Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
A perfect guy thing over the weekend
NO it's not beer n sex nor is it beer n xbox, its a bike ride, YES I drove all the way to my grandparents village(200kms from Hyd towards Vij on NH9) on my bike. Can you imagine, CAN YOU IMAGINE what it was like ?? I simple have no words. Let me describe a few memorable things:
1. I chased rain for around 30-35kms, yes it was raining exactly before I reach the place and the roads were slippery, so I started to chase the rain..vroom vroooom it started to drizzle on me ..vrooooooom and it started to rain vroooooooooooooooooooom and i overtook it :D, now it was raining behind me [later the newspapers reported a hailstorm in one of the places and 5people died phew!!]
2. Now its a race against the rain, the rain was behind me and dark clouds hovering beyond me, the sun trying to peep through and glance at me from behind those clouds ... DAMN DAMN DAMN, there wasn't a second during the journey when I felt bad that I didn't have a camera with me :( :(( :((( It was like that ad "Why listen to the sound of humans when you can listen to the sounds of heaven" :)
3. Then there were these vast stretches of green fields and lakes which don't need any introduction nor description :)
4. and last but not the least, straight roads where my Glamour could touch 110kmph [no this is not an ad for Glamour but then it DID touch 110 :) on a straight road & no slope]
All this while going to my g.parents place .... and the journey back was no less exciting with a 'no sun - no rain' day and some 3 dark clouds protecting me from the hot sun it was quite a nice & pleasant journey overall, with ofcourse a lot of scolding from all the near & dear :D
So... Isn't it a perfect guy thing to do :->
1. I chased rain for around 30-35kms, yes it was raining exactly before I reach the place and the roads were slippery, so I started to chase the rain..vroom vroooom it started to drizzle on me ..vrooooooom and it started to rain vroooooooooooooooooooom and i overtook it :D, now it was raining behind me [later the newspapers reported a hailstorm in one of the places and 5people died phew!!]
2. Now its a race against the rain, the rain was behind me and dark clouds hovering beyond me, the sun trying to peep through and glance at me from behind those clouds ... DAMN DAMN DAMN, there wasn't a second during the journey when I felt bad that I didn't have a camera with me :( :(( :((( It was like that ad "Why listen to the sound of humans when you can listen to the sounds of heaven" :)
3. Then there were these vast stretches of green fields and lakes which don't need any introduction nor description :)
4. and last but not the least, straight roads where my Glamour could touch 110kmph [no this is not an ad for Glamour but then it DID touch 110 :) on a straight road & no slope]
All this while going to my g.parents place .... and the journey back was no less exciting with a 'no sun - no rain' day and some 3 dark clouds protecting me from the hot sun it was quite a nice & pleasant journey overall, with ofcourse a lot of scolding from all the near & dear :D
So... Isn't it a perfect guy thing to do :->
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Lets talk business !!
This occurred to me when I participated in a survey conducted by two ICFAI students in person as a part of their project, and I happened to fill their form which was studying the Indian retail investor and they gave me a compliment that I think very different from others around me and have a good business mind, why, the question is WHY don't people care about themselves ?? They are in search of love, in search of money, in search of everything in life but don't care to take care of themselves.
As someone said "Pray for what you want, but work for what you need"
Most Indian upper middle class, especially the IT folk tend to neglect what they actually are meant to be, engineers i.e. innovators or developers. Not just develop code but should be able to develop yourself and people around you. But all I see around me are people who crib, who crib that they don't get what they want in life.
Anyway I guess I have deviated a little too much from the topic, so lets talk business. No I'm not trying to promote my business idea, but was wondering when some discussion came up and a colleague of mine and I had a discussion over marketing vs ethics. Should/Can marketing of a product break all ethical lines? Can the marketing head live with what he claims his product can do when he actually knows it can't in most cases??
Do you think one glass of milk with any supplement can give you enough energy for whole day?? Do you think you can be the best just because you use X blade and not Y blade ?? Do you think your jeans can replace your bf and give you the feel of touch ? Do you think your shampoo can wipe away all your dandruff in just one go ?? Do you think ANY bank can give you always profits in mutual funds? Do you think, Do you think, Do you think ??
