#TheLifesWay Ideas To Implement - Cross-Learning In #SoftwareIndustry

Hi Friends, 

Another idea that hit just today morning in my mind while connecting the dots of what I have seen in my life multiple times is that you shall always make a pair of a technical associate (fresh out of the college after diploma or engineering) with a functional recruit from the world of business or MBA or CA for the functional roles. This combination as they join the same organization and gets assigned to the same project together form a great bond between the two resources which has multiple benefits that I thought of  - 

1. Empathy - A mindset which gets developed during engineering or MBA is totally different as everyone is doing the same course and in the same pair of thinking shoes. But as and when interchange happens, it brings in empathy between the two resources that have just joined and got a single computer system to work or the same computer lab to sit. Generally, we are confined in our own thoughts and thinking patterns so it's a necessity to think from another person's point of view. 

2. Develops Technical and Functional Skills - This exercise also develops the technical skills of the functional associate and the functional skills of the technical guy who may be a JAVA developer or C# developer. As they start their career together in the same organisation it creates a camaraderie which is a necessity in the Software industry. I am not sure if this practice is enabled already but if not it's a worthwhile exercise. 

3. Curiosity - All this can only work if the new recruits have the curiosity to enter the territory they have never seen before or maybe part of it earlier but couldn't develop an interest in the same. We all change as our mind grows and what seems to be a difficult task earlier during our education phase may feel like an easy task now. So always keep challenging your brain and mind to solve something which the world is struggling for. 

4. No Project Pressure Initially - This bond doesn't have the pressure to perform in the initial days or months so they have plenty of time to venture into each other's territory. Though this is based on the intent shown by each individual towards learning and developing themselves. 

5. Trust - As they share the bond from their initial struggle of knowing the unknown, they start to develop trust in each other and that's how the culture gets formed within the organisation. Trust is not easy to come so it takes time to build and grow but you will see people in the same boat fighting the same monsters or the hole in the boat will have much more trust in each other. 

Initially, at the start, a thought might come to the persons that there is not going to be any benefit by cross-skilling themselves but in the long run it's always better for the person as well as the organisation. I have seen them grow into some of the competitive people who get picked by the competition so quickly and offered great packages and roles. I wish I could have thought likewise during my initial days in the software industry when I started 15 years ago but I have never shown the eagerness to learn the technical part of the programme. Though I have my own strengths which I feel is solving the problems at hand and also foresee if something doesn't go as planned. I love creating something unique for which I can be admired and that's what I am trying to do here too by sharing my knowledge and thoughts with you all. 

This idea can be implemented in many industries where there is inter-dependency between the management and technical roles so as to create a culture of respect, mutual trust and dependency on each other. Let me know in your comments and tweets. 

Cheers!!!

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11 Years of Service in a Single Organization #TheLifesWayReviews

Hi Friends, 

It's been long 11 years in a single organization for me after my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Banking. It was definitely a dream come true to finally get into the organization which I could not gain entry after my engineering because of my awareness and careless attitude. It took me more than 6 years to get a job which can pay for my past, present and future requirements after Engineering and MBA degree in my hands. This is definitely a road to riches story for me as I started my wages from R20 per day before I started working for this organization. It was not because I was not educated, I was already an Engineer in Electronics and earning R20 a day I was still happy that I was able to wake up and go someplace at a certain time. I am still not rich to afford everything I want or desire but I am able to eat and travel wherever I want within my budget. I am grateful for all the 12 cheques I receive every year from this organization since last 11 years that I have been able to make my lifestyle and build a fortune.

My first month was for the Trainee Program to get into the culture of the organization and learn the specific skills required to work up the Corporate Ladder. The training program was full of new people to become friends with and enjoy the camaraderie among all the new joiners. We will go to a day-long class together, prepare case studies, play in the evening and then have dinner together. It was a culture to learn from them and also make them friends for life. I was given my preferred choice in terms of my career goals and location and soon I was there reporting to the allocation associates. I still remember that from my first salary, I bought myself jeans and a t-shirt as it was the worst purchase ever in my life because of the quality of clothes.

