The P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.O.R.S.

The P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.O.R.S.

This is a competitive world, a highly competitive world. Right from the moment you are born till they sing you an epiphany, you are competing with everyone around you. Ambitious people thrive on competition. It is after all competition that helps segregate the ‘best’ from the ‘better’. The optimists look at competition as an opportunity to prove their worth and that golden chance to get to their goals. The pessimists frown upon it, call it names, and would rather have nothing to do with it. So they label themselves as the ‘satisfied crowd’ calling the optimists as the ‘go-getters’.

So which label suits you the most? Now thats a tough question isn’t it? I mean life is not always black and white, it almost always grey... and thus the birth of our clan; the Procrastinators! We literally are somewhere in between the optimists and the pessimists. We want the best of both the worlds and yet would cringe at working hard to achieve our goals.

Don’t judge us yet, you are one of us too. You had that smirk when while reading the above paragraph! No, don’t want to be labelled a procrastinator yet, well how about this, tell me how many of those “new year resolutions” have you actually implemented and striked off your list? Hurts doesn’t it? Well all I can say it, welcome to the clan!

But this blog is not about procrastinating and its good and bad effects on individuals. It’s actually on how to get beyond the procrastinating attitude and into the go-getters zone! (And to say that it took me a whole of a week to sit down and write this blog...!)

So my dear clannisters, here are the steps to help you beat the $h!t or whatever hell it is to get going

1)      Listen

Listen to the people around you, to your close friends and family who really care for you and dare to show you the mirror. This will help you decide your long and short term goals.

2)      Set your Goal(s)

Set a goal(s) for yourself. This can be long term goal e.g. I want to be fit and healthy or a short term goal e.g. I will reach office on time. And please do not postpone this activity to December 31^st!  

Set yourselves a date by when you would want to achieve this goal.

3)      Plan a timetable

“When in doubt retrace your steps”. Back track from the goal achievement date to today and plan out every detail of how you want to achieve your goal. Remember this is not an engineering exam that can be cracked in one all-nighter! This is what is going stay with you for life! So plan every detail, step by step. In fact also include some cheat time.

4)      Get going!

Yes, get up from your couch or from the bed. Put an alarm (only really bad, boring songs allowed) for 6.00 am! And do not snooze it.  Get up and get going.

5)      Remind

Remind yourself everyday that you are doing this for yourself that this will help boost your confidence. The more credit you attach to this activity, the more you would want to do it.

6)      Reward

Reward yourself on every small achievement. Recognise your efforts by indulging in something you love doing (how about procrastinating?! Kidding, do not even think about it) and encourage yourself thus.

Hope this helps. For now, Accelerate and Go for it!

Of discoveries and inventions – the big picture

Have you ever sat down and thought? Just thought about the air around you, the incessant honking on the street downstairs, the sweet chirping of the birds in the trees, the thumping sound of the rain drops as they hit the window pane, or even the silence of the rain as it pours through the day? I am sure you are just like the many who take the same road to work (literally and figuratively) and have no time left to think post spending (any) the free time on social media that is.

See, you are the best and the easiest target audience for marketers today. They just need to track your usage of internet data; which is easily available (and we also have big data analytical programs for better interpretation) and trap you with advertisements. They make sure you buy these products and/or services by helping you not moving an inch, you buy these products online and these are delivered to your door-step within 2-3 business days.

And why am I thinking like this? No I have not read any philosophical book nor am I in the mood for poetry. In fact currently I am reading Ruchir Sharma’s Breakout Nations so I am very much present in reality and far away from fantasy. So why am I thinking on these lines? This thought struck me today suddenly like a lightning bolt. I was going about doing my daily chores when suddenly I asked myself, what if Christopher Columbus has actually discovered India and not the West Indies and The United States of America.

