Inspiring story of a blind Indian MBA

Years ago as an NMIMS Mumbai student, during placements a corporate house told Ashish Goyal to find himself a job in the government sector, since it has a quota system for the physically challenged. Having turned blind in his teens because of an eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, Ashish did not take the advice lightly.

He not only got himself placed at ING Vysya but also stood second in his batch at NMIMS. Later, Ashish went on to do an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Today, the Mumbai boy has a plum job at JP Morgan's London operations.

Over the years, Ashish has not only earned milestones in his professional space but also done plenty in his personal life -- from learning to play Brazilian drums and learning the Argentine tango to boxing and performing on stage, besides many other things.

He was in India to receive the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2010 from the President of India.

PagalGuy.com's Lajwanti D'souza talked to him what success means to a visually challenged person, what inspired him in life, how he handles depression and... his dream date woman.

What does this award mean to you in real terms. Do awards make a difference at all?

This award means a lot to me; it's special to be recognised and I am really humbled. Frankly it has not sunk in, meeting the President, meeting other award winners. I am really excited. The difference that this will make, well, the most important thing is that encouragement works wonders for everyone I would think.

We get lost in this race called life so much, that a special moment like this makes you take a step back, acknowledge the recognition and thank God for all that has happened. It's reinvigorating to keep doing the best you can. Also, if this award helps spread awareness and change people's attitudes towards people with disabilities... that will be the best outcome.

Describe what you do for a living and whether it has enriched your existence and vice-versa.

I work for JP Morgan's Chief Investment Office and we help manage the bank's exposure in various markets across different geographies. It's a very significant and satisfying role at a bank like JP Morgan, which has a huge balance sheet and large exposures. Proper balance sheet management can make a tremendous impact to all stakeholders from depositors, clients to shareholders and employees.

Vice-versa, well all I can say is that I am happy that I have been able to live up to expectations and hope to keep doing the same going forward. Also being a student of macro-economics and geo-politics, my job keeps me sharp and interested in this ever changing dynamic world.

Do you think Indian B-schools are responsive to people with mental or physical challenges? There is this physically challenged boy fighting a long legal battle with the IIMs after being denied admission.

My answer will be a little dated, as I have not lived in India for 5 years now and I applied to Indian business schools back in 2000. The main difference in my two experiences (in India and in the US) is this: abroad, there is a clear process and system to deal with students and applicants with disabilities, of course helped by regulations.

Internationally, as with Wharton, it was pretty easy when it came to following the process and providing a level playing ground. Where as in India, the process was not streamlined and a lot of ad hoc decision making would need to happen on the basis of perceptions even though regulations existed.

This was not just the case in B-schools, I would say that was true of most institutes. What Wharton did, was it gave me a level playing field to compete and learn on merit and that's all we require I guess... the rest is up to ability

Is there anything that you are doing or would like to do in the sphere of helping those visually challenged?

I have fleetingly been in touch with this organisation called Enable India. It's a great model, training disabled individuals to become independent and acquire the right skill sets for a job, then working with companies to get them to hire these people, and finally making sure that the first few months the transition goes smoothly.

I am also involved with 2 other issues, education through Pratham which reaches out to the poor and educating kids for free, and the Akshay Patra Foundation, which is Asia's largest mid-day meal programme.

Is there a better sense of concern for those 'challenged' abroad than in India? Here, even getting a ramp made in a housing society is a big hassle.

Yes, as mentioned, there is a difference in terms of infrastructure and facilities, but hopefully that is changing, as the government and a lot of non-profit organisations are working towards that change. But most importantly I feel individuals like you and I need to be more receptive and accepting.

One important thing that needs to be mentioned is that people with disabilities are individuals who have gone through various circumstances and are very different to each other. It's not fair to club all of them as the same... and even less fair to club all kinds of disabilities as the same. I have no idea what I would do or how people in a wheelchair cope or what about people with not-so-obvious disabilities or challenges like learning or mental disabilities.

What kind of vocations would you advise physically challenged persons take up given the job market scenario? The Indian government has gone only as far as giving out PCO booths.

In India and abroad, I have met disabled individuals like me doing all kinds of jobs. I believe it comes down to ambition and practicality combined. When I was going through recruiting from NMIMS, I was shocked when one of the companies told me that I should begin my career in a government organisation as they have quotas and that they would not interview me. I could have given up hope then and there, but I really don't see a lot of issues for disabled people doing various things. There are lawyers, media professionals, bankers, IT professionals, teachers, you name it...

