Shangri La

The northernmost region of India has always been a mystical area people have been drawn to. The Himalayas are not the easiest to get to and this is what has preserved much of its charm. People tend to journey there to find peace and I was no different as I ventured there last week. One of my stops was Dharmsala, the home of many Tibetan exiles and the Dali Lama. In 1960 India was gracious enough to permit to Tibetans to settle in this area which is often called “Little Lhasa”.

It was interesting to learn more about the Tibetan culture and spend time with a diverse array of Tibetans and travelers. If you ever come to India I highly recommend spending time there, it is a special place. After a few days in Dharmsala I headed out for a three day trek which was one of the most challenging and fulfilling I have ever done. The cotton candy clouds, blankets of wildflowers, breathtaking vistas, entertaining guides and fellow trekkers made for an unforgettable experience. I must confess I have never been sorer than after this trek and I hobbled around for the next three days all the while grinning as the juice was worth the squeeze…

I ended my travel with a brief stop in Shimla which was the summer dwelling for British Raj while inhabiting India. It is also a popular honeymoon destination for India newlyweds and home to many entertaining monkeys. I enjoyed seeing the British crafted city and imagining what it used to be like back in the day but it paled in comparison to the tranquil space of Dharmsala.

Puja Ceremony

“Puja is the act of showing reverence to a god, a spirit, or another aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals”. There are various types of Puja's for certain stages of life, holy days and daily offerings to god. The Satyam School of Leadership is about to open and there recently was a Puja to bless the building (there was also one before ground was broken on the site for the building and I am sure there are more to come). The four hour ceremony consisted of chanting, lighting candles, offering food, money and flowers to the creator, cracking of coconuts (to symbolize breaking the outer shell or ego and connecting with the spirit), ancient storytelling and many other interesting rituals. It was fascinating to be apart of and I was fortunate to have a colleague translate for me so I could better understand the meaning of each part of the intricate process. Check out this link for more info on Puja’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puja

Amsterdam

After two months in the U.S. I decided to head to Amsterdam for some relaxation prior to returning to India. Every time I arrive in Amsterdam a warm and peaceful vibe washes over me (which is not from inhaling the smoke wafting from the coffee shops, but I have heard it can have a similar effect). With more bikes than people, canals than Venice, friendly people and beautiful architecture it is not hard to fall under its spell. My Uncle Roger has lived in Amsterdam for over ten years and is always gracious enough to open up his home. I was fortunate to spend time with my Dutch friend Caroline that I met in India and my buddy Nate who is working in London this summer. It was splendid to catch up with both of them and enjoy the relaxed pace of life in Holland.

Leadership Without Borders

My friend and colleague Ed Cohen recently wrote a book on Global Leadership. These days many western corporations are keen to reap the benefits of setting up operations in developing countries for obvious reasons. However, one consideration that some corporations tend to neglect is truly understanding the culture of the countries they are trying expand in. Numerous companies fail and others struggle for this reason. Leadership Without Borders discusses the concept of being a Global Leader from the perspectives of executives all over the world. Check it out!


http://leadershipwithoutborders.com/

The Speed of Change

Check out this 8 minute presentation on the the present and future. It contains some flabbergasting figures....

If nothing else you will enjoy the music.

It does take a few minutes to upload and ignore the 1st 42.3 seconds or so...

http://www.lps.k12.co.us/schools/arapahoe/fisch/didyouknow/didyouknow.wmv

Lelia Jane's

If you are ever in Chicago and looking for a chill place to hang out, head to Lelia Jane's. This lounge is owned by my buddy Greg and he will be happy to show you a good time.

Both ends of the spectrum

In the same week I was fortunate to see both my 92 year old Grandmother and witness the birth of Zachery Roy (my cousin Caity’s second child). At the end and the beginning of life; being with them was a reminder of how precious life is.