Would history have been any different? What if Thomas Edison hadn’t invented the light bulb or Graham Bell the telephone? Would technology have progressed so far? Then I thought were we dependent on the person who discovered/invented the place/thing of use or were we dependent on the place and/or the invention? I mean we had a Vasco da Gama for a Christopher Columbus and a Steve Jobs and Bill Gates for a Graham Bell; it was the invention that changed the course of humanity, while the inventor/discoverer was a channel; a medium that helped bridge the gap between the product and its target segment.     

This blog is about a few of those inventions and discoveries that changed the course of human history. (Disclaimer: This may be somewhat of a history lesson and I may have missed out on some)

The invention of the wheel in 3500BC helped man improve efficiency in logistics and transportation. While the wheel helped man conquer roadways, the invention of sails and later ships helped him conquer the water too. The Egyptian civilisation has provided the world with many wonders and it was them who introduced the sails. It helped them move across the river Nile faster and thus increased connectivity.

And it was left to the Romans to build roads. Roads that led to Rome and connected them to the world. The European economy’s rise as a world power was mainly due to the intellectual capacity provided by the Greeks and the engineering marvels of the Romans. The Europeans were better connected and were intellectually more stimulated. Trade blossomed and so did inter-state peace. This gave impetus and time for the monarchies to encourage innovative and exploratory thinking. While the Greeks introduced the world to the principles in mathematics, philosophy, economics and other sciences; the kingdoms of Spain, Portugal and England invested in sending sailors on exploratory voyages. In fact it was the governments that sponsored the voyages of Columbus and da Gama.

 The 15^th century invention of the printing press helped curb the influence of the church on the monarchy. While earlier the bible was only present with the highest church in the land, it was left to the interpretation (often biased) of the church. With the invention of the printing press, the bible and its teachings and learnings reached the man on the street and with it society started adapting to the changes by making judiciary independent of the crown and church.   

The industrial revolution in Britain laid the foundation for the modern age engineering marvels with the invention of the steam engine and motor vehicles. The Germans led the way further in WWII with the invention of a fleet of submarines, fighter jets and their innovative techniques of the blitzkrieg. German missions to discover the knowledge in the Antarctic and the higher peaks of the Himalayas were duly supported by their engineering power.

Perhaps the most deadly innovation was of the atom bomb; most deadly because the world was unknown to its capabilities until the Hiroshima-Nagasaki incident. Then came the incredible space mission programs by the United States and the then USSR and Man’s landing on the moon was a ‘gigantic leap’ indeed.  Today’s age is of digitisation and comprises of marvels like the NASA’s Mars Rover, and of the broadband internet and smart phones.

What are common across the ages have been man’s quest for the unknown and his hunger for more knowledge. In fact even earth isn’t enough to satiate this hunger. But in this grand scheme of things are we forgetting to appreciate the smaller joys of life? Just something to ponder on… 

A nation finds its voice

As India struggles to come to terms with reality, with the Modi Sarkar’s “Acche din ane wale hai” slogan, I have started believing that we have found our voice. And I would not really blame the people of India; for the past ten years we were subject to politics and politicians who were blind, mute and dumb just like Bapu’s teen Bandar (3 monkeys). Whether it was through Anna Hazare, or that a volcano of patience erupted that India finally found its voice.

The burgeoning middle class came onto the streets (finally) literally through protests, hunger strikes, rallies in support of the numerous rape victims, Anna Hazare, transparency, better governance and figuratively through the various social media platforms. For days together, facebook and twitter were full of status messages supporting these strikes, protests and rallies.

