Manchester United?! Why? My reasons to be a Red Devil!

First thing you need to know about me is: MANCHESTER UNITED I live and swear by the best football club in the world. I had a chance to visit OLD TRAFFORD, on 6th November 2010, United played Wolverhampton Rovers. It was a dream of a life time to step into the 'Theater of Dreams' and enjoy a game of football with fellow supporters. The match was filled with adrenaline and the whole 90mins was a roller coaster ride with fans chanting U.N.I.T.E.D United are the team for me.... Attack, Attack, Attack and many of the famous sing-songs i was over the moon and beyond happy. United won the game 2-1, post match celebrations included a evening tea and English snacks at the local pub in Trafford with friends. As a United fan, i'd witnessed the my team play and win...an epic memory i will boost about for days to come. 


The world is a small place, you see, i came across a United fan in Bombay, who loves and supports the club with all his heart. Rahul Ahire, is one such lad. The following post is his contribution to my blog. And i would like to apologies for the delay for posting it and also thank you for contributing to the Blog. Cheers! 


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I remember this was by 7th birthday and as usual I was jumping with joy, waiting for my parents to buy me a packet of chocolates, I could take along to school. But to my dismay, it was a bank holiday and I was left in disrupt. But nevertheless, holiday is one thing we would all jump on to with glee, and so did I. I was eagerly awaiting my birthday present from dad and guess what he gave me - A Football! To be honest, I wasn't too happy getting this from him. Naturally for a cricket frenzy kiddo, a football meant "WTF??" But maturity that I am born with (pats his back), I took it along and ran to play, rather show-off!


I placed the ball a good 15 meters away from the so-called goal post (We used rubber chappals to stand between glory). And with the first kick, I managed to sneak past the my friends legs with a crazy shot! That, for me was THE turning point. I had found a new amuse, a new love, a new addiction - Football!

Growing years were tough, not financially but because I was a loner battling friends to play football rather than the national game. I would wake up in the morning and run on the ground with my new found love and play with it till my mother used to come yelling to get me packed for school.

I was 13 when I was watching TV. I saw a rather blondish man running with his wings spread after scoring a goal. A red jersey, white shorts a young lad in his 20, I was in awe of him. Not that my sexual preferences had anything to do with it, but the way he curled the ball was something I was awestruck with. The man was none other than BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM and I had found an idol in him - Reason No. 1 - My idol was here.

Those days, David Beckham used to play for Manchester United. The 'Red Devils' had only just won a treble last year and were looking strong to win the English Premier League. My love for Beckham took me to Old Trafford in Manchester, the undoubted Pride of Manchester. I am sure some City fans will negotiate, but yeah, WHATEVER! I saw United play against Tottenham Hotspur and Beckham curled a superb cross to let Dwight Yorke score. I got goosebumps to see the emotions that were on my tv set. That again, was the turning point - Reason No. 2 - The emotional connect this game had on me.


In the following years, I had a alloted slot to watch the Premier League (Now known was the Barclays Premier League) I used to sit up with my dad and watch United's matches and my dad used to always sprung the unexpected results by supporting the rival teams, his favorite - Manchester City and Arsenal. The biggest pissing off factor for me was my father not supporting MY TEAM (I had given it my own little authority :p) But then again, it was his nature, perhaps to help me grow as a competitor.

Cometh 2003, the unexpected happened and David Beckham left United to join Real Madrid. I was disappointed, hurt and had even decided to quit watching football. WHY? Because my idol wouldn't play for MY TEAM, then who do I watch it for? 


After Beckhams departure from Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson signed Portuguese sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro. And on 12th August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo held up the famous Red shirt, with his favourite number 7! 1.84 metres tall, sort of blonde hair and well-built, this lad seemed to have everything a fierce winger needed to be. He entered the foray with a 1-0 win over Bolton and following a match winning performance, Ronaldo instantly became a hit. United won the English Premier League title that year. - Reason No. 3 - They had a flair for winning.


