Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Leaders...

leaders are not born but made...all around us we see people working around in teams...but what makes the difference are the leaders, managers, coaches and captains which make them work...

LA Lakers lost...thats made me philosophical, they didnt loose because of they played badly but they were outplayed by a better team...Detroit Pistons...Pistons dont have stars but they have hard working individuals...who work together really well...if Billups was unable to take shots then Hamilton was there, and if they both were lying low then Rasheed came up to take charge...and Ben the effervacent Wallace...he was every where...its a triumph of team, hardwork and leadership over stars and luck...

question may arise wats it got to do with leadership...but thats the point. Sport teams always represent real life scenario in a ways and forms one cannot any where and are able to show us how to break free of them. In case of Detroit, they were the underdogs, but coach Larry Brown was able to instill a level of confidence in them, make them believe that they can do it. Offcourse make them feel secure where they were and make them realise why they were there.

Irfan Pathan made a statement about Ganguly today, "he made me feel so secure". This security so very important that make people go lot of distance once they get it. Our india cricket team performance is attribute a lot to Ganguly cause of the confidence he could instill in all the young guys. But is security and confidence the only reasons for success?

Not necessary, but yes they are definitely one of the key ingredients....but how does that relate to my day to day work. Thats where the team comes in, every one in a team has aspirations, goals and insecurities. A managers job would be understand them and try to strike a balance between what the individuals are and wat the team requires, but as a leader you have to go one step ahead and provide the vision and goal to the team. The goal shouldnt be handed but understood and appreciated by one and all. If the leader is able to rise above being a manager and accept his responsibilities then he would be able to lead the team to great hieghts like never before. Each individual would able to meet his aspirations along with meeting the teams goals.

Striking that balance is hard, but achieving it will bring utmost success.

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

I did it...


YES I DID IT FINALLY....

started going to the gym...it happened last week on a cloudy tuesday evening. i had brought in a set a clothes with me...so there was ample indication its going to happen today...i came out of my cubicle the bread and butter of my life, and went out...took a short stroll and then i was there, standing in front of the door way to the future of my physical fitness...the door to my gym...

i started out with cycling for 5 minutes...man it was tough doing it after so long...the instructor is very enthuiastic guy...keeps pushing and erging to go on...keeps saying "good for u bad for others" couldnt understand it but still went on with it...then after some warm up exercise did cross trainer (sort of a stepper) for 5 minutes...after that treadmill for 10 minutes...and finally some abdomen exercise...my first day at the gym was over...not bad considering i was coming back after 2 years....

next 2 days were the toughest...it doesnt hurt first day...but really starts hurting the second day onwards...that day i realised...its never to difficult to start something or take the first step...its the second and the third steps that are toughest...i felt my whole body ache on next 2 days...but i still went to the gym...kept going back...the fourth day that was friday was the better...i had increased my times on the 3 machines....and was able to come out feeling better after one hour and 15 minutes of exercise....

friday evening went out with friends to a pub...was not much crowded though but that left the whole dance floor for us and we really had a great time...after gym, 2 hours of dance didnt feel like anything at all....came back 1:30 in the night...

saturday i had to attend a tech event by Sun...got up in the morning 7:30 in the morning, and some how manage to reach on time...there were series of sessions some were ok, but a few ones were good...had nice looking girls coordinating things around there...somehow i have lost that touch with girls i feel...had it been few years back i would have made contact...even got there no's and talked to them on phone by now...but i just could get to make the first move...one of them even tried to get something going but i was too tongue tied...i just shook my head thinking over it later...

dont know why i didnt make my move...havent done it lately...one has to be instinctive in these things and some how i feel i am loosing that instinct of striking a conversation from no where...

anyways...back to the gym on monday..this time it wasnt difficult but i am pushing myself harder...its getting better by each passing day and i am really enjoying it now...guess where i reached with the 3 machines...now i am doing 14 minutes of cycling, 12 minutes of cross trainer and 20 minutes of treadmill...i am able to burn around 250 kcal everyday....

hope i am to keep up the momentum...