Figments

Chasing someone??

2019-01-25T07:30:00.000+05:30

It’s okay to not win every race; who are you racing anyways?

To let go responsibilities is fine more than once or twice;

Who are you liable for and who do you have to answer but thyself?

So why chase your pace?

You mistook your target to be too flashy

And believed it to be the end all be all

But wait a minute, as you approach closer, it starts to clear up, it wasn’t as shiny afterall!

What were you running after then?

What is it all for? The journey?

But you were so busy in the journey you forgot to pause and applaud!

If I rewind and give you a second chance, will you chase the shiny target?

What else if not that?

Just walk and walk and maybe run if you want but lose the fear

Of losing the race, lose the chase and just walk along

Shagun/Abshagun

2017-11-07T16:58:00.001+05:30

We need a Tradition 2.0 for India. There are just too many traditions that do not make sense in today’s day and age but we just do it because it was passed on to us by the blessings of “Shruti” – meaning “what is heard”.

I am glad that this generation rebels against a lot of things and we are seeing radical changes. But we are still far away from a logical way of operating.

Bharat was one of the most forward countries in some era. In all these last hundreds of years, we have stuck to the belief that we are superior and our traditions make us superior. We are wrong, our ancestors were superior. And their traditions made ton of sense. They relied on logic to make those traditions. Pandits (meaning – the learned. And mind me, they make sure to learn a lot before calling oneself a vidvaan) used to define a certain way of doing things. This is because not everyone could understand reasoning so they just defined a standard operating procedure for the society. The procedure was applicable hundreds of years ago. I have read numerous articles explaining the scientific reason behind so many traditions any I am in awe of how advanced their thinking was.

However in the modern day even after years and years of formal education, we remain illiterate to just copy the beliefs of what was made as a standard operating procedure ages ago. Things have changed, way of working has changed, then why not bring an element of change in traditions? Instead of doing a cut copy paste of what was good and what we were told by our great grandmother who was told by her great grandmother we can just use our brain to define a new tradition – standard operating procedure that will benefit us way more?

I am not in favor of rebels who just don’t want to follow traditions on an outright basis. I also do not like the youth who disbelieves in traditions. I will also allude a 100 miles away from copying western world’s way of life to the east. All I am saying is that tweak what was told by our ancestors to a new way that suits us more. There is a pleasure in doing things the traditional way, the feeling of belonging to a community that follows a particular way of life is joyous. I am not asking to move away from that feeling. Move with it. Follow traditions, update them and increase the joy you can get from them.

-A traditional Indian Girl battling right vs. wrong (only in her head and thoughts, not courageous enough to implement)

Night Hues

2017-04-26T23:54:00.003+05:30

The mist of clandestine dawn breaks,

Eyes closed, unconscious, can sense you

In bed, I lay in tranquil

Touch, needn't be touched, for its felt

Ecstatic, with mind's eye, beside me, I see you lie

Quilt up, twist, twirl, emptiness filled by memories,

Soft damp breathes, soothes senses and tickles my soul

If this is being far, this is the farthest we can be

Miles wont matter, when heart beats within another

Slowly Steadily

2017-04-17T17:55:00.002+05:30

New beginnings highlighting brighter horizons

Butterflies, violins, and lustrous dreams

Doubts and questions galore

One look is all it takes to put them quietly ashore

Some say it’s a gamble, a lucky draw

Lucky I am, u caught me unwary and at the spur

There is so much unknown, everything new

But all pieces just fall in place so simply as its you

With every small detail, I get to know you a little more

Slowly and steadily I am falling in love everyday, just a little more

Our Complement

2017-01-07T19:25:00.004+05:30

Bind me to You such that you set me Free

Wrap your arms around Me

No, Not to shield – Expose and Unleash.

Don’t add your Responsibilities,

Share your fears; give me the load you bear.

Be the Vitalizing Energy

Fuel our Dreams with Synergy.

Bars that limit vanquish

Love takes care and Desire guides our way.

Passion Sparks fire

Support takes us Higher.

