India - World Cup Champions

I can't stop writing about cricket. And, today would be one of the most happiest days of an Indian cricket fan. India have won the world cup. Even though it is the shortest form of the game, India did it in style. They sure have made amends for their first round exit in the more known format of the game.

The victory, is even more sweeter because India did it without the three big guns, Sachin, Sourav and Rahul. They were under a new leadership of MS Dhoni and what a tournament it has been for Dhoni. He couldn't have asked for more to kick start his stint as the captain of Indian cricket team, the toughest responsibility to shoulder in the world. One of the most heartening thing about this team is that they played as a team and won. Yes there is Yuvraj & Dhoni, but everyone did his fair bit of contribution and gave his best. That is what is really expected, whether we win or lose.

A final word. Lets not get carried away. Remember that when India lost in the world cup stones were thrown at the cricketer' houses and effigies was burnt all over India. I'm sure that this time around when the players head back home there will be a huge reception. Lets treat the team fairly. Lets not be in extremes. We'll wish them well when they win and if they lose after having given a 100 % lets be fair. Having said that, it is time to celebrate this great victory. Congratulations to the Indian Cricket team.

Adventurous Quotient [AQ]

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

This is one question that needs to be asked to oneself from time to time. The idea of doing something new might be a nightmare for people who always likes to play the safe game. In my opinion life gets more interesting and enjoyable when you learn new things and do things that you wouldn't dare otherwise. I think the answer to this question can help in deducing the AQ [Adventurous Quotient].

AQ = ((The number of new things attempted in the last year / 12) - The number of days between today and the day when you attempted your latest new thing ) x 100

I believe that measuring AQ for the current year would be more reasonable since people would be more interested in how interesting you are now. Having been adventurous for a long time might help, but history is for the books and today is the time to enjoy and be adventurous.

The reason i have a 12 there in the denominator is because i believe that a person who attempts to do a new thing once every month is extraordinary. According to me the more adventurous a person is the more interesting he / she will be. As for my AQ, i think it shld be between 40% - 60%. Not so very good... but am sure i'll try hard to raise it to a more respectable level. The latest new thing that i've started is to learn Spanish, thanks to the site tryMango, a free and easy way to learn new languages. What is you AQ?

Yuvraj - Sixes Galore

Cricket, happens to be one of my favorite sport. The new format of the game called the Twenty-twenty is a fun to watch. The game is shortened in an effort to pull in more sport lovers. The traditional form of cricket, called a test match, takes FIVE days to complete. The other form, called a One-day game is shorter, but still requires, as the name suggests, seven to eight hours of your time. This is perfectly fine for people like me and the current followers of the game. But to bring in new audience, who claim that they have no time, thanks to the internet, video games and what not, this form of the game could be ideal and fun. After all, the worlds' most followed game is no more than 90 minutes.

Having introduced this format of the game the ICC managed to organize a T20 world cup, where the top 12 teams of the world compete. We are in round two of the tournament now and India faces a tough must-win situation of two matches after their 10 run defeat to New Zealand. Yesterday was a match between India and England. And the man of the match was Yuvraj Singh. His six sixes in an over was exhilerating stuff. He helped India to a very comfortable position where India can't lose. He was in the receiving side not long ago when he was hit for five sixes in an over. Now it was pay back time and boy he did it!!

These are great moments for a cricket lover and having seen a brilliant display of power hitting has left me in awe. I'm sure the crowd in Kingsmead, SA had fun watching it and felt worth their money. Check out the magnificent sixes in Youtube.

Twenty twenty is definitely here to stay for a long time.

MBA - Is it worth it?

After a very long time in hibernation, i've decided and promised myself that i'll be more regular in writing new stuff. I guess no time is a bad time and i thought i'll jump in right away and write blogs, regularly.

A month ago one of my friend asked me this question. Why should you do an MBA? Being an MBA myself, i guess he thought it would be appropriate to ask me that question. He also listed some reasons he had in mind for his question.

• I think that it would be a good ladder to move up in career
• I think within a few years I will be bored being in the current job and would want to have new challenges
• I think the job I will get through my MBA degree will help me retire early and/ or let me travel around the world
• When I am 40+ I want to be in a position where I have an impact and say in the business strategy of my company
• As I already have a MS degree and as I know that I don't have the right mindset to stick to a topic for 3+ years and do PhD, my only other option (in terms of higher study) is MBA
• I want to earn more money
  
• I want to earn even more money

And my response was:

I think most of the reasons listed above are achievable after an MBA. But.. the general view of doing an MBA will take me to a different level quickly.. is a MYTH!!! it all depends on what you want to do after an MBA and choosing the right MBA course..

If you want to stay in IT industry for long then there are other quicker ways to move higher up the organizational ladder.. and i really don't see any company giving you a higher promotion or salary hike as soon as you are done with your course... just doing an MBA will definitely not suffice.. if you take my case, one of the main reasons i chose to do an MBA was to move away from IT field.. it might sound strange.. but that is the fact.. i know that it is impossible to move away from technology, but i personally thought i would have more fun if i am doing something else, that i'm trying and working towards.. so.. i believe that its imperative to think about what you really want to do after an MBA and how will an MBA really help you in achieving that.. thats when the specialization (marketing / finance / HR, etc) that you like / want will fit in...

The MBA course.. lets face it.. most of the things that you would learn in an MBA is pure common sense.. ok.. there are some terms, jargons & some stuff that might be new.. but having been in an industry for more than 5 years.. it is not so very difficult to understand those stuff.. i would say the main reason highly experienced people go for an MBA is for networking.. knowing people from different countries, different industries and different age groups and learning with them is a different experience.. and in today' globalized world.. believe me, we've to be better than jack of all trades and know about as many things as possible.. so.. doing an online / distant MBA is as good as doing nothing.. part-time.. i would say it is worth it only if you are doing it in a very good business school.. and good business schools will squeeze you with a lot of things that will make you feel that you don't have time at all.. am not frightening you away from a part-time MBA.. :-) am just telling you what i feel about it and what some guys who i know felt about it.. i would say if you want to realize the true benefits of an MBA.. go for a full time MBA.. but one thing is for sure.. an MBA is definitely a good investment for your life and career no matter what..

My first real blog

Blogging is a good thing. I've been reading blogs and commenting about them to my friends for quite sometime. Now itz my turn to dive into this ocean. Well to start with i was thinking on what to write about. I think the most appropriate topic now would be Cricket. And with the dismal performance of India with Bangladesh in the world cup, there is so much to talk abt. Nobody other than the crazy Indian fans expected India to reach the semis, but to lose with Bangladesh in the first match of a world cup.. that is a real shock. even more shocking news for pakistanis.. they r already out of the world cup.. the first team to be out.. [shocking for pakistanis but that would be a bit of consolation for Indian cricket fans i guess] Now what? India has to play out of their skins and perform miracles to reach the super eights.. We all know India is a poor starter in big tournaments.. with so much expectations back in India [people perform poojaas & yagaas for India to win].. this loss is not really acceptable.. can India do it?? Well I, being a crazy cricket fan of Indian cricket & a die hard fan of Sachin Tendulkar hope that they do it.. As Andy writes to Red in the gr88 movie Shawshank Redemption, hope is a good thing.. In fact the best of things... And no good things ever die..