I was at the ML Jaisimha Cricket Academy this morning with the right idea of bowling a bit and getting my health and fitness regime off to a serious start. In my current shape I am only good for walking and I think it will take me a while before I can get down to any serious jogging. The inertia of the last year, the weight I put on due to the medication as well as the mysterious aches and pains that bothered me for the last 3 months are slowing wearing off and I can think I am good to get back into shape now. No better activity I can think off than bowling.
There were times when I could bowl for a length of an hour and more without a break. But today, I was apprehensive about doing anymore than just getting my body in some rhythm and bowl in the right places.
There were some of the regular suspects like Rahul, Rohan, Lalith and Sohail but they had just wound up their practice. We waited for the movie team to land up and they did punctually and were sent off to play a practice match by Mr. Baig. After the match they got down to practice and it was then that I got a chance to bowl.
I bowled for about twenty five minutes or so off a short run up and felt good. After the initial stiffness and pains and aches, I got a decent rhythm. However after a while, I felt that the gas had totally dried up and I just could not go on anymore. I stopped for the day. Not bad for the first day. But it does require a serious look at my fitness levels. I give myself 45 days to get into a good enough shape i.e. be able to bowl for an hour at the nets and jog for 25 minutes at a stretch.
The Zone
I always found that physical activity like jogging or bowling or walking gave me that much required space to come up with that one elusive idea I had been searching for. Anything - as long as it is not punctuated by conversations or unfocussed thought. If I let my mind just be it always came up with an answer. Sometimes long distance driving does that to me or even listening to music. Times when the mind goes into a meditative state, the zone.
Movie - Green Zone
Watched 'Green Zone' with Bhasker yesterday. Was wondering what they were trying to convey through the movie. Not a particularly bright idea, I felt, especially since its a dated subject and there was nothing new he was telling us anyway. One of those times when I felt like I'd wasted a few hours meaninglessly on this planet.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Things To Do - Postponing My Own Good
When I make a list of things to do, I realize that we tend to postpone the things that could do us the most good. So I looked hard at things I need to get done and the list ran a bit like this:
1) Contact publishers for the children's stories (something that I have been putting off for a very long time)
2) Get started on finding a publisher for 'The Misfit'
3) Do something about marketing of my books, even set up a marketing division if need be (plan in place needed)
4) Get my 1-day workshop organized in terms of structure
5) Complete writing the book on 'Developing a Champion's Mindset' (its 60% done)
6) Market my workshop to management schools and as an open workshop (at least 10 colleges to start with)
7) Do lectures in government schools
8) Get down to writing a screenplay which has been delayed by 3 months
9) Complete the marketing assignment with COD
10) Spend time on my health and fitness everyday, at least an hour
I think that this list is good enough for now. I am going to get most things done by the end of this week. Report progress next Monday.
1) Contact publishers for the children's stories (something that I have been putting off for a very long time)
2) Get started on finding a publisher for 'The Misfit'
3) Do something about marketing of my books, even set up a marketing division if need be (plan in place needed)
4) Get my 1-day workshop organized in terms of structure
5) Complete writing the book on 'Developing a Champion's Mindset' (its 60% done)
6) Market my workshop to management schools and as an open workshop (at least 10 colleges to start with)
7) Do lectures in government schools
8) Get down to writing a screenplay which has been delayed by 3 months
9) Complete the marketing assignment with COD
10) Spend time on my health and fitness everyday, at least an hour
I think that this list is good enough for now. I am going to get most things done by the end of this week. Report progress next Monday.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April In Hyderabad
It's getting hotter by the day in Hyderabad. After 12 noon, its wonderful to shut off all the windows and doors and chill inside with my feet up - a cool watermelon or a nice long, glass of iced lime juice for company or the occasional beer. And maybe watching an old classic or a Woody Allen movie. Post lunch there is very little chance of any sensible activity till about 5 in the evening so I shut down all systems and rest.
