Magazine

How often do you think about leaving everything you are doing and starting with something that was always closer to your heart but could never properly begin?

We read it. We know it. We accept it – ‘People Perceive Differently’. Yet, we don’t act it. The painful reality, with people around us, bothers them too. How should we handle it? Should we always see from the other person’s perspective? Are we not important? Time for us to understand the different situations, the nuances and our actions. Be true to self. Be responsible for others. Act now. whY not!

All of us have the right to love ourselves and enjoy our self- esteem. What happens when our self-esteem starts bothering other’s self-esteem? Often, we ignore as we are too self-obsessed to cater to our own self-fulfilling emotional needs. Where does our self- obsession lead to? How do we deal with people who are too self-obsessed? Ignoring does not help. We need to take positive and affirmative actions. whY not!

CUSTOMER is the KING. Perhaps a blatant lie which most of the organisations resort to. How many times have you been treated like a king? I won’t ask about the consistency. Often we don’t smile at customer, overlook our commitments, come up with lame excuses and do many things that makes the customer think not to comeback to you later. New approach, new zeal and new ideas needed for New India. Ready! Ynot!

Which job did Adam and Eve seek after eating the forbidden apple? Mankind was not born as an employee. We were entrepreneurs. Things changed much later. An important challenge for India is not to create jobs but to create, support and sharpen entrepreneurship to take advantage of MISIDICI – Make in India, Skill India, Start-up India, Digital India and Clean India. Time to act is NOW!

When did you learn your last lesson? When would you stop learning? We all will answer differently based on our life pursuits. Learning does not stop. When the mind gets stretched with a new idea, it never comes back to its original shape. What do we do thereafter? ACT. Ynot!

Are we getting social or distancing ourselves from each other with advent of social media technologies and tools? This is a perennial debate, fought more vigorously over the social media! This is a boon or a pain depending on how young do you feel at heart. Whatever could be the minus points, social media has a pivotal role in bringing about change in the mindset and actions of people. All depends upon the positive actions we use it for. If you are slow on jumping on to the bandwagon, you still are not too late. Leave apprehensions and get on. Ynot!

Look into the mirror today. See the lines that have changed over the years. This change is gradual and takes time. Things do change suddenly too. India has witnessed a similar change. We are now at the threshold of a major transformation. Support it or oppose it, this is what we are moving towards. How are we coping up? What lessons do we draw for our own personal transformation.

What do people talk about you when you are not around? What do people assume when dealing with you? How often do you get recommended for new role, assignment or business? How often do you seek feedback from others in terms of what you are doing? How seriously do you work on the feedback received?

As a proud Indian, we all SALUTE our armed forces for the courage and bravery they display from time to time in the service of our nation. Singing paeans to their glory is an occasional national and social media indulgence. The more important aspect is to learn from these brave- hearts and apply the similar valour to our own life and social causes. Becoming an Aimer is more vital than retaining the flavour of a Blamer.

When Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “I have a dream…”, the people of USA came together with a solemn determination of doing and changing the destiny of the country. A determined Eklavya learnt the art of archery. A determined Gandhi galvanised the country to lead India to freedom and became a mahatma.

Eleanor Roosevelt said “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Every day, we take one step at a time towards our future. Is the step only meant for us? Are we working towards our PSR – Professional Social Responsibility? Time to visualize our role and get going. whY not!

Charles Swindoll wrote: The longer I live, the more I realise the impact of attitude on life. It is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than whatever anyone might say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness or skill. The remarkable thing is that we have the choice to create the attitude we have for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the way people act. We cannot change the inevitable. The one thing we can change is the only thing we have control over, and that is our attitude.

When was the last time you failed? I am a pro at it! Little and big failures are part of life. If we don’t fail enough, we are perhaps not trying enough. FAILure is the First Act In Learning. When you started to walk, you fell down. Did you give up? You tried again and again till you could balance well. Take this to any act of learning, say driving your car. The first few days were tough and embarrassing. And now we drive through instincts. We are not the only ones who fail. The best of the world and the rest of the world fails. Always, at something or the other. How do you take failures coming your way?

Whether we agree or not, Mentors have played a huge role in our lives. They are around us in various forms, e.g., Teacher, Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Guide, Counsellor, Inspirators etc. They hone our skills of career and life, fine-tune our leadership, groom us to be better managers, propel us to aspire more and act better, set challenges and help us look inwards for growth outwards. Imagine a world without mentors! How are you looking after your mentors? How are people around you looking up to you? What legacy of learning and knowledge do you intend to leave behind? Time to think. Time to act. whY not?

We all present our ideas before others in smaller and larger gatherings. In business situations, tools become important to create the right impact. Luxury of tools often leads to lethargy of packaging thoughts and designing impact. Instead of auctioning our ideas towards persuading for impact, we invariably become reader of data.

We share some. We hide many. We remain curiously critical about the plot which others write. We justify ourselves as the best protagonist. Keep creating stories. Add more success to it with ideas of right FRUITful flavours. whY not!

No one can make us feel inferior without our consent. We diffuse, often, when things don’t move the way they should. What should we do when gloom strikes us? What should we do when our friends fear the doom? How should we make the mood bloom? Time to press the self-starter and bring hope around. Time for Action!

You have to live it – Second by Second! How are you planning? Time for renewing the WALK.

Amidst an environment where the word TOLERANCE is becoming subject of intolerant verbosity, it is high time that we keep our heads down to understand the key issues and keep moving ahead with impactful actions. whY not of actions is more important than the whYful rants.

No one will come to save us. This is our life and we have 100% responsibility. How often, do we take charge of our responsibility towards us? Others come much later. It is easy to find fault in others and play the blame game. Action loving professionals do not stoop low to point fingers at others and absolve themselves of all responsibilities. They take charge. Absolute charge!

We believe that Adam and Eve were the first homo sapiens to arrive on planet earth. What if they had stayed the way they came? No creative thinking! No self development! No progress! Imagine status quo. Our ability to keep changing ourselves for the better has made our world finer and livable – idiots, lunatics and extremists, not withstanding!

