I'mperfect

This time for Africa?

It's time for the quarter-finals. Sad to see Japan go out in a penalty shootout. No Asian teams in the QF. On current form the likely semi-finalists look to be Brazil, Uruguay(Ghana can surprise though), Spain and Argentina/Germany (can't say which of the two. Looking forward to some exciting football. Already feeling a bit sad that the world cup is going to end in another 11 days. and then it's going to be a wait for 2014(in Brazil). In the midst of all this, India won the Asia Cup (cricket) and Saina Nehwal has been sparkling. They say she is currently the 3rd best woman with a badminton racket in the world. That's something. And there was something else, marathon match lasting more than 11 hours at wimbledon. Phew, some spirit. Some stamina.Am I doing a sports roundup here? Just imagine. Ghana lifts the World Cup. why not? This time for Africa!

French fried. Italy baked and English packed.

Germany and Argentina sizzled in their matches. Thouroughly enjoyed the Germany- England match. Ther have been a few sparkling games the past few days. the World cup is turning on the heat on the teams. It's the knock-out stage. It's a pity thaat Germany and Argentina will facing off in the Quarter-finals. They both deserve a Semi-final berth. Along with Brazil and Uruguay (who I say are the 'dark horses'). There is no room for error now. Nothing is predictable. And its fun. Glad that the games are not going to penalty shootout. Germany was super. Fast, precise and highly co-ordinated. Argentina is inspired. Brazil is Brazil. And there are the super power ruins. France repeating 2002, being kicked out in round 1 without a win. Italy repeating a France by going out in the first round as defending champions. As for England, They are like the Indian cricket team. All money and glamour and loads of hopes every world Cup. EPL there, IPL here. Wayne Rooney looked retired and as flabby as Yuvraj Singh. But the goal from lampaard was legal. Video technolgy - please learn from ICC, FIFA. I am excited as the momentum is building for the finale. Expecting great matched as somehow there is a tide in favour for free-flowing football. May be inspired by beats of Africa. Waka Waka.

Superman

Beautiful!

When I was just a little girl,
I asked my mother, 'What will I be?
'Will I be pretty?
'Will I be rich?'
Here's what she said to me:

'Que sera, sera,
'Whatever will be, will be;
'The future's not ours to see.
'Que sera, sera,
'What will be, will be.'

When I was just a little boy,
I asked my mother, 'What will I be?
'Will I be handsome?
'Will I be rich?'
Here's what she said to me:

'Que sera, sera,
'Whatever will be, will be;
'The future's not ours to see.
'Que sera, sera,
'What will be, will be.

Give Me Freedom !

Raju kaise bana Gentleman

(From an article in Yahoo)

Director Rajkumar Hirani, best known for his feel good social dramas like ''Munnabhai'' and ''3 Idiots'', borrows his first name from ''Rajkumar Commerce Institute'', his father''s typing institute. The director, who had to struggle hard to become what he is today, talks about his humble beginnings in the book ''3 Idiots: Original Screenplay''.

Hirani says his father, Suresh Hirani, migrated to India during the Partition and having lost all his possessions started working in a bangle factory to make ends meet. He later moved on to selling ice-cream on the streets and finally opened a typewriting institute in Nagpur by investing his life''s savings.

"My father christened it ''Rajkumar commerce Institute''. I was not even born then.

I was named after a typewriting institute and not the other way round! Most parents would name their enterprises after their children, but I''ve had the rare honour of being named after my father''s enterprise. I am proud of the fact," Hirani said.

The 47-year-old director, who began his filmmaking journey as an editor with Vidhu Vinod Chopra''s ''Mission Kashmir'', says like his film 3 Idiots'' protagonist, he was also expected to take up engineering but he could not get enough marks in the 12th standard to make the cut. Hirani started studying commerce and enrolled for chartered accountancy, which he despised.

"I had no interest in chartered accountancy and these classes were a huge imposition.

I was wasting this time on something I knew was not for me.

But I had the baggage of the engineering debacle on my head so abandoning this very viable option would have appeared self-indulgent, foolish and luxurious at the time," said the director. But Hirani decided to leave the course and managed the courage to tell his father about his decision, which closely mirrors in the ''3 Idiots'' scene, when Farhan goes to his father with plans to join photography instead of studying engineering.

But unlike Farhan, Hirani had no future plan. "My father was standing alone in the living room.

I walked in and walked upto where he was standing, taking lead-laden steps. My throat was dry with uncertainty and fear.

It was one thing to tell your father that you did not want to pursue what seemed like and excellent career choice but it was another thing to not offer an alternative plan," the director said. "My voice quivered with apprehension as I told him that I did not want to take the exams because I did not enjoy chartered accountancy at all.

He looked at me and in the most nonchalant manner told me to not do it," Hirani added.

