Raj Shankar's Blog, page 66

Interesting Links This Week: 09-Dec-2012

Here are selections from my online reading over the week. The first two are on Innovation while the last one is on Networking!

Street strategy is the ultimate in creative problem-solving. - Selling solar powered lamps to light a country! An interesting take on where to connect to become more receptive to opportunities and also get creative at problem solving. A short write up from Prof Kanter: http://blogs.hbr.org/kanter/2012/12/use-street-strategy-to-build-n.html

India Innovates! This interesting report from Department of Science and Technology features 10 innovations from India. Looks like this is going to be a regular report featuring emerging startups and home grown innovations. Inspiring! A short report on yourstory.in with a link to the complete report. http://yourstory.in/2012/12/6-startups-feature-in-india-innovates-report-a-goi-report-on-technology-innovations-in-india/

“Multiplex Tie” - Do you have someone like this on your network? If so, do you know who it is? Worth pondering on at the least! One of the HBR Tips which is very important especially for startups. http://hbr.org/tip/2012/12/06/the-one-person-every-network-needs

Books and Me: Grand Brand Rajini

Book Title: Grand Brand Rajini – Brand Management the Rajinikanth Way

Authors: P C Balasubramanian and Ram N Ramakrishnan

Normally i refrain from reading books which cull out lessons from exceptions. But ‘thalaivar’ is different. I picked the book up only because i am a big (really big) fan of Rajinikanth. I am not a movie buff (i hardly see any) but if i pass by the idiot box and his movie is running, it makes me sit down for a while. That’s his magnetic attraction. Ask the critics and they will tell you a hundred flaws with respect to specifics but no one can dare his ability to provide that wholesome family entertainment. Even the critics admire him – that’s his greatness.

The little book from Rupa Publications talks about the brand called ‘Rajinikanth’ and how he has become what he has. It tracks how the brand was born and how it has become a cult. Interesting anecdotes from the business world are sprinkled through the book. But personally i think more than everything else, his life is a great inspiration for every one of us irrespective of our professional field of activity. There are number of situations where his choices (tough ones) have made a tremendous difference. His respect for his mentors, his co-professionals, his fans, and others makes his journey worthy of emulation. It shows what one human being can do if he pursues what he loves with a strong will and a bit of humanness.

I have a habit of writing down notes for every book i read. When i completed i found that i had a lot to take away on personal development as a human being than on becoming a brand. Here are some of those that i take away strongly from his life:

Hard work and professional sincerity
Commitment and Consistency
Tough choices taken with belief
Learn and allow to be moulded
Believe and live a life that way
Always remain humble and honest
Deliver what you promise
Remain rooted to your customers
ABOVE ALL: Be a good human being

It is a little book written in a casual style, making it easy for a quick read. Rupa Publications has done a wonderful job with the production and pricing of the book! It is easy on the hands, the eyes and the reading. I completed the book on my train journey in a couple of hours.

It seems in hindsight that these (above learning) are what most successful people live during their lives – but the facts at large and Rajini in specific declare loudly that its the exceptions who live them. Though the book talks about how brands can learn from this legend of an actor, i feel the learnings weaved out are a bit stretched. There seem to be a lot more value for individual development than for a firm. Overall an interesting read!

Vedantic Wednesday: Get the Machine up!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend TiECON Chennai 2012.

Talks by insanely successful yet humble giants of business. Interesting debate around whether entrepreneurship should be run as a marathon or a sprint. Inspiring thoughts from champions in sports. Insightful and thought provoking interview of Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.  The silent revolution in remote villages of Tamil Nadu fueled by passion of a lone individual.

It was an extravagant spread of events, where there was something for everyone!

But I found one underlying message getting reiterated across the sessions.  Almost everyone who went up on stage emphasized one thing: the need to be spiritual as you speed towards success. Spirituality offers the anchor, firmly rooting us onto the ground when everything around us is in a break-speed churn. As you become the centre of change that you are creating, you try desperately to control both speed and direction. Very often we lose ourselves prematurely to this battle of conflicting demands and changes. Spirituality, as per all the speakers in one way or the other, at one point or the other, had enabled them to get their bearings. They understood the only thing that is available to them over which they had any control was their own mind, body and intellect. Only when they could direct these, could they gain equanimity. And it is this equanimity, that many hinted (though in various forms) that made them gain ground. So before you set yourself into a mad frenzy to achieve anything, get your machine(Self) up and running the right way!

And for me personally it was very invigorating and inspiring.  Every speaker echoed the sentiment:  evolving spiritually is the only way to a complete and peaceful existence, amidst the chaos of the ever-changing world!

Interesting Links This Week : 02-Dec-2012

This has been a week of inspirational reads at personal and professional level. Had some interesting conversations and interactions also. Will try sharing some of these thoughts soon.  Here are the readings on the web that caught my attention more than others.

Entrepreneurship is on the increase. Atleast in the U.S. http://bit.ly/Uu2Jj2

What is the cheat code for running a successful venture? http://bit.ly/Sshsub

Interesting interview of Chris Anderson http://bit.ly/V3sHWV

Vedantic Wednesday : The fire of knowledge

As I was talking to someone about symbolism in our spiritual practice, he put to me a very simple question. Why does fire signify knoweldge in vedic practices? While I could come up with answers ranging from it dispels darkness, it burns our ignorance, I knew I was lacking originality that is so characteristic of our ancient sages. Then he gave the answer which sounded so simple, so obvious yet so elusive.  Amongst all things man knows, sees and observe, fire is the element that rises up instead of falling down. The way fire rises up, knowledge is supposed to elevate a man, helping him to understand his true nature.

