The Big Question : Tier-1 or Tier-4

Tier-1 (G) - Erstwhile HSMP visa. This is the most popular and sought after visa which is needed for working in the UK. Most employers do prefer this visa over others like Tier-2 etc.

Tier-4 (Students) - Students visa for studying in the UK. One gets a Tier-1(PSW) to work post study.

I am eligible for Tier-1(G) visa now (based on points calculator). But a Tier-1(G) visa is meant for employment purpose only. Likewise a Tier-4 visa is only for study purposes. So while technically I might be able to stay and study on Tier-1, its not 'appropriate', and if UK home office finds any such irregularities, I might be in trouble. Before making any decision, I would like to get a clarification (written permission will be best) from the UK Immigration Home Office, details of which can find here - UK Border Agency | Home Page . Even if its allowed, I find the following cons of studying on Tier-1.

• Note that one needs to pay the council tax (which is waived for students) when you stay in the UK on tier-1. So this will be another overhead.

• Tier-1 is valid for initial 2 years only and can be extended for further 3 years, given that you show enough earnings in the last one year. So consider the case where you are studying on Tier-1, where you wont be earning for the first year, and then if it takes another 3-4 months to find job, you will just be left with 8-9 months to show earnings for, and which might not be enough (of course if you get a FAT salary, 6 months might be more than enough) to accumulate those earnings to get the needed points. (25K GBP for 5 points, and atleast 30K GBP for 15 points)

While if I go with Tier-4 (students) and then convert to Tier-1 (PSW) later on, which can be done within a month of completing studies, I would be well off. I heard that some employers do prefer Tier-1(G) visa holders, but Tier-1-PSW should be good as well. Again hoping that the economy recovers a little and jobs start appearing.

Refer to my previous post on Tier-1 related information.

http://followingmydream.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/welcome-changes-in-tier-1-immigrant-visa-for-uk-from-april-2010/

Thinking of creating a website ? - think minimalistic

If you are thinking of creating a website, or a webpage you must be wondering how should you format your page to fill in with the 'right' amount of information without making it too cluttered. I know its easier said than done. No design is perfect and we (web designers, sometimes I like to call myself this name, I find it fancy ;)) keep on tweaking our designs, re ordering content, and resizing divs.

Here is a very good guide on how to create good web pages. Its based on "minimalistic" idea of creating web pages.

http://www.skelliewag.org/a-guide-to-creating-a-minimalist-website-63.htm

Minimalization is the 'art' of making a web page look un cluttered. There should be enough white space between sections to space things apart. Also there should not be more content than whats required. A picture speaks a thousand words, and its best to put a picture than writing a content, as it saves real estate and speaks volumes without making the visitor go through it (believe me , not many like to read everything).

Everyone has his own definition to minimalism. To me, minimalism means tending towards the google home page.

'Always aim to be different from your crowd' is another idea behind this theory as well. Every other site now a days is crowded with flash , images, widgets and so on. A site with clear and clean look stands out anytime.

Believe me, thats why I like wordpress better than blogger.

Read more here

• http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/12/minimalist-web-design-when-less-is-more/


• http://bloggingbits.com/minimalism-in-web-design/

If you build something of value, the money will find you.

Often startups keep running for venture funding and scrap their plans for lack of funding. But, truth to be told, as in this article , less than 10% of startups receive any kind of funding. Which means only 1 out of 10. So what happens to the rest 9 out of 10. Do they die ? Not necessarily.

Getting a funding does not mean that your business will succeed and similarly, not getting a fund does not mean that you are doomed to fail. A lot of successful entrepreneurs have started their business and made them running using their own personal finances. Its often a very good idea to look for external funding only when you have a stable product built, and its ready to be sold/marketed.

But, how many of us do have that amount of time and money to experiment. Believing in an idea and sacrificing for it holds good only for some time. After that, you run out of patience and also money. Not to mention friends who tend to drift apart.

But I think those who can get through this period of trying, and keep similar-minded friends close are the ones who succeed. And then when you are successful in doing whatever you started with, say building a product, making it sell-able, money will follow you.

email id is your unique identification

Everything in the world of internet revolves around your email-id. Its a unique identification for you, a passport. Want to enter a site, want to view some details, want to make some friends, just enter your email id and you are through. I don't even remember a lot of sites where I have registered my email-id. Well, thats a different thing altogether, but the point is - the email id opens your door to many things on the internet.

I took my email-id lightly, especially when I created it, in 2003 after I got an invite to open a gmail account. Well, the email-service has been phenomenal since then and so has been its usage. But, more importantly its importance has grown over time. A lot can be attributed to how good it has been.I wonder if this has been as lousy as xxdiff-mail or yahxx-mail would I be still using it ? Well, again, that's a different issue altogether.

I now have more than 10 Gigs of data in my gmail account, discounting pics uploaded to picasa, and files uploaded to google docs. I even have bought 25 Gigs of extra space from google in case I run short of memory (which I already have because of the huge volumes of pics I have, thanks to my DSLR). My email id manages everything for me in my life. It holds all the information I need and keeps me updated with latest information via digest mails, email subscriptions and numerous other such emails.

Talking about importance, it now has a very important role in my life. It is the same id with which I am registered to GMAC, who manage my GMAT score. Its the same id with which I have applied to a lot of b-schools to whom I applied, and its the 'official' id for communication with the b-school I am going to join. Its the same email id with which I manage my mutual funds portfolio, and also my social presence via twitter,facebook and ning.  I didn't realize when did this personal/un-official email id of mine became official for many purposes.

