Memorable evening with Brandon Wilson! We sat in cubicles next to each other in an earlier job. He ran Finances for my business (in other words, kept me honest 🙂 ). Above all, he was my friend!! I remember spending quality evenings after work discussing life – how to not forget the perspective that money is an output, not the end (the company we worked in was an immensely successful startup that went public); how to realize what we are really good at – what kind of work makes us truly happy. Certainly set a lot of direction in my life. And he had just crossed into the thirties then!!!
It was great to see how he has continued with success in his career path. But it is his humble beginnings that stand out. Mother worked in post office, dad either farmed or was in construction in a small place called Muleshoe (west Texas) (as he said “are we happy at work” was not an interesting question for them). Brandon’s first job was as a call center rep. Worked there for six years!!! It is amazing to see how he has kept himself grounded in humility, good values and long term view of the road in spite of the phenomenal success he has had career wise!!
This evening was no different from those evenings. I again learnt a lot from him!!

It was the summer of 1995. I had just joined a small startup company as a developer. Next week Reid Madsen joined and we shared an office. Reid came from C coding background and we used C++.
I remember the first question this tall guy asked me – “Rajib, what is a template”? And I proceeded to explain, feeling good with the early sign that I can add value to my new company.
In under 72 hours, Reid was spitting out C++ template code that made me wonder “How the heck did he do that”? I knew that I was licked.
So, I became a Development Manager 🙂
It was like “Dude, you are way better than me. Now, let me manage you” 🙂
It was fascinating to see that Reid Madsen today after years and years. Thanks are due to him for making the time for a hurried breakfast before I had to run to the airport.
It was heartening to hear from him that he still is proud of me…. for following him in hairstyle 🙂

Interesting incident this morning while leaving Atlanta for San Francisco. At Atlanta airport, I realized that I was not cleared for TSA Pre this morning – so had to go stand in the standard queue which was a little crowded. As I walked up to the TSA agent – nice young lady, “Culp” was the name on her badge – I was going to break the ice by commenting something random like “that is a very unique last name” or whatever. But she took charge immediately, and before even she could read my boarding pass told me “I know you. You travel too much”.
I was caught so off guard that, for once, I was at a complete loss of words. I mumbled something like “Yeah, I know” (instead of what I should have done – “Really? How?”) … all the while trying to figure out whether when TSA tells me “I know you” – is that working in my favor or against me 🙂
As I think about it now, there is no way she could have known me due to my travel. There are too many agents in Atlanta airport, too many gates and too many prototypical Indians every week at the airport for her to know me from seeing me at the airport.
So either we have common friends or there was some incident that made her remember me.
Now, the curiosity is killing me!!!!!

One of the few things that gives a better start to my day than running is meeting people who have touched my life in the long past.
Had the privilege of meeting “Roy C” after more than 22 years at a Starbucks near my house today! Just like in this picture, we used to sit next to each other in our bench during our MBA days in IIM-A. (Yes, we had assigned seating and in a stroke of sheer genius, our school sat us alphabetically 🙂 ). The boredom of MANAC 2, POM 3 and such other esoteric classes was made somewhat bearable by Roy C’s smart repartees, ever present wit and continuous pranks.
Fortunately, he has retained all his charm even to this day!!!

Great evening with Robin Fleming who is visiting Atlanta for work and Raj Sundaramurthy.
I last saw Robin nearly 10 years back. I learnt from her more about building quality into software production process when we worked in i2 than she probably ever realized. I don’t remember it but she reminded me that evidently in my first interview with her I had asked her if she had read Microsoft Secrets. Looks like I have been reading books for some time 🙂
And that other guy, Raj – he and I have worked together in three of the four companies that I have ever worked in. And Robin and he has worked in the same company two different times!!!
Connections… Connections… Connections…

“Musafir” – Urdu word meaning a traveller.
Had an early morning coffee at Reston with a very old friend of mine – Pramod Chowbey. We go back to elementary school days.
He is a bigger road warrior than I with all his travel to Asia. One road warrior to another, we both agreed that the best perk of all those travel travails is the opportunity to meet up with people who crossed our lives many moons back… (Speaking of travel travails, my flight out is now delayed by two hours 🙁 ) Last time we met, it was after thirty years. We had promised not to wait for another thirty years to meet the next time. Promise kept!!!
It was great to catch up on our old school mates, teachers and our families. And he also reminded me the nickname we had given him in school 🙂
Hope to see him down the road again….
To quote the ending of an old shayar

