I picked this book as it is supposed to be a must read for all b school grads. Not many years ago for all the finance grads Ibanking was a job to watch for. I was always a strategy student, even when i did not know what it meant :P. I understand finance well because it is a part of day to day life and somehow the complex products never made sense to me because by the end of the day the monay making in financal markets is a case of arbitrage opportunities and i dont think any structured book can teach it.
Anyway, getting back to book, YES, this is one of the most interesting and hilarious read. I love the mind of the writer, the way he has seen all the characters around him and brought out the vanity of the whole game. He has talked about the fall of mighty Solomom Brothers, the arrogance of its employees and what led them to failure. I somehow miss the failure bit and i get attractd to the risk taking ability of Solomon guys. The writer has the most fun filled explanation on every decision and every character in the bank. He has projected himself as a young victim to the tyranny of his arrogant fat money making bosses and how he was fooled day in and day out till he learned the money making game and adjusted to the non existent culture of the firm. He has in most simple langauge explained the fianancial innovation which led to loss of billion dollars in the market. I like the character sketch, the innocent eyes of a young guy who enters trading floor and how he watches the ruthless trading floor aspiring to be one of them, but not knowing how and also doubting if he will be able to survive the game.
A very interesting read, you will remember humour for lifetime. Its intelligent, subtle and you can just relate to writer and laugh at it. I loved it. This is a good writing by Michael Lewis and i totally give him star 5 for his sense of humour.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
So, what do you think??
Hmm.. So, i havent talked about my childhood gang for long now. One of the ganster has this very very sweetly irritating habit of turning towards me and asking, "So, what do you think." (Ok, if you are wondering whats so special about it, he knows that while the whole explanation was on, i was in my own world, i wasnt listening to it.).. Ahmm.. Umm.. Yep, its gud yaar. Hee hee , "Whats gud?" Errr.. "The stuff you just talked about." "Hee hee, which stuff?" ( OK, i am not deaf, you were talking about some long term plans and all and life and stuff, i will be creative , dont worry, here's the "stuff").. "The stuff about thinking and being serious and about what one wants and not want, you see it all makes so much sense. The serious thing." :D "Hmm.. so whats your opinion on it." ... :P "Yep, you make sense dude and now spare me, you know i wasnt listening, dont get after my life, nothing new about it".. "Hee hee, how do you manage to watch a dog so diligently while such a serious thing is being discussed." ... :P "Errr... umm.. dog is also serious.. it deserves attention, just because its a dog, you cant ignore it. And you think your talk is serious and not the poor dog, just because its an animal. "(OK, i had no clue what was i speaking, but i can be really convincing when i get down to it, you see... :D).................................................Long Pause till 3 of them burst into laughter....................................
Here was the killer, the what do you think guy, "I know dog has every right to attract and probably dog and his attention seeking character is a really serious matter which i will sort with it. I understand. However, i fail to understand why dont human get importance in life, what is it that dogs bark have and human talks dont have. Why does barking dog get more attention than talking human?? WHY? Just because he/she is a human?? WHY?? "
............................................ :P
"Errr... i dont know.. may be.. but trust me being human is not all that bad.. dont start aspiring for a dog's life.. i lost the discussion mid way, so kind of started ignoring it and admiring dog.. but i do think, what you think is right about the stuff that you talked about.... " :D
Here was the killer, the what do you think guy, "I know dog has every right to attract and probably dog and his attention seeking character is a really serious matter which i will sort with it. I understand. However, i fail to understand why dont human get importance in life, what is it that dogs bark have and human talks dont have. Why does barking dog get more attention than talking human?? WHY? Just because he/she is a human?? WHY?? "
............................................ :P
"Errr... i dont know.. may be.. but trust me being human is not all that bad.. dont start aspiring for a dog's life.. i lost the discussion mid way, so kind of started ignoring it and admiring dog.. but i do think, what you think is right about the stuff that you talked about.... " :D
Talkathon!!
Ok, now i am going to boast about the extra large friend circle that i have. Did i tell you my dear blog that i love to just talk and talk and talk, so i am basically branded talkative, but there is nothing much i can do about it. Thats the basic need for me. I survive on talks and people say i can talk to stone if nothing works out.
So, when your problem is talking, you come across some interesting discussions and you kind of wonder whats the point. I go for these walks at night for 30 min which is very dear to me. If i manage to catch hold of someone to walk with me, i happily do away with the ear phones and music. And i usually get some new people. As and when you walk with people for lets say 4-5 times, eone has a story to tell, sometimes about work, sometimes about relations and sometimes about aspirations. Aspirations have no end, i think eone should have it, but at the same time they should not take away your sleep. Just live life. Work: there is always a lousy, idiot, who makes life hell for all, so just chill, he/she is not worth being given so much importance in life. Relations: OK, this is one discussion which has various flavors, some are interesting. First is : his money, my money .. in my home all money is eone's money, its been like that for years and its difficult to tag whose is it and youngest at home is pampered in kind.. i like this.. ( OK, i know i am the youngest.. :P)
Location.. we all are earning.. hmmm.. But why?? anyway, who ever thought about it.. After all Geeta said,"Karm karo, fal ki iccha na karo, so keep earning, dsnt matter if 10 people work in 10 different locations, spend double the amount and fight everyday.. by the end of the day eone is earning.. I am amused.. :D i am also earning, but then issue is everyone else is also earning, so its not something unique to spend an evening thinking about..
