Leadership | Strategy

"Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy." - Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Can anyone believe these are the first lines from the book 'Enterprise Architecture as Strategy'? Isn’t Leadership skills common across all areas?

This comes from the person who held the US Central Command. Just trying to think through his words...

Oxford defines Character as ‘the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual’ and I have to search for the definition for the word ‘Moral’. I could scratch my head and remembered the Moral Science during my primary school education.

Back to Dictionary, it defines Moral as ‘concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior’. But, who can define the right or wrong of an action? A person with Character?

What happens to leaders with great character but without power? Or Power is just the mere shield created by the leader's character?

Is the definition of leader evolving but definition of Character cannot change?

Or did he mean, Strategy can be devised at any point by a leader with character. Everything makes sense when you put the word character for Leadership. With Character trust is earned, trust makes it all work. Any thoughts?

Reason for a Biriyani...

I am really blessed to have a job and have all my close kin in my home town. Most of us live in the same neighborhood and we just need some reason to catch up. If we don’t have a reason, what the heck, we do make up a

reason.

We are an extended family means real extended family…this time we figured out our cousin’s birthday as one of the reason. We still presume each of us know each other and nothing to hide. And the best part is we all grew up as kids and still look each other the same.

She was kind enough to arrange a grand lunch for say 30 people. We arranged the “Dum” Biriyani cooked by a specialist and the women took the rest. Not only kids like me even the elders are pampered by the beautiful women of our home. She added an extra touch of handing out T-shirts and little kitty for the women. I don't want to list the menu and make everyone envy.

Good Lunch…Variety of Ice Creams…Fighting with nephews…Two movies…It was a nice Sunday to spend out with family. This is where I belong, no doubts about it.

The best part is this will continue every weekend for next one month…reason…Tamil month “Adi” Koozh for Goddess Mariamman.

Very Happy Moment...

Never been happy myself for a long time...I was so happy today and can never forget this moment. Just wanted to make a mark this day and this hour...

The beauty is we have so many well-wishers around who smile when our family smiles and shoulder us each of us when we are down...

Our family cannot ask for better than what we have been as we are...We are real people and have only real friends around us.

Thanks to God for keeping us like this and selfish prayer, wish we continue like this.

- Naren

Omandurar thottam aka Government House

Many people don’t know what this is about and where it is located in Chennai...

It was a home for a "Marathadi" Vinayagar, hundreds of trees, peaceful government offices, old mess, Rajaji Hall at the other end. Public can sneak through to have a pleasant silence in the hot spot of the city. Sometimes with police mercy, we can get a chance to play cricket. Vinayagar Chathurthi is always famous because of the Arasa maram Suyambu Vinayagar and for kids, the free sugar as prasatham.

Of so many locations, why this place has to be chosen as the New Secretariat? Now, the new secretariat looks green but just the lush green lawn and no more trees. It's not the same old place. I know things have to change, old has to give way to new but I don't see a logical reason to have the new Secretariat here.

First reason, it's in the heart of the business center in Anna Salai...surrounded by Pudupet, Ritchie Street, wholesale market, MAC Stadium, near University of Madras, busy Triplicane High Road and Pycrofts road. And everyone knows about the roads of the Triplicane which leads to this new Secretariage from all directions. As the decision was made, they was a rumors that all the mansions will be closed because of Security reasons, the roads will be extended to 30 feet demolishing the existing shops and homes and the notice severed to few shopkeepers already.

So, every time the Ministers come to this place, Anna Salai will be stalled for a while, lucky it didn't happen yet. If this is just because of sentimental beliefs, makes fool of the party started against the same beliefs. Alright this building is also "Green certified" because of the trees surrounding the complex. Our Prime Minister did his part by planting 1000 saplings of evergreen species (not trees) during inauguration day with an artificial multi-Crore fake dome.

