The Retrospective.

If October 2nd was a dry day for liquor lovers, it certainly was a dry day of sorts for me. Not that i was exasperated for not having laid my hands on liquor (am not a booze freak anyways) but it was a day when i was totally sapped and probably let myself and a team of 14 individuals down. That day when i felt distraught with my own actions.

The finals of the corporate cricket tournament between AOL & Wipro was scheduled for October 2nd at 9 a.m. The team had to be on the field an hour early. We had to win the match as there was quite a lot at stake. Another task i had in mind was to go for dandiya the previous night with a few friends. The plan was simple - I'd spend time at the dandiya party till 1 a.m, get some sleep and go for the match fresh the next morning. Little did i know what was in store the next day. Sometimes its the retrospective that helps you judge better - for better decisions in future, hopefully.

I must admit i had a blast at the dandiya party. But for some reason i was able to leave the venue only at 2 a.m. Saw my friends off and was home at 3 a.m. Two hours of sleep is by no means satisfactory considering the fact that i had to spend 4 hours on the field. Corporate events may not be as competitive as the regular league matches. But once on the field you don't want to be giving anything less than 100% for that is a great lesson sport can teach any individual. I was like an insomaniac clearly not feeling comfortable. One of my teammate asked me about my red-eyed eyes. For once i wished it had rained like crazy and the match got shelved. Anyways once on the field the everything else becomes immaterial.

Wipro batted first with former India batsman Sujith Somsundar in their ranks, was dismissed early. Despite the plethora of extras conceeded we kept the opponents under control who were 4 wickets down for 60 runs. For me the nightmare was just about to begin. A wicket-keeper's feel good factor is pretty much like a batsman hitting the first few balls he faces right in the middle of the bat. The sweet sound from the willow charges you up. Similarly, a keeper feels good when the ball lands with a thud straight into the center of the gloves. When that doesn't happen then something is certainly wrong.

It was terribly hot, I felt weak, feeling drowsy and was unable to squat well. But i couldn't show it out as the keeper forms the backbone of a team. It showed in my body language when i wasn't at my vocal best. Just when we thought we were cruising along well the new batsman edged an outswinging delivery. It went low to my right, hit the tip of my glove and was past me even before i could realise. When the ball is low, going away from you the best possible way is to stay low (knee bent) that enables the keeper to enable a smooth finish. Clearly I was late without the intended focus on the ball, a catch i would have snatched up on any other day.

The batsman eventually went on to score more than 50 runs that enabled Wipro to defend a formidable 180 in 20 overs. In the break i was down and out physically although few of my teammate's tried to cheer me up. I'd paid for my mistake overnight. The only way out now was to compensate with the bat and try to win the match for my team. I did my best batting reasonably well scoring at close to 10 runs per over and in the process managed to reach 100 in the 11th over as expected. At times i couldn't run those singles which i could have at relative ease, had cramps and felt like vomiting. My first thoughts were about the Dravid's and Tendulkar's playing a 5-day test match at Cochin or Vizag where the temperature can be unforgiving. And here i was, a non-entity who was passionate about the game playing a 20 over game in relatively better conditions.

We needed 80 runs from 8 overs with 8 wickets in hand. From now on it was a matter of sticking at the crease as long as possible and keep the score ticking. A realistic target for sure and a gettable one. By then i was watching the ball really well until the first ball of the 13th over when i top edged a short ball to a fielder at deep square leg.The bowler yelled as i walked back making it evident that he'd broken a partnership that would have seen AOL through for i was determined to finish the game at any cost. There was a great sense of resentment morseo since the drop catch played on my mind throughout. Eventually we lost the match and the finals by 10 runs. Ironically the batsman received the man of the match award while my teammates teased me saying i should have got the award instead.

As i mentioned earlier the level of competence isn't quite as comparable to the highest level. But for an individual such experiences, emotions are similar irrespective of the league one represents. The drop catch reminded me of Herschelle Gibbs who dropped Steve Waugh's catch in the 1999 world cup that helped Australia go through the finals. Incidentally Steve Waugh was famously quoted as saying "Son you've just dropped the world cup". My inability to finish the game later reminded me of the famous innings by Tendulkar against Pakistan in 1999-2000 in Chennai when he battled all odds with a severe back spasm scoring 136 before holding out to Saqlain Mushtaq. That loss in particular still continues to haunt Sachin.

I am no Gibbs or a Tendulkar but the fact is that i could relate to what these legends must have gone through. And to play under such pressure physically and emotionally at the highest level takes tremendous effort. As for the common man it is rather easy to be a couch critic and lament at these players when they have had a bad day on field. The underlying fact is that every athlete tries to give his 100 percent or more when he performs. Over a period of time they become champions who in the process toil hard relentlessly. It doesn't take much effort to comment on a drop catch of a Brett Lee delivery bowling at 150kmph, ridicule a 7-time Tour de France winner in Lance Armstrong with dope charges or a 8-time Grand Prix winner in Valentino Rossi. But to emerge victorious after every possible adversity like these champions do requires great effort and courage. Criticism is fair when it is constructive.

Michael Jordan in one of his quotes said - "I've always believed that if you put in work results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because i know if i do, then i can expect half-hearted result". As for me it was a day that taught me a great deal. It was a lesson well learnt and that would be not to do things half-heartedly and to get one's priorities right.

I hate what i'm doing?How do i get out of it ?

I hate to do WHAT I'M DOING...... BUT....... NOT SURE WHAT NEXT .. but feel i can do "something else"..!!

