Tushar Mangl's Blog, page 4

Bad Blood - John Carreyrou-Review

Bad Blood - John Carreyrou-Review

The Wall Street Journal, journalist John Carreyrou has chronicled in this book the rise and fall of Theranos, a Unicorn which never actually was.

Founded by Elizabeth Holmes, who was later joined by Sunny Balwani, the company had a golden run with a promise of easy, portable, and convenient blood testing mechanism. But as later, the investigative journalist would find out the technology didn't really work. 

The reporting is exhaustive and thorough. Carreyrou hasn't relied on one or two sources but offered several corroborations to the points raised in the book. On a larger scale, such books are important for its not always about Theranos.

In India, particularly, start-up founders and entrepreneurs often fall to this lure of fundraising without perfecting their product.  So many companies raise so much capital without anyone knowing how the cash flow will happen.

Equally problematic is the treatment of staff by the Board of a company. Theranos had a very high turnover rate, and still, the Board chose to be silent about it. Because Boardrooms usually don't care about the staff attrition. This is a dangerous trend around the World. In the case of Theranos, had the Board stopped to wonder why the company is becoming a revolving door, perhaps they would have realized the problems plaguing the company. But they were enamored by the CEO and hung on to every word she said.

The book also, through the story of Theranos, opens up the larger question of corporate whistleblowers. At the risk of their careers, can employees in private enterprises really speak up? Especially with the might of an organization and insecure colleagues out with knives at your throat?

This is where the business eco-systems suffer the most. There is so much focus on Govt. corruption that no one educates themselves on corporate fraud. Employees in such companies just move on to better-paying jobs. They are shutting their mouths up for final settlements, smoother transitions to other jobs, and a host of different reasons. 

A good book to read for anyone working in a private enterprise or wants to know how companies these days are being run. Especially the start-ups.

Pan Asian Food Delivery Noshi opens its Doors in Gurugram

If memory serves me right, the good people at Yum Yum Cha launched a new food home delivery brand Noshi last year. But although we have a YYC outlet here in Gurugram, Noshi's services were limited to South Delhi. The delivery kitchen was being coordinated through the Zamrudpur center.
The good news is that Noshi is now in GuruGram as well. And the delivery brand has come at the right moment. Pan Asian Food is something that I was missing since the lockdown started. And YYC is an all-time favorite for this. Gurugram has seen several high-end Pan Asian brands coming down, especially from South Delhi like Enoki, Asian Haus, etc. Others like Ah So Yum and Auntie Fung's have also impressed the citizens.

Varun Tuli's Yum Yum Cha is already a famous name in Delhi and Gurugram for its Pan Asian Cuisine. Served amidst an Origami-inspired setting, the outlets are often filled in with regulars. The Yum Tree group also has a catering division called Food Inc and Noshi is the food delivery arm.


Noshi brings in the best of what Yum Yum Cha is famous for. Delicious pan Asian Cuisine

Five Fiction Books to Read this Lockdown

The Planet Earth is in a lockdown, courtesy of a contagious virus that is spreading faster than a Forest fire. Although it is not pleasant for most of us stuck at homes, but reading fiction is one escape that has held on loyally to fight boredom, dull days, and mood swings. Here is a list of five fiction books, I would recommend to check off your reading list this Lockdown. Of course, if you haven't read any of my Novellas to date, do give them a chance as well.

1. Chennai Killings - Chital Mehta 
The only Indian Author on this particular list has written a pacy thriller you need to pass some quality time upon during the Covid19 Lockdown.
Chennai Killings is about a string of murders in Chennai with a Cop, Vikram Rathi, on their trail. Be ready for some exciting twists and a grand surprise of a climax.

