- by Apurva Purohit
The CEO of Radio City 91.1 FM, with her wit, style, anecdotes has written her side of the story of coroporate dynamics, issues women face at work and home and what could be done to adapt to the expectations - be it at home or at work - and it made a fabulous read. What I particularly enjoyed is the way I could connect to most of the incidents in the book and while my reactions wouldn’t have been the same, majority of women do make those choices and majority of the men I do meet have the same mindset. It is frustrating to work as hard as your male counterpart, only to be always seen as a second fiddle that has to be carried on, but never have a driver seat. Come promotions or hikes, there is always that risk of not getting your share - because you are female!
Some of the points she made in the book do ring a resounding bell. I particularly agree to the point that we do not need reservations to be promoted, to get a place at the table, to voice our opinion. We may not have a loud voice, but we do have a sound logic and we don’t need reservations to carve a place for ourselves in the corporate world, provided the judges do perceive us to be co-workers and not just females. However, in this time of fighting for equality, despite having commanding women in leadership roles, it still is a sad reality that our work ethic or competency are not the only factors that decide whether we get that role or no. And hence, sometimes, that reservation does make sense, despite the feminist in me biting her tongue in mute anger at this statement.
Other point that hit the nail is the pregnancy phase of a women’s life. Men, have some physical limitations - lets face it, men are incapable of having a child. It is the women who need to bear that burden. And during that phase, it is difficult to put career in the forefront - men have the luxury of pursuing their goals, careers - but women don’t. And it is not just the pregnancy phase, but beyond that - as, again, lets face it - Indian men are brought up with the mentality of being breadwinners of the family and hence, taking care of a person and house is incomprehensible to them. Women, on the other hand, are ‘allowed’ to pursue their hobby of a career, as long as the home life is undisturbed. SO, she is perpetually in the state of having to make choice of family, husband, child - (I think woman becomes a mom than a wife when she is married!!) - donning multiple hats that constantly stress her out and despite all that, she still manages to stay sane! And because of this lack of support - from family do we see a lot of women throw away all the hard work they have put in, from late nights cramming for exams to developing a work ethic that allowed her to carve a name for herself as dependable only to quit after getting married or carrying a child.
Few more - about people assuming that you are a home maker and during a party, the inevitable draw towards the couch to discuss latest cooking fag or shopping spree while men sit at a bar(figuratively), discussing latest business news, PM actions, probably career options, building networks and the hushing of conversation as though you are incapable of participating in the conversation - God, I hate this particular one...
And Apurva Purohit, shares some of these stories that she witnessed and throws in her words of wisdom with an experienced hand. Her suggestions and the wit with which she handled some of the situations that she faced and the facade she has to put to deal with them, made a fabulous read.
I urge fellow career aspirists to give it a go, both men and women - there certainly are some eye openers for men and pointers for women.
Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label Inspiring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiring. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2018
Monday, February 2, 2015
How Starbucks changed my life
- By Michael Gill
Quite an interesting and easy read, yet thought provoking and insightful. Loved reading it.
It's about a Yale graduate, who was fired from an executive job and was forced to hunt for opportunities to live a life. A guy, who has been loyal to the company, worked 24X7 and kept his dedication to the company prior to his family commitments and sensitive or emotional relations, was fired because the company wanted young and dynamic force. He was forced to look for an alternative, when his savings were barely sufficient to get him through the tough times and he was diagnosed by brain tumor and he had just forgone his medical insurance in order to be able to provide for his youngest son. An unexpected talk in a star bucks store altered his life and there by gave him a new life. A life, where he was able to appreciate the beauty and dignity of working. A second chance for redemption.
