About Future

So there's a lot of valid concern these days that our technology is getting so smart that we've put ourselves on the path to a jobless future. And I think the example of a self-driving car is actually the easiest one to see. Well, a recent study in this regard predicts that 25 million jobs might disappear over the next 10 years, where, even the smartest, highest-paid people will be affected by this change. The rate of change today suggests that we may only have 10 or 15 years to adjust, and we need to react fast. 

If we start taking steps right now to change the nature of work, we can not only create environments where people love coming to work but also generate the innovation that we need to replace the millions of jobs that will be lost to technology. I believe that the key to preventing our jobless future is to rediscover what makes us human, and to create a new generation of human-centered jobs that allow us to unlock the hidden talents and passions that we carry with us every day.

we still hold on to this factory mindset of standardization, We still define jobs around procedural tasks and then pay people for the number of hours that they perform these tasks. We've created narrow job definitions like cashier, loan processor or taxi driver and then asked people to form entire careers around these singular tasks. Unfortunately, such jobs will be the first to be displaced by robots, because single-task robots are just the easiest kinds to build. 

One suggestion I saw in TED is this. We have to start creating new jobs that are less centered on the tasks that a person does and more focused on the skills that a person brings to work.  We need to stop asking people just to come to work and do your job. we need to realistically think about the tasks that will be disappearing over the next few years and start planning for more meaningful, more valuable work that should replace it. We need to create environments where both human beings and robots thrive. 

 If we really want to robot-proof our jobs, we, as leaders, need to get out of the mindset of telling people what to do and instead start asking them what problems they're inspired to solve and what talents they want to bring to work.  "Jobs of the future will come from the minds of people who today we call analysts and specialists, but only if we give them the freedom and protection that they need to grow into becoming explorers and inventors. If we really want to robot-proof our jobs, we, as leaders, need to get out of the mindset of telling people what to do and instead start asking them what problems they're inspired to solve and what talents they want to bring to work." 

Book Review: DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Book Review: DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE by KEN PIERCE. The book begins with an intelligent observation which looks obvious once it is expressed. We have people with different behavioral traits that are quite apart. In nature, all these would have been  helping us to survive and, one can say, had a useful purpose. In short, an annoying behavior need not be annoying to all, and may be even of help to some. 

The book then talks of the need to focus, both externally and internally, to understand what is going on with people and organizations. How that will affect respect, trust, resentment, relationships, productivity, and a host of other parameters are examined next.

How to amalgamate nature's laws with the findings so far, is the topic covered next. While analyzing people and their motives, the book introduces choice theory, especially to guide difficult people to their gifts of inspiration, loyalty, leadership, etc. 
Seven principles which will provide the basis for communicating effectively with difficult people is covered next. Knowing these will give an understanding, of why people are perceived as difficult and, using them will enable one to deal with such people much more easily.

The last chapter, The Best Way to Deal with Difficult People, talks of the three ways of communicating with people, namely, carefully, carelessly, and in a caring way. In this book, caring communication is suggested as the way to follow. A summary then follows, which presents the essence of this discussion, in the form of twenty one keys to be kept in mind.

I think this a helpful book, not only to those engaged in managing personnel, but also to all who would like to be rational.

Book Review: 500 Words To Save The World

'500 Words To Save The World' by Stephen S. Nazarian, is author's idea of a community where like-minded people could discuss challenges and solve problems together. In the beginning itself, the book attacks a serious issue facing any society - unemployment. Author comes with a classic response: why not redefine unemployment rate as labour under-utilization rate? It then becomes the responsibility of those governing to see that things are utilized properly.

The next one is about the much bloated government bureaucracy, how to replace it with a door on which anyone can knock. A one about encouraging all to fix things by oneself, and another one extolling the virtues of diversity, then follow.

The conclusion of the book brings its title to focus - it encourages one and all, in five hundred words, to start actions in the desired direction, without waiting for all the answers.

This short book bring to focus, the power of little things, and more importantly, how the cascading effect of the insignificant, can solve big things.

Book Review: Truth of Writing

'The Truth About Writing' by Michael Allen. I wish I read 'Truth about Writing' before my first book, the world definitely would have been free of one writer. For the book opens with a loud declaration that 'writing can lead to bitterness and a realization that a writer is someone who is genetically abnormal! 