KARMA originates from the Sanskrit word ‘kri’ that means work. God has programmed all of us to work. Even when we think we are not working, our body keeps working non-stop. How do we work? Our mindset defines us.

An action loving man has just moved to another world unknown. Dr. Kalam in his life and time inspired everyone. A true youth icon, he ignited thoughts in everyone to break the barriers of a closed mind and use the spirit of enquiry and action to create a better life for oneself and also for the country.

One of the common lesson we all learnt in the school was – Man is a social animal. Social? Yes. Animal? Could be questionable. We all aspire to build, retain, sustain and grow our relationships with people. Sometimes for our vested interests and sometimes such a relationship just grows on us and with us.

We all take pride in being termed as a professional. We also make an effort to project ourselves as professionals. How do we behave like? From the era of conventional careers, professionalism has moved into domains that were never on the career radars earlier. What does it take to be a professional?

500 million people to be skilled in India by the year 2022. Not a mere statistical nightmare but a reality that is going to test the might of ABCDE – Academia, Business, Consulting, Development sector and the Enterprises. The Government can only make policies and contribute to the creation of some infrastructure. What else?

Imagine if you were to live in a world where there are no smiles, laughter and fun! I would surely hate it. A lot many people make an effort to create such a world around them and then lock themselves in it.

What does an action loving professional aim at? He creates the right opportunities and does everything on time. What do others do? They give excuses. Excuses, of course, have no uses. A lot has been said on TIME management. Still a lot is waiting to be done around us in personal and professional life.

With a little image make-over, your Ymag is in your hands with its 35th edition. We thought about keeping IMAGE as a centre theme of the eMag. What we do? What we say? How we say? How we look? All contribute to our image building and decline, be it an Individual, an organization or even the country.

Let 2015 make you an Aimer even when you are surrounded by the gang of Blamers. My you have 2 times the energy, 0 worries, 1 life king-size and at least 5 ways to improve the way you live…

FFEDBACK Is the weapon of Champions. How many times do you think Sachin Tendulkar would have gone through the videos of his getting out in various matches he played? Feedback propels us to have a relook at our actions or inactions so that we are ready for the future, a bit better every time.

Happiness is a God’s gift to humanity. How are we using this gift? Are we gifting our happiness to others? How often? How well? Imagine a world without happiness! Scary!! In our blind run for success, we skip the end result – satisfaction and happiness. Why do we postpone it? The time to be happy is now. Absolutely.

Our country is at a threshold of rejuvenation. The nay Sayers may disagree. Let them enjoy the silos of their own creation. It’s high time for all of us to think that a change is possible and all of us have something to contribute to it. We need to MAKE IN INDIA the right mindset… We need to MAKE IN INDIA the right readiness… We need to MAKE IN INDIA the right actions…

A weak foundation cannot create the sky-scrappers of human ingenuity, accomplishments and impact. Universal values and those which keep evolving through the passage of time and human needs of tranquility, happiness and contentment make us what we are. Our interpretations, adjustments, compromises, use and abuse take us where we move – by design or default.

When people come together, every student of management talks about the four stages of development – Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing. What happens thereafter? We need to get into TRANSFORMING or else we will start decaying. Before this happens in a team setting , it is vital that we take care of this in our individual setting.

Rejuvenation has generally been considered as a medical discipline focused on the practical reversal of the aging process. The world is full of stories of people trying various ways to rejuvenate them. An ancient Chinese emperor actually sent out ships of young men and women to find a pearl that would rejuvenate him.

In a perceivably cut-throat competitive world, most of us choose the façade of I-Me- Myself. No doubt, the stretch of I to Myself is important but is it based on projecting the hollowness of vanity or is it based on the strong foundation of the value that we possess and the value we extend to others.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart Why are we miser in saying THANK YOU? How would our relationships change if we say THANK YOU to people around us? Does THANK YOU matter if we say it every time to someone who holds the lift for us, serves us tea in the office or extends us acts of daily service?

Your Ymag turns 25. Congratulations! Is this quarter of a century signifying the 3/4th of the journey yet to be accomplished and beyond OR is it completion of 25 steps taken one at a time to move towards and along actions, results and celebrations? I came across a very provocative quote, “Most people die at 25. They just hang around till 75.” This is alarming! How about keeping the spirit of 25 alive, active and in perpetuity? Onus is on us.

No editorial is needed when the person you dedicate this Ymag is larger than life and India recognizes him with a PADMA BHUSHAN. Time to fold the hands and hold him in awe forever! Actions always speak louder…

Call them Indian version of Baby Boomers, those born during the 60s have seen all facets of technologies: Big radios to B&W TVs to Colour TVs to Multiple Channel TVs to Telephones, Internet, Cell phones, Digital Cameras, FTTH etc. etc. While many were Technology Enthusiasts and Early adopters, the majority took it up lately and yet few are still the laggards resisting and adopting to change.

How should we welcome 2014? Let’s celebrate it as the year of mistakes. Yes. Mistakes. When we make mistakes, we make new things, we try new things, we learn new things and we keep changing our outlook towards the world, society and above all towards us. Let’s say YES to our BAG of mistakes: Big mistakes Amazing mistakes Glorious mistakes

I often wonder:whY do people have to retire at 58 or60 years of age while in the westernworld this may go up to 68?whY does the Government in India think that people who reach 58 or 60 years must leave the office and retire while a person above 80 years who we elect may enter the office and lead the country?I am often asked whether Ymag is age specific and I respond: whY should itbe?

During these times of festivities and celebrations, lets open our head and heart to others for simple uncluttered enjoyment.

Why are we so ‘mouthful’ against the politicians and yet don’t like to miss any chance in terms of enjoying the gossips, conflicts and even much more that keeps erupting around us as part of the political turmoil in social and official setup? Is politics bad or is it the politicians we remain up against? Imagine a state where there is no politics! How would we survive?