Have you thought of designing products, furniture or gadgets for those with disabilities and challenges?

I have offered to be a tester for a couple of products and whenever I have any idea, I speak to my friends who work in a similar field. There are people and companies across the world working on this.

Have you learnt cooking? That's what you said you wanted to learn, the last time around.

Yes, but do I cook? No, I hate the entire cleaning process that follows.

Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

I want to definitely do something for the country (India). Don't yet know in what shape or form. The way my life has evolved, I think 5 years is a long time, but hopefully I will have discovered my calling by then.

Is there something you'd like to say to those who think their lives are always on the downturn?

I don't feel any issue is too small or too big. I think one can make it small or big. If there is an issue, finding a solution and working through it is the best approach because only we can affect that change instantly or attempt it. If we feel there is no hope and don't see a solution it will be difficult for others to help. It's most important not to run away from those issues, but work with them and take them head on.

What do you do when you get depressed?

Eat chocolates. Nope, kidding. I guess I call up my closest friends and talk about it... go change my mood... ponder... and sleep... its depressing being depressed, so I try and limit it :) .

You are one lucky guy to have your family with you? Not all physically-challenged people are as fortunate.

I can't even imagine my life without my Guruji and my family. I feel very fortunate to have such an amazing support system, blessings and some great friends. I don't know if I can advise anyone here, but I would say for others, when you see someone like this, please lend them your hand. Being nice to people doesn't cost anything and your simple act could change someone else's world. I can't even enumerate the number of times living alone in a foreign land, absolute strangers, who I will probably never meet again, have helped me or made life easier for me.

Who is your ideal date?

Too personal a question (don't wanna spill the beans actually... haha...). Well I enjoy the company of intelligent and interesting women in general.

Would you have achieved so much had fate not been cruel to you when you were in your teens and when you lost your vision to retinitis pigmentosa after being born with proper vision?

My guruji Dr Balaji Tambe has been my guiding force and I would have crumbled without him. I have pondered at length about this question and about the saying -- everything happens for the best. If I had regular sight, I could easily see myself being a very average spoiled kid, doing nothing with my life and living an inconsequential existence.

Well, that would be taking the worst case scenario for sure, but this disability made me focus and work hard for everything, and most importantly it made me believe in myself and gave me an attitude to keep trying, giving my best, and enjoying every experience.

Do you think your MBA degree has got you where you are today? Or do you believe you had it in you to circumvent every obstacle?

The people I met in my MBA years, the opportunities I got have been overwhelming. I would relive my MBA experience anytime. An MBA can make a major difference in your life if you know what you want out of it. There are so many things you could choose from and so many ways in which you can shape yourself... and improve your career and social life. It's easy also to not do anything sometimes, but believe me that would be such a waste of opportunity.

