Author: Rishi

The commercial angle

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

We, mortal beings, seek simple pleasures in life. We want to enjoy life, be around our loved ones, and be happy.

And yet, often I have found that somehow our motives are commercial in nature.

We may start off naively but soon enough, the sound of money or the lure of the benefit gets us.

And then, we start basing our decisions and actions around those “important factors”.

It doesn’t sound sexy or in fashion, so maybe we don’t talk about it. But I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t been tempted at least once.

A few weeks back something similar happened with me. I was writing my blog on the Sunday when India’s national cricket league came to a close.

Cricket in India is above everything else, so there was bound to be a lot of chatter about the winners. Bangalore being the champions, was the cherry on the cake for those of us from the city.

As I finished watching the match and then my blog, before posting it, the thought ran in my mind – if I post it now, what is the likelihood of people reading it? Will it get drowned in the sea of messages across channels?

I hesitated for a bit. Should I wait till the morning? Or should I go ahead and publish as per my usual Sunday night schedule?

That opening was enough for more doubts to crop up. Who’s reading my posts? What time do I publish and how soon do they get it on their feed? Do I need to do some more amplification?

Sitting close to midnight, these thoughts were only delaying my sleep. But the left brain wanted to press on, asking logical questions.

It took me a while to realise that I was drifting away. The debate was endless and its merit to me wasn’t clear enough.

Not that I don’t care about who reads my posts or how do I reach them and others better. But that’s not the sole purpose of my writing.

I write for myself. I write because I want to. I write whether someone reads or not.

That clarity, as it emerged, grounded me again. I knew what I had to do.

Publish the post. Share on social channels. Share on various groups. Forward to subscribers.

Then, repeat it the next Sunday…

A retired life?

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Anil was on the couch, fidgeting with his beard.

It was a dull day, in a rather dry June. The fan was humming above his head, with light coming into the room through the large window.

There was silence at home. His wife had gone out shopping and there was no one else. Anil was staring at the ceiling, pondering over his future.

Having turned sixty, he had just retired two months back. After spending more than three decades in different roles in the same organisation, he had finally called it a day.

He had initially thought that he would take it easy post his retirement. After all, he deserved to enjoy life.

The first couple of weeks were nice. No pressure of a routine, no stress of work or deadlines, and no worry. Then, as he entered the third week, he started feeling a little bored.

What should he do with all the time he had on hands now? Sitting around at home seemed like a waste beyond a point. How much television could he watch. Or how many conversations could he have with his wife, the only other person at home now?

He felt he had energy that he could utilise. So, he started playing tennis every day. Moving from a weekend routine to weekdays did help his game but it was enough to fill just a couple of hours. There was still so much time.

He then thought of meeting with friends and other people he had known. Some of them had time for him, while others didn’t. So, it meant only a couple of meetings every week.

By the time the second month finished, he was restless. He enjoyed a routine less life, but he also craved to do something with his skills.

There wasn’t a particular passion he had in mind to follow. Or a desire to do something alternative as an extension of his career.

He had planned poorly…

As he kept thinking that day, fidgeting with his beard, he realised that he wasn’t alone in this trap. There were many contemporary professionals he knew of who probably were facing the same challenge.

Was there a way to do something together? He gnawed at the possibility for a while, eventually realising that it was worth trying.

He got up from the couch. Sitting down at his study table, he mapped out a plan. Not a thorough one that he usually did in his work days, but a rough sketch of what he can do about it.

Over the next couple of days, he spent more time thinking and jotting down notes. Finally, he had an outline he was happy with.

It wasn’t a full time role. It wasn’t a gig. It was an experiment to see if he could apply all his learning to do something interesting, something he had not even thought about before.

He was retired, but that didn’t mean he had to live a boring life…

Of commitments and promises…

~ Rishi ~ 1 Comment

Our lives are full of these. We make many in a single week sometimes.

How many of them are for the long term or continue long enough to be considered golden?

This weekend, as my parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, and we got together to spend time as a family, this question rang in my ears.

Forty five years is a long time. A lifetime for some. Kudos to them!

