The Castration theory....

Ahem, before you start thinking what not... let me get it right. It's only about performance and rewards. That's all!

It was not two years back that one of my student-friend K.Ramanathan had shared this theory with me, and it was just a few weeks back that we met and refreshed our memories and got discussing about this theory again. I've personally shared this with many friends of mine, but here it goes online... to everyone who reads this blog...

Well, it's no rocket science. It's all basics, and perhaps, this simplicity is what is so interesting about it...

We came across an organization which paid its employees more than they actually deserved (personal opinions), according to our analysis of a few of the employees' skill-sets. These employees had got used to higher pay packages over a period of time and such lifestyles, that when they wished to quit for better opportunities, they actually found themselves in a fix. On one hand, they weren't actually skillful enough for progressive responsibilities, and on the other, if they found a job, the pay packages offered were either similar to what they were receiving, or lesser.

In a way the peoples' lives got accustomed to such a way of living that they could not survive on lesser salaries, and even if they wanted to leave their current organizations, they had no choice but to continue... That is The Castration Theory. A person is slowly castrated that they become unproductive for others...

Hmmm... a good strategy for companies to retain people, though. People beware!

Secret of a Real Hero?

What differentiates a Reel Hero and a Real Hero?

It was just out of the screen the answer popped out. Literally, when I was at a theater, and the gorgeous Vidya Balan (Bollywood actress) flashed on-screen for a Toshiba advertisement.

Perhaps, she only verbalized the thoughts of many
about Reel Heroes and Real Heroes. This is what she utters:

Q: Secret of a great performer?
A: 'Consistency' throughout the film.

Hmmmm... So, their consistency lasts till the film does for Reel Heroes. And for Real Heroes, the consistency lasts a lifetime, or a cause that's beyond themselves... Real heroes' stories last generations. Reel heroes' last a movie review...

Nonetheless, what amuses me is "What made Toshiba chose such a bad Copy for their Advertisement?" Well, just hope Vidya Balan's charm lasts for Toshiba as long...

What's the ROI of your Non-Billable time...

How are you spending your Non-Billable Hours?

I'm inspired by my boss as to how keenly he monitors his employees' activities so he's sure that every minute of his employees' billable hours are accounted for. That, for sure justifies his existence. But, the sad part, however, is that the employees aren't that evolved or mature to account for their non-billable time.

I'm sure many of us have read stories of how employees at a breaking-point write testimonials of this sort... "I've been working so hard, day and night all the time for my family, but, I now realized that I've earned so much, but I've lost all the precious time with my family"

It's a very subjective matter, though. "What's the trade-off?" questions Nadeem, a Gung-ho sales professional. Sounds like a session with Dr. Phil McGraw on Oprah, but yes, that's true. For the ones which think the least about planning career and life, they have some set priorities. Rest just spend (or waste) their lives blown with the wind.

Get some ROI on your non-billable time! My friend Vikram , Manager with a leading event management company utilizes his non-billable time to be energized, revived and de-stressed which are also very important. Ashish Pandey, another Sales Manager with India's leading bank says, “the moment you feel you're being asked to stay in office for the sake of it, just shake it off ’cos you’re being taken for granted! Get a life, live it out!”

But for those 'business', 'cost-focussed' people, invest your non-billable time into something else that can get you achieve something. Anything! Just don't let go it waste.

It all boils down to having an objective for your life. Having a Dream to drive your purpose of existence. Find that first, then the usage of Billable and Non-Billable hours is semi-Sorted!

Compensation makes you feel unconfident?

A picture is worth thousand words... so, I won't write anything!