IRCTC - Tatkal

Booked a ticket for Sunday night from Chennai to Bangalore on Tatkal.Its on Waiting list.I am not sure of the logic behind it. What are the chances that a passenger cancels after booking on tatkal.Even if there are cancellations use the normal waiting list. Why create another waiting list for the same births. Just a small way for the Railways to make some additional money.The idea behind Tatkal was guranteed Tickets at the last minute for a price.For one you are opening it up 5 days in advance. And now a waiting list.It is Crazy.

I am in Limbo now whether to go ahead and cancel it or wait another day.

October

Another week closes and its the end of the month.
A month of ups and downs.
Yesterday came across data that the worldwide squeeze may last 2-3 years.The economy contracts for such a long period of time.How is that going to impact the recruitment scenario. Best is to go from day to day.The max time frame I can forecast is 3 months.For Those 3 months We are comfortably placed. Thats a good way to start a bad period.Whats the point in Breaking my head beyond that.

Infact I have reduced our targets drastically.As long as we break-even its fine.Why ask for more at this point in time. Guys have been sent out.Perhaps we could do something for them?

Additionally looking at adding clients from other engineering sectors. Automotive might rebound in 9-12 months time but a few other sector companies in our clientlist might provide a good cushion. Wont be easy adding clients during these times.So that is one more hurdle to jump.

There was this scary article I read today. 40000 Trucks - No takers. No wonder they(VOLVO) are closing plants.

Have decided to go ahead with the office in Pune. The decision has been long coming and I am going to stick with it.

Chaos

Been reading a lot of Stuff relating to the economy & to the markets in general. The underlying faith still holds but is getting peppered with a lot of doubt. Today was reading this article from Steve Levit on Freakonomics - which I actually thought was positive - but as it turns out it gives out another bleak sound out for bad things to come in 3-4 months down the line.

India is expected to do 7+ growth rate which is pretty decent - but I need some more data on the sectors that will grow more and where can we expect a freeze.All said and done one can'y associate ones clients recruiting needs to the countrywide sectoral performance.But, still impacts cannot be discounted.

As I keep telling myself there is going to be a definite slow down - the economy which was going at 60 - may now go at 30 - but go it has to. And we need to be at the right places. Its like being a fruit picker - picking in a dense fog on treacherous hills.We need all the insite possible to keep a firm foothold.

All this macro thinking has to happen on one plane - parallely I am going ahead with targetting the guys who are recruiting - its as simple as that - the eagles dont know whether the economy is growing or sliding they just look out for live food. 

The economic stuff can help me in forecasting 6 months down but for the 3 month stuff I have to just trudge to the market and reach out to candidates.

Get off your ass man.