I like the name ‘Ford’. It creates a classic aura; may be because it is a royal name or may be because of motor cars it manufactures. So when a friend said ‘I have the autobiography of once the president of Ford company”, I became too excited to read it.
Lee Iacocca’s autobiography is like any other biography telling his life story, with the main story being his working years at ford and life outside it after he was fired by Henry ford for no right reason but for his majesty’s insecurity about Iacocca attracting popularity, power and that someday he (Iacocca) would kick Henry out of Henry’s family business. Whatever…. I am no relative of Iacocca and his firing doesn’t move me especially now that it is all past. It is his life story. Everyone has a story.
What I like in the book is the importance of food business. It says there is nothing like the food business. It can never loose grip. Whatever might happen, people will not stop eating. And that is so true.
Another ideology which I would like to follow is –waste nothing. Be it worth a penny, why should one waste?
One amusing thing I found in the book is that Henry ford (ii) didn’t pay tax to the government. Now, how true it is a matter of mystery.
In the current page that I read Iacocca is fired. I am yet to read beyond this. It’s a Big book! Post firing episodes in the next post.
P.S: I personally think there are hell lots of dot com companies. Entrepreneurs should come out with something new.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Chetan Bhagat and his third release
If Reliance made cell phones accessible to all (even if it meant only for incoming), Chetan Bhagat made novel reading hobby an activity for all.
Initially there was only a section of people who would be found, in the bus, holding a mature novel but now any Tom, Dick and Harry is spotted with a chetan bhagat brand.( no offence to the author. I am only trying to show the revolution he has brought)
His third book ‘three mistakes of my life’ is nothing but a remake of five point someone. No, not exactly. There are differences. There I met Alok, Hari and Ryan where as here I was introduced to Govind, omi and Ishaan. FPS narrated life of three students in iit, Delhi where as Three mistakes (excuse my laziness to type the complete title) is about three young bekaar turned businessmen. To make the book different, the highly qualified author has added religion and cricket to this new released. Ok. I think I am criticizing the book a lill too much. The first half is interesting than the second half. In the second half someone who has read FPS can predict the lines of next page. On the whole, I wouldn’t say it is a book that should be recommended for teens but a book that would be liked by teens!
P.S: every comparison refers only to India and Indians. And chetan bhagat is lucky! (Only few of my people will understand this last comment :) )
Initially there was only a section of people who would be found, in the bus, holding a mature novel but now any Tom, Dick and Harry is spotted with a chetan bhagat brand.( no offence to the author. I am only trying to show the revolution he has brought)
His third book ‘three mistakes of my life’ is nothing but a remake of five point someone. No, not exactly. There are differences. There I met Alok, Hari and Ryan where as here I was introduced to Govind, omi and Ishaan. FPS narrated life of three students in iit, Delhi where as Three mistakes (excuse my laziness to type the complete title) is about three young bekaar turned businessmen. To make the book different, the highly qualified author has added religion and cricket to this new released. Ok. I think I am criticizing the book a lill too much. The first half is interesting than the second half. In the second half someone who has read FPS can predict the lines of next page. On the whole, I wouldn’t say it is a book that should be recommended for teens but a book that would be liked by teens!
P.S: every comparison refers only to India and Indians. And chetan bhagat is lucky! (Only few of my people will understand this last comment :) )
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I Hope This Clears The Air !
Finally I am in the final year of engineering. Last three years went by too fast. My class of 60 students (I don’t have the count of how many couldn’t make to fourth year. We started off with 60 of us, so I always feel we are still 60) have different plans for their future.
Few want to study the extension of what they are studying now (I wonder what is making them do so). Few want to work (are a little doubtful if they will get one). Few think they will make good MBAs (I personally feel we are all managers of something or the other. Only we don’t wear a sophisticated tie, a tucked in shirt under a heavy blazer). The last group is of those who say “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.” To which comes the reply from the questioner, with a declaration and not a question mark, “oh, you want to get married” (but Karthik, it’s you who is showing such traits: P).
Believe me it leaves me mute. How can my indecisiveness be tantamount to wanting to get married? It reminds me of a friend (shubhangini) who once shot a very smart reply – marriage is not my ambition – to a teacher who said “you have to get married.”
So, now I am racking my brain to find an answer, other than “not decided”, that would not mislead my fellow mates for thinking otherwise. Till then all I can say is “ look, I am not going to do GRE, I don’t want to be an MBA, so far people who can employ me haven’t employed me but all that will still not make me nothing.”
P.S: I don’t know if there is any other category of planners in the class. And I won’t get through any written test because they are jinxed for me.
Few want to study the extension of what they are studying now (I wonder what is making them do so). Few want to work (are a little doubtful if they will get one). Few think they will make good MBAs (I personally feel we are all managers of something or the other. Only we don’t wear a sophisticated tie, a tucked in shirt under a heavy blazer). The last group is of those who say “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.” To which comes the reply from the questioner, with a declaration and not a question mark, “oh, you want to get married” (but Karthik, it’s you who is showing such traits: P).
Believe me it leaves me mute. How can my indecisiveness be tantamount to wanting to get married? It reminds me of a friend (shubhangini) who once shot a very smart reply – marriage is not my ambition – to a teacher who said “you have to get married.”
So, now I am racking my brain to find an answer, other than “not decided”, that would not mislead my fellow mates for thinking otherwise. Till then all I can say is “ look, I am not going to do GRE, I don’t want to be an MBA, so far people who can employ me haven’t employed me but all that will still not make me nothing.”
P.S: I don’t know if there is any other category of planners in the class. And I won’t get through any written test because they are jinxed for me.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
human vs human
The moment Omar Abdullah began his emotional, justified and humane speech; words feel out of my mouth “he must be giving complex to other MPs”. He was a delight to hear.
The Indian politician’s are always seen as (by us) good-for-nothing people, but 25th july's great Indian political drama saw few good-for-a-lot politicians. To enter politics, in India, you do not require a degree or a kind mind to serve the public but a crook mind and few henchmen to fool and hew the gullible public.( I always wonder why do not we have an iitian, who slogged day-night to be one, on the Prime Minister’s chair. They have done enough for the Silicon Valley).
Exceptions are always there. Omar Abdullah’s Oxford graduate degree might only be a testimony to his rational and intelligent thinking but his trust vote day speech surely can fetch him a can-serve-the public certificate. (I do not much follow politics. There may have been previous such speeches by him, but for me this was the first)
His declaration “I am a Muslim and I am an Indian” was a fresh breath of air in this country, where you are considered a true son of soil only if you declare “I am an Indian” and forgo mentioning your religion. Is it fear or seeking “son-of-soil” label method or genuine feeling, I do not know.
The Indian politician’s are always seen as (by us) good-for-nothing people, but 25th july's great Indian political drama saw few good-for-a-lot politicians. To enter politics, in India, you do not require a degree or a kind mind to serve the public but a crook mind and few henchmen to fool and hew the gullible public.( I always wonder why do not we have an iitian, who slogged day-night to be one, on the Prime Minister’s chair. They have done enough for the Silicon Valley).
Exceptions are always there. Omar Abdullah’s Oxford graduate degree might only be a testimony to his rational and intelligent thinking but his trust vote day speech surely can fetch him a can-serve-the public certificate. (I do not much follow politics. There may have been previous such speeches by him, but for me this was the first)
His declaration “I am a Muslim and I am an Indian” was a fresh breath of air in this country, where you are considered a true son of soil only if you declare “I am an Indian” and forgo mentioning your religion. Is it fear or seeking “son-of-soil” label method or genuine feeling, I do not know.
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