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For reasons that will become clear to regular readers* (ahem) somewhere in the coming days - all of this blog’s old content up until 31 Dec 2009 has been taken off (and archived and preserved for posterity of course).

This post is just to check if the feed works.

As per the top secret super hi-fi tracking software i’ve unleashed to track this site ( to stalk my stalkers, so to speak ) – i am averaging a mind boggling 13 page views a day (My visits excluded) , there are 6 feed subscribers (I can think of 2 who subscribe & comment. i wonder who the other 4 are !! )

So all my brave, loyal subscribers - come forth and comment !

P.s My blog is amongst the top resources that appear on google search for ‘Vaaranam aayiram dialogues’ and ‘ladder theory’. Cool no ?

Obliquity

The most fascinating book blurb i’ve read all month long. (And i’ve read many)

Quote

If you want to go in one direction, the best route may involve going in another. This is the concept of ‘obliquity’: paradoxical as it sounds, many goals are more likely to be achieved when pursued indirectly. Whether overcoming geographical obstacles, winning decisive battles or meeting sales targets, history shows us that oblique approaches are the most successful, especially in difficult terrain.

In this forthcoming book, John applies his provocative, universal theory to everything from international business to town planning and from football to managing forest fires. He shows why the most profitable companies are not the most profit-oriented; why the richest men and women are not the most materialistic; and why the happiest people are not necessarily those who focus on happiness.

Unquote

More here (John Kay’s website) (HT to Tim hartford)

P.s – There. We’ve done up this week’s blog post quota :p, have we not ? 

Quite determined, i really am, to keep the blog up – in truth though, i am finding it pretty hard to find the motivation. It sort of explains why most of the stuff i write up is awfully boring. No ?

Turned out to be an Interesting day today. Was at my uncle’s in the morning when me and him decided to go out around noon to look at apartments.

My uncle liked a project called ‘The Belvedere’ (Beautiful view in Italian) about 2-3 kilometers out from Vandalur. 2/3 BHKs going at 3100 / sq.ft – there were 2 residential blocks, a clubhouse and a commercial block which will house serviced apartments, shopping places etc. (overlooking the road). For something right on GST road – it was worth investing in – my Uncle argued. Here is more on the project.

We also went to look at the Hiranandani Integrated project on OMR called the Upscale – nice stuff – right on the OMR – big spaces, everything developed in typical Hiranandani / Powai style. 2 / 3 BHK apartments going at 4100 / sq.ft (and +40 as you go up each floor level. ‘The view’ the guy said (Pwnage, i say)

The project is pretty big really – 6000 apartments, a school, hospital, tennis, squash, putting greens - what not – commercial space, shopping etc. – my uncle was sceptical – but ive spent loads of time in New Bombay & Powai – i know it is a matter of time and Hiranandani make wonderful flats – they really do.

In raw numbers – a 50 lac Akshaya flat will end up costing 70+ at Hiranandani. But but nearly justified – in my opinion. Read on.

I am planning to buy the apartment myself and pay off EMIs every month and lump sums whenever i can make some one-off money*. In such a case, the usability of the apartment is very important – it will take 2-3 years for the Hiranandani to be as comfy as T Nagar – but it will take maybe 5 maybe 7 or 8 for the Vandalur+ place to get there.

I’d maybe live there, work nearby, and when Leather factories in Chrompet close – so will our warehouse and office – and we’ll be looking for new office space for the other sales guys – and Hiranandani offers seamless growth options there too.

Sort of  like this – put apart 50K every month on Hiranandani – pay off the apartment first – maybe buy small office space in 2 years – keep paying it off. See how it goes. When the apartment is immediately usable – can even get rid of the place in T Nagar in a year or two once that happens and buy office space with that money.etc. and so on.. And in the end, after 10 years 2-3 places at Hiranandani will represent a nice ‘A quality’ asset. Nice no ?

All this, i’ve always considered to be the domain of slightly snootier, older people – but it is becoming increasing more relevant – my folks expect me to get married and all in the coming years. A firm grasp of the ‘assets’ column of one’s personal balance sheet, a good understanding of how to properly deploy one’s monthly salary etc. are of paramount importance. No ?