It isn’t easy to carry on for so long, unless there’s real commitment and promise on both sides…

Growing up, I was witness to that commitment and promise on a regular basis. Whether it was the small everyday things or the big decisions, it was visible.

Not that there weren’t arguments or disagreements. There were many. But at the end, the commitment to each other and the promise to be together saw them resolve those differences amicably.

When it felt like the commitment was being tested during tough times, their promise to stand by each other shone brighter. And when good times rolled by, the trust in each other was only strengthened.

Today, as we celebrated their anniversary, it wasn’t anything grand. A quiet family lunch, banter and anecdotes through the day, and conversations about random topics, interspersed with calls from others to wish them, rounded off our day.

But it felt so grateful that we could get together and spend time as a family, without having to worry much. To be able to take out time from our schedules and be with them in a wholesome manner!

As a child in the household, if you see such a strong example, you’re bound to be influenced. So was I. Valuing commitment and promises has held me in good stead, in my own personal life.

But as I reflected more on the topic, it came to my attention that this isn’t just true for personal but also the professional world.

We can only excel at something when there’s commitment from inside, and when we are promising ourselves that we will do our best. If any of these two don’t sync, either the process or the results fall short.

What we often forget though, is that any commitment needs to be nurtured, and promises need to be kept. It is when we do this long enough, is when we get the results we had hoped for.

Just as in relationships and personal life, so too in our work and professional spheres…

Balancing it all

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Maintaining a state of equilibrium. That’s how balance is defined.

It couldn’t be truer for own management of life and how it is so important to maintain the balance at all times.

As is so often the case, each one of us tries to find this balance and builds a template around our lives.

But sometimes our life changes, even though temporarily, such that the template doesn’t work in that duration. That is when we get tested the most!

Last few weeks, this is what I have been dealing with…

Over the past year or so, I had built a template to balance the various things go on around me. At work and at home.

Then, in the last month, as my role and responsibilities evolved, and some new challenges came to the fore, my previously set template came under pressure.

At first, I tried to not change anything and continue as is. I struggled. The template was built for a different rhythm, and wasn’t fitting in, although I was trying my best.

I didn’t want to change many things in the balance I had found and as I kept thinking about what to tweak, I let it slide for a couple of weeks.

Not changing anything yet, I was hoping the new rhythm will settle down and my template will continue to function as is. That obviously didn’t work.

By last week, I knew that my previous tactics were not working. I could either accept it and build a new rhythm, or drop a few things that were hanging in the balance.

I haven’t nailed down everything and how I want to change my routine to handle some of those aspects. I am still figuring it out.

But I am hopeful I will find how to balance it all. And have the right template to balance things in this new phase of life. Until something changes again…

The first time you’re alone…

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

It felt strange. Leaving behind my parents, to travel to some other place on my own.

It felt liberating. As if I had grown up by a couple of years suddenly.

It felt exhilarating. In anticipation of what I was going to encounter.

I remember the first time I went on a trip on my own, I was in high school by then. I went to Delhi, along with my cousins, to spend time there.

It was a great learning experience. Away from my parents, doing everything on my own, having fun but being responsible at the same time. I still cherish that trip.

But it wasn’t just the fun I had there. It also opened my eyes to the world around me, in a way earlier trips didn’t.

Not because I wasn’t surrounded by other responsible adults. My cousins were there. But without my parents, my senses were operating on a higher level.

I saw things that I had not seen before – how people behaved, how the world operated, how I was fitting in (or was not)!

As I thought about that trip randomly this weekend, I was quickly reminded that our daughter had her first trip without us when she was still in primary school.

A full week away from us, among her classmates, on a learning journey. It was an anxious few days for us. And for her as well, I guess.

But more than anything else, it was a great experience for her. She learnt so much in those few days. As a parent, I could observe the change I saw in her post that.

I have always been a believer that kids learn more when they step away from home, something I propose to everyone in the family.

So, I am happy that our daughter got her first experience when she was much younger. And yet, as a parent it wasn’t easy to see her go alone.

