Visualising an Ignitee-d Mind

The Indian Cricket Team just pulled off an impossible victory—at least that's what the Englishmen think. 387 runs in one and a half days… nah, it'd never been done before!

That's the thing about changing history. Just like Virender Sehwag has a delightful disregard for history, and at Ignitee, so do we. It's all about VISUALISING the situation beforehand. Just think that you've already done it… visualise the winning moment time and again—and voila! Even reputed Olympic champions have used this technique to perform nigh impossible gymnastic stunts. That changes the course of history.

Ignitee too visualises stuff beforehand. Like doing a website in 3 days flat. Getting a campaign live within a few hours. Making award winning websites. It's all the power of visualisation, of what we believe we can do.

Right now, I'm visualising food. It's time to grab a bite. But oh, I always visualise food. Darn! I should've become a chef…

From Chinchpokhli (Ignitee's Office) to China!!

Chinese food is always enjoyable, especially when there's LOTS and you have good company. And Ignitee, of course is a REAL GOOD company. That's what I found out when we all sat down to have some amazing Chinese food (don't ask me for the name of the restaurant… come on, a rose by any other name would still smell sweet, right? I've been reading Shakespeare lately). It's pretty evident from the photographs that all of us Ignitees are pretty chuffed. I was smiling through a mouthful of noodles (oh yeah, and that double chin became a triple chin). And what can beat a beautiful 1,000-watt smile into the camera? The food, maybe, but that's a different issue altogether.

Before you could say Ignitee, we'd wolfed down most of the food. Our plates were—LITERALLY—licked clean and everyone was kind of dazed after the whole thing. It's like when you have really good wine, your head starts swirling a little bit—that's EXACTLY what had happened to us.

Oh, when we got back to work, the eyelids started drooping. MAN how I wish I was Chinese (at least nobody will know whether you're sleeping or not). But here's to more food, more Chinese, and of course, a whole lot more of Ignitee. Cheerio!

A resignation doesn’t mean repentance

It’s happened. Politicians have come out in a show of ‘solidarity’ and resigned from their posts, thereby ‘taking the responsibility of the blasts upon themselves’. My foot. Not one of them repents even a little bit. The blame-games and grandstanding continues—one party at the expense of another. And where do we go in all of this?

By the way, the show of solidarity by the common man at the Gateway of India was something to behold. Here was a city, in its full cosmopolitan force, stepping up and giving these ‘Mantralaya’ men something to think about. Some of the posters were actually very funny—I actually vouch for showing RGV Ki Aag as torture for the terrorists. But on a more serious issue, it finally showed that Mumbai was not going to take anything lying down. The ‘spirit’ of Mumbai has changed—no longer is it CHALTA HAI. Mumbaikars have taken this to heart, and no one will be spared.

But do you think the politicians are listening? If they are, then I am Barack Obama’s long-lost brother. They will not repent, not until we actually give them a few tight slaps across the face. Then even we can say, “Bade-bade shehron mein aisi choti-choti baatein hoti rehti hai.” So come on guys, let’s make them repent.

Bombs, Bullets and B***ards

My apologies for the use of expletives upfront. I know it’s no match for the kind of explosive debauchery we’ve been seeing over the past few days, but I had to get it out of my system, somehow—feeling absolutely powerless hurts. Really does.

My heart first goes out to those victims who were trapped or who had their dear ones trapped behind enemy lines, as it were. Commiserations won’t do, I’m sure, but that’s all I can give you at this moment—along with a sense of hope that ONE DAY, we can send children to school in a bus without having to think about the religion of the bus driver—terrorists do not deserve the stamp of religion, anyway.

My salutations to our brave commandos, policemen and army officers who put their lives in the line of fire. They are the real heroes—not the plastic (or cardboard, whatever you wish) ones we see on 70 mm almost everyday, using body doubles, stunt doubles and what not. There’s no ‘replay’, no ‘double’—just one shot at either saving a life, or losing yours. This makes me think—I wish we had an army of James Bonds or Max Paynes. Now maybe is not the right time to discuss movie/video game characters, but they’re needed—cold-blooded, hardened professionals who will show no mercy. Professionals with a license to kill, not bound by the red tape that so often slows down the most critical operations.

I’m rambling now. I don’t know what else to say. My mind has been too murky these past few days. I will take some time to recover. But we need to stand up for ourselves, before it is too late. Is it already too late, I wonder?

India—out of the world and in it, too

Pirates off the African Coast—a scary thought. It's been a long time since I've heard of a ship being hijacked. It's mostly those metal birds in the sky (that's what the tribal Africans would call a plane—please refer to the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy).

Can you imagine though that it took the efforts of the Indian Navy to knock those pirates over? I do not doubt their capabilities, please no. I have the utmost respect for all the people serving in the armed forces. It's just the involvement of India in such a major international siege. Makes me go dizzy.

Another thing that makes me proud is Chandrayaan. Technology has evolved, and how! As the Indian tricolour flutters proudly, I sit back and wonder… how about a holiday on the moon? As it is, I need a break.

Oops… I've been woken from my stupor. Time to get back to work. But then, it isn't too bad to dream, especially when your country is on a high.

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Markets?

Ok, so you've invested in the stock markets. Have you? It's all right, everyone's lost some money along the way. I'll feel worse for you though, if you're from Lehman Brothers. Sigh. I think that saying came true after all, "THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL". Never have I seen fortunes change so rapidly… it's all happened in one year!

They need some kind of inspiration. How about putting up posters of MS Dhoni around the place? He's definitely the most 'bankable' name in India today (okay, that was a bad one). But seriously, they need a turnaround. The 'experts' (yeah, right) 'predict' that there will be a change in fortunes sometime soon.

What until then? Maybe a little visit to our office wouldn't do harm. We're inspired all the time! (OK! Most of the time!) Of course, we can't make magic and set the bulls free in a day, but at least as long as I'm around, they'll have some good jokes to laugh at (this one was the best!)

So… mutual fund investments, anyone?

And now, give it up for the Ignited Band of Boys ‘n’ Babes

(Sung to the tune of WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE – thanks, Billy Joel)

We did start the fire,

On the World Wide Web,

Making it hot ‘n’ hep!

We did start the fire,

Sparking digital passion,

With a mouse in action!

We did start the fire,

Just about everybody’s,

Clicking on and on and on…

Yeah baby, we’re definitely switched on!

Coffee@ignitee.com

The cries continued. I was desperately waiting for my morning cup of coffee, but nobody responded. That was when I got up and had a look around. Cups of coffee were being handed out to everyone else. That’s when I suddenly realised… this place has so many people! What was I doing sitting in front of my PC? Let’s have a round, I thought!

I exchanged pleasantries with everyone, right from the bosses in the cabins to those tireless guys in the pantry. Yeah, this place is well and truly ALIVE! Ignitee is abuzz with activity every second—you won’t find a dull moment here! Ah, the tussles between Business Development and Creative… India-Australia, step aside. But it’s fun, real fun. Work keeps churning out at the rate of knots and more work keeps coming in. I just LOVE this place! It just feels like home!

As I stood there day-dreaming, I was rudely shaken out of my stupor. There he was, my boss! I looked back towards my seat—a mob of 5 people, waiting to give me work. No problem. I smiled, hugged my boss, went back to my seat and started work. And oh, the coffee had reached, albeit by this time it was cold. I drank it though. Ignitee has a way of making you like things.