Well this is a well debated topic and like in any other argument there is no right or wrong to it, its just the way an eristic can put it forward. People like my colleague should understand that its not a matter of ethics but its an art of persuasion, this reminds me of "Rhetoric" written by Aristotle, my all time favourite philosopher :)
There are different methods of persuasion: By reason, my emotion, subliminal messaging with the aid of rhetoric, sales techniques and other techniques include deception, power, seduction, or even brainwashing or to the extreme of torture. Ofcourse doing anything against the will of the customer wouldn't be legal, so forget about direct torture or power. Now techniques like deception, seduction, brain washing are seen very commonly in todays advertising.
Deception doesn't necessarily mean cheating, in advertising world it just means conveying selective information which most of the times is half-truth. In order to deal with the legal aspects of it, all that the advertiser has to do is add a '*' with conditions apply in the bottom. Retail customers never try to find out what these conditions are, nor do they ask what side effects does the product cause unless they are medicines. So mission accomplished.
Seduction involves temptation and enticement to influence the behavior of another. Now do I have to say anything more on this? Thanks to todays movie stars or other popular personalities, we find every third ad involving seduction some sexual in nature and some just entice.
And then there is brain storming, brain storming involves all the above plus frequent advertising, the more you see it the more you remember it when you are making a purchase the next time. You see a washing powder ad 10times during your favourite show, you tend to try it the next time you go to the store. Pure brainwashing.
So the question is, is it wrong to exaggerate in advertising ?? I would say NO, not if you are the advertiser :) but as a customer I'd want to see only what I get. However human mind is very complicated. An advertisement which shows only what you get doesn't attract enough audience or attention however a overhyped ad would draw more attention, and this is what marketing agencies use in their strategy. So who is to be blamed ?? The customer or the advertiser or the producer ???
No one, the advertiser has to just stick within his boundaries, the producer has to give his best and invest more in research and better his product always, and the customer has to take an informed decision rather than just go by advertising. The legal constraints can be made more strict, for example the case of Indian packaged foods which are supposed to print the expiry date, MRP, Calories, and all the ingredients of the package; you can see hundreds of products with some or none of the above on the pack. A condom without an expiry date will do, but not food products or medicines. A biscuit packet without calories might be acceptable but not pure oil based products.
Similar care can be taken in other products also and tighten the rules further, but strict ethics and marketing don't really go hand in hand if you want to run your business successfully and be profitable :).
As someone said "Pray for what you want, but work for what you need"
Most Indian upper middle class, especially the IT folk tend to neglect what they actually are meant to be, engineers i.e. innovators or developers. Not just develop code but should be able to develop yourself and people around you. But all I see around me are people who crib, who crib that they don't get what they want in life.
Anyway I guess I have deviated a little too much from the topic, so lets talk business. No I'm not trying to promote my business idea, but was wondering when some discussion came up and a colleague of mine and I had a discussion over marketing vs ethics. Should/Can marketing of a product break all ethical lines? Can the marketing head live with what he claims his product can do when he actually knows it can't in most cases??
Do you think one glass of milk with any supplement can give you enough energy for whole day?? Do you think you can be the best just because you use X blade and not Y blade ?? Do you think your jeans can replace your bf and give you the feel of touch ? Do you think your shampoo can wipe away all your dandruff in just one go ?? Do you think ANY bank can give you always profits in mutual funds? Do you think, Do you think, Do you think ??
Well this is a well debated topic and like in any other argument there is no right or wrong to it, its just the way an eristic can put it forward. People like my colleague should understand that its not a matter of ethics but its an art of persuasion, this reminds me of "Rhetoric" written by Aristotle, my all time favourite philosopher :)
There are different methods of persuasion: By reason, my emotion, subliminal messaging with the aid of rhetoric, sales techniques and other techniques include deception, power, seduction, or even brainwashing or to the extreme of torture. Ofcourse doing anything against the will of the customer wouldn't be legal, so forget about direct torture or power. Now techniques like deception, seduction, brain washing are seen very commonly in todays advertising.
Deception doesn't necessarily mean cheating, in advertising world it just means conveying selective information which most of the times is half-truth. In order to deal with the legal aspects of it, all that the advertiser has to do is add a '*' with conditions apply in the bottom. Retail customers never try to find out what these conditions are, nor do they ask what side effects does the product cause unless they are medicines. So mission accomplished.
Seduction involves temptation and enticement to influence the behavior of another. Now do I have to say anything more on this? Thanks to todays movie stars or other popular personalities, we find every third ad involving seduction some sexual in nature and some just entice.
And then there is brain storming, brain storming involves all the above plus frequent advertising, the more you see it the more you remember it when you are making a purchase the next time. You see a washing powder ad 10times during your favourite show, you tend to try it the next time you go to the store. Pure brainwashing.
