Contradictions

Our lives are prefect examples of contradictions. On a day I lost Rs 10K +, out of nowhere, a Rs 1 million opportunity was staring at me right in the face. Well, to be honest, it’s not worth a million. As the Mastercard ad goes, a bad day in the stock market: Rs 10,000; on-site opportunity: Rs 10lakhs; an interview call from Google: priceless. When everything in my life and career seemed to be stable, when I had worked out every minute detail of the next career moves I would make, there comes across an offer I can’t refuse. Though Google wasn’t around when Godfather was released, they have perfected the art of making offers one can’t refuse. Technically it’s just an interview call, and in all probability the dream would remain just a dream but it does feel good to know that you have what it takes to be considered for employment by the world’s very best.

I find myself asking: What do I really yarn for? Why do I indulge myself in so many activities? Why do I always reshuffle the pack of cards? Why can’t I just settle and let things be? Is there anything called moksh?
The partial answer to those is that I am curious. I am curious to know what I am capable of. I am curious to see whether I really CAN make a difference. I am curious about this world we live in, about the people that inhabit and about the depth of mysteries that reside in the penetralia of our mortal existences.
So has Google appeared as Deus ex Machina? Is it going to be a case of 2nd time lucky? Well I don’t know. But I’d rather have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Previously when I went to the Googleplex in Hyderabad (in Jan, 2007) I was grossly unprepared. I had to pack in 4 years of IT curriculum into 1 week of preparation. Just one bad interview (out of 5) and I was out. More importantly, I didn’t really believe. I was so overawed by the company, the place, the people. I didn’t realize that my interviewers were going to be my teammates. I didn’t believe that I belonged.
So what has changed? My outlook, for one. Now, I think that I belong.
However, I’m very happy in my present company. I got a major breakthrough on Thursday when the no. 2 man here agreed to meet me about the budget approval for our Toastmasters club! Such is life.
So I go to Google for just the experience. Their hospitality is amazing. A fully paid trip (even the food is paid for) to Hyderabad, a night’s stay, another peek at the googleplex, an afternoon with some of the smartest people in India (probably the world as well) is certainly enticing.
To sum it up…
Am I taking it easy? Heck no. Not in my nature. I’ll prepare to the best of my ability.
Would I have gone if it was any other company? Absolutely not.
Do I want to change? No.
If made an offer, would I take it up. Absolutely.
Contradictions!