Destination Infinity's Blog, page 16

My Dream Bike – TVS Zeppelin

A Cruiser Bike? From TVS?

I currently have Bajaj Avenger 150 and it too is supposed to be a ‘Cruiser’. It does ‘cruise’ comfortably for 30-40 KM, which is slightly better than the TVS Star City I had earlier.

Frankly, we don’t buy cruisers at this price point to travel Inter-City or anything. The best we can hope is to go to ECR and be back without getting tired. (40+40 KM.)

We buy cruisers because they are shortish+long, designed well, and look different from other bikes. The TVS Zeppelin from TVS definitely scores well on the ‘looks’ department

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My (New) Dream Bike: TVS Zeppelin

A Cruiser Bike? From TVS?

I currently have Bajaj Avenger 150 and it too is supposed to be a ‘Cruiser’. It does ‘cruise’ comfortably for 30-40 KM, which is slightly better than the TVS Star City I had earlier.

Frankly, we don’t buy cruisers at this price point to travel Inter-City or anything. The best we can hope is to go to ECR and be back without getting tired. (30+30 KM.)

We buy cruisers because they are shortish+long, designed well, and look different from other bikes. The TVS Zeppelin from TVS definitely scores well on the ‘looks’ department

How to Negotiate Effectively & Retain Relationships [East vs West]

Negotiation is different from Bargaining.

When bargaining, each party tries to get the best deal for themselves. One side wins and the other loses.

When negotiating, both parties need to win to ensure long-term success and healthy relationships.

In personal and business matters, relationships are crucial for success.

Unless we are at a tourist destination which we are not bound to visit again, we should aim to negotiate and retain mutually beneficial relationships – not bargain.

Beyond Wins: Eastern Mindset for Success in Daily Business Negotiations by Mala Subramanium is a book about how ‘Eastern’ (Indian) concepts might help you with negotiating in business, and in life.

In the first part of the book, she explores the differences between the two cultures, and why cultural differences are the reason for misinterpreting actions by Indians, by westerners.

For example, if Indians who newly moved to the US are quiet in a meeting, their western bosses might think they don’t have opinions or anything to contribute. However, this is to be seen in the light of meetings that happen in India where subordinates are indirectly coerced not to speak up, esp. against the opinion of people in higher authority.

Another example is when Indians make a point indirectly and assume that westerners understand the implications. For example, Indians might say ‘I have to attend a wedding’ and assume that their western counterparts might understand that they will be on leave. But westerners prefer direct communication.

One more example is Indians’ inability to say ‘No’ as it is rude in India to say No to higher ups or clients. So, when the promised (extra) work is not done, westerners think of it as dishonesty.

The author says that there is a fundamental difference between the two cultures. In the west, it is a systems-driven culture; and in the east, it is a people-driven culture.

In the second part of this book, the author explores effective ways to negotiate successfully and retain relationships. Although she labels it Eastern, I feel, the concepts mentioned in this section are/have been Universal.

Problem (When you know there is a problem – don’t start negotiating yet) —–> Data Collect all data to understand all available options —–> Insights (When you know the point of view of both sides clearly, start negotiating)

For example, if a father is upset about his teenage son returning late from parties, a father’s instinct is to enforce strict rules on the son and threaten him with penalties. But, if the father speaks to the son and understands why he unable to come early, he will gain valuable insights that might enable both to conclusions acceptable to both.

The author gives valuable points and case studies on why, while negotiating,

It’s important to focus on satiating the clients’ needs and NOT their desires It’s important to fix the problem and not the blameIt’s important to take ownership and look inward for the solutionIt’s important to be positive and creative while negotiatingIt’s important not to challenge/refute clients’ or higherups’ It’s important to reiterate positive outcomes due to them in the pastIt’s important identify the type of person [Planner, Mover & Shaker, Doer, Talker] and allocate the right task to the right personIt’s important to understand why each person interprets the same situation differently depending on their world viewIt’s important to be calm and refocus the discussion when the customer mentions the competition It’s important to use silence in crucial situations

The second part of the book is good. It’s a useful guide to negotiate with people – not just in business, and not just for westerners.

Links for ‘Beyond Wins: Eastern Mindset for Success in Daily Business Negotiations‘ (Amazon Kindle US; Amazon Kindle India)

Destination Infinity

‘India: Destination Infinity’ ~ My New Initiative

I am listening to paid audio content nowadays. One of the speakers asked three questions –

Would you do what you are doing if you had enough money in your bank account to last for your lifetime? Does what you do create a lasting impact? Would you be proud of your work and would it survive beyond you to create a legacy?

That made me think. I do a few different things from blogging to video creation to freelance work. But none of them stand the test of these three questions.

I had an idea to learn more about my country, its culture, history, how and why things work in this complex ecosystem, what can we learn from our past and present, and what can we unlearn.

I wanted to do research on these lines and publish a summary of my findings. For some reason, this project never took off.

It’s a huge project, but I think now is the right time to start.

So introducing my new Initiative – India: Destination Infinity

Actually I will be doing the blog posts here in a separate category, but I needed a separate page to list the resources related to this project in one place, so the separate domain.

One of the objectives of this initiative would be to promote Tourism to India. But that’s just the surface. I will be going much deeper on topics related to the Indian past and present that most of us are unfamiliar with.

For example, the first topic I might be presenting on is – Saraswathi Civilization that flourished 12,000 years ago but the river dried a few thousand years later. I am not sure if I can do justice to such a vast topic now, so am exploring other topics as well.

Forms of Content

Since I have developed quite a few content creation skills in recent times, I have decided to create the same content in multiple forms like written blog posts, videos, images, gif (memes), audio (podcast).