I spent some time on the bench before I could get into my first project as I was waiting for my training to get over in Oracle Apps. Soon I traveled to Kolkata on a business trip to learn the Oracle Apps in a classroom session and that's where I realized the grandeur of my organization. I got transit quarters to stay and was served best of food in the evening. It was there I watched Yuvraaj Singh hit 6 sixes live on TV one evening while enjoying the Air conditioning of the room.

Soon, I was back to projects and was assigned one after another. Some of them were as per my skills and some not. But overall I kept going and learning whatever I could from all the new associates I could meet in my organization and all the bosses I was working under. I did undergo a lot of online training in various topics when I was on the bench while learning Income Tax rules too and trying to save some money out of my junior trainee level salary. After my initial luck in the organization where my dream of drinking tea in a ceramic cup was achieved in a project where we were sitting at the client location and the catering there used to provide us food, tea, snacks, and cold drinks as and when we just call the kitchen. I really enjoyed my 3-4 months in that project before I took leave for my marriage.

After my marriage holidays, I was back on the bench and waited for more than 2 months to join another project and soon I was working day and night setting up myself in the project as well as at home as my wife came back to stay with me after leaving her job in Mumbai. This was the biggest mistake of my life and she could not find any suitable job for the next 2.5 years and my money problems raised instantly. I used to get some money from my brother to take care of all the accessories and special items needed to run the household and he was literally paying for all my credit card purchases. I continued to struggle to pay mines and my wife's education loan and savings was none.

We were blessed with a baby girl and soon after she turned 6 months, my wife got an opportunity to join back in her job profile. It was hectic at first and soon we could find one nanny and soon it felt that life is on track now. Savings wise it was still zero and I tried stock market too with the advice of my father's friend but soon I lost out on that too. As I changed the house from one rented one to another, I was given an opportunity to go to London (Onsite) and work there for six months. That brought another kind of challenge as I had to leave them in India as my wife could not travel and nanny too ran away because of some police checkings at that time (2010).

Being in London was a dream come true, my savings increased with which I could pay my loan off in the next 6 months and during the next 8 I stayed there, I saved for my future house. I bought my first laptop, my first Walkman, my first iPod Dock, my first Sony Handycam and many more things which are still part of my day to day life. I am still using my Dell Laptop XPS today and wants to move to Apple MacBook Pro. The job there also gave me the confidence to work under pressure and with an intelligent client. Meanwhile, I had to come back after 14 months as my wife and daughter were struggling without me.

Once you come back from onsite, the next one will be like you have to stand at the back of the queue and will take you some projects in between. Life was good as you could meet your friends daily and drink the tea at the tapri outside office. India offers a lot of good food and during this time, I enjoyed a lot with family and friends. For me, it took me more than 2 years and two overseas banks (worked at offshore centers) to come to my third one here in Johannesburg, South Africa. Coming here also took a lot of time due to VISA and other requirement but it was worth the wait. I have been working in Johannesburg for the last 5 years with various clients and it's a great experience.

Loyalty with one company doesn't pay you much in terms of salary hikes but it pays in the long terms due to onsite travel where you get additional benefits like extra allowance to sustain your living expense in a foreign country. I have been able to make the best of it all as I never thought about changing my job to any other company. But one day, I too want to work for the Apple's and Google's of the world but only if I am some kind of expert in the area they are looking for the right person and I am able to fit in that puzzle piece.

Cheers!!! Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

Knowledge is great and so is it's pursuit - Indiblogger & British Council Contest

Hi Guys, 

Knowledge is Great so is it’s pursuit as we travel thousands of miles and millions of kilometres to seek and search for the right master and environment to enlighten us. This has been happening since ages and will continue to happen as we all want the best for us. Whether the learning centre entertains us or not and whether it matches our capabilities or not, or whether we clear it’s entrance exams or criteria it’s all dependent on what kind of education and learning level we have received till now. 

I too have tried to learn with the best possible resources I had at my disposal throughout all these years. The basic criteria behind which institute to choose for acquiring the right knowledge and job thereafter is dependent on several discussions within the family and it’s financial capabilities. There are many factors that affect the decision to finally go and enter the institute. 

