Stay hungry Stay foolish

I am on the verge of completing this book but the zeal in me propelled me to write a summary of this book before completing it. Truly speaking while I was on the 17^th story I thought that there can’t be any summary of this book except that “This book is about Entrepreneurs which would definitely inspire everyone irrespective of whatever background they have”.

            But, now standing at 23^rd story I realized that entrepreneurship is far greater and far enriching experience than what I can think of. It’s like reaching the self Actualization phase of Maslow’s need Hierarchy as there is nothing above it.

            This book tells a story about 25 students of IIM-A who didn’t chose a normal path but treaded their own destiny. Most of these IIM grads belonged to a middle class family. The one thing I noticed in all the 23 stories I have read that whether entrepreneur is successful or not, whether he is having happy days or bad days, But he has got the satisfaction of ownership and leaving a legacy after him. He knows that people will remember him by the name of his company rather than some former employee of ‘xyz’ company.

            All of these people were those who were well placed in good MNC’s drawing High salaries but the instinct of Entrepreneurship was their real call which they couldn’t stop.

I wanted to highlight some lessons from this book which I really find meaningful:-

1.      Definitely Entrepreneurship requires lot of hardship ,taking tough decisions and always keeping your life on the brink but if you really compare this with today’s job you would find that the challenges in both the sectors are equal.

2.      Think how would you like to be remembered and what give you more satisfaction : would you like to be remembered as a loyal employee of ‘xyz’ company or a employer of ‘abc’ number of employees and CEO of ‘abc’.

3.      Follow the Rule of 3+ :- It basically states that for the first three years every business faces the difficulties and more or so you would also face them but if you can retain yourself during this period then you would definitely create a demand for yourself.

4.      There is no one sure shot formula of success , all these entrepreneurs at some stage or the other have faced the failures but the real issue is :- how hard you hit back the failures and learn from it.

5.      Money is not the end in itself (Anu Aga ,Ex chairperson ,thermax once said) “Profits are important but not the only thing…without breathing, you and I can’t live, but if you ask me what is the purpose of my life and if I say breathing, it is such a narrow way to define it!”

6.      And the last point I understand is Entrepreneurship is not a lesson which some can teach you ,it’s a life which you have to live yourself and everyone of the entrepreneur you will meet would have a different definition of it.

Rashmi Bansal ,has tried very best to compile the 25 most compelling stories so that every reader do find one for himself/herself .This novel do has it’s own set of Controversies like using hindi jargon in between the passage and writing about the people on the basis of very short interview of 1-2 hrs and stating the facts without doing prior research.

But in the end, I can just say that it’s a wonderful book which every student should read who is currently looking for a job may be you yourself don’t know the real thing for yourself. It definitely have the punch to encourage you and to give you a sense of connection with entrepreneurship which most of the other novels I read won’t be able to give you.

A banker to the poor

This book is both the memoirs of Mohd. Yunus and his struggle to bring Prosperity in Bangladesh through his initiative of ‘Grameen Bank’.

He describes his journey and how coincidently, he was forced into banking due to the rudimentary banking operations which were opposed to poor people and made him to start a new bank with the name of ‘Grameen Bank’ which was ultimately vindicated when he received the Nobel for his efforts in 2006.

Mohd Yunus, focuses on the creativity and the quench of poor for prosperity to show that that by providing them reasonable amount as loan to start their business, we in reality can lift them from BPL to APL ,he also highlights that providing alms to poor is a short term gain and would never bring prosperity to them and also by doing this we are just turning our eyes from their sufferings.

Poor People are Creative people and they know what they are good at doing, what they really need is those resources which can help them to unharness the poverty which can only be provided in form of direct monetary benefits.

On the issue of repayment ,he emphasizes that poor will never default as he knows that this is his last and only source to eradicate this poverty; and he do not want to lose it.

Through this book, he portrayed why providing loans to women is more important than providing it to man as women use to think about the whole family, hygiene, maintenance and well being of family whereas male member think of himself only.

This book also provide numerous examples of the successful incorporation of Grameen like Banks all over the world and the reason of their success he states that is because the desire of poor to eradicate the poverty is same everywhere; he portrays how we Grameen project which was only started to provide ‘money’ to poor has helped to reduce women exploitation both from physical and mental ,the mortality rate has gone down, the people are getting more concerned about hygiene and about the education to their children.

