Salute to us..

The first one..

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And that bring me back to write a blog for a very old questions. Today I had various interesting discussion points with two different kinds of people while I was struggling preparing my persuasive speech for the client. One of them asked me how to get rid of production job and get into software industry..!!! The first thought that came into my mind was, boss..Infosys is not just Software Company that makes computer machines; second, I am not a software engineer..!! It’s crazy that, still, after 6 years, people perceive me as a software employee. Anyways, in return to his question, I just smiled back. Smile full of sarcasm, as if I have reached a stage that is way beyond answering such insignificant questions. Obviously I was able to hide my snuffles behind that smile. Only I in this damn world can understand where at all I had started and where am I now..!!!
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The second one..
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But apart from this, what made me scratch my skin to reveal the ruins was the second more interesting question; I would say ‘questions’. The discussion started with.. “Till what age you want to continue this work?” It was casual. I said the legal age to end your employment in India is 60, but she wasn’t expecting this explanation. “Do you have any other activity that you want to pursue”. Aah ..!! I got it. She is asking me about my hobbies. Oh…I have many, most of them I don’t really pursue anymore. With the heat of excitement I told her many reasons why it is difficult to pursue your passion in India. Later I returned to my hotel room, sat over the pot and murmured to myself various (actual) replies that I could have given to her. Remember “bhai..susu genious hai”..??
What if you want to follow your passion as your employment??? Be a writer, singer, actor, painter or anything else you want to become. Does it happen in a country like India? I would say, quite often than less. Forget about starting your business, even if you want to become a singer you would have 100 checkpoints to pass through before you start singing in your bathroom. How would I sing, what will people (specially relatives) think about my singing, how will I earn for my living, how will I support my wife, my parents, my future kids, my kid’s marriage.. and the list is endless. Your song becomes misery before even being composed, if any of the checkpoints is not cleared. That’s how we are cultured to live in this country. We own the responsibility of our creators and creations till we last our strength. Our sole motivation to earn big bucks is not for self, but for spouse and finally for our kids. As an illustration, after our marriage, how frequently do we shop for self? Or after having a kid, how often do we dine to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Wondered how many of us haven’t thought of owning a car and subsequently a house within 3 years of getting married? How many of us have invested in overseas vacation instead of life insurance policies to save tax? It’s quite rare to find ‘Yes’ for all these FAQs and I am not surprised as this is imbibed to us as our culture.
But I thank God for creating some people who gave ‘Yes’ as answer to the FAQs mentioned above because of which we are living in age of innovation. Thank God, Einstein was mad, pyscho unmarried guy and hence we got electric bulb. Thank God for bestowing us with Mahatma Gandhi, APJ Kalam and Kiran Bedi because of which we still feel privileged.
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The next one..

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What job I want to pursue? IBM, Accenture, Deloitte..or a hi-flier consulting or a core production job, or the most paying golden collared profile. Aagh..!! I have so many adjective to choose from, but I would stick to my original, RESPECTABLE job. So what, am I working in for a disgraced profile? No, certainly not. But is it quite memorable for long time? Can I expect my client to remember me after 10 years? And even if he remembers me, what would I be remembered for? ‘The guy who charged us a hefty sum for helping us understand the supply chain fundamentals. I don’t even care if he still exists’. Can I count upon any value I was able to add to my job? I don’t know.
Can we imagine the joy the doctor feels when he saves a life through crucial operation? Can we recognize the innovation of a scientist who made our life simpler and comfortable? Can we realize the pride the teacher feels when his feet are touched upon by his students asking for his blessings?
This is my idea of respectable job..!!!

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(NOM: I had to end this ever long topic for now, as I really want to concentrate on 'Sheela ki jawani' song/visual currently being aired on music channel)... We are like this. All salute to us..!!!

Corporate Ethics

As I was writing this blog I was wondering, I could sound a bit theoretical while sharing this experience. However every person I had reached to, is follower of ‘love your job, not the employer’, and I have seen some very true spirited guys religiously following this. Infact skill of defining your job periphery yourself is what I am amazed at.

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I must admit, we consultants have very tough life. No matters we are often made the topic of laughter by many. But seriously if you consider the circumstances we guys have to go through, it’s worth paying us monthly salary. We are supposed to know everything, almost everything, atleast the one for which we are paid and hired for. Even if you have slightest doubt in your mind regarding your competency or other, it can backfire you in future. If you are true in your doubt, you are saved, else you are screwed.

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As I am accompanied by a fellow consultant in this project, it reminded me of the days that I had spent in Holland. Those days were really struggling and gruesome for me. I was new, first international trip, first direct interaction with the client and moreover had only 50% idea of what I was expected to deliver there. Gosh.!!! Those were the days, when every day I felt embarrassed in front of the client. It was tough to consult about something that even you had lesser idea. On top of that, it’s worst to have client more educated than you..!!! But I was saved by my manager in Holland. He kept holding my hands and directed me to the safest shore. He stood like a wall and shielded me from all negatives.

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Anyways, reminding those days is really encouraging for me. Now I am accompanied by a fellow Infoscion who is as new as I was 2 years ago. He has the experience but may not have enough aptitude to stand in front of client’s expectations. My project is going well, touchwood. So what should I do now? Should I just leave him to client’s and Infosys manager’s mercy and let him drown? Or should I hold his hands and help him rise slowly and gradually?
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If I go by the saying that I had mentioned above, I should have chosen the first path. Infact this would have relieved me of any additional duties and moreover I could concentrate on my own project. Hmm..that sound very simple, logical and practical. But I cannot forget the days that I had spent in Holland. If my manager had thought of it like the one mentioned as first path, I would have been thrown out of consulting. So I followed the second path. It was tough to help others keeping your responsibilities on fire, but I had to do it. I call this as ‘corporate ethics’. While helping this guy, I faced some dents from client regarding his project and my project as well. But now we are a team. There is no ‘his project’ or ‘my project’, its customer project that is handled by Infosys as a whole. I took the brickbats from the client even though I was remotely associated with it. But I hold the responsibility of our future commitments rather than past mistakes. That’s how we work in consulting.

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Now put my case in industry other than consulting, be it manufacturing or marketing or any other, and see how people usually behave. These thoughts make my decision to join consulting stronger.