The very first thing is the selection criteria of the institute. Which course you are looking for and what kind of exam is acceptable for the same? Whether you are choosing Masters in Engineering or Business? Depending on the same are you writing GRE or GMAT? What is the minimum cut-off score that you need to get into this particular university? How good is your current preparation to write the exam or you need extra coaching for the same also? How good is your English? Whether you need to write TOFEL/IELTS exam also? There are several never ending list of questions that keep popping now and then and somehow the pursuit of greener opportunity gives you the power to handle all this with ease. Even if you can’t then there are several counselling centres opened by universities from all over the world in your nearest metropolitan city, which will guide you through and charges you some fees.

The second most important factor is the overall fees that a student needs to pay along with the living expenses? It also includes whether you are able to take up part time job on student visa to earn your living expenses in that country and city? How much efforts are required to study vis a vis earning your living expenses? In UK, students are seen making pizzas at Domino’s for £6 per hour or at several cash counters in malls. They also need to look at what all kinds of sponsorships or scholarships are available for foreign students and how much they cover in the tuition fees. Is there any bond attached with the scholarship on offer as to after the completion of course?

This is the ultimate deciding factor amongst the middle class Indian families sending their children on foreign education route. 

The third factor that comes to mind is the after course job placement and VISA/work permit rules of that particular country? Job is the one thing that Indians always sees their future in and rest of their lives is dependent on the same too. If you are working for good corporate then you will be amongst the niche and back in India you will get the respect you deserve. Sometimes your course decision is guided by placement of the respective students attending the course earlier year. It basically drives you here and there as all universities say 100% placement hoardings with big fonts. But you need to check on that country student visa restrictions and the time given to international students to stay in the country after the course is over to look out for placement. With ever changing student and international exchange policies of all the countries, this is very difficult to predict as to what will be your future? 

The last factor will be the course content and the international learning exposure that college/university/country will offer you as a whole. It should be always better than the country you hail from. And what is the value of that course in your country in case you have to come back and work in your native country? Will you be able to earn enough to pay on your education loan you have taken for international studies? Are there any chances of racism or racial discrimination happening in the city or university? Will you be able to live in that city/ country based on your food/religion/cultural preferences? 

These are all the factors which I and my family went through while finalizing the university and city to go for higher education. This was a long process but it was worth it as I could perfectly fit myself into a course and university and country which really offers me a great learning experience and a great highly paid job afterwards and VISA to stay in the country and work for the local and international companies. 

London is a great international city and offers a space to everyone to bring out his dreams come true. The city offers a lot of cultural and international heritage and you can learn a lot there. UK has got the rich diversity in it’s various cities and with universities like Oxford, Cambridge you will always be in like minded people. We finalized that this is the city and country which will offer me the best from all over the world. I chose London because of it’s historical importance and financial capital. I wanted to pursue MBA in Finance and wanted work for the best Investment banks. Also there are a lot of Indians in the city and vegetarian food is readily available in areas like Wembley, Alperton, East Ham, West Ham, Illford, South Hall, Hounslow etc. A lot of temples and shrines are also there in areas like Neasden and South Hall. A lot of Indian restaurants are spread over the city like Mala, Masala Zone etc along with the numerous pubs and night clubs to take care of your weekends. The city offers a great learning exposure and you are going to fall in love with the city. Also if you want to see Europe, it’s just a train away and you can backpack and roam around the streets of Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, Munich, Zurich, and the list is endless. 

I had a dream to study in London School of Economics and started visiting the portal to collect all the necessary pre-requisite as already explained. I got the selection criteria and focussed myself into preparing for the same. I wanted to pursue TRIUM Global Executive MBA as I already have the job experience to work in the biggest software company in India. Also the degree will be from three universities which will widen my business and international acumen and understanding. The overall admission criteria is really simple and transparent. The website http://knowledgeisgreat.in/ really helped me prepare to create a reality out of a dream to pursue foreign education. I am really happy with the outcome to come to London and study this international course and making a lot of friends for life. 

Thanks a lot!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!