Friends 'Til The End

I have not being an avid follower of the hit sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 

But If I recollect one topic which has been most frequently and eagerly discussed and debated by my friends - right from college buddies to colleagues - is Friends.

What made this TV show a worldwide hit, gaining mass popularity among the Gen X and Gen Y? What were the things which worked for this sitcom which made the producers produce 10 seasons spanning 10 years?

The answer lies in the name itself.

It was a story about six people - six friends - and their journey through life.

The coffee shop banter, the chit-chat in the kitchen, the gossiping on a lazy Sunday, and the serious discussions in the drawing room, as the friends navigated through their life, were the hallmarks of the show. This was something which all guys and gals could relate to in their adolescent age.

They could see a bit of themselves in Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross - and could relate to their predicaments, joys, sorrows, friendship, and other emotions in life. This is what made the show successful.

These friends in reel life made an wide impact on the worldwide audience.

And you would agree with me if I would say that your personal friends have a lasting impact on your life.

By God's grace, I too have been fortunate enough to have friends who have made an impact on my life.

How did it all start?

Well, the first set of friends I had were the ones who were my play buddies. These were the guys with whom I used to learn the tricks of every single game - cricket, football, table tennis, badminton et all.

The competition was fierce at the games. But the friendship made it an joyful activity. Two hours of play was something which I looked forward to every day.

Next came the guys at the school. These were the people with whom I learned Maths, English, Science and what not. Spending six hours a day with them, learning stuff, solving problems, discussing ideas, dreaming etc etc increased the bonds of friendship.

They helped me to learn about stuff which I found difficult in understanding. They shared their tiffin when I had forgotten mine at home. They shared their homework when I hadn't done mine. Of course, I reciprocated.

It was in school that I was taught that wonderful evergreen quote - "A friend in need is a friend indeed".

Post school, It was college time. Six years of college life made my path cross with a wonderful set of friends. These were the people who made me grow as an individual.

They helped me with charting my student life. They motivated me for aiming for the sky.

They shared their vast knowledge, and strong fundamentals. These were the people who I wished I could emulate.

These were strong willed individuals who wouldn't let a setback affect them. They balanced their studies with their leisure activities.  These were the people who pursued their dreams zealously. I admired them for these beautiful qualities.

Next came my professional life. Here too, by God's grace, I met some absolutely fantastic people.

These were the people who shared my professional pursuits. And I found some personal gems.

These were the people who helped me learn the facets of working in a team. These were the people who served as a guiding force. These were the people with whom you could disagree at a professional level - but agree at a personal level. They bought the best out of me.

These were the people who wanted to learn from me. And to help them learn, I myself learned a few new things. These were the people who helped me relax after a hard day's work. These were the people who took care of me in the difficult times.

These are the friends who encouraged me, motivated me, appreciated me, loved me. They have helped me mould myself. And they continue to shape me.

Sometimes, I may feel depressed, down and out.

But I strongly hope that there is a friend out there who would say - "Cheer Up. Life has many things on offer."

If I have to summarise the influence of my friends on my life, this quote would say it all.

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever."
- Francois Mocuriac

And my dear friends,

"Keep your eyes upon me, keep me in your sight, Help me don the crooked road, lead me to the light. The road I'm on is dark, I'm not sure if I know the way, Yet with you right beside me, I'm certain I won't stray. Protect me from the world, I know we'll make it through, Give me all the strength I need..... Let me lean on you." 

- Megan Stroup  

Execution is the Key

On the way to a movie today, I had a brief stop at a car showroom.

A small quote on a white board caught my attention. It was written possibly to serve as a motivator for the sales force.

It went something like this.

This quote has now been etched firmly in my memory.

It is all the more relevant in today's situation where India is dealing  with the Commonwealth Games fiasco.

The budget has overshot 17 times. There are allegations of corruption. The construction of the sporting venues is way behind schedule. The city does not seem to be ready to host the games. And all along, the leaders have been living in a state of denial - insisting that India was on track to host the Games.