Idealize, patronize and Dream we will,

Explore with and without thee – Wild and Free

A Brave Heart

2016-11-03T18:00:00.002+05:30

Life has been harsh and unsteady,

But he chooses his battles prudent and slowly ready

He feeds on thoughts, powerful and intense

Hungry for knowledge, wants to know immense

Every sunrise he gears up for the fight,

In a crowd - A tough torso, iron spirit – morphed with age

Alone - A gush of emotions, tears accompany this sage

Why? When? - Has exhausted his questions

Learnt to stand alone, so courageous but has a humbled soul

Acceptance – he believes, conquers the pain and repairs the damage.

Amazed me - So much so at such a young age?

I know it’s the worst of all fears,

To give up, give in, hold firm and bear.

I Respect, I salute to the spirit of this man,

He swims through the unknown, towards stability he ran

There is so much more to know about this Brave Heart,

It withholds, bears and prepares for a fresh start

-S

WORDS

2016-10-29T23:08:00.001+05:30

I believed in the power of words,
Lately to realize they are more powerful when unspoken.
They weight heavy on the lips and ears,
But silence levies heavier on the heart and mind.

The thought, the feels, both lose gravity when converted into words
For the unspoken ones, when understood, build a beautiful meaning

Eyes reveal the intensity of feelings,
But words - words once spoken weaken the thrust

Words are not for the creative, not for the lover or the artist
They are but for orators to mend their purpose, to create the artificial emotions.
But words, words will never be enough for true emotion
yet, I am a poet!

Dusk

2016-08-03T21:42:00.000+05:30

I feel the day ending as the sun sets,

The light getting dark, the birds chirping recklessly

The sorrow of something coming to an end

The anxiety of not knowing what’s coming next

The interim unrest between the pretty bright ball of orange light and the silvery shining beauty

I want the time to halt, to freeze to come to an end

To not change, I like no change; I like to make it stop

My heart churns inside and I feel heavy, eyes are burdened with the change that’s anticipated

I rather like the limbo

I want to procrastinate, to not believe

I want it to be the same like it was before

I want it to be bright and clear and full of life

What do I do, I am anxious, I am troubled but there is nothing I can do

I feel the sun setting everyday with a part of me yearning for no change everyday

INVOKE

2016-07-05T12:54:00.002+05:30

Unleash the locked heart,
One that's hiding in veils its true self;
Rip the burden of forced newness apart,
Once again, let emotions be thy chisel.

There is but one true soul inside,
You can chose to chide, hide and force it to sleep;
But when a mirror invokes your true side,
Empower it to shrug away the burden's heap.

Cease those moments when you truly live,
Reunite self with your lost senses;
Some exterior elements that embellish your inner life,
Feel them, not with your skin, but your soul without pretenses.

Dwelling

2016-02-25T12:25:00.001+05:30

Does a peaceful dwelling exist?

Is there eternal happiness?

Should we even travel in pursuit or go on living like we always do?

Apologies

2015-11-08T20:03:00.000+05:30

Life is not a bed of roses, I am sorry Lord, for forgetting

We do not have the power to write our destiny, I am sorry dear Lord for misbelieving

I apologize for I believed in Karma and stood tall

I am penitent for in my speed I thought I will get it all

I retrace, repent and ask for mercy

Not fighting against your will, plead for your blessings

Looking at this time as a reminder of your powers

Vesting my trust in you, waiting for light beyond the towers

Destiny has taught me I can’t maneuver my life

But Faith still stays strong even as I step out of the strife

Today

2015-09-12T22:28:00.001+05:30

"TODAY is a gift, that's why they call it the PRESENT"

Experience taught me to not lose my most important day - today - to the memoirs of past, neither vain away time in idyllic dreams of the future. A perfect future is still a dream, but a remarkable present can be a reality!

I took a short break from work, and spent the best days I had had in a long long time. It was perfect and I was happy not having a care about anything in the world. I ate what I wanted to, slept when I felt like, loved and laughed often and did what my heart asked me to.

And then I was back. For the next teo weeks (or more) I lived in the recollection of the awesome time, I practically refused to come out of the past time. Relived the moments in my head, smiled at the past and cried that the blissful days ended Then for the next two weeks I obsessed about making my future perfect by dreaming and planning and groping in the dark and I cried for the future did not seem under my control.

