A Letter to Juniors......!!!!!!!!

Dear juniors,

It was rather an enthralling (and not an emotional) sendoff that set out the stage for a perfect valediction that we can boast on forever. Last one year had been eventful, exciting and adventurous with you bunch of people. Your enthusiasm and internal zest to participate has moved me personally but lack of it has disappointed me also.

As you embark upon your final and most important year of this course, the opportunities that will knock your doors would be abundant.  The time to come would pose a lot of challenges, would be an eye opener for most of you but would give you the best moments of your college life. Unarguably, we as your seniors’ have done our part by grabbing every opportunity that came our way (without being boastful about the miraculous number of job offers we received), now it’s your turn to blow your trumpet by surpassing the numbers we created. And we would be much happy if you guys do that.

On a personal front, my purpose of writing this letter is to communicate certain things directly to you which I felt can make you ready for a memorable year and a better life. Firstly, I would prefer you to identify your own destiny as soon as possible and be crystal clear about that. Be definite about whether you prefer a corporate job or a well-settled government job. But staying in dilemma makes no point since you miss out on a lot of opportunities and it worsens the situation. The perfect example would be Ishan Jain or a Sushil Vijayvargiya to say the least.

Secondly, never bad mouth this Institution publicly because it is your academic identity. Wherever you will go, you will be judged by the market value this Institution holds and hence there is a greater need to talk about a lot of positives rather than cribbing about anything that is out of your reach. Because somebody has rightly said, Institutions doesn’t make students, students’ make Institutions. Prime example is IIM-Ahmedabad.

Thirdly, there lies an underlying potential in each of you which needs to be identified and groomed. Justify that potential, create your own standards, live up to those standards and excel in whatever you do. This is the need of the hour to stay motivated and work hard which will give you the resolve to encash the best available opportunity. The biggest sin a student can make is not doing justice to the potential he/she has and hence, look deeper into you, arise, awake and create your own identity.

Lastly, we as your seniors’ (collectively and individually) are there to mentor you whenever the need occurs. You might not have the best of communication or a friendship with any of us but take the step to talk if you feel the need to do so. It is good to stay in touch and learn from varied experiences we possess. It will surely be a good experience. Let's create a good relationship for our mutual benefit.

One simple piece of advice, there is no turning back once you miss an opportunity and therefore, utilize every resource, every opportunity and every experience to make your life a more meaningful and memorable one at IMS……….All the Best…………!!!!!!!!

Your Friend first than Senior………

Ankit Vani

5 Things I learned from Placement Cell.......!!!!!!

First of all, it is my privilege (and not humility) to thank whole placement cell team for providing a lot of students like me an opportunity to make LIFE@IMS more resourceful one. Apart from that, all of you deserve a big applaud for the success this year, least to say, numbers speak louder than my words…….

A team led by a vibrant, soft-spoken and cool-headed Avnish Vyas Sir, whole team worked like a chained lot. Be it Chandan Arora who helped me by arranging mock interviews (which allowed me to become a final product) or a straight-forward Jasreen Wilkhoo who kept me updated with every details of S&P process or a soft-spoken Ankit Shrivastava who worked for common good or a bold, affirmative Palak Arya who eased the butterflies at the time of Deloitte’s final round or a short-heighted but well-behaved Prashant Kaushik, every member of the team deserves a big THANK YOU…..!!!!!!!!

Let’s come to a broader picture now………Due to my presence in most of the campus process (where finance students were involved), it allowed me to know their work and modus operandi from which I sought few lessons. I am sharing those with you……….

TEAM WORK:  When a lot of people are involved in anything, there can be two things, either they can mess up everything or they can make up everything possible and this team has the latter ability. A team or more precisely a group of people when come together need coherent approach to carry out any activity. The placement cell team has the one. Team work is also about working for a common goal leaving behind your personal interest and they do this every time for a common good. Their hard work produces the best results and this is a quality to learn.

COMMUNICATION & COORDINATION: Since their every word matters, I have hardly seen any wrong information being sent out or any communication gap among the members which, if exist, can lead to a bigger problem. They co-ordinate the activities properly with every individual busy in his/her own assigned responsibility and work hard to keep the recruiters happy so that they can churn out more and more students.

The whole team......and every one of them deserves a cheer......!!!!!!!

PROPER UTILISATION OF SKILLS: The team is properly chosen after new recruits are being tested at different campus processes and hence everybody comes with a specific skill set. The skill set they possess are then channelized according to the areas the whole team is expected to work in. For e.g. If somebody is good at writing mails, he/she would be assigned that particular task. That is a perfect example of proper utilization of skills.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY: To ensure things at right place and at right time, the authorities are delegated to each individual of the team. For a particular process, everything is being decided in advance, as to who will accompany the delegates, who will manage the students and who will look after the whole behind the scenes work. By proper delegation, a flow is being ensured which makes the whole process a flawless one.

SELFLESSNESS:  In this self-centered world where it is very easy to do something for your own but proportionately tough to do the same for others, these people do their business selflessly. They are not professionals’, they are somebody from us and they also have a job aspiration but they leave behind those aspirations when they are involved in the process. They might feel frustrated of not getting a job but it never expose out in their work which I think is one of the best professional pursuits to have.

Well, Thank you very much from whole IMS student family for giving us one of the most cherished moment of our life………..Kund Snan……..!!!!!!!!

Sleepless nights.....!!!!!!!!

Somebody has rightly said: “You become what you think of………..”

“Why do you wake up so early in the morning???…….much before the standard time……….And actually the time you wake up is not morning, it is midnight………”

I asked him citing my worriedness about his situation and the undergoing trauma.

“What you guys think about it?” he posed a cross question in reply.

I remained silent for a while, thinking about how I should answer this because it could turn me emotional. I held myself back and replied:

“All of us think that you do so because you are worried about everything that is going on in your life. I know we are chained by it and the solution seems too far, but let’s take it as a part of our life till we find one.”

“I have already accepted it as a part of my life.” He replied gently.

“I know it’s easier said than done. But, we will sail the boat sooner or later.” I told with my head bowed down.

He chuckled a bit, looked at me, prompted me to look at him and said “Well, what you think is totally wrong and I am glad I proved you wrong.”

His replied left me astonished, wondering about what next would come now. He continued saying:

“Nothing is becoming an obstacle to me. Neither I feel sleepless nights because of the undergoing problem nor am I growing restless because of it.”

“Then, what is it that you are feeling sleepless nights.”  My curiosity reached at its peak.

“It is because, I envision myself at a better place, as a successful individual. I envision and plan how I can serve my students in a better way, I think of devising new and innovative ideas for them.

I see myself taking my venture to a new heights and scales, making it worthy to be part of. I feel the power of vision and experience a new motivation in me…….which is above everything………”

Unable to be in a position to speak anything further, I left the conversation saying:

“Well, you proved today………Dreams are not the one to be seen while sleeping……..they are the one which doesn't lets you sleep……..”

PEOPLE@IMS who impressed/impacted/inspired me..........

The journey comes to a conclusion, it went past like a cigarette smoke but taught a lot of lesson, made everybody of us a different person. As I look back to those two eventful years’, there are certain individuals who impressed/inspired/impacted my life in any or the other way. Let’s have a look:

SUSHIL: Positive & Pragmatic:  He was the first one with whom I had a lengthy conversation and since then we share good bonding between us. There comes a natural respect from my side (not because of his age) because his logics have impressed me, his prudent way of deciding things impacted me and his positivity inspired me.

I still remember and would remember for long, that evening of November in Gurgaon when he made a first round exit in S&P and when I came back after completing whole DAY-1 process; he was there ready for the next challenge. There was not a sense of regret (although he and I felt really bad about it) and his face was as happy as he is most of the times.

Next day, when he boarded a train back to Indore from Delhi and I stayed there for the last interview round, I consulted every answer with him in detail and he gave me proper and honest feedbacks for that. That was the kindness that is ingrained in him. Feel really good to have him as a friend.