And then there are loads of things which come out and i keep listening to them and thinking whats life all about by the end of the day? Is it about the million dollar deal we ran after in morning? Or about the lunch that i had with my colleagues? or the friends i made who just happened to be mine? or the family that waits for the time i see them? Do i have complains? YES, i am human i have reasons and complains in everythng that exists in the way it exists and thats what makes me do better in life. Issue is not that people have complains, issue is that there is no mindset to resolve. And there is bigger ego to protect from any kind of resolution to creep into life. In all my walkathons, i hear the same complaints, there are same characters, there probably is a solution, but then that will kill the stories of my walkathon, so i am not interested. :D
So, when your problem is talking, you come across some interesting discussions and you kind of wonder whats the point. I go for these walks at night for 30 min which is very dear to me. If i manage to catch hold of someone to walk with me, i happily do away with the ear phones and music. And i usually get some new people. As and when you walk with people for lets say 4-5 times, eone has a story to tell, sometimes about work, sometimes about relations and sometimes about aspirations. Aspirations have no end, i think eone should have it, but at the same time they should not take away your sleep. Just live life. Work: there is always a lousy, idiot, who makes life hell for all, so just chill, he/she is not worth being given so much importance in life. Relations: OK, this is one discussion which has various flavors, some are interesting. First is : his money, my money .. in my home all money is eone's money, its been like that for years and its difficult to tag whose is it and youngest at home is pampered in kind.. i like this.. ( OK, i know i am the youngest.. :P)
Location.. we all are earning.. hmmm.. But why?? anyway, who ever thought about it.. After all Geeta said,"Karm karo, fal ki iccha na karo, so keep earning, dsnt matter if 10 people work in 10 different locations, spend double the amount and fight everyday.. by the end of the day eone is earning.. I am amused.. :D i am also earning, but then issue is everyone else is also earning, so its not something unique to spend an evening thinking about..
And then there are loads of things which come out and i keep listening to them and thinking whats life all about by the end of the day? Is it about the million dollar deal we ran after in morning? Or about the lunch that i had with my colleagues? or the friends i made who just happened to be mine? or the family that waits for the time i see them? Do i have complains? YES, i am human i have reasons and complains in everythng that exists in the way it exists and thats what makes me do better in life. Issue is not that people have complains, issue is that there is no mindset to resolve. And there is bigger ego to protect from any kind of resolution to creep into life. In all my walkathons, i hear the same complaints, there are same characters, there probably is a solution, but then that will kill the stories of my walkathon, so i am not interested. :D
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Pursuit of Happyness!!
This is one movie i find awe inspiring. The story resembles some stages in my life and i can just see that hurdles make victory so worth living and there is always a reason which makes you stick on. Life is just the way we look at it. There are people who will have everything and they will still crib about life and then there are people who have nothing but they still keep the smile on. Someone told me once, Happiness is my state of mind and but for me no one can challenge me. :)
I have these various mood swings when i watch the movie, the story of rags to riches, of hopes, of efforts, and of times when fate takes away every scope of hope. I particularly love the dollar note tht someone borrows when every penny matters and how when time turns every penny comes back. Life does test us many a times, but yes the part is, there is always a part of life called "happyness" which waits for us right there. The strong and the persevering ones reach the destination. It is indeed a pursuit. This is one movie which makes me emotional and i love the fact that babies love you without conditions and sometimes all it takes to reach the sky is someone's unconditional faith. :)
I have these various mood swings when i watch the movie, the story of rags to riches, of hopes, of efforts, and of times when fate takes away every scope of hope. I particularly love the dollar note tht someone borrows when every penny matters and how when time turns every penny comes back. Life does test us many a times, but yes the part is, there is always a part of life called "happyness" which waits for us right there. The strong and the persevering ones reach the destination. It is indeed a pursuit. This is one movie which makes me emotional and i love the fact that babies love you without conditions and sometimes all it takes to reach the sky is someone's unconditional faith. :)
Bhai Dooj - A day of experiments
This was a Bhai dooj i celebrated after long. Bro had this long list of food that he could eat "if" i cooked. I thought i must oblige him and this was day for Italian dinner. It took me some 4 long hours to bake pizza, cake and Calzones, but it was good. Hmm.. i am a decent cook and cooking is awesome fun provided you get paid for it either in cash or in kind. So, as usual my CTO brother have me fair deal. Thank You bro, i totally love cooking for you and somehow i experiment on you, but you are lucky that things just turn out good.