These games were supposed to enhance India's "India Shining" image. But unless something magical happens in the next two months, India's image is bound to get a beating. 

Being chosen as a proud host of the Commonwealth Games, a sports event which is a congregation of 54 nations, was a proud moment for India. India won the bid to host the Games way back in 2003. New Delhi was chosen as the host city.

Then started the difficult task for building the city to host the games. 

A period of seven years is widely considered sufficient enough for this preparation. 

But that is on paper.

The real thing is execution on the ground. 

You have a certain target. You aim at it with the best of your abilities. But only two things would help you cross the bridge between the aim and the target - the planning and the execution of the planning.

Well, India did plan. But it looks like we have failed in the execution. And failed miserably. Lack of discipline during the execution of the plan could have been a critical factor in this failure.

In such situations, I always remember one quote about Indians. 

"Indians are considered to be good planners and poor executors". The author of this quote is unknown.

When I fail miserably in any task, I always look back at the reasons. 

And in 99 out of 100 times, as I introspect, I always come to one conclusion - The Plan that I had prepared was superb. But the Execution was poor. 

This poor execution is the single most vital factor in such failures.

This news article confirms my point.

A small excerpt is below

== 
Countdown to chaos

A phase-wise approach was to be adopted after the event was awarded to New Delhi in 2003:
1st: Entire plan to be laid down (Jan 2004-May 2006)
2nd: Creation of infrastructure (May 2006-May 2008)
3rd: Delivery of completed projects to begin from May 2008

CAG audit report in August 2009:
"There was no evidence of the phase-wise approach being translated into action during the first phase years of 2004 and 2006, nor during a major part of phase two." 

==

Need I say more??

What are the factors which contribute towards the poor execution? Rather, let us think about a few factors which would take strong steps towards ensuring a successful execution.

A leader is a pivot in the execution of a task. He or She should be a strong willed individual who can set the target firmly in sight and take steps towards it. Needless to say, he should be a exemplary leader who can carry along the team and motivate them during the execution of the task.

Decisions are important in the execution of any task. All along, the leader and the executors will thrown with a set of choices. 

The skill lies in opting for the right choice. Most of the times it should be an informed or strategic decision. In some cases, it will be driven by a gut feeling. But decisions should be taken without any procrastination.

Execution also requires dividing the big, long tasks into smaller chunks. These chunks should be measurable and the team should work towards realization of these chunks.

Funding is important for the execution of tasks. The team should ensure that they are well equipped to complete the task. The tools which are supposed to equip the team towards achieving the goal should not become a bottleneck.

And finally, Periodical review of plans is a must. This is necessary to ensure to check whether the task is on the right path. If not, corrective actions need to be taken appropriately. The earlier the better.

So guys, next time that you drive towards a Chequered Flag, keep a few things in mind.

• Have a strong start. Be the one to win the first corner.

• Plan your race. And control its execution.

• Talk to your team. They can tell you where you are flailing. I always believe that a view from the sidelines is one the best. 

• Observe the weather. The surroundings can influence your race. And you should ensure that you don't let it affect you.

• Change your tires once in a while. It is necessary to revitalize them.

• And stay on the track. Racing on the gravel slows you down.

These fundamental things would ensure that you earn the tag of a good executor. And become a winner!!

Eyes

Jealousy streaked through his eyes. 

 

His eyes gave him away, revealing his  insecurities. After all they are the windows of a man's soul. 
 
But then, can you see a soul? 
 
To the best of the my knowledge, it does not have a spatial existence. In such an instance, how useful is a window for something which you cannot see?
 

But then windows are not only for seeing things. They let in a breath of fresh air. Like the kindness of a person which is displayed with his warm eyes.

 

Every morning, the rays of the morning sun cut through your bedroom  window driving away the darkness. Like those eyes, which sparkle with hope,  bolstering the hopes of someone which look upto them.

Windows let in the sound - when you are alone. It is this sound which is your companion in such situations. Then again, you must have heard that eyes can speak. And speak loudly and strongly.

 

A signal with your eyes can convey a strong thought, a warm feeling.