One of the initial lessons given to each person in the early part of life is to “look into your own self.” Our mother, our teacher and later every person concerned about our well being has been ushering us to go through the self discovery. We have done it eagerly or reluctantly. The self talk has brought us face to face with someone sitting inside helping us distinguish between the good and the evil, the right and the wrong, the paap and the punya etc. We usually ensure that our vehicles and gadgets go through regular servicing so as to remain in perfect working shape.

When things don’t go well, we all blame the people managing it. Unfortunately, the mismanagement has been growing consistently in India. Be it uncontrolled population growth, rapid unemployment and unemployability, pots on the road or poison in the mid day meals, every day every where we look around, the news is full of negativity and self doubt.

The speed for change all around us has been rapidly increasing yet the need for opting for the change has not been able to pace up. We change our cell phones and IT tools much faster but the CPU installed in our mind generally does not create self-upgrades regularly. Is it because we love status quo or are quite apprehensive to venture into domains unknown or unexplored?

When was the last time you smiled whole-heartedly? When was the last time you expected a smile from a service provider and felt disheartened when you didn’t receive it? Land at a neighboring country in the South-east Asia and the board says “Welcome to the country of smiling people.” Why is smiling not so natural in India?

When was the last time you were creative? Today, Yesterday, the day before…last year…last to last…??? Look at all the problems around us at an individual or organizational or the national level. Can’t they just be solved through aligning the creative juices God has gifted us? If we want, we can easily find a resolute way to prevent 5 year old kids being tormented for life and bring in high level of dignity and respect for women all across. If we want, the climate issues and resolving international conflicts would look all so easy.

You may have paraskavedekatriaphobia (also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia) if you have the fear of Friday the 13th. However, if you have the fearful dislike for the number 13, you may just be suffering from Triskaidekaphobia. No one knows why we develop these fears and the correct history that implanted these fears in us. Yet, we are fearful.

“A meeting is a place where minutes are kept and hours are lost.” This is a very old saying that still holds good vis-à-vis the daily rigmarole of the organisations. Why do we have so many meetings? Why are the action loving professionals forced or expected to sit-through end- less meetings which do not leave them enough time to begin actions? What can be done to break the conference room barriers and get into the open world where the concoction and aroma of freshly brewed actions await?

Some change, though slow, has started emerging. Some people in the Government who have been pretending to sleep have started showing the signs of waking up to the untiring voices of the Indian Youth. Some signs of gloom in the industry are giving way to some signs of bloom. Some hope has started. Some more pressure still needs to be exerted.

A lot has been said in the media during the last fortnight yet a lot can still be said. The fighting spirit and sacrifice by a young woman, Nirbhaya, Damini or call her by any name, has ignited the whole country. The pain has hurt one and all. We hope that the turning point for the change towards the positive is round the corner. We pray that the incidence acts as the point of inflection. India is in no mood to give any more sacrifices of its daughters. Enough is Enough. No More Now!

When educated and intelligent people leave reasons aside and are driven by the emotions of appeasement, chaos strike. Two young girls in Mumbai discovered this recently when they were at the receiving end of the mind-less application of a law that should not have been there in the first place. Media came to their rescue but by that time the damage had been done. We may spend many more months of fixing the blame but the result would remain a gross shame.

Oscar Wilde said, “You can never be over dressed or over educated.” The trouble in Indian education is that we have limited aspirations and perspiration to raise the levels. Conferences after conferences we talk about the sad state of affairs but have done nothing enough. All the premier education institutes were established almost 4 decades ago and cannot meet even a small fraction of rising demand.

Mahatma Gandhi today is more relevant in today’s world but is mere present in the books of history and meaningless political speeches. Can we change this? Do we want to? He said, “We must become the change we want to see.” Are we ready? How can we begin? When do we begin?

This issue is dedicated to the Sikhs of Joshimath, a small town in the state of Uttarakhand, who have set an example by allowing the Muslim community to offer namaaz at their gurdwara on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam said, “If you salute your duty, you need not salute anybody. But if you pollute your duty, you have to salute everybody.“ We, after all, have a choice. Do what pleases us and then face the consequences or else abide by our duty and stand tall.

C. JoyBell C., once said, “There are two things we should always be 1. raw and 2. ready. When you are raw, you are always ready and when you are ready you usually realize that you are raw. Waiting for perfection is not an answer, one cannot say “I will be
ready when I am perfect” because then you will never be ready, rather one must say “I am raw and I am ready just like this right now, how and who I am.”

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw
off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” These words of H. Jackson Brown Jr., [P.S. I Love You] are not just momentary and fleeting feel good words. They create caution lest we repent.

A very-very big thank you indeed. I have no words to express my gratitude for the excellent encouragement and appreciation
on the first issue of your Ymag. Amidst downgrading of India’s progress chart and a debate of 50:50 chances of India making it,
life remains as usual, gradually getting a little hotter. Studies have started revealing that the young India is not in a blind race
of getting more money out of job but instead looks for a more balanced employer and a financially stable future. Nothing new in India. Mindset of the classifiers [baby boomers, Gen X Y Z alpha beta…] meets the reality of India. Time to say YES to progressive people care and development.

I am delighted to place before you the first edition of the monthly Ymag. Consider this as a beta version. Many changes may take place during the next few issues based on the advise, comments and guidance that I may receive from you. It is your eMag. Feel free to help in building the shape you desire to see. Many of you would be wondering the reason for my discontinuing ABCeMag which reached you 70 times on time with precision every fortnight. Well, I just wanted to expand the scope from Academia, Business and Consulting to include professionals in every domain. I am in the midst of completing formalities to establish YPROSINDIA, a social enterprise, focusing on professionals with a zest of saying Yes and whY-not to every positive action. You will read all the details in the next issue.

