Friday, October 30, 2009

Great Lakes Controversies

Every place has its own history and share of controversies. Writing few of the controversies happened at Great Lakes. Howsoever harsh or bad it looks right now but I am sure these controversies will be cherished by us whenever we will memorize them later or cross our roads after this 1 year meet @Great Lakes.

1. May, 09; Campus going haywire: New campus however many basic things not proper, bad internet speed, no water, AC not working, spamming, conundrums.

Actions: Lot of work happened at majot scale after all this drama. Gradually Patriots got settled at no man's land and made it the home. 

2. 27 May, 09; Scorpion at my room: Mail fragment will suffice thewords:

" Tonight I found a 3-4 inch long scorpion in my hostel room. It was curled up in my laptop bag. To say that I am shaken would be an understatement. At the moment, all I can think is that I am lucky to be alive. I am thinking my stars that I noticed it because I was studying till late.
The only way it could have entered my room is through the gap below the doors. Please get some sort of fitting done in the doors so that dangerous insects and snakes cannot crawl into our rooms. I personally do not feel safe at the moment after this incident.
Patriots: Always make sure you check your shoes/sandals, bags and other stuff lying on the floor before you pick them up.
Hoping for a quick response."
Result: Sprays in campusto avoid snakes, rats etc
3. 28 May 09; Updates and Rules by Stuco: There was lot of spamming happening due to new campus going haywire. Another bomb flashed soon by Stuco. the mail snippet by Stuco:
"There have been lots of unnecessary mails floating around to the class ID and the solution to that is a fine (of Rs 100/-) that will be levied on any person who sends a mail which isn’t of any value to the whole class. The fines that will be collected from this initiative will be held by the Student Council till the Honour Code Committee is formed and thereafter they will be the custodians of the money collected."




The mail got fire instantly and soon there were more spams than ever. The meeting with Stuco after this has been the most heated discussion happened till now. 
Result: Rule overruled
4. Specialization drama: Student not knowing about which specialization to take. 
Result: Spamming and unnecessary meeting with Profs
5. 13 Jul 09; Safety and Medi-claim issue: Raised by me to Stuco
Result: Fire extinguishers kept, Railing were put, mediclim happened after 3 months.


Wait for more as it happens...;)

Monday, October 19, 2009

HBR on Managing Your Career : A Review



Recently finished this awesome HBR-Managing Your Career. The book contains classic article on how to personally manage your career. The wisdom talks from the career managment experts ask for changing our hard wired mind-set. The book takes completely practical outlook while narrating the real life examples. The books says that individuals themselves should take sole responsibilty to build and manage their career, life and success in them.  T

The topics in the book are:
1. Reawakening Your Passion for Work by Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee, and Daniel Goleman;
2. Goodbye Career, Hello Success" by Randy Komisar;
3. The Right Way to Be Fired by Laurence J. Stybel and Marianne Peabody;
4. Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker;
5. A Second Career: The Possible Dream by Harry Levinson;
6. Five Strategies of Successful Part-Time Work by Vivien Corwin, Thomas Lawrence, and Peter Frost;
7. Managing Your Boss by John Gabarro and John Kotter; and
8. Managing Yourself: A Survival Guide for Leaders by Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky.


This collection of articles talks gamut of topic ranging from career challenges, effective time management to part-time arrangements to launching a new career.The book not just preached but also tell you the complete strategy of how to follow them what is said.


Few topic were just a treat to read and will definitley make you to think of changing yourself in the way you see your career. Few topics from the chapter which I loved and influenced my thoughts are:

"Reawakening your passion for work" make you think and reflect that why and what you should be working for.
"Goodbye Career, Hello Success" tells about pursuing passion driven career which is the only way of being successful in life.
"The Right Way to Be Fire" is yet another practical approach which says that you should always be prepared for the turbulent times. So, always remain on toes, be vigilant and keep yourself most sought after.
"Managing Oneself" talks about introspection and finding about yourself before making your moves to the outside world.
"A Second Career" prescribes for keeping alternatives career mainly in your areas on interest and passion, as this could become your primary job after retirement or a feeling of achievement after doing mundane things in your primary job. I loved the concept of realising and writing your Ego-Ideal.
"Managing Your Boss" talks about shining your boss to shine yourself.

