Be a man and not be a cry baby. Cultures have kept a lot of misgiving about other cultures because somebody did something to their forefathers. Yes, it is true that it is hard to accept that our genes could be weak as well. But we all lost sometimes. Be a man and accept defeat and vow to be a winner next time. Not that we stick to mistakes of ancestors and protect them and emulate them. At the end we are all human. Our ancestors made mistakes others ancestors made some other point of their lives. When we can truly be a man and accept our mistakes, we can learn from others who defeated us. What is so crazy about it?
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Being bossy is not always bad
The HBR article confirms my perception (Why Bossy Is Better for Rookie Managers by Stephen J. Sauer). I always thought seeking opinion of the subordinate is better than telling them what to do. But it seems people are not always happy to be required to speak their opinion. I have noticed that subordinates, especially those older than me, choose to take instructions because they find me technically more knowledgable or better in certain aspects than because I seek their advice. In fact, taking advice sometimes can be misinterpreted as being inexperienced and not confident or knowledgable. I feel that there should be a balance when to take opinion and when to be assertive in what to do.
Friday, May 11, 2012
When family-run business might be a good thing
At least in my mind, family run business bring the image of dirty money, inefficient staff and low level of satisfaction. I like investor run companies like GE and IBM where people rise to the top by the virtue of their merit. But then, I ask, some of the family run businesses are so succeful - TATA, Mittal, Reliance, some european one and Corning in USA. Is there some fundamental aspect of the family run business that is an advantage.
My thoughts were swayed by a book and an article I read recently. Book - bell curve - notes finding of the studies that later generations of rich families gradually acquire low IQ, leading to demise of family fortune. In case, rich families have a way to infuse high IQ meritocratic people in the gene pool, they survive and flourish. Example given in UK's royal family that has a tradition of marrying into meritorious (read high IQ) commoner.
Aricle - MIT Corning Incorporated: The Growth and Strategy Council - takes the case of Corning, a family run company that survived telecommunication bubble in year 2000. Corning is still innovating, maybe more rigorous, while other similar companies e. g. Kodak are gone into oblivion or changed business - IBM.
I agree with all the findings. In investor run organization, business is driven by only profit and self-interest . In the family run businesses, profit and self-interest are not the only driving forces. When the crisis hits, investor run businesses cam close their shop easily, since higher management is not so much emotionally invested in the business. Higher management or bosses of family run businesses are emotionally attached to their businesses, they or their forfathers help build. In Corning case, it was emotional for Houghton family to see their 150 year old business going down and thus, they made extra effort to save it. Kodak did not make same level of effort.
But in order to survive, a family run business must value merit and infuse merit in all levels. Corning's current CEO Wandell Weeks started out at Corning but left to pursue MBA at Harvard. When he was leaving, then company President James Houghton personally invited him to return to Corning to run the business. Wendall Weeks had central role in turning around fortunes of almost bankrupt Corning in 2000.
My thoughts were swayed by a book and an article I read recently. Book - bell curve - notes finding of the studies that later generations of rich families gradually acquire low IQ, leading to demise of family fortune. In case, rich families have a way to infuse high IQ meritocratic people in the gene pool, they survive and flourish. Example given in UK's royal family that has a tradition of marrying into meritorious (read high IQ) commoner.
Aricle - MIT Corning Incorporated: The Growth and Strategy Council - takes the case of Corning, a family run company that survived telecommunication bubble in year 2000. Corning is still innovating, maybe more rigorous, while other similar companies e. g. Kodak are gone into oblivion or changed business - IBM.
I agree with all the findings. In investor run organization, business is driven by only profit and self-interest . In the family run businesses, profit and self-interest are not the only driving forces. When the crisis hits, investor run businesses cam close their shop easily, since higher management is not so much emotionally invested in the business. Higher management or bosses of family run businesses are emotionally attached to their businesses, they or their forfathers help build. In Corning case, it was emotional for Houghton family to see their 150 year old business going down and thus, they made extra effort to save it. Kodak did not make same level of effort.