This is the signing-off issue.Every 1st and 16th of eachmonth, we have been meetingwithout fail.Journey up to this 70th issuehas been exciting, interesting,demanding and extremelyfulfilling.We have tried to live up to ourtag line “Alag tewar, AlagFlavour” with full gusto andspirit.All good and bad things mustend.We are closing this eMag at itspeak. We are grateful to over10,000 recipients, contributorsand supporters.Looking forward to meet yousoon in another format…

Indians are amongst the top HAPPYPEOPLE in the world.After series of depressive findingson education and slowing economyfronts, this report does reflect thesilver lining.Is this the person on the streets inIndia alone who is happy or doesthe figure reflect the moods ofpeople engaged in Academia,Business and Consulting? We don’thave the data. Well, lets rejoice inthe spirit at least.Lets hope HAPPINESS rubs theworld too in the right way.Countries have started flexingmuscles which does not sound goodfor Nations, people and ofcourseABC.

Cricket is not the only domainwhere India is being hit badly.Last issue we talked about theeducational standards and at thetime of editing this edition, wecome across another dishearteningreport on the environmental front.India ranks lowly at 125 on theenvironment index.Year after year why do we acceptourselves to be a nation oflaggards? Why is mediocrity deeplyingrained in our cultural milieu?What are we doing about it?Raising questions is surely easy.Working together to find solutionsand act on them is not easier. ‘NaySayers’ abound in our nation ofplentiful divergence.

We have a major wakeup call as perthe newspapers:India ranked second last among the73 countries that participated in theProgramme for InternationalStudent Assessment (PISA),conducted annually to evaluateeducation systems worldwide by theOECD (Organisation for EconomicCo-operation and Development)Secretariat. The survey is based ontwo-hour tests that half a millionstudents are put through.We are 200 points behind globaltopper.The pride of India, the passionatelyrics “Saare Jahan Se Achhaa,Hindustan Hamara…”, countingDoctors, Software professionals etc.given to the western world, does takea serious jolt, if people who matter arelistening.

Here are some editorialpredictions for 2012, with punintended,:• Most of us will remain part ofABC• Most of us will talk a lot indrawing room andconferences about what ishappening in India butpersonally won’t do anything.• Most of us will read less,digest lesser yet talk more andproclaim better about theknowledge that we possess.• Most of us will still fall behindin the IT adoption. Internetwill still be used for emailingand milder social networking.• Most of us will talk a lot aboutnetworking but will realizethat ‘networking is notworking’.Rest of us will still be following‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’…

Weather changing…Industry sneezing…Indian billionaires wheezing…Global business squeezing…Overall scenario teasing…2011 almost fleeting…Time for consultants andaspiring consultants to pullsocks, look inwards, re-energize and re-invigorate.This issues re-touches theprofession once again.

Few days back, whilefacilitating a conference, Iheard a Chinese delegateappreciate the calibre ofIndians to debate. Back inoffice, I am still pondering thefiner positives of debatingendlessly. The latest being:Opening FDI in retail –economic opportunity or apolitical threat.The real challenge is ‘whendoes the paralysis by analysisstop and action begins?’A new era is round the cornerfor ABC to act decisively,positively and differently,keeping the larger nationalfabric intact.

Some one said, “Thoughtflows in terms of stories –stories about events, storiesabout people, and storiesabout intentions andachievements. The bestteachers are the beststorytellers. We learn in theform of stories.”Consultants too are storycreators and tellers. They usetheir past success stories as athreshold and help clientselevate their performanceand value. Academia is thepreparatory ground andBusiness the trueKurukshetra. The ABCblending drives together…

The festival season is over,the spirit of festivitiesremain…corporates seem tohave made their moolahamidst chants of sectoralslowing down, governmentin-decisiveness, rising prices,pending telecom policy…andabove all, the arrival of the 7billionth kid ushering in thenervous joy of impendingdemographic dividends orexplosive scarcities. TheChallenges before Academia,Business and Consulting keepincreasing…

Losing an inspiring icon is tough.A walk on his talk is tougher.Words to express are notenough, the man was made ofdifferent stuff.Dedicating the 61st issue ofABCeMag to Steve Jobs. Heknew how to delimit excellence.

Remember the proverb,“Slow and steady wins therace.” Old stuff.We follow the new idiom“the fastest and the steadiestremains ahead…”Every fortnight, 60 timesover, always on or beforetime, ABCeMag for you.Do we need to proveanything?Time for a bit of bragging ;-).Pardon the tone. Join thecelebrations. You are right inthe middle, play along…Alag Tewar, Alag Flavourcontinues…

The euphoria ofPOWER OF ONE doesnot stop at stating theobvious.More powerful thanthe powerful idea isthe powerfulexecution. In thisissue, Mr. SharuRangnekar puts acrosshis views on theactions beyond thehype and hyperactivities.As members of ABC,we not only face thechallenge but we are apart of the solutiontoo.

The world witnessedthe power of ONE inIndia.Single minded efforts,ethical standards,simple words,simplistic pursuit yetbeyond compare zealand non-compromisingexecution can layfoundation for thechange in future.Lessons for ABC –Academia, Businessand Consulting.Never before!

“Long years ago we made a tryst withdestiny, and now the time comes whenwe will redeem our pledge, not whollyor in full measure, but verysubstantially. At the stroke of themidnight hour, when the world sleeps,India will awake to life and freedom. Amoment comes, which comes but rarelyin history, when we step out from theold to the new, when an age ends andwhen the soul of a nation, longsuppressed, finds utterance…. We endtoday a period of ill fortune, and Indiadiscovers herself again.”

What do you do whenyour events startbecoming star-performers?You dedicate an entireissue to that.Keeping our modestyaside, we are doingexactly that. Just once.The curve of learning,keeps turning…readalong…

One more attack on India!One more attack on our pride,self-respect, peaceful day to dayexistence…One more opportunity for us, thepen-pushers and key boardtapping professionals, to talk anddebate about where India isheading towards.One more chance to forget aboutwhat keeps happening untilthere is one more blast thatrevives the usual pass time.One more…how many more dowe want?We have had enough of theflavours of terrorism. Time nowto show our own tewar…Once for all.