I will repurpose and publish content for each topic on multiple places like this blog, medium, quora, linkedin, facebook page, instagram, tik tok, helo, pinterest, youtube, etc.

I guess now you would have realized the enormity of this task – each topic might consume even one-week to create content in so many forms and publish at so many places.

But I want to do it.

When I want to do it, I will do it

Post-Lockdown: Steps to Prevent COVID-19 [Infographic]

With my new-learned skill & a newly purchased online tool, I have created my first Infographic on Steps to Prevent COVID-19: Post-Lockdown. Here it is ~

Below is the text version, if the above infographic looks too small in your device.

Steps to Prevent COVID-19 Post-Lockdown:

Until 3-6 Months After Lockdown,

At Home ~

Disinfect and Clean Surfaces that are Touched OftenAvoid Touching Anywhere on your FaceWash Veggies, Fruits & Food Items Thoroughly

At Work ~

Avoid Meetings & Travel. Meet Virtually via Video.Wear washable Gloves while touching frequently touched points like Elevator buttons, Biometric sensors, etc. Use Infrared Guns & Thermal Cameras to Assess the Temperature of Visitors, EmployeesGroup & Distribute Lunch Breaks over Longer Periods

Medical Aid ~

If Fever/Cold persists beyond 2-3 Days, visit a DoctorTake a prior appointment with the Doctor and see them directly instead of waiting along with other patients

Continue Doing These (As you were during Lockdown):

Wear a FaceMask – Put on a Facemask before you go out; If not, cover your face/mouth with cloth or elbow before you cough or sneezeWash your Hands Often – Wash your hands often with water and soap at least for 20 seconds. Use a Hand Sanitizer when you are outsideMaintain Social Distancing – Stay at least 3-feet away from others everywhere

Don’t Panic. Of all COVID-19 Positive Cases,

80% – Infection/Quarantine20% – Hospitalization5% – Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Destination Infinity

You can add your suggestions/points in the comments section.

My Non-Fiction Book Trailer Video

I first announced the idea to write a non-fiction book on Feb. 27, 2013, in this blog. Then I announced the publication of the eBook in Amazon Kindle on May. 15, 2013.

If you look at the comments section of the above two linked posts from 2013, you’ll find more than 25 comments from fellow-bloggers in each post.

Receiving many comments on blog posts seems to be a long-lost blogger privilege about which we were discussing in today’s Chennai Blogger’s Club Zoom meet. (So I thank bloggers who are reading and commenting even now…)

Anyways, coming back to the title of this post, since I am learning to create professional videos, I thought why not use that skill to create a book trailer for that non-fiction book now…

Well, why not? So here it is

Greeting-Wedding Cards & Gifts with ur Voice

You can send a greeting card or even a wedding invitation with your voice recorded in it. When the recipient opens the card the voice will automatically sound/play. (See the above two embedded videos for example.)

Talkable Gifts (Click to go to website) is a Theni (TN, India) based organization that makes customized cards and gifts with your voice recorded in it.

I have seen greeting cards with recorded voice before – but those cards have a pre-recorded generic voice/script. Now I found someone who would record your/anyone’s voice and embed it into the card.

I (virtually) met the owner of this business at BShip’s (our community business network) Zoom meet recently and I thought the concept was interesting enough to write a blog post and spread the word.

So I called him post-meet.

He told me over the phone that in addition to cards, gifts, etc. they also make calling bells, photos, calendars, etc. embedded with voice. The voice is played when you take some action – like open it, press a switch, go near, etc.

These products are either battery operated or run using wired AC power. Customers record and send their voices through WhatsApp which is embedded into the products with sensors before shipping.

I think this makes a different/innovative gifting idea and would surprise the recipients. That’s why I am featuring it on my blog.

This post is just for your information – it’s not a recommendation and I am not affiliated with this vendor in any way. Do your research if/before you decide to buy.

Destination Infinity

A Disturbing Incident Mentioned in ‘Influence’

‘Influence’ by Robert Cialdini is an insightful book I read recently. There is one incident mentioned in that book by the author that keeps lingering on in my mind. I am just unable to come to terms with it.

To what (insane) levels can obedience be pushed? How much will people do when asked to by a ‘higher authority’?

There is an experiment conducted in a University where volunteers (for a small pay) are required to do certain tasks for behavior analysis and research. A few volunteers come.

Each volunteer is asked to press a button that gives a small electric shock to a person wired and tied to a chair. Initially, the shocks are small and the researcher keeps noting down the reactions.

After a while, the researcher asks the volunteer to increase the intensity of the electric shock to insanely huge levels – step by step.

In spite of the minor protests, shouts, and the loud cries for help by the person tied in the chair, more than 80% of the volunteers kept pressing the button even when the shocks were increased to dangerous levels.

Later it was revealed that the person tied to the electric chair was an actor and no electric shock was actually applied to him. So the experiment was on the volunteers to see how far they’ll proceed.

The higher authority, in this case, doesn’t have much of an influence as he is just paying a small amount and this is just a volunteering gig.

If this is the kind of result they were able to obtain,

Think about what all people will do for employers, family members, military commanders and the likes who are in a position to exert inordinate influence and command on others.

I now understand a quote which said the second world war was not due to Hitler, but due to the millions of people who obeyed his orders ‘obediently’.

For some, it’s difficult to even fathom that blind obedience could also be a bad thing!

Destination Infinity

3 Football Quotes I Love

Here are three of my favorite Football/Sports Quotes that I came across recently –

If you want to see more Football Quotes, have a look at the linked webpage.

Destination Infinity