Life Turns a corner...

Nathan finally received a call from ABC, with him started off with the customary chit chat. How have you been and the likes? Nathan thought, how would he be? Well, very anxious and hopeful things would turn good for him finally.

With his heart beat stronger and louder, Nathan listened to what ABC had to say. ABC continued telling that this role is a regional sales role, you haven’t done any selling. You don’t have any experience in BD and things like that. However, I consider you have that in you to work hard and prove to be good in this. This is a completely new domain for you and a new business function. We would be teaching you, training you on the products and services of the company that you have to sell. We would be doing a lot of expenditure in training you. Exactechpur is not easy place to work, the competition is high, and it would be tough to sell too. By the time, Nathan heard all this, he was excited and he knew sooner or later, ABC is going to confirm his appointment in Exactechpur for this role. His heart starting pounding all the more.

Meanwhile, all this was going in Nathan’s head, ABC quickly shifted track and raised a question – Are you up for all this? And pat came Nathan’s reply – Yes. ABC said, Nathan, please consider this, think again and then revert. Nathan said, I have already thought of all this and then only I attended the interview and followed up J I am ready to take the challenge and am confident that I will make it happen.

ABC then said; it’s good to hear this. I will now send you an informal offer on the email. Go through it and send me your email approval. Once you do that, I will get the HR to send you the formal offer letter.

Hearing this, Nathan thanked ABC at least 5 times. Thanking ABC not just for considering him for the role, but considering him for the role in Exactechpur and at this juncture of time in his life, when he needed a good paying job. With an education loan and other impending family commitments, he needed this job more than anything else.

Nathan was so excited that he just put down the phone and went straight to his mom and lifted her in joy. Seeing the happiness and excitement, she knew what did this mean and asked, what happened? Did you get that job? And Nathan had just to say – Yes, Yes, Yes. He then thanked God and informed his dad and others in the family.

He waited for the offer on the email. He expected it to come that day. He waited, checked his emails almost every minute expecting the email from ABC. The email didn’t come that day. The whole night went off in anxiety and sleeplessness thinking when the email will come and he can finally see the offer being made to him.  Has ABC changed his mind? Has he forgotten? Was he still deliberating on the offer? Or he simply too busy to write to him today, will do that ASAP? His mind was clogged with thousand thoughts.

The life did turn a corner for Nathan, when the email from ABC finally came by the end of the next day. And Nathan had a sigh of relief. ABC Thanked Nathan for attending the interview and finally offered him a decent salary, going by the market standards during the “great recession” of that year. He was so excited to see the offer that he quickly wrote back to ABC, thanking him for his consideration and the offer.

Looking Around...Another Important Learning

Nathan starts discussing few more opportunities with his friends of network again. And soon, a friend of his, Sam, discusses with him a new business development opportunity with a much bigger company and that too based out of Exactechpur – a foreign land. He got excited with the lure of working in Exactechpur and earning good money.

And then started another bout of anxiety. Sam shared Nathan’s profile and resume with a gentleman called ABC. Mr ABC thanked Sam for sharing the profile and promised to revert ASAP.

This ASAP gives us the flexibility we desire J No fixed timelines...no schedule & no ETA. Say ASAP and take it easy. If anyone follows up, you can continue taking refuge under ASAP J

Well, this time, ASAP came the reply. After 2 weeks, Mr ABC called up Nathan directly on his hand phone and wanted to speak (read interview) to him. Nathan was taken by surprise, given the fact that it’s been some time and he had mentally agreed that it was not to be. Nevertheless, he requested for a call after 1 hour, reasoning, he is outside somewhere and it would take him sometime to reach home, where they can talk peacefully (Though, in actuality, Nathan wanted some time off to prepare for this interviewJ). Mr ABC, shot back saying, this is the second time he has called in past 30 mins and it would be good to talk now. Nathan accepting this and considering this as his last chance for this opportunity had no choice but to relent and start the discussion.

The interview started as usual with – Tell me about yourself, easing Nathan into his stride. The discussion, eventually moved towards why us, and why Exactechpur? Wow, this again proved to be an easy draw for Nathan, as he had already thought out answers to these. Moving towards the role being offered and Nathan’s lack of experience in this, he advised of his past challenges and how he overcame everything that new challenges had put across him. Rounding up the discussion with we shall get back to you soon, Mr ABC promised to consider Nathan for this role.