"Work is dignity" and any sort of work is decent because it doesn't allow one to beg/borrow or steal and saves face many a time. The writing style was easy to comprehend and it is a light read yet will leave an impression. How many times did we push ourselves to the hilt and beyond, for the sake of the appreciation and the menial perks associated with the job and how many times did we forgo our fondest wishes on a holiday for our work, whether we like it or not just because we want a secure future, which we have not seen? The novel is apt for all the people who seem to be lost in this cat race for money and fame, losing one's self, being caught in the frenzy. Loving work is important, so is treating people right and so is accommodating people in life. Being tolerant to other person's weakness not only makes you humble, but teaches the other person more effectively. Also, to be a good motivator one has to be self sufficient and confident and eager to please before expecting the same from sub-ordinates. The experiences of Michael Gill are an eye opener to every one caught up in a sphere of "self".
For any person who wants to find the lost spark, that spark with which he began his journey... For any person who treats work with respect, and for a person bold to accept his mistakes and willing to start on from scratch and unafraid to do so, should read this book. It is unforgiving and self-sufficient and forms quite an interesting eye-opener.
Quite an interesting and easy read, yet thought provoking and insightful. Loved reading it.
It's about a Yale graduate, who was fired from an executive job and was forced to hunt for opportunities to live a life. A guy, who has been loyal to the company, worked 24X7 and kept his dedication to the company prior to his family commitments and sensitive or emotional relations, was fired because the company wanted young and dynamic force. He was forced to look for an alternative, when his savings were barely sufficient to get him through the tough times and he was diagnosed by brain tumor and he had just forgone his medical insurance in order to be able to provide for his youngest son. An unexpected talk in a star bucks store altered his life and there by gave him a new life. A life, where he was able to appreciate the beauty and dignity of working. A second chance for redemption.
"Work is dignity" and any sort of work is decent because it doesn't allow one to beg/borrow or steal and saves face many a time. The writing style was easy to comprehend and it is a light read yet will leave an impression. How many times did we push ourselves to the hilt and beyond, for the sake of the appreciation and the menial perks associated with the job and how many times did we forgo our fondest wishes on a holiday for our work, whether we like it or not just because we want a secure future, which we have not seen? The novel is apt for all the people who seem to be lost in this cat race for money and fame, losing one's self, being caught in the frenzy. Loving work is important, so is treating people right and so is accommodating people in life. Being tolerant to other person's weakness not only makes you humble, but teaches the other person more effectively. Also, to be a good motivator one has to be self sufficient and confident and eager to please before expecting the same from sub-ordinates. The experiences of Michael Gill are an eye opener to every one caught up in a sphere of "self".
For any person who wants to find the lost spark, that spark with which he began his journey... For any person who treats work with respect, and for a person bold to accept his mistakes and willing to start on from scratch and unafraid to do so, should read this book. It is unforgiving and self-sufficient and forms quite an interesting eye-opener.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
The Last Lecture
- By Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture– a truly inspiring book written for three kids by their father, who wants to impart his wisdom for he would not be there to see the growth of his kids nor would he be around in times of their need. Written by a man who lived life to the fullest every single day and aptly titled – “Achieving your childhood dreams” – and how he went about achieving them with simple anecdotes and timeless metaphors, his speech stands out as an inspiration to the hundreds of students present there, in the university auditorium and to the millions of readers world wide …
Randy Pausch, a Carniege Mellon university professor, diagnosed by Pancreatic Cancer and was given a short span of three to six months, goes about the last few days LIVING a life as he normally did. There is a sense of fulfilment in achieving childhood dreams. To dream and to hold on to that dream and to work for fulfilling that dream is not an easy task. Many a time, we tend to be influenced by circumstances, situations, people. Most of the decisions either due to emotional or relations bonds, are either shunned or modified. But, out there are few who live a life, every single day and go about achieving their desires with a passion that is rare and unflinching to the time. Not that there will not be difficulties, as Randy pointed out, “brick walls are there to show us how badly we want something”, but to work with those difficulties and to achieve – that is a true achievement.
The simple anecdotes of his life imparting wisdom and how he goes about fulfilling his child hood dream of being a Disney Imagineer and then, how he goes about fulfilling his students dreams, daring them to go beyond their strengths and urging them to hold onto their dreams and polishing them to become better at what they were already good at – It simply forms an amazing read.
