Are you stuck in high school ?

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/03/on-self-determination.html

...are we stuck in High School?
I had two brushes with higher education this week.
The first was at a speech I gave in New York. There were several Harvard Business School students there, invited because of their interest in marketing and exceptional promise (that's what I was told... I think they came because they had heard that Maury Rubin would make a great lunch!).
Anyway, they asked for my advice in finding marketing jobs. When I shared my views (go to a small company, work for the CEO, get a job where you actually get to make mistakes and do something) one woman professed to agree with me, but then explained, "But those companies don't interview on campus."
Those companies don't interview on campus. Hmmm. She has just spent $100,000 in cash and another $150,000 in opportunity cost to get an MBA, but...
The second occurred today at Yale. As I drove through the amazingly beautiful campus, I passed the center for Asian Studies. It reminded me of my days as an undergrad (at a lesser school, natch), browsing through the catalog, realizing I could learn whatever I wanted. That not only could I take classes but I could start a business, organize a protest movement, live in a garret off campus, whatever. It was a tremendous gift, this ability to choose.
Yet most of my classmates refused to choose. Instead, they treated college like an extension of high school. They took the most mainstream courses, did the minimum amount they needed to get an A, tried not to get into "trouble" with the professor or face the uncertainty of the unknowable. They were the ones who spent six hours a day in the library, reading their textbooks.
The best part of college is that you could become whatever you wanted to become, but most people just do what they think they must.
Is this a metaphor? Sure. But it's a worthwhile one. You have more freedom at work than you think (hey, you're reading this on company time!) but most people do nothing with that freedom but try to get an A.
Do you work with people who are still in high school? Job seekers only willing to interview with the folks who come on campus? Executives who are trying to make their boss happy above all else? It's pretty clear that the thing that's wrong with this system is high school, not the rest of the world.
Cut class. Take a seminar on french literature. Interview off campus. Safe is risky.

India Booming !

India's economic march in the past few years needs no introduction - the world has been witnessing it for some time now. But even keeping that in mind, the sheer force with which India is rising boggles the mind. Just a cursorary look at the Forbes List released today throws up some amazing numbers.

The Ambanis - Mukesh and Anil, are placed at #14 and # 18 this year - last year they were #56 and #104. Anil Ambani has gained a net 12 Billion this year, while Mukesh has gained some 10 Billion. In 365 days. Pause a bit to think that they have not even started their dream projects of setting up mega retail chains and the other mega ventures.

India now has more billionaires than the economic powerhouse of Japan. India has more billionaires in the top 20 list than any other country - bar the US.

But that just covers the the richest of the rich, you say ? - Look again. And look again carefully.

India's GDP is growing at a net rate of about 9 % for quiet some time, the forex reserves have never been higher, and the BSE index breaks some record almost every day you check.

The Infrastructure is growing. The Airline Industry is opening up. India just signed a deal with the US to generate nuclear power. India is one of the premier countries working in the field of rocket science. The Indian pharmaceutical companies are booming - competing to take over the divisions of US Pharmaceutical companies that they would not even dream of competing with 10 years back.

The largest aluminum company in the world now is India's Hindalco. The worlds largest steel company, Mittal Steel, has set its future interests in India. Tata Steel succeded in an outrageous bid to take over the very reason for its former rulers power - British steel - the very company that fueled Britain's Industrial revolution. All the major car manufacturers have their eyes set on India to fund their growth in the coming years. Let us not even speak of the many smaller industries and companies that are trying to get their foot in the door.

This list does not even talk about the software and the services sector. We do not even need to go there.