He also added this is the reason why a student was required to offer to his guru ‘Samit’ or sacrificial faggots.  During the ancient vedic times, ashramas or residential schools run by vedic teachers used to conduct regular fire rituals.  The student when approaching a teacher does so with a samit on his head. He offers the samit to the teacher or Guru and this is saying that ‘I submit to you. I am yours. Please give me the knowledge and remove my ignorance.’ This samit would be used to feed the fire, around which knowledge would also be transferred from the guru to his students.

Interesting Links This Week : 25-Nov-2012

Here’s this week’s top three from my list!

From one entrepreneur to another – interesting set of advice http://bit.ly/Ucq86v

The article at time sounds a wee bit harsh. But one cannot deny that being a doctor doesn’t make you immune to cold. As a strategy consultant to me it was inspiring and intimidating. And as a writer, it resonated wonderfully with my upcoming project on harnessing power of customer relationship! http://onforb.es/105R645

For those looking at renewable energy projects http://bit.ly/URqQ7v

Books and Me: The Start-Up of You

Book Title: The Start-Up of You

Author: Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha

Don’t get carried away by the title ‘Start-Up’ and categorize the book as something to be read only by entrepreneurs. This book is all about ‘YOU’ the individual, your career and your world. Interestingly though the book starts with the statement “All Human Beings are entrepreneurs. You were born an entrepreneur (not the ones starting companies). The book is not a quick solution to career problems or challenges. But a manual which provides, an opportunity, to view and embark on an entrepreneurial journey. The book compares you to an entrepreneur and your career as your start-up. In today’s fast changing world this perspective seems reasonable.

There are numerous concepts in the book that can help you in leading an entrepreneurial life. Some of the things that I have found really interesting as strong take-away includes:

Developing our competitive advantage using the combination of assets, aspirations and market realities
The concept ABZ planning
The power of “I to the We” – this is not the typical networking advice but specific and pointed inputs on creating and participating in networks, meeting and winning the trust of people and leveraging the power of network intelligence
Simple and practical advice such as setting up an interesting people fund, maintaining curiosity to be opportunity prone and being resourceful by investing in yourself are extremely easy to implement and benefit from.

The book comes from the cofounder and chairman of LinkedIn which provides him the vantage point to detail on how to use the power of networking which has become extremely important in today’s increasingly networked environment.

I personally enjoyed the section titled ‘Invest in yourself’ which appears at the end of every chapter and the list of books referenced under further reading. While the book is easy to read and move through quickly- it provided me opportunity to tangentially spin-off in directions and set me thinking on how to apply.

Vedantic Wednesday : Something for Everyone

Very often when you want to learn, you are swamped by the available volumes of literature. Every one of them look enticing. But many leave us puzzled and more confused. The fault does not lie in thVery often when you want to learn, you are swamped by the available volumes of literature. Every one of them look enticing. But many leave us puzzled and more confused. The fault does not lie in them, but in us for failing to have a progressive map for acquiring knowledge. The ancient masters realized we would face this same predicament when we attempt to learn from the ancient texts. So they got down to organizing it.

As in any study there are texts written to suit the needs of a variety of students. Since students / readers come in different stages of knowledge, the subject under consideration is also presented accordingly. In ancient India we find that our great rishis, have created complete and detailed texts pertaining to specific subjects. These texts are complete treatises on the subject. But they are meant for the serious and advanced learner. These texts contain knowledge based on the timeless principles. Such texts are called ‘sastra-grantas’. Some examples of ‘sastra-granthas’ include: ‘Bhautika Sastra’ – Physics; ‘Rasaayana Sastra’ – Chemistry; ‘Artha Sastra’ – Economics; ‘Vastu Sastra’ – Architecture.

With passing of time, since many learners could not develop the abilities directly to study the ‘sastra-grantas’ – the sages / rishis created another type of text called ‘prakarana-granthas’. These as the name suggests are topical texts or introductory texts. They do not contain all aspects on the subject of coverage, but take up a certain set of concepts and detail them. These texts are for the serious and sincere seeker who has just started on the path of learning, but is still not clear with the concepts and terms in the subject area. Without this fundamentals well understood, the student may get lost trying to study the ‘sastra-granthas’ and hence for such students a study of the ‘prakarana-granthas’ are suggested. Some of the ‘prakarana-granthas’ include: Vivekacudamani, Atma-bodha, Tattva-bodha.

Competition – Thoughts from T.Nagar

Sea of heads! That’s what comes to your mind when you see T.Nagar especially during the festival season of Diwali.

When one watches the video shots of T.Nagar (a prominent shopping areain Chennai) on television, doubt if they will even muster the courage to make a trip down there. I always think the people who go there are the ones who never watch this footage.

With all the malls and online stores – T.Nagar shopping seems to be only on the increase against all pundit’s prediction.

How is it that these stores manage to attract customers in spite of all the rush, driving and parking challenges, noise, small fights, elbow nudging, etc? Why do people feel there is value in going over and shopping at T.Nagar every year in spite of the challenges? How do so many look alike competitors sitting next to each other happily (may be not so really) co-exist and remain in business? Is hyper-competition actually catalyzing sales in this area?

Can there be lessons to learn from these store owners and businessmen for all of us?

Interesting Links This Week : 18-Nov-2012

From stocking density of broiler chicken to what we can learn from HSBC; this week has presented some really interesting articles

Valuable lessons from HSBC – things we forget when we remember only growth! http://bit.ly/UAdJY1

An article on one of the most entrepreneurial communities of India; reminds you life is all about change; and one might as well be prepared for it http://bit.ly/UFnIBy

An article I stumbled upon rather by accident – but one that gave me a lot to think on research, motivation to pursue what you like and more importantly to be objective when you seek answers http://bit.ly/Yk878V