Ronaldo continued his amazing streak in 08/09 scoring 42 goals in all competitions. Manchester United won the Premier League and the Uefa Champions League that season beaitng Chelsea on penalties in a heart-beating final. And they continued their record the next year winning the Premier league title. And the time came! Ronaldo followed Beckham's steps and landed up at Madrid for a record $90 million USD. My heart broke again. What would United do now? Will they ever win again? Questions started to pour in from all corners, but no answers.

The title slipped into Chelsea's hands after Ronaldo's exit, but United didn't stop, They played their heart out the next season and won the League Cup. - Reason No. 4 - Never say Die attitude.

After almost 8 plus years of supporting Manchester United, I finally got my answers to why I am a Red Devil.

a. They never gave up until the final whistle was blown. (96th min winner against City)
b. Though the odds were against them, they still BELIEVED!
c. They never played for personal glory, but to keep the Reds Flag flying high.


And the last but the most important reason, for me,  - There is only One God, There is only One Heart and there can be just ONE UNITED! 


--- A small, yet proud United supporter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rahul.nitin.ahire

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rahul_Ahire

Blog: http://rahulahire87.blogspot.com

Pressing the RESET button

Apologies! for not being active on updating my blog. No excuse will be good enough for not writing. But its never late to start where one had left. So, here i am, making a start and hoping to stick to my resolution to write more, read more and blog more.

My last post was in 2010, yep! 2 years ago. Was i lost in transit? Was i hurt in an accident? Was i held at gun point? NO. I was LAZY. I was STUPID. I was IGNORANT. I simply didnt bother to respect the promise i made to myself and never bothered to get back to blogging. Shame! while i wrote my last blog when i was living in the UK, i knew i wanted to blog about my experience living in the land of her highness but that was all just in my head, stored. Now! the head has exploded...cant contain everything and before i slip into a coma of sorts I've decided to get it all out in black and white.

For those who follow me, thank you! i wont promise but i will definitely be making more noise over here. So keep it tuned.

Cheers
Natasha x  

The Mojo is ME

In today's world everything you wear, everything you own or would like to own is branded. Each gives an own individual identity.

Peter Montoya and Tim Vandehey’s ‘The Brand Called You’ highlights the need for ‘Personal Branding’ (PB) and its benefits’ for anyone who is searching for success and beyond. According to them, PB is the tool that takes ones skills, personality and unique characteristics and packages them into a powerful identity that lifts you above the crowd of anonymous competitors. They go on to elucidate that ‘Personal Branding’ lets you control how other people perceive you. In essence, you are influencing what others think of you. You’re telling them what you stand for – but in a way that is so organic and unobtrusive that they think they have developed the perception all by themselves. That’s the beauty of ‘Personal Branding’: It’s YOUR ‘powerful Mojo’.

Tom Peters – often referred to as the father of PB due to his 1997 article ‘The brand called you’ – has changed the common perception of self presentation. Peters has been a forerunner for the need of ‘iBrand’, pointing out the subtle power it provides. If we aren’t branding ourselves rest assure someone else is and that could be a dicey way of how other people think about you. Hence, you are your business. Period.

I also couldn’t put down Peter’s book ‘Brand You: Build Your Legacy’ because it clearly draws the map of success, and I believe that if we plan to achieve anything in today’s world, the right image and style needs to be packaged well with the powerful, clear and positive ideas is what people should be triggered by while thinking about YOU. He explains how to build our legacy each day and to achieve, in whatever measure something that would ‘satisfy us, wow us’. And that we need to learn from our share of crapy days too, it’s all a process of powerful emotions which influence branding.

But even before Peters it was Roger Alies, an American businessman, President of Fox News Channel, chairman of the Fox Television Station Group and Spin Doctor for three US Presidents (Regan, Nixon, and Bush Sr.) who constructed an outlook that even today creates a mental picture when you hear their names. ‘How to Make a Good Impression’ (1989) is the bible for those who want to learn the impact of a positive first impression. You must own this masterpiece. One quote says: ‘Amp-up your attitude’. It’s a powerful statement which gives you another reason to believe why Personal Branding is not just the latest vogue but has always been the need of the hour. Your brand is in your hands. You can mould it; shape it in any way you think will offer you visibility.

