What type of organisation do I want to be in?

Having been part of an incredible start-up at indya.com (lets refer to start-ups as 'S'), and also been part of some well established (W) companies, I have been thinking about the two a lot recently.

Amongst other things, the freedom of a start-up, being part of a creative / innovative product / process from its conception, is something the well established company may not be able to provide. Its really one of the best highs I have experienced. The luxuries of a W, systems in place, small things like leave, increments, etc etc being taken care of, the S can't give.

Being at the cutting edge of technology only in a W is a myth in my opinion because today access to the latest technology is no longer restricted to only the 'biggies'.

In a W you may be part of several high profile projects but you also are one of 100 others who also are. On the other hand the S allows you to be part of a core team working on one big idea, and wholly involved in realising that dream.

As a person i'm not driven by success, ambition and money. This is not to say that i'm casual or laid-back in a work atmosphere. My career is important but the so called 'important' rules of the game don't drive it. I just want to do my best and make a difference.

I’d like to be part of an organisation:

· Where ‘size doesnt really matter, where 'bigness’ need not necessarily relate to scale but to quality and excellence!

· Generates a strong work ethic and work culture that facilitates individuals to contribute to that excellence, and therefore hires people with the right outlook, sensibilities and professionalism.

· Takes utmost care of Quality, Speed and Customer Service, and Profit will take care of itself.

· Is contemporary in spirit and future-looking in terms of technology, product, service quality and mindset. A non-heirarchial, agile and flexible organisation.

· A Learning Organisation, a place of discovery, where work is fun. Where individuals truly develop - professionally and personally.

At the end of the day those are the things that matter to me more than the S or W or any other identity.

Spies Lies and Videotape

When will Hollywood run out of ideas for spies/CIA undercover ops/etc movies? I saw The Recruit the other day, and although it had its moments (esp the moments when colin farrell was around) i couldnt help feeling that they're all so predictable. Old cop-new cop, senior spy-rookie, trainer-trainee... old/senior cop is always a big hollywood name - de niro, pacino.... and he WILL have his moment in the sun where he WILL give us a long annoying speech on some dying idealism of his. So although it had some nice twists and had a good pace it was very predictable. Now about that irish boy colin farrell... :-)

Job v/s Career (and other things...)

Why do we even have to make these choices? So here I am, faced with the prospect of doing something totally new, in a new place, good money, but not much else known. So its all and new and exciting and challenging right? But that devil on the other side of the deep blue sea could be one of those stable, well established, career type, focused moves. I still havent decided what to do. How does one decide?

The other thing i've been thinking of these days has to do with the dilemma of the dinks (double income no kids). Am I imagining it or is the rate of separation/divorce among this particular group increasing? I'm trying to see a pattern - are they all imbalanced individuals? No. Are they all young dynamic stressed working couples? Yes. Are they all part of a larger social set-up where theres a certain amount of accountability to parents/family? No. Are they all stuck in the 'I need more space' idealogy so much that they create too much space between themselves? Probably...Indian urban couples appear to be at strange crosroads - neither completely western (although theres no need to emulate attitudes about relationships from the west for sure!), nor traditionally Indian either. Divorce is almost an epidemic in urban india, but it is accompanied by such a deep-rooted sense, almost guilt of letting down your family and society. Its prevalent and not really 'acceptable' or 'no big deal'. For most people its still a HUGE deal. And therein lies the dilemma...

Its my first time ok... i'm here now and suddenly the urge to verbally diarrhoeate is GONE!

There was a time (high school? college?? it was all sooooo long back anyway) when life was the stuff you grabbed and made something out of. I dont think me and my friends have lost that ability yet thankfully. But I was at this party a couple of days ago, where a few guys who are just a few years older than me showed up. Three men, all of them single now, and such a bunch of losers. Their kicks in life come from drinking and talking about how drunk they got at the last party they went to. I hope that doesnt ever happen to any of the people i know and love... Scary thought.