Lets talk about a Dream

I woke up to an absurd dream, where I was diagnosed with an incurable disease. I couldn’t get through with that dream. I woke up in a cranky mood as I did recall that dream, and sadly it was about my health. I brushed lost in my thoughts, booked my mother’s doctor appointment, and headed to my desk. I skipped my stretching exercise, blamed the dream and the rainy weather.
I started my day with thoughts hovering over my mind. Working from home always surprises you with expectations, rewards, and rebukes. The day wasn’t getting any better, and my junior responded disrespectfully. I made a point to ignore the behavior, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. All I could think about was the statement while writing my previous blog today.
I have worked with many managers, seniors, colleagues who turned out friends in my corporate career. Never has anyone disrespected me. I have made so many friends in my corporate journey whom I call my “extended family.” There is always a class of people who have not been raised appropriately during their growing days. They have not been mentored correctly. Well, that colleague needs a place in a fishbowl. I cannot even disrespect my younger sibling. How can you disrespect someone you work with?
I was under the impression that I was mentally healthy. But today, I feel the pain of being mentally troubled. I am working on a presentation with 40% attention, which means the incident has taken a toll on my work.
I felt terrible reading that statement, and it surpassed my horrible dream from the morning. Have you experienced something similar? I am going to watch a few FRIENDS episodes and put through the night. I don’t wish to hate that person as they say, “Hate is a stronger relationship than love.”

Book Review- Stripes Recruitment

Author: Luke Melia (Goodreads Author)

ISBN1687693331 (ISBN13: 9781687693334)

Format: Paperback

Pages: 36

Rating: 4/5

Review: The book would either leave you motivated or confused, if you aren’t paying much attention to what Stripes, the Tiger has to convey. The story is about a tiger who has been looking out for a better job. The author has been quite successful in depicting the corporate culture of interviews, candidate’s mind, interview smile, and of course rejections. Stripes has been disappointed after most of his interviews, quite similar to everyone of us, who would have been rejected in all walks of life. Humanization of an animal like tiger has been one of the best imaginative feature of this book. There are very minimum character in the story, with Misa as Stripe’s wife, and Hugo- his office colleague cum friend. There is a different kind of optimism depicted in the behavior of Stripes in spite of numerous rejection. “Being a tiger in a human world has its challenges.” The end of story is really motivating. I think everyone should give a read to this one as it would be also one of the shortest read. The book has been written in very simple language, with limited use of complex vocabulary. It would be one of the best sellers, if added as corporate read where the employees would relate to the incident of interviews and rejections. Stripes has been one of the best described character in a corporate set-up. The book cover is quite cool, with a simplified purple-pink background and of course Stripes on it.

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I would like to Outset for giving the review copy. 🙂

Book Title: Who Stole My Job?

Title: Who Stole My Job?

Author: Sunil Mishra

ISBN13: 9789387022577

Publisher: Srishti Distributions and Publishers

Format: Paperback

Pages: 192

Blurb: Creative Tech has been one of the most successful IT companies in India during the last two decades. Only that it has started faltering
of late. In a challenging and tumultuous business set-up, Marshal
Scott, a newly hired American CEO, embarks on a transformation
journey that starts on a high note, but soon gets entangled with many unexpected issues. The employees experience disenchantment with the demanding leadership, frequent policy changes and cultural conflicts. Satvik, a mid-level manager sees the direct implications of these changes that lead to multiple business disruptions and exits of many of his colleagues. Will things ever be same the again? Can Creative Tech tide over the disruption wave and reclaim its glorious past? What does employment mean for individuals and the corporate in the new digital world? Will the future of work be different from what was perfected after the Industrial Revolution?

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: I have personally been able to relate to the book by far for three major reasons: one being I am also a corporate slave if I have to portray it that way, second was the mention of Jamshedpur and Employee welfare by the Tata group, and thirdly the cacophony of traffic in Bengaluru. These reasons have been enough to closely relate to the book, where a senior employee of an MNC Creative Tech- Satvik, describes about his life in corporate and the long struggle with the changes in the system. The author have well-written the plot with the description about every quarter and changes in the company after the arrival of the new CEO- Marshal. There is a transformation which every company experiences when the collaboration happens between an American boss and Asian work culture. There were differences and conflicts in working style which led to the termination of senior employees in the company. Fears of an employee, as soon as there is a change in the system. I liked the fact that the author has highlighted about the poor appraisals at lower level, which is one of the common scenario in every company. The author has written elaborately about the start-up culture, disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies which would be the potential game changer in the future. The work culture at Creative Tech had pressurized the employees and when they left the company they were happy and calmer. Isn’t this the scenario for every organization operational worldwide? I have been completely motivated by this book, however it takes a lot to bring forward the corporate politics and the author well-deserves an applause.

