While returning back from Oslo this weekend, I watched a movie, ’The Spirit of Marathon’; it’s a documentary on marathon and runners.
It was very inspiring and motivating.
It’s a feel-good documentary that follows the lives and training plans of 6 runners and ultimately culminates with their running of the Chicago Marathon. It includes elite runners Daniel Njenga and Deena Kastor along with 4 other runners of varying backgrounds and performance levels.
I really enjoyed the insight to the various training philosophies and motivating factors of each of these runners. Getting that open and honest glimpse of what it takes to train for and run 26.2 miles from a diverse group was awe-inspiring. The movie allowed you to get to know the runners as they shared their lives and 4 months of training. From a single-parent trying to get her life back on track to a 70-year-old marathon veteran…this movie inspires everyone as we all can relate to some of their hurdles, feelings, and challenges as they prepare for and run the marathon.
This movie is more than a documentary about distance running, it’s a well-woven tapestry of inspiring stories with motivational music and athlete background clips that has you literally cheering for the athletes in their ultimate marathon race. Despite not knowing the outcome of the race (2005 Chicago Marathon), I still found myself on the edge of my plane seat cheering for Deena & Daniel as they kicked in that last 0.2!
For anyone that’s run a marathon, considering a marathon, or wants to understand the marathoner in their life…watch Spirit of the Marathon. Watching the training, injuries, personal triumph, and successes of these runners will have runners and non-runners, alike, thinking about signing up for the next marathon.
For those who don’t want to run marathon, still good see, you will for sure start running!
Happy Running!!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Founder CEO or Professional CEO?
The founder CEO of my last organization, Manu Parpia, when he decided to pass the operational control to a professionally hired CEO; mentioned to his close circle that after a certain time founders need to step back and give control to a professional CEO and see he/she builds it to a great height.
Manu is back as CEO of Geometric after gap of four years, this is different story.
But, the point we need to draw is founder CEO or professional CEO.
It’s very difficult to take one side in this argument. We have seen cases, like Infosys where the founder team continue taking the charge, Wipro saw Pramji back in to helm after short time of non-founder CEO. At global level Google saw this kind of transition.
But, there are several example in medium enterprise segment, where professionally hired CEOs made it big and taken the organization in to a newer height.
As I wrote earlier, it’s very difficult to assume one way is best or the other. Founder CEO Model seems to work as one person or group of people seems to have control on the course of the strategy of the company, the direction it needs to take. (Though board decides it finally). It has disadvantages as well in not able to get out of the mold and scale to new heights. It will lack bigger ideas or broader market experience to position the company.
On the other hand, professional CEO would need lot of time to understand the organization culture and its strengths/weakness. Understanding the current problems and then creating a strategy to provide value to customers will be a huge task to manage.
Building the organization and managing the business and stakeholder’s expectation should be primary focus of the company.
If customer/business growth becomes the center of any company, it will have bright future.
Currently we are going through some organization changes in my company and these are the thoughts came to my mind looking at current state of merger and takeover.
Manu is back as CEO of Geometric after gap of four years, this is different story.
But, the point we need to draw is founder CEO or professional CEO.
It’s very difficult to take one side in this argument. We have seen cases, like Infosys where the founder team continue taking the charge, Wipro saw Pramji back in to helm after short time of non-founder CEO. At global level Google saw this kind of transition.
But, there are several example in medium enterprise segment, where professionally hired CEOs made it big and taken the organization in to a newer height.
As I wrote earlier, it’s very difficult to assume one way is best or the other. Founder CEO Model seems to work as one person or group of people seems to have control on the course of the strategy of the company, the direction it needs to take. (Though board decides it finally). It has disadvantages as well in not able to get out of the mold and scale to new heights. It will lack bigger ideas or broader market experience to position the company.
On the other hand, professional CEO would need lot of time to understand the organization culture and its strengths/weakness. Understanding the current problems and then creating a strategy to provide value to customers will be a huge task to manage.
Building the organization and managing the business and stakeholder’s expectation should be primary focus of the company.
If customer/business growth becomes the center of any company, it will have bright future.
Currently we are going through some organization changes in my company and these are the thoughts came to my mind looking at current state of merger and takeover.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Stockholm thoughts….
In Stockholm today; after too much of waiting at airports, first in Delhi and then in Frankfurt. Tired!
I have been thinking ever since I started from India, why I am traveling? :)
Why this feeling? Is it because of emotional rollercoaster? Or just, plain physically tired? Or it is really there is no business involved?