Another 2 weeks has gone past, Nathan had gotten anxious of the response. He even, contacted Sam, checking if he would know anything on his application. Sam didn’t know anything on the status of Nathan’s application, however, he did promise to check and revert ASAP. Again ASAP?? Huh!!

Another 2 days and Nathan received an email from Sam saying that Mr ABC has promised to call Nathan today and respond to his application. Finally, Nathan also received an email from Mr ABC, promising to call him in the evening today. The evening went past and Nathan didn’t venture out, expecting a call from ABC. The whole evening went past and the call didn’t comeL. Everyone in the know started checking on him and he had nothing to say, except that he is yet to receive the call. So much so he is an optimist, Nathan was disheartened at not receiving the call. However, he still knew that till the time it is not No, he still has a chance. His belief in himself was pushing him to remain positive...he was learning to remain calm and patience.

A New Beginning...Foundation is laid..

Nathan is just passed out of a prestigious MBA school, looking all around for a job. Looking for a job amid recession, gloom all around? Sounds outrageous?? Well may be, however, for thousands like him, it was a dream to get a MBA degree, earn good friends (or network, if I am allowed call it) and a handsome salary. With the degree, in fact, he got an icing on the cake – a Gold Medal for his performance during the program, he could also build a good network of friends. However, the most prized possession – a job (leave alone a decently paying one) still eluded him.

He tried hard, so much that he dug into his network of friends, here and there but to no avail. He even discussed with his current gala of friends from MBA, thinking someone might have 2 jobs somewhere and can fit him in too J However, as expected, nothing came out. He even spoke to his previous employers; they agreed to hire him back, albeit at the old role and salary. Though, this gave Nathan the confidence that he has something on the plate and can join them back, he still decided to give it a try for another 6 months and then get back to his previous role, may be, if needed.

So much gloom all around, everyone from the MBA gang struggling to get a job, however, our man, Nathan was still optimistic. He never lost heart and always believed that a good job was lying somewhere near. He just has to struggle a bit to get there.

Then comes an email from a friend – connecting Nathan to someone called Tom. Tom is looking to start his own company and is looking for a Business Development guy for that startup of his. Tom writes to Nathan, looking for his reasons to join a startup and how best he can add value to his niche & small company.

Nathan got all the more confident, happy at his belief in himself being proven right and thinking that he is eventually near his first job after MBA. He wrote to Tom, thanking him for considering him for this position. And of course, giving his reasons to join a startup, etc, etc. (Was there any reason, other than getting a job at that moment?)

After getting a response back from Tom, Nathan decided to meet Tom soon at his place and discuss his employment.

Nathan meets Tom at his place and they finally agree on the marketing-cum-business development role for Nathan. Nathan also agrees considering that he was given the luxury to work from home and foremost, he got a job (albeit a low profile and low paying one), but at least a job in such a bad corporate and job environment, where even the graduates from the top rung b-schools were struggling.

Nathan works hard, tries hard to learn the nuances of business development, noting that this space is completely new to him and he will have to learn a lot and put in extra efforts.

As time goes by, he learns that his current employer is not able to pay him, though; he has been working for him for a few months now. To make matters difficult, he has an impending education loan which would spread its EMI pangs anytime soon.

Love thy Cricket

I am back to writing...and the tribute goes to the latest addition to my friend's list :)

With the latest report of Suresh Raina being implicated in meeting some illegal bookie's accomplice during the last Indian tour to Sri Lanka...I thought why not touch upon this very complicated yet serious issue

I totally agree that any player who fixes a match or a few actions of his during any match should be dealt with seriously... but having said that...it doesn’t mean that any player who meets someone who accidently happens to be in some way linked to some illegal bookie is a match fixer

But all this presents a curious case for all of us…if we really don’t take every action with a pinch of salt then how do we act to maintain the sanctity of the game, which we all love to the level of madness!! This is what makes it complicated. Where do we draw the line between personal and professional?

I think this is where ICC and the cricket boards have to come together and pass a strict message in a coherent voice that they all are on a same page on this and will act on it with all truthfulness and sincerity. After all, they all owe a great deal to the spectators and cricket lovers across the world!!

The message has to come across swiftly and clearly to the players as to what all expect from them and how can the boards and ICC and ACSU can do to fix the rut. There should be sessions on ACSU and its activities and actions should be made as transparent as possible. Players on their part should know that this is all for the game, to regain the faith of the fans and to make things clear to everyone.

