INFORMATION IS NOT KNOWLEDGE

                    21st January 2011, when I ended my speech, for which I had thoroughly prepared for 15 days, thunderous audience gave me a lukewarm applause! That too it was not for my speech, but for ending it. The same audience, consisting 250 people, had given a long standing ovation to the previous speaker, who had spoken impromptu!   

That day as I was entering Hotel Bangalore International, I was set to become a celebrity. In an hour I had to address members of Lions Clubs in Bangalore, Lions we are called, on ‘Global Warming: What Lions can do’. I remembered how the speech had come my way.

“Sharath, we want you give a 20 minute speech at our Regional Meet.” asked Lion Suresh Jain, the event coordinator, with wrinkles forming a question mark on his tanned face. 

“Prof B.M. Hegde will be the Guest Speaker. Kannada film actress Hansika Poonacha will be there too.”

I had heard neither of their names. But I agreed, after all I was a Toastmaster.

“Around 350 people will attend the event. I suppose that’s not a problem for you.” asked Suresh Jain. 

I replied “I never have problem with any audience. But they often do!”. He had not got the pun.

I had spent next 15 days thoroughly researching the topic. I searched and downloaded every picture of Hansika that was available on internet! She had done just one movie in Tamil and had a Kannada movie to be released soon. Prof Hegde was a Padma Bhushan awardee. I decided to focus my speech on what Lions, as an NGO, could do to tackle Global warming. Google gave plethora of points and I noted important ones, without concerning myself with basics. I would end my persuasive speech saying: “When we Lions act, things change. Let us be the leader the world needs so badly today." You all know what an amazing persuasive word, ‘leader’ is. 



When I reached the hall, I noticed that stage was huge. I could unleash all body language tricks I had learnt. The huge event poster, which included every speaker’s picture, except mine, brought a certain aura to the hall! 



Though I was disappointed, I told myself “Every dog has its day!”



The poster picture looked very familiar. That day I learnt one important lesson: Never ‘research’ from page 1 of Google result. 



When Hansika arrived people eagerly rushed to take picture with her. I did not meet her. I told myself “Her time will come….after my speech.”  

Prof Hegde, short, bald headed, when requested to address, asked the MC, what he should be speaking on. The MC told “Sir, theme of the event is Global warming.” 



He started by saying “I am surprised that Lions are now interested in Global warming”. I instantly realized we had something in common: we both spoke in ‘Kannada accent English’.  



What followed was a miracle. He never moved from lectern. His body language was limited to bare hand gestures. But his words had magic. He was not a speaker. He was a hypnotist who entangled the audience to his thoughts. He quoted several scientists, research papers, formulas. He explained chemistry, biology, economics and politics of Global warming. He recalled humorous incidents and audience did not know they were laughing and even I did not know those jokes were available on internet! He quoted Upanishads and explained its relevance to Earth and Global warming. He connected them all beautifully.
 

I had learnt another lesson the hard way: Never bring your girl friend where your reputation may be at stake!



In between the Mr. Hegde’s speech my friend, Vignesh, whom I had got to move my slides, signaled: ….  It didn’t mean “Sharath, You too can rock the floor” but meant “Let’s quit”.

Prof Hegde, in his 50 minutes impromptu address, had argued that Global Warming was a hoax. As people rose to give him a standing ovation, they were convinced that need of the hour was not any action on Global Warming but a peg of whiskey!



Then MC called out: “Welcome Lion Sharath Pandeshwar to speak on Global Warming: What Lions can do!”



Though I had points of action for Global Warming, I did not have knowledge behind that information  or wisdom to apply that knowledge to refute Prof Hegde. I learnt the lesson: Information is not knowledge. We have more information today, than any point of time in the history. Only if we can deliberate and reflect to understand their patterns and their implications, that information becomes knowledge. Only if you understand the principles behind knowledge, it turns into wisdom.

My first Kiss that went to a Wrong Lady!

(Note: names and dates have been changed)

July 5th 2007 I joined this team. From next day "recession" started. And it is still on.

When I joined I had a dream. I had a dream that I would quit XYX Corporation at least before this Somanna Palya flyover opened up!(Context: Somanna palya flyover comes just before the tech park where XYX is situated.) That flyover is almost complete and they have long since opened up from one direction. Its a close call who is more lousy? I or BBMP. I think my friends here will vote for me because they are tired of hearing me say: "I will quit ..... soon".  3 months ago someone was saying: 'Sachin Tendulkar's 100th century! It's like Sharath leaving XYX. Both just don't happen'. Many are eagerly waiting for my last working day. You know there is queue of people waiting for a seat to be allotted. Sandeep has been counting days ever since I stopped counting!

