Short-sightedness of HBS Alumni

I am writing my opinion on this issue based on information that I have got through a friend and which is also well known in management circles. Though it may not be entirely true, it holds true for at least a wide majority of the alumni of this prestigious institute.

Recently, one of my friends informed me that it is not an exception but almost a trend that all the HBS alumni in various organizations scout for employing their own fellows while making recruitment decisions keeping aside the meritocracy of the candidates that have applied.

There could be two reasons for it; both however compete to be worse than the other. The more I think about it, the more I realize the importance of having the long-term benefits in mind while making crucial decisions.

The first reason could be that the alumni 'genuinely' feels that candidates from their institution have an edge over others and hence would make for a better choice while selecting them as employees. This logic can be very easily refuted because amongst the top institutes it is really difficult to reach a consensus about the superiority of an average student and there is no sacrosanct ranking that distinguishes a particular B-School to be better than the other in all the parameters, across the categories and for consecutive years. Hence, it is unreasonable to believe that there is any “ingenuity” in this feeling.
Of course, there is more to than meets the eye. That brings us to the second reason and that is a hidden desire to see one’s own alumni being better off than others and having an easy way ahead into the corporate world. It would also mean building better prospects of the present batch and the future aspirants and in turn an even better reputation of your alma mater. And that could well be the ‘real’ reason, even if it is not overtly expressed or confessed even to one’s own self. I am sure the same persons would have showed a similar sense of loyalty had they been in any other equally good institution instead of the one being discussed. But, I think being a torch-bearer; the leader has to bear the brunt of critics the most even though its peers might be exhibiting similar traits of behavior.

Well, another ‘reason’ or justification could be that “others are doing it too”. As ridiculous as it may sound, this comes as a rescue for most of the executives who indulge in such behavior and have had their share of dealing with the ineffective discussions ensuing out of the first two justifications.

Ironical, but true, human tendency to chase immediate and selfish returns is far greater than the ability to think rationally in critical situations and if an institution (amongst the world’s best) cannot imbibe this ability into its fellows, it seems we still have a long way to go in terms of imparting the real wisdom (and I am not talking about ethics or morals here, purely on the basis of what best would work in the interest of the organization simply should be motivation enough to start thinking beyond individualistic gains). If there is a real sense of belonging towards the organization, it is easy to see the impact of a more responsible decision in the interest of the company as much more than the petty gains one would get in one’s lifetime by resorting to such measures.

P.S. This is my first real blog written by me on my blog page, although I have had this account for almost 5 years now. And yeah, it wasn't planned. Somehow, I just looked at a bigger picture when I contemplated this issue and was bewildered to find out how shallow can the world's most influential and highest paid individuals' minds be while deciding some of the most important decisions for an organization. And that was the trigger I was probably waiting to start off. Hopefully, I intend to continue this streak finding out more such issues and of course, more time to write. Comments and criticisms are welcome.

How to Use Facebook for Good Not Evil

Facebook isn't given the credit it deserves. In fact, the word "Facebook" is often synonymous with "procrastination." While you can find plenty of ways to waste time on Facebook, social networking on Facebook can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Try these tips to help you balance Facebook for good and not evil.

Steps

Avoiding the evils of Facebook

1. 

   Even an outdoor power nap might be break time better spent
   Use Facebook as a distraction only on occasion. Take short breaks from tough assignments on occasion. Sometimes when you're sitting in your dorm room working on that 15 page paper for your Lit class, you need a mental break. If you find yourself drooling while blankly staring at the cursor on your Word document, it may be time to take that break. Taking a quick look at Facebook can be a good way to feel like you're connected to the outside world after being locked up doing whatever task you may be doing. However, don't forget that Facebook isn't the only way to break your mental block:
   • Sometimes taking a 5 or 10 minute walk outside can help.
   • Or maybe drop in on a friend to say a quick "hello." Have a coffee and browse through your friend's summer vacation album you've been meaning to flip through... then, back to the grind!
2. Don't overuse Facebook breaks. If you need to clear your mind so that you can stop procrastinating and get to business, using Facebook to achieve more procrastinating won't fix things. It is all too easy for your five minute Facebook break to turn into a half hour to an hour Facebook "break". Don't let that happen; do whatever it takes to make sure your mental break doesn't turn into procrastination:
   • Set a timer if you have to.
   • Schedule reminder updates to land on your Facebook page five minutes into use with messages like "Time's up dude!" (You can use a third party program to do this.)
   • Have a roommate, colleague, or friend tap you on the shoulder--if you're both trying to break the habit, this can be a shared routine until you both break the habit.
3. 