Indian Wedding

Today I was privileged to attend the wedding of a co-worker. I continue to be impressed by how everything in this culture has symbolism and meaning…names, spices, colors, fruits, time of day, grains, thread, you name it and there is a story behind it… It makes every little action purposeful and rich. For example, the bride and groom go around a ceremonial fire seven times. Each round about the fire symbolizes a part of life. The groom leads in first three rounds symbolizing that the earlier part of marriage is led by the groom. The bride leads in the last four rounds symbolizing that the latter part of life will be led by her. When leaving the event their hands are tied together with string and there garments as well to signify their unification. We all had the opportunity to approach the bride and groom, give them a gift, say a few kind words and then sprinkle or throw rice over their heads as blessings.

The wedding was overflowing with vibrancy. From the elaborate clothes worn, the resonating music played to the amazing flowers adorned everywhere.

Outside there was a parrot tarot card reader, assisted by a gentleman. When you sat down the bird would come out of his cage approach a set of cards, pick one up with his beak and hand it to his counterpart who conducted a reading about your future…

Context

Sharing my experiences in India with friends and family back in the US has proven difficult. It is hard to truly express what life is like for me here when people lack 1st hand experiences that allow them to really relate with the drastic differences. Sensory experiences provide people a richer understanding that resonates within and adds depth.

Recently my girlfriend Gina ventured to India for the 1st time. Prior to her arrival we had talked extensively about my experiences and life here, but that was just talk… I am extremely grateful she had the experience to absorb it all personally. Doors that were previously closed are now open in terms of relating to me. Gina spent five days exploring the North with her friend Jivan and then flew down to the South to spend time with me. I had the opportunity to show her some of Hyderabad, where I live and work, introduce her to my colleagues, take her to some of my favorite restaurants and expose her to some of the crazy contrast of India. After two days in Hyderabad we flew to Goa to find peace on the coast. The next four days were just what we had imagined; relaxing and restorative. Like the difference between looking at the ocean on the surface and diving into its depths, Gina and I now have a deeper relationship and understanding of each other. I am thankful she was willing and open to explore mystic India….

After six days of adventure, discovery and connection with Gina, I thought to myself:

Is it possible to feel empty and full at the same time?

Training Futures

Friends,

Below is a link to a short clip by the channel 9 news in Washington, DC on Training Futures. The organization is especially close to my heart because my mother founded it and continues her quest to empower and equip individuals so that they can live more fruitful lives.


http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56576

Impressive: Wade Davis

Take a gander at this piece from Wade Davis of National Geographic. It is rich!

http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=w_davis

merry go round

Do you remember the dizzying effect of riding a merry go round as a child? This is how I have been feeling of late. The merry go round moves fast, creates this euphoric type sensation and when it is over you get to deal with trying to stabilize on solid ground.

This most recent trip took me from India to the Rocky Mountains, onto the dreamland of Mickey and Mini, a few days in the motor city and then full circle back to India (all within 11 days). Needless to say it was dizzying with many people and magical moments energizing the ride. While in Colorado I had the privilege of connecting with my girlfriend Gina, family and Mother Nature. Gina and I went to Steamboat for a quick trip to ski and bask in the natural hot springs. After one missed flight (due to the fact my travel agency in India booked my reservation under my first name and the airline could not find the ticket?!?) I arrived in Orlando at a conference where the top 125 corporate universities in the world are ranked. 2007 was the 1st year our organization was ranked and we came in at #15. This was impressive; due to the fact we had never been ranked before and are the 1st ever Indian company to make the list. There were five of us in Orlando to receive the award and we all dressed for the black tie affair in Indian formal attire to reinforce the message that India had arrived! As for Detroit, well…it was Detroit.

Like a sour patch kid (which saturates your taste buds with sweet and sour simultaneously) I am chewing on the fact that consistency is not possible in this chapter of my life and still deciding if I like the way it tastes.

Regardless of my palate and its uncertainty; I continue to be humbled and grateful for the many gifts and opportunities I have been given.