Of Energy and Motivation

While having a discussion on our way back from work on Friday night, a co-worker talked about how there are two types of motivation that drive us: Intrinsic and Extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is from within, when one forces oneself to achieve something absolutely necessary, for instance, in order to make ends meet. And then there is extrinsic motivation; such motivation is dependent on external things such as getting money, promotion or praise from superiors.

Anyhow, what I've always wondered is how people manage to muster the motivation and energy to engage in so many activities that they have little time left for themselves at the end of the day. Through the course of University and Work, I've seen people who besides studying/working also undertake tutoring at tuition centers or at homes or perform some other tasks besides working leaving me wondering how on earth do they find the energy to do this all week in week out?! I must be a lazy bum by their standards as I can't even manage to drag myself to the gym every now and then! :(

A cousin of mine, an exercise freak I must add, will have my head when he finds out I haven't been to the fitness center in 3 weeks! (having taken a 6-month membership!) :P Nevermind that, the question is how to find the motivation required to get so much done?! A mondo cool physique ? An impressed girl ? Nah ... I guess I'll have to keep looking for something better to increase my infinitesimal levels of motivation. Got any ideas ?

Haye Accounting

My latest job requires me to get acquainted with Accounting and its principles leading up to some advanced concepts too. Now for someone who has an engineering background, this is no easy task I tell you! In fact, the first few sessions were so boring, I almost fell asleep! :P … Thankfully, now I have started getting the hang of it a bit as some bull has made its way in me head if you know what I’m saying! :)

Two cheers for Accrual-based accounting apparently, it follows the US GAAP principle where as cash-based does not. Something to do with realizing revenue at the proper time. The real mind-boggling stuff for any accounting newbie is to learn when certain types of accounts are debited and when they are credited. Couldn't they just make one freaking rule for everything?! I guess not! Asset and expense accounts, apparently, are debited on increase and credited on decrease whereas liability, equity and revenue accounts are credited on increase and debited on decrease! You see my predicament? Now we talk of acquisitions and depreciations like it’s our jargon … uff … still needs some getting used to. More on it later.

What the hell is going on ?

Three attacks in as many days that have left over 65 people dead! What on earth is happening in Pakistan ?! To be brutally honest, I did support the operation ... but not the way it was carried out. There were startling revelations afterwards ... most notably of White Phosphorous being used by the Army and of course Dr. Shahid Masood's column in JANG.

The conditions haven't been this bad for some time. All security forces in Pakistan are under constant attack by suicide bombers and sympathizers of Ghazi Rasheed. Did we need to kill each and every person inside the mosque to prove our point ?! Like I said in the case of Bugti, I refuse to believe that this was the only option ... despite what Mushy said on the telly. Killing your own people brutally does not make an example out of them, it makes martyrs out of them that will haunt Pakistani forces for years to come!

Also, never have I witnessed Pak Army being lambasted by its own people so much before. I think it also important to understand that for all its discipline, all it is doing is following orders. The soldiers know what they are told by their superiors and do what they are ordered to do. I just hope the situation stabilizes and we do not have any more bombings - although I highly doubt it.

You know what sickens me the most?! That even if we get rid of Mushy, there is no one to turn to. Bibi and Sharif sahab are convicted looters and criminals and should not be allowed another term. Who does that leave then? The MMA ? Please! Who else ? No one! Our predicament is such that not only are we screwed right now ... there is potential to be screwed ever so more in the future if the govt. changes for the worse. Only time will tell.

Tandrusti Hazaar Naimat Hay

I've had this freaking cough for the last three freaking weeks and it took a turn for the worst last night! Damn! Now it's real bad and I know I could have prevented it :(! The doctor seemed startled as to how it could get so bad from the last time I visited him ... Anyway, a bit of 'BADD PARHAIZI' and there you go..

Right now, I got a running nose, a cough that is so bad ... it's not even funny! And as a result of all this, I have a bad fever too !

Changed Life

It's been a while since I last posted to this blog. A lot has happened after May ... I've gotten a job at a software house in down here in Karachi and life's been changed ever since. I am sure everyone takes their time getting used to a working life where you have to spend the best part of the day at this singe place all week long! Believe me, it takes some getting used to for a fresh graduate! Anyway, the experience has been worthwhile and I hope it continues to be that way for as long as I stay here.

Life really gets busy tenfold when youi start a job. I can't seem to remember if I've ever craved for weekends this much before :)! All of the week's work now invariably gets dumped on the weekend and all the movies, TV series etc. have to wait till the weekend too. I finished the LOST - Season 3 last week and have now started watching the Star Trek - The Next Generation series. Besides that, I read Digital Fortress and plan to get my hands on the The 11th Commandment which a friend recommended. So all in all, life is whizzing at warp ten speed and while having to witness unusually high amounts of rain. And there's more fore casted for tomorrow and day after ... damn!