Looking out for Job....be careful of scams!

One of my friend who was looking out for job had an interesting encounter with scamster.

He received letter from Nigeria in a public listed well known oil company. He was smart enough sense a possibility of scam.

If you look at email he received it has every possible email address....yahoo, GMail and live.

If this is not enough ...it had offer letter as well.

Than I went into the website provided and found .....Scan alert put by the company...thank god.

my news letter No.1

I sent out my first news letter last week end. It has been great experience of winning by inhibitions.

Hi Friends,
Staying connected with Friends add to life expectancy. Very
selfish reason to stay connected. It never the less keeps you happy...
Lazy
fellow which I am….and not on twitter …not very active on social networking
sites….very unlikely I will connect regularly. I planned to connect with all my
friends…including colleague , old bosses and people I met during my
professional life…...via this virtual world. So was the reason for this
monthly news letter Idea.
I am sending this email with lot of inhibition and
anxiety of not very sure if it is a right thing to do. Let me see how far I can
go.
Let me know if you wish to remove yourself from the email list …..if you
find this another junk in your email box.
Do write back.....with your
input...feedback...comments.
Eagerly awaiting your
email!.
Regards,
Harish
http://harishbk.com
+919845438231

I got very good reviews .

Thanks to all .

Learning Chinese : I am damn frustrated!

I am preparing to take my 1st level exam for Chinese next week. It has been never so frustrating. It just doesn’t get into you.
I think it is probably because, it is not related to either my social or professional work. I am unable to relate it to anything which is happening around me on daily basis.

I am also taking to complete my Black Belt training and Lean expert certification..........I am very confident I will make it. But Chinese learning is really getting into my nerves. Like always I went into internet to find answers. I found below link giving really really realistic reasons why it is hard to learn new language.
http://www.helium.com/items/1505424-why-learning-languages-is-so-hard

Than I wanted to understand if it is about any language or just about Chinese. Almost every article recognizes Chinese as one of the most difficult language to learn.

http://www.wisegeek.com/which-are-the-most-difficult-languages-to-learn.htm

Age ( ia m 39 years) certinly is not helping me either. I am already so biased and so much pre defined perceptions have taken over my brains. It is getteing tough to push something completely new

But I was proved wrong with very scientific argument in one of the article Please read this if you are really interested in leaerning new language. I should have read this 10 months back.(http://www.zompist.com/whylang.html)

Why do children learn languages well, when even adults who want to learn them have trouble with them? Innate abilities aside, children have a number of powerful advantages:

They can devote almost their full time to it. Adults consider half an hour's study a day to be onerous.

Their motivation is intense. Adults rarely have to spend much of their time in the company of people they need to talk to but can't; children can get very little of what they want without learning language(s).

Their peers are nastier. Embarrassment is a prime motivating factor for human beings (I owe this insight to Marvin Minsky's The Society of Mind, but it was most memorably expressed by David Berlinski (in Black Mischief, p. 129), who noted that of all emotions, from rage to depression to first love, only embarrassment can recur, decades later, with its full original intensity). Dealing with a French waiter is nothing compared with the vicious reception in store for a child who speaks funny.

And...

One reserch article proclaims (http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/87-9dig.htm) :
Can older adults successfully learn foreign languages? Recent research is providing increasingly positive answers to this question. The research shows that:

there is no decline in the ability to learn as people get older;
except for minor considerations such as hearing and vision loss, the age of the adult learner is not a major factor in language acquisition;
the context in which adults learn is the major influence on their ability to acquire the new language.
Contrary to popular stereotypes, older adults can be good foreign language learners. The difficulties older adults often experience in the language classroom can be overcome through adjustments in the learning environment, attention to affective factors, and use of effective teaching methods.