“Musafir hain hum bhi musafir ho tum bhi,
Kisi mod pe phir mulaqaat hogi….. ”

I am not the biggest fan of going to hospitals. In fact, I have never been a fan of going anywhere where I bring the average age down in the waiting room. I have never quite figured out whether that is a good thing or a bad thing:-)
But here I am going through my annual physicals and already am in my seventh hour as they have taken me thru a battery of tests from the brain (yes, found it 🙂 ) all the way to the toes. But of course, to me it is another opportunity to make friends with doctors, nurses, staff and learn new things. Kept pestering the three of my most favorite doctors (okay the only three I get to see once a year) to teach me about endothelial membrane, beta thalassamia and such inconsequential stuff. Managed to even make recommendations for some resort properties to one of them. Had a detailed discussion with the CT Scanner guy on why Texas can never get out US – regardless of what the popular belief is. (he does not like Texas).. and such other non-medical stuff crowded the day. But there were some funny moments too.
In fact, there was this really cute doctor who was giving me a hearing test. I tried to convince her that she should fail me in the test – I needed an excuse at home why I never do what my wife tells me to. She politely told me that she can fix my hearing problems but not my listening problems 🙂 (I correctly guessed that she is married 🙂 )
But the cutest thing happened as I was waiting for her to call out my name for the test. A really old couple were struggling to fill up those stupid forms that you have to fill up seventeen times. If one more person had asked me what my birthday was, I would have yelled “How the hell should I know? I was too small. You are the doctors. You guys should have noted it down” 🙂 Anyways, this old couple was desperately trying to help each other with the questions but there were three things that was making it painful for them and hilarious for us.
First, he wanted to make a quick hash of it by claiming “No” to everything. So, he would loudly yell – “Skin Problem? No!”, “Allergies? No!”.
Second, every time he would say “No” – she would re read the question and come up with a different answer!!
Third, both were hard of hearing (this was the ENT after all)..

Some excerpts:
He: “Family History of heart disease”? NO
She: “Write Yes”.
He: “Why? Who had heart problems?”
She (indignantly): “Your dad. He died of heart stroke”
He started desperately scratching on the paper 🙂
…..
He: “Any skin problem”? NO
She: “Write Yes. Previously but not now”
He (irritated): “What was wrong with my skin?”
She (calmly): ” You had skin cancer”
He (grudgingly): “I did? Oh! I did!”
….
He: “Have you ever had a street drug”? “What is a street drug”?
She (lowering voice): “That is marijuana, honey”.
He: “Oh! I am not telling them that”
She: “Just write No then”
….
He: “Do you smoke cigarettes”? NO
She: “Write Previously Used”
He: “But why?”
She: “Because you gave up smoking in 1969”.
He (muttering under his breath): “They do not need to know that far back”.

and it went on and on. Unfortunately, I was called in at that time. But before I stepped in thru the doctors’ door, I did walk up to them and told them that when I grow up to be as young as them, I want my wife and I to fill up a form like them together. And wished them good luck. He told me he was a Vietnam veteran and he was a gunner then. Again I wished him the best. I finally understood how he lost most of his hearing…

So, I stepped onto my flight from Boston to Atlanta and settled down in my seat. Presently, another Indian young (the “another” defined “Indian” not “young” 🙂 ) came and sat next to me. He was on a call for the whole time and finally when we were ready to pull out, he finished his call. Trying to break some ice, he asked me how my wine tasted (I was sipping half a glass of red wine). This is how the conversation went:

He: “How is the wine”?
Me: “It is airlines wine. ’nuff said”! 🙂
He: “I am sure the plastic cup brings the taste out”
Me: “You got it!! So, is Atlanta home?”
He: “Yes”
Me: “Where do you work?”
He: “Bain Consulting”
Me: “Aha! I know a guy in your office who makes coffee nervous!!”
He: “Are you talking about my boss John? Are you Rajib Roy from Equifax?”

I am like “WHATTTT???? How did you make that connection?”

Lunch with elementary school friend Keya Banerjee in Boston between meetings…