My father always told me that it is not that intelligent people do something different; it’s just that they do things differently. To survive the cut-throat competition one should be smart enough to be able to distinguish themselves from the other smarties. Right from school it was ingrained in us that "It is not necessary to be perfect in whatever you do but to excel in whatever you take up." They always asked us to introspect and realize what YOU are good at and then make it your strength and hence you’re USP. Your USP is something that will take you places in this highly competitive world is what they always said.

The need to differentiate yourself from the crowd has become paramount in the search for professional glory. Dr.Seamus Phan emphasis in his writing for branding, ‘DotZen’, “...the core of branding, beyond telling truth, is to be true to yourself.” I couldn’t agree more. Once you know where your strengths lay working on your weaknesses becomes easier and you have a more focused target to achieve which is a process of branding.

To sum this post, “If you’re not appearing, you’re disappearing”, said legendary jazz musician, Art Blakey. Absolutely true. No matter what your “thing” is – student, marketing exec., or English Literature professor, whatever! – Standing on the merits of your great work alone is not (usually) enough. People have got to know about you and your great work. They have got to meet you, see you. If you want people to talk about the wonderful things you do, then you must give them the opportunity to experience YOU. Bottom line: Amp-up your attitude. Be yourself.

Natasha

Life of a Vagabond

I struggle to define myself. Am I a vagabond? An unemployed 20-something with no future? Will the job come my way? When?

The last 13 months of my life have been spent studying for my Masters Degree in Media Studies and wandering to find a direction to life. The economic situation hasn’t been helpful to most of us.

After handing in my dissertation, like many of my peers I had no real clue as to what to do with my life. I did what anyone with an insatiable travel bug would do and took off to anywhere i got invited to stay for free. With limited cash in the pocket i can contribute only towards grocery and cheap fare travel.  An exotic destination wasn’t really a budget i could manage right now.

These destinations have been quickly turning into a mundane daily rhythm that is full of obstacles, frustrations and existential questions. At the end of my free imposing stay with friends, the travel-bug and existential questions were still there. I have no choice but to keep travelling wherever goodwill people are ready to have me.Life lessons are the most important thing we can bring back with us from our travels.

Some people made me feel like I needed to define a goal for myself, so that all this travelling and wandering would lead to something concrete. In trying to quell their concerns, I realized that I really didn’t have an answer about my goals.

And then some give their five cent by telling me how part time jobs should be my look out for now. Learn to fry chips, serve a burger and wipe tables. I have nothing against the people who do these jobs and I have this as a last option.

Three stops, several undeveloped thoughts about the future and one minor brain freeze later, I’ve learned that what I was doing all of this time was defining myself as a human being; in finding my niche as an individual and I was learning how I wanted to live. Too much pressure from Dad to get a job is making the mind a confused paradise. I know he wants me to get a job and settle in but the rush he is in is an uncomfortable pace for me.

Now, as I try to establish a normal routine, I hold onto lessons from the road. They are my support system, reminding me of whom I am and where I have been.

Here are 4 of the most important life lessons I learned while travelling.

 1. Focus on the “now”

When the path ahead of us is unclear, it’s easy to question what we are doing with our lives.  Society teaches us that we should go to school and get on a career path.

But some of us want some time off in between school and careers. Yes, we all want great jobs where we feel good about the work we do, but some of us want to postpone, and in some cases escape, the 9-5 lifestyle.

For those of us destined to walk down this path, it’s inevitable that others will ask questions:

§  “So what exactly are you doing on this trip?”

§  “What do you expect to do when you get back?”

§  “Don’t you have a five year plan?”

These are all questions that you do not need to have an answer to – remember that it’s OK to just travel for the sake of travel. And to make plans as long as you can fall back on them. There is a wise saying “Only Fools rush in” don’t be in a haste but plan well.

There is plenty of time in life to follow schedules and make five year plans, but travelling is about taking a breather from high intensity, stressful society and relearning how to focus on the present. This teaches you to deal with life on a day to day basis.

2. Embrace the ordinary

Being open to possibility is the only thing that allows us to move forward. Often we find that the reality of travel is very different from our dreams. Yet without those illusions about the travelling lifestyle, we may never have had the courage to hit the road in the first place.

