If you want to know all the good things about yourself, you must die. Such is this world.
by Lakshman Maaheshwary
December 07, 2016 at 08:39PM
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Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Sunday, December 4, 2016
I was told beer is good for hair. I've started consuming a pint a day. Is that sufficient or do I need to increase the intake?
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Even if nothing else happens, at the very least, we will begin respecting money again. The culture of giving Toffees instead of change has ended.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Love is a great beautifier.
Friday, November 25, 2016
जब नोट बन्द हुए तब इंसान और रिश्तों की कीमत समझ आयी। जो जितना छोटा आदमी था, वो दिल का उतना ही बड़ा निकला।
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
NDTV का बस चले, तो ख़बर कुछ इस प्रकार हो: पैदा होने के कारण, एक 95 वर्ष के व्यक्ति की सांस लेते हुए अचानक मृत्यु हो गई। साज़िश का परदाफाश करने में लगी हुई है टीम NDTV।
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Trump is deporting 30 lakh immigrants. Call your friends and ask them to get iPhone!
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Indians concerned so much about Trump entering the White House is akin to nosy Neighbours being concerned about Padosi ki Nayi Bahu!
Thursday, November 10, 2016
आज वो दोस्त बड़े अच्छे लग रहे हैं जिन्होंने पैसे उधार लिए हैं।
Monday, October 24, 2016
If you think 'Human Oblation/Sacrifice' is no longer practiced, ask Akhilesh Yadav!
Monday, October 17, 2016
Sometimes, we get what we wish for. Once in a while, we get a lot more! ☺
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Time as a concept is daunting. You can be with someone for eternity without knowing them and then you meet someone for a moment and seems you know them from eternity. #BabaLakshman
Thursday, September 29, 2016
I recently visited Wagah Border and witnessed the Retreat Ceremony. So glad I did that in time. If current affairs are any indication, it may soon become a State Tax collection point of India! 🤔
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
"क्यों रे, साइकिल में कितने पहिये होते हैं?" "हजूर, वैसे तो दो होते हैं, उत्तर प्रदेश में पाँच।"
Saturday, September 17, 2016
You are my victory and my sacrifice too. You are my virtue and my vice too. #BabaLakshman
Thursday, September 15, 2016
We have to take a dive before we rise up again! :)
Monday, September 5, 2016
गुरु कुम्हार शिष्य कुम्भ है, गढ़ गढ़ काढ़े खोट। अन्दर हाथ सहार दे, बाहर बाहे चोट। I've had the privilege to meet some of the best teachers ever. Above and beyond the formal instruction, they have been my guide and mentors. I thank them all for making me a better person.
गुरु कुम्हार शिष्य कुम्भ है, गढ़ गढ़ काढ़े खोट। अन्दर हाथ सहार दे, बाहर बाहे चोट। I've had the privilege to meet some of the best teachers ever. Above and beyond the formal instruction, they have been my guide and mentors. I thank them all for making me a better person.
by Lakshman Maaheshwary
September 05, 2016 at 12:46PM
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by Lakshman Maaheshwary
September 05, 2016 at 12:46PM
from Facebook
via IFTTTfrom Facebook
via IFTTT
Monday, August 29, 2016
When she burns, she shines bright. Then she resurrects, a Phoenix even more glorious.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
We want Medals in Olympics. We want world class Athletes. But our kids should only become Doctors, Engineers, Chartered Accountants or Civil Servants. #KahanSeAayengeMedals?
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
जिनको मिलना होता है, वो मिल ही जाते हैं बहाने से। ट्रैफिक सिग्नल पर कैमरे हैं, अब बच नहीं सकते ज़ुर्माने से। #Crazyमोड! 🙄
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Entrepreneur and Alone
Recently, I was
having a free-reeling conversation over coffee with a friend of mine. He is a
fellow entrepreneur and a very successful one. A few minutes later, we began
discussing our personal lives, or the lack thereof. He shared an issue that
many, who are on their start-up journey, would relate to.
