A New Phase

Today I have started a new phase in my life. When things are not working your way its very important to sit back and watch the time fly past you for a moment. This wish that I could take time off for a few weeks is finally here. I have decided that I will no longer fall for the easy pickings and take a more responsible career decision is finally here. My decisions are no longer completely independent it never is but at least when you are a bachelor the impact is restricted more of less to you. But I am so glad I have a Wife like Khushi that supports me in all circumstance good or bad. This I guess is marriage. Her confidence in me and my ability comes to me as a surprise. In the last couple of years I have gained quiet a few pounds in grey and maturity levels and lost a lot in weight, wait and willy. It's not about how and what you can do at your work so much than it is about how you align yourself to organisations rules and policies. Now its time to bring it to practice. This is a time that I can take for upgrading myself and building something of an expertise. Know what to do and what you cant do. Identify a niche for myself, the exact same niche or USP that I need when I go out there to sell. The very fact that I have concepts and not depth of know how makes me more gulible then any of other peers. Sometimes it is not so much about what you bring on the table Vs what you can deliver on the table and most importantly in the way it should be. If writing or cooking is what I love this an opportunity for me to get some of my thoughts together and piece some articles forge some thoughts together, take up some cooking classes so that I cook up dream dishes for my two most beautiful women. Keep the end of house tight and nice. This should be an interesting waiting period for me. I need to get my story right while I cook up the curry. Remember there is no right recipe for the best food its the passion and love with which it's made. Even when that goes horribly wrong people can feel the love and dedication in it. It is essential to carry that passion into work and bring the best that you can.

32 or thirty two

Yes, today indeed is my birthday. A day that over the good last few years meant just really another day in my life. For me most of my birthdays have been about counting how many wishes have I earned what really warms my heart is it hasn't reduced. Well it's not out of sarcasm that I write this but the start of this year marked a tragic accident which had two of my very close friends battling it out for their dear life. That was an instance which was a grim reminder of my own accident and the loss that can be associated with it. I am glad that it wasn't the case this time. There are no guarantees in life and it always finds ways to establish the fact. Well, this is my birthday post. So, here I am 32 completed now. Somewhere still in search of that passion and strength. There have been a few decisions that have gone wrong for me and that now seems to mean reinventing myself. I am learning a few things certainly like identify the chain, creating LOTS (language of the senses, still to get deeper into it) but still a long way.

Digital Marketing from a Sales Guy

Digital Marketing, a sales view. The last six months I have been working on digital marketing. This is my first such experience of thinking like a marketer and selling solutions to a marketing professional. Just a few months ago I was debating on a post for Sales Vs marketing. Irony that I get to experience the debate. The realty of Sales is my salary and the realty of marketing is that I will get my salary. I don't think that there can be a better definition then that. This role has certainly led to respect marketing challenges a lot more than my past. In the last few months I have been working on various aspects of digital marketing, studying different sites, medias, mediums in the digital space to find the perfect solution for my customers. While the gamut of what one can offer is limited the scope for creativity is enormous. You almost begin living in a story telling world from creating those concepts which will attract the next 100k people on your website to creating that virtual experience that's better than real or close to real. Digital Marketing is an evolving field with a promise to reduce marketing spends and get more predictable and accurate results for every rupee one puts in it. What do I see in this crowded place is too many specialist with no real credibility. A lot that is seen on the internet is make believe and not real. Reviews are monitored and mostly controlled. Authenticity, trust & standardization will be the future. A lot of marketers have already started demanding performance based pricing, no learning on my cost. To their credit they have been getting results at much faster and better rates. For some they are still reeling between performance and variable pricing and are able to get creative. Like all solutions currently this space lacks someone like an Oracle, SAP, etc. To lead and define the industry practices. Also, since this is very similar to any IT service you would take the pricing is very similar to what you see in consulting & system integration. I spend x and I need y so the price is x+y. Is this the best pricing out there for such services? I particularly like the idea of a combination of performance and setup based pricing where there is a definite arrogance (arrogance in a positive way) with what I believe in my service and I am willing to bet on it. Nothing is left to chance. It is a win win for the customer as well as he can appreciate the effort and the small investment can keep the partner motivated.