This book also reasons out that the various policies of government that are induced to provide the final products to the poor like subsidized kerosene, rice, wheat through various bureaucratic channel which ultimately don’t provide any benefit to poor except the top bureaucrats and government employees, he in fact goes so far as to suggest government to also provide direct monetary benefits to poor in spite of all these unsuccessful efforts.

The another contrary view he highlights that organizations should not look towards the BPL as Not for profit work but they should realize that they can extract profit out of this business also if their intentions and working is directed towards the betterment of the poor.

For all those who are really want to serve the poor and their country in some way or the other, this book highlights that Yunus never thought about the end result or the Nobel Prize but he was more interested in serving his nation, his motherland in every bit he can do starting from his college days, which somehow led him away from his established profession of a teacher leading him to be a banker winning a Nobel Prize for his efforts in 1996.

Book Review-Losing My Virginity

‘It’s Richard Branson for you’, But after Completing his entire novel, I am still confused who he is but I can be certain that Richard would also be confused if someone would ask him about his next business Venture.

  But, I do understand something from his novel “Losing My Virginity” which I believe would interest you all. Richard form his first Venture ‘Student’ loved what he did and he used to get completely engrossed in it, he would always know what he was doing and where he wants to see the Virgin, he used to take every step while thinking about Virgin and just to create a strong brand out of it.

  If you see the Brand Value of ‘Virgin’ and the time it took to build it in comparison to the other brands, then you will realize that it was all due to his sheer vision and willpower that has made Virgin what it is today, you can call him maverick, an exceptional but whatever he is, he just want to take Virgin into every business and then make it the best.

Mixo-logy

i just finished reading a novel by Mainak Dhar,of IIM fame and attending a conclave on the topic of "Innovation"
In that conclave ,they were certain about one thing that if riding one wave made a particular surfer popular,then there is very little chance that the same act would make the following surfers also popular and that to the same extend; they have to bring some change or reorient the model,to gain success.
Chetan Bhagat an IIT & IIM alumnus was the first indian Engineer Writer who by his simple language connected to the masses and made it big in writing business.
And it started a new type of writing Craze,Many followed in his steps i.e. Anything for you ma'am, ofcourse i love you, Heartbreaks & dreams, Mixo-logy, Nothing for you ma'am. Some were good, some were average but to my knowledge no one made to the next level.
Mixo-logy is a novel by Mainik Dhar with a cheesy Punchline "what Bartending teaches that IIM doesn't" this is what attracted me to read this novel, but it was another blot in the same series of novel which still believes that we Indians take anything that's written by an IIM or IIT irrespective of whether it's with logic or not.
Writer,Mainik has tried ot bring crispiness by not describing the college life which every 2nd novel does but the aftermath of college life,job life and this novel has very little scope for sex and his girlfriend.
This novel starts with an IIM passout graduate working in an MNC in mumbai, the protagonist was very happy to get this job during his college days but now only after 2 years ,he feel dissatisfied as he is not left with much time to devote to his passion and his days start with wishing his boss 'Prakash' mood is good.
His dissatisfied is described for 1/3rd part of the novel when due to recession company announces a voluntary retirement policy paying an advance of 24 months, when he starts contemplating his options .
But he couldn't decide and while coming back from friends party he met an accident.
Now, this is the pt where writer takes us to a fairy tale making us believe that god do make mistakes by sometimes giving death early then registered and then he reconciles his mistakes by allowing you to use a console which can show you different plots of your life .
Half of the novel is based in heaven, which is described quite elaborately by author where heaven is technology savvy and keep changing with the latest fashion and here's the author realizes that he shouldn't focus on a certain aspect of his life, but should make time available for every aspect of his life; so if you fail in one field, you know there are others options to encourage you.
The book ends with protagonist being more happy on marrying the love of his life, completing his novel and taking less burden of his job.
But still I am confused 'Why Mixo-logy' may be b'coz the author beforehand read 4-5 novels and produced a fresh new copy, and secondly i am confused why the punch line 'What Bartending teaches that IIM doesn't' here he must be signaling towards connecting with God, B'coz my vicarious experiences i know after drinks people do connect directly to heaven/Gods.
so, I would suggest go buy this novel or borrow it from your friend(as i usually do) if you have plenty of time or you have to travel in Delhi by bus or our IRCTC, and only if you have plenty of time and want a light novel to waste it.