"Tell Me About Yourself" The Toughest Question in the Interview

When you, as a job seeker, are asked the most common, and toughest, interview question, "Tell me about yourself," your answer can make or break you as a candidate. Usually job seekers will respond with their "30 second commercial," and then elaborate on their background. While almost every career book and career counselor will tell you that is the appropriate response, I totally disagree.
Many people fail in their job search because they are too often focused on what they want in a job including industry, type of position, location, income, benefits, and work environment. Their "30 second commercial" is centered around this premise. The commercial describes the job seeker's career history and what they are looking for. Too often, this is in direct contrast to what employers are looking for.
There are two dominant reasons why job seekers are successful in the job search. The first is focusing on the needs of the organization. The second is focusing on the needs of the people within that organization. In this article, we are going to examine how to focus on the needs of the people within organizations. This will assist in rethinking your response to that all-important question, "Tell me about yourself."
In order to learn how to respond to the needs of the interviewer, let's first learn more about ourselves. We can then apply that knowledge about ourselves to knowing how to understand and respond to the needs of others.
Most social psychologists recognize four basic personality styles: Analytical, Amiable, Expressive, and Driver. Usually, each of us exhibits personality characteristics unique to one of the styles. However, we also possess characteristics to a lesser degree in the other styles. To determine your unique style, you can take a Myers-Briggs assessment or go to the following site for a free Keirsey Temperament Sorter assessment test: www.keirsey.com
Here are the characteristics that are most commonly associated with each of the styles:
Analytical:
Positive Traits: Precise, Methodical, Organized, Rational, Detail Oriented
Negative Traits: Critical, Formal, Uncertain, Judgmental, Picky
Amiable:
Positive Traits: Cooperative, Dependable, Warm, Listener, Negotiator
Negative Traits: Undisciplined, Dependent, Submissive, Overly Cautious, Conforming
Expressive:
Positive Traits: Enthusiastic, Persuasive, Outgoing, Positive, Communicator
Negative Traits: Ego Centered, Emotional, Exploitive, Opinionated, Reacting
Driver:
Positive Traits: Persistent, Independent, Decision Maker, Effective, Strong Willed
Negative Traits: Aggressive, Strict, Intense, Relentless, Rigid
Gaining an in-depth understanding of your personality style has enormous value in your career as well as your personal life. However, our focus today is learning how to use this knowledge to make you more successful in your job search.
Once you have learned about your own style and have studied the other styles, I encourage you to have a little fun in trying to determine the styles of others. When you meet someone for the first time, try to identify his or her style within the first two minutes. You can often identify styles by observing a person's demeanor, conversation, body language, appearance, and possessions.
To demonstrate what I mean, let's take some examples from the business world. While there are always exceptions, generally speaking the styles fit the example.
Analytical Style: Financial Manager (or programmers, engineers, and accountants). They like systems and procedures. They are slow to make decisions because they will analyze things to death—but their decisions are usually very sound. They prefer working independently and are usually not very good in team environments, but they are also dependable. They buy cars with good resale value and great gas mileage. They are conservative dressers. At the party, they want to know why so much money was spent on Michelob when we could have purchased Busch. They come to the party with their laptops.
Amiable Style: Human Resources Manager. Very people-focused. They are dependable, loyal and easygoing; very compassionate. They will give you the shirt off their backs and the last nickel in their pockets. They are good listeners and value team players who don't "rock the boat." They are usually conformists and followers—rarely leaders. They avoid conflict and are not good decision makers. They drive four-door sedans or mini-vans to take the kids to sporting events. They usually clean up after the party is over.
Expressive Style: Sales Manager. Very outgoing and enthusiastic, with a high energy level. They are also great idea generators, but usually do not have the ability to see the idea through to completion. Very opinionated and egotistical. Money motivated. They can be good communicators. They prefer to direct and control rather then ask and listen. They drive red convertibles with great stereos; to heck with the gas mileage. They come up with the idea for a company party, but never help clean up. They are on their way to another party.
Driver: Corporate CEO. Intelligent, intense, focused, relentless. They thrive on the thrill of the challenge and the internal motivation to succeed. Money is only a measure of success; it is not the driving factor. They are results/performance oriented. They have compassion for the truly disadvantaged, but absolutely no patience or tolerance for the lazy or whiners. They drive prestige cars, not because the car attracts attention, but because it was a wise investment. They want to know why we had a party; what were the benefits of the party, and did we invite the banker?
Ok, now you are really getting some insight into your style and the style of others. It is time for the interviews. Throw out your 30-second commercial. Think on your feet.
You will be interviewing with the human resource manager, the finance manager, the sales manager, and the CEO. The first question each of them will ask you is: "Tell me about yourself." How should you respond? Remember the second reason for succeeding in a job search: focus on the needs of the people in the organization. Here are just a few examples of how to respond to that question:
"Tell me about yourself?"
Response to Finance Manager: "I have been successful in my career by making well-thought-out decisions based on careful analysis of all factors. I approach problems with logic and sound reasoning. I would enjoy working with you in developing the appropriate systems and procedures to make our two departments function efficiently together."
Response to Human Resource Manager: "My career has been characterized by my ability to work well with diverse teams. I seek out opportunities to involve others in the decision-making process. This collaboration and communication is what has enabled me to achieve success in my department. People are the most valuable resource of any organization."
Response to Sales Manager: "Throughout my career I have always adhered to the principle that everyone in the organization must be sales-focused. My department is always trained in customer service, providing outstanding support to the sales team and to our customers. Without sales, the rest of use would not have a job. I look forward to helping you drive sales in any way possible."
Response to CEO: "I have achieved success in my career because I have been focused on the bottom line. I have always sought out innovative solutions to challenging problems to maximize profitability. Regardless of the task or challenge, I always established benchmarks of performance and standards of excellence. I have never sought to maintain the "status quo." An organization that does not change and grow will die. I would enjoy working with you to help define new market opportunities in order to achieve the organization's goals."
In each instance, we responded to the "needs of the individual." It is almost guaranteed that, when you respond appropriately to the diverse needs of the different managers, you will become the standard by which all of the other candidates will be measured.
I challenge you to learn about your personality and leadership style, learn about the styles of others, and learn how to think on your feet when responding to questions. Whether you are seeking a job or you are gainfully employed, by understanding the needs of others you will become a more valuable person, employee, manager and leader.
 