2. We the Living - Ayn Rand 
Ayn Rand's novels The Fountainhead & Atlas Shrugged are super famous, decades after they were first published. But I always felt that We the Living was overshadowed in popularity with those two, despite being as good of a novel. 
Its the first novel published by Ayn Rand, way back in 1936 and, like her other works, is even relevant to our times. Its an individual versus the State. Kira against Russia of the 1920s.
An invigorating novel, a good read to peak into the Russia of the times and how mindset has transformed since then, especially regarding self and society.
3. Doctors by Erich Segal
I read Doctors several years ago and still recall how impressive Segal's narrative was. He takes us to a Harvard Class of 1962 and shows us the World of Doctors inside out. With a Pandemic sweeping around us, no better novel to understand the Masked Warriors who are fighting the disease at the frontlines.
4. The Final Diagnosis by Arthur Hailey 
Amongst the most discussed aspects around Coronavirus have been Diagnostics. The testing, the investigation of disease. Maverick writer Arthur Hailey who wrote superb Novels like Hotel, also wrote The Final Diagnosis; a story set against a background of a Pathology department of a Hospital. An enjoyable read which educates us as well.
5. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 
This book is not just a brilliant story but also compelling storytelling by Backman. He glues you to your seat as he narrates the story of a grumpy older man, Ove, who lives alone and is always temperamental. 
The novel somehow makes you look hard on life and death and life again. The way Ove copes up with his new neighbors is both sad and funny at times. It is not a heavy read but still leaves your heart a little by the end.
So this was my list for the Lockdown. I have read about 12 books since being stuck at home, trying to make the best use of this time to dust off the to-read list. 
If you have read any of the books above, I would love to hear your opinion on the same. Also, suggest some more books which you are reading right now or which you would recommend us to read this time. 

Five Non Fiction Books to Read this Lockdown

Across the Globe, cities have been put under lockdown, cutting down on human movements to restrain the contagious COVID-19's spread. 
While some might grumble about their routines to be disrupted, this is an excellent time to spend time with books. I have been asked by many to suggest some reads which they can read digitally. Here is my list of Non-Fiction books you should read while spending time at home.
1. Never Lost Again - Bill Kilday
This book is about Google Mapping and the story behind an App that you use in routine. Increasingly our populace is being dependent on Google Maps, but do you know how it all began? Bill Kilday chronicles the journey very well, since the time John Hanke started Keyhole. Kilday himself was part of Hanke's team from Keyhole days and Google as well. 
It is also an inspiring read for thousands of you who are struggling to rise in their careers, entrepreneurship, or businesses. It was not a smooth path for Hanke and his team and look now, how big Google Maps has grown.

2. Ninety Percent of Everything: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate - Rose George
Through Ninety Percent of Everything, Rose George takes us to a Voyage aboard a cargo ship. It is the Shipping Industry that impacts our lives in ways we cannot even imagine, and yet we are so unaware of it.
George also explores the challenges facing the Shipping World like the Piracy issues, which have become a new normal for the ships.

3. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End- Atul Gawande
This book is a refreshingly honest work by Atul Gawande, which was published way back in 2014. It approaches subjects like morality and how Physicians deal with it. He refers to his work in the book, bringing some unique perspectives.
In times of a Pandemic, such a book opens your mind to new ideas, answers a few unasked questions, and provides the comfort of the knowledge that Dr. Gawande shares with brilliance.
4. When Change Happens... a Story of Organisational Transformation by Lalit Jagtiani
Change Management is not a new concept, but it will never be as relevant as a time like this when the World is grappling with a perplexing health emergency. Lalit Jagtiani uses a fictional company to highlight the principles of Change Management. 
The wisdom imparted is like a textbook to understand how transformations need to be handled. The author has clearly sought inspiration from his own experiences and crafted a book that should be read to better your career and work style.
5. Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom by Katherine Eban
Although this book was published last year, it is actually a product of a decade long research by the author. Generic Drugs have taken centerstage according to me in any healthcare system in the World. Eban shines a torch on this industry and reveals something we all should know. After all, our loved ones at some point or another or we do consume generic drugs as prescribed by Doctors. 
It might have been written by an author based in the United States, but this book has a Global appeal owing to the reach of the medicines. Especially for the Indian readers, it touches a chord as the author investigates the big pharma companies in India. The way systems are gamed, and processes manipulated will be an eye-opener for many of you. But it will also make you more aware when you head to the Chemist to replace your prescriptions.
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Of course you can pick a book written by me as well, here is my Amazon Author Link
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Do drop in a comment as to what are you reading this April Lockdown 
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Gardening in the time of coronavirus

 If you are sitting alone at home and looking for a constructive timepass gardening specifically, kitchen gardening can be e an excellent idea for you.
 But with Limited supplies and without stepping out of home, how do we manage to set up a kitchen garden?
Let me give you a brief idea about how to go about it. You don't need fancy stuff to start, and this is specifically for beginners who don't have much experience in setting up a kitchen garden but would like to go for it.
The first point is to clean your house and look for pots.  Now how do we do that? In your home, if you have old buckets, empty cans, unused plastic jars, etc. We can also use 2-litre pet bottles of soft drinks. Cans of for use for ghee or refined all those can also be used. We can also use takeaway containers which we get with home deliveries. Some outlets also send food in earthen handis. I once used for a pot, an old stainless steel jar of a mixer grinder way past its prime and which didn't work. The steel jar served an excelled container for a Sadabahar Flower Plant. 
For soil, you will need to dig our backyard or look outside your home to find a growing medium to start with the process. 


