Mir Moiz’s Weblog
Life is meaningful, only when one wishes to make it. We are creatures of time and we’ll wither away in it. The little moments of joy we find and create are all that will live with us.Archive for Social Initiatives
Re-Thinking Businesses
December 16, 2010 at 7:10 am · Filed under My Views, Social Initiatives and tagged: Business, m&a, MIR, ONE, Rotary, Rotary International, Rotary Members

An introductory talk given at Rotary on Dec 15, 2010, highlighting my professional experiences and aims for the future.
The talk started with a note of thanks to the members present.
Talk~
I have been asked for a small talk upon my work and I have a limited time to do that… therefore I will try and keep it as focused as possible.
With a view to this opportunity I asked that it should be titled “Re-Thinking Businesses” for that is what I pursue as a profession for myself.
The book I have put forth for reference towards my ideas is a very acclaimed manifesto written by Mr. Tom Peters in 1982. It is titled, “In Search of Excellence”.
Since then it has been used for value building within innumerable organizations in the United States and now serves as a guideline for businesses the world over.
For my talk, I would like to lay a Thought Foundation by providing my audience with three keywords to keep in mind.
The first is VALUE, the second is VALUE and the third is VALUE!
It is all about VALUE.
Businesses are about VALUE and life is about VALUE.
VALUE is the strongest underpinning that drives our personal and professional ambitions.
VALUE is a commodity and VALUE is a service.
VALUE is what I am happy with when I get it and VALUE is what others are happy with when I provide it.
VALUE is all there is to it!
My professional chronology stems from the year 2000.
It is a span of 10+ years of engagement as a technologist growing into an Analyst.
My studies are grounded in “Management Information Systems” where I acquired some milestones with a number of significant projects over the years.
2001 ~ 2004
An online brokerage system connected with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for a hedge fund brokerage company in Hong Kong, long before online trading was introduced as a main-stream.
2005 ~ 2006
An analytics and statistical evaluation system for a company called BeyondROI, which serves some of the major names in Fortune 500/ 1000.
2006 ~ 2008
I served in a role as project manager for AAA Partnership, a construction projects management company, with some key initiatives for AAA ventures.
2008 ~ 2010
Business Process Re-Engineering, designing Standard Operating Procedures for “Operations & Maintenance” of Multinet Pakistan.
MIS applications developed for OPEX control, along with leading the MIS department itself.
2011 ~ onwards
My aim is to formulate “Mir & Associates” as a major business consultancy, with a portfolio offering of two things… “Business Process Re-Engineering” and “Business Intelligence” for our organizations in most all of the major verticals.
——-|
What is Re-Thinking Business all about?
In simple terms – It is about VALUE creation.
It is a method of renewed empowerment of businesses from top to bottom.
Examples of companies that have pursued this internationally and in Pakistan would be…
United States Postal Service
Canadian Post
APC
British Petroleum
Royal Dutch Shell
ING Group
VISA
World Bank
Amtrack
The United Nations
US Air Force
IBM
Research in Motion
Siemens
British Airways
American Standards Company
Caterpillar
DuPont
Tetra Pak
In Pakistan… some notable names would be
The State Bank
Engro Group
Fauji Fertilizer
Shell Pakistan
… among the few that I know off!
——-|
Tom Peters highlighted some eight points in his book that stand valid for businesses as a guide since 1982.
1. A bias for action, active decision making.
2. Close to the customer.
3. Autonomy & Entrepreneurship.
4. Productivity through People.
5. Hands-on, Value driven.
6. Stick to the knitting. Stay with the business that you know.
7. Simple form, Lean staff.
8. Flexibility with centralized values.
My social services engagements include the initial setup and ground work for Karachi Relief Trust and a stint on water provisioning for the recent floods with a senior from the Acumen Fund.
Thank You.
© 2010. Mir Moiz
Staying True to Yourself
November 17, 2010 at 9:26 am · Filed under My Views, Social Initiatives and tagged: MIR, ONE, UM
It is so easy to utter these words but in fact it is the most difficult thing for anyone to do!
So much of what we do in life is about all that surrounds us. It is all out there – in the people we know, in the times and things we desire…
We seldom look at ourselves to see who we are?
Our everyday judgements are formed based on our perception of others in accordance with what we understand to be true – in the light of the knowledge we have acquired and the reality that we choose for ourselves. But it is less often that we take all that and introspect our own self!
As people we do not do this too often because we get too preoccupied with what we have to deal with as time streams by… our senses keep us too busy with what is around us to allow us the freedom to look within. Seldom when we get hit in time with a call to action – a suffering, a loss, a grief or someone’s pain that we wakeup to realize that what surrounds us is not the truth – the truth lies within.
For if anything in life is really true and undeniable ‘it is my own existance’ – ‘my own conscience’ – ‘my own self’… yet we seldom use our acquired wisdom to focus on this ultimate truth.
I once read it in the Quran that, in the universe, GOD has granted Human Being the capacity to alter/change/ manipulate anything on this Earth that has color and odor except for the celestial bodies which are beyond its control and influence.
