tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77644883108567864952024-02-07T23:21:07.764+05:30Latent NoisesDissecting the Varied Phenomena Around!Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-80568878237167400132011-09-10T10:54:00.002+05:302011-09-10T14:46:53.267+05:30The Human Link<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Finally, I got myself to write my next post. Procrastination is perhaps the middle name of "human nature!"<br />
<br />
Getting back into perspective, I will start with a video for this post, where the speaker talks about how individuals attach meaning to things, how various environmental and social variables influence our psyche. It's amazing how with so much knowledge, education, common sense, one can still be prey to marketing communication, branding etc and it becomes difficult to detach those aspects for a more objective view. It is truly said, that "Nothing is Objective," hopefully constant conscious effort can help inch towards it.<br />
<br />
My first video post :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iw4BDdoTTcQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Any thoughts?</div></div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-20200582314590224152011-08-14T13:20:00.000+05:302011-08-14T13:20:43.217+05:30Superman (Five for Fighting)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t stand to fly<br />
I’m not that naive<br />
I’m just out to find<br />
The better part of me<br />
<br />
I’m more than a bird...i’m more than a plane<br />
More than some pretty face beside a train<br />
It’s not easy to be me<br />
<br />
Wish that I could cry<br />
Fall upon my knees<br />
Find a way to lie<br />
About a home I’ll never see<br />
<br />
It may sound absurd...but don’t be naive<br />
Even heroes have the right to bleed<br />
I may be disturbed...but won’t you concede<br />
Even heroes have the right to dream<br />
It’s not easy to be me<br />
<br />
Up, up and away...away from me<br />
It’s all right...you can all sleep sound tonight<br />
I’m not crazy...or anything...<br />
<br />
I can’t stand to fly<br />
I’m not that naive<br />
Men weren’t meant to ride<br />
With clouds between their knees<br />
<br />
I’m only a man in a silly red sheet<br />
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street<br />
Only a man in a funny red sheet<br />
Looking for special things inside of me<br />
Inside of me<br />
Inside me<br />
Yeah, inside me<br />
Inside of me<br />
<br />
I’m only a man<br />
In a funny red sheet<br />
I’m only a man<br />
Looking for a dream<br />
<br />
I’m only a man<br />
In a funny red sheet<br />
And it’s not easy, <br />
<br />
Its not easy to be me</span></div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-28185870358007989752011-04-22T23:25:00.000+05:302011-04-22T23:25:22.267+05:30Whirlpool of Technology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">A year back, I got in touch with a school friend after 13-14 years.. (it makes me feel so old...) and very excitedly I remember exchanging numbers and contact details. Thereafter, we spoke once.. twice.. and realised that we are poles apart.. so after sometime of chatting about the good old days, which are not exactly very vivid, thanks to my brain filtering mechanism, we had nothing much to catch up on! We dragged the conversations for a while only to realise that the poles are literally tearing apart.. and the phone conversations gradually were replaced by SMS, forwards, and the occasional pings on chat.. only to be fizzled out to another past memory in the shelf.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Suddenly today I get a hi on "What's App" - the chat application that connects various phone users of BB, Nokia, iPhone etc - and I responded. After the initial tete-a-tete we realised that both of us have BlackBerry. So of course, I got added on to the BBM as well. Now what? He claimed to have a new phone and needed me to walk him through certain features as well as exchange wallpapers, music etc and we ended up having a BBM conversation for over an hour! Bored? Ok.. now I'll get to the point..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl9WouaUCo5IVbobZMK2dZNV44dYg_XfZr3Ur1nv0TptVVtcjh_HOEZMSERcMriBnLaSLUY2IjpjIyVqAN-Ro70k6NDjeOPq5_9odLjckKc7UjcRumFIFs5qjM7jzdeet3ays7eiqcjM/s1600/Skype+on+BlackBerry+Playbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl9WouaUCo5IVbobZMK2dZNV44dYg_XfZr3Ur1nv0TptVVtcjh_HOEZMSERcMriBnLaSLUY2IjpjIyVqAN-Ro70k6NDjeOPq5_9odLjckKc7UjcRumFIFs5qjM7jzdeet3ays7eiqcjM/s200/Skype+on+BlackBerry+Playbook.jpg" width="200" /></a>It made me wonder that the definition of social networking over the years has been changing drastically, rapidly, and so effectively. It has been smoothly eradicating social awkwardness and giving every person the extra opportunity to network, stay in touch, know one another and be less judgmental about the person sitting in another corner of the world. Its amazing how technology is gradually being infused in such a way to connect to the human psyche's lapses and eccentricities. It forces one to have the extra chit-chat, to form another bond, to know another person which otherwise for most of your life you would not even bother considering! So many times I remember seeing people's status messages and photographs and activity feeds on Facebook only to think "Wow! I didn't know he is so talented" or "I didn't know she had such great photography skills" or "Oh he/she does this too?" and it makes one realise the platform they stand on today, the changes happening around them, the abundance of opportunities around them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a good part although I believe we overdo it, I believe that social networking is towards the good.. the better..and I cannot wait to know what's next ..(Oops.. almost sounded like a Samsung advertisement).. so whether you like it or not the virtual world is soon going to be meshed with the real world or rather is, and the faster you accept it, the easier it will be for you to embrace the turbulence ahead :)</div><br />
</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-86403062816521859612010-12-28T13:51:00.000+05:302010-12-28T13:51:32.983+05:30Everyday Sagas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA5iFQDDtEqZDOVq3xcNI2RHY85bdased1r9Xgb35s5L_DHm8iLNPvmANwaehpw8tu9EKW4xhXG2twmy6xS3nh0uZ88zBGHsAjFVzJAXzOcwkd1C1E7bIDQjd7v0nafZtDhvUOivuk_M/s1600/deja-vu-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA5iFQDDtEqZDOVq3xcNI2RHY85bdased1r9Xgb35s5L_DHm8iLNPvmANwaehpw8tu9EKW4xhXG2twmy6xS3nh0uZ88zBGHsAjFVzJAXzOcwkd1C1E7bIDQjd7v0nafZtDhvUOivuk_M/s200/deja-vu-7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
This is how my day was, is and will be:<br />
<br />
Scene#1: At Office -<br />
I had enough work to last me all morning (ahem, afternoon). There was a new joinee, thus I coordinated some joining formalities, joined him for a cup of coffee, handed him over to his designated buddy, handled the paperwork. It was already time for lunch! Post-Lunch, I sat at my desk to complete a report, screen some CV's and complete some small tasks. Then, I logged in to the usual iGoogle, and there were 3 chat pop-ups in the span of 3 seconds. I religiously responded and continued to log on to my mail accounts, followed by my Facebook account. I logged on to a video posted on my wall with one of the latest ads from MTV's "Stay Raw" series. This hooked me on to the site for the next one hour where I saw almost all the other ads in the same campaign, and successfully managed to rope in my bay members and my chat friends to do the same. Then I surfed, twiddled, talked about the weather.. and so you get the drift!<br />
<b>Myth#1: Indian corporate firms make you slog like donkeys while the world is celebrating Christmas..!</b><br />
<br />
Scene#2: Out-of-Office -<br />
With the house as my destination, I marched boldly with the chai-shops, coconut water carts and shouting auto drivers passing me by. There is no point in asking the latter to drop me home as they will charge me 3-fold for the 3 km distance. When suddenly one or two hop in your way you ask them knowing well what their answer is. So it's something like this:<br />
Auto 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 - Where do you want to go (in Kannada, hindi, or body language)<br />
Me - Jeevanbhimanagar<br />
Auto 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 - 50 Rs madame<br />
Me - No<br />