It can express your affection for your beloved.

 

And your love!!

And red eyes, with a hint of tear, share your anger.

 

Fear and anxiety, your deepest fears, cannot be hidden by your eyes.

And they usually give away your curiosity. 

 

They usually help straighten out  things. And cheer you up.

The list is endless.

Eyes. Precious Eyes. 

 

For others, you are the window to my soul. 

 

And for me, you are channel to construe this wonderful world.

Inception - A Dream

Dreaming will never be the same again.

Courtesy - Inception.

This movie - directed by Christopher Nolan - is the talk of the town these days. And it promises to be over the next many months.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio among others, this movie promises to be a strong contender for next year's movie awards.

Not in recent times has there been a movie so intriguing. It has left the people thinking, guessing, imagining!!
 

Discussions on this movie is the hottest topic in the office food courts and the online community.

Reviews have failed to tell the storyline. This makes watching the movie imperative. You don't have a chance to understand the story, decide whether you like or dislike it, and then watch it.
 

A thin line between reality and imagination has sparked a raging debate. Everyone is giving their own version of what the movie meant to them.

This in itself highlights a basic human quality - Diversity of Thoughts. Show a group of people a particular thing - and you will be assured of as many interpretations of the topic as the number of people.
 

What was special about the movie?
 

Dreams!!
 

Each one of us must have dreamt at least once in a life time. Actually, that is an understatement. If science is to be believed, all of us spend at least two hours a day dreaming. While we remember some, we don't recollect the most.
 

Why do all of us like Dreams?
 

Well - A few reasons. It takes us away from reality.We need not be our real selves. It makes us see the world in the wonderful way we would like to see it.
 

Carl Sandburg summarized it neatly - Nothing happens unless first we dream.

What's the movie all about?
 

It's a movie about dreaming. About a journey in a dream.  Or in reality. A journey that goes forever.

In the movie, the reference is to two fundamental concepts - Extraction and Inception. Both these thoughts form the base theme of the movie.
 

If you are familiar with Harry Potter, then you must have heard about the terms Legilimency and Occlumency.

Legilimency is the act of magically navigating through the many layers of a person's mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. A person who practices this art is known as a Legilimens. In simple terms, it is mind reading.
 

Occlumency is the act of magically closing one's mind against Legilimency. It can prevent a Legilimens from accessing one's thoughts and feelings, or influencing them.

These two detailed conversations in the books highlight this concept elaborately.

Conversation 1
Severus Snape: "It appears there is a connection between the Dark Lord's mind and your own. Whether or not he is aware of this connection is for the moment unclear. Pray he remains ignorant."

Harry Potter: "You mean if he knows about it, then he'll be able to read my mind?"

Severus Snape: "Read it, control it, unhinge it. In the past it was often the Dark Lord's pleasure to invade the minds of his victims, creating visions designed to torture them into madness. Only after extracting the last exquisite ounce of agony, only when he had them literally begging for death would he finally...kill them."

— Severus Snape explains Voldemort's abilities as a Legilimens to Harry Potter

Conversation 2
"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by any invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing... It is true, however, that those who have mastered Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the minds of their victims and to interpret their findings correctly."

—Severus Snape on Legilimency
 

Well, if you think that you will never pull off these things - Extraction and Inception - then you are wrong. You must have managed it sometimes.
 

Sometimes, you want to know what's going through the mind of some person.

How do you go about it?
 

You ask a few subtle questions. You engage him or her. Pursue the question a bit more. Soften up the person.

Mostly, in the end you get what you want. You get the answer. That is "Extraction".

You must have done it right? At least once?
 

What is Inception?

Once in a while, you must have wanted someone to do something. Maybe for yourself or maybe for someone else.

Like this guy who helped a girl realize how her boyfriend was a good marriage material.

Or having deep discussions with your girl, painting a rosy picture of the future,  making her realize how good a couple you both would make.

This is nothing but planting an idea for your benefit. A benefit which will secure a bright future. This is Inception!!

Done it right? I assure you - the answer will not be "No".