So the question is, is it wrong to exaggerate in advertising ?? I would say NO, not if you are the advertiser :) but as a customer I'd want to see only what I get. However human mind is very complicated. An advertisement which shows only what you get doesn't attract enough audience or attention however a overhyped ad would draw more attention, and this is what marketing agencies use in their strategy. So who is to be blamed ?? The customer or the advertiser or the producer ???
No one, the advertiser has to just stick within his boundaries, the producer has to give his best and invest more in research and better his product always, and the customer has to take an informed decision rather than just go by advertising. The legal constraints can be made more strict, for example the case of Indian packaged foods which are supposed to print the expiry date, MRP, Calories, and all the ingredients of the package; you can see hundreds of products with some or none of the above on the pack. A condom without an expiry date will do, but not food products or medicines. A biscuit packet without calories might be acceptable but not pure oil based products.
Similar care can be taken in other products also and tighten the rules further, but strict ethics and marketing don't really go hand in hand if you want to run your business successfully and be profitable :).
Single or mingle !!??
It was a long day, not because I had lot of work (I did but work never exhausts me, surprisingly ..well actually nothing does, beats me why) but because of my presence during a list of relationships going haywire around me(none mine ofcourse, I'm still single & easy to mingle :D). Sad part of MY story is, all these sad endings I saw today had almost the same reason: "People wanting their partner to change"
My readers should correct me here if I'm wrong because I was never in an actual relationship(but for few short, no strings attached kinds), don't people in a relationship love the other person for what she/he is ?? Shouldn't that be the reason for love? If it is then why would you want the other person to change? I can understand if its some 10yrs down the line and both take each other for granted and feel they are the same heart & same soul and they actually saw the others lives completely & know if they need to change or not ... but early in a relationship ?!! even before marriage :O .. The question is WHY ?? Are people so desperate to be in a relationship that they are ready to give up what they are and what they believe in and what they want in their lives?? Are people so desperate to be in a relationship that they just go find a partner & change him/her according to her/his thoughts ??
I know a girl who is VERY rich and is planning on forming a trust and giving all the money to the trust with some share as dowry/gifts for her wedding (she lost her parents few years back so has to take care of herself) and wants live on self earned money (she is a doctor too), but 99% of the guys who came with a marriage proposal want all her money along with her and charity is unacceptable. duh!! We are guys, we are supposed to be egoistic and chauvinistic pigs, not want someone else hard earned money even if its your in-laws or even parents, and the other 1% want her to stay @home and stop working and be ideal homemaker, again duh!!!!! We are guys and should be proud in the circle of friends and colleagues if our partner is doing good in her career, isn't that how it should be in the minimum case if not all liberal ??
OK fine, another girl is modern and not very religious, after being in a relationship with her for around 4months or so the guys asks her to change her nature when they get married, he wants her to be a ideal Andhra bride, give up career & serve his parents, become religious (which she isn't, how come someone who is not religious become religious just for a relationship :O :O :O, I'm still in dark over this point, please enlighten me), and mostly a homemaker if that is what his parents would want. AAAAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh then why her ?? Didn't he know that she is she & not someone he wants for his future ?? What made him think she'll change ?
Its almost the same when it comes to girls also, this another girl gets into a relationship with a guy who loves non veg, and she wants him to stop non-veg for her. But WHY WHY WHY ??? Can't you be a veggie while he is a nv?
As far as I see, relationships should not start nor go towards adjustments. Ofcourse marriage & relationships demand for a lot of compromises but it has to be the partners choice to choose and prioritize the list of adjustments, not be forced into. All you have to do is make her feel you are worth every moment and every compromise and every sacrifice your partner makes and is ready to make for you.
These are a few reasons I guess why any relationship be it in business or in life is given a 7yr target (A business is said to be stable if its crosses the 7yr mark, and a marriage is said to be successful if they are together after 7yrs :) )
PS1: This post may sound a little too pro women, but then ain't we all guys dogs :D
PS2: If Feb 14th is celebrated as Valentines day, lets celebrate Oct 16th as bachelors day (my bday :D)
PS3: I can write on this forever but I think I should stop now :D
My readers should correct me here if I'm wrong because I was never in an actual relationship(but for few short, no strings attached kinds), don't people in a relationship love the other person for what she/he is ?? Shouldn't that be the reason for love? If it is then why would you want the other person to change? I can understand if its some 10yrs down the line and both take each other for granted and feel they are the same heart & same soul and they actually saw the others lives completely & know if they need to change or not ... but early in a relationship ?!! even before marriage :O .. The question is WHY ?? Are people so desperate to be in a relationship that they are ready to give up what they are and what they believe in and what they want in their lives?? Are people so desperate to be in a relationship that they just go find a partner & change him/her according to her/his thoughts ??
