Security

I head India business for a network security solutions company. In September this year, I was invited to present the latest network security threats and tools to fight them to a gathering of around 50 IT managers at Hyderabad.

The room was full of young people; average age would be around 32 years or so. Somehow I didn’t feel like doing the routine powerpoint stuff and wanted it to be an informal discussion session.

During the discussion, I asked a simple question to my audience “What are the first three things that come to your mind when you hear the word security?”

I got some very prompt answers:

• Data Security
• Anti virus
• Network security
• Application security

And so on…

I think one of the guests guessed that there was something else on my mind. He asked me “Sunil, you are from a network security company, what are the top three things that come to your mind?”

My answer was “1.Self (Health), 2. Family 3. Finances”

Many in the room laughed and agreed that we all get so absorbed in our work and surround ourselves with so much "information" and "knowledge" that we tend to forget the simple basics.

Just because all present in the room were from IT background and discussing network security threats doesn’t mean that the word "security" will mean "network security".

Of course, I later presented why my company’s solutions were best investment for their organizations but my honest recommendation was:

1. Buy Medical insurance for self and family
2. Buy life insurance for the major bread earners of the family
3. Start investing long term for financial security

And… buy my company’s solutions for your organization’s network security objectives.

Childhood, Dharam PaaJi and Thanks Manish & Robin

Few days back, my younger daughter Sanah turned one. One year back Dr. Deepak Sehgal handed a small delicate baby girl to me and today, this small girl crawls @ 100km per hour, tries to walk, doesn’t want to remain in anybody’s arms and wants to roam all over the place. She fights for things that she wants and doesn’t give up.

When we are kids we are so clear what we want and are not ready to compromise. But as we grow up, we start compromising too much, become “Normal” and somewhere we give up what gives us real happiness and start thinking about other people’s opinions.

Couple of years back my friend Manish and I were at Mumbai airport, when he saw Sushmita Sen at the lounge. He walked upto her, greeted her and spoke to her for few minutes. I felt awkward but he said “For few minutes some people here will think that I am a celebrity stalker. Should I think about people who I don’t know or do what gives me happiness?”

I didn’t agree with him fully till I read “The Greatness Guide” by Robin Sharma and then I understood what Manish meant.

I was boarding Jet airways flight from Mumbai to Delhi on 19th November and I saw Dharam PaaJi (Famous film star Dharmendra) standing next to me, in the bus to the aircraft.

Since childhood, I have wanted to meet four people: Gandhi Ji (Einstein was right), Rafi Saab (I feel this voice can belong to only an angel) , Dev Saab and Dharam PaaJi.

Here I was, standing right next to the person who I wanted to meet at least once in my life and I am sure I would have hesitated to start the conversation with him thinking that he might misunderstand me for a usual autograph chaser.

Thanks to Manish & Robin, I let the child in me do what I wanted to do. I waited till he was seated, then with his permission touched his feet. He said “Jeetey Raho” and I was so happy. Some people in the aircraft may have felt awkward but I fulfilled one of my long cherished wishes and didn’t feel awkward even for a second. I was just so happy.

This incident gave me some food for thought that I will share soon…

Experience of a lifetime

Last week I was in Coimbatore (About 1 hour flight on ATR from Chennai) for some meetings. One of the meetings got canceled and I had some time on hand. My colleague Mahesh suggested that we visit a place called Isha foundation. It is about 30KM from the city and in the forests.

I decided to give it a try and I am glad that I listened to Mahesh. It was experience of a lifetime. I was not expecting something so magnificent. (www.dhyanalinga.org). The best part is; people of all religions and faiths are welcome.

For couple of hours, I just forgot about the world outside. Life can be simple yet beautiful…

I am sure I will go back there again soon.