But in order to survive, a family run business must value merit and infuse merit in all levels. Corning's current CEO Wandell Weeks started out at Corning but left to pursue MBA at Harvard. When he was leaving, then company President James Houghton personally invited him to return to Corning to run the business. Wendall Weeks had central role in turning around fortunes of almost bankrupt Corning in 2000.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
For posterity: Stories from my family 2
My grandfather was a political person. Many of his life stories illustrate his quest for power, glory and respect. He did not achieve much from a state or even a local level. However, many of his deeds changed the lives of many for better and for worse.
My grandfather was very involved in Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh - RSS. He acted as the Treasurer of Bharatiya Janta Party - BJP for many years. He was also in board of directors for many educational and cheritable organizations.
One of the story involves my grandfather's friend and friend's daughter who was about 18 years old in 1950's. I will call friend Mr M and daughter Ms K. Mr. M's wife was not very watchful of her three daughters and that was perhaps the reason Ms. K got in the trap of the teacher who used to come home to teach them. Mr. M's wife used to travel a lot and thus, remain out of the house quite often. The result was that first Ms. K got involved with the teacher and then gradually started going out with him to his villlage. For 1950's time, it is unimaginable how it was even allowed. I can think of such a situation now in 2012 when girls without boyfriends are rare to find even in small cities. Anyways. Mr. K eloped with her boyfriend and it was found later that the teacher got her with him and has married to her. It was a matter of great shame but most of all, something was fishy in the whole episode. This certain teacher was not considered to be a nice man and for all it seemed more a case of infactuation than love. But since the girl has eloped and this guy for forcibly not bringing her out, there was no way to find out. Mr M were devastated but as was the practice with weak guys those days, he tried to accept the situation. My grandfather, though, did not accept the situation. I don't know why he did so. My theory is that he did so for his own glory. But he did a great work. My grandfather spoke to Mr. M and encourgaed him to go to police. When Mr, M refused for the fear of disgrace in the society, my grandfather quoted that it would be bigger disgrace if your girl would be in a brothel one day, for which there were fair chances. Still Mr. M did not do anything, my grandfather decided to act alone. My grandfather used his connections in power and bribe to mobilize the police to search the house of the teacher. Police could not find anyone in the house of the teacher who had the support of his villagers as well. My grandfather alongwith the police spied on the house from a hiding place for few nights and ultimately succeeded in finding Ms. K locked in a small room. With the police, he raided the house and got Ms. K out. Teacher's family had hidden ger in the small room where she was given food and other things. When asked by police Ms. K told the police that everything was with her consent and she wants to stay with the teachers family. Smelling something wrong in the body language, grandfather asked the police to interrogate the couple in police station. Only problem was that villagers were ready to attack at the police any time. After much difficulty police succeeded in taking the couple out to the police station. In police station, the teacher was slapped a few times and threatened in front of the Mr. K, symbolically showing Mr. K that she does not need to worry about the teacher. Ms. K eventually told the police that teacher has taken obscene photographs of the girl and she was bring threathened that those photographs would be made public. That was the reason for her consent. Ms K came back to her house and soon married to an engineer from USA. She now has two children and happy with her life.
My grandfather was very involved in Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh - RSS. He acted as the Treasurer of Bharatiya Janta Party - BJP for many years. He was also in board of directors for many educational and cheritable organizations.