So before I knew I had lost a month, a whole month of my wonderful life. I practically have no memories of the last month, it seemed to go by in a jiffy because I did not allow myself to live, to love or laugh. I was lost in the melancholy of what was missing or the anxiety of what might come.

Never underestimate the passing moment, for you can chose to do whatever you want to with it, its yours to make it eternal by making the most out of it or to let it fade away in the sand of time that was or would be.

Carpe Diem!

The Loveliness Ladder

2014-06-19T15:59:00.002+05:30

A lot has been debated about glass ceilings. I am sure that the ceiling still affects a lot of women climbing the corporate ladder. By the law of nature, politeness and caring are the two attributes related to a woman. Aggressive and powerful is the exact opposite of what we learnt about the female characteristics. With self-struggle along with the help of some supportive leaders/counterparts women are making it to the top. Weather the ceiling is thick or reducing or totally gone I am not sure of. But one thing is certain, now in the changed times, some women have definitely learnt to find a window of opportunity through the same ceiling.

Personality and charm works well in the Corporate. Studies confirm that in a sales deal, the sales person is more important than the product being sold. People tend to instantly trust an innocent face. Perception often blinds our reason. Likewise, managers also like pretty faces around them. Beauty has now started to compensate for the brains. I coin a new term for explaining this phenomenon – “The Loveliness Ladder”. And this not just affects the female population. It affects the other half of the world as well. Why would the not so good to look at guy/girl be last picked at the placements of a college? Why will the ladies with a better smile or a charming personality be picked up first in an interview?

Some quotes from studies and researches conducted in different parts of the world at different points in time:

1. Attractive people earn an average of 3 or 4 percent more than people with below-average looks, according to Daniel Hamermesh, professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the book "Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful." Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/attractive-people-are-more-successful-2012-9#ixzz356d1yUi1

2. The average callback rate was 30% across all of the CVs sent out. For attractive women, it was 54%, and for attractive men, 47%. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.in/Check-Out-How-Much-More-Often-Beautiful-Women-Get-Callbacks-For-Job-Interviews/articleshow/22441569.cms

3. Researchers found that more-attractive agents sell properties at higher prices than less-attractive agents. This can be attributed to a "halo effect," in which more-attractive individuals are perceived as possessing greater intelligence or capability. Read more: http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/08/30/why-it-pays-to-be-attractive

One might argue that one should leverage whatever one has. Weather its beauty or its brains. But isn’t Corporate not a beauty pageant? Can an athlete win a beauty contest? Or can an actor be a painter? So why can’t we keep this rationale when it comes to the Corporate? Why is a pretty face more likable at work? Shouldn’t workplace be a place where brains and skills are objectively judged keeping the perception of the heart out of the box? A more skilled and hard-working resource often is considered equal or even left behind in the Corporate race.

For those who are eligible to climb the Loveliness Ladder – thumbs up. Those who are struggling to fight the glass ceiling and cannot even use the loveliness ladder- find a new way to shake the system. Although they have been ‘lucky’ enough to have the brains to reach where they are, breaking the chains of stereotypical and orthodox thinking- only to be bound by perception and beauty. For them, it is more suffocating than before for now they are caught in the glass ceiling and can’t take the loveliness ladder. Time to find another window or door or ladder, for the Corporate believes in the survival of the smartest!!

Eternally Perplexed

2013-11-10T23:41:00.001+05:30

How would it be

To know what one wants?

If only I could foresee,

I would ask God appropriate grants.

It has been eternal,

The search is never over.

I want to excel,

But I know not the endeavor

Each journey starts with a lot of fascination,

It seems to be the ultimate goal.

But deep into the mission,

Fades the luster; No pull to the soul.

There is never a definite route, neither a destination

How do people have a constant goal without confusion?

Is it the age that I am in or a passing transition?

Or is it only me who doesn’t has an explanation?

Maybe I will find my ultimate goal..

Or maybe wisdom to explain this is not unusual!