Top 10 Most Common Interview Questions

Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. So study this list, plan your answers ahead of time and you'll be ready to deliver them with confidence.

What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful." 

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: "With five years' experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies whose mission statements are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

Why Did You Leave (Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."
If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

BSNL GPRS SETTING (MANNUAL)

Manual GPRS settings are listed below for most of the popular models of all major brands along with LAPTOP  GPRS settings .MMS manual settings are given for  category A mobile levels only., for category B change  the settings according to the table given below.   If your mobile model is not found in the list, you can setup your mobile with the generic settings given below with the help of your MOBILE USER MANUAL.

GENERIC Settings for Mobile:

1. PORTAL SETTINGS  

2. WAP SETTINGS  

3. GPRS SETTINGS

3. MMS SETTINGS

1. Portal Settings
It enables to browse CellOne WAP Portal  (http://wap.cellone.in) which has a huge volume of exciting content like poly tones, true tones, video tones, wallpapers, animations, themes, videos, mp3 etc  to download into your handset device . No charges on browsing through this setting but charge on download of GPRS contents will be implied.

Setting Name	CELLONE-PORTAL
Access Point Name	PORTALSOUTH.CELLONE.IN
Port	9201 for Wap 1 device 9401 for Wap 2device
Proxy IP	10.31.54.2
Authentication	Normal
User Name	Ppp
Password	ppp123
Home Page	http://wap.cellone.in

                                                                                                                      

2. WAP Settings
It enables to browse any WAP enabled site on internet by handset. Charge on browsing will be implied.

Setting Name	BSNL-WAP
Access Point Name	WAPSOUTH.CELLONE.IN
Port	9201 for Wap 1 device 9401 for Wap 2 device
Proxy IP	10.31.54.2
Authentication	Normal
User Name	Ppp
Password	ppp123
Home Page	http://localhost/home.wml

3. GPRS Settings                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

It enables to browse any site on internet by Laptop or PC through handset or data card having BSNL SIM. Charge on browsing will be implied.
  

Setting Name	BSNL-INTERNET
Access Point Name	GPRSSOUTH.CELLONE.IN
User Name	your mobile number  ( 94xxxxxxxx )
Password	your mobile number  ( 94xxxxxxxx )
Dailup No	*99# OR *99***1#

                                                                                  

4. MMS Settings

Important: Please select category (A or B) to which your mobile number belongs and accordingly set the MMS Settings.

Category A - 9440, 94410, 9490[5-6],9443, 9444[0-4],94450, 9447, 9448, 9449[5-6],

Category B - 9441[1-9],9490[0-4,7], 9442, 9444[5-9], 9446, 9480[0-6], 9486[0-4], 9449[0-4] & [7-9],  9490[0-4], 9495[0-4]

 MMS Setting (Category A):
  

Setting Name	BSNL-MMS
Access Point Name	Bsnlmms
Port	9201 for Wap 1 device 9401 for Wap 2 device
Proxy IP	10.31.54.2
Authentication	Normal
User Name	Ppp
Password	ppp123
Home Page	http://10.31.53.18/mms/

                                                                                                                                 

MMS Setting (Category B):\

Setting Name	CelloneSouth_wap_n
Access Point Name	mmssouth.cellone.in
Port	9201 for Wap 1 device 8080 for Wap 2 device
Proxy IP	10.7.236.11
Authentication	Normal
User Name	your mobile number with prefix 91 (9194xxxxxxxx )
Password	Mmsc
Home Page	http://10.7.236.11:8514

GPRS FAQ

1.                                    What is GPRS?

          GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. It is a faster way of passing data over a mobile phone network. With GPRS you don't pay for your online time per-minute, you simply pay for the amount of data you transfer.

2.   What is MMS?

MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service, commonly known as picture or photo messaging. MMS runs in conjunction with GPRS. This means you must have GPRS enabled in order to have the MMS service working. 