“A house with the bamboodoor…number fifty four….”. Well,celebrating your 54th issue doesbring back the time-less melodyof an era gone not so long ago.Businesses expanding,businesses being bought over,businesses fighting the turf-war,businesses searching for newidentities, businesses knockingon the door to enter, businessesenchanted by the growing India…businesses doing just what thebusinesses are expected to bedoing.Consultants should be having agreat time helping businesses intheir business.Dedicating the 54th issue to therhythm of business life.

Time toRe-ignite the spirit of our profession…Re-emphasis the ethical practices…Re-tool, re-skill, rejuvenate…

Academia, Business and Consulting professionals have always beenengrossed with the challenges of positioning strategies for theproducts and organizational services.What exactly is this? “A Positioning Strategy results in the imageyou want to draw in the mind of your customers/clients, thepicture you want him/her to visualize of you what you offer, inrelation to the market situation, and any competition you mayhave”.How would the positioning strategies for an individual bedifferent? How would personal brands be created? How wouldpersonal brand positioning live through the challenges of virtualand real world? Time for us to ponder over and write about. Dosend us your thoughts for the next issue.In the meanwhile, do enjoy this 52nd issue of your ABCeMag whichincludes a brief report on the 12th Round Table on COMPANYPOSITIONING FOR PROFITS AND GROWTH held in New Delhi onMay 31, 2011. Uploading the pictures and publishing the report inless than 24 hours is what we call “Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour” – ourunique positioning.

Thank you so much for anoverwhelming appreciationof the efforts so far. Can’t fitin all the responses but weare indeed grateful for youraffection. Please keepwriting.Two Gurus of managementprofession contribute in thisissue to take the ABCeMagto another level ofprofessional thoughtstriggering.

50 fortnights of Alag Tewar,Alag Flavour50 fortnights of yourprofessional support50 fortnights of your love andaffection50 seems like just starting…Thank you,You are the equal partner inour 50:50…

The New Financial Year…hope forgreater public participation inmatters of nationalimportance…special focus onincreasing the broadbandbandwidth that may bring inrevolution of a different kind inthe field of education… SumitChaudhuri bringing a newperspective and energy with histeam effective 1st April…lot manythings have started happening.

We hope…The new financial yearopens new opportunities forconsultants…We hope…The Academia takesthe science and art ofmanagement to a new zenith…We hope…The world of Businessremains agile, active and vibrant…We hope…The ABC together keepworking on their magical potion…

IMCI Delhi is entering into a more exciting phase.Sumit Chaudhuri was instrumental in making me accept the roleof Chairman, IMCI Delhi, and supported me to the hilt during thelast 2 years. The other team members did a great job too. Manyevents, website, presence in various networking sites and thisABCeMag is the testimony of the wonderful team that we havein Delhi.I step down as the Chairman of IMCI Delhi on March 31, 2011and would continue to support Sumit and his team.Lets give them a great welcome and participate more vigorouslyin IMCI Delhi’s activities.Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour continues…

Welcome to the newlook ABCeMag…Forties demandrejuvenation. We justextended the thoughtto this eMag too. This isalso in line with ourpunch line Alag Tewar,Alag Flavour.New Budget,refurbishedcommitment, newuncertainties and yetnew opportunities forconsultants.Lets make hay andcreate some too.

Lets hope not to read aboutthe corruption of the gameanymore. Hopefully!Dedicating this issue toEthical Standards.Hopefully, the professionalsmay lead from the front.Not cynical but hopeful !!!

Gandhiji said, “We must become thechange we want to see.”Lets resolve to work withImpeccable Professionalism…Mutually Clear Terms of Reference…Code of Ethics…Inspiring other Professionals…

Impeccable professionalism…Multi-skilled calibre…Creative solutions…Ignited passion for performance…

Increasing Opportunities…Multifold Learning…Credibility in all Endeavours…Impeccable Ethical Standards…

Is the time flying faster than ever before? 2010 is almost gone. The year has been full of activities at IMCI Delhi with lot many accolades coming our way. Compliments to all IMCI Delhi members and the managing committee team. We have all lived to the hilt – Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour!

145 participants from across Delhi and NCR, fabulous thought provokers and mind shakers, immaculate execution by JIMS Kalkaji’s Director, Faculty, Staff and Students along with a large participation from Academia, Business and Consulting. Matured and experienced Jury along with a highly motivated IMCI Delhi’s managing committee added a special favour and flavour. We have no words to say ‘THANK YOU’ for the support by JIMS Chairman. This issue is dedicated to the “Power of Youth”.

No heavy talk. Straight actions. Over to the youth brigade. Ready with rapt attention. Post-festivals, fireworks begin…

The season of hope and new scope has begun. We wish you a great time and equally great success in all your endeavors. While you celebrate, think of others too who may need a small portion of your generosity.

A fabulous show, impressive medals tally, acknowledgement all across…what else do we want? To begin with keep the house in order and dig deep to draw lessons for all we do in Academia, Business and Consulting. Our two events during October and November set the initial pace. Join us and carry the initiatives further.

We are finally there. Lets watch the games, cheer the players, share the victories/sorrows and learn our lessons of being committed, competent and credible. As part of Academia, Business and Consulting, we do have many more lessons to learn. IMCI Delhi sets the ball rolling through two events planned during October and November 2010. Hold the baton well…

New Delhi is inching towards the never before event in India – the Common Wealth Games 2010 – only the second time in Asia. It is easy today to talk about the blunders we have committed and do the ‘paralysis by analysis’. Lets leave that for tomorrow as a topic for numerous consulting conferences. Right now, lets get into the right spirit, energy and enthusiasm to host and enjoy the event. We don’t know when would the next event of the same or bigger size shall be.