For years, Indian politicians had ignored this middle class and this was coming back to bite them. Economic policies were written keeping the lower income and the super-rich in mind. The Indian middle class with incomes in the range of INR 30000 – INR 100000 per month had developed the ‘this too shall pass’ attitude of patience; the English version of the Indian ‘chalta hai’. They were used to corruption, inflation, high unemployment rates, low level education and healthcare facilities and poor infrastructure. The common man (the metaphor) for the Indian middle class assumed that this was life and it would not change. The idea that change had to come from within was lost; until 2011 when a series of revolts against governments erupted across the globe, starting with the Arab Spring. India awakened in the true sense and the demographic dividend came onto the streets to demand what was rightfully theirs.. access to better infrastructure, better education and health facilities, better wages, lower inflation, more transparency, lower bureaucracy and red tapism, no corruption. This time though the youth wanted to take charge and technology gave them an increased and more penetrated reach. It was not only the urbane India but also the rural India that protested. The nation wanted justice against corrupt officials, politicians and criminals. They supported Anna’s call for implementation of the Jan Lokpal bill and the Right to information act in the Parliament. The sheer strength in number and voice changed the political landscape of India. The erstwhile ‘family’ politicians had to face a massive loss at the hands of a smart, internet-savvy, forward thinking Hindu nationalist. The BJP came to power with a thumping majority in the lower house of the parliament. And this victory came again from both the Indias - Urban and Rural.

People had finally found their voice and poured out in millions on the election-day. The nation voted for a candidate they believed could bring that change!

And this belief was not limited to only to the man on the street but also reflected across business houses and the SENSEX. The nation had after more than two decades elected a majority government. Now the ball is in the government’s court to deliver. One of the jarring issues was on opening up the economy and allowing more FDI. Growth in FDI inflows, increases employment opportunities and thus demand that indirectly leads to economic growth.

A country’s economic growth is generally funded by two sources:

1. Public funds/Savings
2. Private investments

When public funds fall short, the government opens up the sector(s) for private domestic and or international investment to bridge the gap. Private investments can be via two sources:

1. FDI (International)
2. Domestic entrepreneurs

In fact growth in FDI inflows is one of the leading indicators of economic growth.

GDP equation states:

•       Y = C+I+NX

•       GDP is a function of Consumption, Investment, Net Exports

We are assuming here that FDI inflows will affect investments. However more FDI inflows might just crowd out domestic private sector (indigenous entrepreneurial) investments.  A simple correlation analysis between GDP and FDI inflows gives a very low correlation coefficient (0.02) indicating FDI inflows is not the only indicator that leads to GDP growth, it is rather one of the many that influences growth.

I may be wrong here but I really hope that the government plans to invest more in infrastructure projects both soft and hard to generate growth besides just exploring sectors that could be opened up for investments. That is one change we are eagerly awaiting…

   

Customisation makes you feel empowered...

Customisation has really taken new roads today. From getting options in car colours (either a white or a black ambassador car in India) to designing clothes that fit your body scan, customisation has really come a long way. I was browsing through an article recently that got me interested in this space. Firms are taking the age old adage “Customer is the king” rather seriously.

Take Starbucks for instance, the global coffee maker brand has a website where you can make you own flavoured coffee (virtually of course!) from scratch. So right from selecting the fat content in the milk, to the coffee flavours, to the whipped crème option you can choose your flavour from over 5-7 choices at a time on the screen. While this engages the customer more as he/she finds it endearing that their ‘round-the-corner-coffee-shop’ is taking that much interest in their choice, it helps Starbucks in knowing their customer better.

It reduces that distance between their target audience and their brand. Their customer feels privileged to have been given the choice to make his/her own coffee (sounds so lame right, and still we walk right into the trap!) while Starbucks gets the relevant and priceless data on their customers. They know which flavours are demanded more across markets and which combination works best for a majority. Currently they did not ask for my demographic details such as age, location, etc. But these would also help them identify the best possible combination across segments.

Customisation analytics is a big field today. Companies are all for getting to know their customer better and quicker than their competition. In today’s world the customer, knows what’s being offered across the globe by a particular brand, is very hard to please and to retain. The concept of loyalty is fast losing ground. There exist firms offering better (maybe?) and cheaper options to any brand, delivering anytime, anywhere. There are options available and nothing is indispensible. Customers are well educated because of the social media connect and reach. They already know of the models old and to be launched and have read/heard of their reviews that have already prejudiced their minds.