Let’s admit it,
entrepreneurship is a lonely business. Unless you have an existing co-founder
or a partner, chances are you will be spending most of your time alone. Contrary
to popular perception, as glamorous or enticing the journey of an entrepreneur
sounds, this is the less openly discussed reality of the journey.
Image source: http://www.incimages.com/uploaded_files/image/1940x900/alone-solitude-1940x900_36285.jpg
While it is rather
commonplace to start out in a team, there are many who venture out on their
own, for various reasons. Having a team is no deciding criterion for success or
failure, but a team plays a crucial part in providing a sense of stability and
companionship, especially during the rough early days. Unless a person is
inside the startup, s/he can never truly understand the pressures or challenges
that the person at helm faces. Family and friends do pitch in, but they can
only do so much. The worries or stress arising out of the work, which is ever
morphing, is difficult to explain and hence the feeling of loneliness lingers
on. Moreover, it is a bad idea to fraternize, beyond a point, with the people
who work for you. Not only it is improper, it can even be disastrous. It can
create various problems, ranging from dilution of chain of command, complicated
work dynamics to the extremes of sexual harassment cases if the employees feel
uncomfortable. Now, you would not want to explain to the investors why a large
chunk of their money went into settling a lawsuit.
Outside the startup,
at least in the initial days, there is little to no social interaction. Most
engagements are purely business transaction. Of course, you will get to meet a
lot of new people, some of them terrific even; some provide excellent lessons,
but hardly any who you can hang out with. In structured organizations, you find
lot of equals/peers, working in similar scale, grade, role or profile. In a
startup, you find vendors, clients, service providers, buyers and sellers; but no
peers. There is a purpose to with which you meet a person and even if you
decide to meet for a coffee or drinks, there is some agenda and that is that.
Odd and long working hours make it difficult to catch up with friends and
family who observe fixed work weeks. I hardly know of any entrepreneur who
follows fixed working hours. Nonetheless, it is essential to carve out time for
non-work related events, with people who matter on a personal level.
Image Source: http://paparelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/stand-alone-570.jpg
Summits, conclaves
and other such events are places where you will see flocks of entrepreneurs
because networking is critical for startups. It opens avenues for new
partnerships, and is a goldmine for knowledge and ideas. While it gives some
sense of satisfaction to talk to fellow crusaders and swap stories, experiences
etc., all one ends up doing is making a lot of valuable acquaintances. Without
doubt these are important connections for furthering the venture. It is,
however, doubtable if you can call anyone of them in the middle of the night
when having a low moment.
In more informal
social settings, some entrepreneurs perform even worse. Passion for their
venture actually acts against them. At parties and functions, while most people
are looking for small talk or light conversation, you might find an
entrepreneur sticking out like a sore thumb, explaining the beauty of her/his idea
or detailing the startup’s vision, the intricacies of its operation or the
devilishly clever marketing strategy they implemented. While I’m always up for
listening about new ventures and strategies, shoptalk can be a real downer if
you are trying to establish yourself as a fun person. I won’t call such talks
as unwinding for a common person. Once in a while, you need to put some space
between your life and your venture.
An amusing attribute
that entrepreneurs learn to live with, is being broke, perpetually. Money is a
critical component for any venture, especially if you are bootstrapping, and
invariably, always in short supply. Expenditures and overheads are huge, while
inflows are limited. More rapidly a venture moves, more cash it burns.
Entrepreneurs raise every penny they can, from wherever they can. In such a
scenario, personal expenditure takes the first hit. One less movie makes sense.
One less night out finances one week of Facebook ads. While such calculations
are good for the venture, they aren’t so great for the personal life. A little
recreation can help recharge your batteries and lets you connect with people.
Entrepreneurship has
a notorious side to it as well. Don’t let your personal life be robbed by your
own passion. Reach out to people who you feel comfortable with. Make meaningful
connections when you can. Sanity is more lasting than success.
