Three cheers for....
About Me...
So, I'll make it easy...
Story in a short video
Quotes I live by...
- Stretch out your limits once a while...lest you lose your elasticity... (recent offhand thought)
- It's better to burn out, than fade away (Neil Young)
- This too shall pass...
- Shit happens...Life Goes on... (adapted from Forrest Gump)
- Don't be sad, it's over...be glad, it happened !!
- He Knows not his own strength, who hath not met adversity - Ben Johnson
- Do whteva you want...Don't get caught !! (NDA)
- Rules are like rulers...some can be bent, others can be broken :)
My historical favourites in this blog
- NDTV/CNN: About Me
- This was me then...The love story...
- The Accident
- Better to have loved n lost. . .
- Sh*t happens...Life goes on...
- Operation Welcome: "Newly wed lady wife"
- IIM'A or ISB ??
- 'Not Expecting' from......
- My 2 cents dedicated to life
- Game theory in daily life
- Mussorie Nights at IMA
- NDA...IMA...ARMY...ISB...IIM'A
- The "4 Knows"
Friday, August 9, 2024
Passionate about creation? Do it...
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Mindful determination and the other kind
Mindful determination doesn’t have to benefit the whole of humanity, but more importantly, it leads to purposeful outcomes. Mindless determination, on the contrary, is like a headless chicken running around. There is this inordinate amount of resolve to get “it” done, but there is no meaningful “it”. There is no purpose.
I’m not saying that one should perpetually follow meaningful goals without a break. That will only burn out the wick. What we need is conscious investing of time into identifying personal and/or professional goals. Goals that add value to—an individual, one’s family, organization, or society, and so on.
For a leader (at any level), the focus and determination exuded set the path for the team. Now, that leader can choose to layer on the path with aspects that matter the most. Or, the leader can be determined about achieving the goal, but focus on inconsequential asks.
Let’s talk about a leader, say Mr. Agent Smith. He is a go-getter who is determined to go up the ladder. He leads by example, empowers his team members to deliver—the works. Now, everyone wants their team to be productive. So, Mr. Smith installs sensors to track how much time team members are wasting in the cafeteria every hour. Someone then creates Xcelsius dashboards to report back on 20 metrics. This can go on and on, but you get the point.
Determination as a superpower is good obviously, but are we pointing it in the right direction? That’s the question we need to ask and answer—both personally and professionally. Is it laser-focused on what truly matters? If yes, then go ahead and do what it takes. If not, then it’s time to get back to the drawing board. Get going...
P.S. The morning routine picture above is courtesy my daughter. The weighted vest certainly helps.
Friday, March 25, 2022
#RAFR (/ˈrafə/) break: Where will you go?
Over the lunch table a few days back, I had a realization. Not necessarily an epiphany, but an exciting idea indeed. And after discussing with my better half, drafted my 36-hours #RAFR break plan.
A #RAFR break is a run-away-from-responsibilities break (newly coined acronym). As we start our journey as an adult, the responsibilities keep getting added at every milestone—both professional and personal. Got married? Congrats! Responsibility added. Kid born? Yippee! Responsibilities added multifold. Had another one? You know the drill already.
Across the last two years, there has been a lot of focus on mental wellbeing, which is good. We always needed it, and many of us accepted a façade of, “I don’t want to appear weak, it's fine.” That thought process has changed thankfully, and most of us acknowledge the importance of peace of mind.
So, a #RAFR break includes a pre-defined period of getting away from ALL responsibilities. Irrespective of the life stage you are in, get far away from everything—maybe it's for 24hrs or 48hrs, or whatever you can make work based on your support system.
So, here’s my #RAFR break plan for which I got the in-principle approval from my wife (yippee! 😊). For me, mountains are the one place that I’d love to spend my life in. So, the destination for my 36-hours solo #RAFR break is Ladakh.
Phase 1: Take the early morning flight from Hyderabad to Leh and reach in the afternoon. I still remember the moment I stepped out of the flight a few years back, the picturesque landscape felt like home. Next, I’ll have a good filling of Thukpa, momos, and stuff for lunch, and pack some hot tea (maybe butter tea?) in a thermos. I’ll then hire a cab for a day and go to any of the quiet spots with a view (not that there’s any scarcity of that 😊). And then, I’ll just sit there, admiring the work of nature, at peace, singing with the wind, enjoying the cold weather, connecting with my deep self. Then a cup of tea, and then continue being in the moment.
