Friday Reflections

The most important business relations are the personal ones. (Part 2)

Point to Ponder: it’s people who make things happen, not machines (or software)

Story Line: In 1985 when my parents were visiting us in Arizona I told my Father - All during my childhood years, I saw you either talking on the phone, or having tea and chatting (BSing) with people; and even at times when you took me to some business meetings, you were talking about families and world affairs before talking business items. I asked “ How did you become so successful?” 

He raised his finger and said “ Power of this: to connect with people ( dial phones in those days and letters); the people from school days, once I met during travel, business meetings, workplaces” 

That habit had helped him in keeping up with current affairs, connecting people who needed information or help, and most importantly develop goodwill. 

Without going into so many examples he shared; three key things he told me were: 

1. The most important business relations are personal ones. ( I remembered first time he had said this to me was in 1965)
2. It’s people who make things happen not machines. ( add software to that for current times) 
3. Relationships of mind are temporary while relationships of heart can be forever. 

When I look back on past 70 years, What I learnt from him has been instrumental in beautiful career and life that I have enjoyed. 

Reflection: It’s been said that “ Don’t mix business and personal life” -and in many areas it’s a sound advice. However establishing personal rapport with every member of my team and colleagues was very important to me. I followed my father’s formula. 

 

For most of us in emerging and fast growing industries, time we spent at work and work related items is much higher than the time we spent at home. For us, the teams at workplaces became another Family. We produced incredible results ( as acknowledged by our real customers) while having Fun and maintaining professional ethics. 

 

Since retiring in 2015, my wife and I have been traveling to different places in the world. After spending 4.5 months in Singapore, Philippines and India with our Stanford era college mates, Childhood friends, Family and former work associates-we arrived in Penang,  Malaysia on June 8th. 

 

Warm receptions and care by past work associates show that the friendships and bond developed during my two employments at Intel ( 1984-1986) - ( 1997-2015) are strong long after I left the company. 

 

Recently, one stranger ( no longer) we met asked about the  important learnings from my 70 years. I promised to write this FR with the most important one. 

 

My one more addition along the line of three key things my father had said:

 

Being able to work with people ( of different backgrounds, believes..) has been the most important ingredient for my success.

Below are some of the highlights of first 22 days in Penang with more meetings to follow in July. 

Work Colleagues (1984-86, 1997-2015) and then Friends.  Have known their children (in photos) since they were born or when they were few years young. Some of them are parents themselves, some in college and some are still adorable little ones. 

Total Surprise 70th Birthday Celebration. The Team members from Penang of our superb WW MQ&R team that produced incredible results as acknowledged by the real customers. ( 1997-2005) 

If this is not Love then what is it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zena Doolittle-Pets teach us the purest kind of love.

Zena Doolittle (January 6, 2006—June 23, 2022)

Points to Ponder: “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we have loved deeply, becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller

Story Line: It was March of 2006. Our entire family and two friends were visiting Berkeley Humane Society. There were two puppies- sisters named Zena and Zora. Zena had Pet Cone on her neck. Where as Zora was confidently walking around in the room, Zena looked scared. She came and sat down in front of my feet. I noticed she had stitches on her face and stomach. That cute little 2 months old puppy was badly attacked by a bigger dog. 

Although we had no plan to adopt a pet when we had gone there, we liked Zena and decided to take her home. The intern Doctor at humane society gave us medications and instructions for her care. As she was handing  Zena to me, she said in her British Accent “ Mr. Shah, Zena has no manners. You have your work cut out for you.” 

Right at that moment, a thought came to my mind: Professor Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. And thus began my and my family’s wonderful 16 plus years of friendship with Zena Doolittle. 

Reflection: From the begging Zena was energetic, enthusiastic, resourceful and fiercely  protective of our family. Over the years, She grew into one Fine Lady (😊). There are so many wonderful memories; for now I share just a few. 

She was not the fastest breed but see how intelligent she was her maneuvers while being chased. 

How she used chase and climb up 4-5 feet on tree to scare squirrels. At times  squirrel will fall on the ground and then she will catch them. 