A short book, which can be completed in three hours time – but will last with you for a life time. This book is not just a legacy left by a dying man, but also a book that inspires one to hold the right priority for the right things in life. Though Randy Pausch was a man of family values, which becomes clear from the book, he is also a man to whom work is of paramount importance. The diligence with which he goes about his job and the commitment with which he drives his children is truly brilliant. In the times where pay by the work hour has become common, to stretch oneself beyond that and to spread the passion with his fellow students is a rewarding experience, as many students of his go about achieving their dreams, giving him a reason to be proud of.
There were quite a few invaluable lessons learnt from this book, but most importantly is to dream and to hold on to those dreams. Despite not knowing the paths to those dreams, clinging onto them and step by step moving forward, will one day or the other land you in that dream. If not, nothing is lost, I have travelled with hope and on a path that meant something to me, that alone should be fulfilling and enriching. Mentors are hard to find and if one finds a mentor who can make us believe in the beauty of our dreams and helps us in fulfilling them, well, one has found the gift of their life, a gift that is worth living for.
To take a pick of his metaphors is a tough choice to make, but this will stand out:
“Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.” Though I have heard this in varied forms, may be, this last lecture by a professor whose days are numbered and having read the effective utilization of time, well, it stuck and it hit a chord…
The Last Lecture– a truly inspiring book written for three kids by their father, who wants to impart his wisdom for he would not be there to see the growth of his kids nor would he be around in times of their need. Written by a man who lived life to the fullest every single day and aptly titled – “Achieving your childhood dreams” – and how he went about achieving them with simple anecdotes and timeless metaphors, his speech stands out as an inspiration to the hundreds of students present there, in the university auditorium and to the millions of readers world wide …
Randy Pausch, a Carniege Mellon university professor, diagnosed by Pancreatic Cancer and was given a short span of three to six months, goes about the last few days LIVING a life as he normally did. There is a sense of fulfilment in achieving childhood dreams. To dream and to hold on to that dream and to work for fulfilling that dream is not an easy task. Many a time, we tend to be influenced by circumstances, situations, people. Most of the decisions either due to emotional or relations bonds, are either shunned or modified. But, out there are few who live a life, every single day and go about achieving their desires with a passion that is rare and unflinching to the time. Not that there will not be difficulties, as Randy pointed out, “brick walls are there to show us how badly we want something”, but to work with those difficulties and to achieve – that is a true achievement.
The simple anecdotes of his life imparting wisdom and how he goes about fulfilling his child hood dream of being a Disney Imagineer and then, how he goes about fulfilling his students dreams, daring them to go beyond their strengths and urging them to hold onto their dreams and polishing them to become better at what they were already good at – It simply forms an amazing read.
A short book, which can be completed in three hours time – but will last with you for a life time. This book is not just a legacy left by a dying man, but also a book that inspires one to hold the right priority for the right things in life. Though Randy Pausch was a man of family values, which becomes clear from the book, he is also a man to whom work is of paramount importance. The diligence with which he goes about his job and the commitment with which he drives his children is truly brilliant. In the times where pay by the work hour has become common, to stretch oneself beyond that and to spread the passion with his fellow students is a rewarding experience, as many students of his go about achieving their dreams, giving him a reason to be proud of.
There were quite a few invaluable lessons learnt from this book, but most importantly is to dream and to hold on to those dreams. Despite not knowing the paths to those dreams, clinging onto them and step by step moving forward, will one day or the other land you in that dream. If not, nothing is lost, I have travelled with hope and on a path that meant something to me, that alone should be fulfilling and enriching. Mentors are hard to find and if one finds a mentor who can make us believe in the beauty of our dreams and helps us in fulfilling them, well, one has found the gift of their life, a gift that is worth living for.
To take a pick of his metaphors is a tough choice to make, but this will stand out:
“Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.” Though I have heard this in varied forms, may be, this last lecture by a professor whose days are numbered and having read the effective utilization of time, well, it stuck and it hit a chord…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)