So what is this blog really?

Well, the funda (as most engineer turned managers turned lost souls like to say) is quite simple. See. We are not celebrities though we have appeared in our own little page 3s on the canteen wall. We are not musicians or turn-tablers though we do have our own fans in the bathroom (crazy cockroach says Hi!). We are not pro writers for any magazine, unless of course “Dog-eared yellow notepad” is counted as a magazine. We do not know anything about wildlife and can’t tell the difference between a vulture and an eagle though we know how to tackle rats and have spotted our share of rabid dogs on urban streets.  We are DEFINITELY not race drivers though we’ve won multiple races to the swipe machines to punch in our cards before 9AM. Heck, we are not a lot of things and we’ve already said that in our Pitch here.

So who are we?

A couple of frustrated b-schoolers who have experienced the many joys of life and living for all the 24 years before they started working. Two greenhorns who entered their jobs with such glamorized ideals as “job satisfaction” and ended up giving their hearts and souls to their work. For the past 2 years we have been around most of India to all the four corners, learnt a lot about this massive country and its people - through the eyes of marketers. Learnt to find means of entertainment in every kind of place and come away with stories for everyone to hear. 2 years hence, we find ourselves in vastly different lives from our initial days in the corporate world. I’ve quit the whole corporate side of things completely and joined a design firm named Elephant Strategy + Design while Namrata works as a brand manager for stationary products at a giant ciggie company whose name rhymes with I SEE TEA. We have changed a lot since our carefree campus days, grown a bit cynical in life, learnt more than can fit into a blog post and travelled so much in such short timelines that we’ve lost track of miles, boarding passes and the faithful driver’s names.

We have a wide range of interests between the both of us, but what makes us different is our obsession with detail in each of those interests. What makes us different is that we love our jobs (mostly!) but still want to run away. And that we really just want to hang out, have a great vacation and catch up after a loooong time.

It’s been a seriously long while since we’ve seen each other. No really, see below!

And we are hyper-excited about the auditions too!

...but enough about us, if you want to know more about us, click here.here.

Why Save Our Souls?

Because we’re stuck. In office, in life, and haven’t had a awakening life experience in a while now. Campus-life and the days before were full of random mini-challenges mixed with an ultra-competitive spirit. Work is competitive too and very very engaging but it is just not the same. The fun is not the same, the freedom is not the same, and it sure as hell isn’t as scenic.

Save Our Souls is a message to ALL the office-goers out there, especially the ones who give their all to their work. This is for reclaiming our lives. To ensure that 30 years hence, all our memories are not made up of which business deal we cracked, how many units we sold, how strongly we pitched and how quick we rose up the ladder. This is about awakening our souls, and making immortal memories while we are at it. Of having stories to tell our grandchildren about things more special than what happened in our constrained cubicles.

And we know we are not alone in this thought. There are millions like us out there who feel the same and want their lives back. That’s why this message. We hope to give you enough memories and inspiration from our GDC journey to make you fight to save your souls too. Maybe this is our cause, maybe it is not noble as some, but it is essential. For most of us, its something we don’t even realize as life flies by us. Stop. Think. Reclaim your lives.

Why the Cedia Sports?

This is another question that has come up so many times. Why so many darn photos of this car? Is it only for buttering the organizers? Well?

Because its a car that refuses to stay in the garage, that cannot be left parked, that begs you to take it out on the open road and push itself and yourself to the limit. Because it connects with your soul with its power, torque, handling, gorgeous looks and sheer charm. But mostly because its for the 1-2 hours of bliss when you drive it every weekday; hours that punctuate an otherwise rote office-centered life. For the weekends that need you to leave the 5 days behind and live every moment. And because its the car I own, and utterly love.

What Next?

As we said, Save our souls is not our cry alone. Share your moments of boredom, inspiration, pain, frustration and enlightenment in office with us; send in a photo of yourself at work too! We’ll feature them here - atleast for the next 3 days. Make this blog yours as well, because it exists only because of you all!

Cheers!
Joe & Namrata

PS 1: Why this post? Only ‘cuz everyone else has put up their claims to fame and purpose of their lives. Its time we found one too!

PS 2: Why IIM Outdoor? ‘cuz its got our college name in it, ensures a certain “captive audience” of all similar bschoolers and that most of them NEED to go outdoor! Plus, its a play on our alma mater where we first met!