And I hate to admit but its difficult to part away with this id now. No day passes by when I don't check my mails. When I do not have a computer, I am busy on my mobile, and I hate it when I do not get a network to connect to gmail. Its addictive, and why not, its part of me now.It uniquely identifies me .

My email is me is my email.

Updates : April 25-May 05′ 2010

Well, haven't written anything in this blog since a long time. A lot happened this week and the last, and thought of sharing it in a digest.

Loan Application ready: Collected the documents required for applying for psot-graduate loan from HSBC, UK. Need to send them asap, so that I am visa ready. Inquired Blue-Dart and it will cost 2000 approx to send them to UK. Whhooopping amount, I think

Decision form and initial deposit: Had a demand draft of 3000 made in favor of Cranfield University for the initial deposit. Will send it across with the decision form to the university. Bunch of people (3 actually) have decided to club these and send them in one courier to save on courier costs. Nice idea ! Should be done in a few days time.

Saw a bunch of movies -

- The Prestige - Starring Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine. Amazing movie, amazing drama, mystery and thriller. Rated 8.4 in IMDB and ranks at #72 in the top 250 movies of all times.

- Syriana - Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon.  Based on the Arab oil industry and the global politics/crime surrounding it.

- The Transporter-3 - Watched it for the 3rd time. Good pastime at dinner time.

World T20 in Caribbeans

Why do they have to play the world T20 in the Caribbeans. I know they have some good beaches, the people love cricket and its peaceful. But yes, that's the whole point I am trying to make, its way too peaceful. The grounds are small, crowds are well no crowds, and there is no noise. Bring it to the subcontinent and we will make a show of it. ICC will earn a lot more if its played here in BCCI's backyard. I know West-Indies cricket needs some redemption, but ICC will have enough money to pay them off as well and bring them out of their dire straits.

Another reason for not playing in Caribbeans is their low scoring grounds. They are detrimental for T20 if not for 50 over games. To be honest, I didn't like the World Cup in 2007 which was played there. Well, India not making it to super-8 was another BIG (read very BIG) reason. But you have to agree, slow and low scoring pitches will kill the interest.

Not to mention the timings in which the games are going to be played. India matches might be played in times that suite viewers in India, but there are a few matches which will be played when its wee hours in India. The telecaster (ESPN and CO) are going to be at loss for sure.

Well, now that its being played here, I cant say anything but start watching it and love it. Lets hope Dhoni's boys make it again as they did in the rainbow nation in 2007.

Who will be the next Champions ? I think one of India, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka will lift the trophy this time. See for yourself, in 2007 India beat Pakistan to win it. In 2009, Pakistan beat SL to win it, which goes to show the fire-power the three countries from the subcontinent have. Its the IPL as well which will help in giving the boys a confidence. Other than Pakistan, almost every player from SL and India played and had match practice in the IPL.

But do not leave out Bangladesh, another neighbor and Zimbabwe the underdogs who have won both their warm-up games in the build up to the WT20 upsetting Australia.

I think this time the WT20 will be fun, more fun than last time.

When to take the plunge ?

When I say plunge, I mean taking a plunge to start one's own business. I have seen a lot of people who have done it, and still more who want to do it. But most of them are what they call "arm-chair entrepreneurs", those who sit cozy in their homes and just think about doing big things, but do not actually take the plunge.

So what stops someone from taking the plunge. The reasons are many and very common and known to all (I call them 3 Fs : Family, Facility, Funds). I wont repeat them here.

What I have observed is that the reasons for taking the plunge are very similar, a passion to start something of one's own and take it further. A zeal to become the next Ambani or Nilekani. Apart from the common reasons, I have observed other very common reasons among these real entrepreneurs. Let me talk about a few of them.

1. Exposure : I think this is the most important and common to all. Most people whom I have seen starting of their own have done so because of some exposure or the other to a kind of environment where you are encouraged to think unique and achieve higher. The kind of college one goes to is one such environment. The fact that most of the entrepreneurs I have seen have some connection or the other from IIT/IIM is no coincidence. Also the company you are in. Literally and otherwise. Many start-ups have been started by ex employees of Yahoo, Oracle and Amazon. (Must be true of start-ups from other industries as well)

2. Knowledge (or lack of) : Its not about how much you already know, its about how you can achieve and gain further knowledge. Most people I have met did not know much about the business they got into when they started. If they had waited to gain the 'appropriate' knowledge, as most of us do,they would not have started ever. Fact is, we think we should have at-least the threshold value of skills/knowledge before we can make a plunge, and as we grow in maturity and experience, with the amount of knowledge, the threshold increases as well. So it is kind of chasing a constantly moving target.

3. Funds : Most of us think that we can not start a business without Funds. This is partly true. We need funds, but we need ideas first. Funds are the last thing to be worried about. If we have an idea and the passion we can get the funds needed. There are ways.  Might sound more philosophical than practical, but its true. One must not think about funds to start with.

Now to answer the question (When to take the plunge?) - The answer is NOW. If anytime is the right time, it is now.

What about me ? Well, I am going to do it as well. I did a lot of thinking myself. Was engaged in a lot of personal issues (I also have my own excuses) but now after doing an year long of thinking, I am taking the plunge. To start with I will be doing an MBA and then will be starting of my own. I did some work in a start-up in the last 1.5 years and I think an MBA will give me the time and knowledge to think about what went wrong and what can be done more in that.

[References]

http://www.lifebeyondcode.com/2010/03/14/why-some-smart-people-dont-take-action/