Sufee Maifil...Rahat Fateh Ali Khan @ Johannesburg, RSA

19th Dec 2010, Sunday

Emperors Palace, Johannesburg

South Africa

The King of Sufee singing Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was in Johannesburg on 19th Dec 10 for live concert. We were 6 of us who planned to attend the concert. Rahat is my all time favorite singer and I am proudly big fan of his voice. I did't wanted to miss the chance to attend this one. I have been personally following Rahat's singing for past several years and whenever I heard him or watched him performing on television I always thought I want to meet him, at least see him from near or touch his hands. "Rahat" by his name and it's real meaning in Hindi, he gives "Rahat" to his fans by his singing.

Before starting from home, I just prayed that if I am really fan of his voice then I will get a chance to meet Rahat or will get his autograph. It was raining hence people were stuck in traffic and program was postponed by 45 min. I located my seat and then told Amol that I will just come back. I came out of venue and went to organisers desk. There was a person called Akbar, I requested him that I am Sachin from Pune, India and I want to meet Rahat before he starts his concert. He said it is quite difficult but he can help me after program. I said there will be huge rush for autographs etc hence I doubt that I will get a chance. During this conversation, Akbar got a call on his mobile to come and receive Rahat from his guest house. This guest house was in same campus however it was raining. After that call, Akbar says me, man you are lukcy, lets go and pick up Rahat. I was astonished for a moment..!

It was raining hence we went in Akbar's BMW to pick up Rahat, in fact it was first time for me to board BMW, that too someone whom I know from past 10 minutes was driving. I thanked Akbar from bottom of my heart for this opportunity. As I knew thousands of people waiting to hear Rahat's voice in concert hall...and I was the only fan lucky enough to go and pick up Rahat. This was simply awesome. We parked car at the entrance of O'really hotel and walked to reception.

Finally after 10 min of wait, The king of Sufee singing Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan stepped out of his room. We walked quickly towards Rahat and I offered him handshake and Rahat too. I introduced my self as Sachin from Pune India. Rahat replied, Khushi huyi aapse milke, yahan kaise? (Nice to meet you, how come here?). In short I told him that I am on assignment here. I captured couple of close snaps of Rahat and then opened door for him to seat in a car. Me and Rahat's younger brother got the back seat in same car. I drew a blank for the moment, but I knew only Rahat for that time. I offered him a note of 50 Rand for his autograph and he signed with smile. I felt I am his only lucky fan to meet him before function, and that to got a chance to meet him in person and share same car for a moment at least.

We dropped Rahat to green room, I saluted Akbar and told him that you have truly heart of Late King Akbar who use to fulfill wish of his every citizen. Thank you very much for everything, you made moment of my life. I accepted his bye and walked towards my seat.

In few minutes announcement bounced and everyone was just waiting for Rahat to appear on stage. Finally that waiting was over and Rahat with smile appeared on stage. He offered his traditional salute to audience and his fingers touched Harmonium.

Rahat began the concert with composition in "Raag Trivari" and then moved to some of the famous Qavvalis performed by Ustab Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Rahat's mentor). I was waiting for my favorite numbers and finally his fingers on Harmonium played the tune of "Main Jaha Rahun..." wah..wah.. then it went on...

"Lage tumse man ki lagan"

"Dil to Bachha hai jee"

"O re piya"

and then my all time favorite "Naina thag lenge..." and many more...

I couldn't resist myself when Rahat started "Naina thag lenge", I walked towards stage and offered him possible gift from me (few hundred rands). Rahat while performing glanced at me and smiled. I felt as he was just singing for me and accepted my small gift.

I captured glimpse of that performance and turned to my seat.

Thanks to Akbar.

Take your team along...

By: Sachidanand Kulkarni

Tough time, organization are going through tremendous structural changes after recent business downturn. Top management doesn't seem to be reachable at all to any one for anything. Conference rooms are continuously occupied, back to back meetings, presentations and then some gossip at the door..!

..at the end, nobody could really understand what was presented, why that was required and who is supposed to do what? But everyone seems to be understood. Coffee..! wow very nice, thanks for snacks. meeting is over, no conclusion.

Several organizations are lacking today for right leadership, that so called "driving" factor is missing, especially small firms and they had to be bought over by big or middle level players who have clear vision, transparent goals and passion to be winner.
The trend of people leaving organization is just simply growing, people prefer to move out after 2-3 years, specifically young generation.

It has become necessity and important for management to gain the confidence of employees, be loyal with team and communicate right message at right time and in right way.
As an organization heading towards its growth can only achieve its goal by taking the employees in confidence. Organization had to take different cost cutting initiatives in tough times, as finally the survival is question mark, however forcing certain policies just to save cost and not considering the 'employee' side of it would harm back on organization. Agree that those steps are need of the time but the traditional way of doing it calls for a change.

There should be committee formed under COO which would review overall expenditure across different areas like Admin, travel, recruitment, allowances, increment etc. Committee should prepare and present report on current expenditures and areas where the wastage is? Or hos to save cost by using different alternates. This report should be circulated up to middle level managers to take them in confidence as finally they have to manage employees and listen or answer to them.

There are challenges, some visible and some not so clear but it is important to take 'team' along and face the today. What assured you success earlier might guarantee you failure.

Take your team along, that's the only way an organization can achieve its Goal.

Reaching your Potential

By: Sachidanand R. Kulkarni

There is nothing any one can do to prevent you from reaching your potential, challenge is to identify your dream and acquire the skills to get there. Then you need courage to reassess, do adjustments and pursue the course which will reflect the truth, who you are.

Ambitious Professionals often spend a substantial amount of time thinking about strategies that will help them achieve greater levels of success. ‘Am I reaching my potential? Is not the same as asking ‘How can I be successful in my career?’ To do that, one must step back and reassess self career path.

Take a fresh look at self behavior in three main areas:
a) Knowing yourself
b) Excelling at critical tasks
c) Demonstrating character & leadership

Let’s look at it one by one:

a) Knowing yourself
Take responsibility of your own career, and that begins with an accurate assessment of your current skills and performance. Take at least 45 minutes for self out of your weekly schedule and list down your skills and competencies in different areas including soft skills. Think over each skill set, spend sometime to understand at what extent you are really skilled in that particular skills, may be you can categorize your expertise in two categories such as Expert and Proficient, then carryout an assessment to judge yourself at each of these categories and arrive at the confirmation that which one is true. Once you are sure that you are either Expert or Proficient, then you can define plan to achieve further step. But this is important and extremely critical step before you plan your further career goals.

b) Excelling at critical tasks
There are different tasks one has to perform over the day to meet the objective of what has been assigned, average poor performers don’t realize whether they can perform that particular task, but still accepts it blindly which further leads to non satisfying results. It is critical that one defines the given tasks in below categories before they are acted up on:
1. Important and urgent
2. Urgent but not important
3. Not important and not urgent
This gives clarity and some breathing room for performer to think over and perform the task to utmost satisfying result.
Indentify and excel at the tasks that are critical to success in your job or role.

c) Demonstrating character & leadership
Our character basically is a composite of our habits. Sow a thought -reap an action, Sow an action –reap a habit, Sow a habit –reap a character, Sow a character – reap a destiny, your goal. The maxim goes….
Believe in creating history, and that’s what true leaders do. Leadership is nothing but action. Futuristic vision is the main characteristic of leadership; hence reach to the point where you can see your long term vision. Take leadership of self development, define your own career, your Goal and demonstrate what you are.

“Fulfillment doesn’t come from clearing hurdles others set for you; it comes from clearing those you set for yourself”