Competitive or Cooperative

What is the best preparation for life or career? Learning to be competitive or Learning to be cooperative?

Competition is relative, never an absolute. It is a function of the environment, the opportunities and the scope of applicability. Relative competition hazards the chances of encouraging low grade work of poor quality. For someone, who wishes to prepare for career, competitive attitude would be like going on a blind date. Frankly speaking, competition is good provided you know the level of your competitors. There is no joy in satisfying your ego by competiting with dunces.That would be pretentious and the gravest way to lose out on one’s career.Competition is an essential factor for most, saving of course the billiant and self-discplined lot.Competition helps one to redefine one’s limitations, raise the barrier beyond its level and push harder to achieve it with planning and unbridled efforts.In fact, I look at competition as a fitting substitute to complacency, as long as one understands that the outcomes of competition need not always be fair. Being logically aware of the situation and regular checks should suffice.

Winning matters to most while playing matters to me. There would be overlooking in the game and sometimes blemished decisions too.But, nevertheless they help you learn tackle uncomfortable situations and that’s where cooperation enters.

Cooperation in a competitive world may sound oxymoron-ish or an underlying hint for something unethical.It ain’t.It rather stresses on healthy competition with mutual respect among the competitors. That would make progress a two dimensional one at professional level i.e. vertical (down the hierarchy) and horizontal (among the peers).If you are wondering what the third dimension is , it is ethics.

We live in a dependent society where we are bound to satisfy our needs from several sources. This necessites cooperation and tactful dealing.For example if you are working on an interdisciplinary research project, you’ve got to collaborate with experts from other fields and cooperate with them. While there are certain needs which can only be achieved at the expense of the other, like getting admission into a top-notch university and here you’ll have to battle it out with the best.So, it is evident that both cooperation and competition are powerful factors in making one’s career as well as life.

Infact, I perceive competition and cooperation as two roads to the same destination of learning. Both of them encourage a person to develop from the current level, presuming ideal conditions. Ideal conditions here refer to the field, the context, the cause, the environment, the ethics and many such case-specific parameters.

The Russian Miracle Baby

For those of you who haven’t caught up with the news lately, let me give you an overview. It has been reported that a 9-month old Ali in Russia has Quranic verses appearing on his skin regularly. The medics have denied tampering of any sort and have concluded the apparition to be genuine. The scientific reasons behind this mystical phenomena are unknown. However, the speculation is rife that the world is about to end and this is substantiated by the kid’s augury.

I wonder in amazement.

This is not the first time that we have experienced unusual phenomenon.While some have remained enigmatic like this one, some were diligently explained on scientific terms.Owing to the above distribution, the scales now lie in mid-air for a commoner, confounded to tilt in favor of science or religion.Looking forward to hearing more news, to understand the subtle messages of nature.

STAY AWAY!

This is seriously random. So, do not proceed from this point on.

I’m just typing out whatever is crossing my mind for the nonce and I’m doing this for no reason. Perhaps because of boredom.Boredom is my default status these days, so it would be greatly appreciated if someone helps in getting me hooked up to something. No, not to the dirty nail on the wall.

I’ve changed a lot apparently. No, not apparently, actually infact. In a way for the better and in a way decline.

Two years ago, I was a silent female.I never stayed in contact with anyone. I never messaged nor called on anyone on my own. I was moody- extremely capricious, I was arrogant and still presume I am, only that I’ve exercised control on it to replace with indifference. I was sympathetic and cold at the same time. Cold to worldly attractions and sympathetic to the ones caught in the vortex. I was a saint, as my friend phrased it.

What am I now? A bitch?

I don’t know.