If you don't like the kind of job you're doing.. Thats fine! It happens with most of them.I've been in a similar situation,figured out i guess and am optimistic that i can do that "something else" hopefully well in some time.At a time when assumption consumes a large part of our thinking time,it would be foolish to expect a result out of everything without dedicating time to it. It is easy to stick to what you are doing and say "i don't like doing this but the pay is brilliant and i won't be paid so much elsewhere". What will my relatives/mother/brother think ?Sorry - you are in a Quagmire.Give some thought on what your interests are and whether you can pursue your interests or hobbies further professionally. If yes stick to it and start working on the new interest. Just because it is an interest doesn't mean its cake-walk.The effort is always required to reach higher and has its own pros and cons.

Having a good set of friends is the best gift anyone can ask for.Get out of the closet,Speak to them,open up your mind,meet new people through them and vice-versa(social networking) and try to figure out that if that was the piece of advice you were looking for.

If looking for something inspiring check out this speech@Stanford by Apple CEO,Steve Jobs who didn't know what to do i life initially where he says "If you haven't found what you love doing yet , KEEP LOOKING AND DON'T SETTLE.As with all matters of the heart ,you'll know when you find it..So keep looking & don't settle"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA)


Famous Quotes by the "Great Michael Jordan"who's been through tough times, can make you feel better or read the book by Lance Armstrong "Its not about the Bike, My journey back to Life".

I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying.

You can practice shooting the ball 8 hours a day , but if your technique is wrong,then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way" - "Michael Jordan"

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

Try again. Fail again. Fail better - Samuel Becket

More on->http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/michael_jordan.html

Writing this doesn't make me bigger in any way or an expert. These are my thoughts put in writing to convey a message across to people i know (some personally) that "U CAN DO IT" INSTEAD OF thinking "CAN I DO IT".

Enjoy Life, Have fun , keep trying........

Cheers,
Karthik

Interview Approach

Get RID of THE "MENTAL BLOCK",Don't ASSUME,Don't Fear !

There are quite a few in this world who feel intimidated about interviews.Ofcourse everyone is human this is bound to happen.Even the great Tiger Woods once said "The day i feel i am not nervous when on the golf course,I'll Quit".However there is a limit to it.The best way to prepare for an interview is to "know what you are doing well currently ", " to be able to put across the work and achievements if any like no one has done before", "going with a great body language" and "smile as much instead of sulking with a thought of will i get through or not". I feel it is important to attend an interview without expecting much about the results.Yes, everyone likes to succeed but never get demotivated on rejection as there are other places "destined for you".I'd prefer to use "rejection" than "failure" as the latter has a real strong meaning which i believe is not in sync with what happens at "such interviews".

I'm sure there are a myriad of articles on how to deal with situations on rejection and my take on this is no different.On being rejected the right thing to do is ask the interviewer on how one could improve further,note down the questions and reflect back on them using books or the net.At times it is required to have a go at the interviewer as most of them try to put on the fake attitude and be arrogant.NEVER ASSUME THE INTERVIEWER KNOWS THE BEST.Give them a damn and move on ! Forget the past unless you have messed it up with an interview at "GOOGLE" or "APPLE".You have thousand's of companies which "will" need you-Trust me! Another thing hard to understand is the candidates including me(initially) having a concrete mind cribbing "Oh...! what did they ask in technical","can you please tell me the questions".While it is imperative to be good technically in any field, my experiences have taught me that "Technical (Unix,C,C++) is not the end of the world and never assume you will get an offer letter with "Tech knowledge"..To speak well and generate positive vibes is important at times.It happened at a couple of interviews which i'd say were the best that i've faced till now.

Another thing i've noticed is some not willing to take "that extra step" towards applying for similar positions or different positions.I believe its of no use cribbing about "who'll give me that position which is different?","I have no experience how will someone take me in" and so on.Stop assuming you are not good enough.Instead make an effort to take that extra step irrespective of the outcome and maximize the opportunities coming your way.Trust me once you do it you'll feel confident on :

a) taking that "step" which you were apprehensive about and can do the same if required in future.
b) finding different ways to think.

There's no harm in "TRYING" though.

I believe INTERVIEW and MARKETING are pretty much similar , except that the medium varies.And to SELL one requires the following:

1) The PRODUCT - "Its me,you or any TOM DICK HARRY".
2) The CUSTOMER -" End user is the company which is hiring you".
3) ATTRIBUTE OF THE PRODUCT - "Each one of us have an attribute we possess, identify them".
4) Customer In/Product Out - Let the customer know the right attributes ,explain how these would help in growth".

End of the day it boils down to marketing oneself well with the right attributes be it an interview or dating a girl.

Approaching an Interview :

1) Make sure the the profile on job-sites is updated every 3 days or once a week.Thanks to my friend who passed on this tip to me.Reason being , i presume the CV's are sorted on the latest modified time and not updating for weeks could well mean the profile could go unnoticed and find yourself wondering "why the heck am i not getting calls?,"Oh my profile is not good enough i guess!".

2) Prepare well on what you know and in case you are being asked something unfamiliar , present yourself in a way that you can learn and do it if given a chance."DO NOT BLUFF".If the interviewer makes a fuss out of it tell them its no "rocket science".

3) Dress well and possess a fine body language even if not confident of clearing the interview.Fearing will not help in anyway.

4) Its all well to be rejected. If so STOP MAKING EXCUSES because all this would help is probably get sympathy from your friends and NOTHING ELSE.

5) Never try and force yourself into understanding a topic which you've never done in the past with just a day or two to go for the interview. Tell the panel that you are willing to work hard and provide instances of how you did it in the past(small or big) or how you intend to do it in future.

6) If rejected make sure to know the exact reason for chucking you out unless you feel you truly don't deserve getting through the next round of interview.

7) Reflect back on all the achievements happened in the past - small or big.You have done it before , so you can do the same again- its no BIG DEAL !

All the Best.

Cheers,
Kutlu..