Beginning of the end of my first decade

Come 9^th August and I’ll complete 9 years in the IT industry. 9 is a lucky number for me; I was born on 9^th, got married on the same 9^th and stepped into the IT Industry on another 9^th.

The day was Monday- 9^th August 2004, when I got inducted into Cybage. The impression formed out of the swanky structure in Kalyaninagar only grew deeper upon getting in. It was a ripe time for computer graduates to get into the IT world; I was one of the herds which got inducted that day. Among all Engineering graduates donning additional CDAC credentials, I was probably the only under graduate who joined as a “Technical Support Engineer”.

Projects began, so did the fun; working within a super-cool infrastructure, having my own professional email id and business card was all fascinating. But all in the fun, my business still read “Technical Support Engineer” (TSE), while that of my colleagues read the creamier “Software Engineer” (SE). Things were settling down, rosy beginnings were turning to practical routine; the general whine for “good” work was getting louder among my colleagues. Still combating with the .Net and Java jargons, I started realizing the difference between “good” and “mediocre” work. A resent of being a TSE only became sharper when I started realizing I was paid for the “mediocre” work (in conventional / conservative IT industry terms, non-technical support activities were then considered “mediocre” J). Back then, my professionally immature mind would consider myself an ostracized kid in this Vanity Fair.

My mind grew bitter after the first appraisal, when this “professional racism” became evident through the increment figures. Working in shifts and earning peanuts doing “mediocre” work was enough for me to explore other avenues. An urge to belong to the creamy layer was budding in the background and the thirst for motivation grew each day. Pensive situations can actually be motivators, they force you to hit the gas harder and accelerate. This transmission infuses positivity that energizes you further. I started considering myself lucky to have all the time during the day to attend technical courses. Luckier I got with having the best of the Managers (mentors rather) to encourage and provide me with opportunities of “good” work. I was gradually inching towards the sunny side; it took all 3 years of efforts, learning, motivation, fostering, mentoring and proving for me to get an SE on my business card J. I was happy, and I’ve only got happier ever since. It takes time for one to grow mature and realize that no work is “mediocre”, everything is “good” as long it’s done smartly.

Few lessons that these 9 years have drummed in me:

Keep absorbing the best from what the surrounding offers. Ideas, just like opportunities are omnipresent, right tuning of the senses catches the right wave.

Speak up and speak up at the right time. If it is a daunting task with impossible timelines, speak up; voice it if you feel you deserve better than what you’re offered. Speaking, if employed correctly, also helps building a rapport with your colleagues, seniors and clients. Rapport building elevates above buttering with a broad margin, however can easily be mistaken for the latter. It really shouldn’t matter if they call it buttering, it’s no harm to hold on your rapport if it doesn’t harm anyone and benefits you positively.

Be lazy, only if it inspires you to find easier ways of getting your mundane tasks done; strive to get more, from less.

Do what you fear; I recall this over demanding Indian client (I should not exclusively use the term “over demanding” for Indian clients, as they are replaceable synonyms) at Persistent, every phone call from whom would disturb me. Rather than living on the anxieties of getting his calls, I decided to call him from my side to update the status. He being least prepared to receive my call came to my advantage, as he would ask me less questions, and this pro-activeness assured him his project was being taken care seriously.

Keep discovering things that keep you on high.

Be prepared when asking queries, as we ourselves are keener on helping those who come prepared, rather than those who approach with a plain “How to?”

Deserve and obtain (earlier) than ask and get (later); “Pay me what you get and I will start taking up more responsibilities” was the reply from an employee when his Manager asked him to proactively take additional responsibilities to earn better score. “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary”, the witty Manager replied wryly.

Polish your English, as the very first impression is formed and stays by the way you present yourself. Concentrating on vocal abilities is as important as improving programming language skills, to me personally the earlier matters more.

And last but the most important, Be and stay Positive J

Unconventional Orthodoxy

Any culture represents a civilization. It cultivates over chapters in history and spreads across a larger geography. Culture has an inherent potential to influence masses and govern their beliefs- Beliefs, at times cemented in the minds, which are quick to form and hard to break. Such beliefs mostly stem out of Orthodoxy which dissolves so cleanly within the culture that in certain cases both the terms are referred interchangeably. 

Orthodoxy- as explained by Wikipedia- derives from the word “Orthodox” which is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion. Orthodoxy must have developed out of certain protocols bound forcibly for the benefit of society at large. Gradually these protocols graduated to become unpublished laws; Laws inherited from ancestors and passed on to next generations who never dared to ask- “WHY?” 

Why do we avoid anything good on an Amavasya (no moon day), why to observe “Suver” and “Sutak” for members born or dead within even the most distant relatives (at times for those who haven’t been in contact over years); Why are eclipses a taboo and what haunts many on Friday the 13^th? Reasons- Laws are meant to be followed. While some laws stand justified even today, for others the changes in social structures have long erased the justifiable reasons. But still, for reasons unknown, we continue being prisoners of our own beliefs and self-induced fear.

Human being’s inhibitive quest to reach God, attain happiness and avoid problems makes him blindly follow the doctrine. To me personally, anything that injects positivity in self is always good, be it faith or blind faith, as this positivity itself makes way for a great life. What if we think to refabricate our beliefs and orthodoxy to suit the needs of changing times? After all it would be a positive attempt to balance the modern day prudence with the incorrigible orthodoxy, without harming the pious intention.

Say- why not feed a needy poor than a prosperous Brahmin to achieve a win-win situation? Instead of offering millions to idols, why not use that amount to feed trillions around. While following a Guru might be a source of assertiveness for many (and in this way, it is definitely helpful), if this over-devotion and dependence overshadows our own thinking, it has all the potential to paralyze the brain and decision making abilities. Isn’t this an under-utilization of the most valuable asset called brain that is distributed for free by God? :-)

We probably should envisage an atmosphere where thoughts challenge the beliefs and pragmatism beats dogmatism. Faith may not always be blind. Adding senses to faith might make it more responsible and productive. Amendments in orthodoxy over time should be accepted as openly as the alteration of laws in the country’s constitution. These being unpublished laws, each individual can be a change bearer, one who is a heretic with an open mind and a sincere faith in spreading positivity. 

So the next time you cut your hair on Saturday or clip your nails at dusk, do put personal hygiene and personal grooming ahead of the blind faith :-) Think about it.