The Lion In Africa

The World Cup of Soccer has started and its been a mixed bag so far. Nothing spellbinding but the occassional spark. The first games are usually a nervous affair. Everyone keen to get going at the same time tense. Only Germany has been free flowing so far. But then not all teams have played. Argentina won a crucial game against Nigeria. They started the game very well. I don't watch much of club soccer and was waiting to see Lionel Messi. He did make a mess of many chances most of which he himself created. But one thing was clear. He has it in him. It's the same as watching someone like Zidane. In moments, one realizes that they are special players. Messi is one Lion to watch out for. Don't know if he will have his prey and take Argentina all the way. But for sure, he has got the teeth, and the speed. It's a matter of the mind. Will Lionel roar? Let's see.

This is an amazing story - Truly Inspiring

The story of Patricia Narayan, winner of this year's 'Ficci Woman Entrepreneur of the Year' award is amazing.

She started her career 30 years ago as an entrepreneur, selling eateries from a mobile cart on the Marina beach amidst all odds -- battling a failed marriage, coping with her husband, a multiple addict, and taking care of two kids.

Today, she has overcome the hurdles and owns a chain of restaurants.

An entrepreneur by accident

I was always interested in cooking and passionate about trying out new dishes. But, the thought of becoming a business woman never came to my mind at all as I do not come from a business family. Both my parents were government servants.

But my marriage changed everything. Both the families opposed the marriage vehemently as my husband belonged to the Brahmin community; unfortunately my marriage did not work out as my husband was addicted to alcohol, drugs, etc. I could not bring him out of the addiction. As a young woman, I did not know how to cope with this and I was getting beaten up everyday.

Though my father, a very conservative Christian never forgave me, he gave me refuge when I had nowhere to go. I was thrown out with two very small children. It was a question of survival for me. I knew I should either succumb to the burden or fight; I decided to fight my lonely battle.

I did not want to be a burden on my parents. So, to be economically independent, I could only do what I knew and what I liked. I started making pickles, squashes and jams at home. I just took a couple of hundred rupees from my mother. I sold everything I made in one day and that gave me confidence.

I earned a good income. I invested whatever I earned to make more pickles, squashes and jams. It was quite lucrative in the sense, even ten rupees was a blessing for me.

The first step as an entrepreneur

My father's friend, who was running a school for handicapped children, was handing out mobile carts or kiosks to people who would employ at least two handicapped people. They needed somebody who could run it and I was offered one such cart free. I had to train the handicapped children to make coffee and serve them to customers.

As I lived near the Marina beach, I decided to put the mobile cart at the Anna Square on the Marina beach. I had seen people thronging the beach in the evenings. But I had to make umpteen trips to the Public Works Department and wait for one year to get the permission.

Finally, I started working on June 21, 1982, a day I will never forget. The previous night itself, with the help of the local rickshaw drivers, I had rolled the mobile cart to the beach. It was a small move but thrilling as it was my own and I was going to be a business woman the next day.

While such carts sold only tea and cigarettes, I decided to sell cutlets, samosas, bajjis, fresh juice and coffee and tea. On the first day, I sold only one cup of coffee and that was for fifty paise!

I was very disappointed and came home crying. I told my mother, that I would not like to continue. But my mother consoled me saying, at least you sold one cup of coffee. That's a good sign. You will do well tomorrow. And, she was adamant that I go the next day also.

The next day, I made sold snacks for Rs 600-700 which was big money for me then! As I started making money, I added ice creams, sandwiches, French fries and juices too. I used to keep thinking of adding more items.

I ran it from 1982 to 2003, and the maximum I made from that mobile cart was Rs 25,000 a day. That was during the bandh days! We used to be open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day, and later, I started opening from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the walkers.

I used to personally stand there and sell all the stuff I made. I never felt scared to stand there late at night. My only thought was to prove myself and move ahead.

There was a fire in me that made me believe that I could be successful without anyone's help. I did not want to be a failure. If you have that fire, nothing in the world can stop you from succeeding.

Offer to run a canteen
On seeing my work at the beach, within a year, the Slum Clearance Board gave me an offer to run the canteen at their office with a proper kitchen. The chairman met me during her morning walk. That is how I got the offer. The canteen was a huge success.

On Wednesdays, it was the public grievance day, so about 3000 people used to come there and I had a roaring business.

I used to get up at 5 a.m. in the morning, make idlis and go to the beach. From 9 a.m. I would be at the canteen. From 3.30 p.m. I would again be at the beach cart and would be there till 11p.m. By then, I had employed people to cook, and clean, and all the cooking was done at the canteen kitchen. My monthly income in those days was around Rs 20,000.

Later, I got an offer to run the Bank of Madurai canteen, I stopped running the canteen at the Slum Clearance Board canteen. At the Bank canteen, I served food to around 300 people daily.

One day, after a fight with my husband who used to come to trouble me often, I boarded a bus and travelled till the last stop. I got down and saw the National Port Management training school run by the Central government.

