Ashraf Sheikh's Expresso Blog (thats Espresso + Expressions)

How Flat is your Apartment?

An Apartment is an Apartment...no matter where.
The word 'Flat' is orignally a british slang for an Apartment/House.

"Thats a nice flat!"- An American might probably ask "Nice flat what? or Flat What?"
I am not saying the American is right and you have follow that always.

My point is -be courteous and make it easy for everyone to understand, what you really mean.

Especially when there are more than 120 nationalities in a country like UAE (where I live but this could apply elsewhere too) and not everyone understands that 'Flat' means apartment but its accepted that an Apartment means Apartment.

This post obviously stems comes from the many 'flat/ apartment' conversations, I've had with my Indian friends.

Now, is this an issue? It is, I guess especially in business its important to adapt, reinvent and evolve

For example, check this news story here- 'Thick accents', pat responses result in complaints;DELL stops outsourcing to India... more

Whats your Otaku?

The Word Otaku is increasingly finding its way in management literature. Lets Explore, what exactly is Otaku?

Otaku is Japanese for 'home' or 'hearth'. Depending on who you speak with or where you are in the world, being called an otaku can have both positive and negative connotations.
It has been associated with Japanese youth that are recluse and are fanatical about their chosen hobby. In western society, otaku is not so negative. The use is inclined on the colloquial definition of Otaku...Enthusiast.
Otaku are the enthusiasts, the artists, the subcultures, the passions that define one's individuality in society. We are all Otaku in one way or another.

Note: A Search on 'Otaku' may even lead you to MP3 or Music related Website. So Define Yours, before Otaku gets branded.

Frogs and designs!

Just about when we thought, we were done with Frogs and Management theories. (ref: Sorry, but the frog...)

Thats an interesting name for a company.Take a Look at their management section. The pictures of all the 'male' staff are on hold....to keep the design Intact? *grin*

Urgent: Lovable with Rosy Cheeks

A friend of mine sent me this interesting job post, she came across on a leading UAE recruitment (agency)website.

Position :SANTA CLAUS
Location : ABU DHABI
Salary : ATTRACTIVE SALARY + 5 STAR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Job Description :
On behalf of our client, a leading mall, we are recruiting a plump, lovable Santa Claus from 4th December until 24th December. You must be good with kids and possess the ability to cheerfully hail 'ho ho ho'. A white beard, rosy cheeks and a large waistline will be an advantage.

Lovecat finally here!

Not Tim Sanders, just his book

The theme- Love is the crucial element in the search for personal and professional success
Excellent and practical ideas. (I covered this in my Blog a year ago, in great detail. Sorry, It doesn't exist now.)

Surprising as it may seem (for those who waited for more than a year for their copy)
the book is finally available here in Dubai (yes, I live in Dubai)

Its available in two colors (wonder why?) *grin*

The foreword is written by none other than The Father of Chaos himself-
Tom Peters

Have you got a McJob?

Definition: 'McJob'- low-paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement (11th edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

and The Execs at McDonald don't seem to be too happy with it

McDonald's McAngry with dictionary word "McJob" (reuters)

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"Absolutely Terrible!"

Thats what a reader has to say about Tom Peter's new book- Re-imagine! (yes, the Exclamation mark is packaged with everything Tompeters)

You guessed right- I absolutely love the Idea of this book and waiting to get my hands on it as soon as I can (though read a few chapters on tompeters.com, the debates, blogs on it etc)

The author of Chaos actually mentions reader comments like "Absolutely terrible", "The loud graphics and layout gave me a headache", "The layout may be original, but it is a bad idea" etc in his newsletters to promote his new book.

There are even 2 chapters dedicated on...of all things Design?!

It sometimes takes more than 20 years to acknowledge its forwardness, Like in Search of excellence which now ranks as the Forbes top 5 management books of all times.

Google-Honourable mention

Its time for my periodic Google mention...

Well, googlism has been around for quite sometime (I know, I know) and if you've probably seen it (if the receive bytes: 2,93,0026 continue when you are offline) *grin*

Its a project that ran out of Google and spun off as a seperate website for some good laughs

Consider what Googlism has to say about me ( and I am beginning to doubt my real age *grin*)

ashraf is on top of the mystery
ashraf is originally a physician
ashraf is a monk from the planet karlak
ashraf is only 4

Agree to Disagree?

Research shows that the more we achieve, the more we tend to want to 'be right

Great Idea!, It'll only work, if you...

Quite don't agree with the last part ...

Are you sure that would help?!

Heard yourself, repeating these lately?