Time to live, get ready, move and win. The Commonwealth Games 2010 theme song says it all. Time for cynics to get aside. Time for achievers to get on, move on… Time for Academia, Business and Consulting professionals to draw some lessons too. While you are giving your time and attention to CWG, do find time to join IMCI Delhi on facebook too. After all, the more ways we stay in touch the merrier it will be.

Greetings on the 64th Independence day of India. Time to re-affirm our resolve to take the country to the next pedestal of growth, stability, peace, personal well-being and global reckoning. It’s also the time to blow the whistle on acts of commission and omission that come in our way. This issue highlights once again the path we take towards empowerment of whistle blowers. We hope that things get streamlined before there is a need to leave the whistle and play the hooter ;-). We are announcing the 7th Round Table to be held on August 25th in collaboration with CDC. Do read the offer from CDC to sponsor consultants to participate in the International Conferences. The team at IMCI Delhi is also blowing its own whistle. Why not? This is the 33rd issue and as usual, ON TIME.

Football is over, Cricket is temporarily losing TRP…so what? Soon COMMONWEALTH GAMES would be IN. Time to celebrate other sports and rejoice in the changing face of ‘SADDI Dilli’ [Our Delhi!]. What a spectacle its going to be! What a spectacle its going through! Imagine, how would management consultants managed it differently? May be some of us could start scratching their brains and scribble few ideas. Make sure it happens soon…much before the games take-off. Don’t say that sports is not the domain of serious minded management consultants. Everything is. Management Consultants can add ‘Flavour’ to anything differently. They just need a different ‘Tewar’

Imagine consultants taking inspiration from ‘Baba Paul’! How would clients respond if all our predictions, suggestions and cautions score ‘bang on’? The good news is that ‘Baba Paul’ has retired before our clients wake up to ask us the embarrassing questions. Incidentally, we at Delhi Chapter have taken inspiration from ‘Baba Paul’ to organize the 6th Round Table around the theme “Post Superannuation Consulting Ventures” for all the current and prospective “Baba consultants”. We are already over-booked for this July 15th event. Baba S A Khader and Baba Anand Chhabra are initiating the discussions and would be Baba Dr. Sunil Abrol chairs the session. Sure, we dedicate the session to ‘Baba Paul’…

Football is moving into the next phase of excitement. The adrenal keeps secreting better dose of juices every time we watch it. There have been no downward trends. The Industry too is looking upwards. Our Guru, Dr. M B Athreya held the audience spell bound with his discourse on “Organisational Readiness to Exploit the Upturn” at the IIC (Annexe) on June 30, 2010. This coincided with the celebration of International Management Consultants by IMCI Delhi. Post celebrations, IMCI Delhi also held its AGM. Actions are getting triggered further and “Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour” continues…

So what’s the latest? The Academia, Business and Consulting generally focused on the corporate goals are hooked on to the goals of a different kind! Soccer Mania is a milder word in a soccer crazy wilder world. Why bring soccer into serious stuff like ABCeMag? Who says ABCeMag is meant for serious professionals? We have kept our GOAL clear – from Get Over And Laugh to Go Out And Lead! This has been the true spirit of ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’ and it continues…

This is one more edition of ABCeMag that I am sending you while on the move. I am currently in Abuja, Nigeria. Meeting or beating deadlines have been a habit for the editorial team so far. This is the 28th eMag that comes to you without delay. We are sure of continuing our love for deadlines through our indomitable spirit of ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’. The season to holiday is beginning and we will keep following you so long as you keep following your emails on the move.

Delhi is getting hotter by the day… Climate of business too is picking up the heat and momentum… Appraisal cycles, gearing up for the opportunities missed in the previous year, tying up the loose ends to get ready for the times ahead and much more is happening to bring interesting heat to the corporate environment. In all these times we have only one advise for all our readers…take a chill-pill! Use ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’. It works!

Conferences, media, corporate and airport lounges along with ‘open collar informal discussions’ have all been buzzing with the need and issues of corporate governance. This fortnight, we share a perspective. You may respond with yours’ too. We will carry it in the next issues. This issue comes to you from my current consulting location in Nigeria. Africa awaits to be discovered, intensively…

In this eMag, we present both the dimensions of need for a consultant as well as persuasive selling by a consultant. The Client, of course, remains the ultimate winner. The tips from IMC USA are getting popular. They are considered equally valuable in India too. We are extending you the invitation to share your articles with us. Just keep the size to a maximum of 2 pages. Even your previously printed relevant article is welcomed! Good things can be served repeatedly.

Time passes! We complete one year of ABCeMag. Thank you so much for remaining a consistent source of encouragement. My team of volunteers have thoroughly enjoyed working with you through this eMag. A new team takes over at the National Executive Council while the team in Delhi remains the same with a single change.

We are indeed delighted to receive appreciation from so many of our readers on the launch of our website www.imcidelhi.in. If you haven’t visited so far, its just a click away. You can download all the previous issues of ABCeMag from the website now. The business mood and scenario is changing gradually. Hopefully the new budget and new hopes will provide new opportunities to all the consultants. Our belief in ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’ continue…

Amongst its many firsts, IMCI Delhi is glad to launch its own website www.imcidelhi.in. You can download all the previous issues of ABCeMag from our website now. Have a look, send us the feedback. Holi is the time to have fun, togetherness and friendship. Chill out! ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’ continue…

The Round Table held on 12.02.10 again received an overwhelming response. Participants listened to Dr. Sunil Abrol with rapt attention and then shared their personal experiences in consulting with equal passion. Sumit, as usual, managed a strict timeline to file-in his report for the benefit of those who missed out. The tenure of the elected team of IMCI Delhi is inching towards its successful completion by March 31st. A mega event under our Patron, Dr. M.B.Athreya is shaping up. Wait for the announcement… Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour continues…

Greetings of the season! Despite the occasional international hiccups, new hopes for the business look prominent. Time for consultants to tighten their belts. We have been overwhelmed with the response on recent articles by Dr. M B Athreya and Mr. Sharu Rangnekar. We look forward to many such articles in our subsequent issues from seniors across the domain of Academia, Business and Consulting. We also thank different members of ICMCI for regularly sending us their feedback full of encouraging words. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour continues with international blending.

