A person who has access to and trust of a niche audience (example: photographers, realtors, architects, doctors) enjoys the attention of marketers who seek to sell to this audience. This person is the essential bridge, an essential door, a credible way to reach out to people immune to cold calling and blanket advertising.
Read MoreA problem is a like a beefy burger, and it is tempting to go for it all at once. Just like every layer in a burger is different, so is every layer in a problem – some aspects might be related to the people involved, some might be related to the system itself. A leader helps with clarity, applies self discipline to separate entangled layers and asks the team to focus on one at the cost of another.
Read MoreWhen the music plays, we sing and dance. For those who are deaf, they would think we have gone mad. For those who are blind, they would think we are a bore to not make the most of the melodies. Some hear music when there is none. Some miss the music that’s quite obvious.
Read MoreOur best clove for the day is merely perceived to be so. Favourite artists, the best park bench, cool wind and serene rainfall are desirable because that’s how the recipient perceives them to be. While we probably do not control the nature of the clove, we control its desirability quotient, thus making it the awesomest one for the day.
Read MoreIn a matter of 3 months, I have 4 distinct teams reporting in, leading self drafted projects, with individual objectives, evolved roles, and have started delivering on promises made – this does not happen without the top management’s support and presence of talent. Support comes with a track record and sincerity. Talent has to be identified – not all high performers are painted blue – some thrive in red, some in green. And your head needs to sit firmly on your shoulders.
Read MoreWe do not have to fix the outside world. We merely have to fix our perception of the outside world. That may mean accepting the grand old cobbled street with all its dust and cobbles and pebbles for what it is. In this acceptance, lies bliss. In this acceptance, lay her joy, currently lost, as she stood looking at her ‘imperfect’ world.
Read MoreFirst step is authenticity, and we can trust our people to be so once they are free of the unnecessary shackles. Second step is correct information. Our teams ought to be armed with all the information that a customer needs – and we should be the one to decide what should the customer know. This information has two categories – pleasant and unpleasant.
Read MoreFocusing on some aspects often results in a trade off – you have to let some things go, and be dogged about delivering despite challenges. We chose to stick to promised service quality despite cash flow and operational challenges. As a result, we could build a certain reputation and won over customer trust.
Read MoreWhat makes us demand answers from the world outside when the answers come from within? Do we have the courage to take control of our lives, to look at ourselves in the eye and demand answers?
Read MoreWe have grown up thinking about life as a journey – from point A to point B – from past to present and through into the future. This expects one to carry a baggage of past promises, expects one to live up to them irrespective of the present context and loads it up more for the future, just in case.
Read MoreWe sit like a sparrow by our birdhouse – a stubborn body, limiting ourselves within, highlighting imaginary boundaries between you and me, us and them, life and death.
Read MoreThroughout the journey, you end up attaching yourself to beautiful little things. You get fond of the people you work with, the customers you serve, the dreams that you nurture and the relationships that you build. Though inertia sets in at a certain level, it is very healthy for you to hold the good things close to you and share the love. And then to let go, as well.
Read MoreWe see the world through our lens; our perceptions – they call it the worldview – are quite useful when we create buyer personas and develop brand positioning. The border between our personal and professional lives has blurred to a definite extent, and our thought processes have a clear effect on our work performance.
Read MoreWhen you control a story, when you are the storyteller – you control the specifics (or remove them altogether), you decide where the music comes in, you decide who plays drums where to add to the audacity of the choices being taken, you decide who steps into the room and when.
Read MoreThe state of being stretched between these two points causes unnatural unease, and a need to express in a way you know best. For writers, the prose and poetry then is just ejaculation.
Read MoreIf there is a blind spot in client communication (repeated complaints around a same point) or repeated goof-ups on client sites, the mini storms have lesser impact than bigger storms.
Read MorePrepare for the worst from day one. Should have replaced my shoelace the moment I felt it would give away!
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