With the new government already planned to use the Fort George as the Legislative assembly, we have to wait and watch what happens to this Rs 450 Crores project

-Naren

The Real Winner: Election Commission

No "Thaarai" and "Thamppatai" (Folk music instruments), No banners, No posters, No lined up cars or vans, No grand public music or talks, No extra tension for the students during exam times ...even the Central Home Affairs minister cribbed the Election Commission has turned the state to be a “Graveyard look” instead of month-long festive look. When DMK leader declared his party’s manifesto as “the Heroine” and the “Election Commission” as the villain, the voters showcased who are the real winners.

During my Madurai visit before the elections, the car driver was so excited and mentioned he could his business as usual only because of election commission, otherwise his car would have taken for “Anna’s” supporters for party work and would never the money for the month’s effort.

I would have chatted with 50+ plus commoners’ auto drivers, hotel servers, cab drivers, next seat passengers, street vendors in Karur, Madurai, Kancheepuram and Chennai. One auto driver in Chennai became furious when I asked why shouldn’t DMK come back to rule. He asked what the people will do the free instruments with no electricity or no basic amenities. I need to write a separate note on that. This shows the difference between when few are grudged and everyone waiting to take revenge. Everything went calm and silent; most of the people had to do extra research to identify the candidate’s name. Many quoted the cartoon joke, “why parties have to give Grinder, mixie, fridge as freebies…rather send two packets of idly and chutney to every home”

People started to make fun of DMK distribution of TV’s which has taken the media to every home and detailing about the 2G scam and movie advertisements of Karuna’s third Gen family every 2 mins in four different channels. The media, entertainment and paper which were taken by the family has taken the industries back to them, hopefully. Last term, Kalaignar introduced State governed Cable network when they was in tussle with Sun Network but made it non-operational after the family patched together.

If Election commission can govern the election proceedings right in front of CM’s nose that refused to resign to support Election Commission and take the caretaker government and known as the “Best Politician alive till date”, Election Commission should also govern the people (MLA or MP) selected by electorates.

Except Madurai district, DMK managed to get at least one or two seats in others district and it was cleaned out in Madurai district. One of the reason could be the blue-eyed boy of the party in southern districts has distributed only Rs. 200 to romp in voters and the frustration started right there. This time, the voters were watchful, happy about what was happening and people took this opportunity to clean their own image.

When DMK taught the "Thirumagalam formula" to Election Commission, Election Commission showed them back how Election will be conducted....Looking at the margin of results, the extra percentage casted by public mainly to appreciate the Election Commission efforts and the awareness created to vote...After the results announced, many voters felt guilty conscious of not voting in the election.

Hats off to Election Commission and the Voters!!!

Sunday evening in Marina

Finally decided to kick myself out of the couch and took the streets of Triplicane. What else is an option on a Sunday evening? One thing was sure, nothing changed all these years, the smaller building become bigger ones, and the streets remain the same, same book stores along the platforms. The evening was so wonderful it made to extend the walk little towards our Marina.

Marina on Sunday evenings is an “Experience”, the pavements redesign is a blessing for the people having osteoarthritis, tightened security give some comfort to the public.

The beauty of Marina is it has everything for everyone, sand castle for kids & adults, balloon shooting, mollakai bajjis, waves and the calmness of sea. I could recollect every bit of our family outings; school friends daily meet at Vivekananda Illam and weekly cricket game with college mates. It was a blissful “time-out” and God wish, plan to have every Sunday evening.

Karthika – Kokrakko Ko

Combination of tanned skin, first-Movie, modernized Tamil gal's look, Gorgeous Saree explicitly showcasing the beauty, reporter character and my single-status makes Karthika looks so beautiful and pleasant . Never heard of her until watched this movie and came to know she was actress Radha’s daughter. Radha was liked for multiple reasons and for Karthika is an easy one. Credit should go for the Cameraman and photography. In few scenes her on-screen make-up reminded of “bad make-up” of bride on her wedding day which looks so well on mirror but on front of lights. I was shocked at her age, couldn’t avoid thinking of my Gray hairs…

The song is perfect…”Yennamo Yetho yennam theraluthu…”