The Newest Customer Touch-point : going digitally social

2013-09-04T22:33:00.001+05:30

The digital revolution and the advent of social networks are providing unprecedented opportunities to engage with customers. But, every business that wants to realize this potential faces a daunting task; it must first intercept and interpret vast quantities of data through social media monitoring and convert that to actionable insights that can feed into business processes to deliver measureable business results. Sheer presence on Social Media is not enough. A feedback mechanism is necessary for evaluating whether what we are doing is right or wrong; for analyzing and measuring the social media impact. To extract true value, user generated content can be harnessed to promote businesses. By evaluating what the mass is speaking about a particular company/product and gauging the net sentiment – positive or negative, future strategies can be planned. But the question that arises is how to measure all of this.

Can I quantify my social marketing spends in numbers?

What are the returns on social media investment?

What improvements can I make to my next campaign?

What topics should I cover in my content marketing?

Addressing the problem: AMA Framework

The problem is three fold: Right AMA - audience, message and analysis

1. Right Audience: What is better - broadcasting a message which may or may not be registered by the viewers or to have a select target audience who will be affected by the message? The principle of targeting and positioning holds true here; select the target and customize the communication such that it will be impactful on the selected audience.

2. Right Message on the right channels: There might have interested listeners but there might not be addressed with the right messages or the right channel.

3. Right Analysis: Measuring the impact is not enough. Analyzing the results and learning how to move react based on the results is what makes the difference. Pointers for increasing the efficiency of communication over these social channels are required to be in place.

The fans and followers are only numbers that don’t translate to business objectives. The rules of sales apply here as well, qualify your leads! Social Media is a unique environment where it’s about a conversation and not broadcast. This element is usually forgotten. If a sustainable engagement with a 1,000 fans is achieved, it’s better than having ad-hoc chatter among 10,000.For getting the message, channel and audience right, monitoring of marketing communications is required. For effective analysis, such monitored results need to be stored and then trends can be analyzed. This analysis then acts as a feedback which can then be looped for further marketing activities. In the past there have been models to measure the return on marketing investments and to evaluate the most effective channel for marketing efforts. But with the new age of data we need new techniques. This is where Analytics comes in with answers to the solicited business questions.

Going deep: What is SMA?

SMA = Measuring + Analyzing + Interpreting interactions and associations between people, topics and ideas.

Social Media Analytics today has evolved from traditional listening to be used for online reputation management to more sophisticated influencer mapping, crisis management, lead generation, campaign measurement, competitive mapping and brand health checks. It helps in identifying aspects such as community presence, influencers, detractors, communication themes and interests etc. It helps in competitor tracking. Tracking analytics of competitors is a great way to devise a more robust social media strategy for your brand.

Predictive Analytics is a very interesting field of research and is poised to be the game changer especially for the consumer targeted businesses. Traditionally predictive analytics have been widely applicable in the field of marketing. Some of the key areas included, forecasting sales, predicting churn probabilities, finding brand affinity drivers, optimal pricing and discounts, merchandising mix, predicting the best channels for marketing communications, tracking product launch effectiveness are some among a plethora of other ways.

In today’s digital arena, some interesting predictive analysis can be done by focusing on daily volume, share of voice, demographic analysis, sentiment etc. Providing intelligence reports that include trends in online conversation, brand awareness, impact prior to and post campaigns etc.

One of the requirements enabling predictive analysis is the cluster of historic data. It’s interesting to see how companies will look at the total number of tweets, as well as positive and negative comments to predict whether a stock price will go up or down.

Comprehensive SMA Framework

Organizations can harness the true power of this big data coming from social media only if they truly understand this data and channelize it properly. They need to access the data that is coming in, evaluate this along with the enterprise data available (like sales data, transactions data etc.) and also manage the responses on social forums.

Strength

2013-07-20T15:18:00.000+05:30

An attempt to stand up straight

When there is neither muscle nor sinew

The last of your power drained with the sore throbbing ache

Feed then, on the mind’s capacity - Go on challenge it!

No valor no nerve can mar the spirit

Spirit, that stimulates and feeds the valiant

When the blind can use the mind’s eye

When the cavemen can invent fire

Why then should your mind not give you the strength?

Why then you need to pause?