There are not too many mangoes in the market yet and someone painted a bleak picture of the mango crop this season. The fruit market across the road is full of colorful fruit though - the first mangoes have arrived, the sweet and brown tinged grapes are surely on their way out but are there by the cartloads, fat and green watermelons showing off their fresh, red insides, some sad looking santras that have shriveled in the heat, super shiny apples (from New Zealand or some far off place), the occasional guava cart with a mix of small and big guavas, healthy juicy pears in a cloth cases and of course the ubiquitous bananas in green and yellow bunches. Carts with coconuts are on the rise selling from 6 bucks to 13 bucks - I am yet to stop by for that sweet drink of coconut water. I have had a drink of pudina juice from a cart and it tastes like jaljeera, and the chap also sells some other similar juices made from familiar names. Ice cream vendors are all over the place, just as people selling dark glasses (imported surely, and original), umbrellas and caps.
It looks like this for the next two months for me - stay put at home most of the time, tend to the plants, do some writing, go for the occasional walk, watch the afternoon movies and chill.
There are times when I think that a getaway to a cooler place might be a good idea. Now to hunt for one!
There are not too many mangoes in the market yet and someone painted a bleak picture of the mango crop this season. The fruit market across the road is full of colorful fruit though - the first mangoes have arrived, the sweet and brown tinged grapes are surely on their way out but are there by the cartloads, fat and green watermelons showing off their fresh, red insides, some sad looking santras that have shriveled in the heat, super shiny apples (from New Zealand or some far off place), the occasional guava cart with a mix of small and big guavas, healthy juicy pears in a cloth cases and of course the ubiquitous bananas in green and yellow bunches. Carts with coconuts are on the rise selling from 6 bucks to 13 bucks - I am yet to stop by for that sweet drink of coconut water. I have had a drink of pudina juice from a cart and it tastes like jaljeera, and the chap also sells some other similar juices made from familiar names. Ice cream vendors are all over the place, just as people selling dark glasses (imported surely, and original), umbrellas and caps.
It looks like this for the next two months for me - stay put at home most of the time, tend to the plants, do some writing, go for the occasional walk, watch the afternoon movies and chill.
There are times when I think that a getaway to a cooler place might be a good idea. Now to hunt for one!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Interview in Channel 6
Interview in Channel 6
I was looking into my letter box and was delighted to find that Channel 6, a magazine that covers events, people and places in Hyderabad had sent me two copies of their latest edition. What delighted me more was that this edition carried a nice three page interview of mine that Radhika Rajamani had taken a fortnight ago. It came out well and covered certain facts that normally get missed out in other interviews. Given below is the link to the interview.
http://www.channel6magazine.com/article/article.asp?name1=apr10b1.inc&name2=apr10b2.inc&name3=Article
Thanks Radhika. I do hope you get to read 'The Men Within' soon.
A Bowl In The Nets
After a long, long time I got the opportunity to bowl for about 20 minutes in the ML Jaisimha Academy nets. Glad to report that I did pretty well and there are no serious aches and pains. Plan to continue the same for a week or ten days and get myself into some shape - or at least start the process. This was my bit of commitment towards my health.
Other Issues
On fun, I watched a fine movie by Woody Allen, the name of which i know not because I watched it from half time but it made me laugh for long. But for clues, it has Helen Hunt as the female lead. Inspires me to write a story and a screenplay like that.
On, out of comfort zone, I went fruit shopping at the Erragadda ryhtu bazar, something I have been putting off for weeks and something that makes me uncomfortable.
On growth, I spent time with Choudary in the evening. I met Senthil, an accomplished cinematographer in the morning at the Academy.
On other issues, I got a bunch of letters and books and covers ready to shoot off on maintaining the marketing activity for 'If You Love Someone...'
