Switch Over III

Hi...
Hope All is well.
Well, I dont want to apologize again and again for my dormancy. This quiescency has become an 'inadvertent habitual' to me. Taking for granted that you would forgive me, let me jump to what I wanted to say....
The content of this blog is also related to my previous blog "Switch Over" and hence titled as 'Switch Over III".

Fine Let us get into the crux.
Not all are assigned a new project from scratch when they join a new company, but there is a high posibility of getting assigned to an existing project. In fact there are special cases where the candidate is interviewed and offered for an existing project by the Project manager.

We gonna hear some tips from "Mr.X", a baseless character who fell victim for the 'inadvertent habitual' of shifting jobs.

1. Do not carry over the credits
You may be a well established and known person in the existing company, but you should realize that the same thought cant be carried over to the company
you are getting in. You should never forget the fact that you are yet another new joinee for the existing crew.

2. Suppress the Ego
You may have had the privilege of having the inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others in your previous company based on your proven records.
That will work against you if carried over in the new company and provide ample space for others to easily stamp you as an Egoist.
Hence, You are not allowed to have the consciousness of your own identity in the new company till you prove. (The time to prove depends on person to person)

3. Underplay with peers
Though you seem to be a subject matter expert in the project domain you are in, it is always better to underplay among your peers in the new company.
Not asking to pull you down to the level of novice, but exposing your expertise should not look like a "Show-off".

4. Dont share personal matters
Try not to share your personal matters to the peers, or managers having the wrong connotation, doing that would provide a room to mingle with others. This might backfire at some situations.

5. Getting a grip
Damn sure the project would require your additional efforts to have a control on the project.
You should put in more efforts
to understand the work assigned to you,
to get a grip of the project,
to jot down your role and responsibilties and
to know expectations set by the stake holders.

6. Practice patience
Possesing more yrs of experience may help you in bargaining your CTC, but that can no more be an advantage in the project you are assigned to, since you are just a new comer to the project.
Even less experienced who had a longer stay in the company / project will have an higher say than you.
You might be introduced to the team as one of the key resource, but may not be invited for important meetings.
You will not be informed about the happenings, but would be asked to follow up on the happenings.
You may be asked to put forth your thoughts, but your view points may be sidelined.
Though not intentionally done, these happenings will make you feel like a scapegoat.
Practice patience. That's the only solace that will get you out of these plights.

All the above 6 points might look like threatening, but following these things in the initial 3 to 6 months will definitely provide a conducive environment to settle down in the new company which decides your longer stay.
And once you get a hold on the project and the team then (I am not sure whether) you can do miracles as you did in your previous organization,(but) can take a deep breathe and can be as you are.

Thanks
Mr.X

And now... To my view , Unlike his character I dont think Mr.X's points are baseless..
I agree with the above points... How about you ...?

"....DDubbughhhhhhuuu........."

Hi, How r u doing.
Back after a long hibernation.
Fine this time I just wanted to scribble about baby's talk.



Think of a baby, you will forget all other things in the world.
If a baby starts speaking, nothing would compete to it in the universe.
Baby's infantile behaviour and babble will enthral anyone in the earth.
Even Stonyhearted are no exceptions to it.

I was totally captivated by my daughter's speech. She started speaking two months ago and there seems to be a remarkable improvement in her speech. Heard that normaly girl baby grasps in a fast pace than boy baby. Experienced the same with my daughter who is one yr and 9 months old.

My entire family got totally excited when she started addressing everybody by their relationship.
Every parent should be thankful to THE ALMIGHTY for have plied such a wonderful parentage. I attained the cause of nascence by hearing my daughter calling me 'AAAppppppppppaaaaaaaaa.....'

My daughter also calls me with the other word which makes me totally astounding.
She calls along with an expression of mirth and that most surpassingly amazing word goes here..

"....DDubbughhhhhhuuu........."