I had met an american friend when I was in Pune few months back and he had said to me then - "I still do not see what the fuss is about - the roads, the cars, the infrastructure is nowhere near what is present in the western countries "
My reply to him would be this - " Yes - we still have a long way to go, but consider this - If we are doing so well with what we have right now - can you imagine where we will be - when all these problems you talk about are dealt with ? "

To put things into perspective, recall this. The United States - which is an economical behemoth of almost unrealistic proportions, was near bankruptcy by the year 1929/1930. The backbone of the US - its interstate highway system was started in the 1950's. The USA beat USSR to the moon in the 1960's. Thousands of Nuclear weapons were piled up - just as a gentle reminder to the world. By the 1970's , US was one of the foremost powerhouses in the world - powered by a generation of brilliant industrious americans - those that we call the "Industrial Baby Boomers"

Now take a look at Modern India. Post Independance - upto the 1970's India was near bankruptcy. After opening up the economy in the 1990's- the money started flowing in. India developed indigenous missiles, beat Pakistan in the "Nuclear Club" race - oh yeah - our gentle reminder to the rest of the world. The Golden Quadrilateral was completed by 2005. The Railways - managed by a rustic leader - set record profits in 2006.

Lady History loves repeating herself and the stage is perfectly set for India. It is for India to take the lead and set the trail for the next century - and the young generation of Indians have to shoulder the responsibility of acting as the "Software Baby Boomers" of this century. We must not fail her.

Indians form the largest pool of the worlds educated youngsters. Millions of young educated people - living in a free and democratic country. Millions of them eager to get a chance to prove themselves. Millions who, from the very day they are born - are pushed by everyone around towards just one goal - to be successful.

Something is bound to happen - one way or the other. The road ahead is long and a lot has to be done. We all know that no work is done until it is really done.

The world still looks on as India is waking. As India is Rising. She must not forget her tryst with destiny.

.perspective

FlashBack.
Take 1. July 13 2001,
Pune, India.

I get up early in the morning. Its a new day. It is calm and serene. The sunrays are just coming in through the window. No actually its not that calm. I can hear the drizzle of rain. And there are no real sunrays. Its just that beautiful light that dissipates just before sunrise. I get up, get ready and move out. Its such a wonderful day. I am greeted by the cool wind as I come out.

As I try to kick start my bike for a few times i realise that the dew on the handle has got my shirt wet. I wipe off the dew from the rest of the handle and I am surprised how nice those little water droplets feel as i push them off. I have finally managed to start my bike and off I am - headed to the gym. I remember that I had an assignment to submit - one which i totally forgot about. Aah .. never mind, I will find time to do it. I am sure it was a easy one.

After a refreshing workout, I come home to some hot tea and pohe - served by mom. I get ready to leave for college. I get stuck in some traffic on my way. There are so many cars these days. It feels real nice to see these big cars in India and know that the people in the country are getting richer. I see people going to offices. Man, I am lucky I dont need to work for now! But some day I will get a job and buy one of those cars for myself. For now, all I need to do is go to school and have some good time with my friends.

The rest of the journey is quiet un-eventful, save the incident where I almost run over a poor sick dog. If life were a computer game, I could have had 2 points for knocking that dog :P . But it is not, and I manage to avoid calamity in the nick of time.

I bunk the first 2 lectures because we need to play out the cricket match we had started yesterday, and was left incomplete because of bad light. I feel satisfied knowing that my attendance is being marked by a friend. There is something so great about playing a sport in this light drizzle and the cool climate. The game is ok. I was never one of the good players and we loose, but it was great fun.

We then attend one of the classes. The topic that is being taught seems to be interesting, but I give in to peer pressure - I just stop paying attention to the lecture. We have more interesting discussions at that :). I almost convince my friends them that Hakkinen is the best driver .

Lunch is in the canteen. Its my lucky day. I find a ten rupee note in my pocket and decide to treat my friends to some hot wada-pavs. Those things always taste the best in the monsoons. We discuss lots of stuff - sports, politics, movies and just about everthing under the sun. We talk about the problems of the world and of course, we all are the experts in all the fields.