Phase 2: As part of the second tier of the plan, I’ll need some prior coordination with my NDA/IMA coursemates, juniors, or seniors who might be posted there. The night will be spent in one of the units with brother officers, connecting with my Army roots. Maybe reminisce going for patrols at night and climbing peaks with moonlit sky in the background, and stuff. Of course, there’ll also be update calls to home in between—because I’ll wish they were there too, strictly NOT for the sense of responsibility.
Phase 3: Next day, catch the early morning sunrise and enjoy the moment. Have a nice warm breakfast at the mess and then on the way to the airport, spend some time sitting in the valley areas—absorbing the moment, at peace, and all the works. Catch the afternoon flight after that, and back home rejuvenated.
So there, I’ve said it. Each one of us (all genders, all age groups) needs that moment of freedom to get away from the weight on the shoulders. Let’s see when I put my 36-hours #RAFR break in action. The planning process itself was energizing enough. How about planning yours—where would you go 😊?
Friday, July 16, 2021
The DWIT framework (/diː’/wɪt/ or dee-wit)
Key ingredients—the core building blocks
So, there I
was, sitting with a few of my coursemates from academy days last weekend. Many
of the officers from my course are Colonels now and are commanding units. We
were meeting after 18 years (wow!), and it seemed as if not a day had passed. After
a few rounds of you know what, the question came up, “Rajat, what’s the one
thing that defence veterans can easily bank upon in the corporate world?”
When it
comes to the “one thing” question, firstly it reminds me of the book, “The
One Thing,” but then I’m digressing. I’ve been asked that question before
and my answer has always been the same. It’s the DWIT attitude, the “Do what
it takes” mentality which is ingrained into us right from the training academy
days (across all services). Well, the acronym DWIT isn’t my creation obviously,
but the framework below is essentially my POV. With respect to business, it’s a quality that isn’t
taught in MBA or academic courses. Of course, there are many professionals who develop
this attitude with experience, but it’s one aspect which I’d say is a given for
veterans. It’s the one thing that really helps in achieving business outcomes. And,
I’m not talking about the basic definition of the phrase. There are certain
underlying aspects (listed below) that are not typically stated.
D stands for being a doer
(yes, that’s a word). Whatever the objective might be, focus on the first step
and act. The emphasis is on taking action, i.e. not just talking in the air, or
going into analysis paralysis, but taking the first step, and keep going in
spite of roadblocks.
W stands for having the willpower
and willingness to achieve the goal (aka determination), which is the essence
of the framework in letter and spirit. If I compare it with various IT services
delivery models, this is a typical managed services or managed outcome model
where you take complete ownership of the outcome and do what it takes to
deliver (of course there’s a premium and other aspects to it). Having the
perseverance to pursue an objective is what this entails.
I stands for integrity, and
this is a key underlying principle blanked out by a few. I remember, back at
National Defence Academy, in the first term one of my seniors spoke about this towards
the end of a punishment session. It was a fun time for him, not so much for us.
“You guys will be trained on how to manage things—getting things done, one way
or the other,” he said, while we were rolling on the ground helter-skelter. “You
might be asked to get something urgently, and hear the phrase BBS, or beg,
borrow, steal.” That caught our attention, and some of us stopped rolling and
looked up. “Keep rolling,” he exclaimed and continued, “Remember that the last
word in BBS is figurative. At the end of the day, if your hull integrity is
gone, sooner or later you are going to sink.” He was obviously a naval cadet,
but it was evident what he meant. We’ve all heard about stories where some
companies haven’t really lived up to that aspect, which is unfortunate. Do what
it takes to achieve your objective, yes, but it should be within the confines of
what is correct.
T stands for understanding your target
or objective (know thy enemy, maybe). Many times, we end up pursuing certain line
of actions without a clear vision of the end goal. Has that ever happened to
you? Of course it has, and that’s fine but not always. If something is really so
important that you need to DWIT, then understand your objective and its
consequences. Is it worth it? At what cost? And, of course there are many other
defining questions.
