Enigma at Office

How will you behave if you know a thing is done wrong, still have to do it.
What will you say, if you know that whatever will be done today will decrease your worth in office.

Enigma is a defined as One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable.
its a speech which is perplexing, like a riddle,
and most often than not, the boss communicates this way.
That is probably one big reason behind Email been sent across, to communicate something to the person sitting next to you at office.

Why? because 
We are more concerned about whats happening in the life of a person who is in the facebook and is far away, than the guy who is sitting next.
Thats probably the reson you tend to waste more time trying to figure out the other than yourself.Next time you are faced with enigma, instead of seeking email as the solution,
try sitting down with a pen and paper with the concerned person.

You will be more clarfied, relieved and give better results.

Different Mother and Indian Continent

The Thought


India, it is said is not a country rather a continent like Europe. Every state is a country in itself. and with different countries people have varying taste and behavior. The post discusses about the changing pattern in mother's behavior as we move across Indian Continent.


We are taught about three economies, Developed, Developing and Under developed. We in India have a developing economy. Each economy has various tiers of consumers.
In a developed economy there exist Two tiers.
I- who want exclusive product, high range, they don't think about the cost, rather about the best quality and as mentioned, Exclusive..
II- who want product, at low range, just satisfy the need and they will say thanks.

But India has multiple layers, multiple tier of consumer.
And this consumption pattern changes from every state.
Take for example, Tamilnadu, a Tamilian mother want the child to study hard at school and eventually wants to be at the beside the child's education. You can always find her speaking about how her child has topped in some specific examination, and how hard his father is working.

If you move down Kolkatta, the mother changes drastically.
She wants to be at the centre of everything. She wants the child to become a Superhero, and she will be at the centre for all this movement of the child. Its no surprise that you will find a bengauli child, well versed in atleast two of the forms of art, say Tabla and Studying ( if a male child), or Dancing//singing and studying ( for a female).
While if we look at a Mumbai Mother, she believes in delegation. She is happy if everything is done properly, along with focus on the child, she is also taking care of herself.

Now imagine selling a product to these three varying mother. Take for example a New health drink, like Horlicks or Complan. Imagine what they need to do to target them.

If they have to make an ad with objective that the mother buys the health drink

Tamilnadu- The boy studying hard, becomes aware suddenly that its time for morning tution, rushes to his bicycle and Amma brings the milk and pours in the Health drink, the child drinks and move quickly.
The mother says with pride, " I care".

Kolkatta- The boy is just back from studies, its evening and he is rushing for the "Tabla" class. Mother comes in and insist boy to finish the glass, he drinks and moves quickly,
The mother with an emotion of pride, " I have to take care".

Mumbai- The boy is back from school its 3:00 PM, after lunch he sits on studying table, the clock moves quickly and its 4:00, the door opens of the childs room and mom peeks in to say, " Khelney jaaney sey pehley drink your "8&^%##" the Brand name" drink, and she calls the maid to say, "Baba ko yaad sey "8&^%##" the Brand name" pila dena.

So the point to drive is, " with such a varied cultural shift" the message of the products to consumers need to change.
The time is very near, when products will start communicating differently with 29 Different messages for the same product.

Good for consumers, but this will ensure much greater effort from marketer and Brand managers.

Purpose of Starting

The Thought

With never ending "To Do" list we also by default make two more list. One, " Can't do" list, which comprise of things which we don't do because we are busy doing something else. Also the third list, which is " Missed list", usually which contains those aspects missed from the To do List along with what one forgets.

With most professionals making the Daily report both in the morning and at the end of the day, life becomes institutionalized. The article discusses the thought behind these lists and how to maximize the output.

Imagine yourself standing in a Railway station, early morning, waiting for your train, travelling to a nearby town, around 2 hours in distance. You have planned everything, right from whom you want to meet, what you will talk to them, whats your open agenda (and hidden agenda too).
You still stand anxious, thinking hard wheather you have missed something.
Its this something, which is not their in your To do List.
After long multiple attempts you leave the try, and try to look around for something else.