I guess there’s a first time as a parent too…

I will be there for you.

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

It was a very busy day. Preet had multiple meetings lined up with important clients.

He had been preparing for a couple of weeks for these, as they were tied to new business that could secure his promotion.

So, naturally he was in the zone and working through the finer details in the last minutes. And no interruption was acceptable.

He had put his phone on silent and hidden from view. So, when it rang a couple of times, he didn’t see it.

But then, just before the meeting he saw it was his wife calling him and he picked up. His young son was running a high fever and she had called him to inform that she was rushing to the hospital.

He talked to her quickly for two minutes, noticing the feebleness in her voice but whisking it away as exhaustion from the effort to take care of their son.

Over the next couple of hours, caught up in meetings, no thoughts crossed his mind about the situation at home. Only after he had taken a break for lunch, did he remember and call back.

His son was now in the hospital, under observation. His fever had not come down yet. Doctors had diagnosed it as brain fever. His wife was holding the fort but he could now sense that she needed help.

At first Preet thought he will postpone his meetings and rush to the hospital. But then, the thought of the impending promotion crossed his mind. And the meetings continued.

By the time everything ended and he got to the hospital, his son’s situation was deteriorating. He quickly realised that the doctors had not been able to get the situation under control and after discussing with them, he was shifted to the ICU.

For the next three days, Preet and his wife spent all their time at the hospital. Tensed and anxious. The fever had subsided but their son was still not out of danger.

Thankfully, their prayers were answered and over the next two weeks, their son recovered. He had got a new lease of life!

During this time, as Preet thought about the first day, he wished he could have acted differently.

He had promised his family that he would take care of them always, but when it actually came to it, he was missing in action…

The guilt led him to cry silently at first. And then in front of his wife when their son was wheeled out of the ICU.

It was not that the turn of events with his son could have been different if he was there. It was just his presence that was needed…

The promise meant something. It had to be lived!

Lost for Words

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

I am… A lot of times!

My bio on LinkedIn says I am an aspiring author.

My writing streak on this blog is running at 331 posts without a break.

I have written six short stories to go with these posts.

And yet, for the last couple of years, I have been stuck at writing my first book.

Not because I don’t have ideas. I have three.

Then why am I not able to progress? Why I am lost for words?

As I was thinking about this and trying to figure out what should I do to unblock myself, I realised I am in this situation because of time!

Or the excuse thereof…

Time to think and refine my ideas. Not today or tomorrow. One perfect day/week/year.

Time to write when I will have bandwidth in my life. While prioritising everything else.

Time to actually do this sincerely, to do complete justice to the process and the goal. And yet, not being sincere about the quest.

As I thought more about it, I figured I was giving myself excuses to not start writing. And instead procrastinating it because it’s easier to do so.

I haven’t gotten over the line yet. Am still waiting and thinking.

But it feels like a good lesson to share. There are a few things we should wait for, but there are others which we should just go after!

Perhaps, time for me to cross the line and just start. Writing.

In the spotlight

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

There have been a few instances when I have come across celebrities or famous people at various places during my travels.

As is often the case, at least in India, celebrity spotting usually means crowding. Everyone trying to get a look at the famous person.

At first, when it happened many years ago in my teenage years, it was exhilarating. Something I would talk about with friends.

However, over the years, that charm has reduced considerably. Probably, out of respect for their privacy. Or because it has become second nature to not get over excited by something like this.

Any way, last week, as I was spending time with my cousin during a weekend on a work trip, this topic came up. She was telling me how they have also seen some famous people during their travels.

As we talked about it, one thing flashed back at me. How difficult it must be for the celebrity to live a normal life!

I have seen people clamouring for pictures around them, trying to get autographs, hounding them on their way to some place. And as if that is not enough, they live at the constant mercy of the omnipresent media, who reports on everything they do.

If I put myself in their shoes, it would be very unnerving for me to live life as such. I would be constantly bugged by random people trying to get a piece of me.