Auto 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 - How much will you give?<br />
Me - Meter charge<br />
Auto 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 - Eyebrows raise with shock, disgust, and your-so-stupid look<br />
Auto 10 - Do you want to go to Jayanagar madame?<br />
Me (thinking) - When did autos start having a specific destination like buses?<br />
But then again, on second thoughts, with them anything is possible.<br />
<b>Myth#2: Autos are for public service!</b><br />
<br />
Scene#3: Bus -<br />
Conversation among two girls sitting opposite:<br />
Girl 1 (To conductor): Does this bus goto BTM?<br />
Conductor: Silk Board<br />
Girl 2: Don't worry, we'll catch another bus from there<br />
Girl 1: Nothing's going right<br />
Girl 2: Everything will be fine<br />
Girl 1: Do you like that song which I keep listening to?<br />
Girl 2: Which one?<br />
Girl 1: "Sheila ki Jawani"<br />
Girl 2: Yea. (With eyes lit up) I like Munni too<br />
<b>Myth#3:</b> <b>Sheila and Munni is the topic of discussion among the male fraternity!</b><br />
<br />
Scene#4: Home -<br />
I reach home hungry, tired (don't ask me why) and slightly sick. I contemplate whether I should have dinner or not after which I think what can I cook that is fast, tasty, and filling. After running through a few options in my mind, I begin to romanticize about not eating.<br />
After an hour - Burp! Excuse me.. Just finished the spaghetti<br />
<b>Myth#5: I am soooo thin that I survive by consuming air!</b><br />
<br />
Scene#5: Laptop -<br />
Its been a long time since I have written. Oh, who's going to search for a topic, let me just play some online games, or watch a movie, or wait download the latest episode of "How I met your mother." Oh, but I saw that only yesterday. (Groan) Fine, let me just write.<br />
<b>Myth#6:</b> <b>Do what you love so that it never feels like a task!</b><br />
<br />
Well, the truth of the matter is that WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.<br />
The seasoning, though, is upto us.Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-78957704972869117022010-12-07T16:38:00.001+05:302010-12-09T01:33:11.837+05:30On the Fast Track? Move on..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ryGaDxR-5ZNrmPkazojX9IwegTmkQ7Ms_QmDORJEUkgHXsgXFf95sveq8dDlF9bCk0qqeZrhXLMeXqULCBaOocjuqkW45Rh1Oz78pTnTs5H_RxxRKZNVrdD27T4KVhJjGgjS8UcBC8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ryGaDxR-5ZNrmPkazojX9IwegTmkQ7Ms_QmDORJEUkgHXsgXFf95sveq8dDlF9bCk0qqeZrhXLMeXqULCBaOocjuqkW45Rh1Oz78pTnTs5H_RxxRKZNVrdD27T4KVhJjGgjS8UcBC8/s200/images.jpg" width="168" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Job-Hunting." This is a phrase that brings a lot of thoughts in my mind but mostly it brings back Exhaustion. I read a lot of blogs, understandably a lot on HR, and one striking subject across is the way a candidate should conduct him/herself during the "job-hunting" phase. There is a lot of advise on how one should treat it like a full-time project, dedicate his/her fullest time, have goals and deadlines and mediums assigned, get on to the Linkedins, Twitters, and Facebooks to network etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reading all this always takes me back to the time when I was looking for <i>that </i>job where I would get the right industry, profile, pay and environment but at the back of my mind was still exploring everything well enough to know that I had to make compromises somewhere! It would be double standards for me to now <i>advise </i>candidates not to be desperate, not to do the entire 360 degree cycle of searching, applying, mailing, calling and following-up, not going all out to network.. because I did every aspect of that for the simple reason that among all the excess banter (both offline and online) it is a huge task to be heard and eventually noticed. And, I also agree that the more aggressive your approach is, the more rejections or disappointments you face, and the more you end up fighting your self-worth and self-esteem. You have to accept it as part of that process, you have to accept that it is important to believe, you have to realize that it will happen, in some time, but it will.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What worked for me? It was a bit of everything, but the two primary aspects that stood out was networking and a distinct identity (through my blog). Have you ever been asked during an interview to state something outside your resume? Have you been asked about your views on headhunting and the subsequent morality attached (if you are in HR)? Your political opinions (if any)? Well, your website or blog will help do that for you, and if your not so high on writing, your LinkedIn or Professional Networking profile should do it for you. Whether you like it or not, it is important to market yourself in a way that half of what you want to express can be heard by your recruiter outside the "interview arena."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from this I strongly believe in luck, by being there at the right place at the right time. But then again, you have to be all over the place to land up at the right one! There is no shortcut, atleast not on this one, not as far as I know!</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-81988588704417046702010-12-06T16:17:00.001+05:302010-12-09T01:33:39.106+05:30FYIThis post is more of an infomercial, wherein I am going to do some goodwill marketing that gets clouded among the hyped trash that we are hit by in our everyday life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYG9LvwqfACN1OSFqKeSEqB2mt0J0FRzYcbRFrOIwifEdxmDjBLsQIE32G1Kynu9Q_vCqAhLd1C_JDyJFzwVo4DmJuBX0yb4lcur5xxYRhSEk91pI-qUHHchVmJqbwUjf4QvmPfoYuXc/s1600/needle_in_the_haystack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYG9LvwqfACN1OSFqKeSEqB2mt0J0FRzYcbRFrOIwifEdxmDjBLsQIE32G1Kynu9Q_vCqAhLd1C_JDyJFzwVo4DmJuBX0yb4lcur5xxYRhSEk91pI-qUHHchVmJqbwUjf4QvmPfoYuXc/s200/needle_in_the_haystack.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pitch: This is a show aired on UTV Bloomberg. A fresh breath to the reality TV shows minus the drama, emotions, and gossip. This show has a lineup of competing entrepreneurs who have diverse ideas and are looking for some seed capital to take their current business ideas to the next level. Every week they have a celebrity businessman who understands certain aspects of each idea or poses a challenge to all participants to present their area of interest. I admit that when i was surfing channels, I hit the "back" button on my remote due to the show's host - Boman Irani but thereafter it was the show that kept me intrigued for the rest of the hour.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Master Chef Australia: (Yes, not India!) This show apart from appealing to foodies and cooks globally also engages the mass (read: me) due to the way it is presented, the freshness each episode brings with it, the methodologies and equipments used, the science and logic, the different accents spoken in, the personalities brought in by different professions, its all there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rangde.org: This is a website for those who aspire to do some social good, but may not be doing enough due to lack of time, opportunities or plain laziness. This organisation supports cottage industries and rural crafts by showcasing their work and raising funds online. The difference is that the funds are not a donation, but rather a loan, a sum that you receive in return with a minimal interest too. So it both serves your conscience and pockets at the same time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Abhijit Bhaduri's Blog: Finally, this is the latest blog to catch my attention for sometime. The Chief Learning Officer for the Wipro Group, this individual has a very layman tone to his blog and yet those that create a striking impact. He writes about management, about life, satires, and his books. His latest title, "Married yet available" may just be the reason to click away into his blogging world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overload of information certainly exits and I sigh thinking "I wish there was an easier way to segregate the bits"</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-42891567396951498592010-11-17T10:07:00.001+05:302010-12-09T01:34:18.618+05:30"Chosen" Life<div style="text-align: justify;">How often have u planned dinner with friends and took an hour to decide which place you would like to eat at? Have you stood in a mobile store, surfed mobile related sites and enquired with people, only to be more confused in the end? How often have you Googled only to think that there is too much information you are flooded with? It is true that these days we are spoilt for choices, but do we really enjoy the privilege is something I am not sure of!