What has happened is, the confidence in our own ability to do everything right the first time, has decreased.
With the environment, promoting learning from all mistakes, we have become more adapt at making mistake and learning rather than pushing ourselves harder to not make a mistake the very first time.

And to be able to do everything bang on in the first attempt, one need to brainstorm multiple times before reaching a final conclusion. This is where, the three list comes into play.
Spending some time, on these three list of your projects can boost your performance greatly.

Try to pen down your "TO DO" list for the coming week. Then make your's  "Can't do" list, even if it has two points, its worth it. After you finish of the coming week, make your "Missed list".

This simple process will make you aware about your own abilities and importantly will outline your own areas of weakness.
Do let me know in case you need some help.

Cheers...........


And Yes, to tell you

The Only purpose of Starting something is "ENDING".

The Confused Us

The Thought:

Did you ever gave a thought, what we have made our life, with respect to the generation before us?

What are the change that priorities have taken, and how our race is transformed.

Long back I wrote on the types of generation and how to reach a condusive position with each.
To read that you can click here.
We have better technology, better opportunities, more ways to express, more ways to connect, more comfort,
more luxury, still have you thought, we have lesser time than our previous generation.
The most common words that each of my generation say is " Yaar Time nahin Milta" which means " There is no time".
What has happened, that even after such newer opportunities we complaint of lesser and lesser time.
The reason
" With n number of opportunity to express, our generation doesnt know how to prioritize".
Name a school, which teaches Prioritization, ( don't say we learned time management- thats not Priority Setting).
The issue is, the generation needs to learn priorities and the best part,
the elder generation can't teach you that, because they never needed to elarn this skill.
Thats what the point is,
We require an extraordinarily different Skill sets than our previous generation, and this previous generation gap is merely, 10 Years or so.

The Idea: Jot down 10 Priorities of your for today, for this Week, Month and preferable Year.
Can you take this to 5 years.
Cheers

How to get a Great Job?- Part II

For How to get a Great Job Part I click here

The Thought:

Most number of companies ask for a resume, and with thousands of varying formats, companies ( Big companies) have taken pain to make standardized format to give to prospective employees.

What does these resumes have, what companies look for, and what you should actually have.

The need for an employee starts when already existent employees within the organizations are not able to fulfil the tast at hand. So the condition the organization is facing is this

" A task big enough in hand, which already existant work force could not complete in designated time for client or customers."

So the organization set to find the Right fit for this particular position.

Now the organizations filled with cog of wheels employees, now sitting at the Top positions because of the time they have spent in the market and their relations, want to make this process long ( benefits of making it long include travelling outside, showing that you are working hard, and saving good enough amount etc etc ) thus they just inform the College that they are looking for say , MARKETING Manager.

The problem starts here, because instead of giving away all the details and expected work, they end up meeting hundreds of students, most of whom have no idea why they are, or incapable of the work in the platter.

Students don't want to work at the position, they wish to first Work for companies.

Coming to the next important aspect are Resumes.

Colleges don't train students to make professional resumes, neither do they invest time and money working on the POP.

A standard resume has everything except the thing which can get the person the Job.

So next time you make a resume follow these steps.

1. Understand what the organization is actually Looking for, know the key words of the organization and keep it with you to use it in your resume. Don't start making a Resume with your name, start making Resume by first collecting information about the organization- may be website, some friends, or Social websites.

2. Your resume, must tell 5 Important things

         a. Your name/Age/Gender/address: - Needed to communicate to you first hand

         b. Professional Qualification and Educational Background:-Needed to make calculated guess about you

         c. Organization you worked with:- Needed to understand about the overall working culture.

         d. Projects:- Needed to Finalize your ability and take decision about you.

         e. Future plans:- Needed to know whether you will stay long enough or not.

