TieCon 2012

Spent 2 days (Friday and Saturday) at TieCon 2012. I must say each year I come back very impressed from the conference. For one, the sheer task of organizing such a big conference and no glitches. 150+ volunteers.... they even had one keynote speaker chicken out (Cisco VP) at the last minute and yet recovered quite gracefully from it and had someone else fill in. Second,thousands of entrepreneurs in attendance - huge networking opportunity and the sheer energy - quite amazing. Third, the choice of key note speakers - Deepak Chopra (always impressive and elegant as ever), Sam Pitroda (super impressive and down to earth) and others. Then, the panels and topic selections very very relevant. Overall, 10 out of 10. After the excitement of the last 2 days, it is back to work (or the lack thereof). :) Heck, I am not complaining. I am oscillating between starting and not starting a job search. Hopefully, will decide soon. It is a weird feeling not bringing home a paycheck.

Goodbye Cisco!!!

This week Monday - The work day started as usual.... but then there was nothing usual about what was about to come.Reached work around 9, Boss was already busy assigning action items to me :), Had a meeting scheduled with CMO from 10:30-11:00 to finalize details of my marketing launch plan, 11:00-12:00 - regular product management meeting, lunch,.... But I just simply couldn't concentrate on my work. Went through my meetings and grabbed a quick bite to eat for lunch. 1:00 - Saw that my second line mgr was back from lunch, I trooped in and announced my resignation from the job. 7+ years at the company and this was the culmination. In the next 2 hours, talked to my manager and the VP of Marketing and I was out of there. Clean cut of ties, the end of the journey. As the news of my departure trickled to my peers, they started calling me one by one asking what my plans were but what could I tell them. I hadn't made any plans before resigning except that I wanted to be out of there. Last few days have been relaxing as I got to go to the kids school and attend their spring program(s), take care of some other tasks that I wanted to do but never had the time to do.... Well, what does the future hold for me. I don't want to rush into job search mode right away and take the first opportunity that comes my way. MBA graduation is a month away - that is priority. Job search will start but when the time is right. After 18 longs years of non-stop working, it is time to recharge my batteries. As far as Cisco is concerned, I left some good friends behind and they will be missed. Hopefully, I see them again and get to work with them in a future role.

concert

Looking forward to Sunday. Why? you might be wondering. Well, famous ghazal singer of yester years (Pankaj Udhas) is coming to town for a concert. And I have bought the tickets. Hopefully, he still has some magic left in his voice.... I am going with low expectations though. :) Wifey is not into ghazals or anything even remotely close... so it will be me and a neighbor friend. A few weeks back Rahat Fateh Ali khan had come but I had already bought my tickets for Panjaj Udhas... else I would have gone there. In a week or so, Jazzy B is also coming (Punjabi Singer) but I will unlikely find any company to go there (alone is no fun). I have half a mind to ask my Bidri friends but then getting my weekends back means spending some time with the kiddos...not away from them.