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXbGal-DoEs-gv0ObfvdpjNLuBBMkvrNfOunUjvRzyIbr2VNnjeNh_i-M7yRC0dUybfqIg6zuPbjpB_ISIoUW45azC9zq3mJMgp6dF4aVgpEkEEmW-40AXLpOMZjSlO_SvrtFAUirAPg/s1600/Choices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXbGal-DoEs-gv0ObfvdpjNLuBBMkvrNfOunUjvRzyIbr2VNnjeNh_i-M7yRC0dUybfqIg6zuPbjpB_ISIoUW45azC9zq3mJMgp6dF4aVgpEkEEmW-40AXLpOMZjSlO_SvrtFAUirAPg/s200/Choices.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">For example, at work we initially had laptops with no stripped down rights. We shifted to another campus where due to some security issues our admin rights were taken away, followed by that was the scanner rights and then USB drives. We all wondered how drastically our life would be turned upside-down at this intrusion.. Surprisingly it wasn't. As for those whose life <i>was </i>drastically affected,they found ways to soothe the hiccups!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another instance is the applications/softwares in our computers - you have those that have overlapping functions like, MS Office Picture Manager is a stripped down version of Photoshop, but I still use the former for simple functions like compressing or cropping a picture. For calculation purposes, every once in a while I still use the Calculator rather than MS Office. I just like to keep it simple. Of course, it is also about one's usability but then again these softwares have been part of every new version of Windows/Mac that has been launched, surely with the user in mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">An interesting article I read in Harvard Business Review might throw more "intellectual" light on the same, have a look: <a href="http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/mcafee/2010/11/why-people-want-less-choice.html">http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/mcafee/2010/11/why-people-want-less-choice.html</a></div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-56425228608781539412010-11-15T00:23:00.000+05:302010-11-15T00:23:34.364+05:30Have been, and always will be!!<div style="text-align: justify;">It had been a while since I took such a long holiday. A 15-day vacation where I just got away from everything, even my laptop.. Not to mention, that I even locked up my work laptop in office itself! Post-Vacation I realised that I couldn't actually have gotten more Marwari :) Here's a glimpse..</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY81oafWzcs8DhDo2sy3unQeDlWZJioS3VWf6TzxJQvKoAa3URqIAaveYydA6V3ot1Bwqq1YES_IK-NZ2LhEWAUzHQuS5DsKEVQX9joMud2FpYBAKBI5izrvm6ghELkNoIk5w_6cJL7VU/s1600/peter-adams-fort-jaisalmer-rajasthan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY81oafWzcs8DhDo2sy3unQeDlWZJioS3VWf6TzxJQvKoAa3URqIAaveYydA6V3ot1Bwqq1YES_IK-NZ2LhEWAUzHQuS5DsKEVQX9joMud2FpYBAKBI5izrvm6ghELkNoIk5w_6cJL7VU/s200/peter-adams-fort-jaisalmer-rajasthan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I started my vacation by going to Rajasthan. I met my parents and cousin at the Delhi airport directly and we drove to Bikaner, followed by Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jaipur and Agra. I must stop here to tell you that the tour was for 10 days, so we surely made full each and every rupee and minute count. The beautiful aspect about Rajasthan was that each place was so distinctively different from the other, although they all sport the mystifying <i>havelis</i>, forts, intricate architecture, magnanimous structures. For example, Jaisalmer has vast stretches of desert, Udaipur is hilly and full of lakes and Jaipur is an urban commercial city. I always wondered why everyone said that it is impossible to cover the entire state in one go, which is true, although we did manage to cover atleast half the hotspots there in a record time. The grandeur, (past) wealth, golden sands, and camels were just what we expected, and what we got in return. Most of India has a cultural and historical past, but this western state has managed to sustain, restore and revive them beautifully even in this day and age. An interesting fact is that 60% of Rajasthan's income is generated solely through tourism, and the most prominent tourist communities are a) French and b) Bengalis (Yes, Here too!). Our last destination, was Agra where I saw my First Wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal; History narrates Shah Jahan's wish to replicate the Taj Mahal in black too.. I probably would have liked to see both.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we flew to Kolkata, the second home of Marwaris. Personally, I think Kolkata Marwaris are going to form their own sect as they are so characteristic, different - the right word being unique - you have to be one to know what I am talking about ;). So then started Diwali celebrations filled with lights, pujas, crackers and little lesser noise - over the years the Kolkata police has realised what a ruckus we can create and have been proactive in implementing strict guidelines for bursting crackers. My entire Kolkata trip was spent in different festivities and occasions meeting the same people over and over again with difference in venue, perhaps to gauge where the best combination of bonding occurred (if any). It was filled with laughter, surprises, tiffs which was coupled with rich fatty food and sweets. The most fun part every year in Kolkata is the "cousin" gathering sessions where there is a deja vu effect, a pattern of over-planning, plans spilling over, some<i>one </i>missing, eating way past midnight, talking about our lives (even though most of us are on BBM) and sleepovers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I landed in Bangalore, I realised how much I enjoyed being a Marwari over the past few days and was glad that this cosmoplitan city would gear me up towards becoming a cosmopolitan again!</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-28249101166867809602010-11-13T04:58:00.000+05:302010-11-13T04:58:26.492+05:30Setting up of The HR Department - II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CsRtjZJMB5Tfbt8EmcGfwV_sfNN91rBZDsHYwAw9ICSgd1CNrDspD7F54AE1hY-8ft-0hApBGRbP_wOE43dgnj352QwfLUSGJnOeW6WBHVGnS2NToaqlm0jVx5AJu-tKSA74GVa994Y/s1600/744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CsRtjZJMB5Tfbt8EmcGfwV_sfNN91rBZDsHYwAw9ICSgd1CNrDspD7F54AE1hY-8ft-0hApBGRbP_wOE43dgnj352QwfLUSGJnOeW6WBHVGnS2NToaqlm0jVx5AJu-tKSA74GVa994Y/s320/744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As mentioned in an earlier article, I would like to share with you how I have helped set up the HR department in my current organisation. Here I am a HR generalist (who is not heading the department, thankfully!) that involves activities related to process implementations, training, PMS, grievance handling and HRIS.<br />
<br />
The experience has been fantastic as I can distinctly see the contribution I have been making by doing more hands-on work. Initially, I handled recruitment for a couple of months which gave me an opportunity to explore the operations teams. It helped me understand the functionality of different business units and interact with different teams at a larger level. During this time, some of our constraints and roadblocks came to the forefront.<br />
<br />
Post-Recruitment when I moved to a generalist role, our focus was to set the basic processes right. There were a lot of first's for me at TAS in the last 6 months, which give me a sense of substantiality.<br />
<br />
I started by designing the induction process and conducting them for new joinees. This gave me a deeper insight into work carried out and gave me scope to interact with the new joinees. Then, I conducted my 1st training program which gave me a big high. A decent feedback after a lot of apprehension always feels a tad bit better :) . Then I moved on to designing the PMS system, which is still ongoing. The research and effort gone behind getting this right was essential and as it has been unfolding slowly certainly seems worth the effort. We are conducting a 360 feedback system which essentially is aiming to help each person in every aspect of their role (Team member/Supervisor/Peer). Apart from this, I have been handling HRIS to ensure smooth operations and track recruiting progress within the organization.<br />