Disclaimer:- Above written article is only a form of my opinion regarding Mixo-logy, and if it matches your opinion then it would not be a coincidence by a thoughtful attempt by writer by writing such a great novel

a buff reader and a light love story

Usually i don't write about the novels..stuff ..which i read b'coz it sometimes get quite boring with details and i don't like telling about those great novels which i read without their peculiar details..
On normal days i usually read a lot of stuff..but this recession has taken all juice out of me..(without a job and no good M.b.a. college)..so giving little time for me to read....

But this novel was special...somehow...as after much time i have read such a light and well written novel...

If anyone would have asked me to buy this novel i would have straight replied 'no' as it's by an indian writer(that well a student) and i had got bored by chetan bhagat stuff...
But fate has always something else in store for you that what u percieve...Arpit has brought this novel..ok let me disclose the name"Anything for you Maam" and as many people have heard it's name so Ankit borrowed it from him .
One day me,ankit and arpit made a plan for a excursion(that's also to religious places)quite awkward na..(more details abt it some other time) when ankit brought the novel at my place...First i thought to borrow this novel from arpit but i didn't ask as i myself don't like to give my books and novels to others(b'coz of bad past with give and take) and secondly i thought it would be again a indian movie masala novel...(a time pass stuff)
but somehow arpit forgot it at my home....when we went out for awaragardi...and on returning homes i made him remember that he forgot his book at my home but he said he would collect tommorow....
I must have reached my home by 10.00 p.m.. after i had some gup-shup with parents and dinner..
It was 11.00 when i went to my room to study(ya i am studying as i have a paper after two days)..when i saw the book lying..and i thought whatever the studies has to be done it's done ,let's read the novel today..and if i found it boring i would put it down....
I started it reading...and let me tell u the person is again an IITian i believe the IITian has really got of it's main path of Engineers by producing Writers ,singers these day's (just joking....)

It started quite well when the writer give insight to his poem writing stuff(quite well written )..i wish someday i can lay my hand on his poem's book..

And then what a introduction(of Maa'm or his love) he flirted with his sis friend and that's also in an innovative way....may be one day i would also try..(but there's a prob here's the hero is in IIT and his sister is doing some course and on my side it's opposite..so i believe i can just think abt doing it....)

I want to tell you one more thing and that's not a writer achievement but mine...yup mine...u may not believe i completed this novel in 9 hrs including 3.5 hrs sleep ...and one more thing...while reading it i remembered someone(but no guesses right now...

May be one day when i can have a clear picture ..i may make it public

But i really want to appreciate the book...and would recommend it to anyone who is starting reading novels and i can also say u can rank it above chetan bhaghat's novel but five point someone...(while IIT has really changed by the time Chetan left ..info from one of my friend)

This novel has more to it's accompolishment as tushar (the hero and writer of Anything for you M'aam) was writing his first novel...and that's also while studying...in IIT.. it's well Co-related...all the links find their place...

One more thing...the time when boy discusses his situation with his sister she gave some useful insight which should be read by everyone...
I would like to say few of those in my own words

we all want to have a girlfriend because we consider it as a status symbol or to have a timepass...but..what if it happens with our own sister...a moral issue but we should think abt it..

If you really have true feeling abt someone..you should say them(and let me tell you boys have to approch first here)...and they shouldn't feel dejected if she says she had never thought in that way...because if it doesn't mean yes then it also definitely doesn't means no ..it just means she needs more time....

and there are thousand better things to do than to roam with a girl whom u don't like just because she is ur status symbol...

And if ever there is a confusion whether u like a girl or not think whether you can stay with her for a year ..or 6 months...because time is only a source which can tell whether a love is true or not....


And as usual the boy and girl meet but with a twist...

And i believe i shouldn't ruin it by telling you...so guys go out and read this light love story...hats off to tushar and shreya.....(the hero and heroine of the novel)