PRAVIN: Honest & Optimistic:  This guy, cheerful and playful, like an innocent kid, met me before entering into the college because we shared the same CET Rank and Score. His Honesty has impressed me, his optimism has inspired me and his happiness for others impacted me.

The sign of honesty was evident in induction ceremony where he took the plunge and presented the whole sources of revenue and its application openly on the Facebook page. It contained details about where the money came from and where it flowed. Today, when a handful of money can make you greedy, his gesture impressed me.

Apart from that, since we prepared collectively for the placements, continuous rejections never allowed him to stumble and he kept putting the hard work with the same gusto and hope. The result was: He and Sushil, who faced rejections, finally got the highest package. And that moment was blissful for me.

ISHAN: Responsible & Helping:  There are certain occasions where I considered myself running away from responsibilities (and I have no shame in admitting that because nobody is perfect), he is a man who shoulders responsibilities with utmost determination and the same I observed at certain times.

With that, he is up for a help not only to his close aids everybody who comes to him and ask for the same. The best part is, he never yearns or craves recognition in lieu of the help he offers which has become a characteristic of this self-centered world. A caveat though, don’t mess up with him, his logics can tore you apart due to unstoppable laugh that comes along with them.

Well, he and Sushil are my close ones because they not only appreciate me (which a lot of people do) but also criticize me for any wrong doing at my face. (Which a lot of people do behind your back)

AYUSH: Jovial & Carefree:  It is easy to pass jokes’ on others, but tough to frame jokes on yourself and this is what this man does without thinking anything. A plump looking guy, who always fails in nervous 90’s when it comes to his weight and screams loudly to silent the whole class, his carefree nature and jovial attitude has sparked a fondness which makes us very good friends.

There were times in the initial days when I felt frustrated, totally out of sorts due to a tragic incident but felt a sense of happiness seeing him and meeting him. Our meeting is incomplete without a hug and I always believed that he might have been waging his own battles, but never lets’ them come out in his behavior. I know his screams hurts but know him deeply, he is very emotional lad.

SANCHI: Cool and Composed: I had not known her from close quarters’ till we performed in Induction and at placement times before that. A diminutive girl with a giant smile on her face and mild voice, I feel envious (in a positive sense) about her coolness and soft-spoken nature.

I still don’t know her fully but considering “action speaks louder than words” her actions have come under close observation and it has impressed me. I remember her sitting outside the interview room, waiting for her chance and juggling for the documents, she looked in no hurry. She might have been feeling butterflies inside (which is quite natural) but that never came out on her actions and face. I was awestruck because everybody of us were feeling the heat but she was there, sitting calmly as if she has all the time in the world.

In the evening, when she was selected, there was no craziness or any unexpected reaction and she was totally cool like MS Dhoni was after winning World Cup. This is highly admirable and I feel I have a lot to learn from her.

CHANDAN: Keen to learn & helping: This is yet another quality among all placement cell members’ which allows them to do their job with high integrity and responsibility. Since the start of college days, we shared good rapport with each other and that came to my rescue when he helped me out by arranging mock interviews (in which I performed badly).

He (including all placement cell members) considers his self-interest to be futile and work painstakingly for the one who actually seems capable of getting a job. Circumventing your self-interests and working for somebody’s good without asking for any kind of recognition is something which impressed me.

Possessing good soft-skills, his keenness to learn has inspired me because he doesn’t shy away in asking questions if he feels the need to do so. You can grow only by upgrading your knowledge constantly and he follows the principle.

BHAGYASHRI: Bold & Upfront: It is always tough to get a job profile which suits your personality but she has got the one. I was in a movie when the news of her selection broke out but congratulated her instantly because I felt good about that. The reason behind was the kind of personality she possess, it is a near perfect job for her.

Her boldness and the frankness (which is an essential ingredient of a marketing job) have impacted me and I see her as a good communicator who will convince even a layman for the products. We talk very often but there is something to learn from her and that’s why I felt the need to add her in this blog. 

7 habits of highly ineffective MBA's....!!!!!!!!