I’ve become more social and communicative. Approachable and all that. I’m messaging like hell, oh yea, thanks to my recent conversion from post paid to prepaid and a freakish friend of mine who preferred textual conversations to verbal talk.I’m asking what’s up to people I barely know and what more I’m playing agony aunt to committed lovers who are older than me by more than a dozen of months.I’m listening to others woes, tolerating whatever crap they fill me in on and infact not taking my moods on anyone. I’ve become talkative, definitely, so much so that people are actually hating this new babbling bumblebee and regretting for having liked me.I’ve become perverted with an overdose of sarcasm. I listen to people’s woes and I advise using my intellect, but emotionally I don’t really care, that part still seems to be untarnished by the external turbulence. Somehow, connecting emotionally has never occurred to me, there were flashes at times, but that never persisted for long. I’ve become bold enough to step into the worldly path of looking at how a guy treats a girl who talks actively through a firsthand encounter. I must admitted I hated it. I despised myself for pushing myself into the gutter, knowingly.I should have realised that I’m not suitable for human co-habitation. I’m a loner and I’m happy that way. I knew it and I also knew I couldn’t stand being hated. Being hated for what I am not.

Its hard. Sometimes I perceive it as a transitional phase and tell myself, it would have to end.But then, where is it I am going to with this capricious self still remains unanswered.  Some say I’ve got better, some say I shouldn’t have changed. But just like people experiment with their hairstyles, their hair colors, their dressing, so do I with my demeanor. I don’t like my current status and the worst part I’m caught in the sinking sand.

I’m not insecure. Actually I have nothing left to feel insecured about. I don’t need romance to keep my spirits high. I am happy being by myself. But I hate sharing myself with others. You know, like giving my time, giving my thoughts, giving my concern to others…the others who would never bother to repay that on the same level. I’m not a saint anymore, to love anyone and everyone inspite of their vice and differences. I’m not a saint anymore. No I am not a saint emotionally. I’ve become darker, darker than the room I’m currently typing in.

Why do people care so much about what others think? Why the hell do guys have to be so spittle about women? Why does one have to answer to the society? Why does one has to be subjected to obligations by being granted unasked favors? Why? Why? There are so many questions swirling in my head now, that I’m going to need a saridon to put myself to bed.

I don’t know the answer to any. Too many questions about life. And all of them end with one- So, wat, ultimately you’re going to die? This may sound like a medical case of serious depression but I assure you its not. I haven’t lost my appetite and I’m not weeping on the pillow.So, its fine. Actually, there is no point in getting depressed for that doesn’t improve the state of things. It just eats me up. Actually, I dont even seem to mind ruining myself and this is alarming, says a voice deep within.

I used to like myself a lot. Now, I have no feeling.I’m just looking at myself like an observer follows a star. Silent and vigilant. That’s that. I’m not pitying myself or forgiving myself or for that matter cheering up myself. I am there, I am alive, I am living through my life. End of matter, big deal.

Its the weirdest feeling ever in my life. Might even sound like a psychic disorder to the medical freaks, but I seriously don’t give a damn. It’s a regular feeling nowadays.

Ha, back to my virtual home. Thanks to the underground cable work, the wifi wasn’t available for the past fortnight. So, what to write today? Not really in a mood to write ( read blabber). Anyway, now that situation seems encouraging, I’m hopeful of visiting wordpress oftener.

Life’s a song…This is what the DJ’s currently playing in my life..

In this farewell
There’s no blood
There’s no Alibi
‘Cause I’ve Drawn Regret
From the truth
Of a Thousand Lies

So let Mercy Come
And Wash Away

what i`ve Done
I’ve faced myself
To Cross out what I’ve Become
Erase Myself
And let Go of What I’ve done

Put to rest
What you Thought of Me
While I clean this Slate
With the Hands of Uncertainty

For What I’ve Done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m Forgiving What I’ve Done

What I’ve Done
Forgiving What I’ve Done

A grad student, a post-doc, and a professor are walking through a city park and they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out in a puff of smoke.

The Genie says, “I usually only grant three wishes, so I’ll give each of you just one.”

“Me first! Me first!” says the grad student. “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat with a gorgeous woman who sunbathes topless.” Poof! He’s gone.

“Me next! Me next!” says the post-doc. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with a professional hula dancer on one side and a Mai Tai on the other.” Poof! He’s gone.

“You’re next,” the Genie says to the professor.

The professor says, “I want those guys back in the lab after lunch.”

