Mumbai Rocks!!

I visited Mumbai recently truly it was an experience that I would remember for a long time to come. My day started very early in the morning. After getting ready for the day ahead all suited and booted, my sweetheart saw me off at the bus stop. They say a good day starts with a nice and heavy breakfast and I did manage just that and as it turns out it was one of the best things I did. This was not the only right decision for some reason I decided to checkin at the Bangalore airport for the evening flight back to bangalore as well turns out this was indeed the best decision.

After reaching mumbai I was excited to see the city after a good 6 year gap. This city has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. From Siddhi Vinayak to Haaji Ali i passed some of the blessed placed place to reach my destination Church gate. I had a few hours to spend before I head to what I had come here for. I stralled around the fashion street and the Art Gallery, it was such a treat to the eyes. Artists share there feelings through color. One of the things that caught my eye was a boat made with Guns and ammunition to showcase the recent carnage. I liked the thought and the silent protest. Its time..

I get to meet a few people in my line of business by Gods grace and this truly was one such moment which does change the way i look at myself. The interactions were heart warming and posted great learnings. I met Mr. Ravi Makhija, a person with great reputation in his field and the time I got to spend with him was truly rewarding. The way to conduct yourself through a discussion and the importance of knowing what you are doing and how you are doing things. He spoke little but whatever he said did make a lot of sense. In his words "I am a good profile but very raw there is a long way to go to really achieve what I set myself out for". My most interesting meeting was with Mr. Sudipto Bannerjee, he was excellent reached out to me in a very heart warming way and then without being critical he did show me the value that I have and the things that I should avoid. His observations were spot on from how my learnings are only superficial and not a deep dive in any field and how important that is to be successful. The excersise of selling a Pen to him would always remain very close to me. I was at my wits end but it did leave a sense of achievement in me I know there is a long way to go. I really need those management lessons and specialisation if I were to succeed in life. Though an exhaustive day was drawing to a close it wasnt over for me. I was a good 2 hrs away from the Airport, the time read 6.45 and my flight was at 8.40...Now you know how important that early checkin was..I reached the airport at 8.35 man that was a very close call. Luckly for me I didnt see a lot of pessengers infact I did see anyone at the security check counter other than myself and the security personnel. I rush through the corridor into the flight and I was the last one to hop on. Tired and exhausted I reached home well past midnight and find myself tucked in bed. God I am so tired..But the worst part is I need to wait....

Terrorism & India

Terrorism effects one and all and it plays on peoples insecurity, innocent lifes and wishes to achieve instability, collateral damage in various forms. I am sure this is not something new that I write. Everyone knows what happened on 26/11 in mumbai and the recent outrage by millions of Indians in Urban India. Interestingly there are tons of debates on news channels and various other media and forums. I believe all this to make good business by fuming this very emotion, let me tell you how. Tune into any news channel and they are asking us to send our suggestions and views through SMS mind you each sms cost 6 rupees and who is making money? So are the news channels really with us or there for the money. Are we fuming anger and hatred and making remarks that we would under normal circumstances never do. I believe we are.

I am surprised at hundreds of people coming out on the Road and saying we will not pay taxes and do a lot of non-cooperation movement against the government. If you think about it we are working for the terror networks this is exactly what they want. They want to slowdown our economy and divert our focus to other things. Our taxes go to the employes in PSUs and different development projects around the country. Yes I agree that they are underutilized and misappropiated and making money for the ministers but even if 20% is coming back to the society I dont think I can risk development work in the country which is already starved by the lack of it. Also the recession around the world doesnt help. So by not paying taxes you think you are helping the country. I really do not think we can afford to stall the progress of our country. There has to be a better way than not paying taxes. We are not fighting against the govt. remember we are fighting against the inaction. We want them to work and work with accountability. How I am sure there are ways there are laws already to force these changes and if there are not than we need to fight to bring those laws.

Anger provoked US to bomb two countries without thinking, I believe, and now they are crying and we are now talking about doing the same thing. I was surprised to see online petitions and millions supporting it without realizing what they are vouching for. We are actually ok with 500 of our great soldiers to give up their lifes because we are angry and unhappy. WAR is not a solution not even targeted bombings. Rats will hide from one hole into the other. Terrorism cannot be resolved overnight. US bombed countries is the world to what good. Are we free of terrorism? Today pakistan is hiding some elements tomorrow some other countries will shield them. By bombing countries US has created a situation where the US citizens are forcefully holed up in their own country. They cannot travel without fear anywhere in the world. Do we want to end up being targets around the world and be a reason to be hated because we acted in haste.

