Expanding the horizons...

Just a day before India's Independence Day, I had an interesting experience which lead my mind on a marathon path.
I was visiting my doctor for checkup on that day. Early morning 8 00 sharp I entered the clinic, and was first confused if I ended up at a wrong place. It looked more like a spa rather then a clinic.! I went ahead to the reception immediately and confirmed my appointment. Filled up a regular form and gave my insurance card to the receptionist. After a few minutes the receptionist came back to handover the card back to me. As he was giving the card to me, he pointed to the "Tata" logo on the card and said - "Is this the same company which produces the smallest car in the world?". I was shocked, then surprised, then proud and then enthused.! I replied - "Its not only the smallest but also the cheapest car". Thinking that I had supplied a sensational bit of information to him, I felt great pride. But immediately bringing me back from cloud no 9, he replied - "I know, and I think they also recently purchased Rover and some other expensive car brands, isn't it?". And I replied back instantaneously - "Jaguar".!
I might sound lunatic when I call this an interesting experience, but it indeed was for me. After the checkup when it was time for the tests, the friendly assistant doctor put several drops of allergens on my forehand and asked me to wait for sometime so that those allergens can show their effect. While waiting there I thought, never had I seen a common American looking up to Indian business groups so highly. More then a Tata employee, I felt proud as an Indian. Way to go..!
Creating a 1 lakh rs car has not only made a big Indian Middle class dream easily achievable, it also has brought a great glory and recognition for Indian expertise in technology and business. Adding to that, the takeover of Land Rover and Jaguar has really left huge footprint on global auto industry. So much so that recently when 4Ps Business and Marketing magazine released its annual ranking of "Companies that make India proud", Tata topped the list..! (Ref)
And this is not the only international M&A activity that has expanded the horizons of Indian business groups. But certainly I would say this one had probably the highest visibility and impact.
When Padma Vibhushana Ratan Tata unveiled the 1 lakh rs car Tata Nano, most people talked about environmental issues, the big Indian Middle Class dream, the cheap car etc etc. I have not heard anyone talking about the visibility this has given on the Global canvas.
That's why people like Mr Ratan Tata are called VISIONARY. Hats Off Mr Tata.!!

The learning here is that, just technical expertise and hardwork doesn't yield maximum results. You need to have a vision to direct the expertise and hardwork in the right direction.

Coming back to life..!

Outside the rain fell dark and slow
While I pondered on this dangerous but
Irresistible pas-time
I took a heavenly ride through one silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life

- Pink Floyd..

This somewhat narrates my past few months..! But I don't want to remember that any more.

I am "coming back to life"..!! It is true that everyone goes through the dip of the sine wave, and sometimes it is hard to come back out of it. But that's when your true friends shine like a ray of light in the absolute darkness.

After a brief period of pause I am back to dreaming and pursuing those dreams with endless optimism. And oh I so love this new pursuit of mine. And there is something Prof Randy Pausch (CMU) said during his Last Lecture that struck me hard.

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." - Prof Randy Pausch

Immediately I established an analogy with the first law of thermodynamics. Your efforts are never going to go in vein. It will be useful somewhere or the other.

What I have learnt in this period is that there are decisions to make every moment of your life. I can take each decision very carefully, or be more instinctive and follow my heart. While I may increase success ratio by being careful, I might end up spending a lot of resources in rent seeking. So I have decided to do what I "feel" is right, irrespective of what common belief is. And I "feel" I am doing the right thing.