<br />
It has been a fun 6 months which highlighted intensive learning, hands-on implementation, and hard work. while the trust placed in me has increased my confidence two-fold.<br />
<br />
In short, I am glad I was part of Setting-Up the HR Department and I hope its just the beginning...Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-20900531433283550942010-10-20T01:28:00.000+05:302010-10-20T01:28:29.115+05:30The Writer's Block! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
As I grew up,<br />
I dreamed of achieving scaling heights,<br />
making <i>that</i> difference in my own ways,<br />
dressed like the next super-hero, or perhaps the fourth Power-Puff gal!<br />
<br />
I slowly made the transition into the unknown,<br />
drifting along with baggages<br />
marred by the perception of reality, <i>my</i> reality<br />
<br />
.. And I continue,<br />
To hold on to the memories and revive the dreams,<br />
while I win small battles and lose a few!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjDEcCIsOXkg13A3G_AWM-PCKHaDw1VdkyUxNNt_i7nn3wdIX9BT9LxRITDSDEsNVqXjqOn6B3DtVUZQdzpWD6IfweGFwSSK5Z7eCC4GNFe15xU8H82OIJr1t6rKB6qEoFqP9Xk_xGfg/s1600/writers-block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjDEcCIsOXkg13A3G_AWM-PCKHaDw1VdkyUxNNt_i7nn3wdIX9BT9LxRITDSDEsNVqXjqOn6B3DtVUZQdzpWD6IfweGFwSSK5Z7eCC4GNFe15xU8H82OIJr1t6rKB6qEoFqP9Xk_xGfg/s200/writers-block.jpg" width="200" /></a>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-9855131854064601442010-10-20T01:08:00.001+05:302010-10-20T01:09:57.363+05:30Atyachaar (in some form)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3pGlrmJtYUcFmfhulGCrkfSFVsJd3TqyFtrE2KUuHKHKzUgDxrjuZX6BIp44C60DbtgppZTuuGHikyrbByF-n9E3slicgZunR-ZJRnYttRaskxX7Zj2mfr2Quf3Y4wTOuepuPrn4nCE/s1600/cartoon-pulling-my-hair-out1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3pGlrmJtYUcFmfhulGCrkfSFVsJd3TqyFtrE2KUuHKHKzUgDxrjuZX6BIp44C60DbtgppZTuuGHikyrbByF-n9E3slicgZunR-ZJRnYttRaskxX7Zj2mfr2Quf3Y4wTOuepuPrn4nCE/s200/cartoon-pulling-my-hair-out1.gif" width="146" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">John Abraham! Yup.. He seems to be playing the pseudo-Shahrukh Khan version by being In Your Face!! The situation goes like: You settle comfortably in the couch (in my case, a bean-bag) after a long day's work hoping for some distraction, hit the remote button and see a decent face (John Abraham). You think well, lets try another channel and hit MTV.. oh he's giving an interview about his upcoming movie, you flip and hit 9XM, oh.. his upcoming movie's song.. does not sound that great.. flip again.. and now I hit a channel showing Emotional Atyaachar, a reality show.. but wait a second What on this mighty heaven is he doing HERE??!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like Hullo.. When will people realise that excess advertising can lead to adverse effects? There is a guy who is distraught about his girlfriend getting cosy with a stranger and here sits the Spiderman (I like him the most among the 3 man's.. In case you're wondering I know the plural is "men") narrating tales about how he is weaving more intricate webs in his new movie. How on earth is this remotely related or am I just blind?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The movie doesn't look that great.. the songs are not on the tip of your tounge.. John Abraham is not the hot bod anymore.. and reiterating this over and over again is certainly not helping their case.. Will someone be kind enough to tell them that?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't believe I am writing a blog post on this.. and am starting to wonder if its the "top-of-the-mind" strategy that they are hoping to nail.. Blech</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a message for him - Stop stalking me Dude, and GET A LIFE!!! There.. I said it...</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-56166705961403422752010-10-09T12:06:00.001+05:302010-10-20T01:10:33.758+05:30A positive verdict!<div style="text-align: justify;">I have always been a little disappointed with the pessimism exuded by the Indian Media.. where they flash us with bad news in the early morning paper, highlight the sorrow and wrath of people and ignore the positives. It almost seems like the goons perpetually have a gun on their heads which help them tune the moves.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_cKuiUXENqDlba53pqSTM7iXXtDR7T79-zhyphenhyphen-qdO-zCbV0Dhf-Ig5RNe5AeHKnREEovFiAh4VL3wKKcz80gJiRecxfeaJXixouIBuNr2lZiRuCP0yNJIaBUr9oAVLgOe-ySkuuJk_a0/s1600/media-india.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_cKuiUXENqDlba53pqSTM7iXXtDR7T79-zhyphenhyphen-qdO-zCbV0Dhf-Ig5RNe5AeHKnREEovFiAh4VL3wKKcz80gJiRecxfeaJXixouIBuNr2lZiRuCP0yNJIaBUr9oAVLgOe-ySkuuJk_a0/s200/media-india.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, recently I realised that the media is actually capable of highlighting some good as well, and it sure came as a welcome surprise.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Pre-Ayodhya and the Post-Ayodhya was managed quite well with the media where they did not exploit emotions like anger, hatred, and ego but instead covered the more positive aspects of harmony, peace, and justice. Also, they did not go to extremes but maintained a balanced outlook while covering the reactions of both Hindus and Muslims. So, the media is <i>still</i> intelligent to understand what is good for the country, what we are sensitive about! The fears, anxiety were well doused with no riots, no injuries, and no heated tension.. it was calm to a large extent although the government was well-prepared for just the opposite.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The media certainly deserves some credit, after all they do play a big role in influencing and shaping our behavior and thoughts. After all, they do bear a large responsibility..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(I just hope that this time it wasn't the Prime Minister with the gun on their heads instead..!)</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-26208883607182347352010-10-04T11:34:00.003+05:302010-10-20T01:10:57.952+05:30"Time" to resurface!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm8rmNDvcZ74OTjqUkrnVe-j3ZTpgb8YG5X0-JhVKzX4Aw6NcbywS7zvylYNUOcu2Uv9rDz92WwSiGecwq0fzM_zGTEFTVRVpSvmRbtkBTCt6h6_WyOoUyHmVG6sXuErs2NhAsXLDur8/s1600/magazines_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm8rmNDvcZ74OTjqUkrnVe-j3ZTpgb8YG5X0-JhVKzX4Aw6NcbywS7zvylYNUOcu2Uv9rDz92WwSiGecwq0fzM_zGTEFTVRVpSvmRbtkBTCt6h6_WyOoUyHmVG6sXuErs2NhAsXLDur8/s320/magazines_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am back after exactly 6 months.. Yup am sure everyone noticed :) Well, considering that most of you are brimming with curiosity regarding the disappearing act, I will bring you upto speed! Here goes..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have shifted from Ahmedabad to Bangalore ( It feels so good to say that!) and have joined the HR division of Time Analytics Services. We cater to the offshore operations of Time Inc., the US publishers. In the past, I have read articles where people with varied interests should choose the profession as the foreground and the industry as a background, just so that they don't see the invisible black hole that they can easily be lost in.. I can now relate to that with HR being in the foreground and the media industry being the background. The perks here are fabulous with independence in thought, radical work culture, and the latest edition of magazines to read.. I am surely not complaining :) Its been a great journey so far and my role involves helping set-up the HR department. Here, I am doing more hands-on work with regard to implementation, the details of which I'll spill in a later article!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There has been a lot of changes in terms of transitioning the city, job, home and perspective.. and all of them seem to be positive in nature :) Ofcourse, there have been certain lop-sides too but it is easily outweighed by the former (You can't blame me for ranting considering the time gap!