Change in working style – political reporters in India

I have started falling back on my idea of writing everyday. As said earlier, I was travelling, but then agree its more of an excuse. Perhaps I could have written. Just don't know how or when. 

Off late I have had the chance to read up on certain interesting pieces and also think through some of the problems. For example. 

There was an interesting article in Business Standard on how government reporters are now finding it difficult to get information from the Lutyens. (Click here.) The author then writes about how the flow of information is very stifling on the corporate side.

The one sentence from the article that perhaps can sum up the problem when corporate stifle reporters from carrying their job would be --

"When an entire group gives up probing on a certain company altogether that results in blow ups such as Satyam and NSEL scam."

Perhaps something similar can happen with the government as well if it starts creating choking the freedom of the press. Perhaps political reporters should take a leaf from the corporate reporters' book. Now political reporters should also start reading all documents and make noise for transparency in governance.

They should perhaps think of themselves as auditors who are looking for paper trails and mismatch in the stories or some hard facts. It will increase the work load but perhaps this may be the new way of working.

Sometimes the only way of doing an interesting thing or achieving even decent result is by slogging hard. Now the time has come for journalist to show if they are in the profession because they actually like it or if it was just a coincidence and they don't like to do hard work. 

A haphazard plan

Hah!!! Happy Birthday to me! I think being a narcissist for a day is absolutely fine.

My observation is that people are either excited, in celebratory mood – the party makers, and then there are those who do their best to avoid the lime-light – the party evaders.  I am to some extent a party evader too.

So what do party evaders look out for? I have no clue.  The few that I know, who are also party evaders tend to introspect. They try and make sense of what are the good things that they did over the last one year. And how many mistakes they made in the year gone by. And there is some amount of planning on what to expect or plan to achieve in the next year.

This seems like a good idea. Good enough to try. Despite that I think I will not remember what all I have done nor that I will have a single clear goal for the next year. Since, my belief is that no plan ever goes according to plan, therefore, its best that we keep more than one plan and few backups as well along the way.

Last year I had made plans to read some books. To be exact I wanted to read more than 14 books during the year. At the same time I also wanted to do some courses from Coursera and one complete a course in risk management, something I had been pursuing on the side-lines. Did manage to complete parts of it here. On the office front I changed jobs and managed to write some interesting stories in the new job. 

So how should I set goals for the next year one year? This seems difficult.

Well I think reading about 12 or more books is necessary. And this time will review or write summaries of each book as well. That should make it interesting.

For quite a few years I have been wanting to learn calligraphy and voice modulation. Although at this point it looks highly unlikely but at least will do my best to cover some ground in finding out on how to learn.

Also during the year, I will do my best to read about a new subject. Maybe learn something from some friend as well or about a new industry. This should be fun.

On a serious note, I would like to get more clarity on where I should take admission for a Masters’ program. 

Completing some more additional subjects from Coursera will obviously be part of the goal. Which subjects? That is a difficult to state at this point. Although most of the courses are very flexible on a weekly basis. But I have come to realise I need to do courses where the option is to watch the videos is such that I am able to finish it in about 3 hours a week followed by a weekly or fortnightly quiz in multiple choice question format. It’s easier for me to complete and fulfil the program.

An intensive program which also requires peer valuation is difficult for me. It takes more time, although I agree it is a better way to learn. Therefore for a working professional I find it difficult.

Now let’s see if next year on the same day, how much am I able to achieve. And what are the things that I had not made plans for but did complete. 

Missing the tidbit of life

Came across this interesting blog. In summary, the author is pointing out how the culture of 9-5 or eight hours of work has devoid him of enjoying his life..

I have been thinking about this myself for last few months. And somehow feel that working beyond 4-6 hours is actually not necessary.. The other 2-3 hours should be used to study, think through things, and read that is off your work.. After that better go and take a walk, listen to other people.. And may be, if possible then it would be better to go and travel a bit twice a year, go to a place you haven't been to before..

In fact I have come to realise that if you truly want to know a lane or a road, block etc then walk through it.. When you are riding or driving you tend to miss on too many things, fail to observe or understand the significance...

Living life is not just about making money, partying but its also about understanding, admiring and enjoying the small things in life -- walking, listening to other people, and spending time with family and friends, enjoying a cup of coffee/tea..

Greedy tip

Among the seven deadly sins that mankind is afflicted of, I would say "greed" is perhaps the most common. Maybe because of my profession, I have managed to notice more instances of greed .

Well I am associated with business journalism, mostly covering personal finance -- Stocks and Mutual Funds -- for over two years. Even in that my domain was mostly about writing features on stocks (Jan 2009- Dec 2010). And everytime I would mention about this, most often people would ask me for a quick tip to make a quick money.

My response was the same then and now, investing is not a fun game. It is not easy money. You will have to do some work to make money. Its like an activity, you can enjoy it only if you like working hard. And I would always offer them tips on how to study the market and understand stocks. Was even ready to help them learn everything that I know.

Alas! Not many people would agree that its not easy money, and then most will actually stop asking or saying anything. Sometimes I get the feeling, they think I have no clue about my job.

In a way, it was sad to see how everyone wanted the easy money. It seemed they had forgotten the proverb: "Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry".

Everyone wants a fish and doesn't care about tomorrow.

In school I had read a story. I am sure you must have read it too. Don't remember the exact text but it goes like:

Once upon a time there was a man. He was poor as compared to some of his relatives but he had everything in his life, a nice house, decent work, good family and was able to meet all his commitments. Then one day he made a statement that if given a chance he will make a lot of money and even the devil cannot take away from him. 

The devil heard and decided to take the challenge. 

The guy started making money and grew rich. Then one day, he was given an offer that he can have as much land as he can run and cover. The man started running, and though he was tired, he thought if he could run a little more, he will have that extra land as well. In the end he dies, ran too more than he should have and the only land that he actually got was the space in which he was buried. 

Now what I don't get why don't people ever understand the lesson.