Sai, Author at A Thinking Man

The Best

November 17, 2012 Filed Under: Personal

Scenario 1: As I entered the pen store, my friends who accompanied me laughed at me, “who would buy so expensive pens, dude, other than fools like you?, wouldn’t a Reynolds do?”

Secnario 2: I walked in to my office with a new bag, my colleagues rushed in to check it out; one asked me, “do you need this costly bag? wouldn’t the one given by office for free do?”

Scenario 3: At a family gathering we decided to see a movie and I went in to my room to get the bluray. Immediately a relative asked, “Wow! you have a bluray? Why waste money when you can download from the net for free?”

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Mindsets of Productivity

November 6, 2012 Filed Under: Productivity

Everyone has a different idea as to what success means, but at the same time everyone wants to be successful. Time management and productivity are two concepts related to success. Looking at the successful people around us we notice that most of them are organized people who value their time. What makes them successful is something we cannot see on the outside. But, when we analyze what these successful people have in common we realize it’s the mindsets these people have behind the concepts of time management and productivity.

Asian Efficiency

GTD – Tips to Review

October 25, 2012 Filed Under: Productivity

Another important aspect of the GTD process is the ‘Review’ phase. This is where we do a periodical audit of our complete GTD system going through all the action items captured, making it current by adding what all is not captured yet, and planning for the week ahead.

What to review?

Physical items: post its, memos, articles, receipts, letters, notes, manuals, supplies, decorations, utilities, appliances, areas/places to be cleaned/organized, CDs, DVDs, tapes, camera, closets, tools, luggage, computers, basically any physical item which might have an action assigned to it.
From the psyche: projects – stalled/to be started/changed course, hobbies, travel, new things to do, R&D about stuff, bill payments, etc.
About People: commitments/events related to spouse, children, family, boss, colleagues; appointments & social/cultural events.

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I have learned

October 19, 2012 Filed Under: Philosophy

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them;
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don’t care back;
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something;
I’ve learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I’ve learned that no matter how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take it’s place.

Anonymous

Why I fell for games

October 12, 2012 Filed Under: Personal

The earliest memory I have of playing a video game was when I was in the 6th standard – losing my pocket money of 1 rupee, which was after I saved two weeks’ allowance of 50 paise each – in a video game center on Mario in the very first round. I lost and it left a very sour taste in my mouth, because Mario was supposed to be easier game in the market and I couldn’t crack even that. I was dejected. There was no way I could play Contra (the one I wanted to play). I vowed never to play video games again. I didn’t have enough money to lose. This was in the ‘arcade’ era. Home consoles were unheard of. At least in India. But, two years later when my cousin from the US handed down his Game Boy (B&W) as he moved on to GBA Color I became an instant celebrity. The only game I had was ‘Kirby’s Dreamland‘. I remember playing it countless times till the day my father decided to get rid of it and sold it for a pittance. I was not even aware. It was the first heartbreak I had to deal with. I moved on, with memories in my heart. Every handheld I see today reminds me of that.

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