Archive for category Life Mantra
4cm
Posted by Sam in F1, Life Mantra, MyFav on October 14th, 2009
Ayrton Senna
Speachless..
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering (Ayrton’s first race engineer with Toleman in 1984):
“Dallas was what I would call an ‘old-fashioned’ North American street circuit, delineated with concrete blocks. It was a very tricky circuit, and bumpy enough to make even Monaco look smooth: the drivers literally had to fight their cars all the way round as they skipped and jumped from bump to bump. I remember during the race, Ayrton hit the wall, and then later retired because of the damage. When he eventually made it back to the pits, he didn’t seem to understand how he could have hit the wall. It seemed to come as a complete shock to him that he had hit the wall, and his immediate reaction was “I know I didn’t make a mistake – the wall must have moved.” Remember, we were talking about a twenty tonne concrete block here, but he was so insistent that he persuaded me to walk round the circuit and take a look. When I did so, the wall had indeed moved – somebody had clearly clipped the previous block and in doing so, displaced the next one by only about 4cm. Instead of the transition from block to block being smooth, a 4cm difference had caught the rear wheel, broken it and punctured the tyre. That was when it really came home to me, the precision to which he was driving, and made me think he was a bit special… And remember this was a guy in his first season of F1, straight out of F3…”
little Manhattan…une mémoire
Posted by Sam in Life Mantra, MyFav on December 1st, 2008
[December : The Day]
…
little Manhattan
Posted by Sam in Life Mantra, MyFav, MyreVIEW on June 8th, 2008
[November, Last week]
Yes! Yes! Yes!!! He did it…finally….. he has asked it in the gentle way…and she has agreed! Was it the best moment of his life?.. Not the best,but yes, was one of the most cherishable one…… he was happy .. those things which usually used to irritate him a lot seemed to be funny… he was in good mood.. almost touching cloud nine.. he has already started planning for the day or should I say ‘a date’?.
The next few days, he was in the dream world. Constantly thinking about her, building the scene around, tryin to figure out what he gonna say,. Lookin in the mirror, chkin on himself.. at the same time.. thinkin how she will be lookin like now?… oh! She always looks wonderful! Like an angel.. He hasn’t seen her for long…
He missed her a lot… not that he was aware of that.. why was it so complicated? Why was not he aware of his feelin’s? Where did he meet her? He remembers it clearly… it wasn’t a good memory… but neither a bad one… he got a few punch on his chest a few on his face…. But they dint hurt.. rather he was ready to take those punches everyday…
Where did he meet her?.. it was his first day at karate class. He was assigned a partner for a practice… oh…she was lookin really beautiful in those white karate costumes. She always looks wonderful… like an angel!
The days were passin by quickly.. he was waiting for the day… he was getting ready for the day… tryin out various combinations of clothes.. tryin out various hairstyles.. he wanted to look the best…
Where was he?.. he was in dream world.. he wasn’t aware what’s his friends upto.. he wasn’t aware what’s happening around him…
It’s been long since he has seen her… why? Why had his father been transferred to this city… he used to ask.. but not now…now he is happy….
But howz he gonna take it?.. he never had a proper conversation wid her… always bowled out on duck whenever he had chance to talk to her… always missed the straight ones… he would rather face brett lee or akhtar.. but NO!!!… he is goin to be a boy this time….but what does that mean actually???
He couldn’t sleep that Friday night… was nervous… excited as well.. he tried to sleep.. tried to remove all thoughts off his mind… but no use… he couldn’t stop thinkin …. Or dreamin??? Well he doesn’t remember when he finally fell asleep..
[December first week, The Morning]
Buzzzzzz!!!…
Letter to AMN
Posted by Sam in Life Mantra on December 17th, 2007
[Read the Article titled ‘This life is reserved for L&T’ on page 5 of DNA Money of Thursday, November 15, 2007, before reading the post. I have tried to replicate the important paragraphs of the article to make the post comprehensive to readers. Moreover the statements made here are purely my point of view. Those who agree and even those who don’t are welcome to share their views. 
]
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To:AMN
Dear Sir,
This is with reference to your interview in DNA Money, November 15th, 2007 Edition. I had few doubts and it is said that, in L&T, emphasis is given whoever wants to learn new things. So the letter, seeking some help from you!
Let’s start with what I have understood! You talked about China’s fixed exchange rate.
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L&T’s five units are put up for sale because of the appreciating rupee and Chinese competition. Now, if China believes in competition and if they float their currency I am very confident that I can fight back. The moment their currency hava is over, there would be any number of people who’ll say India is a far better destination. They want to come here rather than China. Or, at least, have one leg here and one leg there. But India cannot fight Chinese competition. |
Yes! I agree China is having advantage over us (read Indian Companies) due to its fixed currency rates!