MBA- seemingly, one of the easiest courses to enter and pursue because of the abundant institutions' present in the country. But life becomes difficult once you enter and ending up with flying colors’ seems a forgone dream. To assume it as a piece of paper is an unpardonable sin because it is beyond that. It is a process of carving out a personality which inspires, to imbibe the values which lets’ you stand firm and to attain the knowledge and experience which is above the bookworm mindsets.

But as I met students across different institutes’, there are certain habits among them which makes them ineffective which are following:

Me ye kyu kar raha hu…!!!!!!!!!

Majority of crowd doesn't have an answer to this question because they have never thought upon that. The problem with a lot of them lies with the fact that they think about the question after taking the course rather than having a pre-assessment of the same. And they find themselves taking a wrong step at a right time.

Ab soch k fayda bh kyaaa……ab to beda gark ho gaya hai….!!!!!! Well, here are few possible answers:

·         -To fulfill the unsolicited wish of their parents’ who wants their son/daughters to pursue an MBA for maintaining a status in society. Warna, society wale kya sochege........!!!!

·        -To become the next Mrs. Verma/ Sharma/ Gupta etc. Unarguably, to marry a qualified boy with a handsome salary, one needs to hold a so-called degree to lure the boy. Afterall, USA ke hot beaches pe selfies kon lega….this type of girls suffers from identity crisis!!!!!

·         -Borne out of their herd mindset where they follow the footsteps of their close ones or every shit advice that comes across or because the guy next door is also doing the same......to hum kyu peeche rahe bhedchaal me......!!!!!

I know google has a demo answer to this question too…..but you can fool others’, not yourself……….!!!!!

Yeh dosti hum nahi chodege……!!!!!!!

I find this habit among ineffective MBA’s because I have seen people betraying their potential, subverting their decision and losing their respect just because of their friends for life. You search for people with same habits, culture, values, ethnicity etc. and form a group which seems redundant to me.

My observation says, those who form groups never get the ability to stand for their own and think on their own because they always have people around them, giving them the bullshit and unasked advice.

Friendship, in fact, is a beautiful part of their (and our) lives but when it starts to squeeze out more than what it imparts, the results endanger their own existence. They always seek the comfort zone they become habitual of, their decisions are affected by the decision of their group and they eternally declare…………. Rehna hai tumhari chaav mein…………!!!!!! 

As a result more people into their lives, more issues and more messed up life overall.

That’s why I always believe…….Har ek friend jaroori nahi hota hai……..!!!!!!! Aur jo tera hai wo mera nai hota hai…….!!!!!!!!!!

Make some noise for “ BRILLIANT” boyzzz……!!!!!!!!

This type of ineffective MBA’s start their aspirations by preparing for top-notch B-schools of country such as IIM’s, find themselves incompetent of making it through and sacrifice with a sub-standard degree college.

They fail not because of their incompetency but because of their attitude which continueds in the process of becoming a manager. They make BRILLIANT’s and YASHRAJ’s their favorite tool for last minute preparations and don’t take the plunge to refer to any books which can provide them substantial knowledge of that subject……and the truth gets revealed at placement times…..!!!!!

They always seek marks as the benchmark of success and adore the teachers’ who distributes marks in largess. They can do anything in lieu of marks, even sitting for a long lecture without getting anything meaningful out of it. Truth is that your achievement section should speak louder than marks section......!!!!!

To say the least……THEY AIM FOR “IIM” BUT WORK LIKE “IIN”

The reality is, if they keep a right attitude and approach, they can convert even an IIN into an IIM…….!!!!!

Panchayatiiiiii…….!!!!!!

Ask them about the recent hook-up, break-up, who’s dating whom, match-making, favorite outing destination, the color of t-shirt, rates of various party destinations, the visiting company in which they missed a chance, Facebook-Watsapp status etc. and they can have prolonged discussion and a Major Research on this topic.

Generally, they don’t lack research abilities but their application is scattered across the areas I mentioned above. They have a lot of panchayati about issues which are not relevant in their personal lives. Gossiping becomes their characteristic, bitching becomes their unending love and they discuss about people more than ideas in their life.