We don’t have words to thank you enough for your appreciation and encouragement on the 18th and mega-issue of your ABCeMag. We have crossed 10,000 mark in our readership across the globe. The recipients keep forwarding the eMag to their colleagues and friends too. Your adulation is making us humbler. Thank you. We do hope that we would be able to append couple of zeros to the readership in times to come. In this issue, we are making a departure from the routine. Instead of short articles, we have included a long article from Mr. Sharu Rangnekar that takes us through the history of consulting in India towards its future. IMCI Delhi Chapter creates a record of its sorts for the maximum number of events. We will keep adding. The spirit of ALAG TEWAR, ALAG FLAVOUR continues…

No editorial, No big talks… Presenting the 18th ABCeMag in 5 times its size. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour…in true spirits and actions. Have a great year 2010…

The year 2009 is coming to close. It is a good time to look back and check the accomplishments of IMCI Delhi. Starting with the 1st of April 2009, we have so far done the following activities, guided by our tagline “Alag Tevar, Alag Flavour”: •Expanding the focus to Academia, Business and Consulting instead of confining to consultants alone •Launching this fortnightly eMag: ABCeMag – delimiting excellence. – This is the 17th issue. It has always been on time, i.e., 1st and 16th of every month. Sometimes, it is even before the time too. Shows our eagerness to share it with you. •Held 18 public events including hosting a four event International Management Consultants’ Week during July 16 – 22, 2009. Attendance in each of ur programme has ranged from 26 to 172. We have experimented with new programme formats including T20Camps, Guru Speaks and Professionals Round Table successfully. •Creating a group ‘imci – delhi’ on linkedin.com with over 335 members across the globe. Check linkedin.com. Search for the group ‘imci – delhi’ to be a member. •Making IMCI Delhi accessible on twitter.com •Webcasting videos of all events on youtube.com and msn video. Type ‘imcidelhi’ on youtube or msn and seen the coverage. •Podcasting all the talks in mp3 and making it available through box.net. Type ‘imcidelhi’ on box.net and listen/download. •Making over 1450 pictures available to all participants of the events and general public through picasa. •Tying up with professional bodies and hosting joint programmes in New Delhi. This includes All India Management Association, Standing Committee of Public Sector Enterprises, International Management Institute and Consultancy Development Centre.

Changing weather…changing times…and the feeling of further changes round the corner…makes change the only constant factor in the world of Academia, Business and Consulting. Someone said, “Every time I find the meaning of life, they change it.” Denis Waitley said, “Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” Profound philosophy! Well, If you don’t create change, change will create you. Whatever, we say, Change is a good subject for many of us consultants to earn our livelihood. Our ABCeMag also changes into an interesting age. It turns 16 with this issue. Thank you for all your support, feedback and encouragement. We may keep changing but something surely will remain constant for us, “Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour.”

This has been an eventful fortnight for IMCI Delhi. Dr. Charles M Savage made an Impactful presentation on ‘The Triple Bottom Line…’ on 11.11.09 at the jointly organized Guru Speaks session by AIMA-IMI-IMCI Delhi. Over 110 professionals and students participated. Follow the links in this eMag to listen to the podcast, watch the Video or see 232 pictures. From this fortnight, we start our column ‘TIPS FOR CONSULTANTS’, courtesy IMC, USA. We also have a special message from China. These are global strides. Who says, IMCI Delhi is a local body? An interesting discovery this fortnight was the reluctant but very effective transformation of Sumit Chaudhuri as a photographer. I must admit, he has done a neat job. He further strengthens the saying, “management consultant can wear any cap”. The overnight reporting by Mr. S A Khader on the Guru Speaks session shows his commitment to the profession which would serve inspiration to others. ‘Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour’ are not words. They show the passion for which IMCI Delhi stands. The play and performance continues…

The season is changing…the mood is changing…the hopes are changing… Lets welcome the change …and change too. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour of IMCI Delhi again ensures that the Round Table, “Managing the dynamics of Consultant – Client relationship”, organized by us on October 30, 2009 in the evening has been reported by Sumit Chaudhuri, within a day, to be included in the 14th issue of ABCeMag which gets released on November 1, 2009. The pictures were uploaded quickly by yours truly, the un-official honorary photographer ;-). On November 11, 2009, we plan to hold the ‘Guru Speaks’ session with our friend, Dr. Charles Savage, who has been actively contributing from Germany. Join us with your colleagues, clients and even your students.

Many of us have lived through the downturn lying low. While things have started looking up, we all pray that this Diwali brings a lot better cheers to even cover up for the partially missing opportunities of the past. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour of IMCI Delhi ensures that there is at least one activity during a month. This month we hold a round table on “Managing the dynamics of consultant – client relationship”. During November 09, we plan to hold the ‘Guru Speaks’ session with our friend, Dr. Charles Savage, who has been actively contributing from Germany. You will receive the details soon. Have a wonderful time with your family, friends and team.

Greetings! The world of Academia, Business and Consulting thrives on buzz words. This fortnight we highlight ‘Inclusive Growth’ – again! More than the current buzz word in various conferences, it is also an agenda we have been ignoring for a long time. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour of IMCI Delhi ensures that the Round Table, “Role of ABC in Inclusive Growth”, we organized on September 30, 2009 in the evening has been reported by Sumit Chaudhuri overnight to be included in the 12th issue of ABCeMag which gets released on October 1, 2009. The pictures were uploaded within 3 hours by yours truly, the un-official honorary photographer ;-).

