Black or White
I was watching a pre-Monday Night Football show and there were 2 white and 2 black commentators. I couldn’t help but wondering about the issues of race and racism. I am not saying that anyone on that show is a racist (black or white), but I could not help wondering about the dynamics of the situation. Both white commentators looked liked they were in their 50s, which means they were around when the civil rights movement was taking shape.
That is an era in the time of the US that I am very apprehensive of, because so many baby-boomers and seniors are still around, who lived then, who may or may not carry the vile resentment that existed in that era (publicly, openly and visibly). Unkind words were used openly. Resentment was openly displayed by both races.
How does it feel for the white commentator to have a black one sitting right next to him, head-to-head as an equal, when just a generation ago, the black person’s family probably went through a ton of stuff. These issues haven’t been resolved until this day and if Jena 6 is any indication, it still has not yet left the collective conscience of this society. So much for the world’s most advanced nation; you can’t even get past a naturally occurring phenomenon.
Perhaps more ridiculous is the fact that Indians are even more racist! There are 100s of ads that are shown each year in India that feature products that will make you lighter skinned. Girls on the marriage market (for arranged marriages) are routinely rejected by the boy’s parents because she is a “little dark”. A fair skinned person is automatically assumed to be smarter, better and more deserving. I am sure not many of us know this fact – it is an accepted part of the Indian psyche.
At work, my ethnic boss always places the disclaimer to interviewees that “Don’t think of this as a purely ethnic company, it is very American”. That has always stunned me because I never considered that to be an issue; apparently it is an issue for a person who created a company out of nothing and built it into a multi-million dollar venture in under 2 years (we’re 5 years old now). Apparently, race makes SUCH a big deal that it can even undermine immense wealth creation in this capitalistic economy.
I don’t think this issue will go away and maybe it should never go. Because this always keeps the conversation alive about being careful about the sensibilities of individuals. You will always be careful of how you’d speak with a black, white or brown person. Unless you’re blatantly racist, you’d be very concerned your words might offend someone. So maybe, in this “civilized world”, the best way to retain polite society, is to continue to speak, think and talk about race and racism. At least let us try to generate some positive out of a non-issue built on a baseless, shallow thing called ego.
Taking Yourself Too Seriously
If you want to break a stereotype in your head, then enjoy this video on CNN. If you remember to come back to this post, then here are some interesting thoughts for us all.
A cop is a serious, life-endangering job. You can get killed on a routinge traffic violation stop. This guy in RI takes the image of a serious (looking) cop and throws it out of the window. He could be your average cop on the street directing traffic. He could not care less about you in your car driving past him for a fleeting few seconds. Yet this guy is doing what he is doing, right in the middle of the street. It got serious for me when I saw him do the move where he bends backward and bounces off each hand side to side. That is a tough move.
I could not help smiling throughout the video (he busted a few Michael Jackson moves as well) and it reminded me not to take myself so seriously. We all put up these fronts or masks pretending to be more important than we might be and others do the same. We want others to think we’re smart, aggressive, excellent negotiators etc. not at once accepting ourselves for who we are – I struggle with this concept on a daily basis and it is a continuous improvement process. So in this cop’s case, would you be “scared” of him less? Would you respect him less? If he is the same guy who gives you a ticket are you more prone to fight back or buddy him up? What is your reaction to this guy?
People who work in large organizations are like cops who take their jobs too seriously. They have their hand on their gun at all times. Others are petrified in dealing with them and I am sure you deal with such people too. In response to their mask, you need to put up yours.
Take a moment and step back and realize that if one person can take one of the most dangerous jobs in the US and turn it into something that is really funny to look at (some may call it stupid) and totally opposite of what 99.99% of people think a cop should be, then why can’t you do it? How dangerous is your marketing job that you can’t even loosen that tie?
Another Hilton Review
This is a great post by the incomparable Richard Quest. He has a Hilton review that seems to agree with my crash course in hospitality this past week on the road trip. That would be the subjectiveness of the service offerings across their hotels. If you visit McDonald’s around the world, then you will understand what ubiquity means. In Hilton’s case, when I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Virgina Beach, VA, they had coffee-to-go in the lobby. So you see, they don’t seem to have standards when it comes to amenities in their hotels.
It is mind-boggling for me to think about the various moving parts in a hotel and it’s hotel room. To even think about the planning it takes from thinking about things that can be kept in a room for the user’s convenience to keeping the room clean, is head spinning! Maybe they need to hire a franchising expert to figure what is the best way to solve this problem, that is obviously global for Hilton.
