Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!

Wish you, all of you who come here regularly and leave encouraging comments, all of you who come by regularly and don't comment, and all of you who just dropped by, a very happy new year.

May this year bring us all more peace, more hope.
May fewer women be raped or killed.
May fewer men rape or kill.
May we all find more love, compassion, and understanding.
Both in others for us, and in us, for ourselves and others.
May we get all the hugs we need.
May solitude bring strength and peace.
May there be plenty of laughter and meetings with friends.
May this year be the best year yet.

Monday, December 24, 2012

On Dreams Coming True

I had heard it said, that sometimes you're afraid of a dream coming true. Sometimes you don't want what you've always wanted.

And I scoffed. I want what I want, I thought. I was young, and sure. I knew what I wanted.

I feel old now, because I don't feel that way anymore.

A dream I've dreamed since I was a kid is within my reach. I can reach out and pluck it off the air, touch the glowing fruits with my fingers. I reach out... and stop.

I am afraid. Afraid the gleam will go off the fruits if I touch them. Afraid the fruits won't be what I expected.

You see, once you pluck the fruits, you can't put them back on the tree. They are yours forever.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Mid-Week Reads: Short, Not Sweet

How are you all? Enjoying the slow time at work at the end of the year? I always have -- except for this year, when we're hunkering down and working while the rest of you take it easy. What? I'm not bitter.

Why do most marketers get gender so wrong?

If Serena Williams cannot get the respect she deserves within her sport because her body does not match the other players', who can?

And now for the mandatory self-promotion. Over on Women's Web, I write about eight things aspiring entrepreneurs should do before quitting their jobs.

If you're in Pune and read the Tossed Salad, watch my interview of Sahil Khan.

Monday, December 17, 2012

This Winter, I'm Wishing for Winter

I hate warm weather. I am happier when temperatures start to drop, when there is a hint of mist in the air. The world seems more romantic, more full of possibilities.

Every winter, I miss Delhi. Walking to class with hands thrust deep into pockets and feeling my nose get cold in the wintry air. Walking out to the nearby market between classes for hot paratha and tea. Sitting out in the sun. Long hours spent talking.

I miss Delhi's green, its footpaths, it's parks. Dilli Haat and Priya and Sarojini Nagar and the India Gate. Every winter, I want to visit all this again.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Mid-Week Reads is Back!

Sorry for being away from the blog: I had a bad cold, and then I've been buried under work. Oh well. (Also, I've read like a hundred Agatha Christies (joking, more like fifty) in the last few weeks, since I didn't have the energy to do much else when I wasn't working).

Anyway.

I loved reading this analysis of why Porter's Five Forces model doesn't work. As someone who's studied the model, used it for analysis for clients (a long time ago), but ultimately didn't find it very practical, I found this fascinating.

I also liked Aparna's piece about women in Indian ads.

This is awesome.

How much sleep do you really need. (Short answer: it depends.)

Why does Doctor Barbie cost twice as much as Magician Barbie?

Now for what I've been writing. I enjoyed this fun little book, Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes.

Over on my business blog, I share my favorite business books. Name yours!