Now comes a significant point. From where do we get the plants? We will look for seeds that are there at home.  I will give you some examples like chickpeas, coriander seeds, cuttings of herbs like mint.  Rummage through your kitchen, and you will get some great ideas. Capsicum and Tomatoes both grow from seeds, which might be on the menu for dinner.
In fact, if you find old buckets in storage, you can propagate and grow tomatoes in buckets. 
Add a dash of creativity to the process. If you find some paint lying around the house, use it to paint these plastic jars and containers. Use your creative streak to paint it and give it a nice and clean look.
Next, let us discuss fertilizers and plant food. Once you start your kitchen garden, chances are you want to take it big, post lockdown as well. This lockdown is an excellent time to establish a system to recycle your kitchen waste into compost.
Again will not complicate the whole process with all that deep science, but the basic is that we will recycle the Kitchen waste make it into compost. Later on, we will use it as plant food.
Kitchen Gardening is a fantastic hobby. It gives you a break from the digital screens, is a nurturing hobby, and promises you a steady supply of fresh homegrown food.
The curfew outside is the right time to plan and start small. By the time you get the hang of it and the situation improves, you will be ready to take it up on a larger scale. You will also have a better idea about the location, watering, sun directions, etc.
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The writer is co-founder of Nature's Kart, an effort to promote green gifting and bringing nature closer to urban spaces.__________________

Chennai Killings - Chital Mehta - Book Review

Vikram Rathi is a policeman still hungover from his sister's death. He is handed over a case of another young girl Sandhya, who has been murdered ruthlessly. As the story tumbles through twists and turns, we find out that Ravi is the murderer, and also both Sandhya and Vikram's sister's death are interconnected.
In Chennai Killings, Author Chital Mehta narrates a gripping thriller that moves with speed and never slows down. Chennai, a megapolis, has been construed as a backdrop where the characters from different parts of the country converge. Vikram, Sandhya's Family, are not native to but have found a home in or around Chennai.
It's not a very thick read, and the author has done well to reign in any slack in the plot. The reader is kept guessing until the very end as to what is the final outcome of the story. Publisher - Quignog

BECOMING RICH WITH MUTUAL FUNDS?

It is virtually impossible to determine with 100% accuracy the full success of investments in
mutual funds, no matter how many people are in the market or not. The main reason is it is a platform where there is no constant, for every one minute, there is a change in the market, which causes rise and fall in the shares, and their investment will be lost and gained.

The funds are present to take care of the money of people who don’t have time or

have some or any expertise to invest in stocks. They can give you returns that will

beat inflation most of the times, and you can increase your money by anywhere

between 12% to 24% over 5 to 10 years depending on your timing of the purchase of it.

The above returns surely are not worst. But two problems are most

likely to hit and prevent you from getting super-rich, out of the league they are:

1) Timing of purchase: You are not expected to get the right timing every-time.

Those who bought stocks in 2001 & exited in 2007 end can understand how

critical the timing can be. They made 25% to approximately 35% returns

compounded annually. However, those who invested in 2007 and exited in

2013 pretty much were sitting on the same sum of money in a 6 to 7 year

period. In the long run, the timing is improbable to be perfect for anyone.

So, the returns are not likely to be the ones that the fund managers like to

display with the benefit of hindsight. SIP further averages this out & lowers

the return.

2) Diversified investments: What mutual funds do is that it diversifies your

investment, which saves you from the downside of concentrated investment

in a few lesser stocks or poor selection. However, what it also does is that it

prevents you from the supernormal profits that can be gained by a great

variety of stocks.

3) 3) Mutual Fund regulations: Even if you get perfect timing as said above,

you will not get super-rich like Warren Buffet since mutual funds are highly

regulated by govt. All this is for the safety of the investors since, by design,

the funds are for non-savvy market investors. They would settle for

moderate returns, but can’t take high risks at the cost of losing a substantial

part of their capital. The net result is that most funds have an extensive portfolio of Blue-chip stocks which indeed preserve your particular capital, but also

prevent you from getting super normal returns from hidden jewels or

beaten down but good potential stock.

