Friends & Dreams

The following is a discussion I participated in. (I have edited the text in some places for various reasons)

Jijo: Guys,
Four months into project and still I can’t seem to digest the whole scenario out here. I can never be a good software engineer. Even if I become one, it’s still not worth the effort. Call me stupid for thinking out loud, but this is the truth man. I hate this life. No matter how hard I try I don’t seem to get the funda why people still rate IT as the best career option. May be it’s about the money that flows in or the glam it ensures. But both these things don’t appeal to me much. It’s understandable that only people with ample money can say that money is not everything, but still I have this feeling that I can make both ends meet no matter where I am or what I do.

I’m seriously looking for a detour, not the road less traveled, but the road which makes the travel interesting. All my life I’ve been lamenting for the things I never got and for the things that I’ll never get. Its time that I come out of this dormancy and make things go my way. Praying to God, to comprehend my destiny and then put my heart where my mouth is. But the fear of failure keeps me aback…. Its true man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains!!!

Dijo: Four months into project and still I cant seem to digest the whole scenario out here – Can you tell me what exactly you mean by this? Is it that you do not understand what you are doing? Request you to throw more light into it
I can never be a good software engineer – Says who? For all i know, what you know, you know well. Continue doing that and you will be good!
Even if I become one, its still not worth the effort - Why? May i ask?
Call me stupid for thinking out loud, but this is the truth man. I hate this life - Work is never good! Your job is not a joyride!
No matter how hard I try I don’t seem to get the funda why people still rate IT as the best career option - See the life you lead now, for an answer
May be its about the money that flows in or the glam it ensures. But both these things don’t appeal to me much - Why not?
Its understandable that only people with ample money can say that money is not everything, but still I have this feeling that I can make both ends meet no matter where I am or what I do - This confidence will take you places. Never lose it!
I’m seriously looking for a detour, not the road less travelled, but the road which makes the travel interesting - Just wait, your time will come!
All my life I’ve been lamenting for the things I never got and for the things that I’ll never get. Its time that I come out of this dormancy and make things go my way. Praying to God, to comprehend my destiny and then put my heart where my mouth is. But the fear of failure keeps me aback…. Its true man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains!!! – Don’t worry… We’ll talk!

Asmin: But what disappoints me is here in this field people are selfish. I’m afraid I will also become selfish.

Akhila: Asmin, in every field people are selfish. Don’t worry; you will also become like that.

Jijo: What disappoints me is that why I’m not doing anything to change the things which I don’t like. I don’t understand why I’m sitting idle.

Philip: It’s all about your mind set.
From some article I read: “For each and every sheperd boy who went on to become a king, and for every flax seed which ultimately grew into an enormous tree, there are millions of counterparts which never achieved thus”.
There is nothing wrong in being unremarkable. Enjoy u’r life.

Niyaz: That is what ‘Friends’ are for.
Sometimes we may not be able to do things alone.
But you will find that you have a lot of friends who can help you do that.
Even better, you will find somebody who will be with you to do that.
You have the advantage of having good friends, Jijo. We’ll do something. We all are fed up with this thing.

Tenny: But “HOW”??? It’s stupid to ask this question again and again.. But how??? I am tempted to ask this.

Philip: Ride a bike. Try to get to 100kmph. It’s a great feeling. You will be very relaxed when you slow down…

Asha: For the first time it is superb. But after that??
We can do something which we can treasure for the life time. Together, something great…

Niyaz: Read Team-Spirit

Philip: Would you please think of guy you want to emulate to become great. Or is there no one. Are you trying to be the first great guy in the world? Then good luck. Otherwise think twice what is the greatness with them.
Exclude people like mother Theresa, Gandhi, Vivekananda etc. They are truly great. If you want to become like one of them then best of luck.
Or you want to become an Alexander or a Hitler? If you feel them as great, God save you.
And I am dead sure that you can never be a Beethoven or a Bruce Lee.
Then finally I’m coming to the people I despise emulating most, you-know-who, those corporate world big names who feed us and several other software professionals or more clearly the people who make 1000′s of bright souls like Jijo write mails telling “This was not what I wanted” and you want yourself to become one of them. What have they done which you feel like so great? Tell me.

Niyaz: It is not about being Alexander, Hitler, MK Gandhi or some one like that.
It is also not about being another Asim Premji.
Just try to think of this situation:

… … … … … … …

… … … … … … …

We will be a group of 6-7 people and each of us will do a specific role.
These are the reasons why I would call it GREAT:
• We are the masters – We don’t have to get orders from some jerk.
• We are the workers – Nobody will be cursing us for being a jerk.
• We can take leave whenever we like – eg: We will arrange tours all Tuesdays. Want to go home? Go..
• The work itself is fun – Some day we will arrange football tournament for companies.
• We earn as much as we work – You want more money his year? Do more work.
And above all…
I will be with my loving friends. I will live with you. That is what I call GREAT.

Philip: Exactly the point I was trying to prove. Little Things… Making a life out of little things which makes you so happy.

Niyaz: What if everybody gave a constructive feedback to this? I am not telling about a positive feedback. What if we actually did something?

Jijo: What is to be really appreciated is that everybody has the urge to change things.That too pure… deep down from ones heart.

What I would suggest is that we all prepare for this war… and be damned we prepare well.

Right now its time for an introspection… of what we are and what we can. Let everybody have a plan. For all we care we put everything to play.

Niyaz: The biggest challenge is not to learn hardworking. It is not to have a great plan. And certainly not having a team of great people.

The biggest challenge is to START.

Somebody please tell me a plan to start.

Not a plan to start with. But a plan to start.

Asmin: “And certainly not having a team of great people” ?

Niyaz: Great people does not necessarily mean great team.

A group of ordinary people can make a great team.

… … … … … … …

I will post more from our discussions later.