Talk to anyone who has studied, travelled or worked abroad and they will tell you about the difference between glamorous expectations and normal everyday routines.

Travelling is about breaking out of our own personal boundaries.

When we travel for extended periods of time we see that not everything is as exotic first thought. Television ads in a foreign country may seem weird as long as we hear them in that foreign language, but as soon as we get a sense of the language, the ads seem as absurd as anything at home.

Long-term travel is not about constantly seeking the extraordinary, but coming to terms with the ordinary itself. It’s about learning to appreciate the simpler moments that everyday life offers.

3. Push your comfort levels

Travelling is about breaking out of our own personal boundaries. No matter the length of time, be it one week or a whole year, just being in a new place forces us to push ourselves.

We are obliged to memorize a string of strange sounding words just to order a simple coffee, master new public transportation systems, learn how to use unfamiliar toilets and ask for directions by way of body language, pictures and the common language of laughter.

In new places we want to be able to handle the situation, and so we force ourselves to learn.

While on the Vagabond mode living with different people also allows you to pick habits which can be beneficial for one and get along with people you may never again meet in your lifetime. Also being open to the advice you get along the way is something one must pick with a humble heart. It’s useful for the long run of life.

4. Stay flexible

If travel teaches us anything at all, it’s that an itinerary can change at the drop of a hat. Buses break down, hurricanes roll in and travellers get sick.

Being a good traveller means always having a backup plan or being ready to think of one. My difficulty with the five year plan was because I am always ready to do something different. And i am not a routine person i like to go with the flow, i like being spontaneous.

In our travels we can never predict the future and the same holds true for our “regular” lives back at home. Staying flexible allows us to achieve what we truly believe in even if that means sailing off course. It allows us to push our boundaries and move beyond what we, and others, think is possible.

5. Pray

Its very important to stay in touch with the Almighty and know his will. And pray is a powerful tool which allows us to stay in level with the God. And while on the road and living life off the suit case his love always gives us strength. As we travel he takes care as we meet strangers who go out of their way to show you directions, some will share some of their change as well, help you with your heavy luggage and strike a friendly conversation. Always meditate and pray it always HELPS! 

You want something. Go for it. Period.

July!  July!!! And not a single post! Damn!! The world cup did put me in a coma. Spain winning it. Did they play the ‘best football’? i don’t think so but then i am no Gary Lineker. England underperformed and crashed another chance which looked ever so bright and they were tipped off to “do it” this time. Do what exactly that no one knows although everyone transformed themselves as football pundits who could solve any footie related issue. But the gaga will go on, thank God for EPL and more importantly Manchester United the others are just mere footnotes. Another season waits with the thrills and upsets; I want more thrills though, please!!!

Well, life takes all its twists and turns and pauses which permits you time to think and react. I for one am in that exact mode. I don’t know what to expect and when situations come my way I deal with them one at a time, that’s how I roll. On August 10, I shall turn 25 years old. A jubilee birth year, 2010, it’s also my favourite number the first double digits also the first to the triple digits and so on. You always start with a perfect “10”. I want to be a perfect 10, i want to be the first, I want to get on top of the heap, I want to be the better from my best, I want to be the first me.

Looking for employment in these tough times isn’t easy and job hunting seems like a full time occupation itself. Met with disappointments and one job interviewer said “Your too over qualified”. Some said they’ll get back, some said stay in touch, some said...nothing! But I haven’t given up. There has to be a job out there somewhere which suits you and has a calling. I feel such a vibe too and most of the times when I get a vibe I know something good is in store. I hope this good feeling vibe transcends into a dream opportunity.

Remember to keep yourself updated, socially active (i mean Social Networking tools Twitter, Facebook et all), well read, touch of humour and all your skills polished. You have to learn to sell yourself in the right light and grab the opportunity that knocks with a firm hand. You are your Mojo and you need to market your Mojo in a way that it makes an impression onto the mind and difficult to forget almost a photogenic one. Don’t go over the top but very classy and intelligently. Remember to do it “differently” that’s the smart approach. It’s not rocket science but it isn’t all easy either.

