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?

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.

Bleed Blue - Successful Campaign

Hats off to the Nike's interactive marketing team...Great thought process in putting the Bleed blue Badge with their logo and attaching to the sentiment of every individual. Now, most of the Indian facebook profile have the Bleed Blue logo and symbol carrying Nike brand. Very successful Marketing campaign and someone is doing good in their career. www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikecricket/en_IN/bleed_blue_index

Vibrant Entry...

So many things happening around and like the unplanned activities executed in a perfect manner, I am back to my good old days. Enjoying my walk to bus stops, laughing when Auto driver charge requests, the trust people show based on face value, squabbles with my Mom, talking to my school friends, public transport travel, 8 hr work comprising 3 coffee breaks and a lunch… Its good to be back to hometown…I missed Triplicane and Chennai near and dear by the way I cherish every moment now…

Thanks for visiting…I believe I am back…Will try to log the beauty of life…the essence of this blog…

Naren

Microwave Coffee...

1. Milk --> Microwave 2mins --> Bru Instant coffee powder --> Sugar

OR

2. Milk --> Bru Instant coffee Powder --> Sugar --> Microwave 2mins

Both sucks, now coffee turned out to be "good to have hot drink" along with the "Butter" Biscuits from local Mediterranean shop.

I could smell the filter coffee...I Love Triplicane...