The governments across the world should also come forward to share any such information which might eventually help all of us in our fight against the menace. Everyone should agree that this is not making some news public for the heck of it and hence defaming the game we all love. Rather, it is being transparent in the best manner possible and being open to everything and anything and telling our fans across the world that we care for you and the game. Because it is the fans who make or mar any sport or art.

The players have the greatest role to play. They have to act responsibly and understand in no clear terms that it is the fans who make them icons and celebrities. If the fans loose interest in the game, they might loose their any status overnight and our beloved game may loose ground too. They have to believe that being in the game and playing for the country is the best thing to happen to them and they can earn much more being in the game for long than earning those peanuts for some irresponsible action. I don’t have to quote any examples to give proof to this theory. I am sure they understand that ICC, ACSU and their local cricket body will be keeping a close tab on each one of them. Hence, they have to take it easy and act responsibly. At the end of the day, the onus of all this, is on the players.

And not to forget the fans, who can take any sport to dizzying heights. Even they have a role to play; they should not loose faith on the basis of any lone freaking news or incident. They should realise that every stakeholder is doing its bit to fix this problem and hence they have to just maintain their calm.

I know this great game of cricket will overcome these hard days soon and we will rock again and take it to greater heights. Just that we need to be realistic and remain calm. Love thy Cricket!!

From the Steel City – Best years at the alma mater

I am sure, most of the engineers; especially the ones from NIT Rourkela would agree with me that most happening and most unforgettable time at our alma mater was the first year and the final year.

First year was mostly dedicated to the ragging time, ragging fundae, third button, seniors and just going to the college and coming back. Some of the unforgettable memories! The friends that you made during the ragging period are some of your best friends for life! And why not, you spend time together learning and practicing the ragging fundae, being together facing the ‘monster’ called senior. Also, there would be time, where you would see some of the fortunate ones who have been able to understand it, making an honest effort to teach you ‘Power Series’. I still remember, Ashish used to teach us during our first semester, when certain topics would bewilder us, as if they were from a different world! There would be some other times, when a certain friend of yours had spent the whole night taking care of you and teaching you, even when, he knows that there is an exam the next morning and even he needs time to learn some and brush up some!! All thanks to NIT Rourkela that we have been fortunate to get such fellas and friends.

Getting ragging free by the second year seniors was a scene in itself. Can there be something as “official ragging free” when by law ragging was banned in India? But, we were!! J Seniors would ask us “when is your official ragging free??” and would advice, “you can wear jeans after official ragging free, but don’t wear very tight jeans, etc” J Wow!! How can we all forget this? I know, we all remember this well. The official ragging evening was in itself something, no less than a grand culmination to some big event. As if, the Organizing Committee chairman would declare the Olympics closed!! Second year seniors would come and Cultural Secretaries would come with their cohorts and shout “Aaj se tum log ragging free ho”!!

Final Year was another story altogether. Last year’s good campus placement was a good reason to be optimistic of our good fortunes with the placements. And with the economy scorching ahead at a brisk pace after that bust of 2000-01, we left the shores of third year and moved ahead towards final year at NIT Rourkela with a huge sense of optimism. The urgency shown by large companies which came calling even before we officially started our college after the summer vacations of 2004, it seemed everything was rosy for us! And it started with a bang (though we all expected a lot more J), with Infosys placing 47 from the batch and rang the campus placements bell for our batch. With others lined up and gulping fast before one would get space to breathe, it was festival mood everywhere in the campus!

I close my eyes, and the scene, when Arun Rai shouted from the first floor gallery of Placement Deptt. “Gandhi tera ho gaya hai” and came running down with Nishant is still vivid.  And both shouting “bumps do”, “maaro Gandhi ko”, “mote tera bhi ho gaya hai”, “bumps do dono ko”. I swear, no one can ever forget such moments the whole of his life. Till then, we were only bystanders to such scenes, but suddenly, we were a part of such celebrations, and in fact we were the protagonists. Imagine, you studied the whole of your life till then, and suddenly you have moved into a different space, where you don’t have to study (like we used toJ) and what more, you are being paid for your efforts or no efforts, sometimesJ). I remember, I and Vijayendra got through Infosys from the whole gang and rest were all shouting party, party! And what other place to go to party for a Rengolian, than the Radhika Hotel and we quickly rushed.

Many more such parties followed over the next few months and no one was left! No wonder, with a job in hand, there were parties all day and night during the final year. No wonder Final year is one of the best times at NIT Rourkela!!

