.......a journey called life

Around 3-4 years back, whenever I used to go to Odyssey or Walden (Bookshops) in Hyderabad, I used to find at least 10 books with the title "The X Way" with X being replaced by some company. I don't know who started the trend but as far as I remember, "Jack Welch and the GE Way" was the trend starter soon followed by

• "The Mckinsey Way",
• "Toyota Way",
• "Warren Buffet Way",
• "The Disney Way",
• "The Apple Way",
• "The Six Sigma Way",
• "The SouthWest Airlines Way",
• "The HP Way",
• "The Wal*Mart Way",
• "The Marine Corps Way",
• "The Nordstrom Way",
• "The Shackleton's Way",
• "The Socrates' Way"

It appeared every company (and even Socrates) wanted to let everyone know what they are doing and the concept of competitive edge suddenly vanished. No one wanted to keep any secrets anymore. But when you read some of these books (I have read Six Sigma, GE, Wal*Mart, McKinsey & Toyota), They don't really tell you anything (with the possible exception of the Toyota Way and GE Way which were detailed description of the way Toyota and GE runs). This landslide of books was just another minting exercise by some of the executives of these companies.

Deja Vu!!!

I had a similar feeling yesterday when I went to this random book store in Orchard Road, Singapore. Only this time it was "Confessions of Y". After the success of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" (even though its not first in the league of confessions), every Tom, Dick and Harry has some or the other confession to make. I hit upon the Confessions of Wall Stret Analyst who was more than eager to let us all know about the corruption going on in these analysis business. Then, there is this Confessions of a Street Addict (this one is older than the Hit Man confession) which gives you an insight into the author's career as a journalist, Wall Street pundit, Internet entrepreneur, and television commentator. You also get to see the Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, Wall Street Shoeshine Boy, Shopaholic, Serial Killer, Good Christian Girl, Organized Homemaker blah blah blah blah. Just like 3-4 years back, companies were more than eager to trumpet their success stories, now these authors are bit by their conscience and suddenly everyone wants to confess. They are so filthy covered in guilt that they must confess.

I've got a confession to make as well. I will not read any more book with the title "The X Way" OR "Confessions of Y". Happy reading to all who choose to do so.