Outspeak

When economy slows down buying power of consumers goes down. So sales go down. Inventory piles up or perishes. The gap between investment and revenue leads to loss. Companies start working on cost reduction.

Companies are made of people, products and process. Companies down size by cutting jobs. People are left without jobs. This contributes to the further fall of buying power of public. This takes economy further down. The revenue of companies are further affected. This can lead an economy slow down in to a recession.

Companies cut down products as well. When inventory piles up obviously they don’t manufacture more and incur further loss. They need lesser work force with saved money. They lay off their employees. This hurts the companies’ good will and reputation. Later when economy is restored they hire back the workforce. Many of the resources laid off hardly will return to the same company. This leads to erosion in the skill and loyal work force.

Is there an alternative to cutting jobs. Preventing jobless people, with no buying power, and vicious circle of fall down? Cant companies work fewer days per week? paying proportionately? Instead of job cuts cant we cut private jets of CEOs, chauffeur for managers, Car Leases, 5-star hotel conferences, luxury and perks? Further if required cant we skip bonuses, concessions and salary hikes? Is job cuts the real good way of downsizing? Or is it a quick fix that further ruins us?

As a common man I would like to ask this to fellow men. I am no expert in economy or business administration. So I wish I could ask this to responsible people on top.

Labels: Economy, job cuts, Recession

Does it make sense ?
Does it make sense to work in computers ?Isn't it completely artificial and far away from natural things like agriculture, farming or service industries like medical, etc... ?DOES IT MAKE SENSE ?
please think a bit and answer when you find time
Thanks
Lavender
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Can we discuss our views on something happening around us !!! like judgment of supreme courts (some sensational news !!!) People can air their comments if they are free !!!! :)
(Blue)
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Blue,I am interested in discussing more about our inner self rather than the external factors which are far away at least for now.
That doesn't mean that I am not concerned about the things happening around us.But I like to discover more of me, which makes interesting. For that I need lot of thought provoking questions.Questions which doesn't require answers until I am clear for that answer.
So let's enjoy.
(Brown)
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I totally agree with Lavender. As we do an artificial jobwe have come more artificial and mechanical. Say some5 years I want to quit IT industry itself.
(Green)
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Brown, I understand your view . that's why I raised this as a query ! :) No answers for Lavender's question !!!
(Blue)
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I agree that working in computers is artificial.
As evolution of mankind progresses changes tend to come to one's lifestyle. The work that someone is doing is based on nature's requirement and one's own self. When monsoons failed agriculture seemed impossible. So shift started. New avenues started growing up and here we are in this field of computers. There are counter-arguments for this. Its like the MATRIX. You are bounded more by other factors than urself !!!
Hence it makes SENSE to be in this field as of now ( because of MATRIX ). But I feel that the changes that have made this current state possible is very rapid and Unstable. This instability is going to cause a great deal of issues. Hence a shift is necessary.
Note : I have used the term nature collectively to describe all the external factors in our life.
(Blue)
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Here it is...It makes really Good Sense. We yearn for Farming...We think of natural works at least lot of times...All because we are far from it....This looks like a Poison inside a coating of sweet (Or anything we like it)That was like Nattu Marunthu... (Natural Medicine)Mm.. let us see finally where we will go....
(Brown)
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akkaraikku ikkarai pachai ! :)
(Blue)
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Let me put few things to you ....
1) With my question I meant only to ask I dint sent any answer along .....
2) My answer to the question is YES IT MAKES SENSE.
Every artificial thing is actually an extension of nature. With time and evolution it will become natural and new artificial things will evolve.Also the artificial work we do eventually possibly results in some product or service to every common man, to sustain his life or luxury...And last but the very important point is .....When we were in elementary schools we were forced by the education system to memorize and reason rudimentary things. Those essays and prose we memorized are no way useful to our daily lives today. BUT THE PRACTICE gave us the power to memorize! They meant to give you the skill not the stuff. Later with the skill you can memorize what you really want to. So right now we do some work artificial or natural to sustain our species and to prepare for some thing later. that later is not in our knowledge or life scope.
So my intention of the question and the purpose of my answer is WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY DOESN'T EARN JUST YOUR BREAD IT PERFECTLY MAKES SENSE IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT
Love
Lavender
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SuGuMaR
Friday, September 12, 2003

