Fire in the belly

One of my HR professors in MBA often took refuge in this adage. “Unless you have FIB, you can’t succeed in life”. In every class, he used to mention this FIB thing at least 8-10 times. Towards the later part of our curriculum, we had almost memorized this FIB mantra, and it never failed to make us laugh!

So what exactly is this FIB?

Basically it means, the eagerness to deliver and the passion to excel. Obviously, I am no expert on this subject, nor do I have the required experience to talk about his, but since this is my personal blog, let me take the liberty of jotting down my thoughts on the subject.

Apart from the proverbial KSA (Knowledge, skill and attitude) needed to succeed in any job, we need to have the fire in our bellies too. The hunger to excel, the desire to succeed, the thirst to know more and more, be it about anything under the sun. One important thing that I have learned in life is : Knowledge is always power, in any form. (Relevant or irrelevant). When I see people sleep-walking through their jobs, day in and day out, it really saddens me to no end. Another important trait that we really need to cultivate in ourselves is the art of accepting feedback positively in the right spirit and not getting defensive or argumentative about it. Unfortunately, this too is getting rare these days. It might take some time, but these traits are definitely learnable.

Ok, this was the nugget of wisdom for the weekend. Have a good, productive week!

Cheers!

A Republic Day with a Difference

On a bright sunny morning of 26^th January, 8 MFGites started from campus towards Madhurmayee Ashram, a home for 55 destitute kids, consisting majorly kids of prisoners.

With a single minded goal of educating the kids about health and hygiene, we marched forward, beating the overwhelming Saturday laziness that afflicts all of us.

Despite some logistics barriers, we retained our energetic spirit. The Projector was too big to fit into our cab, so instead we came up with the novel plan of taking a white bed sheet instead into which we projected the image. We reached the ashram at around 10 in the morning. After getting a warm welcome from the kids, we started our work. Tied the white bed sheet from a window, and connected the laptop to the LCD projector. The excitement of the kids was palpable.

We showed a ppt on health and hygiene, followed by some very interesting educational videos on the same topic, which also included a National award winning short animation video on sanitation. We also gave a First-aid kit to them. This was followed by snacks distribution. After the session, we moved to see the new upcoming shelter for the kids, being constructed near Jharpada Jail. It has the capacity to house around 200 kids and is almost 90% complete. The kids would be moving there in March.

The whole experience was extremely heartening and this was by far one of the best Republic Days we all ever had.

I Would like to thank my team of good Samaritans from MFG Reach and MFG Akanksha, who came forward with brilliant ideas and executed this initiative with such finesse. Saswat, Roshni, Saurav, Ritwik, Rakesh, Sweta & Amrita. You all are wonderful people, and I really appreciate this special effort of going that extra mile, and doing your bit towards the society. God bless!

JLT

A majority of people I run into these days, probe me with a very sweet question, “Nazia, why have you stopped blogging?” Although I feel flattered, it makes me feel guilty that my weekend blogs has been unintentionally transformed into monthly now.

Its not that I have stopped writing completely, just that I have delved into official writing these days. And it gives me as much delight if not more. But will definitely try to be more regular henceforth.

So winter has descended on BBSR like a warm embrace, and believe me it’s the best season to be here. Now that Inox has opened up, week nights have become livelier. With a steaming hot coffee cup nestled in my hands, watching a late-nite movie in the awe-inspiring Inox with a blood-red embellished decor, after a back-breaking hard day of work. That’s heaven for me. I just need one more thing in life. KFC at BBSR. And I would be all ready to settle down here! J

I had such a gala time in Mumbai during the Christmas eve. Apart from gorging on heavenly delights and my ultimate fav, McD & KFC, I shopped like a maniac. People are extremely fit and health conscious there. May be they work out in gym like crazy, ‘coz they don’t restrain themselves when it comes to food. Didn’t get to see a single obese person!

Books…

”The Troubled Man” by Henning Mankell is keeping me busy these days. After finishing all the books by Alex Rutherford, I needed to read something contemporary. Now that William Dalrymple is going to release his next book on the Afganistan War, I am sure, I would have plenty of good stuff to read. If you are a voracious reader, its good to have like-minded friends in your circle. And I am really blessed in this department. As most of my loved ones, are big time into books. We buy latest releases, share and discuss the storyline threadbare, argue and criticize each other’s favorite authors and finally laugh it out! Nothing more invigorating than that!

My fetish for watches continues…Recently I got a beautiful one with baby pink mother of pearl undulating dial and tiny sparkling Swarovski crystals all around it. Total yum!

Ok this much for now…

Cheers!

Nazia

2012...Looking back!

14^th Dec will be etched in my memory forever. That was the day, I felt Nazia Tanwir has truly arrived!

Received the National HRD Network, Zenith Extramiler Award on Friday. On Cloud 10!!!

Zenith Extra-Miler Award from National HRD Network for Nazia Tanwir

One might receive scores of Internal awards, but external recognition is always special and very hard to come by. Because, there is no dearth of excellent HR professionals in today’s corporate scenario. And meeting some of my peers from different companies in the recently conducted NHRDN event at BBSR, really made me stand up in amazement. Each one of them, so talented and a professional in true sense of the word.

2012 turned out to be happening for me. Role change, 2 individual awards, 2 team awards, and so much more! Looking forward to 2013, with all enthusiasm!

Akira steals the show

My verdict is crystal clear! I loved JTHJ thoroughly!

Not because, I am crazy about King Khan, but ‘coz of scores of other non-mushy reasons.

The first and foremost being the way the movie has been handled, the entire treatment of it, so delicate and mesmerizingly beautiful. Not just the stars, but the locales, attires, meaningful dialogues, soulful music, and yes of course the aura of Indian Army. The movie symbolizes the crescendo in Shahrukh’s career, who has once again proved his mettle as the uncontested king of romance. An actor who not only defies age but also defies death in crucial junctures in the movie. Looks as young and charming as he looked in serial Fauji & Circus.

Coming to Katrina. Undoubtedly, the most beautiful actress, hindi cinema has ever seen. With a skin of peaches & cream, she looks like a dream in the first part of the movie, thanks to the chiffons and the smart business casuals. Her dance number in the pub, was truly class apart. One of her finest performances till date. But the lady, who stole the show, was none other than the Spunky Akira! The powerful punch lines, carefree expressions, live-wire like character, brought alive the character of Akira, and each one of us empathized with her lost love. (I was too busy praying in the second half that Anand falls in love with the delightful Akira, after he regains his memory ;) )  

I was greatly impressed with the dress designer of the movie. Can’t seem to remember who that was though. Be it Akira’s blue watch, the grey boots, the black clunky bag, Katrina’s green coat, red jacket, or the cargo pants, each piece of the attire was chosen with great care and it gelled perfectly with the story line.

Some scenes in the movie left a lasting impression on my mind. Major Anand striding down in a desert like area with a drop dead gorgeous and intense look, with bombs exploding in the background and the one where Akira gives the closure speech. Most heart-touching moments in the movie.

I really want to watch it again, as I missed the first 15 mins thanks to rush-hour traffic L, on a crazy Monday.

Cheers to Yash, Shahrukh & Akira! J