individuals: desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well. (He doesn't forget the "mutant supply chains" like Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways.) Friedman tells his eye-opening story with the catchy slogans and globe-hopping anecdotes that readers of his earlier books and his New York Times columns will know well, and also with a stern sort of optimism. He wants to tell you how exciting this new world is, but he also wants you to know you're going to be trampled if you don't keep up with it. His book is an excellent place to begin. --Tom Nissley
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you ever asked this question to yourself 'what am I doing with my life and what is the purpose of my life?'.

Very often things in life appear very much difficult and easiest thing is to give up. But I don't want to give up. I want to focus on the beauty around me , live my life , I want to grow as a person and understand who am I and what's the purpose of my life.

These are some lines which I liked very much inspiring. I found these lines on Internet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
2. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
3. Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
4. Only you know what is best for you.
5. Do not give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
6. Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
7. Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.
8. Do not dismiss your dreams.
9. Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This weekend I started reading "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill. This book explains the fundamentals of Law of success philosophy. I have just read the first two chapter of this book and I think it’s a great book to read for all of us who wants to be successful in life. Below are some lines from a poem from a great poet mentioned in the second chapter "DESIRE" of this book:
 
I bargained with life for a penny
And Life would pay no more.
However I begged at evening.
When I counted my scanty store.
 
For life is just employer.
He gives you what you ask.
But once you have set the wages.
Why, you must bear the task.
 
I worked for a menial's hire.
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of life,
Life would have willingly paid.
 
DESIRE OUTWITS MOTHER NATURE.

One of the definitions of choice is the "power of choosing."

Definition of vhoice from http://www.brainydictionary.com are:

1. Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election.
2.The power or opportunity of choosing; option.
3.Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination.

Starhawk describes it better. She says that this type of power is "our willingness to act... akin to the sense of mastery we develop as young children with each new unfolding ability: the exhilaration of standing erect, of walking, of speaking the magic words that convey our needs and thoughts. But power-from-within is also akin to something deeper. It arises from our sense of connection, our bonding with other human beings, and with the environment."

 
My thoughts on choice are:

1. Make them for yourself--don't give that power over your life to another person
2. Take responsibility for your choices and their consequences
3. Evaluate all available options before narrowing down to one
4. Learn from mistakes and move on or live with them--depends on the choice made

I did not choose to wake up early today for morning exersice. I thought I was reading a book till late yesterday night so let skip morning exersice and sleep for some more time. I chose to write this and you choose to read it. :)

I came to Xpanxion quite early as it is my first day and I did not want to be late. I reached office at 9 AM but found that office starts at 9:30 so went to "Rajput Dairy" to have tea. I had my tea and came to office at 9:20. It was still early and I got enough parking space to park my bike.

I met a girl Dipti, she also joined Xpanxion today. We were give our computers next to each other. Bheeni (HR) showed us a presentation which talked about the company and its people. We were told to read some documents and manuals which we did. At 1 PM we (I , Dipti and a friend of Dipti at Xpanxion) went for lunch and walked on road for 5 min. after lunch.

After luch we were getting bored and when I asked the HR about introduction to PM and team she told that it will be done tomorrow. I had nothing to do so I started reading some articles on internet on .NET 2005.

Its 5 PM now and I am getting bored after reading the soft copy of company manuals and .NET articles on NET I decided to write this blog. Waiting for 6 PM to get out of here today. Today was just a boring day except for when Mr. Ram (CEO Xpanxion) came and talked to us for a couple of minutes welcoming us to Xpanxion.

Looking forward for tomorrow. Till then bye for now. :)

It happened so suddenly. Normalcy became a far-fletched dream. Expressing different views became extremely difficult. And everything I had planned for was set aside for something altogether different.

The time of transition between when a pastor has left and before the new pastor begins may be filled with many emotions, and highs and lows. It often is a time of mixed feelings – there may be sadness in having a pastor leave as well some excitement about the potential of a new beginning.

I used to be sad when people, especially my friends, moved away, as if I was being left behind. It's only been in the last couple of months that I've turned that sadness into excitement. Excitement for my friends and all the amazing things they are going to end up doing in another place, and yes, excitement for change.