So what should a company do to retain their customers? The (not-so) simple answer would be to design a customisation program.

·         Identify and highlight the USP of their product

·         Get to know their customer better through constant interaction

·         Make the customer feel involved in the decision making process

·         Reach the customer either directly or through the supply chain links; and of course be better at this than your competition

Starbucks is doing this so are other global brands. And it’s a win-win for both the firms as well as the customers; both not only get what they want but also feel empowered.

 

Her story and lot's of love...

Her story and a lot's of love...

Had it been a normal day she would have even noticed the sky change its colours from blue to yellow to orange to red and then see the night settle in. But today was different. She was in a hurry. She just wanted to go home and CRY. She wanted to change her mood, she had been through a lot emotionally recently and finally she could not bear it any more.

As she hustled passed her favourite bakery, she did not even hear the baker call her name and tell her that he had kept her favourite pastry aside. She walked passed as soon as she saw him as she was afraid he would see that tear find its way to her cheek.

She reached her apartment and fumbled while finding the key in her bag. “Why is his happening?” “Count to 10, things will be better”. She had learnt to pacify herself by counting to ten every time she was under pressure. And sure enough she found the key! At last opening the door, she threw her bag on the floor and herself on the bed. And she cried, long and hard. She cried for the good, the bad and the ugly, she cried for everything, letting herself go. Letting emotions take the better of her. She did not know when she fell asleep or how she fell asleep. She had not checked the time. When she woke up it was still dark outside, but the lights in her apartment were on and so was her laptop. She checked her laptop and saw their photo, she quickly opened another window; she had been listening to The Doors (their favourite band). And the memories started coming back again. Her expressions changed from happy to sad. The smile faded and she started crying again.

She wailed she hit the bed and threw the pillows; she fell on the ground and cried her lungs out. “Why did I let him go... might we have worked things out?” but that time was long gone, for he was already fighting a battle on his home base. He had been called back to report to duty immediately and he just met her briefly. They had planned to announce their engagement and marriage this time to family and friends. Her parents had begun wondering who she was dating in the city and were worried. They had given her a year’s time to settle or eventually get married to a man of their choice. But she had fallen madly, deeply in love with him.

It wasn’t love at first sight, nor was there any melody playing in the background when they met. It was a casual meeting over thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s place. But they got talking and she didn’t remember whether it was the wine or just him for they talked for hours through the night and all the way till he dropped her home. Being a gentleman he did not come in and they agreed to meet again; this time over coffee.

 It was just always so smooth with him, he knew exactly what she was thinking, what she wanted, how she felt, how she would react, what she would say, how she would express. She thought he was perfect. He took care of her, and her wants. He always understood her so very well. And best of it all, he would always make her laugh. They had the same tastes too in food, wine, cigarettes, books, films, music, and theatre. Plus he was a tender lover. She would moan and yield in every time. He loved her dearly, and when he held her, he felt complete. They had started living- in just two months in their relationship (“Was it too soon?” they would keep asking each other). But they were happy. He cracking stupid jokes, making her laugh while she would cook him breakfast.

But time was running away and he would have to return to his base. He would only come to be with her every 2 months and she would make the most of it. They would just spend the mornings cuddling in bed and then finally get up only when the sun hit their eyes. This time he had planned to stay back for more than his normal 10 days, he was planning to stay back forever; he was planning to quit the forces. But as luck would have it, a war broke out and he was called back.

He saw her waiting at the baggage claim with flowers in her hand. He just kept staring at her, she was looking so beautiful. He noticed how she had been to the parlour and set her hair, she was wearing make-up, and a new dress. He held her in his arms and kissed her ever so softly and gently. But before she could say anything he told her he had to be back at the base. She held herself, did not show him her frustration, anger, sorrow and despair. She kissed him back and bade him good bye.      