My Mother in Law and My Mother loved Zena and they had special bond between them. When my mother in law passed away, she sat silently and watched her being taken away. I know experts say Dogs don’t cry but I did see  her eyes filled with tears. Friends from many countries who visited have many memories with Zena. Those stories for some another day but for now I like to share something beautiful but also strange that happened yesterday. 

Zena left us a year ago. Yesterday (June 23rd) We were in a temple in Ipoh, Malaysia with friends. Just after I had prayed for Zena and turned around to leave the temple, I saw this beautiful creature sitting behind me. Emotions took over and I am still wondering why at that very moment.

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we have loved deeply, becomes a part of us.” 

 

All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.

More we travel, more we share “The Little Prince” with people  

Point to Ponder: Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

 

Story Line: The Little Prince
At first glance one may assume that “The Little Prince” is a book for children. After all the cast of characters are: a Pilot, a boy named “The Little Prince”, a Fox, a Snake and a Rose. But in reality few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as “The Little Prince”. In my belief it is a story even more valuable for adults and it is easy one hour reading time.

Here are a few teasers from the book*:
The narrator begins with a discussion on the nature of grown-ups and their inability to perceive, especially relating to important things. The narrator becomes a pilot, and, one day, his plane crashes in the Sahara, far from civilization. In the middle of the desert, the narrator is unexpectedly greeted by a young boy who is nicknamed as "the little prince".

Over the course of eight days stranded in the desert, while the narrator attempts to repair his plane, the little prince recounts the story of his life.

The prince begins by describing life on his tiny home planet: in effect, a house-sized asteroid known as "B 612" on Earth.

The prince has since visited six other planets, each of which was inhabited by a single, irrational, narrow-minded adult, each meant to critique an element of society. They include:
• A king with no subjects, who only issues orders that can be followed, such as commanding the sun to set at sunset.
• A narcissistic man who only wants the praise which comes from admiration and being the most-admirable person on his otherwise uninhabited planet.
• A drunkard who drinks to forget the shame of drinking.
• A businessman who is blind to the beauty of the stars and instead endlessly counts and catalogs them in order to "own" them all
• A lamplighter on a planet so small, a full day lasts a minute. He wastes his life blindly following orders to extinguish and relight the lamppost every 30 seconds to correspond with his planet's day and night.
• An elderly geographer who has never been anywhere, or seen any of the things he records, providing a caricature of specialization in the contemporary world.
It is the geographer who tells the prince that the prince next visit the planet Earth.

The visit to Earth begins with a deeply pessimistic appraisal of humanity. The six absurd people the prince encountered earlier comprise, according to the narrator, just about the entire adult world on earth. Below are some sample dialogues before you dwell into the fascinating, deeply philosophical and meaningful story for life and relationships.

“People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for...And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..."

“Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…” “It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake.” 

“Grown-ups love figures... When you tell them you've made a new friend they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? "Instead they demand "How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? "Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.”

“Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready-made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me...” said Fox.

Reflection: In the modern times where elementary school teachers have to remind the parents to slow down and let kids be kids, In the corporate orientation classes for the fresh graduates when the presenter tells them “Welcome to the ‘Real World’”, For people needing coaching in “Emotional Intelligence, The Little Prince will enlighten and open the eyes about what the real “Real World” is like. As the narrator says to the little prince “Men occupy little space on Earth”

The analysis of the book in Encyclopedia Britannica sums it up well: The Little Prince draws unflattering portraits of grown-ups as being hopelessly narrow-minded. In contrast, children come to wisdom through open-mindedness and a willingness to explore the world around them and within themselves. The main theme of the fable is expressed in the secret that the fox tells the little prince: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly: what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

*Source for the Story Line Teasers: Wikipedia.

Cover Photo from The Little Prince in my book collection. Motion Picture has since been released. If any further interest beyond this reflection, then Recommend to read the book first before watching the video.

 

Thanks to Saeed Malik for introducing me to “The Little Prince” in the year 1988

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Point to Ponder: The more you experience life, the more wisdom you gain and the more meaningful your life becomes.