Stop not, for the vital force within you is getting wasted

No, don’t be a log, not a stone

Emancipate the being and feel the emotions

Let your spirit rejuvenate – not your senses die

It’s a viscous circle of strengthening the self and draining the same

There is no want that is not created by perception

A mind and spirit is all that takes to make a human life

No limb, no senses are a mandate

Don’t give in to despair for the lack of anything

Feel thy self: fend, tend and mend

Goofy Distances

2013-03-13T02:54:00.000+05:30

That evening when I tread the lone road; you had gone far far away,

A loss we felt; alone in dismay.

Inexplicable, untold to even the dearest few,

For shared it was by only us two.

We walked past memories, reminiscence of the past,

As we succumbed to accusations and reason ruled at last.

The void was constant,

A bitter truth; a lie persistent;

That there is no bond, we were detached,

The reality and belief surely mismatched.

Hours and days and years we took,

It wasn’t easy to let go the hate our hearts had book.

When I, my dear friend, was in need

And you were my friend, in deed

I cant say we are at the best now,

For I can’t understand your silence now.

There is no blame,

No hate, no game.

There is care,

And a new bond to share.

Yet again, you will leave me here,

Fighting my fears alone, I will not show my tears.

But this time, the distance is physical miles

A friendly song, my mind sings.

Yet we won’t show the affection,

For we are afraid to repeat the predicament.

As you leave me this time and go far far away

A warm feeling in my heart stays!

New Leaves

2013-02-26T21:04:00.001+05:30

It is time to turn a new leaf

To pack our bags, fill it with memories

It seems, it were just yesterday that we first came here,

With hopes and dreams – an inspirational spree

Met, gauged and judged,

Made many a new friend

The first interactions, the first time parties,

The karaoke and the musical get together’s

From the late night Bistro walks to the walking talks

We’ve made new friends, reinforced the old few

The DAC stints and awesome beer pints

Pizza deliveries and “anna coffee’s”

The budday bumps and hassle pumps

Naughty pranks and cranky naps

From the heights of EITness to degrees of unpreparedness

We have seen it all, loved it through and through

But its time now, time to turn a new leaf

With a heavy heart but a smiling face

As we move to the next phase,

Will cherish this as a golden leaf

It passed so soon, hard to believe!

Brave Heart II

2012-11-19T21:43:00.002+05:30

Amazed at the vigor,

At The-Can do verve,

At the dynamism of this multiple task undertaker.

He reinforces - Hope has no boundaries,

And Aim knows no limits.

Sky rocketing expectations, not his, rather from him

He surpasses them all, not just meets,

With contempt or complain, No one he treats.

The message is plain loud and simple -

People talk about perseverance and resolution,

About Optimism and accountability,

He does not talk, rather, he lives it.

I Respect, I salute to the spirit of this man,

For all he always says he can.

There is so much depth in this Brave Heart,

It’s inspiring to see this Leader’s journey from the start.

Life is a Race

2012-10-26T12:29:00.000+05:30

“Life is a Race” is a famous quote from a famous bollywood movie. I totally agree to the line of thought. Can everyone win this race? Are we competing with fellow runners or is it our own self that we want to outdo? To be better than the rest or to be better than what you were? Books and lessons at school and by parents taught us that you have to constantly improve your capabilities and not compare yourself with others. This line of thought has definitely undergone a sedimentary change.

In this competitive market, like goods have to differentiate themselves in order to sell, we as people also have to have the out-of-ordinary traits to prove ourselves. Like in the last millennium, whatever was produced by the manufacturers had to be bought by the consumers as there were no substitutes and there was no competition. Similarly, in the last millennium, there was less number of people running in this race of life and competing in all the spheres.

So as the marketing Gurus teach us that are product has to have some ‘points of difference’ in order to make ‘unique positive associations’, we as individuals also need to have some distinctive capabilities that will help us beat the rest. Corollary to what was taught to us, it will never be about only participation, the need of the hour is competition and the will to be in it, run the race, and try to win by doing your best.

“You can no more ask

‘Friends Romans and Countrymen’

to lend you their ears.

You have to win their

ears and make them listen.”

What will make me win this race? Is it Speed or is it Discretion? Do I just keep running at the maximum speed possible, or do I stop and think and chose my directions? Teachers and Parents taught me that the right path will take you forward. And the right path will be slow, will give you tough times but will make you strong. Has this philosophy changed with change in times? Has the definition of right path been tweaked?