How to run a PC without anti-virus

From within your operating system, there are tools you can use to help ward off evil software, too. All browsers today, for instance, provide some security tools, including anti-phishing filters or lists of Web sites that are known carriers of harmful software. Use these features -- they won't slow you down. Common sense is your biggest defense. 

First things first: you should have some kind of antivirus protection on your PC, especially if you surf the Internet or trade files with anyone. There are plenty of people, though, who hate antivirus programs -- and with good reason. Most of them are resource hogs, slowing down your computer; many of them throw up more false positive warnings than legitimate ones, slowing down your work and annoying you in the process. These days, most are leased on a yearly basis, meaning you must pay up every year in order to keep your antivirus signatures current. 

All of that adds up to some pretty painful medicine to have to swallow to potentially rid your PC of some malicious software. Can you possibly just say "no" to antivirus software? The short answer is, "yes, you can." But to remain virus and spyware free, you'll need to adopt some precautions -- and stick with them.

Use clean software

An antivirus-free computer should start and stop with legitimate, clean software. That means eschewing copies of programs that can be downloaded through warez sites or on newsgroups, borrowed from friends through file sharing, or found on shareware and freeware sites. 

Remember that being without an antivirus program often means living without on-demand scanning, so a file you download online isn't as easy to check for viruses as it would be if you had an antivirus program installed. Still, plenty of people can and do assemble systems solely with commercial, off-the-shelf applications, and you can, too.

Scan your PC remotely

If you have more than one PC, you can install antivirus software on one while leaving the other machine without antivirus software. If the two machines can see each other over a network -- home or office -- then you should be able to map the drives of one computer onto the one with antivirus software installed and check individual files or entire drives through your network connection. 

Or you could take advantage of free online virus and spyware scanning tools. Trend Micro's House Call (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) and Eset's Online Scan (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan) will perform a scan of your computer right from the Internet. Such scans might not remove any viruses or spyware found, but they will at least tell you how clean your computer is.

Use built-in protections

Antivirus protection might not yet be a built-in feature of Windows and other operating systems, but security has long been of concern to everyone who uses computers, and the result is that you'll find some malware protection already built in to the computer you're currently using. 

Before your computer even loads your operating system, it launches the code found in your system's BIOS (basic input-output system), which initiates the hardware in your PC and enables your operating system to identify the components you have. Within the BIOS of most PCs -- accessible by pressing F2 or Del during bootup -- is an optional boot sector protection mechanism. Enable this, and you'll protect against boot sector viruses without ever installing a single antivirus tool. 

From within your operating system, there are tools you can use to help ward off evil software, too. All browsers today, for instance, provide some security tools, including anti-phishing filters or lists of Web sites that are known carriers of harmful software. Use these features -- they won't slow you down.

Free Operating System tools

In addition, there are free tools available that are less obtrusive than most antivirus packages. Microsoft provides Windows Defender for free on Windows Vista, and it's available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. 

Windows Defender's focus is on spyware, which can be among the most dangerous types of malicious software, since its primary purpose is to track what you do and, in some cases, steal personal information.

Watch those websites

Common sense will go a long way toward keeping your computer safe if you don't use antivirus software. Stay away from sites that are frequent carriers of spyware. These include, ironically, many sites that purportedly sell anti-spyware software. 

A list of such sites is at the Spyware Warrior Rogue/Suspect Web Sites page (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#sites). Porn and gaming sites are also to be approached warily if you have no spyware or antivirus protection.

Email with care

Delete any e-mail message from an unknown source if it contains an attachment. The majority of malware contracted through e-mail comes in the form of attachments that the sender tries to get the recipient to open. 

Just say no. The large majority of viruses are contracted from unsolicited e-mail, so use an e-mail application with a built-in spam checker, if at all possible. Sometimes viruses are carried in Word documents from friends or colleagues who are not aware that the files are protected. 

In such cases, without an onboard antivirus tool, it makes sense to run the file through one of the free online scanners mentioned earlier. Do this before you open the file. 

The payoff for all of this caution should be well-known to anyone who has watched with chagrin as an otherwise speedy and trouble-free computer was made to feel like yesterday's technology after the latest bloated antivirus software was installed. Less really is more, if you can get away with it. And for those intrepid computer users with a survival plan, doing without antivirus protection can be a giant step in the right direction.