Don't be an entrepreneur, aloof and alone, stay connected and happy.
Image Source: http://www.chosenchildtx.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/connected.jpg
Don't be an entrepreneur, aloof and alone, stay connected and happy.
Thanks to Meenakshi Aggarwal for edits and inputs.
Entitled, Reckless and Cruel
Truth be told, I was
thinking of writing this piece for some time now. Thanks to insensitive tweet
of Shobhaa De, it has finally come out.
Off late, I have seen
an alarming rise in culture of public bashing and slandering over social media.
People feel entitled to make comments, observations and flaunt opinions over a
wide range of topics. Interestingly, if one were to question these
self-proclaimed experts over their knowledge and research behind the comments,
it would either be ‘thorough research’ conducted on social media forums (read
Facebook), or propelled by someone else’s comment (second hand arguments) or
very simply the fact that they can, thanks to the great freedom of thought and
expression. Mind you, this is the most popular phrase taken out of the
beautiful, pithy Indian Constitution (the rest of which we have no clue about).
More interestingly, the issues on which opinions are being thrown around have
little to no real meaning or concern for the people writing them. Had they been
driven by true passion for a cause, I would have been delighted. But when the
comments are fueled by the need for a few moments of cheap publicity, it
becomes nauseating. Further, it becomes worrisome when celebrated and renowned
authors join this bandwagon, especially the ones who call themselves opinion
shapers. Fame or reputation obtained by an individual in a certain aspect of
life should not make them feel entitled to attack or demean the efforts or
character of other individuals.
When someone throws
around opinion, the point that is conveniently skipped is the impact that it
creates. Given the mind-boggling reach of internet and longevity of content
once it gets online, the potential of causing damage to someone’s reputation or
morale is catastrophic. The recklessness of people is almost infinite. Sweeping
statements, unfair generalizations, faulty extrapolations are commonplace. The
World Wide Web has placed small nuclear weapons of mass destruction into the
hands of everyone with access to internet. Sensationalism overshadows
sensibility. Excitement overpowers rationality. If trial by media was not
dangerous enough, trial by social media is becoming hyper trend. Let us say
first and fact check later. The ability to comment on someone feeds our ego and
somehow makes our own miserable lives a little better. My shortcomings remain
private; rest of the universe is fair game.
And if just the
ability to recklessly air opinion is not enough, it has to be cruel too, just
for good measure. There has to be an extra grind. The cowardliness of hiding
behind a screen while slaughtering someone would have been amusing had it not
been so distasteful. The frustrations of our own lives can easily be projected
on someone else, without even having to face them. There is a great perversity in
this kind of confrontation. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on the
side where one stands, when the damage is being done, the party who has
initiated the assault is far away, shielded from any fallout that might have
come out of their words. The shots are fired in the dark, without any concern
for repercussions. Who it hits, how and when is not even an afterthought. If
everything goes well, it attracts popularity and if it backfires, it was
unintended.
The virtual world of
the internet has somewhat eroded the fact that ultimately, there are real
people at the other end too. People who feel, people whose lives and
livelihoods can be destroyed, people who can get demotivated or even outraged.
Thanks to Meenakshi Aggarwal for edits and inputs.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Desh ke Laal देश के लाल
चिता अभी तक जली नहीं, फूल अभी तो ताज़े हैं।
वो तो वतन पर मर मिटे, अब विश्लेषण आतें हैं।।
कोई नेता घर जायेगा, कोई गा गा शोक जताएगा।
टीवी पर फिर चर्चा होगी, विशेषज्ञ राय सुनाएगा।।
सोशल मीडिया पर फ़ोटो पर, लाइक खूब लगाते हैं।
बिस्तर पर पजामा पहने, देशभक्त बड़े दिलवाले हैं।।
मत रोना ऐ जाने वाले, देख ऊपर से इस देश का हाल।
हम नहीं कहलाने लायक, तुम ही हो सच्चे देश के लाल।।
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