Labels: job, purpose, Sense

I was waiting for Anand, my friend, friend and friend. He was the one to whom I need not explain anything. Nothing like he is not bothered, he just knows me. We were in our 7th standard. We were not the best students in the class. But it dint matter. Our days start with a prayer. Nothing enters into the head in first two periods. Then when interval bell rings, we go to the sathiyaraja bakery opposite to our school. We get two surul buns (bread in the shape of sea shells filled with sweet cream) one for each. Then we get two Rs. 2.25 yellow pan parag packets, one for each. We don't approve boys who just keep pan parag in mouth and spit all essence in the streets. We just chew well and swallow, and drink a bottle of water (1/2 bottle each). With that you can just fly your bicycle. I was badly waiting for him. Today is last day of our 7th standard.

He came at last. He was shocked. He was upset. He was angry because my shirt was inked. It was part of the school culture to ink each others shirt on the last day. I remember boys saying that it is to make people remember you. But I hated it. Since my third standard no one dared doing it. I just saw to that no one did. Anand asked "who did it ?". I said "Pratap, my cousin". He said "then leave it". I said "I cant. I want to acid him". Anand said "look he is your brother, and acid is only for the bad guys". Anand's dad is a car mechanic and he also use to work in the work shop. He always keeps sulfuric acid in a small bottle in his trouser pocket. He use to tell me that it will burn the skin but wont harm. He had learnt to dilute it such that it just badly itches the skin. He also taught me to chew razor blades into granules and smile at guys with an expression "shall I spit this on you ?".

He said "Ok. we will do it after our vacation".

After the vacation, Anand said "No need to acid him. He is not a bad guy. He Just dint know the risk in inking us. Inking me was inking us for him. We will teach him a lesson without hurting him. We will get a 700ml ink bottle and ink him". I was convinced. We got the bottle. Pratap was attending tuition at Natraj sir's house after school. We went there and we simply followed him and I caught his shirt and emptied the whole bottle of ink all over his shirt. I felt so happy. All my rage was relieved. Then later he complained to my aunt, to Natraj sir and sir got me and gave right royally with his bamboo stick. It didn't hurt me. I was just fine. What mattered to me was he will never dare inking me again. And more over no one in my class would.

Later Anand asked me. "What is wrong with the ink ? why get so wild if some one inks ?". I burst "Why should they ?". He asked "Why shouldnt ? every one does. It is how we conclude our quarterly, half yearly and annual exams". I said "I just dont like it".

Now thinking back I find it so funny. When Anand asked me I dint know the reason for my rage. But later I knew. When I was in my third standard, I had a friend Elango, the first friend I could remember. That day was the last day of our third standard. Every one was inking others shirts. I sneaked around Elango and inked his shirt. He looked at me with all his anger in his face. We were grabbing each others hair and rolling in the ground and fighting. Things happened just in a second. We hated each other. He said he will never be my friend again. And I said who is bothered. Next year I was taken to a different school, far away from the earlier one. I could never catch Elango again. I badly wanted to get him again as my friend. He was such a sweet guy.

Now Anand is a Acupressure Therapist, pure vegetarian, teaching "Smiling is Yoga". He meditates every day early morning, saying he has to gain cosmic energy from universe to treat his patients better. His patients are people, animals and sometimes plants. And Elango, the tall, short summer cut, fair guy... Where is he ? Is it the inking that still keeps me remembering him ?