 

Reflection: 

I came across this superb article (The Physics of Quest) while researching in internet about the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” in which Liz (Julia Roberts), having gone through major changes in her life,  decides to get out of her comfort zone and embark on the journey of self discovery to Italy, India and Bali, Indonesia. 

 

I could also relate with our own journey; the one my wife and I started a year ago as Twilight Explorers; experiencing different cultures, getting to know more people and contribute positively in whichever way possible for us. 

 

Whichever stage you are in life; contemplating changes in career, relationships or in other aspects of life, this article will provide great points to ponder and ideas for action. Highly Recommend. 

 

Story Line: The Physics of Quest: A Truth-Seeking Journey. by Hanna Abdelwahab Source: Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences. 

 

A paragraph from article as an appetite before you venture into the entire article ( link at the bottom of paragraph)

 

In a memoir called "Eat, Pray, Love" (most of us remember the movie which starred Julia Roberts), the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, talked about the "physics of the quest", which goes something like this: "If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared - most of all - to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself … then the truth will not be withheld from you."

 

full article in the below link

 

The Physics of Quest

 

Your Reflection? 

At 99-We remember all the times we shared together.

Points to Ponder: In many ways, old age can be a great blessing because the whole experience of life is behind you. - Candi Brim-Bagley

 

Story Line: There has not been a dull moment in our first 51 days in India. Majestic monuments, historic sites, deserts, forests and vast ocean; beautiful churches, mosques, temples; vibrant cities; watching lions, tigers, leopards within 10 feet of us and other wild animals in their natural environments /forests and noticing incredible energy and enthusiasm of people have been the source of great joy. But the greatest thing has been meeting friends and family members from my childhood days, four of family members ages 91 to 99. 

 

But today’s story is focused mostly on one person; 99 years old Smt. Siddhida A. Trivedi. At the age of 27 she joined Shree Manav Sevak Sangh, a Non-Profit Organization in the field of welfare activities for the Orphan Children and less Privileged Women & Senior Citizen. It’s Mission is to shape and impact the lives of orphaned, abandoned, destitute, Helpless Children and Women. And they have positively impacted thousands of lives. 

 

Many decades ago she was appointed as President and Trustee, the honor she holds until today. She was actively involved in the organization but few years ago Alzheimer took it’s toll. 

 

The reason for this reflection is what happened in the meeting with her last week. 

During our 90 minutes interaction, she asked same questions several times and when I answered, she will recollect other people or events associated with it. But few seconds/minute later, she forgot and asked same question again. But something very surprising happened twice: 

 

When I told her about an organization that is involved in education and empowerment of poor children in Assam, she patiently listened, was very curious and asked many follow up questions about the activities there. The conversation took place for several minutes with continuity of thought process; no memory lapses. At the end I saw happiness on her face. 

 

And when we were leaving, I told her how many orphaned children and women have better life because of her efforts for 70 years, I noticed tears in her eyes. 

For a person who couldn’t remember most of things we discussed seconds ago, had not forgotten things related to noble cause she had dedicated her life. 

I left the place heavy hearted. 

 

Reflection: During my childhood years my family used to visit Bombay during summer vacation. She was always very kind and arrange many sightseeing trips and family events for us. But events that have impacted me most and shaped approach in life is following. 

 

Her husband was a senior executive in India’s largest corporation. Many times while we were at their place, they would get invited to exclusive clubs or homes of their friends ( personal invitations not company events). 

 

We, coming from different upbringing, wore clothes that were not to the standards people wore in those type of places. Plus I wore only rubber slippers; no shoes. 

What I remember is that she would inform her friends that she was bringing us ( her summer guests) at those events, never embarrassed to introduce us to Who’s Who of society and engaged us in conversations with them. 

 

Those experiences shaped my life in two ways: treat every person with dignity irrespective of background or external gadgets and they also gave me a lot of confidence to talk to anyone in any position/place by being Who I am. 

 

How fortunate I am to have been able to meet my aunt, Smt. Siddhidaben after decades and express my gratitude to her. 

 

More about her organization. 
https://www.shreemanavsevasangh.org/

Travel Tips-Don’t Leave Home Without These Things

 

Point to Ponder: Things don’t go wrong during most travels but in case they do, what level of risk can you afford in a foreign place?