But that was a fortnight ago, and here she was tonight crying away alone. She was waiting for the doorbell to ring, for him to come in and swipe her off her feet. A bell had rung last morning. She had received a call from the commandment centre asking her to come to their office to identify a soldier’s body. She was not willing to go and all the while she did she prayed that it wouldn’t be him. She was led to the morgue and asked to look at the body. She looked and turned pale and fell to the floor and nodded in agreement. It was him. She waited to reach home before she could cry. She sat at the window with dull eyes looking up at the sky and trying to find love again.

She remembered a story her mother had told her, when people die they go to the heaven and become stars and shine upon us. “It’s their way of lightning up our darkened lives”, her mother would say. She looked up again and found him, shining back on her and guiding her...her pole star.

My world is changing...

My world is changing...

E-commerce is changing the way the world shops, one can now purchase goods and services online either with a direct bank transfer of the amount charged or by swiping one’s credit card. But did you also know that now you can do all this and more by using virtual currency? Yes, it’s entirely legal to purchase some goods and services online using virtual currencies like Bitcoin!

Now how is this possible you may ask.. I did some research on Bitcoin concept myself and this is what i have found

A software developer called Satoshi Nakamoto proposed Bitcoin, which was an electronic payment system based on mathematical proof. The idea was to produce a currency independent of any central authority, transferable electronically, more or less instantly, with very low transaction fees.

Conventional currency used to be based on gold, or silver. Bitcoin is based on mathematics. Around the world, people are using software programs that follow a mathematical formula to produce Bitcoins. The mathematical formula is freely available, so that anyone can check it. The software is also open source, meaning that anyone can look at it to make sure that it does what it is supposed to.

Bitcoin has several important features.

1. It’s decentralized

The network isn’t controlled by one central authority. Every machine that mines Bitcoins and processes transactions makes up a part of the network, and the machines work together. That means that, in theory, one central authority can’t tinker with monetary policy and cause a meltdown – or simply decide to take people’s Bitcoins away from them.

2. It’s easy to set up

3. It’s anonymous

4. It’s completely transparent

Bitcoin stores details of every single transaction that ever happened in the network in a huge version of a general ledger, called the block chain. The block chain tells all. If you have a publicly used bitcoin address, anyone can tell how many bitcoins are stored at that address. They just don’t know that it’s yours.

5. Transaction fees are miniscule

6. Its fast

You can send money anywhere, and it will arrive minutes later, after the Bitcoin network processes the payment.

7. Its non-repudiable

When your Bitcoins are sent, there’s no getting them back unless the recipient sends them to you. They’re spent.

But what goods/services can one buy with Bitcoins?

One of the biggest destinations for people’s Bitcoin is online gambling. It’s fast, with an immediate return (or loss) and bets can start relatively small.

There are some more general e-commerce sites selling multiple products in a particular category and offering cross-category sales.

Bitcoinshop.us, for example, offers products from air-conditioners to watches, all priced in Bitcoin, for those wanting to make a purchase. The catch: it only ships to people in the continental US.

BitcoinStore.com sells electronics and ships internationally.

Now it’s actually really up to us to embrace this virtual reality!

And just like that she cried...

And just like that she cried...

It had taken her a year to climb the mountain and a year to descent,

But the down- hill way very tough, tougher than she thought,

For her anecdote her love had dried up...

And just like that she cried...

She used to call him teddy and cutie pie and then she called him names

She used to love his sight and then she hated the same

And just like that she cried...

He told he loves her, but that was not enough,

She wanted to live a 100 years over with him with her face chin up

They held hands, forever till eternity they sang

And then... well logic hit them with a bang!

They chose to watch each other’s back; they chose to be happy for each other

And just like that she cried...

But were they happy enough?

Enough to fool logic but not themselves... they cried every time the radio played their song, the television ran their movie...

But no word was exchanged, until he read the news in the obituary column, she had bidden the world good-bye, and now she was waiting for him...

And just like that he cried...