Advice for language learners ( I will start doing it now!!!) .(http://www.zompist.com/whylang.html)

Read books in the target language.
Better yet, read comics and magazines. (They're easier, more colloquial, and easier to incorporate into your weekly routine.)
Buy music that's sung in it; play it while you're doing other things.
Read websites and participate in newsgroups that use it.
Play language tapes in your car. If you have none, make some for yourself.
Hang out in the neighborhood where they speak it.
Try it out with anyone you know who speaks it. If necessary, go make new friends.
Seek out opportunities to work using the language.
Babysit a child, or hire a sitter, who speaks the language.
Take notes in your classes or at meetings in the language.
Marry a speaker of the language. (Warning: marry someone patient: some people want you to know their language-- they don't want to teach it. Also, this strategy is tricky for multiple languages.)

I am bit more relived now............as I have reasons to tell myself why I am struggling....more importantly how I can really improve on language learning skill. Though I can not use much of this for next week test. I will implement this for my next level.

I am going to do it. I will ensure I will learn Chinese good enough to read news paper by June 2010. It is a promise to myself.

I know it is tough.....but definitely possible.

Thank you!!

Thanks you utilizing my blog and providing your feedback /inputs. It has been great journey. I am sure we will go long further from this point.

101 visits came from 23 countries (India, Singapore, China, United States, Germany, Sweden, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Malaysia & Philippines) with 46 visitors from the day it started on 16th March 2009.

Trains, Railway station, Beijing,Shanghai, Singapore, Malasiya and other

My work at office got over. I need to rush to hotel before 6 and chk out to avoid full day charge. I got my Hotel reservation changed in for Shanghai. Took Michelle help for printing. She also offered me to help in finding the train in railway station. I went to Hotel, freshened up, Chked out. As suggested by Michelle I went to “The place” nearby. It has all kind of restaurant. As I entered the premises…there was large canopy above me. It was almost as big a Street. I think it is for the concerts. Went into the mall…found a Indian restaurant “The Ganges”. Ordered for tomato soup, 5 chapattis, Dal and masala chai. Filled myself. Came out of the mall.Oh my god!!!.............the canopy was not canopy but a big LCD screen. Someone told me it is largest LCD screen in Asia. WOW!!!!. Took some snaps. Walked into hotel and collected my baggage. Michelle arrived on time at 7.30. Went to Beijing square …and than to RAILWAY STATION. WOW!!!!!At last I am railway station. Safe with….. Michelle as