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that I have firmly planted my feet on the ground again.. it is Time for a comeback! (Am sorry, but you'll have to bear with the "Time" statements, atleast for a while)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Looking forward to having some loyal eyeballs redirected to my blog address again.. Till then, Adios</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-70356954137647741382010-04-02T18:35:00.001+05:302010-04-02T18:36:01.785+05:30I would like to remember..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JFMZHfd_0Eco1IOR2GVE_rJ46OytEZeb0cOKi_zIBlvPnIMWBbTfq7CuxJ7wjj89ZMRV8yu-npub4CKb8ddbHVkxpEvE3WZG6uAbQ_MycGEGmpESVSA9Nw7joIxSGE1tglJvrlV-mCk/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JFMZHfd_0Eco1IOR2GVE_rJ46OytEZeb0cOKi_zIBlvPnIMWBbTfq7CuxJ7wjj89ZMRV8yu-npub4CKb8ddbHVkxpEvE3WZG6uAbQ_MycGEGmpESVSA9Nw7joIxSGE1tglJvrlV-mCk/s320/images.jpeg" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I would like to remember ..<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.. The day I smiled,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When my parents celebrated my first birthday<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I pompously sprinted with my best friend<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I scored a 3-pointer in a crucial basketball game<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I saw my first published work with a by-line<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I wore my first graduation robe<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I was profusely thanked for all the support.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.. The day I cried,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When my mother reprimanded me for telling a lie<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I scraped my knee while swinging too high<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I felt guilty for hurting a friend <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I did not pass the test for a single mark<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I experienced the pain of a broken heart <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I was not sure of treading the path.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.. The day I was puzzled,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When my father told me he would always be proud <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I felt jealous of the girl next door<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I felt tears after saving the dog’s life<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I was told that life would be cruel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I pondered about the existence of God <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I tasted freedom in defying the norm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I would like to remember <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.. Every day that’s passing by.</span><o:p></o:p></div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-51281719838697519202010-03-27T14:14:00.001+05:302010-03-27T14:16:00.688+05:30Are you switching off the lights today?<div style="text-align: justify;">The world gears up for Earth Hour today as 88 countries across the globe and 15 cities across India support the initiative by switching off lights and air-conditioners between 8.30 to 9.30 pm today. Offices, Hotels, and Individuals pledge to use candle lights during this hour to support WWF's endeavor for the rapidly growing concern over Global Warming.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-C5z2zH7gpNQbkgWKgLllrYvp_Em1uroSuInMZZrto-Ofavq8Qom6HEZLYrG0x4S6qMPMn_NBYMxMYA3Tvl_jyJQ-fVHGFY2aPTS-hmZhsm9PAFa1vXF5V29pJe99tv1N15RiSJj0io/s1600/LightWriting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-C5z2zH7gpNQbkgWKgLllrYvp_Em1uroSuInMZZrto-Ofavq8Qom6HEZLYrG0x4S6qMPMn_NBYMxMYA3Tvl_jyJQ-fVHGFY2aPTS-hmZhsm9PAFa1vXF5V29pJe99tv1N15RiSJj0io/s320/LightWriting.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. In March 2009, 4000 cities across 88 countries officially switched off its lights making this the world largest Global Change Initiative.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Causing a ripple may arouse the wave! So pledge your support today. Click <a href="http://www.earthhour.org/About.aspx">here</a> for more information.</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-85660775316301401432010-03-24T15:13:00.000+05:302010-03-24T15:15:48.281+05:30Can morality and legality be interwoven?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseMi_aAsWory0yWoNGUVBQ4DJODjej9IOSQMMEpzKDxAySxPoG3veoZaScuR6YaFG9sOsJgsHfR5H7y7yL_uXhyEX73PH9SkbJrdjarXvd_HLlY-3NB29_j73NjuZHRzFGpbJrDzTl9o/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseMi_aAsWory0yWoNGUVBQ4DJODjej9IOSQMMEpzKDxAySxPoG3veoZaScuR6YaFG9sOsJgsHfR5H7y7yL_uXhyEX73PH9SkbJrdjarXvd_HLlY-3NB29_j73NjuZHRzFGpbJrDzTl9o/s320/images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>"... and when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last, Free at last!"</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Five decades ago, Martin Luther King, Jr., dreamed of a land devoid of ratial inequality and discrimination, a land where one could express, a land where one could voice opinions without being condemned, a land where one could experience true freedom. Today, he would stand pleased.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A historic judgment was passed in July 2009 when Section 377 was amended to legalise homosexuality in India. This judgement not only reflected the change in our thinking but also sought to condemn discrimination and encourage equal rights. After decades of protests, homosexuals were finally awarded the most basic constitutional rights, the one which many of us are privileged enough to take for granted. There was another important judgement made by the Supreme Court yesterday that caught my eye. One, in which, the courts declared pre-marital sex and live-in relationship to be considered as 'no offence.' You can read the historic case <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Live-in-pre-marital-sex-no-offence-SC/articleshow/5717877.cms">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is important to be part of an environment where one can make their personal choices, define their bounds of morality, are allowed to make their own mistakes, and are responsible for the turn of events in their lives. Remember the time when you wanted your deadline to be revised to 1 am, remember the time when you fought to pursue your career, remember the time when you wanted a chance to explain.. all of us would like to have rights so that we can exercise them as per our judgement..</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">..as a society it is necessary to push those boundaries, increase the limits, so that we experience true freedom and truly believe that we are </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Free at last! Free at last!</i>..</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-4391434226210731502010-03-23T14:21:00.000+05:302010-03-23T14:21:13.938+05:30Are 'Plagiarism' and 'Influences' synonymous?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As I was seeing the movie “Rock on” I couldn’t help but notice its similarities to “Dil Chahta Hai” (Farhan Akhtar's involvement in both certainly din't help!); note the similarities in this <a href="http://www.adpulp.com/archives/2010/02/wiedens_coke_sp.php">Coke advertisement</a>; alternatively, look around and you will observe many influences in different creative’s and different marketing campaigns. So are advertising and media companies just looking to snatch the idea or are they really being creative (read: innovative)?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Every area has its shades of grey and creativity lurks in some parts of the shades itself. Innovation can be both a radical idea or else an application of an old concept well weaved to suit the modern product/service. But some call the latter <i>plagiarism</i>. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Plagiarism is a concept that has grown rapidly over time especially with the characteristic World Wide Web boasting about information-sharing, interoperability, and collaboration. Jargons like CCP (cut-copy-paste), copyright issues are only common. This is true not only for a published copy or a public marketing strategy but also extends to personal blogs and the next due assignment! These days pictures, content, names, movies can all be given copyrights where the owners can sue the defendant but will fake labels, smart alterations, and freakish similarities be charged under the radar? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When we are exposed to infinite media, concepts, ideas it is probable that we seek to be influenced; one cannot also rule out chances of creatives overlapping in two parts of the world when we are breathing the same air and living in the same century. With technologies and easy information access, probabilities are that these issues will only grow with time. A big influence in this regard can be our education system where one is compelled to think <i>new</i> rather than <i>influenced, ideas </i>are rewarded rather than just <i>presentations, </i>and<i> radical concepts </i>gives you more brownie points rather than <i>extensions.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">According to Wikipedia, “Marketing is used to identify the customer, keep the customer and satisfy the customer.” With a million products and services being produced and marketing since times memorial isn’t it a little unreasonable to expect a “Zoo-Zoo” or “Hutch Pug” campaign everytime? Maybe. But, then again is it possible? Maybe. The area is still grey… But the important question that remains is if <i>the</i> chord has successfully produced the desired sound.<o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-84379611973886119582010-03-23T13:01:00.000+05:302010-03-23T13:01:50.157+05:30"March"ing to Goa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWCgSfYjG7qZ3f55Cy5DuL1QQNFWf13TV1XOqUGTpU2XedfmD2550BEpKodlMeUxAgV2l3eWykIbjTzyNIZ34WBgHWqFW6EVgAk0NHapGwQqrVVeQddPo46FgydTUqr9X6sMbdEoR0rE/s1600-h/goa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWCgSfYjG7qZ3f55Cy5DuL1QQNFWf13TV1XOqUGTpU2XedfmD2550BEpKodlMeUxAgV2l3eWykIbjTzyNIZ34WBgHWqFW6EVgAk0NHapGwQqrVVeQddPo46FgydTUqr9X6sMbdEoR0rE/s320/goa.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I have heard a lot of people raving about Goa, knowing not what the fuss is all about.. but sure thing, I believe the state deserves it! My recent 5-day trip to Goa was over in 5 minutes.. With the constant activity, overflowing diversity, disproportional choices it is difficult not to get lost in that world. It is truly distinct from the other states where one can genuinely party for all day (and all night) long..!<br />
<br />
A quick advice on the places one might like to peek into - For beaches, Zuri (white sand beach), Benaulim and Baga were great. Baga, although crowded, is a must for economical adventurists! I would have imagined Goa beaches to be crowded, commercialised and dirty but to my surprise it was clean, less populated and fun.. For shopping, the Anjuna flea markets on Wednesdays, the stores lined near Baga are pleasent to the eye and a steal for the wallets.. For eat-outs, Tito's for Pizzas, Brittos for Desserts and Martin's Corner is a must for all the greedy palettes. Additionally, the ambience and the crowd is a bliss at Zanzibar, Cafe Looda and Cape Town Cafe!! You can end the day with a dinner at the Riverside restaurant of Leela's .. its ambience will sooth you like never before..<br />
<br />
The feeling when that first wave sends you tumbling in the sea.. The solitude when you see dim lights across the land scape.. The constant cool sand your feet always touch.. The everlasting romance in the air is surely worth a few visits..<br />
<br />
I am not the biggest fan of The Sun, Sand, and Beach.. I am having second thoughts..Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-20657100342952083712010-03-12T11:52:00.002+05:302010-03-12T11:54:11.877+05:30Pepsi, Coke and .. The Green Revolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-du0rVaWD6v8bVVwb2-No_RC_UsmYNxqnkZPXBQVzv6hRI8zxjhslIs1u5gCBFzM2BaQ_3XJ89pEqcZ3CHY98cZ_V7lTPCXtMPVnjMNqWWxy9M05HVe0Jl9mA8n3xhCr715MfraWmNNQ/s1600-h/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-du0rVaWD6v8bVVwb2-No_RC_UsmYNxqnkZPXBQVzv6hRI8zxjhslIs1u5gCBFzM2BaQ_3XJ89pEqcZ3CHY98cZ_V7lTPCXtMPVnjMNqWWxy9M05HVe0Jl9mA8n3xhCr715MfraWmNNQ/s320/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today, in the 21</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">st</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Century, it isn’t enough to be a market leader in one aspect, infact it only states the beginning. To remain and sustain as the market leader one needs to diversify, innovate and market in a way that it produces the right appeal. To measure organizational success in more tangible terms John Elkington, contingent to the need of the hour, coined a phrase called </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Triple Bottom Line (TBL)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. The Triple Bottom Line seeks to measure sustenance of an organization in three aspects – </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Economic, Social and Ecological</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. With industries like automobile, real estate, furnishings already picking up the concept it was time for the beverage companies to take the plunge. So it did.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Coca Cola and Pepsi have been in cut-throat competition since the last two years to gain some ecological brownie points to cash in on the mass appeal.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Coca Cola made its first real impact when it made an eco-friendly shift to wind power that lit up 30 billboards across important intersections, including Times Square. To Coca-Cola’s delight certain neighboring billboards also joined the movement so that their Social Sustenance rose! The Vancouver Olympics 2010 sees Coca Cola turning green with the brand using bottles, furniture, and other products all with recycled materials and reusable energy. Additionally, Coca-Cola also intends to spend $3 million to perform ‘green’ upgrades to its headquarters in Atlanta so that energy is saved by 23%, and water consumption by 15%. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Similarly, Pepsi is also aggressively seeking to gain environmental dominance with PepsiCo’s intention to purchase 1 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy credits gradually. (Each credit acts as a subsidy that helps produce one megawatt hour of renewable electricity!). Pepsi also introduced “green” machines that use carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 282,000 metric tons/year, equivalent to removing 52,000 on –road cars in a year! The Pepsi Refresh Project, in addition, is riding high with its community and online impact. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While Corporates seek to know if they are ‘green’er than the other, ‘Green’ation is a fast moving trend that promises good potential for Sustainable Development. With the private companies encroaching every industry, TBL looks to shift focus solely from Economic Sustenance. Further to valid concerns on Saving the Planet, Global Warming, Saving Energy, the Sustainability Report does well to put the onus on companies that impact our lives and environment in such a big way.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sounds refreshing?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(You can also read this article at: http://marketingtransformationforum.com/marketing-trends/coke-pepsi-going-green-with-billboards-and-dispensers)</span></span></div></div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-22651617297943221482010-03-10T13:03:00.000+05:302010-03-10T13:03:36.883+05:30Progress at a snail's pace or not even that?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LfDOiUpp7tXjjGgCTvNR00JOB1HfJ6KjLdYPoXw4JCNI_N7yw8slyJ_AE6pwO14tWR_fHgSYvmOOSWhDp0VcwsYLxmqg_7I7Va4ONniJ_QyoEN0OsCcR1bXN6EtKQ18_xFkPosaVRYM/s1600-h/photocms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LfDOiUpp7tXjjGgCTvNR00JOB1HfJ6KjLdYPoXw4JCNI_N7yw8slyJ_AE6pwO14tWR_fHgSYvmOOSWhDp0VcwsYLxmqg_7I7Va4ONniJ_QyoEN0OsCcR1bXN6EtKQ18_xFkPosaVRYM/s320/photocms.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a society we love brushing uncomfortable matters under the carpet - even if it means that we blind ourselves as an ostrich does by peering its long neck into a black hole so that it remains oblivious to its surroundings. But, unfortunately, the environment continues to still function in the exact same way!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Irfan Kamal has undoubtedly made an impact in his first movie. Led by Shams Patel, who was awarded the national award, and the Goa Film Festival acclaiming it as the best movie, Thanks Maa is a heart-felt movie that creates a small ripple. This movie is shot through the eyes of street children, their diversities, their challenges but ironically it extends to the entire nation. </div><br />