 

Story Line: While traveling, Don’t leave home without these three things. 

1. A small box of first aid kit and some essential medicines in case of emergency. It has rescued me once in a small town in Japan and got me through the night until I found help next morning but my box has helped more of fellow travelers. 
2. A printed copy of essential documents like passport, tickets, visa, medical related and itinerary. Know of two friends whose bag, purse were stolen during travel and passports, credit cards were lost. One had printed copy of documents and the other didn’t. What followed were Stories of Triumph vs Tragedy. 
3. Travel Insurance: it has come to rescue many times for us: during volcanic eruption in Bali, when my partner got injured and six of us were stranded for 15 days in Helsinki and one more time when I had to cancel a trip to Turkey. We have also witnessed first hand what happened to visitors who didn’t have insurance and stranded in Bali, also one family who couldn’t travel to Malaysia out of Fiji because of forests fires smoke over Indonesia. 

 

Reflection:  In the year 2003 My work colleague, and I were traveling to Asia for business. Our first stop was South Korea. While there, he noticed that I was carrying a box of first aid kit which also contained many different kinds of medicines. He looked at me and said “ You are a sickly man; carrying many medicines”  I told him that I carried them for precautions, in case of emergency and needed it only once through all my travels. But many a times they have been useful to fellow travelers. I emphasized that he should understand as a teacher of Prevention and Think Different type classes. 

 

Unfortunately he didn’t give up and kept making fun of me on the trip until…One day we visited Suzhou in China, and he dined at a place famous for dumplings. 

 

Next morning we were scheduled to leave for Singapore. At 1:00AM, the phone in my room kept ringing while I was fast asleep. Annoyed I picked up and there was a very weak, more or less crying voice, “Do you have that Cipro? When I asked the reason he said “ I am very sick; I have high temperature and diarrhea. We need to travel tomorrow morning plus if I have a fever they will put me in Quarantine in Singapore” I asked him “Do you have a prescription for Cipro? He begged to give him medicines. I said “OK I have some non-prescription medicines that will help you with fever and stomach upset. Once we get to Singapore you visit Doctor” 

 

Well, the rescue passage the “Sickly man” always carried helped him get to Singapore”

That afternoon, He returned from Doctor’s office with four different prescription medicines. But the ordeal had not yet ended. 

 

At midnight I got a call from him “Anand I am feeling giddy. I am very giddy” 

Pardon my poor English, I said, but what does giddy mean? Stop making fun of me, he replied. “I am feeling terrible” 

Further inquiry revealed that he had taken all those medicines without food. 

To our misfortune the hotel didn’t have midnight food service but the receptionist was kind enough to go to kitchen and made some warm food and drinks for him. 

 

Next time we were traveling, I noticed that he was carrying one white box with him. Just to be a gentleman, I did not ask him what was inside. Seems he was Thinking Different. 😊

 

Here are two short videos with humor for Travel Tips. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6F3HYW5epUo?feature=share

 

https://twilightexplorers.com/danger-how-to-prepare-and-stay-healthy-while-traveling/ 😊

 

Here are two short videos with humor for Travel Tips. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6F3HYW5epUo?feature=share

 

https://twilightexplorers.com/danger-how-to-prepare-and-stay-healthy-while-traveling/

What is it between Me and The Monkeys?

Point to Ponder: “Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town.” George Carlin

Story Line: Yesterday was our third day in Ahmedabad, India- the place I was born and spent first seventeen years of my life. It’s been long nineteen years since our last visit. 

The sun had disappeared and darkness had sat in. I was on phone talking to a friend while walking down a small street. 
Suddenly something big bumped into my back and shook me up. A second later I saw two big monkeys running away. A moment later I felt pain on my left hip and noticed my shirt was ripped up. Digging further I realized that even my trouser and underpants were torn and felt some burning pain on my skin. 