Being "Mr." Khushi

Today, we complete two years of being married. And it just seems like it was yesterday except that sometimes I take her for granted as a wife. And I am not proud of anything that I write. Take today for instance, what could have been planned and beautiful spent, thanks to me it was just another day. Khushi, just showed me how small things that she did made it such a big difference. She bought some flowers put in my cupboard with a new shirt. Hid a planner with our snaps new and old and boy was delighted or what. This also meant that I on the other hand had not planned even an evening dinner for her such a shame. Well that's me these days. Not sure if I have grown older than I am or I am just becoming insensitive. Well I am not here to write about that. Today is special, indeed I screwed up but this is it. This ain't happening again. To begin with this is what I plan. Tomorrow I plan to surprise her with some special cooking specially for her. Take her out in the evening for a nice drive bring a nice bouquet of Red Roses. Finish the day with a dinner and movie. Hopefully she will be forgive me for not making what truly is a very significant day in our lives. I often forget that significance of each day is in what we make of it. I have made this mistake more than once to be asking for forgiveness. Q. So what is it like being Mr. Khushi? A. Honestly, this is the easiest question she is the most understanding and supporting wife I could have ever asked. Often I wake up surprised with a feeling what did I do to deserve a wife like her. Truly she is the pillar of strength in my life. She breathes sensibility and balance to my life. Often is the voice in my head. My go to person for literally everything. Q. What makes you say all of this? A. Well, she is a very reasonable person. Everything goes with logic, for her the life line is her family. She manage not only her family but the relations that come with much better than I could ever have. She handles situation with reason and patiently deals with every situation. Q. What is her biggest dream? A. She is often says she wants her own house, a big house with a garden and trees.But honestly I think her biggest dream is to be the best mother, the best friend to her daughter that she can be. I am sure that she will be a great friend and mentor. This is life as I experience it is a blessing in the form of Gia, Khushi, friends like Sophie, Mani, yogi, Pooja. Loving brothers like Mayank, Chintu. Loving sister in Sonal and so many other people that make life worth it.

Gia!! I love you

Honey, On the 7th of Jan a beautiful gift from God came to our house in the form of you. When I first lay my eyes on you outside that hospital room I cannot tell you the emotions I was dealing with it. Like every first in one's life you were the Golden first that means to me a whole load more than any of my other first's. Its a feeling that you will understand only when you grow up to be a mom.

From that first time that you saw me to the first time that you smiled when you saw me, I can say that the joy has only multiplied with each passing day. From this tiny little baby just a few months ago you are now an adorable cutiepie blabbering the whole day and sometimes trying to crawl, sometimes crawling to walk..Oh,its such a feeling. Today you have 3 cute little teeth in your mouth and I so adore it every time I look at you. You are growing and growing fast. Its so surprising honey just the other day when you were born I was saying i can wait to see you crawl up to me when i come home from work today I say to myself I can't wait to start talking to you yet I feel that you are growing fast. Never thought a contradiction could be so beautiful. Okay, on a more serious note, you are now soon going to be 1. Your first birthday, I am sure that you won't remember much of it when you grow up but I want you to know that this birthday is a very significant day in our life. This marks the celebration of your being with us, how the past one year has been so much more than just work and home. This has meant a start of a new relationship in my life. A life as a father. Honestly I am still coming to terms with the meaning of being a father. Hopefully I would be able to do justice to the way I feel and the way I should be for you as a father. Today I want to begin by Thanking God for the way He has looked after you and given you good health and everything that one can ask for. I want to Thank my parents, khushi, Khushi's parents for blessing you and giving you the love that you truly truly deserve. I want to thank people who have been looking after you daily with such dedication and devotion. I want to thank those friends (sophie, mani) and so many others that I haven't named today for being the guardian angel in our lives and including us in their prayers. I Thank you all for being there. I know you would want to do the same thing and I as a father on your behalf Thank everyone out there for their love for you. Love you loads my sweet little angel. Like i call you Chinni ka bora..(Sugar sack) Forever yours Papa

Sand in my head

An outburst of ignored expectations, misunderstanding, lack of attention, call it whatever you may. For a few times now, there have been moments when dignity and respect has taken a back seat and the devil getting the better of you. Not being able to bridge the gap of communication is such a helpless feeling. Probably this frustration  fills our outburst with senseless tongue hurling and hurtful sentences. Often these mindless lashing result in to serious conflicts and a reason for many more fights. What does one do to ease such a situation? Is there a way you can express your views without being vengeful in action or words?

Labor of love is respect, understanding and companionship. While love itself is seemingly open to anyone's definition, and often beyond simple articulation. It's an experience. That interestingly makes it very very subjective. So, when there is disrespect, misunderstanding or feeling of loneliness it creates a furor; as the most sensitive harmony in one's life is disturbed. This love is not necessarily indicative of a love for someone or something but love that is always around in any/many forms that it exists. To simply, a mother feels lonely when her child decides to move to a new city in search of a new world/self. A person feels disrespected when his work goes unnoticed. All these situations create a change but only in its interpretation and not necessarily in its true sense of emotion. A child can never stop loving his mother who feels left alone, the man does not loose his passion or love for what he has been doing so well.

To be able to dive deep into the ocean or climb the highest mountains haven't really poised a big enough challenge but conquering this feeling in a sense that reflects the true state of being has been mysterious and yet to be achieved feat. No wonder than that people seek the path often called Godliness.

Sand in my head, unable to hold your criticism,
Not to say I am insensitive but sincerely to understand,
To explain the furor, for criticism are many,
But none more hurtful than the one that came from you.

Sand in my head, unable to support your ignorance,
Not to say I can understand but sincerely to be there,
To explain the furor, I am nothing to many,
But with you I am complete.

Sand in my head, unable to support you anger,
Not to say I am there but sincerely to hear,
To explain the furor, For many shout and cry,
None more painful than to see you cry.

Sand in my head craving to be the sponge,
To soak up everything you say,
To explain the furor I hear from many,
But none more meaningful than the one that came from you.

Sand in my head craving for the sea,
Of love that comes only from you.