4) So Mutual Funds would make you earn above the fixed deposits or LIC

plans. However, it won’t make you very rich, like direct investing in stocks

can. This is common sense as well since nobody became rich by letting

other people manage their money.

By taking on a certain level of risk, you can put your current asset or assets to

work for you and generate short-term or long-term income, depending on your

investment goal. It is for this reason that riskier securities, such as

stocks are considered the go-to investments for people looking to

strike it rich.

Career Impact in times of Corona Virus

In the last few days, as India comes to terms with Covid-19 and struggles with dealing with this pandemic, one question several people are asking me relates to its impact on their careers.
Coronavirus is what you hear everywhere these days. Public distancing and lockdowns are being touted as effective preventive measures to limit its spread. The highly contagious virus has brought the entire global economy to its knees.
In this environment, what happens to our careers? Feb-March-April is a period when several corporates roll out their annual appraisal. Salaries are hiked, promotions granted, and career advancements planned. This year, however, things look not so promising for anyone as companies brace for adverse effects on balance sheets and glaring losses due to prolonged disruptions in businesses.
Here is what you need to do, confined in your homes to thrive your career - 1) Work from home - Don't just pretend to work. Get some real work done. When this is all over, you need to go back to the office. And with some good results. How you manage work in a crisis, tells a lot about your work ethics and your personality.
2) Face the facts but stay optimistic - Don't give up hope. Face the facts. When all this is over, layoffs could be a reality. The hike this year might not be as you had hoped for. Your company might be facing the heat of the virus. But gloom won't let you bloom. It's not your fault or even your company's or anyone. Almost everyone on this Planet is being impacted one way or the other. You are not alone. This shall pass. It is a temporary phase.
3) Introspect. Introspect. Introspect. - I can't emphasize this point enough. This is the right time, being with your family, or sitting alone in your room, to introspect. Is this job what you want? Are you thrilled about your career? Do you want to do this forever? If yes, super. If not, restrategize, replan, a do-over. It is not often; we are given a chance to hit the pause button and look back on the journey so far. 
4) Unlearn and Learn - Experts keep harping about the importance to learn and unlearn. But more often than not, the daily grind of Life gives us little time for this. Now, however, it is the right time. Take up some courses online. Upskill yourself. If you are flirting with an idea to switch your field of expertise, this is an excellent time to study and examine your options. 
5) Read Good Books - Develop a curiosity to read.  Reading is an ideal tool to advance your career. But we dismiss it as a hobby of the nerds. Read about your expertise. Read about the history of our lands. Read about improving your personality. There is so much to read and know about in this World. Upgrading your knowledgebase equips you better to make mindful decisions.
6) Hobby up - One thing this quarantine will tell you loud and clear is your hobbies or lack of thereof. Develop some constructive hobbies. (Although traveling is one you might need to avoid in 2020). Hobbies give an outlet to your pent up emotions. Your hobbies are often a medium of expression. Develop one.
7) Be Grateful - Being locked up at home might be the best time to work on a gratitude list. Say thank you to all those who touched your Life. Write them a note, send an email, a WhatsApp message, or write a recommendation for your Work Colleague.  You have so much to be thankful for in Life. When you think about it, even your rivals, at some point, did you the right deed like exposing your real friends, for example. Also, in this doomsday scenario, we are alive; let us be grateful. 
This is a pause mode for a career you have been running for, rushing from one meeting to another. You were cracking one deadline to accomplish another, juggling multiple things in your personal Life to stay sane for work. Make the best use of your time and let me know if I missed any points above.

Sunday Musings - CoronaVirus Lockdown

  If we look outside, in the deep horizons of clear skylines, we will see a Nation brought to its knees by a tiny virus, so tiny that it's invisible to our eyes. Next time, we look down upon someone who is poor, or demean someone for lack of his/her education, ostracize someone because of their income, let's remember this moment. 
We might grow haughty for our shiny designations and stature in society. We might stand tall for our bank accounts and share capitals, but we should never disregard those we think beneath us. Who might be younger than us, inexperienced or just less privileged than us. For this day reminds us that we might be a Goliath in many forms, nature still can spring up a David on us. Lesson for us today, in those empty streets and a standstill economy is of Humility.
 To be Humble is important. To never intoxicate ourselves of whatever we achieved is important. And it's important that we realise that nothing small is insignificant or unimportant. #TusharMangl

Hyderabad Mixologist Chapay Anand crowned the winner at the Brown Forman American Whiskey Legacy Cocktail Challenge 2020

