Philosophy

If he is the one — then, dear Mr.Mcain he is fit to lead … Ever watched the Matrix??? BTW it is a hilariously stupid video though.

It is funny how you would see alot of elders, state leaders, any form of individual who is in a leadership capacity and even preachers of any form or manner including religion, politics etc, ask you to “accept and embrace the fact that you have made a mistake”. The funny part kicks in when these same individuals do not accept mistakes themselves. All too often I have seen people who preach that it is “ok” to admit mistakes, never really own up to one. These so called preachers are the first people to point out fingers on where you are going wrong but careful to ensure that the tales that they reflect on are in the past while clearly committing a “mistake” right now and then. These mistakes are not going to send them to hell nor are they worth the Wrath of God but it is important to be consciously aware of your environment, actions and behavior. I suppose one of the most critical things about making a mistake and accepting it is - in front whom do you accept it? I believe the answer to the question is anyone you feel is worth the confession or someone you feel you can learn from or help. This includes showing them that you as a human being in the present time of the world is also making a mistake and that is “ok” as well.

In my childhood and adult life, including my professional life, I have seen the value of being honest about making a mistake. If I am able to say “Yes, I have made a mistake”, what else can the opposition do about it other than asking me to serve the consquences depending on its severity. I suppose we all need to make mistakes to ensure that we can learn from them and grow in life, but it is also important that we do not try to commit the same mistakes again. A mistake is different from a crime and I want to be clear about that in case some one reading this post has “funny ideas”:

As per define:google

Mistake: an understanding of something that is not correct.

Crime: An act committed in violation of the law; The practice or habit of committing crime.

Reccently I have been very open with my team members, going as far as accepting “faults” or “mistakes” that I see should be made transparent in order for me to improve myself and allow others to know my weaknesses and that I am the one who exposed them.  I am not sure this shows any sign of weakness because the main reasons for doing such an activity is that you are being very clear and upfront to the people you work with - and thus a level of honesty that hopefully gets appreciated. You are also conveying to them that you are weaker at certain roles/points/situations and that you would need their help. Asking someone for help and allowing them to help you is a great way to ensure that you might be learning from folks who are better than you at a certain task but also creating a form of transparent amicability without the fusses of political necessity.  With a younger group of team members I lead, making it clear that I have my own set of tasks that I might need help with, or telling that I have made a mistake and I need their help in fixing it, is also part of a new routine that I have undertaken and hopefully it tells my team members that I am just a human being with no superpowers.

In conclusion, I think it is important to admit mistakes and not be ashamed of it. Sooner or later someone is going to find out about it if you are in the world that we live in today. The audience can differ and that is understandable but if you set a global audience maybe the feedback/lessons learnt might be more fruitful. I will leave that judgement to you. But note one thing for sure - admitting to a mistake is not a sign of weakness by any mean. It is probably the hardest thing to do in one’s life - but it’s ok to have that problem as well.

Randy Pausch - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Pausch

Imagineer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagineer

Please visit my new blog at http://www.thaneshsadachcharan.com/blog

Recently, there has been a wave of information being sent via email within my organization. People seem to be excited in sharing information and ensuring that others find excitement in the “issues” that they have seen. Issues could be defined invariably ranging from topics such as Obama to Agile methodologies. Why do people share such information and why is it necessary to make sure that you are not the only one who is the “care-taker” of such data? Last night I read a book on Agile methodology that was sent to me by a colleague of mine. The book talks about implementing a new style of project management, design and implementation but also about “Getting Real” in life as well. I found it interesting that the 37signals guys do not mind sharing their framework - Ruby on Rails with the whole world. Why would they do that? I guess fundamentally they knew that the work that they were doing was great and they were getting paid some money for it as well and “hey, why not share it with the world”. It really caught my attention because I consider myself a “social-capitalist” or at least want to be one - one day :). This idea of ensuring that knowledge is shared among individuals could be considered a sub-set of it.

So why does it suck to keep things to myself? Well for one, how do you know its a good idea? If you pass the message around, get some feedback and if its positive - you could be onto something. Hey Agile again - message being shown off as obviously code/prototype.