The Hilton Garden Inn Review
As we drove through “tough” neighborhoods in Norfolk to get to VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, we suddenly felt the change in the air. There was a remarkable switch from fairly average buildings and businesses, to sudden high-quality buildings and well laid out streets. That is where The Hilton Garden Inn is located.
This was by far, the worst place we stayed. The bed, linen and bathroom were just fine and we were there for just a night, but the hotel service was lousy. Our room was a steamy 75 degrees all evening and night because the A/C had conked off. We got a new room and complimentary breakfast, which was a nice touch, though I’d have preferred a room discount. The food was really great including the dinner that we had ordered from The Great American Grill (their restaurant). The breakfast was excellent as well, and I have the best things to say about their omelets and grits.
Parking is not clear at all. The best part was they did not have a valet. You could either park at one of the very few reserved guest parking spots at a nearby parking lot of a bank or use your ESP to figure out that the 5th floor at a nearby parking garage is free for Hilton guests. After a 7 hour drive from Charleston, SC, I wanted someone to lug around our stuff because we were tired. No luck, we were on our own.
The front desk person was just plain ok when we checked in. But it got more interesting at night when we complained about the A/C. My first call to him about the problem yielded no results. He probably felt that if he did not send the engineering guy up 15 minutes later, that we would just accept our rotten fate and sleep in the sauna like room. My wife as livid again and wanted me to “teach him a lesson”. Well, I just called him again and a very sweet guy who spoke little English came to help. He tapped the unit, opened it and did some screwing around then left with a promise to come back in 10. We called in 5 because the heat still stayed on. That is when Romeo, the front desk guy offered to change rooms, but oh, I had to trudge downstairs in my pajamas to pick up the new room key. And the same engineer was our bellboy now. Stop laughing now ..
The million dollar question: Would I stay there again?
NO. I will definitely eat at The Great American Grill or join them for breakfast. I will NEVER stay there again. This is not even the last place I will stay if I go back to Virginia Beach.
The Hilton DeSoto Review
Not all Hilton’s are born the same. This is a clear nature vs nurture situation, with nurture being the reason behind it’s appearance and feel. But I should thank them for providing fodder for the Name Experiment – 2 post.
When we drove up here in SAVANNAH, GA, we were not greeted by anyone at the door. They did upgrade our room to the 10th floor because we called earlier telling them we may be late thanks to the horrible Atlanta traffic. They put us on the 10th floor with fantastic views of the Historic District.
The room itself was nice with an amazing Tempur-Pedic bed. The bathroom was huge with two sinks and well kept. The view was amazing. The air-conditioner did make weird noises on startup but then worked out just fine. The room was decked out well with good clean linen, curtains and sofas.
The staff were generally good and prompt and helpful. The servers at their restaurant were just average and not particular keen on making sure we were having a good breakfast – I guess that is symptomatic of a restaurant in a hotel; they are after all in the hospitality business and not catering. Or is that just an excuse?
The million dollar question: Would I stay there again?
Obviously, there were better hotels in Savannah at the same rate. We just did not know about it till we got there. But I have no regrets and will stay there again if we get that 10th room floor or something above the 7th story. If you’re in town, I think The Hiton DeSoto is a good option.
Empathy
Just in case you doubted my empathy approach, here is someone you probably know (and trust) who apparently agrees with me.
Leap of faith
An experiment is a leap of faith. You don’t know the outcome and fingers are crossed.
I was pondering over my life events, at least those in the recent past, and realized that the best decisions made by me have all been spur of the moment. Not even one was well thought out, analyzed or pondered about. They all have been leaps of faith. I’m sharing this with you because we’re all cookie-cuttered into thinking that decisions need to have logic and a clear explanation behind them. Not true, at least for me. If the exact opposite is true for people you know, then more power to them or to you if that is the case. The idea is, you have to find a rhythm that is comfortable and fits your life. And “sound” decisions have no place in mine.
I recently bought a (two year old) 42″ Sony LCD TV that was never on my Christmas list because a new one is ill-affordable. I paid a basement bargain price to the seller (a work colleague of mine) and it has altered the quality of my lifestyle tremendously.
In 2005, when I got my first job, I needed to buy a car and ended up at a dealership in another state (the salesperson was an acquaintance). My mind was all set on the most fuel efficient vehicle I could find. Then I saw this one-of-a-kind beauty (fully loaded with GPS, leather seats, V6, etc.) and was sold. Totally spur of the moment. That car is doing great and as the old Onida advertisement used to say (for Indians who know this) “Neighbors Envy. Owners Pride”.