I was looking into my letter box and was delighted to find that Channel 6, a magazine that covers events, people and places in Hyderabad had sent me two copies of their latest edition. What delighted me more was that this edition carried a nice three page interview of mine that Radhika Rajamani had taken a fortnight ago. It came out well and covered certain facts that normally get missed out in other interviews. Given below is the link to the interview.
http://www.channel6magazine.com/article/article.asp?name1=apr10b1.inc&name2=apr10b2.inc&name3=Article
Thanks Radhika. I do hope you get to read 'The Men Within' soon.
A Bowl In The Nets
After a long, long time I got the opportunity to bowl for about 20 minutes in the ML Jaisimha Academy nets. Glad to report that I did pretty well and there are no serious aches and pains. Plan to continue the same for a week or ten days and get myself into some shape - or at least start the process. This was my bit of commitment towards my health.
Other Issues
On fun, I watched a fine movie by Woody Allen, the name of which i know not because I watched it from half time but it made me laugh for long. But for clues, it has Helen Hunt as the female lead. Inspires me to write a story and a screenplay like that.
On, out of comfort zone, I went fruit shopping at the Erragadda ryhtu bazar, something I have been putting off for weeks and something that makes me uncomfortable.
On growth, I spent time with Choudary in the evening. I met Senthil, an accomplished cinematographer in the morning at the Academy.
On other issues, I got a bunch of letters and books and covers ready to shoot off on maintaining the marketing activity for 'If You Love Someone...'
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Lessons From The Rajasthan Royals Win
It was another amazing example of how a person's belief in himself, his abilities and his team can work miracles. Shane Warne is a true champion - a champion player, a champion competitor and a champion leader. I could hear Kasprowiz (I think) warning the other commentator in the box that as long as Warne is on the field, one could expect a twist. And what a twist there was to the IPL 3 match between the rag-tag bunch of Rajasthan Royals and the all-star Deccan Chargers last night.
Champions lead by example - Takes the toughest part
Firstly Warne comes back from what everyone considered a lean bowling patch to create an opening that was never there - bowling his 4 overs from the 12- 18th over and picking up 4 for 21 in a phase when the Chargers were fully in control of the game with only 3 wickets down. It was as if he was casting a spell, enacting a script that he had already written. Anirudh Singh, Dwayne Smith, Bilakhia and Ryan Harris got drawn into his web. Suddenly Deccan Chargers were 7 wickets down!
Never Lost Belief - In Himself and His Team
And as the match went up and down, with a seemingly good over from Watson being mauled by Rohit Sharma for 3 fours, and then another seemingly decent over form Morne Morkel going for thirteen - the equation came down to 6 runs in 6 balls with 3 wickets in hand and the rampaging Rohit Sharma on strike. Many skippers would have thrown their caps in disgust - come on guys, when will you learn why do I have to do everything myself etc etc but not Warne. Remember that super over that he made that rookie bowler Kamran bowl against Saurav in IPL 2 and he won the game for RR?
Always Believe That Your Team Is Doing Its Best
Warne grimaced and gestured to himself that the ball from Morkel that went for a six should have actually been further up and in the blockhole and not drivable length - and then clapped his hands encouragingly at Morkel. The bowler, who was surely not too happy at conceding 13 runs in 6 balls at a crucial stage, found comfort and solace in knowing that his skipper knows. That he tried his best. That comforting space is what eggs him on to strive harder - and when RP Singh hit a skier that went behind Morkel, he took an amazing catch sprinting full tilt at a ball that was falling over his shoulder. Your belief that your team is giving its best, is what makes them strive harder to give their best.
Never Give Up Till The Last Ball
Siddharth Trivedi, the bowler who had the unenviable job of bowling the last over defending a paltry 6 runs, said later on television that Warne had told him that 'whatever you bowl, make sure its your best ball'. Clear instructions, setting targets to the bowler in his mind that he has to think of his best and that as far as Warne was concerned, the match was not over. Trivedi conceded 4 runs in the over which included a wide, and he bowled 3 of the 5 deliveries to Rohit Sharma!! 'I know he has faith in me,' he said simply and that's it. Faith in these young boys that turns them into ice cool supermen.