Greetings! Re-visit the basics is the flavour of the fortnight. Academia, Business and Consulting have a larger agenda cut out for them, viz., inclusive growth. Mr. S A Khader puts his thoughts together to talk about wider responsibilities and challenges. While the generic paradigm is alleged to be shifting in favour of ‘see money, speak money and hear money’, it takes much more to be a management consultant. I have tried to put across some of my thoughts. And if you think the profession is becoming over-bearing, in a lighter vein we have tried to present the check-points for exit.. Alag Tewar, Alag Flavour continues …

First the big news. Real Big! India has repeated history. For the second time, an Indian has been elected as the Chairperson, ICMCI. We congratulate Dr. Aneeta Madhok on her achievement. Read her interview which Mr. S.A. Khader has put-together. Just for your information, Mr. Walter Vieira was the first Chairman of ICMCI. We kick started the first Yo!program with IMI, Delhi on August 20, 2009. More should follow soon. Mr. Sumit Chaudhuri and Mr. S.A.Khader plan to participate in the ICMCI congress in London during the first fortnight of September 2009. We expect ‘high altitude’ reporting on their return.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you…, I don’t know what else IMCI Delhi team can say to all the accolades we received. After all, no other professional body has ever celebrated a full International Management Consultants Week [July 16-22, 2009]. Rest assured. We are not resting but we must confess that we love your words of appreciation. Every bit of it. Our emphasis on Yo! [Youth Outreach] program announced earlier continues. Many management institutes have already joined us as Yo!partners. We kick start a Yo!program with IMI, Delhi on August 20, 2009. More will follow soon.

What an action packed time we have seen at IMCI Delhi! IMCI Delhi Team organized the International Management Consultants’ Week with great spirit and intellectual harvesting. This was truly a professional indulgence at its peak! We bring you a DOUBLE ISSUE of ABCeMag. We just could not contain all that happened in our usual size. There are hundreds of pictures uploaded by us. Follow the links and get a feel of the vibrancy IMCI Delhi created. Don’t miss out the videos and podcasts too. Our emphasis on Yo! [Youth Outreach] program announced earlier continues. Many management institutes have already joined us as Yo!partners. Alag Tewar, Alag

We greet you on the occasion of International Management Consultants’ Day: July 16, 2009. IMCI Delhi Team decides to extend the celebrations a bit more to organize the International Management Consultants’ Week. Indulgence is great! With management campuses beginning their sessions, we also begin our Yo! [Youth Outreach] program announced in the last issue. Students of today are the future of ABC – Academia, Business and Consulting. A year round of activities start unfolding by IMCI Delhi, dedicated to the young professionals.

This has been an exciting and rewarding fortnight. We experimented with our own version of T20 format and it took-off as a mighty SIX! Precise timeline, smart and focused presentations by three speakers and equally sharp discussions by the audience created a WOW effect. We also uploaded the pictures, videos and pod casting in less than 14 hours of the event beating our earlier record of 22 hours. The team of volunteers deserve a pat on the back! Thank you for sending us your words of encouragement regularly. We truly feel enthused. Hope you are forwarding this eMag to your friends, colleagues and anyone you think may benefit.

All our volunteers are highly enthused these days. Thanks to you for sending the ‘words of encouragement’ so regularly. ‘Will they continue?’, ‘Can they sustain?’. ‘For how long will it last?’ etc. etc. has given way to ‘What more should we get from this ABCeMag?’. This quick transition and high expectation sounds great for all the volunteers. Volunteering is a serious business. People take out their personal time to serve the professional interests. They learn more than they serve that keeps them going. Join us by sharing thie ABCeMag to anyone you think may benefit. In this issue, on behalf of IMCI Delhi, I thank all the volunteers.

Thank you so much for your consistent words of appreciation. This time, we are facing a major space crunch and can’t print your pats on the back of our volunteers. We will save at least 2 pages. We also know that its time to get into more serious business instead of basking in our new found glory. Kindly continue to send your encouraging words, pointed advise and critical evaluations. Our team looks forward to it. ‘GURU Speaks…’ was phenomenally successful. We include a detailed report for those who could not participate. The globe re-looks at the environmental challenges during the first week of June. We add perspectives of an Academician cum Consultant along with a Businessman who is also a social entrepreneur. The problems of environment don’t live in the future. They look into our face NOW. Take charge!

Greetings. Great response! Great encouragement! Great readership! What else do we say? We are grateful. We have been receiving a lot of suggestions. Some we have incorporated. Some we are still tossing around to get a better grip. Some we cannot use, especially the ones that wish to make it a very serious stuff. This is not an eJournal. This is just an eMag. We wish to continue with its informality, youthfulness and playful character. Help us in expanding its distribution. We have already crossed 10,000 recipients. More the merrier! Send it to your friends, colleagues…any one you like. Take charge!

Greetings! Words fail me to thank you enough! We never thought that our first issue would receive such a positive response from everyone and from all over the globe. We are grateful. All the volunteers associated with this initiative feel highly enthused. Many more are joining us. Hopefully, the momentum will become stronger and stronger. Every reader, in fact, can be a volunteer. Just share this ABCeMAG with people you think may benefit. It’s as simple. There are no copyrights issues from our side. You may use the contents as you wish. Learning after all must be celebrated through sharing. Do look at our archived First ABCeMag if you haven’t. You will also find the links to our 11 videos and podcast of our event on April 9th. Take charge!

On behalf of the growing community of the direct readers of this e-Magazine and the wider beneficiaries, through the high velocity of circulation of its contents, worldwide, may I begin by thanking Rajiv Khurana, the in-coming Chair, and Sumit Chaudhuri, Dy. Chairman, of the Delhi Chapter of the IMCI. The title ABC is well chosen. Conceptual Knowledge accrues from Academia; and experimental Insights from Business. Consulting is the bridge between the two. The sub-title, “de- limiting excellence” has a deep import. By definition, excellence is an ideal. It should be approachable. But, not attainable. Certainly, not easily. As one approaches it, the bar, standards, benchmarks are raised. May I conclude by inviting all readers – A; B; and C – to actively contribute to; utilise; and share the benefits of ABCeMag.