My decision to marry the girl I knew in kindergarten was also spur of the moment and life could not be better. She happens to be the only person that I can be with as myself. I did not know this at that time, but I know now.
The job (first one) that I am in was spur of the moment. OK, I needed the gig no doubt but I knew nothing about the industry, knew nothing about how to do the job, knew nothing about my chances of succeeding in it. And it has been the best move I could make in all respects. Today, I am generating value for the company beyond my wildest dreams and probably much more in dollar terms when compared to my MBA colleagues.
Yet, I have always been afraid to embrace this concept. And still am because I am afraid to regret my decision. This is despite the fact that I love all the decisions I’ve made so far and it is expected that some percentage of total decisions are guaranteed to fail. At the same time, I don’t think I can go into the decision making process looking to make a spur-of-the-moment move. It has to happen naturally. Which says something about stress. Stress is pointless 
So how does all this relate to work? To business? Before you do anything else, spend a little time to try and recognize the pattern. Your decisions will either be thoroughly researched or spontaneous like mine. If you do seem to form a pattern then becoming comfortable with it is probably going to give you peace of mind. It also might alleviate some of the buyer’s remorse you experience from time to time.
As a small business owner, fast growing startup entrepreneur or Fortune 500 manager, we all have to make decisions each day. Recognize that what works for the person in the cube next to us, our partners, our bosses and subordinates does not necessarily work for us. It may or may not. But the power to succeed, I think, lies in your ability to recognize the pattern, not just “making the right decision”. This could probably unlock the secret to why some people make awesome decisions in certain (tough) situations.
The Courtyard by Marriott Review
The Courtyard by Marriott in NASHVILLE, TN is a great place to stay if you want to stick around near downtown. It has easy access to Broadway, Music Row and other places so the location is just perfect. If you came in thinking the hotel room is going to look good, then you’ll find yourself in a Best Western kind of room. The room was substandard, the bathroom just about OK and very below average in design and feel. Maybe I’m missing something here? Is this expected of the Courtyard by Marriott? Doesn’t the Marriott name mean something associated with quality? Wasn’t he just the greatest hotelier there was? You’d have no idea by staying here.
The staff were average in friendliness, meaning they were neither rude nor warm and welcoming; it was just about OK. The bed was fairly comfortable and the room was pretty clean. The view was other hotel rooms across the street so I can’t say it was the best. The valets were really nice folks and chatty. They did a fine job of putting the car away and getting it to us when needed. They deserved their tips no doubt.
Quite honestly, we did not think through or research into other hotels in the area. We just took this one because we were getting close to our deadline to make the bookings. There were other hotels in the vicinity and some in downtown that looked better from the outside. The free internet also helps – I am not going to pay anyone $9.99 for one night, even if I could afford it.
The million dollar question: Would I stay there again?
Next time I go to Nashville, I am going to keep this place as my last choice. If I don’t find something else, then I might consider this, though the Gaylord Opryland Resort seems interesting. I don’t think I’ll ever want or choose to go back to this hotel.
Why Blogging Is Tough
Not all of us are writers. Some of us can’t even construct a sentence in order. Then there is the question of battling with the WordPress or Typepad dashboards in order to get your blog up. True, it is easier than before (after all, blogs are a combination of a hosting company, that provides you a template for a website that you can update, right?). But it primarily sucks because of a little thing known as “writers bloc”. Heck, I face it on a regular basis. Then life gets in the way. Time flies and before you know it, a month has gone by without any posts.
There are plenty of stats out there about the number of new blogs, the frequency of posting and the frequency with which blogs die. And most of us are not writers. If you ask any author, newspaper writer or poet, I think their response to why blogging sucks would be that sitting down and penning thoughts on paper takes more energy than rock climbing (metaphorically speaking). It ain’t easy. It is much easier to read and even that is not a major pastime in America.
My “blog buddy” Pete Caputa writes that he “found success by splitting my ‘blogging’ time into 3 activities: 1) 1/3rd reading other people’s blogs, 1/3 commenting on other’s blogs and 1/3rd writing”. I definitely agree with him because it these are the building blocks of developing your thoughts in a cohesive manner, keeping track of things that are important to you and penning your thoughts in an educated manner.
But again, blogging sucks because you have to sit down and write. If only you could discuss your thoughts with your “personal writer” and have him/her write for you!
