The power of communication

I never thought I would be writing about this topic but to this day when I think, I feel good writing about it. Really communication and networking are the two core foundations on top of which success is built. With the same view in my mind, I have joined LA1924 toastmasters club. Last week I gave my first speech which they call it Icebreaker. It was a great feeling and I got a standing ovation :). Just wanted to share my speech with all. So enjoy....

Icebreaker

It was 3 AM and the night could not have been any darker. It was the time of militancy and there was a curfew declared in the town. The silence was so intense that you could hear a leaf rolling on the road. In one tiny corner of a small workshop there was a person working with full concentration and focus. He was working on his sewing machine stitching clothes for people. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Thee DIG of police entered the workshop and asked the person “what are you doing here on a curfew night”. The person replied politely “I am working hard so that my child can have a decent education and a better life”. The person in the workshop was talking about ME and of course he was my father. He made sure that there was no obstacles in my path to get that better life. But he was not alone, behind him was his real strength,.My mom . She is a home-maker and she there was literally always one thing on her mind, that her children that is me and my younger brother who is in his B.Com first year, should have human values and ethics. Thanks to these very special people in my life, I am standing here in front of you.
You always have imprints of some special days in your life. I can still see that day right in front of me. I was studying in Chandigarh, preparing for my engineering entrance exam. It was only 2 months back that to this place. We had a test in our class. I finished the test before everyone and went out running to call my parents. I called them and said I will score the highest amongst the class. They were so proud of me. The next day I got my evaluated exam paper. I thought I was dead. I had made some silly mistake and scored only 69/100. I could not believe it. It felt as if I had betrayed everyone, as if I was not worth anything. I went out called my parents and holding my tears, told them about my marks. Not saying anything else, I went back to my hostel and tried to hide myself in a blanket so that no one can see me. After couple of hours, there was a knock on my hostel door. I had a strange feeling in my heart that I cannot describe. I opened that door and my parents were standing there. I could not hold anymore, I started crying like a small baby and just ran and hugged them hard. To this day, I can feel that hug of my mom and my fathers hand on my head saying, “Don’t worry kid, we are there”.
There was no looking back after that day. I worked hard, very hard. I had that confidence that I can achieve everything. I cleared my exams successfully and got into a good college. I even became the topper of my college. Life was beautiful and I was really happy.
But then a funny thing happened. During my college days, somebody asked me “So Vikas, what do you want to become in life”. I had no clue!!! How many you you remember a very old TV show “Samandar” ? I do. I used to watch it when I was in school. It was about the life in merchant navy and all throughout my school days I wanted to get into navy. Now I thought it was just a child fantasy. But still, I had to find out what I REALLY wanted to do in life. It was around this time when I saw a movie by the name of “Apollo13”. And guess I wanted to become in life now J. Yes I wanted to be a scientist at NASA. I had a mental picture of a scientist and I started behaving like that. I started talking less to people, always sitting in library and reading pretty much about every book on technology J

It didn’t take me long to realize that is not what I wanted and this time there was no movie or show that made me realize. It was life itself. It was through my experience working in Cisco. I wanted to become and businessman. And really once that was clear, every move of mine has been in that direction only and toastmasters is another step in that. What I really feel passionate about, is meeting people, talking to them, understanding them, learning from them and if possible help them. This is what makes me feel alive and always charged up. And that is the reason I joined LA1924. It’s a unique platform that gives me an opportunity to enhance my strengths and work on my weak areas. And while doing so, always giving me a chance to meet so many wonderful people.


In Egyptian culture, they don’t write obituaries, they just ask one question when the person dies. “Did he have passion?”. For my life, I want the answer to be YES.

The key to success in business is personal relationships

I still remember this subject of this post. The line was there in movie Jerry Maguire when Tom Cruise got that special night in his life when you literally meet yourself. He remembers the words of his mentor "Mr Foxx". I have been thinking about this a lot and reading a lot on same subject. The more I have experience it, the more i admire it. Recently I have been referring a lot to the book "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi and it clearly makes sense. For us to have anything in life, be it love, success or fun there are always people who are behind all those things. At the same time, authenticity is one of the key elements because without it you are just a networking jerk and will never be able to truly connect with people.
Its amazing how big the exposure is when you just decide to come out of your comfort zone and meet the people who have different stories, experiences and learning. I am focusing a lot on this subject and want to literally make it a big part of my life. Want to get their and see how I can help someone, how I can add value to someone's life in whatever small way. Once again, anyone visiting this blog, I would recommend to read Keith's blog "Never eat alone" and his book.

Great fun with "Run maadi Run"

Well
Dont know if i can say that this thing which i did is any different. Ya I kind of went there, ran for 10k and all that. Definitely felt good getting up at 6.30 on a Sunday morning and going to such a nice event. The atmostphere was great, lot of energenic people, music and color. The thing which I liked the most is seeing some senior citizens also running along with us in 10k run. Dont know why but looking at the spirit of people, i fell more in love with Bangalore than I had ever been.

The hash run (really interesting)

Went to my first experience of hash run. Found it pretty interesting and got to meet some really cool people. Drank, danced and walked like anything (ok the walk part was not much :)) but it will be more serious the next time. Interestingly the hash has a long history and is quite prominent in many coutries. Probably that is the reason their were some foreigners also present there. All the other details about hash and particularly the bangalore chapter can be found at http://bangalorehash.com/.


Not having any pics as of now...will upload them as and when i get them.

Another great day in my life--Day of service at Ashwini Charitable Trust

It was a day which sometimes back I was not sure will come in my life. We had a great time with children at Ashwini and some special people from Cisco. The Ashwini project is a special one for all of us and we are trying our level best to give new learnings to these children as well as learn a lot from them. I personally got involved in a Ashwini Idol contest for children and on previous weeks and for weeks to come will teach them now to use internet for their various needs.

Tulleeho....Well another new aspect of me...

Yes Again something different I am starting in my life. Recently attended a workshop on the basics of bar, bartending, cocktail making and everything around this area. Well actually this is not just happening like that only. I am having some plan attached with it and definitely will be sticking to it...Will update further on this.

The funda of Charity?

HI
For the past 2 weeks I had been going to a place which people actually call "for charity". Well I am not very sure what is the thing that drove me for doing something like this. Ofcourse the very first reason was I will be able to meet many new people from different walk of life. But this last week, something really clicked. While telling all those students, what actually is an email and what can it do for them, I came to realise there are far many things that we take for granted. Right from having a nice house to live in, having fancy mobile phones and cool clothes. I dont know what it is going to be in the coming days but yes for sure this will give me a new dimension to explore in life.

My Skydiving adventure

Not the most latest of videos but yes one of my favorate....to be honest....it was very cold up there :)

Cake faces at Sugandha's Pary

Everybody got a taste of cake on Sugandha's Party...Party was at your house and was a great fun.

Party at Microsoft's Sports Day

Always fun to spend my time with friends dancing... Here we were invited by Sharma on celebrations of Sport's day at Microsoft

Streching out after a long drive