she knows Chinese. Parked the car, Walked through the station front area. Very crowded…... Very very crowded. She went to police standing nearby to check for the visitor ticket. We stood in queue to enter the station. It was a small que but we have pass through scanning machine. I was pretty excited by then. My baggage went through the scanner. I was busy in clicking photos. I wanted to take photos of the scanner as well. Oh my ghosh!!!!!!!!!!!!! I slipped . Fell down. Didn’t get hurt but few photos got clocked when I was slipping.I got up. I felt like 2 to 3 pairs of eyes are observing me very closely. We looked at the train schedule. Everything was in Chinese (Thanks got Michelle can read it). We need to go to waiting hall 2 upstairs. The hall was decked up pretty nice and very traditional way (chandelier and chairs). I still had at least 1 pair of eyes very close to me…… watching us. Went it to final hall …..our train was still not called. We had sufficient time. I realized Michelle is not very comfortable with this much crowd. Believe she is in this railways station after almost 4 years. Last time she came to board the train to a location which was not connected by Air. We went back to main hall. I requested her to stand with me till train is called. It was amazing to watch people. The culture, their behavior, dress, interaction ….amazing stuff. Now it was time for our train. We went back to next hall which will lead to ticket chking. We stood in Queue (Well pretty much India Railway station queue. 5 or 6 people moving together.). Ticket chk is done landed in bridge got down by elevator. Holaluya!!! In front of me ….white bullet train. Searched for my coach…...Than my seat. GOT IT!!!!!The coach is really high class….the berths are luxurious. The comfort of a Hotel room bed. I congardulated myself for the my decision to use the Train.. Lady in front of me was from university. She can speak in English. We spoke about Tai Chee, Yoga & recission for 1 hour. Then I went to sleep. Though there was Mr. Mrs smith on the TV but it was in Chinese ( no English channel!).Trying to sleep. The train was picking up speed ( 91 Km/hr….135 km/hr….).ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZWoke up around 5.30AM. it was already sunney outside. Country side was clearly visible. Village house, paddy fields etc. Always seen a countryside from 5000ft . The feeling of seeing at ground level is pretty exciting.Reached Shanghai @ around…..7.30Am. It was pretty crowded ventured out of station without asking anyone for direction. Followed the instinct on where the tax stand might be (depending on the direction towards which empty taxis are going). Ended up in a escalator going down. Asked a police man about “T-A-X-I”. He showed me to go down. There you are in front of taxi stand. I mentioned the hotel name to them. They understood the same. Dropped me at hotel. I chked in and went to office. So convenient!!!!
My next interesting journey was …train from Malasiya to Singapore. Language was not an issue. Everyone understands (almost!!) English. But issue was train. After experiencing Bejing to shanghai bullet train. Malasiya to Singapore train looks very uncomfortable. Well…..train is never uncomfortable…..but the earlier experience has raised my expectation. One was a train where passenger didn’t even feel the vibration when it is moving at 200+ km/hr …other was …oh god….every break u can fall down of your bed or seat. Each break was experience. It is a cabin for 2. I had young male international lawyer as company. We talked about my work …his work…Malay politics… Indian food… recession….They serve food….I ordered for biriyani. It came with Chicken stew and I ate only the biriyani part. Went into sleep mode. Had very god sleep until …they woke me up at Malay border for passport chk. Them immediately I had got down for Singapore immigration. Officer was bit confused of I not mention my address in Singapore. As I was flying on same day my plan was some shopping and then get to airport to write this diary.Got out at Singapore railway station. No one can say it is Singapore railway station. It doesn’t look like Singapore. I felt like suddenly the Singapore was exposed compared what we usually see out there in Orchards road, Changi Air port or bogy junction etc. Take my word….nothing like using road transport to understand real culture of the country. Somehow I felt this time Singapore came out as bit arrogant, Careless and “like any other’ country. I for the first time had experience of Singapore cab driver take me for ride and making me pay more than double to reach my address.