Last few words,

IDEO the design organization, has a fantastic rule. For a post of say "Marketing manager", they do not ask people to send resume. Instead, they ask them to make a Power Point presentation and present it in front of selected people from IDEO, which eventually goes upto discussion and thoughts on the project the person did.

Hope next time, you are not just sending a resume, but showing up your "Greatness",for a great Job.

Wishing best for "Great" job Hunt.....

Cheers

How to Get a great Job?- Part I

The Thought

With n number of institutions and colleges creeping in the so called Education system of India, we need to encourage people to start business so as to absorb these students. But, the question stands tall, what qualitites does these Businesses look for and above all what they must actually look for. The Post discusses the ride of a prospect from Expectation, Skills, and right expectation.

Before we begin let me share a amazing data. Click
the image below.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4673305107_88ae3f1768_b.jpg

The image shows the searches for the topic
" How to get a Great Job"? and whats amazing,

there are only 290 Searches around for words "How to get a Great Job" with almost no competition
While for "How to get a Good Job" there are 1900+ Searches, with very high Competition.

The point I wish to drive is
"Today's youth are aiming for just good". The Whole society, generation is looking for a Good job.
One can argue that its just the lingo, offcourse I would say, but lingo's are by product of the thought process inside the mind.
It hurts to see today's youth just aiming for good, settling for decent enough.

Why can't we aim for something great, i.e instead of aiming for good, go out there and prove your genius.
and remember
"Every one is Genius, you just need to find out at What"

Think................

The Part II will discuss on how companies look at Job prospects and resumes

The Baba's of Baba Ramdev Baba

The Thought

Life has become unimaginabley quick. With a never ending "TO DO" list along with never fulfilling " TO BUY" list, the life of most cunsumors have become a zero sum game, a game in which they don't know what they want, when they want and how much they want.

In the midst of all this ride, what has become a tradition is "Quick fixes".
If one realizes, Yoga become such a big phenomenon because, one person ,Baba Ramdev, gave the common man, much needed hault from this vicious circle of running after and running behind.
He never said to stop wanting, ( like other Former yogis who insisted to take Bairagya), he just directed this want to something inside, woven around this thought was a very beautiful circle of choosing medicines which are Ayurvedic.
One might be amazed to know that Ayurvedic industry in india was worth 1 billion US dollars before which has now reached around 5 Billion US dollars, which is 5 times growth.

The idea is to understand what one can achieve if they clearly identify the gap in the market, and corelate with the psyche of the human kind.
Businesses today needs to realize the worth of investing in the Consumers knowledge and only with that can they become market leaders.

Management Internships..Part II

This is part II, for part I click Management Internships--------Part 1


TheTHOUGHT

The students need to realize their true worth. They must learn the basics, try to not act like a follower. No one gets the Car, or Satellite phone on the first day of their job. Instead of dreaming about the facilities, they must dream about opportunities to learn.

A case:

An intern from some college yesterday amazed me. He was given a work to write a script on the way
Mr. P. Chidambaram ( Home Minister) put forth his views on naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh.
After initial searching from Internet, all he did was (ctrl+C and ctrl+ V) from various sources.
When asked why haven't you written anything that has never been written, his answer was

" I was not told to".
Imagine a young mind, in his 20's giving an answer, "I was not told".
What make you wait, the system, the people, the environment,
Yes, its a room for improvement for my organization too, to provide them an atmosphere were they do things what they think is right along with what is being told.
It hurts when we see interns, doing things what they are told, and trying to follow....

Next time you are given a chance, to do something, make it incredible, a work of an artist.
The Artist in you.......

Management Internships--------Part 1

The Thought:

With infinite MBA instituions and lot many to come, they education system is preparing world class followers and obedient lazy people. What they do when the come for internship? 

A Case

There is a MBA college somewhere in North of india. They offer the so called MBA, and in it they provide 75 days of internship Gaps ( yes so long so that enough time is available to plan new enterants ).
The Business is great, but the students already in the course are greater.
Guess what, they do 45 days internship  and for rest 30 days, take a break, they chill out.
They crib about the problems they face from management, how they feel cheated and that they had more talent than being utilized, and most of them are waiting, waiting for that one day when they will get chance and show to the world............

