"Adventures of a Bystander"

1. Peter Drucker's book, Adventures of a Bystander is my all time favourites - ever since my days as a young and "still wet behind the ears" entrepreneur.   

2. This book is Drucker's "rich collection of autobiographical stories and vignettes, in which this legendary figure paints a potrait of his remarkable life..."

3. On why a "Bystander" Drucker explains:

Bystanders have no history of their own. They are on the stage but are not part of the action. They are not even audience. The fortunes of the play and of every actor in it depend on the audience whereas the reaction of the bystander has no effect except on himself. But standing in the wings - much like the fireman in the theatre - the bystander sees things neither actor nor audience notices. Above all, he sees differently from the way actors or audiences see. Bystanders reflect - and reflection is a prism rathar than a mirror, it refracts." 

4. So why am I writing about this book before my trip to the US?

5. I promised to write about my experiences during this trip and for this I had to make one clear decision - to report as it is or to report with my own lenses and prejudices looking out?

6. The idea of a bystander or an outsider has always attracted me. Perhaps it stems from my childhood trainings in yoga and the philosophy behind it - to always be detached but completely involved participant !  

7. In fact more often than not I operate or think as an outsider - I have rarely felt I am an integral part of anything - always on outsider looking in and working from the periphery.

8. In fact at times the environment helps reinforce this perspective even further in me.
 

9. Anyway, this is the decision : to report things as they are, as a bystander where possible.

10. Reporting in this manner would enable the readers make up their own minds and leverage on these observations the way they deem necessary or fit.  

So ...lets begin from here and slowly take the journey . At times pardon my nonsensical ramblings..especially when the Shiraz or the Cabernet is too good;-)

Cheers