Flight to Singapore

Hi Bhavani,
I entered Airport around 8.15. No one tell this is summer. Very windy and pretty comfortably cold. This is namma Bengaluru. Always surprises you with its whether….really air conditioned. No doubt………… it torubled us with its last 15 days with peak summer of 34 degree.
I stood in the queue to pay airport development fee. Reached counter and gave my Amex card. Guy returned it back saying “transaction declined”. Oh shit…did they really blocked my card for that 5000+ due amount?. Can’t believe they have done something like that as I paid everything on time but this one amount pertaining to prior December…..which I haven’t been able to reconcile. Card worked even 2 days back. Never mind I will work with my personal card plus cash I have.Went to check-in counter. This Singapore airline guy saw my receipt for development fee payment. “they realy asked you to pay”…I said “yes”. “But, no charge for international passengers! Check in and we will get you refund”. I chked in got my exit seat only till Singapore. I didn’t get Exit seat for Singapore to Beijing. Never mind. It is ok. The airline team helped me to get refund of amount paid to Airport authorities in jiff. Indian red tape has really come long way. There was time which required one to fill in forms together to get refund or make payment. But today I got the refund in cash within no time without a hassle.I got in to security clearance. Than into the arena. Than to Kingfisher restaurant. Took some time to choose my dinner. Ended up with panneer mattar and laccha parata plus tomato soup. Food was amazing. Paid by my personal credit card (I can survive on personal card for full trip ….but will connect with Travel lead once I get to Beijing office and get this resolved).Sat at the launge for 30 minitues doing nothing. Well not really. I was watching the people passing by. The tiredness on some faces, frustration on that Japanese guy face, amazement on other guys face, elderly person wearing a Dhothi , 3 old couple probably visiting their children, Families going on vacation, Family which came in and sat in front of me while wife sat few chairs away……………lot to absorb. Natures call, I went to loo. Realized my Zip is open. Look like I had lot to watch about other and didn’t realize this (Shame!!).Who tells it is recession…..lounge is full….restaurant is full. Yesterday at Commercial Street all shops were full with people. Off course even I was there with my family. I am not able to understand this. May be this is the effect of having highest % of employable population less that 65 years.Well….only 10 minute left to take off. Final call. Let me rush now. Oh shit! Computer Is not shutting down. Carry the lap top and open lap top bag on one hand ……. Passport and boarding pass on other. I am mad…never though writing can get so additive. Shameek you are the culprit. You got me into this. Now people have to read this bad grammer.Flight is not full. I got my exit seat. I am off to sleep. Told the attendednt no to my fruit plater. I don’t eat anything else on flight. I hate the preservatives in the food.Bye for now. Will see talk to you soon.ZZZZZZZZFlight landed in Singapore. It is 6.30 in Singapore. My mind tells me it is 3.30 in the morning. Collected my stuff and myself up got up…walked out. Singapore airport…as beautiful as she ever was. She is beautiful. My flight to Beijing is in next 2 hours. Need to go to Terminal 3 gate B9. Got into train. Reached T3. Walked along stores purchased my power converter which will work with my Indian power chord.
B9……..lot sof tourist families…..father , mother, brother, wife, son, daughter, brother in law, sister in law…….group old travelers…..families….honeymooners….etc etc……………….aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…………who says it is recession. Who is wrong…what is real?Got into Flight…..didn’t get sleep. I got up……surfed channels. Watched “Dasvidyaian” (not sure I am spelling it right). I got my Fruit platter. This time I was hungry.Survived the 7 hour flight. Landing was terrible. Got out. Got into immigration chk in. Hurrah…..for the first time I filled he imigartion form in Singapore airport itself. Got my turn. He chked double time if at it was me on the passport…with my ever changing hair and beard styles.Collected my baggage. My new bag. It was neat. Went to taxi stand. Got int taxi. Hotel address is in English. He doesn’t understand. My phone didn’t work. He called the hotel number. Hollalya! He got the address. Went their …..chked in.
Will continue later once I get to Beijing Train station. Everything else is official. Doesn’t make sense to document. No photos . wait till I go to Railway station.

Way it works in Corporates - Lagori

Way it works in Corporate is more of Indian ancient rural game called “lagori”.
1. Make two teams of equal number on each team. Get hold of a rubber ball (For maximum pain factor) or make one using cloths rolled around a stone.

2. Have a toss (coin or yes-no on a hand with stone) and decide between the playing and defending teams.

3. Arrange a pile of flat stones in the form of a pyramid.This will be normally done by the defending team to ensure that structure is resistant to casual hits by a ball.

4. One of the players from the playing team will take an aim at the structure from a predefined distance. He has 3 chances to hit it. If he can't, another person from the same team will try his hand. If no one can hit the pile, then the team is said to be out and has to defend .

5. Once the pile is disturbed by the ball, the playing team has to redo the pile while dodging the ball thrown at them by the defending team. This is not easy because of a keeper(!!) standing near the pile, defending it .

6.If the ball hits any of the playing team, then they would be out and the defending team gets the chance to play.

7.If the playing team manages to reconstruct the pile without getting hit, then they score and will get another chance as the playing team.At the end of the day, Lagori was a game of simple rules, hurt backs (courtesy of considerate defenders) and awesome fun.

As you can make out you are out if you don’t make the pyramid fall………..in the end you are you are out if you don’t fix the pyramid back into its shape.

This is pure game……. What can make you a winner at the start of the game will not make you a winner at the end of the game. You need move on with new strategies. I am not making this comparison with cynicism rather with positive note of ……. Playing with moving target and changing success factors is the way corporate works. That is what ensures maximizing revenue and optimizing operation cost.

After all………leadership is about…… bringing stability when things are unstable and creating instability when things stable…………RIGHT?