There has to be a better ways to tackle the situation. I just hope that the Govt just to show people in India and win some votes do not act in haste and bomb some locations. While we really need to fight a diplomatic battle with Pakistan and demand them to take action we need to look at ourselves and take some measures to ensure that gullible people like us and millions in our villages are not used/mislead into doing such dirty unforgivable act.

I would support

1. Police reforms so that we can tackle situation better if it happens
2. Central Investigation agency independent of political indulgence
3. Autonomous bodies to monitor Govt. spendings and MLA spendings with authority to take action against people who are caught doing wrong.
   
4. Mandatory Social Service for all Indians irrespective of who he is from the president to the beggar on the street. If we get even 5% of our population do this we will change our country inside out.
   
5. Create a sense of equality. We are Indians. Thats all!!

Remember majority of our populations live in villages and small towns and they are worried about feeding their kids and medical help and education, clean water, basic amenities they are dealing with a very serious problem of surviving everyday. If we want to change our country and fight Terrorism in a more efficient manner I believe that we have to create the sense of belonging. I belong to India. I am an INDIAN.

I wish we are not fooled by sudden rush of blood and misleading NEWS CHANNELS. Think beyond and out of the box.

If I act happy when people around me are sad I am insensitive and selfish but if I am happy and spread happiness around me by working with the sad everyone looks upto me. We need to unite and contribute to bring the country together. Time heals the biggest wounds but anger only burns more than it cures. We need constructive action and self realization more than bombing others or not paying taxes. I am not a politician nor an economist but I do believe that there is always a better way than killing one another.

Celestial Celebration

The barbaric happenings around the world and the pain inflicted on ourselves make even the celestial beings smile at us. Yesterday as I was heading back home from work I witnessed what has been termed as The Celestial Triangle. "It's all in the simple mechanics of how the earth, Venus and jupiter move around the sun also on how the move revolves round the earth". One of the papers was quoted saying "The moon smiles as Venus and jupiter come close together.

I thought to myself what an irony everywhere around world people are dealing with major crisis economic, political & the omnipresent Terrorism and all of these are Man Made..who enjoys it the planets and the stars. If we continue our apathy towards our fellow beings and mother nature I wont be surprised if we all will be laughing at our own deeds. Do i sound pessimistic? I have liabilities and fears surrounding me and I only wish that I can do away with my liabilities and fears at the cost of being pessimistic.

The scene in the sky yesterday was beautiful to say the least but seriously I am not sure how many of even care to look up to the sky these days. Grim thoughts and sad feelings..

Tribute to the Men in Uniform

My heart goes out to all those families who have lost their loved ones. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and uncertainty that the families of these brave and courageous soldiers of our country have to face. While I am sure that like all other tragedies in our country this will also go down as a date on our history books with many dead and many broken families I only hope that the people concerned take some action to atleast infuse fear and deter people who dare in their dreams to take innocent lives and tarnish the imagine of our Country.

Come to see on the face of it, it is so easy for the terrorists whenever they want to send a message of fear they get up and decide to blow up in front of you or kill thousands for no reason. while if we wish to send these terrorists a message we really have no way. I really wish that once the investigations are over with the ones who are caught and even for the terrorists who are killed. Both the dead (terrorists) and alive should be handed over to the public and left in the open to rot and be eaten by rats or pissed on, humiliated in whatever manner possible. Let the once caught alive be kicked and trashed just as helplessly as we were standing and watching for so many years. I really hope that the media covers and gives the punishment just as much coverage so that the people who even have the slightest inclination to do anything of this nature know if they are caught what happens to them. Not a simple death sentence is enough.

Money Matters

For a while now I have been thinking what to write and what to pick on. I still havent been able to stimulate myself enough to write something or vent out some of my frustrations. Work has been absorbing I dont really know whether I am cribbing or I have just become one by nature. I hope the later is not true. But I seem to be a little out of paitience and complaining a lot more than i should may be not. Are these mood swings?? Gosh..where am i headed...

Okay, I have a question for whoever can answer. Cost Cutting (saving) is it applicable only for companies or do people also should do it? How far can you go without straining yourself and people around you with Cost Saving? I feel I am becoming increasingly worried about saving more and more money as my objective is to save up enough for the coming future. How much is enough? Is there an answer really. Sometimes I feel I am being stupid bargaining to save a 100 rupees if i can. Walk or see two more stores if i can save money. Use my cards to my advantage. Free Bag from one to free movie tickets on the other.

Fortunately i do get and manage to get things like that but that also frustrate people who are with me. I think before i spend and i think about where the money will come from before even i spend it. I want to know where it comes from and where does it go? I like spending money but only when i am convinced its worth it and very impulsively..