Can
everyone apply these principles? Yes, of course. When founded on the core element
of integrity, DWIT is an amazing superpower to have, but not something learnt overnight.
Once you have it, sky is only the lower limit, yours is the universe.
P.S: DWIT also refers to being able to “Deal With IT” when things go awry. We might do what it takes to achieve our goals, but we all know “Life”. Life is iffy, as I keep saying. There will be times when you do what it takes, but life throws a spanner in the works. At that point in time, all that we can do is accept, deal with it, personify resilience and move on. But that’s another topic, perhaps for another day.
Ciao ppl!
Ciao Life!!
P.S.2: Comments welcome here or on Linkedin
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Follow your passion—life follows you: a few words on C.L.A.W.
It’s been a while, yes, and in line with the heading above, I’ll try to pen down here more often. Thankfully, my core job is founded in writing so I do get to follow my passion anyway.
Now, getting to the point, a few months back I got an email
from one of my well-wishers who had read my book. She mentioned about a site
called C.L.A.W. Global and asked for me to check it out. Well, I did and realized that
it was the brainchild of one of my NDA seniors (from back in 1999), Major Vivek
Jacob, who is a Special Forces veteran.
I then connected immediately, and it was inspiring to hear
about not only his exciting-difficult-fulfilling experience in the Special
Forces, but also the fact that he turned an event in his life (that led to
leaving the Forces) into an inspiring mission. Yes, not surprising given he was a Foxy (my Foxtrot squadron in NDA👦), but something that made me respect his fighting spirit and passion even more.
As I’ve shared in a few forums dealing with the topics of
PwD, most recently for a virtual webinar for NHRD (4:00 mins into the video), it’s all in the mind. PwDs
are people who are dealing with certain conditions, not only on a daily basis,
but every moment of their lives. And yet, they have decided that this condition
will not define who they are; they will define who they are. It's all in the mind.
It’s an inspiring mission that the team of Special Forces
veterans is on. Taking this mission to a global level—at a humanity level, speaks
highly of the passion that fuels this group. I went through a few of the
inspiring interviews of Jacob sir, and a few where he was brutally honest about
his entire journey (and the way he communicated it) are these ones: TRS 103 and TRS 104 😊.
It is meaningful when one has purpose.
An impact is created when passion meets purpose.
Friday, December 22, 2017
The Power of "Like attracts Like"
Saturday, January 16, 2016
"Wow, what an amazing facility"
I have definitely said this before in my blog; it’s something ingrained in our DNA. Typically, we appreciate the value of things only after they’re taken away. Life is iffy, iffy as it can be. Being ambitious is good, cribbing sometimes is just fine, but it’s best if we learn to appreciate (ALWAYS) what we have in hand. Yes, that (the 'always' part) is an ideal world scenario, but we can at least resolve to take that road and see where that takes us.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
A common Question on my book...
Ans. It's a very relevant question that I've been asked in various forms & forums. My answer is really straight forward - in spite of the training, I was and still am a regular (common man) person, and I reiterate - "It's all in the mind".
The answer really lies in our ability and willingness to change our thought process and approach to life. Sharp shooting, Rock climbing, Para sailing are skills that you have to learn via external means (not in everyone's reach). But what I'm talking about can be done by anyone - right now as I'm typing this and right not while you're reading it. Discipline towards an objective, perseverance (not giving up) and having a positive attitude is a conscious decision made by your mind.
I'm not saying it's easy, just saying that with focused efforts anyone can be strong willed and positive in terms of default reactions to the iffy idiosyncrasies of life. Do this consciously for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 and sooner, that reaction will be the default one in the mind. I'm getting kind of preachy now :), but really, if I can do it, anybody can - it's all in the mind.
Friday, October 9, 2015
"CAN I HAVE A CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE?"
So, Siddhant (my fictional name) starts his journey from the NDA and traverses through the adventurous life, with every day at NDA (and IMA thereafter), molding the pliable mind into that of an ideal Officer. Without getting into specifics, while many readers of this blog would be aware of some of the twists and turns before and after my accident (right up to IIM A), it would suffice to say that the story has elements of Inspiration, Action, Humor, Tragedy, and (ahem!) Romance.