Here are some stark statistics:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>In 2005, India had the highest number of street children of roughly 11 million</li>
<li>Every third malnourished child lives in India</li>
<li>In 2005, there were 933 cases of child abandonment and this percentage has been steadily growing at 30% every year since 2000</li>
<li>69% of Indian children ( read 2 out of 3) are victims of physical, social or emotional abuse</li>
<li>More than 70% of child abuse cases go unreported/unshared with parents/family</li>
<li>89% of crime is perpetrated by family members</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">"Thanks Maa" highlights issues related to poverty, malnourishment, child abuse, pedophilia, and sexual harassment by family apart from child abandonment. While seeing the movie, I was reminded of Pinki Virani's "Bitter Chocolate," a book which I left unfinished. The movie is not a gripper, and it loses its way during certain parts., although the direction and acting deserve an applaud. But more importantly it bravely points out social issues that need immediate attention. It encourages one to fight for justice, for what is right and to voice one's concern. There is a certain undercurrent where everyone knows the truth, but when will we be ready to talk about it, let alone face or fight it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's the anti-climax. I went to see the movie in one of the prime malls at Ahmedabad on a Saturday evening. For company, I had 5 others housed in the huge multiplex theatre sitting miles apart from each other! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2010, we still choose to be ignorant.. the fight has not even begun although the epidemic is evident.. but wait its still under the carpet.. lets wait some more..!</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-15751482382871102352010-03-02T17:56:00.000+05:302010-03-02T17:56:20.200+05:30Hockey - National sport?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yvppNmzog9KjP8SzDpAvU5I24-5mFIii2bDeYdHgbV7LUzw3YaEWEFgYx11cgaKYXDrUcBwzViuttHz8D-PxcFxumt8hzVsoMP5n5XO4X5Xyx-AenpenNXr7n37HyKr-Hg7EtAt8kI/s1600-h/hockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3yvppNmzog9KjP8SzDpAvU5I24-5mFIii2bDeYdHgbV7LUzw3YaEWEFgYx11cgaKYXDrUcBwzViuttHz8D-PxcFxumt8hzVsoMP5n5XO4X5Xyx-AenpenNXr7n37HyKr-Hg7EtAt8kI/s200/hockey.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday while I was watching parts of "Chak De India" (yet again), the pace and the background score excited me regarding the on-going hockey matches. But as the movie came to an end it struck me that in reality I have not seen even a single hockey match! Hockey is supposed to be our national game but it really seems that the newer generations are going to rewrite that. The Hockey World Cup 2010 is unfolding live from India and still the excitement is not even a 100th as compared to a routine IPL cricket match. But somewhere it is sad that the hockey players who sweat as much to bring our country names to the top of the worldwide charts are not even recognised let alone admired (or worshipped!). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Chak de India" was a fantastic movie that brought emotions of patriotism, passion and perseverance; it also desperately clinched on to the remaining recognition that the sport receives in India. But alas! we Indians are known for our short-term memory. We rise together as quickly as we begin to fall and forget. Do you remember Abhinav Bindra and Vijender Kumar? Do you think you will even bat an eyelid when you hear their name after 2 years.. I fear not! There is a thread of similarity when it comes to more serious issues like security. Example: There is a bombing and there are further bomb scares which follow for a week and on the 8th day you can plant that second bomb assured that people have forgotten. We are so easily smugged by our daily lives that we continue cribbing and forgetting knowing well enough the hypocrisy behind the remarks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, although I may not see myself as an ardent follower of Hockey but let me atleast make sure that the sports news I read keeps me updated about its ongoings. A start is a start.. and what better time to catch up than the World Cup. India has got off to a flyer with a 4-1 win against Pakistan this sunday.. so cheer them on.. they can use a little more support..</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-48266109174339237922010-02-26T17:27:00.000+05:302010-02-26T17:27:46.455+05:30Advertising for a reason..<div style="text-align: justify;">Imagine that you were given the task to market yourself to a 50-member audience and you have 20 minutes. Possible? I am guessing most of us would consider it as possible. Making it more challenging, lets say the audience grows to 200 and the time allotted is 10 minutes. Well, some of us will still like to take up the challenge. Now consider that you have 5 minutes and your audience size has grown to 5000. Before you start to believe that this is just some stupid hypothetical situation that you will never encounter, take a breath and imagine the plight of advertising agencies. They have 15 seconds to convince millions that they are the best; they have 15 seconds to inform, attract and arouse your curiosity so that when you hit the local market, the malls, the streets, that one ad campaign will reside in your short-term memory and their product will land in your shopping carts, your living rooms and your long-term memories. Further, print and outdoor advertisers are awarded 1 second of your precious time, perhaps lesser!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rightly pointed out by a friend, India has recently picked up aggressively on Public Service Advertisements. Banks, broking firms, insurance companies, automobile, tourism and several other industries scream out loud hoping you can hear or feel a meek. These ads challenge your current comfort zone, push you to be self-motivated, and challenge you to step out of the norm. Their tasks almost seems appalling yet in their own unique way they hope that, that 1 second will unanimously help to better the world. Their ads are usually shocking, they shoot straight through the layers of logical mind-processing, and hit you right where it is supposed to - Ideally! But behind this lies immense hardwork, passion and intellect - remember they are there to persuade billions of people in only 1 second. Here is a showcase of some brilliant work:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPsdRAu4tUq-wjXJRoB79cGwzajnTDJtfRYouCg9L8pA-yIUzLaiGWt_PcSkGkDO7qaAn4xT2uvJzmRrCWVuk73bpeOQiGAsSf-kG_D31-0uauKuzWSENDbzXVecZPfDl24vlEy6iol4/s1600-h/fiatpenguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPsdRAu4tUq-wjXJRoB79cGwzajnTDJtfRYouCg9L8pA-yIUzLaiGWt_PcSkGkDO7qaAn4xT2uvJzmRrCWVuk73bpeOQiGAsSf-kG_D31-0uauKuzWSENDbzXVecZPfDl24vlEy6iol4/s200/fiatpenguins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH6-IoPQnlvmqbiHKvqyh-TjfVCSa6m748PSyUlKa6c8gKd0q08W0NTlQ_0JIBxFxxuxiX_fRp1ltfMqoh2Rf317gHUSs8ajyAERfmvUBS3hFNB7cmYqSG6ZVB_2BTYBuW_EvSR7wUdA/s1600-h/milknation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH6-IoPQnlvmqbiHKvqyh-TjfVCSa6m748PSyUlKa6c8gKd0q08W0NTlQ_0JIBxFxxuxiX_fRp1ltfMqoh2Rf317gHUSs8ajyAERfmvUBS3hFNB7cmYqSG6ZVB_2BTYBuW_EvSR7wUdA/s200/milknation.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfXLbGSddD5wYQYvQXgo5fREeWB5SBYtbZbSCWrrwQP5k6bW89-vRAHl-58McdhZJiNbXrVaQXDKg6DjvkJ0VS-AyCMi6TAu6EBuuaOpC4ZSjwMDNpbr2QlmAWSGZN5zrLPz8di1-2Mw/s1600-h/spidey_final-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfXLbGSddD5wYQYvQXgo5fREeWB5SBYtbZbSCWrrwQP5k6bW89-vRAHl-58McdhZJiNbXrVaQXDKg6DjvkJ0VS-AyCMi6TAu6EBuuaOpC4ZSjwMDNpbr2QlmAWSGZN5zrLPz8di1-2Mw/s200/spidey_final-copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRK1JIQmgjxoDf5hExuF95P-jTc_1KqHCCl2Dmontt132iqwtn5tkivyeyg4xT54ansSjvcu-UT13-hnlb8BBhaNZPbwxnqnpWvu3DPXOfaxFRsfg01M4x4cwTzjII3E94DUjrJo0KMw/s1600-h/Adesef1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRK1JIQmgjxoDf5hExuF95P-jTc_1KqHCCl2Dmontt132iqwtn5tkivyeyg4xT54ansSjvcu-UT13-hnlb8BBhaNZPbwxnqnpWvu3DPXOfaxFRsfg01M4x4cwTzjII3E94DUjrJo0KMw/s200/Adesef1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>And, here's my personal favourite:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqMZp2gsmBHUZl6Q3FvpEUYnVOOnA_e1NMU6Ld5O4cPQIMn2hJ2L4keec5WuOGeAn_tJj5hC3EwkgIBakmxMhVW30CbDEMxvY9j45tRQjEFgP40P7I2pc43Kjap7dnCA-gxBsQWC3_4g/s1600-h/wwfcrocodile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqMZp2gsmBHUZl6Q3FvpEUYnVOOnA_e1NMU6Ld5O4cPQIMn2hJ2L4keec5WuOGeAn_tJj5hC3EwkgIBakmxMhVW30CbDEMxvY9j45tRQjEFgP40P7I2pc43Kjap7dnCA-gxBsQWC3_4g/s200/wwfcrocodile.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><br />