On the other hand, invite them for a discussion on a current topic, ask them to do thorough research before the session, ask them for an assignment which boosts creativity, ask them about the current economic scenario of country and other related issues, they are ready with cut/copy/paste methodology or google-logy in which they can be entitled a diploma certificate.

Bahanebaaji…….!!!!!!!

Excuses form the fabric of their persona, with which they try to hide their ineffectiveness. When they don’t get selected in a company, the excuse that comes out is “Yaar, ye company achi nahi h” “Iska package acha nahi hai” “Location achi nahi h” “Mjhe to private sector me jana hi nahi hai, yuhi beth raha/rahi hu”. But the fact of the matter is, it can appease them but can’t hide their inability.

They would rather prefer blaming it on college and lack of available resources when somebody questions their skills, which even they know is doubtful. They are creative enough to find new bahanaas for every new mistake they commit but their real creativity stay away every time.

And when they can’t find a valid excuse to hide their inefficiency, they say…… “My life, my choice…..”

Bol-vachan…..!!!!!!!

This type of people distribute half-baked knowledge in front of everyone, can discuss kuch bhi on Watsapp, can pass invalid comments on anyone without having any knowledge but hinder themselves from showing communication skills at an appropriate time.

Their netagiri takes the front stage when a party is to be organized, an outing is planned or any event is to be celebrated, they work enthusiastically because of the benefits attached to it but doesn't initiate anything when it matters the most. A leader is one who invites others’ on a journey but they are real netaas who stands for nothing in general and everything in particular.

A productive event is equal to GT…..!!!!!!!

For these kinds of students, they don’t participate in a productive event, conclave or a seminar and solemnly declare the day to be a GT (A new form of holiday which again speaks about their netagiri) because they don’t have the time/money for that. Exact opposite to that, they can pay any sum for a party, can spend hours in an apparel shop to show-off what they don’t possess but never participate at all where their skills can be improved.

They don’t participate because they fall into advice of someone who has always did the same…….relying on others’ opinions to go somewhere……….and the line that can be applied to those advisors is….

Jinhone meether angoor ka swaad hi nah ilia…..wo bolte hai ki angoor khatte h……..!!!!!!

Apart from that, if they are ready to participate, the first question that they ask is “Certificate milegaa kyaaa?” More worse was someone trying to apply his/her jugaad to get a certificate without actually participating in the event. This adds on to their resume and only resume and never adds on to their skill set……and in the process……they lag behind……..!!!!!!

Well, there are two type of people……ek….jo har chij me “BHAG” lete h……aur dusre……jo har chij se “BHAAG” lete hai……!!!!!!!!!!

(P.S: If  you find your habits matched with the one i mentioned above......very frankly..... Jaago baccho jaago......!!!!!)

It's time to change.....it begins with us.....!!!!!!

“ In life, it is easy to extract negatives out of everything we possess, everything we act and everything we counter………………but to see the positive side of everything we face is a rare art……….”

 “A well-settled job, life moving smoothly and an unending enjoyment in whatever you were doing……………then life took a sudden turn and everything changed. Don’t you think god has been unkind on you or why this happened to you only?”  I asked him on a casual chat on that sunny evening amid a silence.

“No, I don’t think so……………. This happened to me because probably only I have the boldness and gumption to face and pass through it in the whole family.”  He replied and left me awestruck with the way he saw the situation in hand.

Well, when majority of junta try to search for negatives out of positives rather than acting vice-versa, the reply was an eye-opener for me. Unarguably, most of us or rather every one of us is encircled by small or big problems related to family, relationship, career etc.

For few of them, there might not be a solution at present, there might not be a door to exit but every problem comes with a solution. Difference is the timing………….. And optimism is a boat that sails fiercest of the storms…….!!!!!!!!

We get a job, crib about profile and package. We get a partner to move ahead in life with, but qualm about not having the gorgeous one in the lot. We have a gadget according to our need, but needs solace when we see someone with an Apple phone. We have well settled family, but always keep worrying about being dispersed due to other obligations.

We see ourselves as an object of pity and talk much about the struggles and failures. We want to move ahead in life but couldn’t do that because we always look backwards. We carry the medals of being unlucky throughout our lives. We look at ourselves in the mirror and count the negatives rather than positives in our personality.