Your Belief Affects Not Just Your Team, It Also Affects The Opposition
Six runs in 6 balls and you hold your belief. You tell your bowler that he needs to bowl his best balls. Your fielder who just bowled a bad over brings off a stupendous catch. And then under tremendous pressure, your young player who is manning the cover boundary, brings off Rohit's steepling hit into a catch, as cool as a cucumber. If that's not self-belief, what is it?
On the other hand, the batsman on strike, Roht Sharma, is batting on 70 runs and he knows, as he sees this man marshal his quietly resilient troops, that the match is definitely not over. He is forced to take his focus off his batting and he starts feeling the pressure of somehow getting those 6 runs. He runs an uncharacteristic single on the first ball thus exposing RP Singh to the strike. Then when he gets a second opportunity at the batting crease when RP gets out on a skier, Rohit runs a single again, and then a non-existent second run that runs out the other batsman. And then, with another ball to spare, it just gets a bit too much for him as he throws his bat in a loss of concentration and loses his wicket. One run to tie, two to win and two balls to spare!
Belief, can work miracles. Hold your belief in yourself and your mates. That's stuff champions are made off. Not big names and reputations!
Champions lead by example - Takes the toughest part
Firstly Warne comes back from what everyone considered a lean bowling patch to create an opening that was never there - bowling his 4 overs from the 12- 18th over and picking up 4 for 21 in a phase when the Chargers were fully in control of the game with only 3 wickets down. It was as if he was casting a spell, enacting a script that he had already written. Anirudh Singh, Dwayne Smith, Bilakhia and Ryan Harris got drawn into his web. Suddenly Deccan Chargers were 7 wickets down!
Never Lost Belief - In Himself and His Team
And as the match went up and down, with a seemingly good over from Watson being mauled by Rohit Sharma for 3 fours, and then another seemingly decent over form Morne Morkel going for thirteen - the equation came down to 6 runs in 6 balls with 3 wickets in hand and the rampaging Rohit Sharma on strike. Many skippers would have thrown their caps in disgust - come on guys, when will you learn why do I have to do everything myself etc etc but not Warne. Remember that super over that he made that rookie bowler Kamran bowl against Saurav in IPL 2 and he won the game for RR?
Always Believe That Your Team Is Doing Its Best
Warne grimaced and gestured to himself that the ball from Morkel that went for a six should have actually been further up and in the blockhole and not drivable length - and then clapped his hands encouragingly at Morkel. The bowler, who was surely not too happy at conceding 13 runs in 6 balls at a crucial stage, found comfort and solace in knowing that his skipper knows. That he tried his best. That comforting space is what eggs him on to strive harder - and when RP Singh hit a skier that went behind Morkel, he took an amazing catch sprinting full tilt at a ball that was falling over his shoulder. Your belief that your team is giving its best, is what makes them strive harder to give their best.
Never Give Up Till The Last Ball
Siddharth Trivedi, the bowler who had the unenviable job of bowling the last over defending a paltry 6 runs, said later on television that Warne had told him that 'whatever you bowl, make sure its your best ball'. Clear instructions, setting targets to the bowler in his mind that he has to think of his best and that as far as Warne was concerned, the match was not over. Trivedi conceded 4 runs in the over which included a wide, and he bowled 3 of the 5 deliveries to Rohit Sharma!! 'I know he has faith in me,' he said simply and that's it. Faith in these young boys that turns them into ice cool supermen.
Your Belief Affects Not Just Your Team, It Also Affects The Opposition
Six runs in 6 balls and you hold your belief. You tell your bowler that he needs to bowl his best balls. Your fielder who just bowled a bad over brings off a stupendous catch. And then under tremendous pressure, your young player who is manning the cover boundary, brings off Rohit's steepling hit into a catch, as cool as a cucumber. If that's not self-belief, what is it?