I remember about the assignment and rush to get it completed. We are completing the work in the classroom, all of us joking away while we work. We make fun of the professors, of friends, of each other, of everybody/everything under the sun. My stomach hurts from laughing. I have the assignment ready just in time for class. Its surely not the best I can do - but hey ! - at least I did it.

After the class its back to home. The pollution is more these days, and so is the traffic. I find driving my bike to be soo much fun. The wind in my hair and on my face. The power I feel when I twist the accelerator. The sweet sound of the engine. It all makes me feel freeeeeeeee.

Instead of going home I go straight to my friends place. All of us gather there and well - pass time. Again we have our discussions on all the topics under the sun. Most of the time is spent cracking jokes. Its a good diverse group. There are these guys who keep telling us hilarious tales about their gang in their college. Then we have this hard working fellow and we all pull his leg once in a while. Theres this guy with the pot-belly - we tease him so much. There are many more. I wont describe them all, but they are all fun guys.

We plan to go to the movies, but we decide to postpone it to the next day. When its late, I turn up home. Dad is somewhat angry at me, as I forgot to inform my parents about my wherabouts and for being late. I thank god I dont have a cellphone. There is hot food ready to eat,as always served by mom. And as always, it is just so sumptuos. We watch some TV after that. I go to my computer and load my favorite game.

I am confidant that I can defeat the enemy by going to the "iron age" before him. I have no idea that I have been at the computer for 4 hours. As my eyes get heavy, I take off to sleep on my cosy bed, ready for the next day.

Life is good !!!!


Take 2.
July 13 2001,
Pune, India.

The light on my dreary eyes wakes me up. I did not get enough sleep. I hear it raining outside and curse the day. I want to sleep some more, but i get up. I get ready and move out. It is a cold and wet day.

The bike always refused to start on such days and I struggle with it. Its also irritating to get your shirt wet from all the dew. As I am driving to the gym I remember the assignment I had to submit. I remember that my friend was supposed to give me the questions which he never did. I wonder when i will find time to do it. I already had missed the last one.

The workout is tiring and my muscles pain so much. I come home exhausted and get ready to leave for college. I get stuck in some traffic. Its getting so bad. People have no respect for the environment. They live in their shiny cars and pollute the air for people like us. I wish I had a job. I am also irritated by all these stray animals. Why cant the government take care of such issues ? How incompetent ! Yeh hai India !

I meet up with some guys as I park my bike and they insist that I join them to play the game we had abandoned last evening. I dont feel like it, and try my best to avoiding them. But they win in the end. I am not feeling up to the mark, and to add to it,we end up loosing. Our openers really wasted so many overs that it was impossible for me to score the runs in the end. As we leave the field I meet up with the friend who was supposed to "proxy" my attendance. The fool forgot to do so !

We then head off to the class. The lecture is going on - my friends keep disturbing me. I debate with my friends, about who will win the F-1 race and am really irritated when they insist it will be schumacher again. Why cant they understand that he just got lucky !

I head for lunch in the run down canteen. Its so dirty and unhygenic in there. When will Indians learn ? I find a 10 rupee note and my friends start bugging me for a treat and I have no choice. It is still raining outside. The food is good, but I am still a bit hungry. There are some more discussions and I am amused that my friends think that globalization is not good for the world. How can they be so naive ?

I remember about the assignment and rush to the class. Its so much distracting to work in a group, especially when I have to explain every single thing to that dumb guy - twice over. If it had not been for him interrupting me, I could surely have done a better job. And to add to my distraction these disrespectful people keep passing silly comments all the time.

I submit the assignment in class. The professor informs me that there is a test in 2 weeks. We all curse the system. How can he expect us to do well in the test, when he himself how does not know the subject well enough. I leave the school to be stuck in the mess of the traffic and the pollution, and yeah did i forget those animals on the street ?. If I had a car, at least I could have listened to some music and avoided all this smoke.

I remember that I had some chores to do at home, so I go to a friends place. I am waiting there for 20 whole minutes before he turns up. People just dont respect time anymore ! I As other friends join in, we spend the evening there.

