Contents ( 212)
- PENGUIN BOOKS DORK
- Contents
- 1. DISCOVERY
- Under the Sink
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- 2. DUFRESNE
- Robin ‘Einstein’ Varghese’s Diary
- 2 April 2006
- 4 p.m.
- ROBIN WERE GEESE—WIMWI
- 3 April 2006
- 3 a.m.
- 11 a.m.
- 2 p.m.
- 6 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
- 10 p.m.
- 5 April 2006
- 11 a.m.
- 2 p.m.
- 5 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
- 6 April 2006
- 11 a.m.
- 3 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
- 10 p.m.
- 11.24 p.m.
- 9 April 2006
- 10.23 a.m.
- 7 p.m.
- 10.55 p.m.
- 11.26 p.m.
- 10 April 2006
- 8 a.m.
- 11 April 2006
- 11.13 a.m.
- 12.15 p.m.
- 4.20 p.m.
- 6 p.m.
- 15 May 2006
- 8 p.m.
- 11.23 p.m.
- 16 May 2006
- 7 p.m.
- 12.34 a.m.
- 17 May 2006
- 7.45 a.m.
- 7.53 a.m.
- 6.15 p.m.
- 7 p.m.
- 8 p.m.
- 8.15 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
- 9.43 p.m.
- 18 May 2006
- 10.10 p.m.
- 10.34 p.m.
- 20 May 2006
- 9.46 p.m.
- 21 May 2006
- 7 p.m.
- 22 May 2006
- 10.15 p.m.
- 23 May 2006
- 7 p.m.
- 24 May 2006
- 8 p.m.
- 11 p.m.
- 11.23 p.m.
- 11.25 p.m.
- 25 May 2006
- 2 p.m.
- 7.43 p.m.
- 8.13 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
- 9.32 p.m.
- 26 May 2006
- 8.30 p.m.
- 27 May 2006
- 7.23 p.m.
- 9.15 p.m.
- 28 May 2006
- 6.45 p.m.
- 29 May 2006
- 11 p.m.
- 4 June 2006
- 7.15 p.m.
- 9.20 p.m.
- 5 June 2006
- 7.13 p.m.
- 3. PANCHATANTRA
- 11 August 2006
- 11.23 p.m.
- 3 a.m.
- 3.32 a.m.
- 4.20 a.m.
- 12 August 2006
- 9.20 p.m.
- 13 August 2006
- 8.25 a.m.
- 18 August 2006
- 8.50 p.m.
- 24 August 2006
- 11.12 p.m.
- ANALYSIS
- PRESENTATION
- CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
- LEADERSHIP
- SUSTAINABLE PROJECT EXECUTION AND DIVERSIFIABILITY
- OVERALL
- 26 August 2006
- 7.38 p.m.
- 11.45 p.m.
- 27 August 2006
- 8.30 p.m.
- 28 August 2006
- 9.10 p.m.
- 11 p.m.
- 11.20 p.m.
- 3 September 2006
- 7 p.m.
- 4 September 2006
- 8.07 p.m.
- 10.20 p.m.
- 5 September 2006
- 11.09 p.m.
- 8 September 2006
- 1.02 a.m.
- 11 September 2006
- 8.02 p.m.
- 13 September 2006
- 2.16 a.m.
- 14 September 2006
- 10.35 p.m.
- 17 September 2006
- 12.14 a.m.
- 19 September 2006
- 11.15 a.m.
- 30 September 2006
- 10.30 p.m.
- 11.02 p.m.
- 4. EOQ
- 12 November 2006
- 8.20 p.m.
- 13 November 2006
- 10.23 p.m.
- 12.15 a.m.
- 14 November 2006
- 11.23 p.m.
- 12.30 a.m.
- 15 November 2006
- 8 p.m.
- 16 November 2006
- 7.40 p.m.
- 9 p.m.
- 17 November 2006
- 8.22 p.m.
- 20 November 2006
- 7.56 p.m.
- 10.20 p.m.
- 1 a.m.
- 22 November 2006
- 9.13 p.m.
- 26 November 2006
- 10.12 p.m.
- 12.05 a.m.
- 1.23 a.m.
- 27 November 2006
- 11.23 p.m.
- 12.15 a.m.
- 28 November 2006
- 9.36 p.m.
- 11.20 p.m.
- 29 November 2006
- 8.32 p.m.
- 30 November 2006
- 10.03 p.m.
- 5. ASSOCIATE???
- 11 December 2006
- 7.20 p.m.
- 13 December 2006
- 2.20 a.m.
- 15 December 2006
- 10.10 p.m.
- 20 December 2006
- 11.23 p.m.
- 22 December 2006
- 9.03 p.m.
- 24 December 2006
- 11.23 p.m.
- 3 January 2007
- 8.43 p.m.
- 4 January 2007
- 10.03 p.m.
- 3.40 a.m.
- 6 January 2007
- 2.23 a.m.
- 4.15 a.m.
- 8 a.m.
- 9.14 p.m.
- 7 January 2007
- 8.15 a.m.
- 2.23 p.m.
- 10.23 p.m.
- 8 January 2007
- 11.54 p.m.
- 10 January 2007
- 11.07 p.m.
- 11 January 2007
- 12.35 a.m.
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SM: Did you ever expect the voicemail would be leaked and then made available on the Internet?
RV: It would have surprised anyone, Sonali! Do you ever have people recording things you say and then just broadcasting it into the world?
SM: Of course …
RV: Okay, please edit out that entire statement.
SM: We’ll see.
RV: (Looks into the camera) Action! Let’s roll it!
SM: You don’t need to do that …
RV: Okay … Yes. I was very surprised. Now, if some consultants in Dufresne had saved the message … to listen to later as some sort of audio guide to project planning, that I would have understood. But I never thought it would become this cult download. All this attention is rather flattering.
SM: When it first leaked out, when people were referring to it as a huge blunder, were you scared? Did you ever think it could destroy the project? You could have even lost your job …
RV: Excellent question, Sonali. I know what you’re thinking. Was I afraid that Dufresne would fire me? Was I afraid that Lederman would sue me for defamation and breach of contract? Was I afraid that this would destroy my career? Was I afraid that without a job I would soon run out of money?
SM: And …
RV: Was I afraid that since all the consulting firms had rejected my résumés and none of the private equity firms had returned my calls, I would be forced to teach at a C-grade business school or join a public sector firm? Was I …
SM: Yes, yes. So, were you afraid?
RV: No, Sonali. What I just told you were the fears that any normal consultant could have had. But not Einstein. I did not for one single moment think I was in trouble. I had complete confidence in what I had said.
SM: Wow, Einstein. That’s remarkably courageous. Now of course your words have become a business mantra. Were you stunned by the positive feedback and adulation?
RV: (Laughs) Well, a lot of people without exposure or who haven’t been rewarded profusely for excellence in their lives can be overcome by this sudden … you know sort of celebrity status.
SM: Were you?
RV: No, Sonali. That was my point. Please, babe, I can’t explain every nuance in my responses to your questions.
SM: Without going into too much detail, what strategic advice will you be giving Lederman?
RV: I can’t let out too much info. But mostly we are telling them to focus on credit cards and the housing market. At Dufresne we have great hopes for the US housing market between now and 2010. There is a LOT of money to be made there. You’d be a fool not to cash in.
SM: What further plans do you have now that you are being hailed as the youngest management guru in India, Einstein?
RV: Keep working! Total focus. I think the best use of my talent will be if I just focus on being a good consultant. I am working on a book for Dufresne, a series of leadership workshops all across India and, before you ask, I haven’t really thought of working in television but I may be open to the idea.