But, wait, in the same class there are few students, who, instead of cribbing, take the pain, Join second internships, or start some valuable work ( their own work/ business).

There are few students, who instead of cribbing the college, move ahead, talk to professors or the right guide, to train them on subjects they have no idea. They don't waste their energy on what has happened, instead utilize it to change the position they are in.


Its these people. the 3Dimension, who make it Big, who change the course, and infact change their own destiny.

Who are you?

What Happens when someone

THE THOUGHT

What happens when you are down in a Business/job or career? What options do you have? How you formulate your strategy at those moment? Whats your mindset, and what your mindset should be?

What happens when someone tells you"This is your Job, just stick to it.".
What happens when someone tells you, " This is not your Job, don't invade others work domain".
What happens when someone tells you," We have been doing this since years and this is how it is done".
What happens when someone tells you," No, this is not done that way, "
What happens when someone tells you," We are experienced people, and you are new, stop doing things that way".

Well most of you ( if you are really passionate about your work), must have faced at least couple of these situations, and when this situation arises again and again, what do you do?

Choices
1. Stop trying to go beyond, and stick to the job, never invade others domain, try to build relationships by eating out more with your seniors and mates, do endless ( senseless) praise of some lousy work and then start belonging to them.
2. Fight them back, try hard to pursuade colleagues ( which is waste ) and if you get the CEO Director ID mail them back whats going on, and dream that they can take some stern actions.

Most of the people follow the first, few arrogant ones, follow the second ( but payback is big time). But rarely does one think of the other.

There is a Third way, the 3 Dimension to this........

3. Just do not think about them ( the pullers), and direct your energy in something more productive and more creative. To a  place where your talents are grommed more.

It's these people whom the Business Owners, CEO must take care of and they do..
Its these 3D people. who dont need to be told what to do, neither how to do, but instead they need guidance and resources to be an artist.

So next time you are in a fix, just try to think of a new project, a new work area.
Example:
If you are new in an organization and you see people working the old way, instead of telling them, to do work in a New way, (and in front of everyone), just be quite and look.

Then go to the senior most person responsible, and show them how a new way is established/ or is available.
Tell them the amount of time it reduces/saves.
and Do it alone, only in the presence of the senior and not anyone else.

REMEMBER THE SENIOR TOO WANTS TO LEARN, AND IS SIMILARLY INSECURE ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS TALENTS AS EVERYONE ELSE.

Don't make him insecure, instead, give him security, and share the benefits rather than your own profits ( which will sure  be plenty).
Remember


" You will get everything you need, if you just help enough people, get what they want"

So when are you unleashing your 3D?

Hotels! How they can Change..............

Each one of us, have once stayed at a Hotel. and the experience range from decent, to Great  to Pathetic, depending upon the services expected.
Consider a Student coming to a city for appearing in an exam say "CAT".
What does he looks for
a. Best Hotel which has silence and calmness
b. Best Hotel which has big bed to sleep after the Exam ( or before it for few)
c. Nice lighting so as to read at night ( considering the prospect dropped in a day early)
d. Washroom with Both Hot and Cold water 24 Hrs.
e. Free breakfast, complimetary along with pick and drop facility to airport.

OR
a.1. Hotel which provides cheapest and cleanest stay for "CAT exams".

Most of the Hotels do not understand a very simple thing
" Guest don't want everything when they stay at a Hotel, they are not looking for a House,
  they Just want one specific thing which could be cleanliness, silence, nice room etc. But Just One as best and rest can be decent.

Your job is to find out that one aspect which is most crucial for your maximum guests.
And How to Find it...................

Ask them.
The Knowledge about the market your operate, the kind of floating population in the town, which season is dedicated for which particular set of audience,

The Thought

Instead of using anonymous testimonials, Why not make a "Understanding my guest" list.

