Handling a vendor: Key tenants

1. Always take commitment in writing.
2. Never give commitment in writing.
3. Keep a daily, weekly and monthly tracker.
4. The vendor will always try to make fool of you.
5. Keep questioning the vendor.
6. The vendor will never share the documents or give access to code. so take that.
7. Always talk to Developers.
8. Estimate your infrastructure as per your needs and not as per vendors' assessment. They definitely inflate it.
9. Keep all the communication on emails.
10. Put systems, tools, etc. in place before beginning the project.
11. Ensure you get access to all the tools.
12. Keep ownership of code with yourself and not the vendor.
13. Document, document, document.
14. Maintain a proper versioning system.
15. The vendor will always give a bigger estimate of the time. The real-time required to solve an issue would be 25% of the estimate given by him.
16. Keep some insiders in the vendor group.
17. Maintain a schedule of build deployment and release.
18. Always write your RFP document in the most comprehensive manner and leave scope for extended interpretations.
19. First work on the HTML/visuals/flow diagram so that you can present your idea independently.
20. Tracking, tracking, tracking. Do clear work allocation among your own team members.
21. Do code as well as functional reviews on a regular basis.

What is Happiness?

For a truly happy person, even if he loses everything suddenly, he should be happy. Even if he is in the company of abhorrent, he must be smiling from within. Ideally, there should not be any concept of good, bad or ugly for him. Everything should be indifferent and nothing else for a person of such demeanor.

How can we develop that kind of mindset?

1. By removing all the ought, must and should from his dictionary.

2. By removing the concept of time. Time induces fear. If we do not finish something before this deadline then this would happen. If we reach late to the office then the Boss will rebuke. 

The basic idea of true happiness has to be "living in the present" and "having no desire".

Now, what is the meaning of "Having no desire"?

Having no desire means being detached from everything around you. 

Being detached means if you get or if you do not get your desired result, maintain equanimity. 

For example, even if I do not get food for 10 days or lose everything I possess in the next moment, I shall not be frustrated, irritated or angered. 

Does this mean there should not be any rules in the way we live? Won't we slip into an animalistic life if we fail to adhere to certain rules and regulations. But isn't discipline, rules, happiness and living in the present are the antagonistic concept? Isn't the definition of happiness contains should/ought/must in itself? Aren't we motivated to act out of our desire and if no desire what would motivate us to act? Even if we act without desire, what will determine our direction of actions? And if we go with the flow, aren't we vulnerable to fall in the trap of negativity, indiscipline, and unhappiness? Can we really achieve zero? Can we really achieve thoughtlessness? or is it all useless? 

Rules are peculiar. If you take an excuse for breaking them once, you develop this as a habit.

Loose talks, discussing individual or material being in the ecosystem is the cheapest way to waste your time. Rather discuss ideas. Work on them. Make them a reality.

Your past experiences are your biggest teacher. Your mistakes are the view of the future. Identify them and draw lessons from them.

There is always a new beginning and a new start. If you are not able to achieve a desirable goal, keep trying. In pursuit of certain objectives, If you give up, or withdraw then contentment but diffidence.

If fight and win over the challenge.

Clearly I am clueless.

Resurge

After more than 100 days and nearly 3-4 failed attempts, here I am again, geared up to compile my thoughts on this blog. So without much ado, first thing first, let me list down some of the interesting events of the last 100 days of my life:

1.  The experience of working with younger kids was very interesting. It pushed my limits of what is possible and what not? There were times when I was totally lost but then I managed the situation by putting some effort. It was the most fruitful novel experience of the last 100 days where my decision to not give up helped me to emerge out with grace. But I must thank Master Prashanth for helping me overcome this challenge. More specifically, three things helped me. First was I dealt with him with patience and love rather than anger and ego. The second was the identification of my role and persistence in solving the problem. The third was my own karma which came to help me in difficult times. 

2. There was a religious family event Siddhachakra Vidhan. The Fun in Siddacharkra Vidhan was fantastic. It was a family gathering where all family members assembled for religious purposes. I remember playing the role in Somasati play where I turned an emotional scene into laughter. There was lot of dance and pooja. However, during most of the prayers/offerings/rituals, I was confused about the relevance of Dravya Pooja. I could not fathom its significance.  

3. In the office, I was fortunate to be part of some new upcoming IT projects in the Income Tax Directorate. These are the projects with cutting edge industry architecture which can change the face of the Indian Taxation and Financial system. At the same time, I picked up the issues at Office and gladly raised my voice against wrongdoings. I had immense learning in how to handle vendors but I think that requires a separate post.

4. During this time, Article 370 was revoked and a lot of prime time News hours and headlines were devoted to this.  A lot of discussion on WhatsApp and other social media was devoted to this which consumed my time as well. 3 years back, I had predicted about article 370 and Kashmir issue in my old blogs. I am glad that some of it came true. Kashmir issue is not yet resolved but at least the wheel have rolled further which is better than being stuck in one place.

5. I Settled down in Kaushambi in government flat and picked up with my new sports which I am finding somewhat challenging yet entertaining. There is some change from JNU/NII. The greenery and serenity is missing but overall it is fun and ok. Ultimately, my destiny ensures I do not stay in one place for more than 12 months.

6. The biggest blessing for me was my attendance in the Yama Samlekhna of "Parampoojya Guruvar 108 Shri Vidya Nand Ji Maharaj". This was one of the most rewarding and memorable moment of my life. My experience with other saints also prompted me to think about "What should be an Uttam Sadhu Vritti"?

7. Staying with Ayush and Ni2 was fun. "Bahut maja aaya". 

8. On the national front, the Indian economy tanked to a new low. Unemployment reached great heights. Maharashtra's political crisis showed the real face of Indian politics and Godi media continued to harm our nation.

While life was becoming routine, there were numerous things that happened which distanced me from my core. Among all the activities, four are most critical for connecting with my core self namely Meditation, Reading books, Writing blogs and Running. I failed on all four counts miserably.

In a way it was depressing. I made multiple efforts to become consistent and become more regular but all of them resulted in vain. Every time I tried to stand up, I lay flat on the floor. But there is always a new beginning. Possibly that was the learning. So here I am writing this blog and eagerly awaiting the start of my next Vipassana course in mid-December. 

I felt irritated many times over many small issues. Even I became loquacious and loud in conversations. The pleasantness, calm and equanimity were missing which concerned me at times. My employees asked me to take care of my business. He pleaded that my job will feed only one stomach but my business will feed 20's of them. My friends giving me unsolicited advice about not to waste my life. And my tendency to look at my palm worsened which in a way indicates that I worry about my future. 

So these were the past 100 days of my life. My failure/disinclination to document my thoughts was my biggest mistake. Every day there were so many unique mention-worthy incidents, startup ideas, political-economic comments on which I wished to write. However, I have no clue why was there so much disinclination for documenting these thoughts.

One prime reason was lack of time. Another was a lack of personal space. And third was lack of silence within. Anyway, there is always a new beginning. and It always feels good to stand up after falling flat. So here I am raising the toast to my new beginning and hoping to draw strength from this experience.