Switch Over II

"Ha Ha Ha... vaadi vaa... adichaanaa aandavan aaappuuu ... You should have stayed in your prev organization where you lead a happy life.. Its okay, its your decision, live with that and suffer with that" - conscience
...Got totally trapped in an ongoing project. Though aware of the fact that getting into an ongoing project is comparitively tough than a new project,I took it since I was not left with any other options. Just travelled to bangalore to get the feel of the project.
To my surprise, I found the project in a very bad shape with goofups in estimations involving emerging technologies with team of deficit skillsets. No one would show interest in taking that crap along with the location change as another hurdle. I put forth my dissidence and blatantly exposed that I can never handle the project from Bangalore.
Fate - an indelible friend made me stick to the project by bringing down the team to chennai.
I really had a tiresome time in my career that I have ever had. Each and every day my slog reminds me my wonderful relaxed life at prev company.
One point of time, I made up my mind to put my shoes down to finish up the assignment. Who in the earth leads a felicitous life without hardwork? who in the earth stays away becoming a participant in the race of outgrowth? If you wannu be chosen to get more benifits , you dare be prepared for that.
At the end of the day one should deserve what he desires for. Am I right ? These things might appear for you as a "No other go" man's thought. Yes I m right I had no other go and took the burden on my shoulder.
Is this happening to me alone or for any one who shifts. Dare to give a response to this ? My conscience comes for rescue again "Everybody should cross a long way in his/her life to grow and undergo several scenarios.The one who tolerates and overcomes the obstacles is considered to be an achiever. Dont be dejected, its very part of life? Go ahead try, do it and the fruit of success will definitely be reaped by you at the end"
Struggled, toiled for 4 months and at last finished the project successfully and got a pile of appreciation mails from my superiors. All the pains and annoyances vanished by the appreciations.
Yes every body passes the same bridge while shifting. Initially one has to undergo interim pressures and hiccups to establish himself/herself in the new organization which would really be a mammoth task.
Make up your mind to face anything (boldy or pretend to be boldy) before you think for a switch over.

Switch Over

Gone are the days people glued to the organization...!
Gone are the terms seniors & juniors in a concern...!
The boom in the market (IT) has made one to go for numerous job shifts.
Of late, no surprise finding the years of experience and the number of companies almost coincides in resumes.
Okay lemme break the ice.. I m not here to discuss about why this happens, being me the victim for the same its not advicable to debate an eye opening session on the topic and dont wannu be too smart too.. but just wannu share my personal experience about my recent shift.
September 2006:
Thought to go for a change.
" what change?
Do you really feel the work as boring ?
Are you taking a overlook that you reached a saturation level at ur job ?
Do you think you have delivered the 100% on what you are expected to do ?
Is the company unable to quench your thirst of workaholism you have ?
tell me whats the reason behind your thought " - asked my conscience.
"No Its not that way , but u know... u know ..? Things should not be fixed and rigid all the time ?", I replied.
"Hey Arent you moving out of your place.. I dont see you sitting at your place for more than 10 to 15 minutes altogether..? " - conscience.
"Okay okay I want a change just because I want a change thats it. I may not be able to give you a clear cut reason on this" - Me.
" I will tell you what u run behind. You r running behind money. Its all the basic calculation that any average IT guy would do on shifting to other company 20% to 30% of what you draw now.. and ofcourse you dont want to travel abroad due to family constraint... right ?" - conscience.
"Yes.. you are absolutely right ?" - Me.
"Ada che idhu oru pozhappu.. how long will you keep jumping companies for money you moron.. Havent you got a good recognition , acquired emerging technical knowledge here. I bet this is the same that you gonna get in the other company too. " - Inner conscience.
"I am no more gonna listen you. All I want is 20% hike and quiet stay in my home town with my family..."- Me.
"Okay No one can change your fate.. go ahead " - conscious.
Done with the exit interview with the current company.

October 2006:
Joined the other company , Done with induction and awaiting for project allotment.
"Akilan , we want you to take Technical Architect role in this project.." - Supervisor.
I thought that as a good chance , well settled with the expected hike and a good technology oriented project".
"You may have to travel to bangalore since the team sits in bangalore..." - The next statement from supervisor totally switched off my power.
"Adapaavame idhukku pazhaya companylayae US poi irukalaamae...?" - my mind boggled.
"Ha Ha Ha... vaadi vaa... adichaanaa aandavan aaappuuu ... You should have stayed in your prev organization where you led a happy life.. Its okay, its your decision, live with that and suffer with that" - conscience

to be continued...!