Dreams within dreams. A maze of dreams. Never ending dreams. These are the perpetual features of this movie.

You might have experienced this sometimes. Even if I turn my memory upside  down, I can't recollect a dream within a dream.

But I have felt something similar to it. 

There have been dreams or conscious thoughts thinking about some ideas, some sentiments, some emotions. Then, most frequently, these thoughts lead to other better thoughts, views, feelings. You go with the flow.

If the sleep is peaceful, if you are undisturbed - these thoughts seem to go on for ages. And when you finally wake up, you realize that you have been sleeping just for some 30 minutes. But it looks like you have covered a few hours, days, months, years altogether. Maybe eternity.

This is dreaming at its best. I would call it a compounded dream. The movie refers it to as a Layers of Dream.

The name does not matter. What matters is the experience that goes with it. If you remember your dream, I bet it would be something that you would cherish for the times to come.

And if we are discussing dreams, then we also need to discuss about the things which cause a dream to end.

You must have seen countless movies - where the hero dreams about his girl. He is engaged in her thoughts - so deeply, so profoundly, so intimately - that a small disturbance knocks him out of his pleasant thoughts. And that's the end of the dream.

Think about the time when you must have been caught napping in the class. Dreaming about the pretty girl in the next seat or the next row. Dreaming about a first rank in the class. Or a good placement in the interviews. Or an admission in a top ranking university.

Until the professor's book or his white chalk crash lands on your head - collapsing you sweet dream. Bringing you back to reality.

That's the "Kick". It brings you back to your senses, to the real world.

Being there, done that right? I reckon you would.

But if you are dreaming alone, like you do in the night, what would be your "Kick"?

It could be your parents who woke you up every morning in your humble formative years. Or your companion sleeping next to you.

Or as in my case, my cell phone which doubles up as an Alarm :-).

And finally, in real life, sometimes you feel yourself so lucky, that the things which are happening to you seem like a dream.

And definitely you must have been in a dream where you just want to know whether the things which are happening are for real.

The things that are happening in your dream seem so wonderful, so marvelous, so terrific that you don't want it to end. 

But the feeling is all the more exhilarating when you get an assurance that the dream is real. The comfort that you get in the surety that the dream is real makes you cherish it. 

But then, how do we determine whether the dream is real or false.

The movie uses a Totem for this purpose. It helps the characters to realize that they are in a dream and not in real life.

But unlike the movie characters, we humans don't need a Totem that assures us that a dream is a dream. 

We need a Totem which tells us that the dream is a reality. 

That is the need of the human mind. That is our belief.

So guys, go get your totem.

Keep Dreaming!! Travel the world of fantasy with it. Where else would you get an opportunity to experience a multitude of a life time in eight hours of sleep!!

Oops... The alarm is ringing. Time to wake up. Looking forward to meeting you again in my dreams again.

Enchanting Perfumes

We humans are blessed with five senses. Smell is one of them.

The nose is the human organ responsible for the correct functioning of the sense of smell.

So how do we smell something? How does it work?

The smells themselves consist of vapors of various substances. The smell receptors interact with the molecules of these vapors and transmit the sensations to the brain. (Courtesy this site)

This reveals an important facet of smell. It triggers certain things in your brain which can make you feel many things - good, bad, dirty, clean etc.

Perfumes are something which are designed to exploit this sense and thrill your brain, to make you feel happy, feel good, feel attractive, feel beautiful et all.

One thing that has always intrigued me is the cost of these perfumes. They are highly priced, to say the least.

The high price, with its exclusivity, makes it a difficult proposition to sell a perfume.

Perfume designers take an extra step to make them a sell-able commodity.

The name of the perfume is the second most important factor in its success. The first, of course, is the fragrance itself.

I have always been attracted by these perfume names. And I am supremely impressed by the creativity of the people who go about giving them names.

For example, lets consider "Touch" by Burberry.

Whats special about it? The name itself. 

While the perfume is designed to thrill the sense of smell, the name is elegant enough to send a shudder through the person with a sense of touch.

