Questions

Perhaps a man's lifespan is insignificant in the life of the universe. Perhaps he is puny and conveniently forgotten by Gods and Devils alike in one small corner of the galaxy. Perhaps he deliriously dreams of worlds beyond and lives in an inconsequential bubble of his own making, an illusion severely limited by his senses and knowledge. Perhaps.

In this random jungle unmistakeably governed by the rules of power and cause-effect, I live with what I have and strive to grow and learn. Beyond that I don't really see anything. I know that answers come to the one who is not in a hurry to either get them or drop them. So I wait and work with infinite patience, hoping someday I will completely understand the matrix of this world. I don't know if I will find the answers, but I know that I will never give up. My unshakable faith, spiritual Master and unyielding strength of mind are my only true allies. Hubristic Complacency, meaningless laziness and all-consuming despair are my only true enemies. In this game of uncertainty only change is certain.

I cannot live a meaningless existence, so I strive to create meaning from what I know. A meaning that can rationalize my efforts in face of imminent death and give me satisfaction right this moment. This moment is all I have, even though I am told I am forever. I just try to hold to what I can understand and use it to augment happiness and purpose in equal measure.

I also think if it is possible to be bound and yet free; like free-range cows left to roam the pastures but to be ultimately slaughtered to satiate somebody's hunger? Its fate is better than the cow confined to dirty pens for most of its miserable life and slaughtered anyway. The end, however, remains as grisly and unforgiving. A creature dependent on small mercies of its masters. Are we cattle too? Creatures enslaved for their limited productivity, creatures ready to live a second-hand existence out of fear, ignorance, helplessness or peer-pressure? I hope not..

Even if I have nothing, I still have the will, the hope and the spirit. With them I move and with them, I believe, one day I will find all the answers.

The Nomura Game

Reading an article on Nomura's efforts to radically change its culture and absorb people from Lehman got me thinking. From whatever I have read/experienced about either management or leadership, the effort looks doomed to fail miserably. Nomura is clearly thinking "the best of both the worlds", but all I can see is a "fall between two stools".

On one hand Nomura is trying to change the culture of its own employees from top up. As far as I know, the Japanese society is very hierarchical and people respect "elders", every member is expected to respect his role in the chain. By removing seniority as a defining factor and bringing in performance related pay Nomura seems to be moving in the right direction from corporate point of view. However, that does not mean that it will not create any resentment. I am not sure to what extent these decisions were debated company-wide to cushion their impact. The current facts indicate that they were not.

On the other hand it is trying to absorb the talent it bought from the remains of Lehman. Most of Lehman people may find the culture almost as alien as the Nomura employees may find the Lehman culture disagreeable. At the end who can leave will leave, which means Nomura risks loosing the best of its current AND Lehman employees.

From pure management and leadership point of view, I feel it violates three key principles.

First, it is trying to fix something that may not be necessarily broken. It is worth noting that Nomura was able to buy Lehman only because it had been conservative. If it wants to change to "Lehman" culture, the current employees are well within their right to question the sensibility of the decision.

Second, instead of building two distinct, decentralized units Nomura is trying to have one quick merger of two entities that are poles apart. It is like General Motors deciding one fine day that Chevrolet and Cadillac would be made by one unit to achieve economies of scale and share best practices. At best it is going to be problematic, at worst catastrophic. There are better ways to achieve the same result.

Third, it is not making enough effort to overcome the pretty evident communication gap between the two units, accentuated by the language and cultural differences. Without that the decisions, however well thought, will look like enlightened despotism and further alienate people.

Overall, Nomura has got itself in a tight spot. Although the basic thought process has been correct, it looks like that the implementation will run into problem due to lack of communication and lack of consideration for the cultural differences. Nevertheless, I feel that the situation is still not beyond redemption and if addressed right away can help Nomura immensely.

Master of My Destiny

A man's life may be a dream, and his dreams a dream within a dream. The existence may be a futile, never ending conviction. The world moves on with a promise of balance and fairness that manifest in equal opportunity for good and bad. In the short term life seems to be rigidly ruled by rules of power, uncertainty and change. The change that consumes everything and anything. Yet in the long term it is non-changing and boringly cyclical. Such is the nature of the balance it promises.

Through this evanescent life of mine I try to extract a meaning that can appeal to my short-term selfish self and the long-term divine whole. Something that gives meaning to me as I am. The futile play and display of consciousness? Whatever. If I am played with, I play in return. At least I try to. So, I move with the prayer of St. Assisi in my heart and a stubborn determination to make the best of it. To strive to be the master of my mind and my destiny.