Expedition

Once in a year we used to plan and execute an outing. One such an outing to Gudalur and masinagudi, theppakaadu goes here with narration.
Thiags – the hero of the trip initiated and made all arrangements for the trip. It was really an awesome trip he arranged at the same time I shouldn’t go without saying the “sodhapals” he made on booking the train tickets to the location. He booked the ticket on friday morning 7:15 AM instead friday evening 7:15 PM. Somehow we got it cancelled and started the journey through bus. The Crew was 14 in number and Aru (our Ex colleague) joined us in bangalore with tempo traveler. Landed on the spot (masinagudi) at 8:30 AM unveiling our enthusiastic penchant towards the nature.

Got a good accommodation with the help of Aru’s friends and refreshed ourselves to go for the first spot – Maravakandy dam. We were described about the generation of electric power from the water stored in the tank by workmen over there.

It was really a good view we clicked on top of the dam. Enjoyed there about 30 minutes and passed on to take a look at Winch. We are not allowed to take snaps but as usual our defaulters clicked some of the snaps presented here.
We went to a distance view of waterfalls and immersed ourselves in the free flow of river which carried ice flowing as water.
Then we had our heavy lunch where Aru arranged specially for us which consists of 3 kgs of chicken with a good meal including sambar, rasam and two porials. That really filled our stomach served hot and mirchi prepared in log house at masinagudi. The gourmet group includes Durairaj, Rajkumar, Aru and me.
We then ended up in elephant camp where we saw a peculiar mammal.
Magna - Elephant neither a male nor a female (50/50) known for its ruthless amok. The pachyderm has killed 14 members at its demonic behavior, but now got tamed by the camp.
We were then taken to safari in the woods. That was quiet interesting and an event at the ride was breathtaking. We were looking at wild elephants there. The driver under the eager or showing him off raised the accelerator without releasing clutch to irritate the elephant. At one point the furious elephant started chasing our van. We had a great escape and then heard that was the strategy the driver follows to cover the safari riders every time.
We also watched some of the animals such as bison, and deers. We were taken to view Mayur falls amidst the dense woods.
We ended up on the most important event in the evening – nothing other than boozing. Our guys enjoyed the drink and dishes provided by the resort people. Being a teetotaler (at present) I was put to judge a lots and lots of usual unreasonable altercations. It was nice to be a non drinker among drunkards.
The next day morning we went for trekking for a Murugan (deity of beauty and tamil language) temple. There were shrubs and herbs on the both sides of the path forming a fence. We guys spent there around an hour enjoying the hot vadai’s and samosa’s (sponsored by Ganapathy).
We finished our breakfast with good food items which we had long back when we suffered from fever. Yes it’s nothing other than bun and tea. It simply gives a good reminiscence. We then went to falls. We took a nice bath there for an hour and heard by a volunteer that bathing is prohibited since the water is used for drinking purpose.
The team started to Gudalur and finished our lunch (again with chicken biriyani and fish fry). The climate got totally changed. It was raining and our van moved amidst the drizzling. Some of our guys wanted to take a ride on motorbike and they got a chance too
We went to a famous view point where we need to walk a while to reach the same. We guys stepped for a 10 minutes walk where the leaches sticked and climbed on our legs without our knowledge. We enjoyed the view point and botanical gardens, and glass house that hold some plants of medicinal value.
We returned from there towards bangalore to catch up our train to Chennai. In the mid we noticed blood oozing out o Aru’s feet. We stopped the van and made Aru to check for the mishap. For our surprise we came to know that’s due to parasite which sucked the blood without any pain to the host. The issue got revved up and all are expelled from van to check for the leach.
Everyone had their own shares of leaches on their body sucking the blood. We revealed atleast two to three leaches from everybody’s body. The leach was sticking to the thigh of my brother who fell victim to the parasite joining us in the tour.
After separating leaches from us we started our travel. All in the van had the thought of leaches crawling all over our body till we get down at bangalore station. We had our dinner there opposite to the station and entrained leaving Aru and tempo traveler on the spot.
We reached Chennai the next day morning with usual blues about office and work.