Don’t let failure discourage you because it’s all part of the script. Easier said than done but give it more than just one try. It’s all worth the effort. I am currently doing my Dissertation and at the same time looking for opportunities all over God’s green earth. Do you believe in God? Please do. Because when all are human efforts fail he is making his own beautiful plan for us. He works in mysterious ways we cannot see and makes it all right at the end. I don’t mean to get all preachy but the lord knows what we want. And all I want for my 25^th birthday would be a successful job opportunity to come my way. It would be a perfect gift.

So, don’t give up and don’t think it’s the end of the world if you get 10 “NOs” or even a 100, keeping pushing to get what you want. Because when you want something hard enough it eventually happens to you.

Good Luck in everything you do!

Be Awesome. Peace.

Its football time, Ladies!!!!

The World Cup is nearly here. So before the big kickoff arrives I just wanted to share things that are rattling around my head. Mostly I'm thinking about making sure to enjoy the World Cup, my first in the land that has undoubtedly the best football fans of the world. I am going to head to the pubs and enjoy the atmosphere and sing till my vocal cords go bust. Come on England...!

And although it’s an all man sport event, football is the sport I live for. 90 minutes of pure skills and yes clammy men who make sweat look gorgeous. Apart from the fact that the sport offers fit men, six packs, hunkyness galore...some women also watch it for the offside, dives, dribbles, defending, that naked guy who would make a run on the pitch and also guessing which team colour the ref is actually wearing. Yes, some of us women take our football seriously. Kapish.

I have a personal hatred towards men and their penis size brain which makes them think no end of themselves. No, i don’t swing the other way. But these silly Facebook groups and nonsense putting out of rules for WAGs is pure and utter garbage and sexists too. I mean WTF..!

On the flip side, there’s a segment of women that truly love the gridiron, and the experience that comes with it. They know the game, understand the communal aspect, organize watch parties, wear jerseys, and will sit right up and debate the average football fan. In some cases, there are some ladies who know more about the game than some dudes who run around and masquerade as preaching the football gospel, and since we’re all about equal opportunity this piece here is all about women who love the game.

Believe me when I say this: there are more women who love football than you men have been led to believe. They’re not behind some glass-panelled, bullet-proof partition at your local museum either. They really do exist; I’ve been fortunate enough to come across several of them. On top of that, these women know their stuff! If its Zena Costa the only women football writer in India’s football loving Goa, to my younger sisters who may not know the nitty-gritty but wear their team colours and cheer their team to me a totally football junkie. And tons of other pretty lassies out there.

It isn’t just limited to cyberspace, either. When kickoff is approaching, calls and texts come in from home girls, blog buddies, and other female acquaintances, and it isn’t like how you boys want lemon pepper or medium hot wings or if you’ve remembered to set your fantasy line-ups; there are some who are just as ready as men are to get to the stadium on game day, so we can tailgate, eat good, talk shit to the opposing teams’ fans, and just have fun. There are some who get utterly disgusted by hearing their phone ring, during any part of the game, just like men do. Yes indeed; there are women out there who are so into the game, that they don’t wanna be bothered by anyone, whatsoever...unless the person calling is watching the game (or another game that has implications) as well.

Also, there are women who have to deal with men who don’t understand their fascination with football. There could be a variety of reasons for this, but the ones that immediately come to mind are either (a) he likes the game too, but he’s intimidated by the fact that you know more than he does, or (b) he doesn’t like football, and if that’s the case, RUN IMMEDIATELY. It’s easier for a man to distance himself from a woman on game day if she doesn’t like football, but I can’t imagine (and don’t even wanna begin to) what a woman has to deal with when being with a dude who doesn’t understand or respect the fact that she’s into the game. All I can say about that is I hope your relationship, interaction, or whatever it is y’all call yourselves doing is strong, because if it ain't, run away from dude. The World Cup season is too short to be dealing with someone who doesn’t get it. Just run, and run fast.

So for the women who love the game wear your colours and enjoy this World Cup. I will be sporting the three lions on me and singing Vindaloooooooooooooooooooo....England!!!  

Be easy.