There are too many of us. One of my friends has a real bad tongue and I detest the way he talks. Cant he talk of anything other than rowdy insignificant issues?. There is also this one guy who is a "class topper". We all make fun of him when he says he wants to go home and study ! What a Looser !

That guy who volunteers to loan me his class-notes seems fishy. I am sure he has a hidden agenda and he will ask me for a bigger favor afterwards. I know these people all too well.

There are some discussions of going to the theater - but these guys can never plan out things right. I want to leave, but they keep talking. I reach home late only to face my angry dad. Well I have no idea how he expects me to tell him that I was gonna be late, when I dont have a cell phone ! . Mom serves the food. The same old thing.

I turn on my computer. It is so slow. It just had 32 MB ram, while everyone else has 64. I start playing a computer game. I dont know why they dont have the Indian civilization in the game. Racists. It really sucks how these games always get harder as we play on. And what is more irritating is that the computer hangs just when I had reached the next level - I dint get a chance to save the game - The memory is too low.

I go off to sleep thinking about all that I have to do tommorrow again. Same boring stuff.

I really hope that life will improve someday.

Take 1:
Now,
Earth.
I read this blog. No too bad for someone who never usually writes. Not good - but at least he tries.

Take 2:
Now,
Earth.
I read this blog. Doesnt this guy have anything better to do. He should go fly a kite.

Ways of Life.

It all started in the water. Some molecules get together and interesting patterns start developing. There is a structure. It looks good. The molecules keep combining with each other. They keep organizing and re-organizing. The structure keeps getting more complex.

Then there is life.

The ancient life form keeps evolving. Organisms are formed. They learn to thrive in the water. They learn to live on the land. They learn to fly. The process continues. Some ones are good, some not so. Creatures are manufactures, some live, some die. Darwin is happy.

There are these strange creatures that start walking on two legs. They are different from the rest. They are not so strong, nor so fast. They have some other quality. A quality that had never before played a pivotal role in the battle for survival, suddenly seems to be more important.

This power is akin to the power that afficianados of "age of empires" might be familiar with. It is when out of nowhere you discover that you have something that even though did not seem important before, has become a very important tool indeed.

This quality is the harnessing of the mind.

The humans continue to run the show. They take over the planet. They build their own beautiful structures and they destroy some beautiful natural ones. They love each other and keep the species growing. Some hate each other and kill a few here and there. But on the whole all is well.

New tools are developed. New ideas are thought of. Good tools, Bad tools. Good Ideas, Bad Ideas. Humans continue to change. They adapt to what they percieve and the process continue.

All this while they are living in this physical world. That is about to change.

Someone invents the internet.

It starts growing. Slowly at first. But the disease keeps growing. There is this fascination. There is this new world.

The very minds that once harnessed this gigantic piece of rock and had the entire planet to its mercy. These very minds now stop existing in the physical world.

These minds start living in a virtual world. They stare at screens and the process of evolution starts takes its toll. They dont need their muscles too much. Moving in the physical world is inconveniant.

They dont need to listen too well nor do they need to have a sharp vision. The sense of smell is gone. After all, there is no physical danger that they encounter as they sit in front of their screens.

Their physical faculties start deteorating, just like say the animal tails. If you dont need it ... well then it goes away.

Their mental powers keep getting sharper. They are thinking and processing more and more information all the time.

Slowly these physical creatures start living virtually. Their brains and the internal organs are the only organs that they need. All else is non-essential for survival. Everything starts disappearing.

There is a time when the humans as we know it, are nothing but their thoughts - present in some virtual world.

You dont see humans. You dont need to interach with each other. Your world is the computer screen. If you want to convey your thoughts to someone , the virtual human sends an e-mail. There are blogs. There are a variety of other things. Its a collection of electronic thoughts and electronic feelings.

The human species as we know it exists on the internet.

Then the power goes off.