Let’s take the simple case of an issue I had about two weeks ago on a client engagement. We were dealing with some caching issues and the developer from the client side and I were working on it, trying to see how to resolve the issue. We were miles apart but working on the same damn thing. We spoke, shared a few ideas, he gave me some leads and I gave him a few threads. Passed the message around a few people who are working on the same platform and in the end we got a decent solution. If we had gone with the idea of “ok let’s just put this out here and than stick with it” - well, I would not have known what others were doing and whether there was something better out there. By not keeping it to myself , trying to genuinely validation information and in the process sharing some of the lessons I have learnt and seen, I was able to get valuable feedback.

I have been in the world of “doing a lot of talking”. Hey I bought this domain about two months ago. Went around trying to do all kinds of things and then never really got to anything - cause I was trying to do too many things. Decided to just test out a new blog, and than move on from there. I am trying to see whether just doing small things at a time can get the ball rolling for me - at least in the development world and than see what the world thinks about it. At least by not keeping it to myself and putting it out there - I know I am getting free feedback and atleast a comment by my friend that the site sucks and I should just get a life. And that is just priceless.

Kobe is still one of the greatest players ever to play the game of basketball. He could arguably be the No.2 player of all time behind Michael Jordan or atleast in the top 5 when you consider Magic, Bird, Wilt,Kareem etc. His knack for getting the baskets at the right time, his ability to play defense, his mind blowing moves and most of all his hard work ethics and pure talent. These skill sets have all been achieved or mastered even though he does have raw pure energy and talent.

What I don’t get about Kobe is why the media/press seem to be out there to get him even if he makes the tiniest of mistakes. Look at the NBA Finals for example. People give so much hype and attention towards Pierce from the Celtics but Pierce ain’t nothing without KG and Allen. If KG and Allen played for Lakers and Pau Gasol/Odom for Celtics - I bet there would have only been 4 games and you know who the winner is.

It seems like people expect Kobe to win on his own and if he does not, then they are ready with the blame game. Having been frustrated at how some of his team mates were playing, you got to give him so leniency too. Pau Gasol was playing as if he could not lift a single dumb bell. Odom was committing fouls on the offensive end with “charging”, and Derek Fisher never showed up like he did with the Jazz last year. The two Eastern European players well - lets leave them out. This is not Kobe’s fault.

But one thing is for sure. Kobe has matured and you could see it from the press conference after Game 6. I hope the team goes into the off season and works on their defense and “roughness”. If that can be done, Bynum being back and they trade someone to get an “actual Machine” that can shoot 3 pointers at will - than you have an excellent team in the making for a few more years to go. I would go to the extent of getting a veteran player who can play good defense, a bit taller than Derek Fisher as well. Pau Gasol seems like he can learn to play rough and hard and Odom definetly adds some blend.

Hopefully the Lakers are back!!! And Don’t Blame Kobe if they are not!!!!

As you might very well know, if you are a cricket fan and even if not, that Harbajan Singh was accused of being a “racist” when he visited Down Under. Now the outcome of this complaint by the Aussies against the Indians, was a huge uproar, burning of effigies and of course the Cricket Board in India flexing its muscle to say that it will withdraw from the tour. The public was OUTRAGED that an Indian could be called racist by a “white dominated” country. This is the part that I found really funny. INDIANS ARE RACISTS. PERIOD. FULL STOP.

Why are they racists?

1.) Ever heard of North Indians and South Indians and the way they treat each other?
2.) Ever heard of the Caste System?
3.) Ever heard of how Muslim Indians treat and act towards Hindu Indians and vice versa?
4.) Ever heard of North “NORTHER” Indians being kicked out of Mumbai?
5.) Ever heard of the mockery thrown at South Indians for their accent?
6.) Ever heard of how the white people in India get better treatment than Indians themselves?

If that doesn’t prove India is a racist country - I am not sure what is - oh yeah and the monkey chants too.