Some of my favourite lines from the book:

“Organizations die due to lack of creativity and innovation among their employees”

“All managers eventually started politicking for their own survival”

“During crisis, human brains either go numb or become super-efficient”

“Few times in your life, you have to press the ‘restart’ button”

“Many a times we do not recognize our own will power and potential”

“Trust needs to be built over time”

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Thank you Writers Club India for providing the review copy. 🙂

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Tata, they not only took care of their employees, but almost set up the entire city from roads to hospitals, dams to schools. I grew up in the steel City of Jamshedpur that was a corporate social project by itself. The mention of the city has my heart and so does this corporate saga of Creative Tech, Bangalore… "Many a times we do not recognize our own will power and potential" Maybe this beauty can help you find "Maktub" #srishtipublishers #srishtipub #sunilmishra #whostolemyjob #bookblogger #bookgram #bookreviewprogram #amazon #amazonkindle #flipkart #goodreads #goodreadschallenge #corporateculture #wordpress #writersclubindia #bookstagram

A post shared by Nidhi Srivastava (@nidhantrika) on Jul 28, 2019 at 1:25am PDT

Book Review: The Big Switch

Book Title: The Big Switch

Author: John Thomas

Publisher: Notion Press

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 213

Blurb: What does a 24-year-old man want in life?
Love?
A decent job?
Keith has both. He is a software engineer at a reputable company and has a girlfriend whom he loves a lot.
Yet, there is something missing in his life. He is not even close to being happy.
Only after losing his girlfriend, he realizes what the reason for his unhappiness is.
He realizes that he is caught up in the wrong career.
With time running out, he knows that he must switch to a new career — one that makes him happy.
But, is 24 too late to do that? Is he making a mistake?
Find out as Keith follows his heart in pursuit of an impossible-looking dream.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: The story is about the character Keith, who is a software engineer having a relationship as well as a boss breaking him into pieces. The plot speaks very much about the corporate world where the boss is ready to burden you with work as soon as you pick your bag to leave. The same old story of smoke breaks and added team work pressure to make life worse for Keith. A hardworking Keith is trapped in the cruelty of corporate world and an over-expecting girlfriend, Maya. Maya failed to understand how Keith was struggling to keep his boss and her happy at same time. Every time in real world, we feel it’s the mistake of the guy in a relationship. However, there is lack of understanding between people where they fail to understand priorities in life, basic humanity and at times take the other person for granted. Mathur, his boss made his life difficult with unplanned work schedules and low hikes. A rule of the corporate world, which has been described perfectly in the novel… where the person and work is rewarded unrealistically. How aptly, the author has described the hike and appraisal process in Keith’s organization, which is similar to every corporate company. Friends like Brijesh help Keith in realizing the difference between staying in love and falling in love. Irony of life: There is always a friend who would warn you about dating a girl and it serves true in most of the cases. There are few places where the motivation has been degraded in Keith and he defeated it most of the times, paving a path for his career. The author has mentioned the career plans and transformations Keith’s life undergoes. The plot has been described in the simplest language, keeping the reading time for chapter less. Do you think Keith continued apologizing to Maya and cribbed about his job? What was the big switch of his life? To read further continue venturing into his world.

“Magic happens if you follow your heart” 

Thank you Vinfluencers for providing me the opportunity to review this wonderful and motivational piece of fictional work.

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Book Review: Echos of Culture in the Corporate Environment

“Culture is a complex topic that involves knowledge, belief, art, moral, law, customs and habits acquired by the society” 

Culture has numerous definitions and interpretations as described by the author Ashraf Haggag. It is one of the non-fiction books that I have reviewed so far, which turns out to be lesson. It describes how culture follows you in every field that you are in. Culture doesn’t primarily define the rituals and customs followed by the society. However, it defines the adaptability of an individual to the situations life frames you in.

“Culture affects behavior/interpretations of behavior” 

The author describes the role of culture in the corporate environment. The book can serve as a guide for business negotiations, employee relationship, creativity, and corporate communications. The world has progressed and so has the culture around, where Renaissance still holds importance for artists in Europe. The author has well depicted the culture of Europe, Middle East and America. Majority of the population is unaware of the role history plays in shaping the future. This book is a perfect example where the medieval culture has been linked to the corporate culture. In ancient times, the trades were carried among the known circle of merchants and businessmen. Back in time, people were hesitant in shaking hands with strangers. The scenario changed in a decades time, however, people still go forward establishing relationship and then going forward with the business relationship.

“Culture is learned, not inherited” 

Culture revolves around various aspects such as choice of clothing, values, behavior, and observable artifacts. It has been rightly described by the author that the culture of any place, any organization is unique in itself. Yes, it cannot be inherited, however, it can be learned and imbibed within. It has also been referred that culture influences biological process and is subjected to change. Yes, isn’t all of this true!

“Culture has both universal and distinctive elements” 

I am glad I received a chance to grab this copy from Vinfleuncers to review. The book made me familiar to every possible definition of “Culture”. Why is it so essential to learn, the culture of the environment we dwell in? Well, I would say why not grab a copy and learn that yourself Readers.

Rating- 4/5

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