Anand’s creations, The Dark Soul and The Chanting Jack, wows the jury as they are adjudged the best cocktails among all
  New Delhi (India), February 20, 2020: The hunt for India’s best mixologist came to an end as Hyderabad-based Chapay Anand from the bar Zero 40, Hyderabad was named as the winner of the American Whiskey Legacy Cocktail Challenge 2020 in an enthralling and nail-biting finale. Held at the Delhi’s The Playground Bar at JW Marriott, Aerocity, Anand’s recipes won the hearts of the judges and the audience alike to come up trumps against cocktails of seven other finalists, some of the finest mixologists of the country. Mumbai’s Om Chauhan from Aer, Four Seasons and the only female mixologist in the finale, Arati Mersey from Byg Brewski, Bengaluru were adjudged the first and second runner up of the championship respectively.


The fourth edition of the challenge saw participation of over 250 mixologists from the best outlets and bars across the country and out of which eight of the topmost wizards were shortlisted for the grand finale. Their creations were judged by a set of three juries consisting of industry experts including Yangdup Lama, one of India's finest and well-known mixologist; Gautam Bhimani, commentator, author and  spirits connoisseur and Vikram Achanta, CEO and Co-founder of the popular portal Tulleeho.
Chapay exhibited great craftsmanship to present his signature cocktails and stole the show with his creations The Dark Soul and The Chanting Jack, the monikers of his cocktails derived from the expeditions he goes on to.  He wanted his cocktail ingredients to be sustainable with zero waste. Though it was initially a challenge, after several trials he succeeded in making a balanced and tasty cocktail.
“I am on the top of the world today. I am elated that hard work paid off. I would like to dedicate my award to all my co-contestants. I worked in a beer brewery so I decided to use that and mix them in my cocktail in the form of the stout syrup in my cocktail. The idea was none of the ingredients should go waste as I completely understand the importance of food. I am a biker as well and I often go on treks and rides. We have got stuck in many such places, where there is limited or no food available and our prayers only helped us to get out safe from such places,” said an overwhelmed Anand.
As part of the grand prize for the competition, he will now go on an all-expense-paid guided tour to the iconic Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, US to learn the nuance and craft of whiskey making.
The annual Brown-Forman American Whiskey Legacy Cocktail Challenge, now in its fourth year, asked mixologists from across India to create signature cocktail recipes with some of the most well-known American Whiskies - Jack Daniel's Old No. 7, Woodford Reserve, Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel.
Vineet Agrawal, Marketing and Commercial Director, India Area, Brown-Forman Worldwide LLC said, "While having whiskey straight up is certainly one of the most traditional ways to consume it, whiskey cocktails have also been a part of popular culture for a very long time.  In fact, some references state the classic Old Fashioned cocktail is so old that it was called an Old Fashioned even 100 years ago!  As more and more Indians travel the world, they are seeking experiences which are authentic and have a legacy of craftsmanship. Our goal with this competition is to provide a credible platform for these talented mixologists to experiment and create unique recipes using our American Whiskies and showcase them to a wider audience. The talent that we saw in the finale promises a great future for the cocktail culture in India."
Gautam Bhimani was amazed how the trend of whiskey cocktail is emerging among the youth. “I am amazed to see how whiskey cocktail has emerged as a trend. Five years ago, it was either vodka-based cocktail or rum-based cocktail. But now the trends are changing and whiskey has been evolving as a drink which is beyond neat or on the rocks,” he said.
Yangdup Lama said he is elated to see how the mixologists have become aware about their environment and using the home-grown products and making zero-waste cocktails.  “I have always given precedence to how the contestants are using ingredients in their cocktail and full marks to Anand for excelling in the competition. This time I have seen a lot of the contestants using their home-grown products. People used their own syrups and tried to be as natural as possible. All eight of them had something of this sort in their presentation,” he said.
Added Vikram Achanta, “This time we had a talented lot. The best part about them is they are very much aware of the environment. They have presented extraordinary talent of making the waste products sustainable when it comes to alcohol.”
It all started in October 2019, when more than 250 applications were received for American Whiskey Legacy Cocktail Challenge. In the first round, the Top 100 were selected among these based on their recipe and the inspiration behind the cocktail. In November 2019 during the second round, the Top 50 bartenders were selected for Round 3 based on the practicality of their recipe, the creative thought behind it and the story inspiration for the concoction. The 3rd round involved an actual on-ground test for the top 50- where they presented the cocktail to consumers at their respective outlets for a period of one month, and among these the top eight finalists were chosen based on actual response from consumers.