Diwali!! :-)

Flowers in the Garden await the Light to bring life,
Bees & Birds alike await the Light to bring joy,
How beautiful is this arrangement,
Nature calls light & light Obliges,
Of the many miracles this is the one that everyone shares equally.

To cherish & to share the celebration of light,
To bring prosperity and light of knowledge,
For those who are a little less fortunate,
For those who are blessed,
Let there be blessing like the light, Miracle that everyone shares equally.

May all your wishes and prayers come true this Diwali. Let there be Light all over

Marketing Vs Sales Or Is it?

Marketing Drives Sales and Sales Create the need for Marketing.

An effective marketing campaign leads to a good sale and a good sale results into an excellent Marketing success. I am sure all of us have heard this before. I threw this into a discussion forum on LinkedIn. I throughly enjoyed the response it was truly amaging to learn from so many learned people out there. In this post I am just trying to sum up some of the thoughts from our discussion though I am sure that there will be many more additions to it and I wont want to miss out on any. (I am just so excited to see the response from the people I could not stop myself)

"Imagine a battlefield. Marketing is your Air force i.e. it does carpet bombing but in a targeted location and Sales is your Infantry...you cannot claim to have captured the location until your infantry goes in and secures the location on-the-ground. " - Manish D Marketing Manager Nokia.

I like what Manish had to say simply because it makes me feel like a martyr saving my company, I save 100s of jobs in my company by my performance and even that of the Marketing guys..hahaha...But no really this is cool isnt it??

Jacob Rene Gabriel, AVP Yes Bank says and I quote

1. "Grab attention.
2. Hold Interest.
3. Create desire.
4. Elicit action.
   Of the steps mentioned above...marketings job is the first three.the fourth step is sales. "
   

I think this is what we always do whether we are selling or not. In our day to day chores as well. But yes functionally as the two departments this is exactly what i would like to see.

"A great marketing campaign drives business to the door, however, if you don't have a sales bulldog to meet that lead, the marketing is worthless." says Seth Dudley, VP Business Development Senior Living Residences.

"There is no competition, or one or the other. The business strategy must determine which is the best approach to both get new clients and satisfy existing ones. " - Mike Driver, Corporate Change CRM.

Steve Smith, a Small Business Expert elaborates this in the most beautiful manner one can ask for. Steve if you read this blog ever, I truly truly loved your view..

"All too often, the set-up and objectives of the marketing department and the sales force are diametrically opposed. Marketing is usually tasked with developing the market's potential with new products, advertising, promotions, etc. while the sales force is supposed to develop the client relationship and convince them to buy what marketing has developed. That traditional relationship has some big holes in it. While marketing is focused on a particular demographic, consumer base or trade channel, sales is focused on individual clients within those designated channels. Frequently, it's a matter of understanding who the customer really is. As an example, many consumer goods companies will have their marketing teams focus their efforts on the end purchasing consumer- makes a lot of sense. The sales team, however, is focused on the retailers or distributors that make their product available to the consumer. What works 'for' the consumer doesn't always work 'with' the retailer. If you've ever called on Walmart, you now that many manufacturers will have completely different marketing teams and plans for Walmart as they have for the rest of the market. And if Walmart is a big enough customer to that manufacturer, there may not be a marketing plan for the rest of the market.

All this means that sales and marketing should be strategically align. Sales is in position to gain the customer's business because they have their finger on the pulse of that customer's decision making process. This is something marketing rarely can accomplish. Marketing on the other hand, has to develop products or services that sales can actually sell becuase they mean something to the client being served. Without this kind of working relationship, many companies begin entertaining the notion of trading the players as a means of improving the alignment. In the few situations I have been involved in, the solution was to create a liason positon between sales and marketing. This position works with internal marketing but spoke from a sales perspective. This way, you end up with a marketing team that has a real world understanding of what sales needs to advance the company's market share position or generate new streams of revenue. Not an easy task, but one that plugs the biggest hole between sales and marketing- no communication about what's working."

"Marketing is where the rubber meets the sky and sales is where the rubber meets the road." - Becky Guillory, Principal at Kris and Company.

My two cents from all of this an Ideal world is where there are no challenges and real world is where we all live and breathe to set and see new challenges. We are talking about Sales and Marketing which are like sisters but often fail to behave like one. From an Owner to an Individual Contributor, from a Supply to a demand, everything has a scope to better than what it is. Atleast I like to believe so and I am sure many would like to agree.

Marketing Vs Sales!! LinkedIn Discussion