   It's all the fun of the fair until your friends tire of it
   Don't get too involved in the Facebook game apps. Beware of "time-swallower" Facebook applications. Many applications of the like are a pandemic! Not only are these applications a waste of time for you, they are for your Facebook friends as well. No one wants their mini-feed filled with "Emma just found a lost cow on her farm!" and few friends appreciate application suggestions sent to them that say "Greg just added goldfish to his tank in Fish Life and needs your help!"
   • Don't waste your own time and don't waste your friends' time. Mindless Facebook applications such as these are addicting and can have you spending more time than anyone needs to be spending on a social networking site.
4. Don't start fights. You can use Facebook for "evil" by commenting negatively on your friends' posts. It is extremely tacky to start fights at all over petty things, but please refrain from starting fights over Facebook. If for no other reason, remember that Facebook world can see every detail of your fights (unless you put it into a private message, but that's beside the point...).
5. Don't write notes that you don't feel comfortable having everyone read. Even if you only tag a few friends in the note, people are still able to look under the "recent notes" tab and read all their friends' notes and even notes that their friends were tagged in, even if not written by a Facebook friend. Remember, anything you post on the internet is subject to viewing eyes, so be selective with what you write. For example, don't write hate-notes about your ex, or notes about how awesome last Friday's party was (particularly if you know of people who weren't invited).
6. Don't use Facebook to friend people you barely know and try to get in touch with them. We've all gotten friend requests from people that make us say "Do I know this person?" It seems a bit creepy and even superficial to friend people you barely know or don't know at all. Whether you friend them to start talking with them or viewing their information, or you just want more Facebook friends, this isn't the best way to use Facebook. It isn't quite "evil" until you start creeping on people.
   • Under certain conditions you can 'friend' people you don't know or barely know. Why? If you know you're going to meet someone at a party that day/night it is OK to friend them. Party guest lists are viewable on whatever party invite site the host happens to use. Friending allows the party guests to see your profile and that can be a great icebreaker. It also shows that you are thoughtful in that you have done something that few people do, i.e., take the time to look over the guest list.
   • So the person you friend isn't surprised by your invite you should send a note with the invite saying you will be at the same party that night and you have temporarily friended all the guests and they may delete the friendship tomorrow with no hard feelings.
   • The next day go to your friend page and delete the party friends. Also visit your invite history page and delete the unaccepted invites.
   • This is certainly unconventional so at the party expect attention. That is the goal, i.e., this will break the ice and start conversations that you might not have had and, who knows, you might make a real friend.

Enhancing the good of Facebook

1. 
   Add some fun applications to your Facebook profile. There are some really cool ways to stay connected to people and hobbies you love just by adding an application to your page.
   • Look for applications that can help you to keep track of family members. A good one will let you share family pages that you can post messages and family photos on.
   • Another good way to use Facebook applications is to find one that creates a virtual bookshelf to let your friends and family know what books you're currently reading, want to read, or have read. Try to get one that lets you see your friends' reads too.
2. Post positive comments on pictures and posts that your friends put up. Many people use Facebook as a way to display their talents. Some people post regular notes about a particular topic because they are aspiring writers, some people use photo albums as a way to display their interest in photography, and some people just use their Facebooks to keep their friends and family up to date with pictures and posts. Whatever your friends use their Facebook messages for, it always feels good to get a compliment.
3. Write notes that keep friends and family up to date on trips you are taking or endeavors you are taking on. Some people do not have Blogger or Wordpress accounts and can't "follow" your blog regularly and receive updates. Facebook is a great medium to do this. If you post updates on your blog, you can copy and paste those updates into a Facebook note and tag your friends in it. You can also post the link to your blog into the "share" bar so that Facebook world can go directly to your blog whenever you post something new.
4. 

   A visual graph of Facebook friends
   Use Facebook to keep in touch with old friends and long-distance friends. People often ask the question, "how did the world keep in touch before Facebook?". The only way to keep in touch used to be email, and before email, phone calls, and before phone calls -gasp- written letters. Often people will make friends at work or school that move away or go back to their hometown that isn't anywhere near close to you. Facebook is a great way to share pictures, chat, and "socialize" with long-distance and old friends. Of course this isn't as good as personal interaction, but it can be a good substitute until you can see your friend again.
5. 

   Facebook can be a supportive community of worthy causes.
   Find and support causes through Facebook. A myriad of worthy organizations, people, and events to support are available on this networking site. You can use Facebook to find volunteer opportunities in your community, for instance. Or support organizations such as environmental causes, the arts, political and religious---pretty much any cause one could imagine, and more. Instead of wasting all your time on Facebook, you can use social networking to make the world a better place.

Tips

• If you're having a hard time controlling the "evils" of Facebook, consider checking out our articles on:
  • Deleting Facebook permanently - no more worries, you can leave completely!
  • Quitting Facebook - find ways to entertain yourself outside Facebook
  • Deactivating Facebook to give yourself a real break.
• Always use common sense and keep safe on Facebook.
• If you're having a hard time to get un-addicted, then don't use Facebook for one day. You'll be surprised by how much free time you have and by how it's taking up your life. If you're bored, talk to your friends, catch up on current events, or watch TV.