The way China controls the exchange rate; they certainly have advantage over us.
But it applies to all the Indian Companies… even the IT companies, isn’t it?
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…Can they do what L&T can? Can they build India’s defence, build ships, missile launchers, nuclear plants, satellites or radars? No… |
You talked about Indian IT firms not contributing to India’s growth. Yes, they definitely don’t have the capacity to build defense systems; they can’t build bridges, power plants. But why should they? They are not into that business line. L&T sold its cement production unit. Does this mean L&T consider cement to be not so important for infrastructure growth? According to me, Money wasn’t the problem, as the business was earning them profit.
What does “building India” mean? Does in only include infrastructure growth and building defense systems? IT has no role in it? So why is there so much fuss about IT around? Can YOU function properly without IT help? Why governments are trying to go online? Or Government is misguided by IT industry?
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…The government has already diluted it by including outsourcing. This is how they have taken Infosys, Wipro and TCS in the RuR (Raksha Udyog Ratna)…. |
Isn’t the IT industry bringing foreign money in the country? Doesn’t it help India to grow financially? Though Indian firms were doing business internationally, it was the IT industry which threw open the doors to international business in true sense!
But, I guess, you are against international business, Right? You are more interested into building India!
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…Why should I put my talent in building America… |
Then why L&T is expanding its operations in the Gulf countries, or does it have allergy with developed countries only? Or does it fear of the competition it will face there? When asked about listing abroad, you said
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“you don’t get the price for the brand value of L&T. Very few know about us in the US. They’ll compare us with GE and Bechtel and say we are a small company. Companies like Infosys went there purely because of labour arbitrage.” |
Yes, Infosys gets advantage of labour arbitrage, so do you! Indian labour is much cheaper than available in those countries. (Even you (read L&T HR) agree that L&T is not known for paying well to its employees. 
). Infosys, despite the tremendous competition they faced their, survived. I agree they may not have the technology. So do you. Except few manufacturing process, L&T has to depend on process licensors and other design consultant for designs. Am I wrong here? Please correct me!
Moreover, even after giving low cost solutions, IT co’es earn 26% PAT, as compared to your 7-8%, they pay more than you do. Doesn’t it mean they want to share their profit? Hope even L&T think so. (Though I can’t see that happening)
Now comes the part which surprised me the most!
This is not the era where people stick to one job. Situation is far different now! This is an era where job switching is common. Youngsters now are smarter and more cautious about there career. How can you expect people to leave the opportunities where they find better growth?
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…There are more than 75,000 engineers working on design in India for foreign companies. They are the brains, and there are 150,000 other engineers working in the IT industry who are non computer science engineers… |
You are talking about so many people working in MNCs. But are there enough opportunities for them in Indian companies? How many Indian companies are in core design jobs? Even L&T is way behind when it comes to Design jobs.
It’s not only the company; it’s also the work profile that matters. The person (read IITians) should feel that his education is appreciated here, isn’t it? So how can you expect all the top talent to remain in your company when you are handing over a work to him, which a Diploma student can finish off effectively?
You have devoted your life to L&T. Why? Because you enjoyed working here; you enjoyed sweating out for this company. It applies to everyone, isn’t it? The person gives maximum efforts when he enjoys his work! And everyone has his area of interests. So how can you expect every mechanical/ civil engineer to be interested in this work? How can you expect him to work as efficiently as others when he is not at all enjoying his work?
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… when I took over we lost 8,500 engineers to the IT industry. And by the time I was thinking whether to enter IT or not I lost another 800. So I decided to defend L&T, so that when my other engineers want to join other IT industries, they can seek a transfer as long as they work in core L&T for three years…. |
How do you keep them happy in LTIL when they know that there are limited growth opportunities as you yourself stated earlier that you don’t want to increase your IT business? What is the guarantee that they will stay in LTIL?
You once said you want to create true L&Tites. But with the current policies in place, I guess, you are only creating prisoners! Isn’t it obvious that the employee will remain here if he likes L&T and his work? Aren’t you creating a negative feeling in his mind at the start of his career with L&T? Did you ever enquire why so many of them are leaving L&T? Did you find out the reasons?
Yes! Money is one of the reasons. And why should not it be? I agree L&T builds India, so they can’t charge government much. But does government consider L&T employees different? NO! He has to give same amount of tax. He does not get any concessions! Life is same for everyone outside!
I just want to say one last thing here – Money isn’t the only reason why people change the jobs! Think about it! Because, with the current policies employed, the situation is not different from last few years!
A Young Indian
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(Click here to view the TIME NOW video footage of IT industries reaction on AMNs Article!)
[At the end, I want to thank all my friends who inspired me to write this letter Gud Work Guys ]
Who xratched me…