.
I hope everyone enjoys reading it, even more than I did (penning it down). Please let me know if you liked it (or even otherwise), and do share your reviews at Amazon (direct link), or Goodreads (direct link).
Blurb from the back cover:
How would you feel if, one day, you wake up in a hospital to the faces of doctors and nurses? How would you react when you see your dreams shattering right in front of your eyes? And what would go through your mind when you’re barred from pursuing your passion? Crushed and devastated from within? Meet Lt. Siddhant, an epitome of courage and spirit, who woke up to all this one morning and yet remained composed, when told that his right arm has been amputated post a fateful accident. An average human would collapse, but Lt. Siddhant, an Indian Army officer asked, “Can I have a Chocolate Milkshake?”
This is the true-story of Lt. Siddhant, who when asked to shed his Olive Greens thereafter, goes on to build a successful career in the Corporate world and becomes an inspiration for many. But, how did he get there? How did he win his battle? “Can I have a Chocolate Milkshake” is a riveting tale of a man overcoming his limitations, fighting against all odds, and emerging as a winner.
Buy the book from:
The book is available in both print and e-book formats across countries. you can buy it from:
Notionpress: Paperback
Amazon.com: Kindle US, Paperback US, Kindle India, Paperback India
Other sources on the website
Other Key links:
My Website book page
Facebook Page
In addition to all my near-dear ones and well-wishers, I would also like to thank my publishers - Notionpress for helping me in embodying my book.
Ciao ppl!
Ciao Life!
Sunday, April 26, 2015
"Purposeful" Running
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Only 18% of events in Life are predestined
Let me take my own example. I strongly believe that ‘the accident’ was inevitable- perhaps it would have happened differently in a many-universes interpretation (quantum mechanics), but it was bound to happen. So I do not go into the “what-if” mode, with a sad look on the face every now and then. However, everything that happened after that was a factor of conscious choices that I had made.
Everything cannot be predestined, since that removes the human experience (and choice) entirely out of the equation, and everything would be programmed by the one above. Everything can’t be up to ‘free will’, since that makes the equation very unstable (with only variables), and people will then go into an endless loop of the “What-if” syndrome.
We always have a choice- the choice to do what is right (disclaimer-definition of ‘right’ is subjective). Events in life are essentially the sum of these choices that we make. In hindsight, we might realize that some of these choices weren’t really choices, and that thing was predestined; but that’s a small number. So that’s that on the topic. Yes, some milestones in life are predestined and already carved into the road, but it’s up to you to ensure that the road ‘as such’ continues to remain smooth and not patchy, through the journey.
Ciao ppl!
Monday, December 22, 2014
It's been a decade !!
It's been a long time. Of course I remembered my second birthday- Dec 22nd 2004, but the realization came only now that it's been 10 years. Phew!
I'm sometimes surprised by how there are days where I don't have any feeling that you are missing- at all, and life just goes on. At the cost of immodesty, I do admire the way my training and approach to life doesn't let anything seem amiss. But buddy, there are days when I look at the mirror and ask myself- "Dude, where's the rest of you? Really?"
Earlier tonight, Rishika was playing on the bed and said, "Mamma has 2 hands, I have 2 hands, you have 1 hand." I wasn't wearing my hand. I smiled and was about to give the standard story that I tell kids- how my artificial prosthesis is a stronger hand that I got replaced. They generally touch and agree that it is stronger. But she just continued after a brief pause, in a tone of placating me, "your 2nd hand is in that room. Tomorrow you wear it, then you'll also have 2 hands." The sentences weren't so complete of course :). She gave a smile of absolute simplicity and peace of mind. I might be over-reading it, but I'm glad that she has the same fighter spirit.
Sorry for digressing, coming back to you buddy. Yes, I miss you very much. I'll always have the regret of not getting to see you one last time (because I was busy dying and getting resuscitated). I fondly reminisce all the good times we spent as "One", especially during Academy and Fauj days. Needless to say, you completed me buddy. Love you, always!
Ciao ppl!
Ciao life!