On the other hand, the batsman on strike, Roht Sharma, is batting on 70 runs and he knows, as he sees this man marshal his quietly resilient troops, that the match is definitely not over. He is forced to take his focus off his batting and he starts feeling the pressure of somehow getting those 6 runs. He runs an uncharacteristic single on the first ball thus exposing RP Singh to the strike. Then when he gets a second opportunity at the batting crease when RP gets out on a skier, Rohit runs a single again, and then a non-existent second run that runs out the other batsman. And then, with another ball to spare, it just gets a bit too much for him as he throws his bat in a loss of concentration and loses his wicket. One run to tie, two to win and two balls to spare!
Belief, can work miracles. Hold your belief in yourself and your mates. That's stuff champions are made off. Not big names and reputations!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Movie on 'The Men Within' Gets Rolling
This morning, Art Beat Capital Pvt Ltd had a puja at its office this morning, setting the ball rolling for movie based on my first novel - 'The Men Within - A Cricketing Tale' at its office. Ram and Dinesh, the producers, Mohana Krishna Indraganti, the director, Sumanth, the male lead, Suresh Babu, Tammineni Bharadwaja, Senthil, Kalyani Moulik and several other television and movie heavyweights were present to attend the puja and bless the team. Suresh Babu did the honors with the clap after the puja and the movie was formally on its way.
The yet-to-be-titled movie is being made in both Telugu and English which makes it a very exciting project. Also present at the occassion were Sheila, Arjun, Sanjay Reddy, LV, Sudhanshu, GV, Geeta, Sagar and many other friends and family.
It has a wonderful vibe, this team, and I can sense the excitement in Mohan and the rest of the crew. The appears well prepared and I can sense them stretching every sinew, and am sure they will deliver a fine movie in every way - as they are expected to.
I will get a chance to see the team in a couple of days when they come out to practice cricket and that should be interesting as well!
The yet-to-be-titled movie is being made in both Telugu and English which makes it a very exciting project. Also present at the occassion were Sheila, Arjun, Sanjay Reddy, LV, Sudhanshu, GV, Geeta, Sagar and many other friends and family.
It has a wonderful vibe, this team, and I can sense the excitement in Mohan and the rest of the crew. The appears well prepared and I can sense them stretching every sinew, and am sure they will deliver a fine movie in every way - as they are expected to.
I will get a chance to see the team in a couple of days when they come out to practice cricket and that should be interesting as well!
Praise For The Champion's Mindset Workshop
The 2-day 'Developing the Champion's Mindset workshop' was conducted over the weekend at home. The idea was to do it for family and friends in a non-commercial setting. I made some changes to the normal 2-day 'Recognize Excellence Within' format and tinkered around with the flow a bit and it turned out okay I think.
One of the main reasons why I did this workshop, and someone that I must thank for driving me to do it as an open program, was Ranjani and I waited for a weekend or a couple of days when she could be free. Once she gave me the go-ahead I invited a few more - some who came and some who did not. But like I mentioned in this blog before, ever since I saw Roger Waters perform at Bengaluru a decade ago without holding back an inch (irrespective of the crowd, time, context and place), I decided to go all out whether there was one person or twenty.
I enjoyed the two days immensely and learnt much - from the structure of the program, to the participant profile, to the size of the group, to the actual delivery and length of the program. Also at the end of it I was sure that I could easily make a 1-day program as well.
Thanks Ranjani, Shiva, Rohit, Aditya and Shobha for coming to the workshop. It was a wonderful weekend for me and we shall certainly have that reunion we planned.
Praise for the workshop
Ranjani wrote about the workshop on her blog and I am very thankful for the kind words she had for the program.
http://drranjani.blogspot.com/2010/04/developing-champion-mindset.html
Ranjani is a highly qualified academic with far greater expertise and experience at conducting workshops than I have. Words of praise and encouragement from such experts are to cherish (one of the ways to develop and sustain the Champion's Mindset is to be aware of the good things that experts say about you). Thanks Ranjani!
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