All I have is a Dream.. » Work n All

Another end of a Chapter

Another Dreamer — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:13:14 +0000

Today was my last day at current company.. After 5 years of slogging it out at at yet-another-software company, I decided to say ‘enough’ and move on.
I thought I would be happy.. Well til yesterday, I was ecstatic, excited. But today, today I feel sad.
So here’s this place where I spent more time than at my home. Here’s where I met some of the most brilliant people. Here’s where I fell in love. Here’s where I faced heart-breaks. Here’s also where I encountered (well dated) stalker. And we all know how that turned out. But, most importantly, here’s where I grew up. From an idealist girl to sometimes-cynic-sometimes-still-idealist girl.
How can I not be sad then?
I’m leaving some of my friends, some mentors, some crushes, some god-knows-whats… I think being sad is right feeling.

There are things I wasn’t happy about or I have felt bad about.. But today I would just think of nice things and be nostalgic..

Here’s hoping that everyone gets to work in a place where you come out with friends, not just colleagues.

perceptions matter..

Another Dreamer — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:27:59 +0000

A friend once told me if your manager doesn’t like you, Quit. No point in changing teams or waiting for him/her to leave or waiting for things to get better. Because the feedback he/she will give for you, will stay with you throughout your time in that company. And it’s true. I’ve seen this happen with many people. Why is it so?
Here’s why – It’s the initial judgment/perception which gets passed on and then stays on. If a person gets a negative feedback about you, he/she has already formed an perception. And unless you manage to do something quite extra-ordinary, it’ll not change. Of course, you’ll never be entrusted with any important work because of this negative perception, so eventually, you can’t fight this perception. Hence, you are stuck in a loop.
And it’s not just about work. Look at your personal relationships. The moment, someone we trust, tells us something negative about another person, we form an opinion. And very rarely we give other person a chance to change that opinion.
It’s very sad in reality. Imagine the friends you are missing out on, because of some small issue between two other people.

Now same advice, the other way around. When meeting someone for the first time, put your best foot forward. They’ll remember you more and end up leaving with a good perception about you.
At work, when new, Work your ass off. Prove your worth. After 6 months, you can live off your laurels.

As someone said to me, people don’t have time to form or change opinions, they are ok with whatever is given to them.
So just make sure, whenever someone gives an opinion about you, it’s positive. (And that my friend, is the golden rule you should live by)

Note to Self..

Another Dreamer — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:57:34 +0000

If I’m going to bitch about some girl at work on how she’s dressed inappropriately, I should make sure I’m not wearing such short tops that everyone knows what my navel looks like..
Also, applying nail-paint at work is just plain bad manners. (And some people are allergic to that smell)

Perceptions, Age and Life

Another Dreamer — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:55:48 +0000

Yesterday, an interesting conversation happened with a colleague. She finds it annoying that most people in team don’t take her very seriously or don’t listen to her point of view completely. She’s not the first with this complain. Last time I heard this was with another team member who mentioned similar thing. Common thing with both is they joined our team as Freshers (fresh out of college). Somewhere down the road, while mentoring them, teaching them things, we formed an opinion that they are kids. Hence, are not very aware. After 2 years, we are not ready to change that opinion. They have grown in their roles. They are better than some seniors in certain things. But they are still patronized. One could handle it but other is an oldest child. Which means she’s treated as an adult most of the time at home. But at work, it’s always the patronizing attitude. She asked me what changes she could make, to change people’s opinion.
I couldn’t come up with an answer. It’s not about people’s opinion, it’s the perception. Most people form a perception based on input from others or due to some action of yours. And it sticks. Very rarely, you come across people who are willing to change their perception about you.
But once a child, always a child. Once a slacker, always a slacker.
It’s sad. Really. I’ve seen people work hard to improve on their bad habits. But we as a collective bunch, don’t bother to acknowledge the changes. We are too stuck up in our own personal thought jungle that we don’t want to change an iota.
Too Bad. For we are missing out on knowing a new person

How are you today?

Another Dreamer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:18:50 +0000

Very fine. Thank you.

That’s how I feel most of the time these days. I’m pretty close to Nirvana.. And that’s what scares me. Funny, right?
When I think about my life these days, I really can’t complain about anything.
I’ve an amazing Family that supports me through all my whims and craziness.
I’ve some of the best people in this world as my friends.
My work’s not great but it ain’t bad either. Which is more than most people can say.
I’m almost done with ‘things to do before 30′ list. Now I’m preparing one for 40s, so I can start on it.

I think the reason I feel content is that somehow somewhere (very recently) I realized that I was focusing more on petty things around me than on my priorities. And when I started thinking about my priorities, everything became ok. That’s all it took. Focus on important things and people in life.
So what Bitch at work made another nasty comment. Maybe poor thing is unhappy at home.
So what Someone else is earning more than me. Maybe he needs it more than I do.
So what she’s got a bigger house. Maybe her family needs more space.

I spent a day thinking and realized I’m not ambitious enough. I really don’t want to become a CEO.
I really don’t care about bank balance as long as I can buy things I want. And clearly I can.
All I want to do in life is to travel, read and meet interesting people. which I’m already doing. Yes, I wouldn’t mind longer vacations but then again, who wouldn’t.

So, Moral of the story is ‘Get your priorities right and focus on them. Nothing else matters’

PS: Maybe one day I’ll become a self-help guru and teach world my profound thoughts

It’s amusing..

Another Dreamer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:39:43 +0000

..how everyone finds it easy to believe that any bug which appears in an app must not have been tested.
It doesn’t matter if QE did test it. Thinking worse of QE is becoming a habit. Worse part is even managers indulge in it. Since when is our code not susceptible to any recent changes.

Nice Guys do Finish Last..

Another Dreamer — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Politics at work suck.. More so, when you see people playing it being rewarded..
So my lesson of the day is “It’s all about convincing people upstairs that you work more and better than others. Whether you work or not is different issue. Hence, spend more time on mails and less on actual work.”
I think it’s time for another long vacation..

Murphy’s Law of IT Life

Another Dreamer — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:22:33 +0000

On One day, when you really want to go home on time and rest a bit, Because you happen to have a sleepless weekend ahead, Work hits you with full force.. So now not only you have to work late, You might have to sacrifice your weekend

These are the times I wish I was in a government 9-5 job.

Well.. Atleast I get to take breaks and post my cribs online

First order of business is..

Another Dreamer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:31:51 +0000

Business. Agreed. But what about ethics and people? Is money a higher priority or Values or Integrity? Personally I like working for a company with values. And I’m talking about values that are applied on day-to-day business, not the one on mission statement. It is sad that people are treated as resource not as human beings. It is sad that first criteria for innovation these days is saleability. What if someone in early ages had said we should not invent wheel because there is no market for it? Vision should not get restricted by revenues. Business shouldn’t be irresponsible towards its employees. Biggest asset of any company are its employees. Without them, nothing would work. Yes, You might have a product which is best-seller now. But if your employees aren’t motivated enough, quality will start going down. There won’t be any new ideas to make it better. And your star performers will leave you one by one.
Money matters but not as much as people who help bring it