IPL controversy snowballs

Whatever happens to the current IPL related chants, we have to accept the fact that it indeed has taken cricket to a whole new world and given it a platform it deserved!

My two cents on the current IPL controversy

It all started with Modi spilling the beans on Kochi IPL stakeowners and especially One Sunanda Pushkar, whom former Minister, Shashi Tharoor is expected to marry soon (though this can take a back seat in the light of this controversy). I am not interested in knowing what is the role of Ms Pushkar in the franchise or what is her role vis-a-vis Mr Former Minister. Neither I am interested to know if Tharoor ever requested Modi not to disclose the owners and their stakes. What I am interested to know is what role actually the former minister enacted in the IPL franchise and was he truthful thus far? From the looks of it, it seems, he did have a role, may be some financial stake as well. If there had not been any role, why would the govtt. ask him to step down and cut a sorry figure in the eyes of the common man. As it is, the govtt, is already running short in respect to the rising prices, Women's bill, Telangana controversy (Thank God! it is not buring right now), Nucler liability bill, etc. If he was not at fault, why shuould the immensely popular and internationally acclaimed minister step down? I agree, since becoming minister last year, he has become controversy's favourite child, but still, I don't buy the argument that he was not at fault and still resigned for moral reasons or whatever.

What can we say about Mr Lalit Modi. From his resume, it seems, he has a penchant for the wrong! But, everytime he has come back strong and better equipped! I bilieve, this time would be no different either! He gave cricket and India something different and something to chear about! An internationally acclaimed brand worth billions within 3 years is something which not even top business houses could ever imagine. No investment, no business would have ever grown so popular in such a short timeframe. His marketing and selling acumen is there for all to see. But I bilieve, the immense popularity of IPL and that everyone wanted their share of the pie and to top it all the fact that he became the most saught after business man, celebrity created all the problems. Did success caught up with him? Did he started taking things for granted and treated everyone else with contempt? Did he manouvered around the law and regulations to help his business causes and his kith and kin? It seems answer to these questions may be a big Yes. His high handedness proved to be his unbecoming. We can't say anything for sure, but answer to many such questions would be interesting to know. I am sure, millions like me want to know these facts.

Another thing that bothers me is that why did our tax authorities, govtt and other agencies react to such happeneings? Why can't they be proactive? Why do they have to wait for some whistleblower to lift the lid? This time again, they joined late! Everyone knows these franchises, BCCI, IPL are all private bodies and hence they don't have to declare any financial or business information. Hence, they can easily play around. With millions at stake and numerous theories flying across about the financial status of the franchises over the internet and other media, it should have been reason d'etre for all such investigations. Nevertheless, better late than never!

Having said all this, I would be as interested to know the facts and outcome of the investigations as you and would be following the drama all over! I sincerely hope, none of the witnesses turn hostile and this one doesnt run into years as many have over the past :)

IPL takes the everyone by storm

I know the title above sounds like a cliché :) Not that I couldn't find something which would sound better and attractive to the audience, but I wanted to put this to bring a point into perspective. T20 cricket was conceptualized just a few years ago by someone who has long been forgotten and never knew that it would generate the moolah like it is now, otherwise he would have put a royalty fee to his idea :) He just tried it out to bring some loyal supporters back to the English county cricket and make it enjoyable for the teams as well as the audience.

Look at it now, it indeed has taken the world by storm, just look around and we see everything which is suited to this shortest version of the game. We have T20 leagues all around the world. Cricket boards have risen to the fact that to keep themselves going and maintaining the spectator interest they have to adopt this newest child and pamper it to the hilt. Even corporates and celebrities have put in some huge amounts and we can see them all having fun at the grounds – showing their famous dimples, smiles, dance moves, and then the latest one – tweeting to “connect with their fans”. The players are also having some good time – get to earn astronomical amounts of money which was never heard of in cricket, learn, compete with the best in the business and if they are lucky, as some of them have been, get hugs and kisses from their famous and beautiful owners :)

Before we lay threadbare some of the other interesting facts about IPL, lets understand the business model that this competition adopts and see its merits and demerits. All in all, the major inflow of money to the league comes from the following
> Media Rights
> Central Pool – includes title sponsorship and licensed merchandise
> Money raised by the franchises – in stadia advertisement, licensing products, merchandising, advertisements  
   on tickets, and gate receipts
> Franchise bid money
Out of this money that comes into the IPL, all but franchise bid money is shared across the BCCI and franchises and if franchises wish, between the players as well.