So, cheers to our Italian dinner and yes Noni gets a gift no matter what, so according to him it was baby dooj, so he should get a book or gift too and being the darling of the house (he is well mannered and decent baby), he is granted all his wishes. :)
So, cheers to our Italian dinner and yes Noni gets a gift no matter what, so according to him it was baby dooj, so he should get a book or gift too and being the darling of the house (he is well mannered and decent baby), he is granted all his wishes. :)
Friday, October 9, 2009
My Performance Appraisal
Why am i becoming so fearless with every passing day? I love what i do and i do what i do. I have just stopped thinking on what not? There is just one target i see in this time and i am on it, nothing seems to be detering me. I have got this bad i dont know i want it and i will get it kind of spirit in me. I am not willing to look at anything which stops. I just know i have learned this from my nephew, he is focused about what he wants in life. But then i was wondering, what is giving me all this- i have never bothered about my CRRs all my life, i dont care about money (i make sure that i get paid my worth) and i dont care about job. I work for something else now, i have found my motivation and love.
I work for the 400 people in my account who smile every morning and feel good about themselves because they can earn. I work for those 200 people called customers who use the work that my lovely 400 people do for them. I work for my mind which loves to think positive and progressive and i work for my self worth, which should increase with every good that happens to poeple i love. I just love what i do because all these 600 people think i can think for them, talk for them and they trust me that i will take right decisions, do right things and make their work better with every passing day. At this point in life, i cant see anything but change and change and a change which should make all 600 people who are mine free to think and fly. I know change is never easy, i might fall flat, but then i am fearless and i can just see the focus. I just know that if one day these 600 people can feel any better, i would have been the star performer, i have found my appraiser and goals. :)
Long ago papa told me once that i dont know what dsnt work, i dont care, i just know what must work and also at any time many people work at same thing, some to make it better, some to stop it, whoever takes it farthest wins it. Have the hunger to do and rest everything will be taken care of.
I work for the 400 people in my account who smile every morning and feel good about themselves because they can earn. I work for those 200 people called customers who use the work that my lovely 400 people do for them. I work for my mind which loves to think positive and progressive and i work for my self worth, which should increase with every good that happens to poeple i love. I just love what i do because all these 600 people think i can think for them, talk for them and they trust me that i will take right decisions, do right things and make their work better with every passing day. At this point in life, i cant see anything but change and change and a change which should make all 600 people who are mine free to think and fly. I know change is never easy, i might fall flat, but then i am fearless and i can just see the focus. I just know that if one day these 600 people can feel any better, i would have been the star performer, i have found my appraiser and goals. :)
Long ago papa told me once that i dont know what dsnt work, i dont care, i just know what must work and also at any time many people work at same thing, some to make it better, some to stop it, whoever takes it farthest wins it. Have the hunger to do and rest everything will be taken care of.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The One Sided Talks.. :)
Hey
Hello.. how r u?
I am gud.. did u know?
w..
The thing that i was telling u the other day?
w..
Forget it.. here are some things i think we should do..
l..( i wanted to say "like")
Trr trr trr.. what do u say?
A..( I think we should rethink - i wanted to say this)
Ok.. so, let me do one thing.. since we are fine with it.. let me call you in 2 days and see whats you take on it..
u.. (um.. i am not sure if i am fine.. i wanted to say this.. :D)
It was nice talking to you.. now let me call u in 2 days..
aa.. ( two days for what?? )
This is an excerpt from a telephone conversation with a person i interact for work. So, person thinks he talks, but he just speaks without listening. So, while the person thought i was perfectly in line with what he said, i wasnt. The call came again after 2 days to take update on work and today i had decided to speak..
Hey
Hello
So, how about the work?
Which work?
The work we discussed the other day?
Discussed? I wanted to discuss but that never happened..
We did talk..
What did i talk about?? I dont remember speaking anything.
You did..
What??
Ummm.. Something..
What is that something? did you let me speak?
Umm.. hmmm... yeah.. so whats your opinion?
Let me know yours first and then we will talk..
Ok.. and i will make sure that i listen..
Thanks!! :)
Hello.. how r u?
I am gud.. did u know?
w..
The thing that i was telling u the other day?
w..
Forget it.. here are some things i think we should do..
l..( i wanted to say "like")
Trr trr trr.. what do u say?
A..( I think we should rethink - i wanted to say this)
Ok.. so, let me do one thing.. since we are fine with it.. let me call you in 2 days and see whats you take on it..
u.. (um.. i am not sure if i am fine.. i wanted to say this.. :D)
It was nice talking to you.. now let me call u in 2 days..
aa.. ( two days for what?? )
This is an excerpt from a telephone conversation with a person i interact for work. So, person thinks he talks, but he just speaks without listening. So, while the person thought i was perfectly in line with what he said, i wasnt. The call came again after 2 days to take update on work and today i had decided to speak..
Hey
Hello
So, how about the work?
Which work?
The work we discussed the other day?
Discussed? I wanted to discuss but that never happened..
We did talk..
What did i talk about?? I dont remember speaking anything.
You did..
What??
Ummm.. Something..
What is that something? did you let me speak?
Umm.. hmmm... yeah.. so whats your opinion?
Let me know yours first and then we will talk..
Ok.. and i will make sure that i listen..
Thanks!! :)
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