by SuGuMaR
Tuesday, 14 October 2003

Labels: childhood, short story, சிறுகதை, சொந்தக் கதை

The train suddenly slowed down a bit. Another clue, for approaching Erode. A small town where my family lived. Even though the visits are often, there is a feeling of returning home after a long back. Especially when I take a day train. I opened my eyes as much as possible as if I want to swallow the landscape with my eyes. I was just glancing outside the window, the small streams making music with the stones. The soothing noise is audible in spite of being in a moving train.
A butterfly started racing with the train. It was dark brown in color. One could mistake the color for red or orange shades. These ones are my favorites when I was a kid. I wonder how badly I was after them. Once upon a time, butterflies were the most surprising things, which occupied my Sunday holidays. Butterflies are not just butterflies. I always thought they were some magical flowers, which could fly. They were magical in their color sense. I use to wonder why a flower should carry another flower?
I use to run after them, catch and tie with a thread carefully not to kill. If killed they stop flying, ending the magic. But they always died. I always ran after the next one. I caught small ones, big ones, red ones, and green ones. But sooner or later they died. If one of them had stayed alive with me, then I wouldn’t have caught another one. Or may be I would have stopped catching that one, of particular color or size.
I was advised that they are fragile. It is sin to catch them, for they cannot live with us. They don’t eat what we eat. They don’t talk as we do. At least not in our language. They don’t hear you. They fear us. But I never listened to people. I thought they are blind and doesn’t know the beauty in butterflies. I want them and I will get them for me. I kept running after them, with a bush of plants to hit without hurting and catch them alive, and keep them to death.
When they died, yes I was upset. I was upset because the magic ends. I had caught them with so much running and falling. But their magic end so soon. But I was not really bothered much because there were always butterflies around. I can still catch another one. I thought I loved them. Other than get them tied to my finger with a long thread and fly them as a kite. I never understood why they dint enjoy it as I did. They soon fall down and died. But I really don’t know what to do with them such that they too enjoy and live forever without dying.
Now I wonder why I am not running after them. After almost 2 decades, have the butterflies were gone out of earth? Why is that I haven’t seen one for years other than the one I saw just now? Is it because they have become extinct because all kids are doing the same as I did? Suddenly I felt a disappointing guilt upsetting me. But I thought that is not possible. They should be there. May be if I go to our village where I use to catch them I will really find them again. I might try again to catch them and tie with a thread and bring home.
The train stopped. My brother was there waiting to take me home. How many ever times I tell them they don’t listen. They will wait in the platform as if they are going to receive their child returning from hostel for vacation. He was smiling and snatched the luggage from my hand. I asked him how our mother is doing. And in no time we reached our house. Mom was there as usual. The lawn, plants, trees, flowers; everything was there as usual. Joe barked in his distinct tone to receive me as usual. And I dissolved into the native hood as usual.
We were riding our bike to the family temple in our village. Just few kilometers from where my family lived now. Once we were in the village I saw butterflies everywhere. I was surprised. If they were here as they always were, then how come I never noticed them for years? I come to temple once in few months. How is that I never saw them? I asked him to stop the bike. He asked why? I said, "Just stop". I got down and I walked into bushes where the butterflies are busy.
To my surprise the butterflies looked just like butterflies. They don’t appear as magical flowers in vibrant colors as they did. I stopped walking to them. I put my arms in my hips and was trying to understand. They are poor creatures, in search of something. May be for flowers. May be they are hungry. I felt that their flight is slow and they are fragile. May be they are tired. Now I don’t feel jealous about their wings. They look ordinary in color. May be the butterflies are same as they were before twenty years. My eyes have changed. May be I got other things in life to madly run after. And everything will fade with time.
I thought it is pointless to catch these ones. They are fragile and will die for sure if I catch them. Then I thought otherwise also what am I going to do with them? I was about to step back and a butterfly landed in my arm. It sat there as if I am a plant or tree. Or may be it is tired and lost its sense about the place it had happen to land. I stood still and waited for the light green big butterfly to take off. I dint want to disturb its rest. It might be tired. It might get scared.
It is slowly opening and closing its petals. I suddenly felt the feeling I use to get as a kid. God they are still beautiful. I feel the nice powder in their wings but now without touching them. The colors are still there. It all came again as if it is just being forgotten. May be I was carried away with my studies, work and running after other things. But this time I am not doing to catch it, tie it with a thread, and take home. I will stand still for the little beauty to take off. I wonder why is that it’s not as vibrant and wildly attractive as they were twenty years before?
It took off at last. Not scared. Rather as if it had had enough rest. I stood still for few more seconds and walked towards my brother. He said "don’t tell me you are scared of butterflies". I just smiled to myself "No. It is that no butterfly has to be scared of me".
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Sugumar