 And in the process, we magnify our problems……!!!!!!!!

I always believed in the fact that happiness is the choice we make and hence, we never look at the positive side and choose unhappiness as our carriers. You have a job, feel good about your hard work and the proud it brings. Think about giving the best out of you because bucks don’t matter in long run. And if you still feel annoyed by the job in hand, roam around the city with a resume in your hand.

You have a partner, try and create moments out of nothing, feel good spending time with him/her rather than feeling envious about not having a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Try and catch the intrinsic beauty he/she deserves rather than assuming her to be an object of your personal desires….!!!!!!

You might not be the smartest or macho one in the group of people you belong to, but you can be the one by your deeds. Dwell deeper into the smartness and don’t assess physical beauty, but assess intellectual and moral standards. See the underlying potential and pledge to do justice to it.....!!!!!!

Well, no matter how much we question whatever we don’t have or the problems we face, there is a uniform distribution across the human beings……..and if I am wrong……relax for a moment and analyze…….!!!!!!!!!

Soaked in the awesomeness of the answer he gave to me, I asked: “How you were able to see the positive side of the situation?”

He curtly replied “Everybody of us wears the same glass……. difference is the color of the glass and that’s how we see a particular situation………….”

(P.S: I still believe, most of you, after reading this would be interested to know about the person I mentioned here.......let me tell you.....I love taking anecdotal evidences to give a clear message about whatever i want to communicate......Don't be too naive to dwell deep into who the person is, rather try and grab the message to move ahead in life.)

BENCHGIRIIII.........@IMS.....!!!!!!!

Over one and half years’ of my LIFE@IMS, one of the things that annoyed me the most is students’ obsession with the marks. Let alone everything, they are happy to secure marks which are paradoxical with their basic knowledge of that subject.

A finance student not knowing the meaning of market capitalization is a grim reminder of a battle between marks and knowledge where if one gets the former, he/she considers himself/herself to be equipped with every intricacies of that subject.

Ironically, a majority of students’ love the faculty who distributes marks in largess while hates’ the one who imposes strictness on them to make them ready for the corporate world. They take their self-respect and uncalled ego in between to market them negatively, just because that faculty is stingy when it comes to marking.

Now, as my annoyance faded away by the time since I presumed their obsession with the marks to be an attitude possessed by a “school-going” kid, another striking incident prompted me to laugh and stand in ovation.

As I entered into the classroom for greeting him/her a formal good morning on that Monday morning a few days back, I saw students’ including him/her involved in writing down important points of an answer on bench with a sharpened pencil. That was an internal day and as it was about to begin, he/she was assiduously penciling down the minutes of an answer.

Considering the stature he/she possessed, it was not expected of him/her to be indulged in that trivial act, but since everybody was doing it, he/she followed the footsteps’ of his/her mates. I astonishingly asked:

“What are you doing? Are you writing down on bench?”

He/she looked after me, half busy in noting down the points and nodded in agreement. Sitting on the chair, I started clapping on his/her act and in a moment, stood in ovation for the methods of making it to the top chart of the class. 

Clapping resonantly, standing in ovation, I curtly replied:

“ My 15 is much better than your 20……….” He/she was exasperated, wanted to kill me for the reality that he/she faced but couldn’t do that because the ball was in my court.

Well, to be very candid and not having any personalized wish to expose people around me, the method used was an injustice to the course we are in. From our younger days, cheating is inevitable but to use methods like this tells the standard of individuals and their values.

Why can’t he/she remain happy with a bit of less marks and not use tricks which was not supposed from him/her. Why they applaud movies like 3 Idiots and then acts opposite to the underlying message given by the movie? 

Ppphhhheeewwwwwww………can’t have an answer on their behalf because even they don’t stand by their integrity and moral values.

 NaMo has rightly said “Mind is not the problem, mindset is……..!!!!!!!!!”

(P.S: Proclaiming firmly that try to grab the message rather than asking me about the individual i mentioned above. I don't have any wish to be a WikiLeaks correspondent......)