Event++: My way to manage an event

      "Why to actually have an event???"

This can be summarized with Cesare Pavese's quote-

"We don't remember days, 

we remember moments"

Hence to get these sorts of memories; to build relations; to inculcate the spirit of teamwork and to check your potential of doing things, an event is the best way to get all these with one shot. For sure this will need many investments in terms of time, brainstorming, finance and so on so forth. You might have to struggle and somehow manage your conflicting team views but the takeaway will a better worth of all that simple efforts and presence of mind.

Once Director Sir taught me that for planning an event take care of two hierarchies one is as vertical and other is as horizontal. In this, the later represent departments and officials with whom you have to coordinate say it be IT Team, Finance, Cosha, Public Relations (LT, Taxi, Food), etc. and the vertical one start from student, faculty, HOD and reach the top officials' group- Director, Chief Guest, Speakers, Sponsors etc. Hence, before reaching till this top officials' group one have to go via many filters and that is necessary too. You can't trouble the supreme authority and let him scrutinize your applications; you must be well prepared in terms of approvals and perspective of the event you are planning.

Vision => Progress => Final Implementation =>Event

Starting and planning some event is decided by your vision. This vision includes the target audience, need of that event, approvals-things needed and guests. Then there comes the Progress phase which is the most crucial one in deciding the events' prestige and potential. You need to have few meetings, mail discussion and lots of brainstorming in this. New ideas must be discussed along with sharing of past experiences that will help to improve from last work you did. Any miscommunication or point missed in this phase may lead to loopholes in the event. If that loophole got cracked at some time you might be in sort of trouble.

In progress always respect you elders and motivate your team. As per my personal experience, every progress phase has a threshold point and at this point due to conflicts a team might split. Tough criticism comes and each one start blaming other. Keeping aside all these issues the final implementation must be focused because starting something is easy but to complete with perfection is hundred times tougher.

The final implementation includes the invitations, bookings, decorations, order, purchase and inventory assembling. Prepare a checklist for all these. Also from an event perspective, this covers the final work distribution like who is going to handle what (anchoring, technical assist. escort guests, high tea, etc). Each domain will be mentored by individuals; their presence of mind, leadership and dealing ability is tested. For say personally, passionate for anchoring, an anchor has to take on-stage decisions, prepare line and keep track of audience as well as the upcoming performance. Steve Martin has urged, "Be so good they can't ignore you." And that implies to every role you play in your life. Give your best so that the others themselves offer you the best without explicit request.

This I experienced when the chief guest himself at the end of the event presented the bouquet and encouraged the way of managing an event. Finally, always remember to thank all the attendees who devoted their time, chief guests, speakers and faculties without whom support an event is nothing. The success of an event lies in the support of these people.

Do remember post event logistics also, the finance clearing, event report and collection of feedback. Sometimes a small bit may create a big issue later, especially when finance is related. An event report must be circulated to cherish and update all that efforts you put and for record purpose also.

With a center focus to one of an event (CSI Felicitation Ceremony 2015-16) I shared this experience. Indeed, I faced many difficulties but now I can proudly say that we reached many milestones. The consent and visit of CSI Exec Com, President (2015-2016) Prof. Bipin V. Mehta, Director of School of Computer Studies, Ahmedabad University was itself the success of this event. His esteemed presence proved that work done for betterment and with hard work are always recognized and praised.

Thanks to Director Sir for encouraging students throughout the year. In one meeting he said that we need to match his pace, but when we went to invite him for this event he said, now we are ahead of his pace. This was the best compliment and appreciation our team can have. After the event HOD Sir said that I already knew that the event will be good because you were managing that and I had seen your dedication earlier also. A blind trust is the hardest of all and we achieved that. I would extend a special thanks Prof. Ravi Gorthi, Dr. Amit Neogi, Dr. Sakthi Balan, Mr. Mukesh Jadon, Mr. Vikas Bajpai, Mr. Dinesh Khandelwal and Dr. Preety Singh for all the help, encouragements and supports that they gave in various capacities for the student chapter of LNMIIT and trusting me for this profile.