No, third can’t be true, I have about three and half dozen meetings lined up in next two weeks and very important decisions to be made; so there is a need for this travel.
So, it’s either one of the two remaining.
I was watching a demo robot in Frankfurt airport; sometimes it’s better to be a robot, emotionless!! But, reality is you are not a robot.
And you can’t be one either….
I have been thinking ever since I started from India, why I am traveling? :)
Why this feeling? Is it because of emotional rollercoaster? Or just, plain physically tired? Or it is really there is no business involved?
No, third can’t be true, I have about three and half dozen meetings lined up in next two weeks and very important decisions to be made; so there is a need for this travel.
So, it’s either one of the two remaining.
I was watching a demo robot in Frankfurt airport; sometimes it’s better to be a robot, emotionless!! But, reality is you are not a robot.
And you can’t be one either….
Sunday, September 04, 2011
The light of life….Deepavu ninnade
One of my favorite all time kannada song, which captures the complexity of life is from Mysore Mallige album. It made me to think that poet has captured the essence of life so nicely;
Whenever I listen to this song-am mesmerized- it’s so thought provoking, takes me into another world – forget myself and the surrounding. Life is so uncertain, everything is the divine play of the supreme lord….the song says the same:
Deepavu Ninnade gaLiyu ninnade, aaradirali beLaku
kaDalu ninnade, haDagu ninnade muNugadirali badaku……..
‘Everything is yours- the light, air, water……do not put off the light of life- the shore/bank (as in river)belong to You oh god, so does the boat in which we sail-do not let the life drown/get washed away’
BeTTavu ninnade, bayalu ninnade, habbi nagali preeti
neLalu bisilu yellavu ninnave irali ekareeti
The mountains and the plains are yours; let love blossom(the poet means to say let there be vegetation/there ought not be a draught)
The sunny days and rainy are yours -measure them on a same scale
Alle ondu siDilu iigondu mugilu,ninage alankara
alle ondu hakki, ille ondu muguLu ninage namaskara
kaDalu ninnade,haDagu ninnade muLugadirali baduku….
The roaring thunder and the rain clouds adorn you like jewels; the birds and smiling faces sing thy praise…..don’t let the boat of life to be drowned
Alli raNa dundubhi illi ondu veeNe ninna pratidwani,
aa mahakavya, ii bhavageete ninna padadhwani
deepavu ninnade, gaLiyu ninnade aaradirali beLaku
kaDalu ninnade, haDagu ninnade muNugadirali badaku……..
Amidst the war cries, I string the melodious Veena which is your very voice; Epics have been written in your praise, I’m singing a song for you which I regard it as a foot-step to realize you……you are the light and wind too ; let not the light of my life extinguish, let the shore of my life along with the boat in which I sail by your support; not wash away/drown.
These are reflections of a thoughtful Sunday morning…
Whenever I listen to this song-am mesmerized- it’s so thought provoking, takes me into another world – forget myself and the surrounding. Life is so uncertain, everything is the divine play of the supreme lord….the song says the same:
Deepavu Ninnade gaLiyu ninnade, aaradirali beLaku
kaDalu ninnade, haDagu ninnade muNugadirali badaku……..
‘Everything is yours- the light, air, water……do not put off the light of life- the shore/bank (as in river)belong to You oh god, so does the boat in which we sail-do not let the life drown/get washed away’
BeTTavu ninnade, bayalu ninnade, habbi nagali preeti
neLalu bisilu yellavu ninnave irali ekareeti
The mountains and the plains are yours; let love blossom(the poet means to say let there be vegetation/there ought not be a draught)
The sunny days and rainy are yours -measure them on a same scale
Alle ondu siDilu iigondu mugilu,ninage alankara
alle ondu hakki, ille ondu muguLu ninage namaskara
kaDalu ninnade,haDagu ninnade muLugadirali baduku….
The roaring thunder and the rain clouds adorn you like jewels; the birds and smiling faces sing thy praise…..don’t let the boat of life to be drowned
Alli raNa dundubhi illi ondu veeNe ninna pratidwani,
aa mahakavya, ii bhavageete ninna padadhwani
deepavu ninnade, gaLiyu ninnade aaradirali beLaku
kaDalu ninnade, haDagu ninnade muNugadirali badaku……..
Amidst the war cries, I string the melodious Veena which is your very voice; Epics have been written in your praise, I’m singing a song for you which I regard it as a foot-step to realize you……you are the light and wind too ; let not the light of my life extinguish, let the shore of my life along with the boat in which I sail by your support; not wash away/drown.