Sometimes, these perfume names, exploit some basic human emotions.

Like "Envy" by Gucci.

Well, Envy is a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another.

Wearing this fragrance gives you a possible opportunity of becoming the object of someone's desire.

Looks Kill!!

And here is one perfume which helps you in this.

"Spellbound" by Estee Lauder gives you that double edge - enchanting aroma and mesmerizing eyes.

Everyone has a special moment in his life. Sometimes it is frequent while sometimes it is occasional. And we always hope that this special moment extends upto eternity.

Nothing celebrates this spirit better than this perfume - Eternity Moment -  by CK.

We live on oxygen. It powers our live.

But can a perfume do so?

Yes. If you consider the perfume "Fuel For Life" by Diesel.

Addictions are bad. Cravings are not that bad.

If you want someone to get addicted to you, or crave for you, then "Opium" by Yves Saint Laurent can be your choice.

Dressing up makes you feel good. A stylish perfume can be your crowning glory.

"Princess" by Vera Yang gives you that royal touch.

However, to be attractive, feel attractive, you need not be a princess. You can be an enchantress with "Very Irresistible" by Givenchy.

Being an overpoweringly attractive beauty was never so easy.

Humans are eternal learners. Curiosity in stuff makes you a good learner.

But being curious, you usually tread along the path unknown. But being in control while being curious is a strong quality.

Are you "Curious in Control"?

Water - It's the elixir of life.

"Cool Water" by Davidoff gives you that sense of assured composed calm.

Are you single?

If yes, then this perfume is for you.

"Mademoiselle" by Chanel gives you an opportunity to wear your status on yourself.

It's not only the witches who cast a spell.

You can also be that enamoring lady with the fragrance "Enchanting".

Being a killer was never so easy. 

Beware - "Juliet Has A Gun". It gives you that "Don't mess up with me feeling".

There has been a trend of celebrities promoting their own self branded perfumes.

Like Chanel No 5 which was promoted by Nicole Kidman.

She was a critical success factor behind this perfume, with it being launched when she was at the top of her career.

Most of these perfumes don't have a special name. But the name of the celebrity is good enough to make it a success.

Like "Halle" by Halle Berry.

Or "Maria Sharapova" by her namesake.

Most recently, Jennifer Aniston has joined the perfume bandwagon with her perfume "Lolavie".

It was released two days back. And it has been rechristened "Jennifer Aniston".

So there you go.

What's in a name?

There is a lot behind a perfumes name.

Think about it when you see a new one next time.

Lifestyle

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Sachin Tendulkar Vs Time

Sachin Tendulkar - You Love him. I love him. India loves him.

Sachin Tendulkar - "The Best" Indian batsmen ever to play the game of cricket  - is used to people praising his game.

Over the past 21 years, people have been supremely impressed by his skills and talents. They have acknowledged him with great awards and lavish praise.

But here is one quote on Sachin Tendulkar which extols him at the highest levels.

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour De France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious Career taming Imran and company, Roger Frederer was a name unheard of, Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy.It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

- Author Unknown

This quote says it all about Sachin.

I have just one dream - that of India winning the Cricket World Cup in 2011, with Sachin taking India to that glorious victory!!

Companion

Life is a journey. You make the most of it when you share it.

You share it with your family, friends, colleagues, children et all. But the one who makes it special is your companion.

Have a look at some wonderful quotes on "Companions" which signify their importance in the life of any individual.

When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death: ourselves.
Eda J. Le Shan

God created man and, finding him not sufficiently alone, gave him a companion to make him feel his solitude more keenly.
Paul Valery

In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.
William Penn

The quotes below highlight the how a companion can make a significant difference in the life of a person.

A faithful companion is a sure anchor.

Author Unknown

A helpful companion is as good as a coach.

Author Unknown

And finally, when you get a companion, the journey that you undertake with your beloved one would be eternal.

My companion and I were alone with the stars: the misty river of the Milky Way flowing across the sky, the patterns of the constellations standing out bright and clear, a blazing planet low on the horizon.

Rachel Carson

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