Microsoft’s Antivirus

Finally, there’s something to rejoice? Microsoft’s offering free anti-virus as a part of its security package for the windows. In the past, microsoft had to face severe criticism and several reverberations from the user community for not providing an in-built complimentary security software for the windows, making it a compulsion for its customers to go astray for it. However, it seems to have given this issue a thought and has released trial versions in thwe US, Brazil, China and Israel.Known as Microsoft Security Essentials, this package promises to provide basic level protection against viruses, trojans, rootkits and spyware.Microsoft is hoping that MSE, available as a free download from its site, will prove more popular. It has said it will automatically update it for users. The software will b rolled out in other countries as the year progresses…

However, rival security vendors have questioned whether Microsoft can compete with more established anti-virus players.

Belated Happy Birthday, Nirveda

Damn the time, its already been nearly a fortnight past Nirveda’s first birthday in the virtual world - June 2nd. Anyway, cheers for the first candle on the cake:). Surprisingly, its Gemini.

There’s a song that’s inside of my soul
It’s the one that I’ve tried to write over and over again
I’m awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
and pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now you’re my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing
and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you’re my only hope

I give You my destiny
I’m giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I’m giving it back

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you’re my only hope

Formal Educational Credentials…

As albert einstein stated: ” education is something which remains with you when you”ve forgotten everything else”.And if Albert einstein had to sit for placement in an MNC perhaps he would have remained unemployed for he never held any extra ordinary academic credentials.Albert einstein was a self learner and as it is accepted the best mind scientific community has ever witnessed.

Formal education is relative and can’t be standardised.This is because of the geographical factor, learning environment, extent of exposure and realization of course objective.An excellent grade awarded to the best student of an insignificant insitution may remain much lower compared to the Pass grade awarded by a Nobel Laureate professor to an intelligent mind.Perhaps, it would be brutal to bring both the candidates on to a platform called credentials and estimate their worth.

Formal education credentials shouldn’t be the sole criteria for hiring employees.Not all toppers are diplomatic in handling executive positiions in a company and not all managers hold brilliant academic credentials. The interests, choices, abilities and skill should be equally evaluated before considering a candidate eligible for the post available.For eg, Bill Gates was a school dropout and never underwent any formal educationi.However,inspite of this lacunae he is a successful entrepreneur hand-picking the best minds of the world to carry the legacy of his company in the right direction.Perhaps, the academia didn’t know that there was a genius hidden in him while at college when he was learning courses he was never oriented towards.

Formal academic credentials don’t reflect the true potential of a candidate due to its limited premises.It’s premises being bookish knowledge crammed in the mind of the student for most of the educational institutions, recommended or grades influenced by illegal medium in some or skills tested on a platform that has limited technological facilites. In all the above cases, it would be unfair to equate the candidate coming from the above background to someone who has actually completed formal education in the true sense, imbibing knowledge and gaining practical exposure with adequete understanding and analysis.

For eg,,a candidate scoring a 10/10 in a college exam and having brilliant recommendation from a professor, just because the candidate’s father was an influential person in the department or because of efficient memory retention done by one-night stand before an exam would undoubtedly lack concepts and thereby, fail to handle challenges posed at the industry. On the other hand, a candidate who has undergone rigorous curriculum under the best mentors of the world with an average of 7.5/10 is worth giving a chance because the person knows the subject and has the ability to realize the course objectives.

Perhaps it would be prudent to only give partial weightage to the formal academic credentials, so that the naturally talented aren’t deprived of their share of opportnities in the industry.The other parameters that may be considered include clarity of thought, eloquence in expression, vantage angle on a particular critical issue, teamskills , organizational abilities, etc- all of which cannot be reflected by a 5/5 or 2/5 in a subject.Depending on the job profile, it is recommended that the weightage to the educational credentials be varied accordingly.Perhaps it would be higher for the specialists and researchers and comparitively low for generalists or other.But never, the most important factor in hiring employees. Just like a strong building cannot be composed of bricks alone, an individual with caliber can’t be measured by educational credentials alone.An overall review of the candidate’s personality, which includes academic, interpersonal, emotional and other areas, is suggested for the justification of the job provided.