These are reflections of a thoughtful Sunday morning…
’Main Khelega’
December 1989, Sialkot, Pakistan. It was fourth test match between India and Pakistan. And it happens to be fourth test of Sachin Tendulkar’s career.
Making debut at Sixteen, Sachin was seen as a precocious talent. However, several young stars had sparkled briefly in India’s cricketing sky and almost suddenly faded away as fast as they appeared.
The series was tied 0-0 after three tests. Despite conceding lead of 65 runs in first innings, Pakistan hit back through blistering spells from Wasim Akram and Waqar Yonus reducing India to 38 for 4 wickets. Experienced pros like Shrikanth, Manjrekar, Shastri and Azarauddin were back to pavilion. In walked Sachin, to join Sidhu.
Waqar bowled a nasty bouncer that went smack on Sachin’s nose. The poor sixteen year old was badly hit and his nose was bleeding so profusely that every one watching the match started feeling bad about this brutality.
As Indian team physiotherapist rushed to offer first-aid and Pakistan gathered to check out the bloody sight, where Sachin was shaken and was still bleeding. As the physio tried to stop the bleeding Sidhu suggested Sachin that he should retire hurt and come out later. That would give him some time to get his nose fixed. Even physio suggested him to get back to pavilion.
‘Main Khelega’ said Sachin, I will play!
A star was born. Those two words verbalized the fierce determination of a young man who was not going to quit.
Sachin could have gone into the relative comfort of the dressing room but he didn’t. The heat was on, India was in trouble. The pace attack had its tail up, the blood was staining his gloves, his shirt, his face, his spirit. But the kid would have none of it, Main Khelega, that’s it.
Sachin went on to score 57 runs and shared in a match-saving 101 run partnership with Sidhu. With two words- main khelega- talent transformed in to genius in Sialkot.
It’s always like that, what separates champions from mere mortals is not just talent, its attitude. Its mental strength, its willingness to fight when chips are down, its Main Khelega spirit. The spirit which keeps team’s need ahead of one’s own interest.
There are many times in our lives when the pressure mounts and we feel like throwing in the towel and calling it quits. That is just the time when we need to raise our hands and be counted. Time to say Main khelega…
Some years down, long after the little master blaster has retired, when we tell our grandchildren about the batting legend, we should remember to tell them and teach them, those two magical words that defined the spirit of the champion and which translates talent in to performance.
Time to say, Main Khelega…
Making debut at Sixteen, Sachin was seen as a precocious talent. However, several young stars had sparkled briefly in India’s cricketing sky and almost suddenly faded away as fast as they appeared.
The series was tied 0-0 after three tests. Despite conceding lead of 65 runs in first innings, Pakistan hit back through blistering spells from Wasim Akram and Waqar Yonus reducing India to 38 for 4 wickets. Experienced pros like Shrikanth, Manjrekar, Shastri and Azarauddin were back to pavilion. In walked Sachin, to join Sidhu.
Waqar bowled a nasty bouncer that went smack on Sachin’s nose. The poor sixteen year old was badly hit and his nose was bleeding so profusely that every one watching the match started feeling bad about this brutality.
As Indian team physiotherapist rushed to offer first-aid and Pakistan gathered to check out the bloody sight, where Sachin was shaken and was still bleeding. As the physio tried to stop the bleeding Sidhu suggested Sachin that he should retire hurt and come out later. That would give him some time to get his nose fixed. Even physio suggested him to get back to pavilion.
‘Main Khelega’ said Sachin, I will play!
A star was born. Those two words verbalized the fierce determination of a young man who was not going to quit.
Sachin could have gone into the relative comfort of the dressing room but he didn’t. The heat was on, India was in trouble. The pace attack had its tail up, the blood was staining his gloves, his shirt, his face, his spirit. But the kid would have none of it, Main Khelega, that’s it.
Sachin went on to score 57 runs and shared in a match-saving 101 run partnership with Sidhu. With two words- main khelega- talent transformed in to genius in Sialkot.
It’s always like that, what separates champions from mere mortals is not just talent, its attitude. Its mental strength, its willingness to fight when chips are down, its Main Khelega spirit. The spirit which keeps team’s need ahead of one’s own interest.
There are many times in our lives when the pressure mounts and we feel like throwing in the towel and calling it quits. That is just the time when we need to raise our hands and be counted. Time to say Main khelega…
Some years down, long after the little master blaster has retired, when we tell our grandchildren about the batting legend, we should remember to tell them and teach them, those two magical words that defined the spirit of the champion and which translates talent in to performance.
Time to say, Main Khelega…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