A book which will be take home ( instead of the Bill with Hotel's address printed on the envelope, a bottle of water).

Why not give this booklet for them to show it to their friends.

Whats More,

Could it be wonderful to give a small "BEST GUEST KIT" to few selected Guest, guest who matters.

Trust and the Young

How one define trust? Is it an act, of being honest everytime with the person the other is involved with, or is it a about being honest with oneself.
Way back, the idea of trust developed with the relationships,  one continued with and nurtured.
The old man started to build communities, tribes, and he began having a social circle, which was limited and had shared interests. It was these shared interest which fostered better trust, thus enabling great understanding.
One can still find the same aspects like,
1. Most people tend to feel more trustworthy with people who are from same caste or tribe.
2. Birds of same feather flocks together, most parents love to do good for their community ( emphasis on their)
3. Rich people build more temples of their preferred god etc etc.

This all tend to build more trust.

This concept still stands tall in our economy uptill now, but suddenly something has happened.
Yes, something is changing, and one must understand this change.
Note this

 "We feel doubt and are fileld with suspicion while we talk to the passenger right next to us while travelling.
 On the other hand

Most Youth are comfortable adding more unknown friends in social websites (facebook/orkut) and talking to them and importantly believeing them.
These youths are those who are searching for mix of ingredients, a spoon of identity, some self appreciation, some new adrenaline rush, and a tiny bit of self expression..


THOUGHT
What does this point to a Marketer.

A completely new set of market is developing, and this market will redefine the meaning of set emotions.
Like Trust, honesty, appreciation will no longer be the same as they were used to be.

Are you ready for this.................

The Air india will be grounded Soon

Apology to all my readers for writing this post really late.

Took a flight to New Delhi, using IC 869, couldnt stop being amazed by what these people do.
If you want to see an organization which still is using the methods of 1980's and not only think, but rather
believe that the customer is not at the centre of their service model, You must really travel using
AIR INDIA.

One organization which poinered the flying experience of most of the Rich people in India during 80's and 90's still lives in the same world.
The flight which was supposed to start at 8:05 started at 8:35, and No reason what soever was shared about the loss of time.
It reached New Delhi 1 hour 4 Minutes late from the designated time of 10:45, imagine people having sequenced flights.
The AC stopped working every time the plane was about to land and/or takeoff ( It goes via Nagpur and stays at Nagpur Airport for 40 Minutes).
No reason given.
The Airhostess and Cabin crew felt out of touch, doing routine job.

 My objective is not to crticize them but to remember that these are the places when a Big organization starts to sink in its own prior success.

They offer absolutely no service for which they deserve customers attention.

Just an example,
The Boarding pass of Two flights both leaving at same time from same destination. on 29th May Saturday from Raipur Airport

1. Air India from backside

2. KingFisher from Front and Back

You can see How Kingfisher is working on every single POI( Point of interaction) with their customer.

Now you decide who must be the Star Airlines, and whose employee will go for a strike.

If anyone from Air India Reads this

" Give all your cabin crew a ticket to fly with Kingfisher and see How they make Customer go "WOW" for their service.

The Thought

" Market has become very fragmented and so has become the media channels. Doing things what used to give result will no longer be of any value. Businesses must understand that its the Little act of kindness and gestures which makes the repeat customer."

Management Lesson from a Mom in Kitchen

When was the last time you went to the kitchen with your mother. No, not just to take more gravy or to look at whats cooking, but to actually stand there when something was being cooked.

Most of us spend life waiting for something great, forgetting the cardinal rule of life,
                                  "There are no ordinary moments".  
                      ( From Kung Fu Panda http://www.kungfupanda.com/)

If you recall the time when you stood by Mom and she cooked say for example " Kheer", called rice pudding, did you notice what exactly she did.
There are few important management lesson waiting to be learned
.

1. You must first add milk and then the rice.

In every business, the first thing is not Money, but the people. You need to identify the correct skill set  employee in order to attain maximum return. If you first think about the customer, you will miss the great Kheer. Timing is crucial.

