Straight from my heart...

 (First written in October 2019) Reflections in flight: I think I have reached a stage now where I don't need any more money. What I have is more than enough to live a content life of luxury.  Anything more is just wants and desires and which will be never ending. I don't want to fall into a typical trap where people have money and still say they don't.  Money is important, I agree and I value that but I don't want to run after money.  Life should be about finding a purpose - and doing things that make us happy. If while seeking excellence and happiness if we find money that's great. But we shouldn't make "becoming rich" the sole purpose. Because richness is relative.  I consider myself richer if I have a loving family, a caring partner, time to spend relaxing and so on. If we reduce needs what we have also will seem enough else we will never be happy in life & will always be chasing something or the other. Take a moment pause to reflect when was t

 (First written in July 2016) The puzzle piece Wherever I go, I come across two kinds of people. One who are too full of themselves, and the other who are constantly doubting themselves. Many in my ecosystem unfortunately belong to the second category. I say unfortunately, because despite being really wonderful, they constantly seek validation from the world. Constantly drowning in a sea of self-doubt, unable to fathom the value they bring to the table, not just at work but even as a person. Their blatant refusal to believe that they are awesome irks me. Yes there would always be people better than us - better performing professionals, friends with a more happening social life, and random people on Facebook and Instagram with seemingly happier lives. But, does that make us any less awesome? I have always believed in the philosophy that, if we don't believe in yourself, it's futile to expect others to believe in us. If we don't love the way we are, how can we expect others t

Looking at Mrs. Shubhangi Kulkarni, no one could guess that behind the veiled smile lay a broken heart. Shubhangi was born years ago, in a lower-middle-class Maharashtrian family, in a small, nondescript village thirty kilometres from Pune city. Her birth was considered a good omen, as it coincided with the auspicious occasion of  Gudi Padva , the Maharashtrian New Year. Despite being a female child, she was loved and pampered by her parents. They fondly called her their  Gudiya , an adorable doll. Shubhangi’s merriness was short lived. Tragedy struck when she was five, as her father succumbed to an untimely heart attack. In those days, it wasn’t easy for a widow, yet her mother hung in there and single handedly raised her. As soon as Shubhangi turned eighteen, her mother married her off to their village postman, and died soon after. Shubhangi was emotionally attached to her mother, and hence it took her months to get over the loss. Often, her mind drifted to the past, especially

I observed him carefully as he walked to the door. I knew that time was running out but suppressed the urge to check my watch. I took a deep breath and started counting in reverse under my breath. "Ten, nine, eight, seven...” I closed my eyes for a moment, took aim and fired. Point blank. Not once, not twice, but thrice… Four years ago “BB Pharmaceuticals is going to revolutionize the healthcare and life sciences industry, and you should feel immensely proud to be working with us. As long as you are with the organization, always remember the mission: innovate, innovate, and innovate. Not for profits, but for delivering high-quality yet affordable healthcare to all.” Dr. Bhaskar Bhargava, the Founder and Managing Director of BB Pharmaceuticals received a thunderous applause from more than hundred new hires who had joined the organization along with me. I am Dr. Ananya Mathur, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, with a niche specialization in 3D Bio-printing and Smart Medical Devi

Grey hairs: My seven years in the corporate jungle! [A short post based on my seven year career in Consulting; warning - some contextual humor] Overview: July 1, 2013. I still remember the day. An awkward, shy, fresh-out-of-MBA   guy making his way into corporate life. Fast forward to July 1, 2020. I will complete seven years at work – and that too in the Consulting industry, and in the same organization. And yes, while the Millennial trend is to switch jobs every 2.5 years, I am still there. Sounds strange, isn’t it? Here is a “long list of disclaimers” before I begin (so that the scope is explicitly explained, and you don’t question me!) ·         This post is not a memoir (for that, please wait for 10 more years!) ·         This post is not a narcissistic, exaggerated account of modest achievements (for that, please visit my LinkedIn profile – or even your own!) So, with that, my “context-setting” is complete. Let me dive into the actual content. Executive summary: