My first mechanical table clock

It’s circa 2010 and it’s a world when a table clock or wall clock is more of a decoration than a device used for knowing time. These days its cell phones, laptops, PDAs, Tablets, which serve additionally as a clock.

Today I was trying to find a key, when I came across my first mechanical table clock. I bought in USSR in 1991 when I went there to study Computer Science. So this table clock is 19 yrs old. I used it for 2-3 yrs till 1993-1994 after which digital clocks took over, and this modest clock was discarded in a cupboard as an antique.

I hoarded many things in my 6 yrs in USSR. And when I was coming back to India for good I had to decide on very few things which I can get back to India. And I kept this table clock as it reminded me of my old college days, and the alarm which woke me every day. And yes this clock had stopped functioning till then. But I still got it back.

I came to Bangalore and 1997. I lived in many rented houses till I bought my first house in 2002 and then my second apartment in 2007. And in all these house moves I somehow always kept this table clock. Looks like I am really attached to it.

And today on 20 Nov 2010, 19 yrs after buying this table clock, I took it out from the confines. I knew it was not working for more than 16-17 yrs.

Suddenly I got an idea. I know it’s a mechanical device and I know Russians are very good at making mechanical devices. I was sure it would have not rusted and the problem could have been simple.

I winded the table clock and shook it, but it did not tick. I opened the two screws, removed the metal cover and sprayed it with WD-40. It’s a liquid lubricant for stopping squeaks, driving out moisture etc, for mechanical and even electronic devices. I had a feeling that I am doing the right thing :-). I sprayed a lot of it in the mechanical parts of the table clock. And then shook it well.

And Eureka ! It started ticking. I could not believe my eyes at the oscillating parts of the table clock, and my ears at the distinct ticking sound. I knew this sound so well. No digital clocks make this sound. And this mechanical tick, like a beating heart, made me feel as if a dead loved one is back to life again. It was all Euphoria ! And while I am writing this blog it’s still ticking… (See its photo above which I clicked now.)

Mahtab Syed

Sat, Nov 20 2010

On Emotional Intelligence

It has been a realization that just IQ is not enough for success in life...

I was trying to find the right words to express my inner thoughts, and I knew it’s not easy, as the concept is complex.

Recently I started reading the book "Working with Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman. Luckily the book I read before this was "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell.

Now the thoughts are crystallizing...

As both Daniel Goleman and Malcolm Gladwell put, success in work and life is not directly proportional to IQ. It is true that a basic IQ (above a threshold level, depending upon the area of work) is required as entry criteria. Beyond this, the IQ level becomes relatively unimportant as criteria of success.

I have been using the terms soft-skills and maturity.

Soft-skills, as I learnt them, generally refers to

1. Communication skills (oral, verbal and non-verbal),
2. Leadership skills (using proper Situational Leadership technique (Directing, Coaching, Consulting/Supporting, Delegating)
3. Networking skills (how do you go along and connect with people)
4. Negotiation skills (how to influence decisions in your favor)
5. Planning and Time Management skills (Working on more of “Not Urgent but Important activities”)

And Maturity is displayed when your actions and reactions are not spurt of emotions, but are balanced with the wisdom learnt over life (of situations and the good decisions taken). This is a not a clear definition and people don’t like to be told that they are not mature yet. This is taken rather personally by people.

So while Soft-skills is not completely defined, Maturity is not the right term to be used. I am thankful to Daniel Goleman for the new and more elaborate term “Emotional Intelligence”.

So what is Emotional Intelligence ? Its summarized here.

Refer : I found a very good video on Daniel Goleman's website http://danielgoleman.info

Two strangers at my door.

It was a typical Sunday morning, and I was listening to some Sufi songs. I heard the door bell ring and I opened the door. There were two strangers; both were men in their late 60s.

One of them was leading the other, as the other was blind. They were from a blind association looking for any kind of donation. They mentioned old clothes, old newspapers (but not money). I looked at the men; they appeared to be having good stature when young, but now in their late 60s they were quite frail. And my first thought was, “Can they lift a load of 5-10 kgs of old newspaper?”

There was an air of self-respect around them which was tattered now, facing the wind of poverty, helplessness and pain in life. Their eyes reflected honesty and genuineness. Even being blind could not hide that. They were very well mannered and the first reaction was to give respect.

In my apartment complex we get lots of other people asking for donation. And they are mostly people with good sales skills. They try to deceive but a moment is enough to decide otherwise.

Such incidents, and many others, we face in life make us hard, emotionally hard like rock. I was going through such a mental turmoil last day. And the appearance of these two strangers changed things in a moment. Their honesty, genuineness, tattered self-respect, helplessness and suffering in life, had so much magnetism and warmth, that my rock like hardened compassion melt like wax in seconds.

I got some money which we had kept aside for donation when my son was born premature. These few hundreds had more value than thousands as they were part of the most important prayer in life. This money was kept untouched since more than a year now. And today I got the best use for it.

I am not sure who was more needy today. The strangers who were seeking donation or me who wanted to donate this money for the best cause…

Mahtab Syed
Sunday, January 17, 2010

Learnings so far...

Girte hain sheh savar hi maidaan-e-jang main,Woh tifl kya gire jo ghutano ke bal chale !
by Allama Muhammad Iqbal

Meaning
Only daring horse-riders can fall in the battlefield,
How can a child fall who crawls on his knees !

Only those who are courageous enough to try to do a difficult job, those who dare to be different can fall down i.e. fail. Those who do not try at all, and just walk on the side walk i.e. the safest path and don't take any risks can't fall at all !

"While you are swimming in calm waters, learn the art to swim and survive in rough seas !" - Mahtab Dec 10 2010

Enlightenment is a step by step process, with one realization at a time. – Mahtab : 10 Jan 2010

If you ask me one key to success, it’s perseverance.
If you have a definite well defined goal, and you keep working towards it, in spite of difficulty and obstacles, all the negative forces opposing it will slowly cease away. – Mahtab : Jun 18 2008

I realized lately that if I am really interested in doing something, I do it well and my productivity is also high. Here the key is really interested. So I need to find out what interests me in my career and keep on doing that and move up the chain. – Mahtab : Apr 02 2008

There is only one way which gives you
• Confidence
• Self respect
• Good grasp of the subject
• Future Career road map
It is honest hard work, along with strong apolitical desire to get the work done in the best possible way. – Mahtab : Mar 18 2008.

If your desire for something is strong, very strong, and you work towards it regularly, you will ultimately get it. There are exceptions but if you closely analyze you will get what’s good for you. – Mahtab : Dec 06 2007

Don’t try to change everything which is not good.
Focus your energy only on those which have long term benefits to you and society as a whole. – Mahtab : Dec 05 2007