Things You'll Need

• Facebook account
• Timer (optional)
• A good sense of fun

Related wikiHows

• How to Make a New Facebook Account
• How to Quit Facebook
• How to Permanently Delete a Facebook Account
• How to Deal with Not Having a Facebook or MySpace
• How to Create a Facebook Profile
• How to Add Friends on Facebook
• How to Avoid Being in a Facebook Relationship With Your Boyfriend

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Sabse Oonchi Prem Sagai

Beautiful Bhajan by SurDas.. sung by Jagjit Singh ji

sabse ūńcī prema sagāī

(1)
duryodhana ko mevā tyāgo
sāga vidura ghara pāī

(2)
jūṭhe phala sabarī ke khāye
bahu vidhi prema lagāī

(3)
prema ke bas nṛpa sevā kīnhī
āp bane hari nāī

(4)
rājasuya yajña yudhiṣṭhira kīno
tāmai jūṭha uṭhāī

(5)
prema ke basa arjuna ratha hāńkhyo
bhūla gaye ṭhakurāī

(6)
aisi prīti baḍhī vṛndāvana
gopina nāca nacāī

(7)
sūra krūra is lāyaka nāhī
kaha lag karau baḍāī

TRANSLATION
Refrain: Of all forms of worship of the Lord, love is the best.

1) Lord Krsna renounced the delicacies that Duryodhana offered, and ate vegetables at Vidura’s house.

2) As Lord Ramacandra, He ate fruits which were already filled with love from Sabari.

3) Love is indeed the best way to serve and please the Lord.

4) In Maharaja Yuddhistira’s Rajasuya Yajna sacrifice, Lord Krsna served the brahmanas and picked up their eating utensils.

5) Out of pure love for Arjuna, He took the position of being his charioteer, and He forgot that He was the Lord.

6) Such love did Lord Krsna portray in Vrndavana when He danced with the gopis in the rasa lila.

7) Sura Dasa asks, “In what way could I worship the merciful and magnanimous Lord?”

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram
रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

कौन कहेते है भगवान आते नहीं Kaun kehete hai bhagwan aatey nahin – 2
तुम मीरा के जैसे बुलाते नहीं Tum meera ke jaise bulaate nahin – 2

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram
रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

कौन कहेते है भगवान खाते नहीं Kaun kehete hai bhagwan khatey nahin – 2
बेर शबरी के जैसे खिलते नहीं Ber Shabri ke jaise khilate nahin -2

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram
रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

कौन कहेते है भगवान सोते नहीं Kaun kehete hai bhagwan sotey nahin – 2
माँ यशोदा के जैसे सुलाते नहीं Maa yashoda ke jaise sulaate nahin – 2

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram
रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

कौन कहेते है भगवान नाचते नहीं Kaun kehete hai bhagwan naachte nahin – 2
गोपियों के तरह तुम नचाते नहीं Gopiyon ke tarah tum nachate nahin – 2

||अच्युतम केशवं कृष्ण दामोदरं Achyutam keshavam krishna damodaram
रामा नारायणं जानकी वल्लभं Raama narayanam jaanaki vallabham ||

Guna..

What To Do After Exams?

http://www.23something.com/2009/08/freak-out-tips-what-to-do-after-exams/

1. Don’t make any plans
Seriously, the more you think of planning what to do, you end up doing nothing. Hence the first thing, Don’t plan your moves, all you have to do is to be “on-the-move” all the time.

2. Don’t wait for your best friend to “confirm”
Okay, all set, you are ready to fly but there is a small problem. All your other 19 friends are also ready like you, but just your best friend has trouble at home. So you are waiting for him/her to confirm which means you are going nowhere.

3. Try economical-yet-tasty food joints in your city
If you are a foodie, and since most students rely on pocket money, we advice you don’t go to costly hotels, instead try local, cheap but hygienic and tasty food. May a dhaba nearby, or a fast food joint. It makes your stomach heavy and pockets light.

4. Have a bike? Go for a toss.
If you have a bike or car, what are you still waiting for? Check Fuel, Air and Go. Take a road which you have never been to, travel to a near by place for a day. You will love it.

5. Buy all 40-rupees-pirated DVD’s
Yes, this is my fav option of all time. Take a walk in your locality or city and you will find these “dudes” who have all the movies in your tiny-miny DVD’s. They say it costs 60 rupees, and we don’t have to teach u bargaining. Get them at 40 max.

Brands which are Indian but perceived to be International brand.

1. John Miller – Future Group
2. J.Hampstead – Siyaram’s
3. Reid & Taylor – S.Kumar
4. Allen Solly – Aditya Birla Group
5. Louis Philippe – Madura Garments