I would probably not go out at all. Or do it in secrecy. To avoid embarrassment and to feel and behave like a normal person. I would do anything to avoid the constant scrutiny…

But the famous ones have no such choice. They do it sometimes out of compulsion, sometimes maybe out of pride, but also sometimes just because there is no way out.

Perhaps, being in the spotlight is not always a good thing…

Paradox of the Known

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

We all know our race is evolving faster than ever. And we are all riding along the wave.

And yet, some of us feel we are on top while some of us feel the exact opposite.

Over the last couple of weeks, as I jostled with a new subject that I am studying, I found myself in this paradox. Between the unknown and the known.

I don’t have as much knowledge of this new subject, so it is of course an unknown. And I know I will have to build my know-how and expertise in it through my own efforts.

As I started studying the subject and its basics, it became evident to me that I could increase my pace of learning by using AI tools.

With these tools, we don’t just have all the information at our fingertips but also efficient ways of harnessing it.

So, the reasoning was that these tools will help me learn rapidly, improving my knowledge base. And help me identify best approaches and strategies to decide between two different things.

It will cut down on my unknown areas quickly.

But when I started using these tools, I realised that while my know-how started improving quickly, I was scratching the surface.

I understood the basics faster, but this knowledge gathering only equipped me so much. I still didn’t have the required depth to decide on which choice to make or didn’t develop an independent point of view on some of the aspects I was studying.

Then, I looked back at my life and it became apparent that this is how things have been all this time…

All through our life, we have learnt much more and in a shorter timeframe than before. We have more information available to us, and so we are generally better informed about things.

Yet, unless we have spent time on a subject matter and have gone through the grind to build our point of view, we haven’t succeeded in that particular endeavour.

And unless we have done that, we didn’t become an expert on the subject.

So, while we continue to have easy access to information, for the unknown to become well known, we still need to put in the time and effort!

And that’s the paradox of knowing our unknowns today and yet being aware of how to convert them to “known-knowns”.

Click Click

~ Rishi ~ Leave a comment

Aarti was exhilarated. This was her best vacation ever.

She was on a solo trip after a very long time. And was in the Himalayan mountains that she had visited as a child with her cousins.

She chose the location not because of nostalgia but because she wanted to see the place, she held so many memories of, again. After a couple of decades.

As usual, she had planned her trip well, taking care of almost everything. She always liked to travel with all the loose ends tied.

Naturally, with such planning, she made the most of the week away from home. She roamed around on her own, visited far flung temples, and met local residents.

She also did a couple of treks that she couldn’t have done earlier as a child.

All through the trip, she clicked a lot of pictures. As memories to be preserved.

But also with a thought to put them on her Instagram feed and social media channels. To showcase her solo trip to all her friends and colleagues.

Today was the second last day and she was feeling both exhilarated and contemplative. Exhilarated for having had this experience, and contemplative because she truly wanted to savour the feelings in her heart and mind.

As she thought about the last few days and recalled her trip, she felt an instant urge. To share the pictures she had taken with the world.

She took out her phone, connected to the WiFi, and opened Instagram. This was the first time in a week she had done so, which otherwise was a multiple-times-a-day activity.

She wanted to post the best pictures online. After all, everyone would want to see them…

Or did they? The thought crossed her mind.

When was the last time she was looking forward to seeing pictures of someone else’s vacation? Very rarely!

When was she genuinely awaiting news about others outside of her immediate family? Very rarely!

The more she thought about it, the more she realised that the online posting of pictures was only to make herself feel good about it. And to showcase her happiness to the world.

But to what end? And why was that important?

She didn’t have a clear answer…

She then remembered her previous trip as a child. She had some pictures from those days, scanned and stored as memories on a cloud account. She opened them and went through, fondly remembering those days she had spent with her cousins.

When she looked at those pictures now, she realised they meant something to her. They were memories that she had savoured. And continued to. They were a small part of her life.

She then scrolled through the pictures she had taken on this trip. And the same feeling came back. That these were her memories, to be preserved. But for herself, for the future.

She turned off the phone and sat down near the window.

As she looked outside the window, there was a nice view of dusk on the horizon.

She savoured it wholly and clicked a couple of pictures. For herself…