I’m hoping that a, say, 50k a month fixed obligation on my head every month will make me more focussed, efficient with my taxes and capital deployment AND build up a usable asset base in Madras.

*Um, ive never made big one off money ever. Lets say that this is a hypothetical situation. Easily do-able, i have to say, i just don’t have the need and naturally the motivation right now.

Roundup, January

Have been travelling most of this week. Work could not have gone better. Otherwise, i don’t have anything majorly interesting to write about.

I spent, about 2500 bucks, on the following:

The first book from Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. I’ve already done about 200 pages of it. Trust me, lovely stuff – intelligent, light – JUST about right. I’l get both the other books the next time i visit a bookstore.

Bought Leslie Chang’s much recommended ‘Factory Girls’ – flipped through to make sure that it was not heady – it is not. More soon.

How many of you have heard of William Burroughs ? I was told to look him up and his works. I bought his, what appears to be iconic, Naked Lunch. We’ll see how it goes.

Also bagged another book i’d been meaning to buy now for a long time – but couldn't because it just wasn't available from Landmark. ‘The Partnership : The making of goldman sachs’. One of those books which i know intuitively that i will enjoy.

And then finally, the experiment – Middlesex (a calculated risk, it is)

Alright. We’ll stop here.

The second half of Män som hatar kvinnor becons. I dig these Nordic character names – Blomkvist, Wennerstorm, Gunnar, Bjurman and dozens more heavenly names like that. *sigh*

If i manage some sleep in the afternoon iam sure to hit Bessie beach eveningish, round off a thoroughly awesome week  and hit the sack early.

Murphy’s law will come into play surely for the next week. One week of extreme awesomeness will be followed – in all probability – by one extremely nightmarish week. No ?

Tried, the other night, to get through the post i had earlier started (Book list). I couldn't. I am afraid it’ll end up like the post on Spain – premeditated, notes taken, photos diligently collected , 20 mins spent on organizing structure and so on …. but somehow will never get posted.

Instead, i spent a little time looking through some of my older posts – this is, believe it or not – my 7th calendar year on blogger – and i believe ive done about 6 as a regular.

Off late (in fact throughout 2009, i am afraid) i have been a boring SOB.

OK. We all know that i tend to go on and on about this. So without further time-waste, here goes…

Advise to self for 2010. (The Resolution list, one might call it)

• 1 post per week. No more. No less ?
• Tweet less, work more.
• Stop trying to act like this ‘overlypally-smart-witty-oodlesofsarcastichumor’ kind of guy in public. Nothing can be more far from the truth. And it shows. You normally (and quite rightly) end up being classified as the geek-troll next door.
• Lose 10 kilos. The last 5 will be extremely painful. But remember that it is worth the effort. Avoid the biscuit / kadalai mittai dabba. Like the plague.
• Stop thinking that you are in love. You aren't. The object of your attention does not care two hoots either. You are too lazy to put in effort, too egoistic & self centered to do anything drastic about it. And you’re as immature as ever. It is sad, but true.
• Become a creature of routine & habits & overall predictability in lifestyle, social behaviour.
• Learn to take pride in getting through regulation work. You now know that these are the most important and often the hardest chores to do up. Never fail to derive inspiration from people who have achieved great things over sustained, consistent common-minimum-level efforts – remember that it is something that you haven’t managed yet – and it might be something you wont ever manage.
• Do well at work. Remember that all the adulation, attention, love and happiness one seeks, one way or the other, depends on how well you do at work.
• Remember that knowledge, creativity, general energy and angst are best unleashed at work.
• No fake modesty. No self depreciation. No telephonic outpouring of angst. No personal emails longer than 2 paragraphs.
• Read your books, watch more theatre movies than emirates movies, go to bed at 11 and enjoy travel.
• Build up a professional reputation. Treat 2010 like one of those PREPARE FOR WORLD DOMINATION! – yelled-at-the-top-of-one’s-voice kind of years.

And yes, to quote Tyler cowen - Don't expect to be happy. It is counterproductive.