In all this time, that single fact has proven true where we have not been able to alter/ change anything of the celestial order and it is my belief that it will continue that way till the end.
At one level we are given a free reign to do as we will – and at the other end we are constrained to the maximum extent.
Like when I as a person have the capacity to alter/ change what is within me at will – but do not have the capacity to alter/ change others at my will.
Inner – Outer
I can only reason to their ‘will’ to understand and accept my thought…
Yet all our lives, we as people – pursue to change others in light of what we understand to be true.
Every religion and school of thought highlights the need for a person to look ‘within’… yet we seldom do that.
I can only be true to myself – when I start to look within.
When I correct my behavior in light of the knowledge acquired.
When I strive for excellence and composure of myself.
When I love myself.
It is then that the world around me starts to change and the reality in front manifests itself in physical.
For I have control of anything in this world that has color and odor with the power of my own – WILL!
And so it is true for all of us.
‘Staying True to Yourself’ is a lesson that should be taught in all schools of life and preached at all sermons for it is the ‘only law’ we need in this world.
I learned to start looking within some 5 years back in life. Someone very close to me – my dearest mentor in life Mr. Karim Halani, taught me that lesson.
It was a journey for me because it took a while for me to clear my mind and shift my focus within and I am still learning.
I have practiced this lesson in life… and it has been the most challenging yet rewarding one for me…
For anyone who has already pursued this path would know, that this has tremendous treasures wrapped within it for the taking – it is the heaven within itself or if less, at least a good manifestation of it.
It has the power to give you contentment, peace, affection, love and wealth. In truth – whatever you desire for yourself.
This Eid and amids all the mayhem of our times…
This is my Gift for my friends and loved ones.
– Look within to find the absolute truth.
– Look within to take what you desire.
– Look within to change your world.
In the spirit of social services which I fortunately share as a legacy from my father… please also spread this message around…
You never know how many lives you will save!
– MIR
© 2010. Mir Moiz
Scan Water
October 28, 2010 at 9:24 am · Filed under Social Initiatives
This is a large scale distribution model for water purification.
It can be leveraged better as a more sustainable and viable alternative to traditional methods.
A good option to look into.
– MIR
Pyas Bujhao | Clean drinking water for Pakistan flood victims using Life Saver Systems
August 14, 2010 at 6:53 am · Filed under My Views, Social Initiatives and tagged: LIFE SAVER, MICHAEL PRITCHARD, MIR, ONE
APPEAL
To all who have been bestowed with the riches of ALLAH (GOD).
Do not wait to realize that you are being tested right now… the time of trials and tribulation on the people affected by the devastating floods of Pakistan is your chance to rid yourself of sins accumulated in your time to claim a better life for yourself.
GOD is trying you and is giving you a chance to mend your ways.
What we offer here is not a typical aid campaign but a solid – grounded – intelligent and practical solution to the rising misery for the 16 million displaced in the floods… for whom you will be responsible due to your inaction!
As you do, so you reap! What goes around, comes around… so beware – Its only a matter of time.
Take part in a chance to mend lives – life will not throw these chances to you when you’d wish for them. Wake Up.
———| Inventor: Michael Pritchard
Life Saver System has a revolutionary product that can solve world’s water problems caused due to unavailability of clean drinking water sources.
Michael Pritchard has invented an advanced filtration system that is cost-effective, simple and practical. It filters diseased, dirty water to clean and clear pure life without any gimmics.
Its 15 nm membrane, filters our the tiniest foreign element in water i.e. a virus at a size of 25nm due to which it can separate clean and clear water from filthy and diseased water sources.
See his convincing video on TED (See the movie)
Life Saver Jerry Cans can process 10,000 and 20,000 liters for a medium family for nearly 4 years and at this time is the best bet for clean and healthy water for the flood victims in Pakistan.
You can help if you CHOOSE to… if you desire to become a part of this history when the trials of some define the destiny of those in authority, capacity and might. ACT NOW!
Michael has 500 Jerry Cans ready to leave for Pakistan, if you choose to act up.
Contact me now, to donate as best as possible in your own unique capacities.
Seize this moment to cleanse yourself inside out and define your place in time:
———|
Mir Moiz
Karachi Relief Trust
June 13, 2009 at 6:46 pm · Filed under Social Initiatives and tagged: KARACHI, KARACHI RELIEF TRUST, KRT, ONE, RELIEF, TRUST
Karachi Relief Trust is an NGO originally established to provide relief to the people afflicted in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh by Cyclone Yemyin in 2007. This group of civic minded volunteers came together with the fundamental belief that each of us can and should make a difference. Karachi Relief volunteers organized quickly to obtain donations, coordinated activities of volunteers in the supply of weekly shipment of food and were active in efforts to rebuild homes in the affected areas.
Today, Karachi Relief has mobilized once more to help with the enormous task of providing assistance to displaced individuals in the Swabi & Mardan region of Pakistan. Through tireless individual effort and the generosity of their friends and sponsors, KarachiRelief has already begun the process of making an impact in the lives of many.
Please visit: http://www.karachirelief.org/