Oh now we have new phenomenon in India called - “No Rules”. Well I think it has been there for a long time but you would think that since the country is highly visible on the global map right now, it would change some of its ways. Well from purchasing toxic waste from Western countries and dumping it in their own land to get rich - can it get any worse? Oh yes the Indian Premier League. Well obviously Mr.Modi doesn’t want anyone from the Indian Cricket League to play in his tournament. To say he is a visionary is plain stupid. This guy basically got the idea from implemented systems in England & Wales and also a growing one in ICL and put it into play with the huge backing of the BCCI. Where is the vision in this? Now they want to create a new Champions League which basically includes a bunch of teams from other countries as well - something like UEFA cup. Oh and they have a new rule - No players from ICL : http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/354353.html.

What I do not get in this whole post that I was writing is why do Indians have to bash themselves? They are on the world map. They are considered pioneers in alot of ongoing issues. They are “considered” to be friendly people - so why the hatred in all these other departments. The country that gave birth to Kama Sutra basically considers a sex a taboo now. For God’s sake what is wrong with some cheer leaders doing their “thang”. Is that a worse crime than the president of the BCCI ruining the lives of the farmers in India?

Come on people - think about it. Even in this day and age, can a Muslim boy marry a Hindu girl without all the crap going in and out?

India is still backwards in many departments. Maybe even IT.

I write this post in the most distressed state, and thus the “English” can be a “bit off”. Apologies. Having not slept for quite a while, smoking here and there, not worked out in a few days and most of all even my favorite cheese dogs suck. The burden of work is getting to me and primarily because I am in the mode - “It is all on my shoulders”. Thankfully a wise friend of mine advised and that mode seems to be fading away. Great for me but not sure about my employers and client. LOL.

So pain of being away from “home”. What does this mean? Well if I were at home the following would take place:

1.) Don’t need to cook
2.) Don’t need to clean or do laundry
3.) More friends and amiable environment
4.) Relaxed atmosphere - thus taking the “stress” away
5.) And my mother would be there to take all the “heat”

So for you lucky fellows who are back home with your parents and working - You lucky f*****s.

I am sure most of us have heard or seen Barack Obama’s last speech on race and his associated with his pastor. I thought it was an inspirational speech which also reflected an individual’s courage to speak out honestly and from the heart. As suspicious as it might seem to come from a politician, I felt that if people gave George Bush a chance to go to war with Iraq, they could at least give the young senator from Illinois the benefit of the doubt about something which he acknowledges as not right and needs to be fixed.

The speech had various other implications on a personal level. I began to dissect and understand the issues that arise with not only racism but prejudice and stereotyping. Our contemporary society is full of daily events that occur because of a predetermined view of certain groups of people and places. It is hard to abolish such mindsets altogether because of the simple fact that we as humans just have that trait - to judge and be judged but it is important to open up communication on issues that are potentially divisive and harmful. It is also amazing to see how such stereotyping affects us on a personal level. Obama spoke about the African American kid born in the projects whose height of ambition is being gangster and how middle/lower class White America could resent the other ethnicities for taking their jobs away, but it is more than that. Stereotyping affects me personally because of self infliction as well. The South East Asian community has stereotyped itself to be in the Engineering, Medical Information Technology field, and it is very rare to see someone cross these borders and if they do, they are considered mis-fits within their communities. I have always wanted to follow or have some sort of footing in the Political Science arena, but the level of confidence that I have in the IT field is far greater than that I would have in the PS area and it is not because I am a shy person or my personality reflects that of a non-confident individual. It is because psychologically my mind has been altered by perceptions set in society that I might not be “so good at it”. This kind of politics is not played in a Congressional environment or a parliament but in everyday situations by people whom we have a very close relationship with. It is like a chain reaction. Someone sets a precedence that desis are good at IT. More desis start learning computer languages and the next thing you know, if a desi is good at Geology, it is seen in an awe and shock manner.

When the speech was considered to be at a broad level, I do not think anyone understood at the magnitude of its importance and the scope it covers. I think the speech reflects issues that are not just associated with the pastor and Obama but with us and ourselves. The importance for us to see past the precedence set by ancestors, the need for us to listen and then judge, the height of hypocrisy exhibited by each and everyone of us when we talk about religion, respect for each other and forgiveness. I am not sure whether Obama tried to be Atticus Finch, but in my opinion I think he tried very hard to see the world in others’ shoes before delivering that speech. I think you cannot ask for more from a presidential candidate or from yourself - you need to at least try.