-Pushkal

Learning++: My learning experiences

Once my literature teacher said,

"Learning is a process, which comes after cascaded failures and their experiences"

Indeed, failure plays an important role in our learning. But, what if we escape that failure. In this way, we can carve out with a simple protocol of learning without failure. Albert Einstein quoted Experience as the only source of knowledge. Hence, this escape or jump comes from once experience.

If you already know the thing that will restrict or trouble, you might opt another way or plan for facing it with utmost efforts. For me my learning comes from my present and past experiences; getting an insight of other's experiences; my surrounding and foremost my elders and respectable. Note the thing that Rome wasn't built in a day. Similarly, your experiences will be stacked one after the other. One good thing about experience is that it can be twice of your failure because you gain experience from your failure and from the examples of others too. Hence to learn or gain experience, always keep the company of people more experienced than you. Moreover, this learning can be gained from anyone say a 5-year-old child or your 60-year-old GrandPaa. Difference will be only that in the later the learning is supervised. So keep you senses open who knows where you can learn or should I say gain experience.

My Dad taught me a lesson that when you go for a task just don't go blindly, plan for it first; think the pre-requistes and agendas. For example when I use to attend meeting with faculty or Director Sir I always know my stuff which I have to discuss. For this you can jot down your things, if paper is not preferred by you, just screble them as draft message in your cellphone, now that can't be an excuse because you might not have pen and paper but you defineltly have a cellphone always, so Go Green too. Belive me, persons I met right from real estate tycoons to universities head they do this without any miss. They write their to-do-list, appointment list and minutes of the meeting to discuss along the day and after the meetings. This will allow your mind to get free from certain issue, say free your RAM and fetch new code to execute in your life. 

Excuses are the reason of your failure. The excuse came into play only when there is a failure. Ever heard anyone giving excuse for achieving something. Ever heard that I was not well so inspite of taking rest I studied well and got good marks but the converse is obivious though. Many people expect many thing from you. Your parent want you to lead your life sucessfully. Your teacher want you to study hard, learn and achive more. Your elder brother want you to stand on your own feet. Your younger brother want an inspiration and support. Hence, to play different roles in life and to achieve every aspect of success never stop learning. Inspite of excuses, with a bit of interespection check out the possibties to convert your reason of failure to success. 

Every coin has two sides, no matter as the sun set and the darkness comes but that also bring shining stars night with a soothing moon light and that is good too. No matter you are far from your home and kins but you are far because of good reasons, a better place where you can learn. 

A healthy environment is boon to learing and negative comment is a path of improving.  

All the best. 

-Pushkal

Dreams ++: My experience of CSI-LNMIIT

CSI-LNMIIT 2015-16

"Just try for the best,don't think of the rest."

My experience of CSI or I should say my contribution to CSI Student Chapter 2015-16 was mere my interest and passion that I put in exploring myself. I always try to set targets for me and try to achieve them with full dedication as far as possible.

The key "funda" in my working style is to never come empty handed after spending your time for a particular task. If you had spent your time so you must have to convert it into something fruitful. In this, your presence of mind and experience will matter. Don't delay work because of your tiredness or say someone's negligence. This will restrict you in getting the opportunity which you might have got with that "YES SIR" kind of motivation. 

I always test my limits and fortunately I had carved out each target I set for me. From being an anchor since ninth standard, a poet, a cricketer and so on so forth I also tested my managing and leadership strength. Instead of leadership, I should say it an understanding. Nothing comes free in 21st century say it be relations tough. My bondings with cool friends, my relations with respected faculties and countless memories of CSI event speeches are my gain from CSI 2015-16. After some years down the lane, I will cherish and remember those days standing side by side with all CSI team in best and worst situations.

I suggest one to be a problem solver and likewise, opportunity creator and a better opportunity will try to grab you. Do your work with dedication and the by-product of success and recognition will follow up.        

Hope you like this, this was an exceptional experience this past year has given me. Willing to write more with all your love and support.

-Pushkal