The Monkey was off my back but what followed was many calls and then emergency visit to closest clinic followed by Tetanus and Rabies shots. It became a long evening. 
The experience will stay in my memory for the lifetime but it brought back memories of my previous encounter with a monkey. 
I was resting with my eyes closed under a tree in the Monkey  forest in Ubud, Bali. Suddenly I felt someone jumped on my chest. When my eyes opened it was a baby monkey and it was trying to touch my nipple and wanting to satisfy its hunger. I immediately pushed him farther but still didn’t want to miss photo opportunity. 
The baby, realizing its bad manners, hugged me and lied down in my lap. Atleast this monkey showed some manners and after a short nap, wished me good bye. 

Ubud Bali Encounter. 

Originally I had planned to write the reflection from our last week’s experience in Singapore titled: Singapore, the country that doesn’t rest innovating. ( now future reflection)
But I changed the topic after this Monkey experience because for ever I will wonder: What is it between Me and the Monkeys? Any ideas Welcome from the readers. 😊

Reflection: The current experience made me realize that I should have taken atleast tetanus shot, that was overdue, before I left for the trip. But carrying a small emergency bag with some essential medicines and first aid items became big asset to clean wounds before i could get professional help. 

 

 

Take Only Memories, Leave Only Footprints.

Point to Ponder: The relationships with companies are purely business and temporary; but the value you deliver, the relationships with people and learning experiences are lifelong. - Pravin R Shah 

Storyline: This week I came across two interesting stories:  One young man got laid off from a large corporation. In his note he talked about positive memories of the year with the company. Many notes from friends and colleagues recounted fond memories with him. Next day a former colleague sent him a photo of a nice motivational note he had written a month ago on one conference-room board. It was still there.

The other story I heard was about the person who retired after 39 years with an organization. The person left all items (SWAG: Plaques, Mugs, Clothing..) that were given to her in various company recognitions and celebrations. The person left without saying goodbye to many longtime colleagues displaying an attitude “I have nothing to do with this organization.”

This brought back memories of my days in the corporate world, and hence this reflection…

Reflection: Very early in my career I had come to the conclusion that the relationships with your company/your employer are purely business and nothing personal. No matter what claims are being made about lifetime benefits, good corporate citizenship, the best place to work on the planet Earth etc; The bottom line is- its business, and all seemingly attractive, tempting things are only in the context of what serves the business interest. (Another story for some another reflection)

Since then I’ve considered every relationship with my employer/ company as a business. With the mindset that someone is entrusting me and paying me to deliver certain results in terms of products or services, my duty is to deliver best possible solutions. This mentality served me very well in entire 40 years career.(1975-2015)

But the valuable benefits of those business dealings were a lot more than just business results or what I got paid for it.

Many talented, wonderful people around the world became lifelong friends. Dealing with so many different industries, companies and countries resulted in many learning experiences that enhanced the understanding of different technologies, cultures and history. And the significant positive impact of our work was acknowledged and appreciated in many ways by the organizations and people we served at that time and even now (many years later).

(Shhhhh…And I have treasured every memory; notes from people, coffee mugs, pictures, paper weights, jackets, recognitions for delivering outstanding results.)

Take only Memories, Leave only Footprints.

 

 

 

How will you measure your life?

Point to Ponder: 

Be the Reason Someone Believes in Good People

Story Line: Yours

Reflection: How will you measure your life?

 Happy Martin Luther King’s Day 

 

The Power of Belief

Preah Ko-Cambodia 3/28/2016

 

Point to Ponder: “You’ve got to dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening and live like it’s heaven on earth.” William Purkey

 

Story Line: Certain events, people and images we encounter stay with us for a lifetime. I would like to share this unforgettable scene during a visit to Cambodia in 2016. 

My wife and I were visiting ancient temple in the outskirts of Siem Reap. We noticed this little kid fully engrossed in dancing in tune with what seemed to be one of Michael Jackson’s songs. 

Only after a few minutes of enjoying his dance, my wife pointed out that he didn’t have any music playing device. He had an ear plug with long wire not connected. 

 

Reflection: That little kid was living up to the real message in point to ponder: Be in the present, love what you do and be free of anyone’s expectations or judgements. 

 

Wish You the Year full of Dancing, Singing, loving and Working on things you enjoy and creating your own beautiful story.