Yes, I was a bit late, just 15 - 20 months late. I must say everyday here was an incredible experience. Somedays ago, a short tempered friend of mine, who works for a struggling startup said: 'Today I felt like hitting my manager again man'. 
'Again?' I asked.
'Ya. Last month I punched him because he delayed my salary'
I replied 'Today, I felt like hitting my manager, again'. 
'again?' he asked.
'ya. I feel like hitting him everyday!'

Keeping aside managers, XYX has given me a great platform. I cannot imagine another company, being part of which I could have performed one full year of Secretary and Treasurer of an NGO, Full two terms in Toastmasters Club as VP and President while being a freelance aptitude trainer. More than that I have tried running a business, rather unsuccessfully, for one year.  

Thanks to XYX. Sorry in fact thanks should go to unfortunate friends. 

A manager was once asked how many people worked under him. He told 'half of them!'. If the same question was asked to my managers they would have told 'everyone except one'. I never worked here as much as others did which is diplomatic way of saying 'I did not work enough!' I have a proof for it.

I started with Testing where my team lead was Sumathi. Seeing my work she decided to leave technical field to take up MBA. I think she felt she needed an MBA to handle someone like me. Then when I was put onto maintenance where PTK was my team lead. After just one month he made his own team started calling it '180nm development' though our team was doing same work: more or less! But hats off to Sumana who took really long time but finally threw the towel and shifted to AIX team. I am really indebted to Sumana for bearing me so long. She doesn need an MBA! Even my last manager entirely abandoned the technical management. But my current manager does not want to take a chance. So he always stays in meeting rooms.

I have learnt a lot in last 4 years. I am not sure how much I can retain. I should have made an LLD(lessons learnt document) before my LWD(last working day) as I will be OOO(out of office) from today and there won't be GRs (ground rules) for life. 

(What is S-H-I-T? Sorry honey it's Thursday)

Talking of lessons, I feel like sharing 2nd and 3rd most important lesson I learnt here.

Third lesson is the story of power of words:

In my last appraisal, my manager asked  'Bharath... What is your biggest contribution this year? what is that thing which you are most proud of?'
 
I thought for a while and honestly replied 'I happily saw 8 people out of the team this year itself! And people fondly call me welfare manager!' 

What I had meant was 'I oversaw 8 people going out happily'. (Context: Bharath was organizing farewell meetings)

During the results time he demonstrated back the power of words: 'Bharath ... You have done an outstanding average work.' He did not say that directly. But he said 'Bharath ... You have done an outstanding work and your rating is 2'. I guess you will agree with me both are same.

These words have amazing power.. They make difference. There is a difference in saying 'I did the work' and saying 'I did THE work'. Abraham Lincoln became America's president just by recognizing the power of words and working on it. If not to that extent, I think we can get better appraisal rating at least.

Second is the story of Power of addiction.

There was a person, who was addicted to visit prostitutes. He got married one day. After his first night he went straight to His Best Friend And Started Crying. 
"Man you just had your 'first night'. Why are you crying?' asked his friend.
'You know yaar, as per my habit, I woke her up in the morning and gave a five-hundred-rupee note'.
His Friend exclaimed, 'So what! Plead her to forget your past andlead a happy married life'.
'That's not the problem' he said angrily. 'My Wife returned two hundred rupees back!'

I was getting addicted to easy paychecks without doing something that counted to me. So I decided to quit,though I am not very sure of way ahead. My honeymoon period is over. Everything should work out fine. Else I will try for some manager role in XYX.

Any one interested to know what's the most valuable lesson? 'Never do Today what will be someone else's work Tomorrow!'

We have come a long way. There was a time when team outing ended in planning discussions itself. We have progressed and now outing starts as a treat but then becomes a Dutch outing. But at least it happens.
Now we can proudly say to our new joinees and say 'you know what? We used to get even envelopes for free'. I am sure we will move on, like how we moved on from free tea and coffee! (Context: In XYX, envelopes, Tea/Coffee was no longer free)

I will always remember XYX as 'my first kiss that went to a wrong lady!'. It might have gone wrong but it will still be the first kiss. 

Random Thoughts

It is better to have materialistic desires propelling you than not being propelled at all....

Don't declare War until it is won!

You are a leader or not a leader depending on where you set the bar for yourself.

These big networking organizations have made at least one contribution: Making celebrities out of people who would otherwise be just common people.

'Management through Meetings' is probably the biggest problem with Corporate Management today.

It's wrong to assume that 'the great people' who made rules and processes knew better than you.

Losing face in the first time should only make you desperate for doing it the best next  time.

What the World currently needs is not great Leaders, but great Characters. In this Western led world, nobody emphasizes the latter.