These Ads are taken from: <a href="http://www.adsoftheworld.com/">www.adsoftheworld.com</a><br />
(Please click the pictures to enlarge)<br />
<br />
They are making a difference. Are you even trying to?Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-76989470684815726172010-02-24T16:15:00.000+05:302010-02-24T16:15:09.657+05:30Recruiter? Generalist? Trainer? Or...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtJAYvs8ob8OZHnJo6V7amy5dzo_y8YDkBmwPVNZ3ispzXgY2fslMtsNg5FLiF5kdvbet_avi7vgD31gQSbCQSm-83z_YwZdfWcYKZj2yhTjhD1xZcIFUMDsEi3Kt9LdZde_0He7caUE/s1600-h/kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtJAYvs8ob8OZHnJo6V7amy5dzo_y8YDkBmwPVNZ3ispzXgY2fslMtsNg5FLiF5kdvbet_avi7vgD31gQSbCQSm-83z_YwZdfWcYKZj2yhTjhD1xZcIFUMDsEi3Kt9LdZde_0He7caUE/s320/kid.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we look around ourselves all we see our question marks, choices, crossroads. When we choose a profession there are so many sub-options that you either discover them during your career path or are too engrossed in the forced specialisation that you have chosen. Example: You want to be in the medical profession but you can be a surgeon, neurologist, dentist, pediatrician, dermatologist and the list is endless. In HR also the dilemma remains the same. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you are at the beginning of your HR career or are not at the right place maybe these tests will help you learn a little more and gauge a fair aptitude in various HR aspects:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://hrguru.monster.com/careers/articles/485-quiz-series-whats-your-specialization">http://hrguru.monster.com/careers/articles/485-quiz-series-whats-your-specialization</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was also surprised to know that Monster has a dedicated HR Forum: <a href="http://hrguru.monster.com/">hrguru.monster.com</a>. I would recommend the forum for some good HR articles which are crisp and add value. Exploring the forum kept me glued to the site for some more time and it made me ponder about the importance of catching up, the need to race ahead and the need to make constant changes. I also seemed to have a sudden new-found respect for Monster and its ability to highlight itself in the crowd. Definitely worth a mention and, in your case, worth a glance!</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-32729864021520477752010-02-24T12:12:00.000+05:302010-02-24T12:12:02.022+05:30Career Quiz: What is your Holland Trait?<div style="text-align: justify;">It is far easier to judge another than one's own self; similarly it is far easier to advice another rather than hit a bullseye on what you really <i>want</i> or what you really <i>can</i> do. How many times have you found yourself taking a personality test, an entertainment quiz or an interest test. We can never really convince ourselves that we know all about ourselves. So just to give the tiniest peak into what might just be your career type, here is a quiz based on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Codes">Holland Codes</a>. The six typologies he identified are, according to him, <i>expressions of personality</i> and are preferred by people in descending order. The codes are:</div><br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AcM4fGdomKwPUQz1UJmzfIOcmv7IT8MzCI8IVGQWR3Xgno8rJr2ZMixVen6ILAj2mOghELOcbm8La3B2cJqhZidnOL5U7S9KSWj2cLxAY4HhjeLJRDkkibcAeQEXXbDM7EA8Fghsjts/s1600-h/career.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AcM4fGdomKwPUQz1UJmzfIOcmv7IT8MzCI8IVGQWR3Xgno8rJr2ZMixVen6ILAj2mOghELOcbm8La3B2cJqhZidnOL5U7S9KSWj2cLxAY4HhjeLJRDkkibcAeQEXXbDM7EA8Fghsjts/s200/career.gif" width="200" /></a>
<li>Realistic - prefer dealing with things. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Investigative - prefer dealing with things and ideas. </li>
<li>Artistic - prefer dealing with ideas and people. </li>
<li>Social - prefer dealing with people.</li>
<li>Enterprising - prefer dealing with data and people.</li>
<li>Conventional - prefer dealing with data and things.</li>
</ul><div>So take this quiz to learn more about your career type: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/careers/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/careers/</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Hope the quiz strengthened your conviction or atleast you had fun :).. Would like to receive some feedback on its effectiveness..</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7764488310856786495.post-56622016843723685472010-02-19T16:09:00.000+05:302010-02-19T16:09:33.224+05:30HR Round: Prepared?<div style="text-align: justify;">"HR Round" is a step that is considered a cakewalk to most and you know that one will be rejected only if s/he has deliberately rigged the process. The HR interview is usually the last round in a company where it is considered a formality and a forum for final negotiations of salary and notice period. Added to this the questions are rehearsed as much as the answers because it is predictable. It is almost as of all HR's of companies have a question bank of 25 questions which they ask in random order and if you are prepared you obviously have all the answers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui-WQcjkbim7tZKQdquMEfdV8xtD1t18QCBvJXwAktY7yQUqWGbqurpV0SaCFgRcIef882uBV6l4F08Bu11V_1WgPsdHb9fK6XNs4U7L89jzucxY0bHJfrungft2utm1n_tUAG-czScQ/s320/hr.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWMJ5Am1mNDE2gGnjzVwbPUT6SiZf5s6jhykDCW-BoHKbDJDdmryS7SY_7Yr0tWctMNrJghjCpnPtYGcTCiqbg86E_oCSSm-6NMF3foEO9cHJtHe0T2IDk6ilQALyDJwQU1LL-wUegfc/s1600-h/hr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWMJ5Am1mNDE2gGnjzVwbPUT6SiZf5s6jhykDCW-BoHKbDJDdmryS7SY_7Yr0tWctMNrJghjCpnPtYGcTCiqbg86E_oCSSm-6NMF3foEO9cHJtHe0T2IDk6ilQALyDJwQU1LL-wUegfc/s320/hr1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Considering that whatever the role of a person, s/he is also, in this decade, expected to understand the business, its process and then his/her strategic role within the unit, it is important that HR's step up their interviewing process also. Questions like "Tell me about yourself", "Your strengths and weaknesses", "Why the company should hire you" give you a fair understanding of a person's communication skills, confidence levels, willingness to adapt but apart from that it ignores aspects like critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to think on one's feet. How many open-book tests do you remember giving in school and college? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hypothesis-based questions, Case study method, Deep-rooted work and role related questions and similar methods should be an essential part of a HR interview if a recruiter is really keen to make the right selection. It also helps an interviewer understand the business and the role better thereby forcing him to identify the key competencies and narrowing down the specs for shortlisting candidates.Competency based HR is thus a developing and effective method where competencies are research-driven, pre-defined and also bring objectivity to the process. This method also brings equitable skills in a team so that in the long run the teamwork, productivity levels and effectiveness is significantly heightened. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Would you not like to be a part of an organisation that entices you think, challenges your creativity and offers you an interesting interviewing process? If the surface is able to evoke an intriguing response successive digging is sure to offer you much more!</div>Radhikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288428184275137465noreply@blogger.com0