I know a girl who is VERY rich and is planning on forming a trust and giving all the money to the trust with some share as dowry/gifts for her wedding (she lost her parents few years back so has to take care of herself) and wants live on self earned money (she is a doctor too), but 99% of the guys who came with a marriage proposal want all her money along with her and charity is unacceptable. duh!! We are guys, we are supposed to be egoistic and chauvinistic pigs, not want someone else hard earned money even if its your in-laws or even parents, and the other 1% want her to stay @home and stop working and be ideal homemaker, again duh!!!!! We are guys and should be proud in the circle of friends and colleagues if our partner is doing good in her career, isn't that how it should be in the minimum case if not all liberal ??
OK fine, another girl is modern and not very religious, after being in a relationship with her for around 4months or so the guys asks her to change her nature when they get married, he wants her to be a ideal Andhra bride, give up career & serve his parents, become religious (which she isn't, how come someone who is not religious become religious just for a relationship :O :O :O, I'm still in dark over this point, please enlighten me), and mostly a homemaker if that is what his parents would want. AAAAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh then why her ?? Didn't he know that she is she & not someone he wants for his future ?? What made him think she'll change ?
Its almost the same when it comes to girls also, this another girl gets into a relationship with a guy who loves non veg, and she wants him to stop non-veg for her. But WHY WHY WHY ??? Can't you be a veggie while he is a nv?
As far as I see, relationships should not start nor go towards adjustments. Ofcourse marriage & relationships demand for a lot of compromises but it has to be the partners choice to choose and prioritize the list of adjustments, not be forced into. All you have to do is make her feel you are worth every moment and every compromise and every sacrifice your partner makes and is ready to make for you.
These are a few reasons I guess why any relationship be it in business or in life is given a 7yr target (A business is said to be stable if its crosses the 7yr mark, and a marriage is said to be successful if they are together after 7yrs :) )
PS1: This post may sound a little too pro women, but then ain't we all guys dogs :D
PS2: If Feb 14th is celebrated as Valentines day, lets celebrate Oct 16th as bachelors day (my bday :D)
PS3: I can write on this forever but I think I should stop now :D
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The April 1st post
Well have been a little busy in life recently (NO, not with work :) luckily for me),
1. Recently went to MV Foundation ( http://www.mvfindia.in/index.asp) (all together a different post), spent time with the kids for half a day
2. Made few new friends outside office, don't even ask me how quite weird coincident situations made us friends :)
3. Got to know few more 'relationship' stories, mostly which didn't work
4. Thanks to Arora ug2k3 yearbook is up & running again, but apparently I'm the only one who is not able to login :( :(( :((((
5. I'm getting screwed this Friday, literally screwed !! Escape is not an option, truth guarantees nothing :)
6. Don't DON'T ask me why this post is titled so, just felt this would be the easiest way to fool my readers :D lol I know
7. I don't feel like typing nowadays & have got this urge to use pen & paper !! I know its just a phase :) but still ...
8. I saw 1-2-3 movie (latest hindi flick) & no comments on this .................
9. Its been more than a week since I tasted rice, I have been living on subs & pizzas lately :D & ofcourse no regrets :P
10. Just wanted to finish 10pts
1. Recently went to MV Foundation ( http://www.mvfindia.in/index.asp) (all together a different post), spent time with the kids for half a day
2. Made few new friends outside office, don't even ask me how quite weird coincident situations made us friends :)
3. Got to know few more 'relationship' stories, mostly which didn't work
4. Thanks to Arora ug2k3 yearbook is up & running again, but apparently I'm the only one who is not able to login :( :(( :((((
5. I'm getting screwed this Friday, literally screwed !! Escape is not an option, truth guarantees nothing :)
6. Don't DON'T ask me why this post is titled so, just felt this would be the easiest way to fool my readers :D lol I know
7. I don't feel like typing nowadays & have got this urge to use pen & paper !! I know its just a phase :) but still ...
8. I saw 1-2-3 movie (latest hindi flick) & no comments on this .................
9. Its been more than a week since I tasted rice, I have been living on subs & pizzas lately :D & ofcourse no regrets :P
10. Just wanted to finish 10pts
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