The book begins by listing the possible rewards of writing, fame and money, and goes on to describe the freedom of expression that accrues from it. Maintaining however, the unlikelihood of someone actually getting those rewards! The author narrates a bunch of stories from the publishing world where the author earned handsomely, but follows it up with a greater bunch of stories where  authors found it difficult to make ends meet. Another benefit of writing is then examined (which I am after!), fame, where he puts it rather bluntly, 'the desire of fame is from ones deep seated sense of inferiority!'

If ambition still exists to become a writer, further chapters of this book offers a blueprint, how a prospective writer can keep his dreams alive. Here, after giving an academic introduction to  the workings of the publishing industry, that too with special attention to much of the practical problems a writer may face. If notwithstanding all the advices someone wants to create literary works, the next few chapters offer valuable advice regarding selling ones work. This  problem  is  'normally glossed over by those who write about writing. They tend to imply that it  is  simply  a matter  of  putting  a  typescript into  an  envelope  and  sending  it  off  to  a  publisher  or producer, who will open it, read it at once, and weep tears of  gratitude  that  you  should  have  chosen  her  as  the recipient  of  your  wonderful,  fabulous,  incomparable masterpiece.'

 Final chapter of this book contains what every purchaser of a book on writing is looking for: the secret of success. In this case  the  secret  of  success  is  expressed  in  mathematical terms!

I found this quite an interesting book. It offers good advices to writers, like, while writing a thriller and if in doubt, 'have someone walk in with a gun in hand'. Advices on how to find time to write, how to remain energetic, what diet is good for writers, as well as the importance of setting goals are some of the related issues discussed in this book. The humorous touch of the author is continuously visible in the book. For example he proclaims, 'the  degree  of  success  experienced  by  a  writer  will  vary according  to  circumstances and  the  definition  of  circumstance is: everything that the writer cannot control, or even influence'. Or, 'most publishers can recognize a bestseller, but only when it was  published  two  years  earlier  and  they  have  the  sales figures in front of them'. 

Theory of Nonsense

Theory of Nonsense by Inavamsi Enganti is an interesting book.
It begins with chapter zero, where a barrage of questions welcome us. We humans use reasoning itself, to give rise to the ideology that the path of reasoning is the superior way.
How does one decide which path is superior? Or
Why should we choose the path of reasoning and explanation, why not blind faith? Thereafter introduced is the Theory of Nonsense, which enables one to reach certain conclusions intuitively, like, 'we can come to the conclusion that blind faith is better than the path of reasoning, using blind faith'. If one has faith, then, that faith can be used to show, faith is true. We can also see that faith is contradictory. 'If we have faith, it can show that the path of faith is not right. Technically, blind faith is not bound by the ideals of logic, thus rendering contradictions obsolete'. The next chapter is about logic and truth, as to why science is superior or even the path to the Truth. Here the author introduces a big dichotomy, humans seem to have overlooked so far. We humans are so stuck on linear fate and linear phenomena that in spite of so many non-linear mathematical functions that we have discovered, we still believe that the path to absolute Truth is linear. This is where, author posits, above drawn sine curve can act as a better representation of reality. Author then comes up with a fantastic story. 'In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other:
“Do you believe in life after delivery?” The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”
“Nonsense” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?”
The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”
The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded......"'
Our search for the perceived essence, or soul, or whatever else we are after, is something like this, the book says. Who can disagree with such remarkable conclusions?
Some more thought-provoking events of similar vein, brings the book to an end.
I really enjoyed this book, it gave me a lot of new ideas to think about, and share with others.

Book Review: Finding yourself — Understanding yourself and relating to others

'Finding yourself - Understanding yourself and relating to others  by Andy Turnbull begins by discussing ways of understanding ourselves. 

This book explores how we become the people that we are, how and why we “lose ourselves” – and what we can do about it. It then goes on to set out how we can relate to others more effectively and develop high levels of interpersonal skills, enabling us to be our true selves – and create the space for others around us to do that too. 

In Part 1, the book begins the discussion by exploring ways to understand oneself, the existing thoughts on these issues, and an insight into the essential elements of motivation. It speaks at length about the conflicts humans face, what we are, and who we are. Here the author talks about things like alertness, awareness and other needs. 

In Part 2 of the book, how we are to relate to others is discussed. Prejudice, camaraderie, communications skills and other such topics bring the book to its conclusion.
The book looks at a range of ways in which we can create greater understanding of ourselves through
increased self-awareness. It tells, how we can become aware of our priorities at our current stage of life, the roles we play, the scripts we follow and what drives our sense of identity. It suggests to seek out feedback and monitor our own language for hidden clues to our out-dated internal book of rules, and how We can become aware of our prejudices and assumptions about others.