What's makes a champion?

I am watching the 2007 US Open -- between Djokovic and Federer.

I watch Federer play, and I say: it's true. "God made Federer". This guy is stoic, almost like Emperor Ceaser. You look at him and you shudder. He is a lion who knows how and when to kill. He who knows how to unleash absolute killers and when to lie down and relax. You can't box this guy in a corner. When you do, he shows composure and you can count on him to come out with such explosive power that is divine to watch.

So, when you play such a guy, how do you win?

1. Play your best and then better, and then some more.
2. You can't afford misses, unforced errors, or skips.
3. You need to be in absolute top form, every play every shot.
4. You have great physical and mental stamina to duke it out.
5. Winning one game isn't enough. You have to win battles, and then win the war.
6. It's great if you are winning, but never be complacent. That when you are most vulnerable.
7. Always show tremendous respect to your competition. Never take things for granted.
8. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Even better, know your opponent's too. If there are any weaknesses.
9. If you have an opportunity to win, don't mess up. You will get those only once or twice.
10. Stay calm and concentrate. Focus.
11. You are the owner of your destiny. Not the umpires. Not the court. Not the audience. You.

Coming to think of it, almost all of these apply to business as well. Or anything else in life.

Toddler Projects

I have a toddler.

Every weekend (actually, every Friday evening) I wonder: Gee, hmm. Are there any cool craft toddler project for the weekend?

I spend 30 mins on the Internet. Search. Click a bunch of stuff. Most of the projects are like "meh". Not so interesting.

Here's an idea for an entrepreneur. How about if there was a subscription I paid - let's say $10 per month. And every week, I get a project in the mail. The instructions, the materials, additional educational stuff, everything.

At the end of it all, I get to take a picture, post it on the web. Keep track of all the projects we worked on. Many even reminisce 20 years later...

Thoughts?

Bill Gates: Commencement Speech at Harvard

I just read the commencement speech at Harvard, that Bill Gates gave.

I found it expremely inspiring. Now, the next question is: what do I do about it?

Well, over the next three to four weeks, I am going to think hard about a core issue that I am passionate about - where I think I can make a difference, and apply my energies to it in my spare time - and see how I can make a difference.

Wish me luck!

Tommy Thompson's Idea for Iraq

I was listening to CSPAN's Road to the Whitehouse on Saturday. There was a Republican event going on - where the various Presidential hopefuls were making a speech. One of them was Tommy Thompson.

His idea for Iraq going forward was: "Look, these guys have been fighting for ages. Let's ask them if they want us there. If they don't let's leave. When we leave, let's give them the various factions what they want. The Kurds will move to Kurdistan for their own region, others will move to other parts of their country, and so on".

I thought raced my mind. Okay, let's do this... and then what? Should we hope it will be "lived happily ever after?"

I doubt it. Case in point: India-Pakistan.

That was a hastily drawn border as the English withdrew their occupation. A mass cross-border migration. Tensions. Bloodshed. Close to sixty years since, this is still a festering issue and a nuclear one.

I personally feel there's no point blaming the Iraqis that they aren't stepping up to fulfil their end of the equation. Such "stepping up" takes time. It has been sixty years since Pakistan has had its independence (with no occupation) but it still struggles with implementing a working democracy. These things take time. Quoting a well known Nobel Prize winner, democracy is not a dish you can cook in a "pressure cooker". In fact, to get to a democracy that works the way the US really proud of, it took the US over 100 years or more. In fact, the US had slavery & racial discrimination well into the early to mid-1900s.

China's Trade Barriers?

I saw the recent news that the US is complaining to the WTO about China's trade practices. Alngside the very same news item was this news item. A high-level business delegation from China was visiting the US to conduct deals worth tens of billions of dollars (as the New York Times puts it: a Spending Spree).

Coincidence? I don't know.

On its face value, the Chinese seem to have mastered the art of playing US against the US. On Capitol Hill, I am sure there a bunch of lobbyists engaged by US businesses trying to complain/erect more trade barriers against China. And there should be an equal bunch of lobbyists engaged other US businesses to ensure the US gets these lucrative business deals instead of any other country.

Who wins? I think politicos do, in the short term. In the long term, as long as the world economy shifts away from Western nations to Asian nations, we will see more and more of this happening. The real money and growth is in Asia. Complain and erect barriers to protect local businesses is good -- but it shouldn't be at the cost of losing access to lucrative and growing markets elsewhere.

And the Chinese know this. Very soon, the Indian will get a copy of this playbook as well. It would be interesting how the drama weaves.

(Speaking of drama, is this just a drama? What if China and the US have already planned on doing these business deals all along? And both knew a PR campaign to divert attention & shield the public outcry as these deals get done -- will help? If that is the case, a well timed "US is not happy with China's trade policies, and the US is complaining. Your government is on your side and is at work" makes good sense to the US locals. On the other hand, China can go back to their country and say "Complaints, schomplaints... Whatever... See, we got the deals we wanted anyway, so be happy, China. Your government is on your side and is at work.")

Types of CEOs

I recall reading a while back a Wall Street Journal article that was discussing the backgrounds of Chinese diplomats vs. American diplomats. Chinese diplomats were engineers by profession whereas Americans tended to be lawyers.

I wonder if there has been any analysis done on how a company performs in the long-term based on the attitudes of the key leader.

I believe there are three types of attributes.

1. An engineer: Person who sees problems, and thinks about ways to solve them.
2. A businessman: Person who sees problems, and calculates the business opportunity.
3. A lawyer: Person who sees problems, and tries to fix it by decree.

In the long-term, I think engineers tend to generate the most shareholder value. But, I don't have the data to prove this.

Comments?