For more snaps browse to http://www.flickr.com/photos/27959298@N00/tags/gudalur/

Jumbled words

Hi pals....... How r u doing..

Came out of my own imagination to feel the nuances of the jumbled words in certian circumstances.....

In a footwear mart, Customer looks for a foot wear. Nevertheless less the amount customer pays he will never compramise with the quality.

Customer : Will it serve me ' life long '.
seller : Sorry Sir, I am not sure but will serve ' long life '.


A Project Manager enquiring about the team member to Project Leader

PM : Is he ' working hardly' ?
PL : Sorry , he 'hardly works'..

Customer complaining some calculation mistake in the bill to a Shop Keeper, The shop keeper questions his subordinate.

Shop Keeper : Hi is the ' Error calculated '?
Sub ordinate : No its again a ' Calculated Error'.


The engineers contrast between two blue prints.

Eng 1: Hey I figured out.. The ' Difference is same' ?
Eng 2: No its the ' Same Difference ' that you were observing, watch it again

Hope enjoyed....

Tax Planning

Hi All how r u doing...

Its quiet a long dormancy I have taken My apologies for that,
bit busy with work ( Its real thing Okay Okay... I could see a sarcastic grin at me on this stmt )..

Okay me back with the social awareness topic .. Yes its going to be an abstract on "Tax Planning" facilitated by my friend srikant.
Here it goes....

“Tax” the word creates a stir among salaried employees that too IT employees at the end of the financial years. The stress is given on IT employees because of inadequate knowledge about tax planning due to rapid growth in the package with in the stipulated period. The other sectors acquire a fair amount of information on tax planning due to the slow and steady growth and that is the fact too.

As Swami Vivekananda says “We are the makers of our own fate...We make our own destiny”.

So let us discuss some rudimentary artifacts of the budget 2006-07 in a way conducive enough to plan for our tax payment.

No major changes in personal income tax. If you are planning to buy a car (of length not exceeding 4,000 mm and with an engine capacity not exceeding 1,500 cc for diesel cars and not exceeding 1,200 cc for petrol cars) or if you are planning to eat packaged foods or if you are planning to quit smoking, you will get a remarkable gain.

The other things that come to our interest are, removal of the limit of Rs.10, 000 in respect of contribution to certain pension funds in section 80CCC, has also been proposed subject to the overall ceiling of Rs.1, 00,000. Investments in fixed deposits in scheduled banks for a term of not less than five years included in section 80C of the Income tax Act

The increase in service tax (from 10% to 12%) will affect most of us rather I would say all of us. If you trade shares you should think about the increase in Securities Transaction Tax.

As Roosevelt said, Taxes, after all, are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society, and some body said, I am thankful for the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed. So be employed and be the member of the organized society but with a plan of not paying more than we have to.

Though the companies make ease the burden of tax payment by practicing a mandatory collection of TDS which effects in our pay slips, the deviation between the declaration and the actual proof makes the huge difference in salary in last two months of the financial year. Let us cultivate the strategy to bring down the high percentage of deviation which would enable us to breath free with the mundane expenses across the financial year.

Above all we do have few so-called ‘Brahaspathis’ who evades tax with a false conviction that they took an illegal waiver from the process, we have no say on those.

Interesting fact: Tax collecting process will be foolproof.

The Departments of Income Tax and Customs and Central Excise to undergo Business Process Reengineering (BPR). Nationwide networks to connect 745 income tax offices in 510 cities and 550 customs and central excise offices in 245 cities, creating national databases.

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is the critical element in capturing incomes and expenditures. Scrutiny of Annual Information Returns (AIR) on high- value transactions reveals that 60 per cent of the transactions are without quoting PAN. In due course, more transactions to be notified for which quoting of PAN to be mandatory.

To culminate, be ware of tax planning, it is part of our life.