One of the story involves my grandfather's friend and friend's daughter who was about 18 years old in 1950's. I will call friend Mr M and daughter Ms K. Mr. M's wife was not very watchful of her three daughters and that was perhaps the reason Ms. K got in the trap of the teacher who used to come home to teach them. Mr. M's wife used to travel a lot and thus, remain out of the house quite often. The result was that first Ms. K got involved with the teacher and then gradually started going out with him to his villlage. For 1950's time, it is unimaginable how it was even allowed. I can think of such a situation now in 2012 when girls without boyfriends are rare to find even in small cities. Anyways. Mr. K eloped with her boyfriend and it was found later that the teacher got her with him and has married to her. It was a matter of great shame but most of all, something was fishy in the whole episode. This certain teacher was not considered to be a nice man and for all it seemed more a case of infactuation than love. But since the girl has eloped and this guy for forcibly not bringing her out, there was no way to find out. Mr M were devastated but as was the practice with weak guys those days, he tried to accept the situation. My grandfather, though, did not accept the situation. I don't know why he did so. My theory is that he did so for his own glory. But he did a great work. My grandfather spoke to Mr. M and encourgaed him to go to police. When Mr, M refused for the fear of disgrace in the society, my grandfather quoted that it would be bigger disgrace if your girl would be in a brothel one day, for which there were fair chances. Still Mr. M did not do anything, my grandfather decided to act alone. My grandfather used his connections in power and bribe to mobilize the police to search the house of the teacher. Police could not find anyone in the house of the teacher who had the support of his villagers as well. My grandfather alongwith the police spied on the house from a hiding place for few nights and ultimately succeeded in finding Ms. K locked in a small room. With the police, he raided the house and got Ms. K out. Teacher's family had hidden ger in the small room where she was given food and other things. When asked by police Ms. K told the police that everything was with her consent and she wants to stay with the teachers family. Smelling something wrong in the body language, grandfather asked the police to interrogate the couple in police station. Only problem was that villagers were ready to attack at the police any time. After much difficulty police succeeded in taking the couple out to the police station. In police station, the teacher was slapped a few times and threatened in front of the Mr. K, symbolically showing Mr. K that she does not need to worry about the teacher. Ms. K eventually told the police that teacher has taken obscene photographs of the girl and she was bring threathened that those photographs would be made public. That was the reason for her consent. Ms K came back to her house and soon married to an engineer from USA. She now has two children and happy with her life.
For posterity: Stories from my family 1
A few days ago, my mom started recounting our family history. It is a fascinating account of .... "survival" if you may and also, an account of how child mortality improved in India - reason for 1-2 kids /per family in pre 1930's, 10-12 kids per family post 1950's, 4-5 kids per family in 1970's and 1-2 kids now in today's nuclear families. I realized, having born in 1950's she would probably be the only person alive in my family with so much knowledge of our ancestry. And it is worth preserving for the posterity.
My grandfather came from a village "Tikatnagar" near Faizabad or Ayodhya, birthplace of Ram, the reason why we are AyodhyaVashi Vashya caste. The grandfather of my grandfather was "Mukhtiyar" or "Power of Attorney" of Tikait Maharaj's successor. Tikait Maharaj himself is known to be very cheritable. Many ponds, schools and hospital of old days are testitomony. Imambara in Lucknow, India was also built by Taikat Maharaj. There are many cheritable deeds of my grandfather. Here are some of them
He was known to be very cheirtable. His knowledge about the local medicine was kept in high regard by surrounding village. Many villagers, who were perhaps past paitients treated by him, used to volunteer for him to prepare medicine from local spices, roots and tree barks. Every morning, there used to be a line to get treatment from him from various ailments from stomach ache to severe lesion. Once there a person from the other village having a severe stomach ache. He diagnosed the problem and asked the man to take the caster oil immediately. The man from the other village did not follow intruction and thought he would take it on return to his village by the evening. However, my grandfather has knew that the problem would be very severe in a few hours. Understanding that the man is not going to follow instruction, he asked his companions to buy caster oil and administer it on severe pain en-route. True to my grandfather's world, the man suffered severe pain strokes and was administered the medicine that saved his life.
My grandfather came from a village "Tikatnagar" near Faizabad or Ayodhya, birthplace of Ram, the reason why we are AyodhyaVashi Vashya caste. The grandfather of my grandfather was "Mukhtiyar" or "Power of Attorney" of Tikait Maharaj's successor. Tikait Maharaj himself is known to be very cheritable. Many ponds, schools and hospital of old days are testitomony. Imambara in Lucknow, India was also built by Taikat Maharaj. There are many cheritable deeds of my grandfather. Here are some of them
He was known to be very cheirtable. His knowledge about the local medicine was kept in high regard by surrounding village. Many villagers, who were perhaps past paitients treated by him, used to volunteer for him to prepare medicine from local spices, roots and tree barks. Every morning, there used to be a line to get treatment from him from various ailments from stomach ache to severe lesion. Once there a person from the other village having a severe stomach ache. He diagnosed the problem and asked the man to take the caster oil immediately. The man from the other village did not follow intruction and thought he would take it on return to his village by the evening. However, my grandfather has knew that the problem would be very severe in a few hours. Understanding that the man is not going to follow instruction, he asked his companions to buy caster oil and administer it on severe pain en-route. True to my grandfather's world, the man suffered severe pain strokes and was administered the medicine that saved his life.
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