Apart from everything that is money in IPL, what are the other benefits that have risen out of IPL. For the players, it is a world level platform, where they are earning much more during this 40-50 day period than they would otherwise for the rest of the year (For some, I might sound over optimistic here :)). They get to share dressing rooms with the best in the world and get to feel how it is playing at the international arena under the glare of the lenses and where every smart catch and pathetic running between the wickets is being watched and liked and ridiculed globally. Imagine how it would feel for someone like Saurabh Tiwary to play alongside Sachin Tendulkar and learn some tricks of the trade. Would someone like Yusuf Pathan had ever dreamt of playing and being coached by Shane Warne and being pampered by him, like he is? And see the transformation, over the last few years, since IPL1, Yusuf has become a regular member of the Indian T20 and ODI squad and bowlers world over dread him for his batting histrionics. Since then, every captain, wants to see the back of Yusuf as soon as he comes out to bat. Experts say that since IPL1, he has improved a lot in his batting and bowling both. Some of the players, like Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan should thank IPL very much that this gave them a platform to showcase their talent and earn an Indian blue jersey.

Earlier, the Indian domestic teams for the Ranji trophy and the likes except the zonal teams only had players from their respective states, with only a few exceptions here and there. This somehow, seemed like a regional bias. But with the advent of IPL, we see players from North Indian states playing for the team from the land of “Marathi Manoos”. Thanks to the clout that the BCCI enjoys, that those regular chants from the “manoos” have been allowed. Who knows, may be some mouthpiece would condemn the Ambanis to employ the services of a North Indian Harbhajan Singh for the team from Mumbai.

The corporates and celebrities who have invested some huge amounts of money into buying their respective franchises also seem to give thumbs up to this carnival of cricket. Mind you, these are some of the best business minds of the country and some of the best known faces in the Indian social circuit that they wouldn't have missed a point before investing millions into them. According to some estimates, over the 3 years of its inception, IPL has grown to be a brand worth more than $4 billion and continues to grow and bring more into its ambit. Critics, say millions invested into buying the franchises and then buying cricketers is not a sane business idea and may take years for them to come out of the red. But, I ask them a simple question, unless, a sound business idea was shown to the prospective bidders for the franchises, why would some sane person or a large business house put in such monies for which they might be accountable to the public too. Also, the business model discussed above seems pretty okay for most of the franchises to turn profitable in a year or two of their inception. Having said that, understand all from how things stand now, after 3 years into the IPL mania. 2 new franchises were bought together for an amount more than what was spent for 8 of the old ones 3 years back. 10 second advertisement spots for the IPL3 league matches were sold for Rs 4.5 lakh, which is 200% more than the price for similar ad spot during IPL1 in 2008 and this rose to Rs. 5.25 lakh as the league progressed. For the semi finals and final, these rates are expected to shoot to more than Rs. 6.5 lakh per 10 second spot. For all this, Sony Max is expected to rein in Rs 700 crore during IPL3 this year. All product launches, special cricket based advertisements and events have all aligned themselves to the IPL window. All this is generating money and much moolah as expected.

When the players and the business houses are enjoying their association with IPL, how can the most important stakeholder – the quintessential cricket fan be left behind? And people – we are right up there, sharing the stands with the likes to those celebrities and enjoying to the core. Most of the venues running to packed houses is a testimony in itself that we are all involved and sharing our moments in the sun. The concept was new to us – city teams, clubs and the format – all enchanted us and with the fact that it was cricket – the national pastime and passion, we all got into the thick of the things quickly and with vigour. It has given us enough to spend our after-office hours with our friends and loved ones together and enjoy a few hours, being treated to that barrage of fours and sixes, scoops and free hits.

The BCCI, the parent body and owners of the IPL are the ones who are smiling the most. And why wouldn't they not, they are earning the most of the money that is being generated from the league. They keep a share from everything that is money from the league, be it media rights, gate receipts, merchandise deals and sponsorships.  IPL has led BCCI to get another point to wrestle themselves with the other cash stripped cricket boards of the world and the ICC. Even though, it is not wise to have such a clout rest with just one board, but as they say, who cares, until it doesn’t affect anyone? And whoah!! As I write this one...it has started to affect a few people and everyone is now terming IPL as a saga of Power, Mystery and Deceit!

PS: We shall discuss a few more aspects in the following articles.