2. Continue to Stir and so be present always when making "Kheer".

Have you noticed that your mother continiously Stirs the Milk. Why? if you ask her, she will reply,
" It ads gravity- the mass to the Kheer".

Your process of marketing is same.
You need to continiously stir, Stir your audience, your customer, your employee, and the Market.
This will enable for Brand Recall, remember the famous quote,

"Out of Sight means out of Mind". Be present.

3. Adding Elaichi ( Cardamom) and Kesar ( Saffron ).

Cardamom ads flavour, the aroma to the recipie while Saffron ads the colour and the taste.
Similarly in Business, working for minute details are more important. Very rarely do people Push for that little extra 2 %, and you know, its this 2% which matters the most.

 
4. Discipline must be followed to get the best result.

Mom is one among the most disciplined person you will find. For years she cook food at right time, in right quantity for any number of people.
A business must know how to make products in right quantity by knowing the precise number of Demand and Supple.

5. Presentation

If Mom gives you kheer in the same small cup which you used to eat always, it strikes a cord and you can't stop smiling.
Or imagine when few friends of your come in and she brings the Kheer, chilled/hot, in the best bowl at your home, with some dry fruits pieces over it.
Yeah right!

Thats what most business needs to learn today, that presentation is as important as the product. Everything may be best about the product but if the presentation is not great, it kills everything. Similarly so,
Only a great presentation cannot sell a Lousy product. At the end, remember that your customer are going to taste it.



In case you want some great Mom reciepe, visit the blog of Charlene Davis, she is a Busy Mom and Business writer. You will find some awesome reciepes. http://www.busymomsrecipes.com/

THOUGHT

Lessons from the best in any field can be a great source of inspiration.


Always be ready to learn from every small details. Best lessons come from the least expected places. 

The Topping:

My Mom said, " If you don't love the person for whom you are cooking, you will never make a great Kheer".

"If you don't love your customer and understand them, you will never serve them great product"

The Artist in you.......

We live in a world with different people, and since there are different people, they have different work ranging from a Mechanic, to Businessmen, to Engineer, doctor, professor, trainer, and what not.
Even studying is a profession.
Like no work is big or small, similarly no profession is big or small, which takes us to a point
"for what one works".

Some work for salary, some for profits, few other for a cause. This constant run towards creating some thing meaningful and to extract meaning is what we all have understood as work.
But who is an artist? or what is an Art?
If one go by dictionary, lots of meaning exist.(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/artist)
The one which suits best for me is
"A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill".

So, this brings me to the thought that
Each one of us are artist. May it be that your work is writing a software, or it might involve answering the phone calls in the company, or being a street sweeper.

But being an artist is tough. Because an artist puts that extra 10% which no one cares for.
So next time when your boss ask you for a data, don't act as a worker, instead raise above and be an artist.


Visit the link below of Philips. Their UK website, is a work of an artist, it is called "Parallel Line".
http://www.cinema.philips.com/gb_en/

The catch:
You might be sending 100 email a day, and every time you write below,
regards
followed with your name.

Why can't this be a piece of art?( If you wish to learn howyou to do it, drop me an email at khareabhinna@gmail.com, I will send a reply email, on how I have used that space as an artist, and ways on how you too can do it.)

Thought

"Everyday, you get an opportunity, to elevate yourself one step ahead, to grow more as a person, in the same job. Forget what you are called as, what your designation is, instead be an Artist, because only an artist can create what no one can".

The Changing World

Lately, this thought has kept me busy and occupied.
The generation "Y", which I belong to is always questioning, and seeking answers.
The problem is we tend to seek answers outside rather than inside.

No, no, I am not talking in terms of Spirituality or something, what makes me think this are certain facts which pops out of my mind.

Today all I am doing is to organize them and present it to you.

Look at the image below and you will figure out where the pointer is.