On the spur of the moment, I told the security guard that I wanted to meet the administrative officer. I met him and told him that I was a caterer and that I heard they were looking for a one.

He said, to my surprise that they were indeed looking for one as they had problems with the current contractor. I still believe it was God who took me there.

I got the offer. I had to serve three meals to about 700 students. They gave us quarters to stay. It was a new life for me. I got into the groove in a day. It was successful from day one, and I took care of the canteen till 1998.

My first weekly payment was Rs 80,000. I felt so elated having seen only hundreds and thousands till then. During those times, I was earning almost a lakh a week.

In those days, I wanted to do everything personally as I felt only then, things would run smoothly. Now I know if I train people well, they will do the work the way you want.

Starting restaurants
My connection with restaurants started in 1998 when I met people from the Sangeetha Restaurant group. They offered me a partnership in one of the units. But my son, Praveen Rajkumar wanted me to start my own restaurant and build a brand of ours.

But destiny played truant with me again. I lost my daughter, Pratibha Sandra and son-in-law road accident, a month after their marriage in 2004. It shattered me, and I withdrew from all that I was doing.

Then my son took over and started the first restaurant 'Sandeepha' in my daughter's memory. It took some time for me to come out of the shock and start helping my son in the business. Now, I am fully involved in the business. The fire to succeed has come back to me now.

Ambulance to help the accident victims

I still cannot get over my daughter's death as I did all this for my children; to bring them up and give them a good life.

What shocked me was the way the accident victims were treated by the ambulance operators. When they found that all the four in the car were dead, they said they would not carry dead bodies. Finally, somebody carried all the dead bodies in the boot of a car. When I saw the bodies being taken out of the boot, I broke down.

No mother can bear such a scene. That is when I decided to keep an ambulance on that very spot to help people whether the victims are alive or dead. It is in memory of my daughter.

Ficci entrepreneur of the year award
I started my business with just two people. Now, there are 200 people working for me in my restaurants. My lifestyle has changed too. From travelling in a cycle rickshaw, I moved to auto rickshaws and now I have my own car. From 50 paise a day, my revenue has gone up to Rs 2 lakh a day.

The 'Ficci entrepreneur of the year' award is the culmination of all the hard work I have put in over the last 30 years. It came as a surprise as this is the first time I have received an award.

Till now, I had no time to think of what I was doing. But the award made me look back and relive the days that passed by. Now, my ambition is to build my Sandeepha brand.

Advice to young entrepreneurs

Do not ever compromise on quality. Never lose your self-confidence. Believe in yourself and the product you are making. Third, always stick to what you know. When you employ people, you should know what you ask them to do.

Heyyyyy Say yay :) - This time for Africa

The cup of joy

It starts tomorrow. The greatest sports extravaganza of the planet. it's the soccer world cup. Olympics is a different scale, but when it comes to sheer passion and following it's the football world cup that makes the cut. The best in the world will be in action. As a young boy, i used to prepare black coffee, keep it it ready in flask and watch game after game. It helped that my parents never really interfered with my night viewing. I have been lucky that way. Every four years, it's fun to watch the beautiful game played by the very best. First time in africa. this time I am not backing any teams. Letting myself enjoy the games. May the best team win. That's one advantage of being an Indian. Don't have to be dispoointed if shunted out in the first round. Being a cricket enthusiast, I would still want to watch a soccer world cup than that of cricket. It's a simple game. There is powere and there is beauty. Waiting for the cup to fill up with joy.

The thought today

It's my conscience that kills me everyday.

The opposable mind!

Just finished reading 'The Opposable Mind' by Roger Martin. The sub-head of the title is 'How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking'. I found the book interesting. It was first published in 2007. It found resonance with some of the things I had felt very strongly about and still do. The book talks about how seeming opposable ideas can be blended to find an alternative that is better than either of them. Basically it's about integrative thinking. It says the power is in 'and' and that 'either - or' thinking is limiting. Integrative thinking unleashes the creativity to bring out new and more effective solutions. The book is based on the author's interviews with leading business people of the world , as also successful people from non-business background. The leaders who have prominently featured are A.G. Lafley, the ex CEO of P&G, Issy Sharp of Four Seasons and many other such leaders including the one and only Peter Drucker. The favourite part of book for me was the quote from Drucker where he says that there are no marketing/Finance/HR/production decisions. There are only business decisions. Partss have got to make sense to the whole.

Personally, i have spent a lot of time telling myself that so so called opposites are not oppsites. It's possible to be rich and happy. It's possible to be honest and rich. It's possible to be caring and earning. It's possible to make profits and serve consumers. It's possible to be nice and win. It's possible to serve the society and make money. It's possible to be creative and effective. Infact one feeds the other. It'a not easy. But then, it's worth it. It's fulfilling. It's fun.