An Open Letter to Rohan (Infosys) and Lakshmi (TVS Motors)

varalotti · Aug 16, 2010

Dear Jaya,
yes, it's a long time since I saw your fb. I think you were not there for a whole serial I wrote based on the IT industry and its practices.It was captioned I LOVE YOU.
And now I am writing a story based on the silk-saree retail trade and saree-design. People say it's fast moving. If you have the time and inclination please do read it.
Here's the link
Love! Love! Love! - Episode 1 - IndusLadies

I have heard about the MBA story. MBAs spend so much time to work that they do not find time to actually live. They miss their wife's b'days, kids' schooling and everything. What if you have a hundred million dollars with you when you are 55, when you have missed everything important in life.

You want to know about my idea of savings. Recently a group of very rich people belonging to a local Rotary club,asked the same question. My answer was, avoid these two extremes.
Extreme 1- never live as there is no tomorrow. That's the typical IT industry attitude. where you have no savings
Extreme 2 never live as if you are going to live for ever and take everything with you when you go. This is the miser's attitude. and that's also wrong.
Just avoid this two extremes, and any policy you have will be good.
thanks for coming in jaya.
sridhar

imemyself;bt39274 said:

Dear Sridhar,
It's been a long time since i posted a fb for your blog.
I saw the caption and was wondering what Infosys has got to do with Varalotti's blog. Well, being an ex-Infoscion I couldnt help but be curious. And lo! I read...a wonderful letter.
I second each and every point you have written and am tempted to mention a small story that I heard..

There were a few MBA graduates from the 'A' school of Business and they got together to help out some fishermen and prove all the theories they learnt in Business.
They approached the fishermen folk and asked them their daily routine. The head of the fishermen group mentioned that every morning they go out fishing and bring the catch and sell them and with the money they drink and enjoy the day and give a small sum to women folk of their home for daily expenses.

Well, the students ofcourse laughed at this and told them that if they could save the money they spend on drinking and merry making then they can buy big boats and make more catches and blah blah....all the theories in business. The fishermen looked very perplexed and listened to the 'rags to riches' theory of the students.

The students after doing few calculations concluded telling that by the age of 50 they will have xyz% of money in their savings and they can get together, enjoy and do merry making for the rest of their life.

The fishermen were silent for sometime and finally one of them came out and said "Dear Sirs...whatever u said that we shall do at the age of 50 is what we are doing right now".

Ofcourse as an accountant you might have your points about savings...but I just wanted to pen this story down.

Thanks,
Jaya
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kelly1966 · Aug 16, 2010

Hi Shridhar... what an apt advice to give all married or to be couples...
we are all in the rat race running around like headless chickens...and nobody knows in which direction they are heading to... all this stress and pressure causes break down of family life if we don't make an effort to rectify this trend its going o destroy the very fabric of our society...
your advice is so sincere... now lets think of a way to send it to these 2 young people...
Kerman

varalotti · Aug 16, 2010

kelly1966;bt39302 said:

Hi Shridhar... what an apt advice to give all married or to be couples...
we are all in the rat race running around like headless chickens...and nobody knows in which direction they are heading to... all this stress and pressure causes break down of family life if we don't make an effort to rectify this trend its going o destroy the very fabric of our society...
your advice is so sincere... now lets think of a way to send it to these 2 young people...
Kerman
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Hi Kerma,
running a rat race like headless chickens. I love the allegory. There is no time for anything in this world now.
I don't think this letter would reach them. If it does I'll be really thrilled. Even if it doesn't if one of those IIM/IIT types read this and think about his/her work-life balance I will be a happy man.
thanks for coming in kerma.
sridhar

suria · Aug 16, 2010

nice one..

varalotti · Aug 17, 2010

suria;bt39333 said:

nice one..
Click to expand...

thanks a lot, suria.
sridhar

radsahana · Aug 17, 2010

Dear Sridhar sir,

That is a fantastic open letter to the famous couple, although it is applicable to all the couples in the world

You have pointed out well, the need of spending time together which forms the foundation of future life.

varalotti · Aug 17, 2010

radsahana;bt39395 said:

Dear Sridhar sir,

That is a fantastic open letter to the famous couple, although it is applicable to all the couples in the world

You have pointed out well, the need of spending time together which forms the foundation of future life.
Click to expand...

Dear Radsahana,
thanks a lot. Yes, it is applicable to all the couples all over the world and applies to this celebrity couple more so because they are more prone to these pitfalls.
Of late the time spent together has dwindled almost to a zero. Simply because the couple stay in the same room it does not mean they are together. She might be reading something and he, watching the TV. Today's technology and life style has enabled us to achieve a paradox, and that is "living together separately"
thanks once again, Rad.
sridhar

smiley2009 · Aug 17, 2010

Dear Sridhar Sir,
This is toooooooo tooooooooo good.. I feel as if it is being told to us..
'Come home early. Go out. Eat out. Cook to-gether. Go to the bowling alley. Take a long ride along the beach. Or just hold each other’s hand and talk about the day you had. That’s life. Just remember nobody in his death bed has ever regretted, ‘I didn’t spend enough time in my office.’.... This was simply excellent Sir... the fact that you have so verrry well emphasized, 'Spending time together is so important'..
Wonderful, hats off to you Sir

And Wishing Rohan and Lakshmi a verry happy married life

Take care
Smiley

varalotti · Aug 18, 2010

Dear Smiley,
that was a really enthusiastic response that sort of made my day today. And today is special for me because in an hour from now I'll be posting the second episode of L cubed.

In those days where there were no TVs and computers, no high salaries and stressful jobs, people had a lot of time to be together and to socialize.
Today social visits have come to zero and time together has come next to nothing.
And at the level of Rohan and Lakshmi, the problem is going to be even more intense.
I am very happy smiley you liked this post.

thanks once again, Smiley.
sridhar

smiley2009;bt39398 said:

Dear Sridhar Sir,
This is toooooooo tooooooooo good.. I feel as if it is being told to us..
'Come home early. Go out. Eat out. Cook to-gether. Go to the bowling alley. Take a long ride along the beach. Or just hold each other’s hand and talk about the day you had. That’s life. Just remember nobody in his death bed has ever regretted, ‘I didn’t spend enough time in my office.’.... This was simply excellent Sir... the fact that you have so verrry well emphasized, 'Spending time together is so important'..
Wonderful, hats off to you Sir

And Wishing Rohan and Lakshmi a verry happy married life

Take care
Smiley
Click to expand...

Perfectionist · Aug 18, 2010

Hello Sir,

Again very nice post...regarding balancing work and life..

P.S. - Waiting for my wednesday dose sir, where is the Part-II of L3 (" LOVE LOVE LOVE" is a bit long..so i will refer it as L3..Hope you wont mind..or wont be angry...)