The book has something to learn for every professional. A must read for all MBA and other professionals too.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Malaysia-Singapore Trip Log




Members: 36 Great Lakers and Allen (the guide)
Start time: 6:00 PM, Monday, 28th Sept, 2009
End time: 11:30 PM Monday, 05th Oct, 2009
Total travel: 7000 KMs
Total expense: 50,000 INR (package + personal)
What went right:
- Awesome experience as expected.
- Covered almost all tourist destination and theme parks
- Party all nights
What went wrong:
- Less of a study tour
- Lack of planning by management
Total duration: 7+ days
Going: Manamai - Chennai – Kuala Lumpur - Singapore
Coming: Singapore – Kuala Lumpur – Chennai - Manamai
Weather Conditions: Humid/Pleasant/Cold
Vehicle: Plane, Train, Bus, Taxi, Mono-rail, Metro, Luge, Cable Car



28th Sep 09
Manamai - Chennai
18:00 hrs – Departure from Manamai
20:00 hrs - Reached Chennai Airport
23:45 hrs – Departure from Chennai



29th Sep
Kuala Lumpur: Putrajaya - Gentings - Hotel Manadarin court

6:00 hrs – reached Kuala Lumpur


7:15 hrs - reached Putrajaya – palace of Malaysian King

8:30 hrs – Batu caves sri subramaniam temple

10:45 hrs – Reached Genting Entrance for Cable Car Travel
The 20 minutes Cable Car was an awesome ride and an unforgettable experience. We were sailing through clouds all round the travel.
11:20 hrs – Reached Genting http://www.rwgenting.com/
The Genting Theme Park is located 51 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur. This entertainment park is constructed in the lap of Ulu kali Mountains. The soothing scenic beauty adds to the glamour and glitz of the amusement park. Innocence and spontaneity is heart felt in this part of Malaysia. This park is sub-divided into indoor and out-door compartments. This park treasures skilled games which are highly technical and computer based. The mysteries of Genting Theme Park of Kuala Lumpur will take you in the uncharted terrains of Harry Potter and Hogwart’s whomping willow.
20:30 hrs Reached back to Hotel
30th Sep
Kuala Lumpur City Shopping: UNITAR – City Tour – Beach Café


 9:45 hrs – Reached UNITAR, got some dose of Guest Lectures.


13:30 – Petronas Twin Power Photo Shoot




13:50 – City Shopping and Strolling


19:00 – Window shopping
22:00 – Beach Café
1st Oct
Kuala Lumpur City Shopping: City Tour – Minara Tower – Petronas Twin Tower
11:00 hrs – Check out of Hotel and started City Tour
13:00 – Lunch at an Indian Restaurant – The Olive Tree – Great Indian Food


14:00 - @Minara for a 360 degree of Kuala Lumpur.
15:30 – @Chocolate Outlet
16:30 - @Petronas Twin Towers

17:45 - @Reached at Twin Tower Bridge at 185th floor
19:00 – Sight seeing
21:30 – Departure from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore via Train
2nd Oct
Singapore: Merlion – Night Safari and Halloween
8:00 hrs – Reached Singapore

9:00 hrs - Sight-seeing



13:30 – Hotel Check-in + Rest
18:00 – @Night-Safari with Halloween theme

with Vodoo Queen...piercing my heart :)
 
Hitesh and I met Fairies too!!

Joker (above) and Gladiator (below)

3rd Oct

Singapore: Shopping
12:00 Chinatown


 16:00 Orchard road 


4th Oct
Singapore: City Tour – Sentossa
9:00 hrs – Breakfast @ our Citihub hotel
9:30 hrs – @Merlion

@Merlion

Got Chinese Kudiyaan too

10:30 – @Chinese Temple 

11:30 - @Gem Factory
14:00 hrs - @Sentossa Island Beach walk



15:30 – @Sentossa’s Dolphin Show

16:30 – @Sentossa’s Grand Aquarium
17:30 – Luge ride @Sentosa
19:30 - @Sentossa’s Songs of the Sea – An awesome experience
5th Oct
Singapore: Visit to Singapore Indian Ministry of Commerce – Singapore Airport

10:00 – Visit to Singapore Indian Ministry of Commerce, Guest Lecture and Lunch

14:30 – Aravind and me Rushed to Sim Lim Square to buy camera
16:00 – Out of hotel
17:00 – Singapore Airport
Singapore Changi Airport or simply Changi Airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the Southeast Asian region, and is the main airport in Singapore. Located in Changi on a site of 13 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi), it is about 17.2 kilometres (10.7 mi) north-east from the commercial centre.
 19:30 Depart from Singapore (Singapore Timing)
23:45 Welcome back to home – India (Indian timing)