Labels: childhood, short story, சிறுகதை, சொந்தக் கதை

When I was a student, I thought I would run a company, so I thought I have to learn lots. And I thought I should train my employee friends before they get into actual working. It is since 1-1-2000, I had my own training! It was so useful for me to frame a curriculum for my future employee friends. It goes like this...
First and foremost training I have to give my employee friends is to sit and simply sit. With no machine, no internet, no distinguished seat, I will allot some common place, place where all other employees do something, say a library, or a recreation spot, or a relaxing room just adjacent to the toilet, so that it will be easy for them. I will sure provide them tea, coffee, biscuits and beverages now and then. And along with these, if they insist i will give them some books.
A couple of weeks later, if they ask for things like machine, internet, seat allotment etc., within maximum six weeks, I will arrange at least one of those three, and the next training is to let them sit with this and being a responsible person, now and then (say once a week) I will ask do they need anything else. it is in this stage they can use fully spend their time browsing and chatting especially find out how to search for spicy things in net and spend time so usefully.
So 2 months will run off, I will call them and say that they are going to be systematically trained, I will introduce a senior most person (who has undergone something similar or better!!), and I will ask the senior employee to morally do his duty, give what you got, that is enough, he will do the job right, he will slightly redefine the term, "systematic training", and that is how the next 2 months will run off so practically, I mean landing with silly bugs and learning every non systematic methods to discover the bug, without getting tired!!
Then begins the next training, with no particular senior training person, with no specific problem, with no specific deadline, they will be expected to do something which is not defined yet. But I will regularly, i.e.., whenever I see them in parking place or a monthly meeting or say when we go to tea or coffee vending machine! This will really make them feel that something is expected from them, and motivate them to do something, don't ask what is something, that is what u should learn from such training!
And next is so important, I will re-circulate old projects, some smart guy, will believe that it is a live project, some other much smarter will believe it is going to to be a product, coz smart employees don't talk to other employees, they don't waste time, they only browse internet !! In this stage my employees will learn how to manage the deadlines, I mean giving reasons and explaining the manager and if needed me, in a way, nothing is actually explained, and no way he commits again, and it is good for them to learn how to talk for sometime about something without arriving any conclusion and even winding up it smoothly without arriving the same. and also in this part of training they learn how to release something with courage when they already know it wont work, they become more smarter, knowing how we should give reasons as if some is there!!
The final part is not a training at all, here I will really take a simple small risk and without any big difference give him a real work, whether I do it as a business, whether I sell it or not I simply give him a work, a soup for his professional, and in spite of the systematic training I gave him, still he does something different and couldn't meet my expectation in terms of work, I wont get angry I will simply let him undergo the appropriate stage somewhere between stage 4 to 6, (only in the second time they realize and really do something!!), people who meet, or who or a bit non professional and say that they are not confident and they feel like working in simple thing once again so that to align them better, I don't like such non confident employees, so as a punishment I will either give them a real project, or I prefer even sending them to on site work, where again there may take place a "better systematic training", part of on site work!!
if needed!! and oh god now what do you think after reading all this, my company will be a big worry for bill gates and even to Sun Micro Sys, but to tell you frankly, I like running a company, but I will get tired soon, so after say 6 or 8 years, I will sell the company to gates or Larry Elision, because they are so crazy about Indians. see now I am so tired I will do write something later.
yours sincerely
Sugumar, AMI.
Note: I love to send this to all, including my manager and CEO, for I have learnt real good lessons in my very first year of career, now I am seeing myself as a responsible professional person, part of a cute and smart company, with a sense of humor, and really can make things "from nothing to something", and fine, now I am really tired, i am waiting for tea!!! bye bye!!
[PS: No way my article can guide your attitude, it is your attitude that will guide understanding my article]
regards
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 14:40:35 +0530
Sugumar G., Systems Software Engineer,
American Megatrends India Private Limited,
AJ6, Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar West,
Chennai - 600 040. Phone : 621 6367 Ext.45

Labels: training, work place