I have enjoyed my tenure at Indigo Architects and appreciate having the opportunity to work with some great people. Thank you for the support, guidance and encouragement you have provided me during my time here. Even though I will miss you and the company, I am looking forward to this new challenge and to starting a new phase of my career.

Thanks again for everything.

This is my first attemp to write some thing. Hope you like it.

We ( 10 people) started this trip at 10 am in the morning on 26th March 2005 from our office "Indigo Architects, Pune", reached Anoop's house in Satara at around 2 PM. We were on one car (Maruti Zen of Mahen) and three bikes. Ofcourse I was on my pulsar. At Anoop's house we had our lunch and moved to Sindhudurg. From there we started on two cars. We parked all three bikes at Anoop's house. In our drive from oune to Satara we stoped at a "Sugarcane Juice" place to have some juice as the sun was very bright in the afternoon and we were feeling the heat. 

The drive to Sidhudurg from satara was around 350 KM and the best part of the drive was when we entered the Karnataka State. The highway going to Banglore was the best high way I have ever seen in India. The road and the drive reminded me of my stay in US. The highway was exactly similar to the highways in US.

The drive was very long and tiring. But the good thing was the we found good roads through out our trip which was ofcourse a surprise as you don't find good roads in India when you go to visit some not very well known places.We had our dinner at a restaurant.

We reached Sumati beach resort where we had our reservations at around 9:30 or 10 PM. We had some fire on beach and some of us drink some hard drink and I had my tea near the fire. We sat till around 1:30 or 2 am on the beach and then went to sleep in our hall where we 7 guys slept in two rows. Mahen and Harsh were in different and seperate rooms with their better halves.

Anoop woke us up at around 6 in the morning. We saw the Sun rise on the beach and asked the guy at resort to make some tea for us. After seeing sunrise I again went to sleep while others had their fun. Mahen woke me up at around 9 by then the tea was over. We ordered another round of tea had some light break fast and moved to see the "Dolphin Point".

We were in a mortor boat. A normal Indian boat fitted with some moter behind it to give the boat a push through water. A big wooden log was tied on one side of the boat to give it a balance in high waters of Sea. The wooden log was touching the water. We sailed through back waters and entered the sea. We were taking the pictures of sea tides and birds. We also saw some people on the beaches playng in sea. We reached the dolphin point and were amazed to see so many dolphins. We all had never seen the dolphins in life and we were even not aware that dolphins can be seen in India i.e. Arabian sea. We took lot photographs of sea and the dolphins. We also tried to take some videos through our 3.2 MP digital cameras.

After this we came back to the resort, had some thing to eat. We found some people watching the India pakistan secon cricket test match. We had some thing to eat and we also watched the match for some time. After that we went to sea, played cricket on the beach, went inside the sea and played freezbee. We had our fun in the sea waters came back had bath and moved to a Malwani food place. The name of the restaurant is "Hotel Chaytenya". The food was good, those who eat non-veg were very pleased to eat the Malwani food, specially the fish.

After having lunch we moved for the FORT Sindhudurg, which was just five minutes from the place where we had our lunch. The fort was inside sea and again we hired a full boat and went to see the fort. Fort was very stretegically placed inside the sea. We saw a coconut plant with two branches in "V" shape. We took some pictures on the fort, saw the foot and and imprints of late Shivaji Maharaj. We came back it was around 5:30 in the evening.

From there we moved to another beach. The name of the beach was "Kunkeshwar Beach". We wanted to reach the beach before sun set to see the sun set as we had already missed the sun set last night. The drive was of an hour. In between both cars got seperated. I was with mahen and we missed the road, went on opposite direction, we asked some one and we realized that we r in going in opposite direction. We started from there and reached the beach just before sun set and found that others are already there. The sun set view was splendid. We watched the sun get dis appear in the sea. We took some photographs of setting sun. We sat there for more than 30 min.

That was the last thing of our planned trip. We started our journey back, had dinner at some restaurant. We reached satara very early in the morning. We slept at Anoop's place in the night. In the morning we had break fast , got fresh, watched some cricket match and moved back to pune at around 12 noon. We reched pune by 3 or 3:30 PM. We had some juices at Juice world and we all went back to our home happy and tired.