I like many of you stand on such crossroads; I see a faster quicker path and have a slower longer one too. All throughout I have chosen the latter one. But this time I feel unsure about taking the longer one. I have this urge to take the faster route. The faster route will help me prove to world, for I have a desire to making it big and not just proving it to my own self. But for now, I have paused, am in deep thought and finding out a mid way; a fast one so that I can prove it to the world, also longer so that I can build myself like my parents and teachers taught.

Will I get the speed and discretion combined?

Invisible Threads

2012-09-09T19:44:00.002+05:30

The constant force that heaves,

Me to you, you to me,

It was and has been there:

Irrespective of being far or near

Emotions have overwhelmed – memories sweet and sour,

Mountains we have seen, beaches together anew

Forests, water currents, forts and temples too

Rains and sunshine; dusk and dawn

Have come and gone

What was then so different this time?

There were no Violins neither chimes

There was sea, that we have been to before,

Proximity that we have shared before

What is it that made me so willing then

What is it that you say or do or mend?

Outlandish that it is but I feel

You have attached more threads

Not one, not hundred

Millions I see,

Those that keep attached you to me and me to you.

Like the Workers of the Mill

2012-08-26T21:43:00.001+05:30

Pitter – Pattering drops on the window sill

O’ what a view from the top of the mill

Drops from heaven, come dancing down on the fields green,

The wind, the breeze can be felt but not seen

Arms wide open, eyes lightly shut

Smiling faces run out of the tattered huts

Think a little deep; get the grip - the gravity of the rain

One of the rare moments, when dark clouds explain

Look clearly – the cloud does not have a silver lining,

It is grey, and comes thundering

Darker it is, heavier the rain,

With light outlines, its purpose fails

They loved the dark clouds; the heavy rain

For it diluted their sorrows, washed their pain

So can you open your arms in the darkest hours?

Wear a brave face when the times are sour?

Like Workers of the mill, with tattered huts

Had their arms open, and enjoyed the dim showers.

Smile at adversities, use your reason

Remember how you enjoy the rainy season

Rapture

2012-07-23T16:56:00.002+05:30

Here I am night after night -

Lost in the nighttime where darkness too was bright.

Drawn to you – in my thought and dreams,

“I love u” is the last thought everyday my soul screams.

I know now what it is to be close even when far;

‘Coz I can smell you, feel you, when u are 100 miles this afar.

Your loving and cute face doesn’t give me much choice,

Healing, pleasing, comforting – your voice;

On the other end of the mile,

I know how you think of me and smileJ

I know you don’t like the void,

That, which I left u in with my presence devoid!

I feel the same like you do:

The beautiful windy evenings and fun things too remind me of you.

I feel drawn to you ever more now,

How beautiful it is for 2 people to feel blissful together and I wonder how?

The Struggle

2012-07-22T03:33:00.001+05:30

Problems are not my issue, fear it is.

There has to be a start, the beginning to an end, -

End to the might of fright,

Like a creeper I rose tall and wide, but not without support.

Rose to the heights, smiling at the sunshine, -

Pretty but frail,

I lost focus and there was someone to magnify my aim,

I fell and had hands to lift me and buck me up,

Friends, philosophers, guides, have helped me rise and shine.

But rising is no more my aim; standing firm is.

I refuse to take assistance,

A helping hand will do more harm than good.

Friends, philosophers and guides is not what I need,

Predicaments are not simple any more, to explain,

What is the need to explain?

Let me fall, let me cry, but let me reach out to myself.

In the darkest corners of mind does one find illumination.

I want to touch the light, that, that shines within me.

What if the world thinks I am able, let me realize I have it in me.

For, its just I who knows what I am.

The fear of drowning has taught me to swim,

Let me touch the danger; let me know what it is to stand up on my own.

Diamonds

2012-07-07T17:15:00.001+05:30

Those small little sparkling things refracted light like nothing else on this earth. Not that she liked wearing them. She wanted to get them all for her mom. Every possible shining thing on this earth, not just diamonds. Time flew and she was not even close. “Stay at it, perseverance and patience can mine diamonds from coal”, she was told. She did.