Click on the image to enlarge.



so as you can see, following insights are worth noting from that pic

1. What was available in plenty as we call infite in 80's has now become finite or pretty less in 2010.

2. What use to be available in limited quantity in 1980's has now in 2010 is available in plenty.

Hence the Businesses needs to understand that the "Paragraph"generation can not be taught anything using long lectures.

This generation wants quick fixes, they eat fast, and drive fast.

The Idea:
You won't find them where you use to find their parents.

The Catch:

Businesses needs to now market themselves twice as harder because
My dear friends,
The world is standing at the point where deflection has just began.
Cheers

The Small conversations

"Let's make one thing crystal clear. All I want to know is, what is the exact rate that you have bought this. I know you have got it cheaper than what I got it, but, how much is what I am interested in".
" No, Don't tell me", Really...o God...........

Oki Oki, I know that you also have contacts but tell na, How Much?
Please na, Tell me..............

Recently in my trip to a place, heard this SEC A class lady having this conversation on mobile.
Can't stop myself smiling. This small conversation provides acute understanding about this lady as well as the way her life is woven around. Certain observations

- Her choice of words, "crystal clear"( Crystal Haan) , all I want- ( I am dying), exact Rate
(comparision), cheaper than what I got it (comparision continued ), O god ( rising Emotions )...
you also have contacts na ( I too have them ).... Please na ...( asking to Please )

If you can read between the lines you will come to know the way most of SEC A behaves and expects the businesses to perform.
The lady is merely proud enough for what she has, and lives in a purely materialistic word.
Her dreams and desire are woven around the clarity of acquiring more materials.

(No, I am not against Materialistic wealth, but against obsession.)
The women in case has no or very little sense of purpose and is missing the bigger picture of life.
She needs religion preferable god to detoxify her sin- mainly unwanted desire and power requirement-:

With this knowledge can you think of strategies on how to sell her, and what to sell?

Yes.

1. Make everything Exclusive, right from a Soap( Dove is not a soap its a Moisturiser), to
Jwellery-(Nakshatra- the enchanting enigma) or Horlicks Women -( designed the Women).

2. Ensure that the price is High but the add ons are multiple.( Have you ever saw a cosmetic brand giving a discount, Never, because women can't agree to buy a discounted cosmetic brand, so an add on is provided.)

3. Know your product well. Certain products can have discount.
Kitchen applaince are one such category.............No one asks her the price of the set, what they ask among themselves is "Kahan sey Liya".

The point is, knowing small conversation can give you amazing understanding about your customer.

Catch:

When was the last time you had small conversation with your customer.
Direct.

Why Can't they Change- Beauty Parlour Episode -1

A new section, "Why can't they Change", from today.
The Objective: To capture the offerings of a Business around us and to see what are the opportunities available for them.

For the first, lets talk about "Beauty parlours". The way Beauty parlours have flourished in india, clearly points toward one truth.
"We indian's love beauty, may it be leaching, lusting or love, but we want our girl to be beautiful.".

With the worlds most racism promoting product "Fair & lovely" and the likes ( they now show ads that women become super successful after using Fair & lovely which is a clear case of racism), we know how we have forced our women into a vicious circle of becoming fairer......

The point to reach is " Beauty= fairness" has been well grained in our psyche.....

This has led to opening of small Beauty parlours, preferable known as ladies beauty parlour.
Now the point I want to take you is this, "
All the advertisment boards or ads of these beauty parlours has one single positioning statement.

"Kewal mahilaon ke liye".
Ever guessed why?

The men in the home of the Business women( who owns this Beauty parlour ) wanted to be free from the idea that its a Women women thingy.
:) Smile.......................yeah yes it is.

Now here is the Catch?
The Change thing.

Why can't a New Beauty parlour come up with a Tag Line,

"For the Girl in every women"

or Why not have a complete Business associated with the product. for example

" A beauty parlour only for the Women and not Girls"
catering to the Queen of the family. ( Yes don't say queen of the home, because that might stop working women to come in, but when you say Family, a working women is also as interested in the Family-at times much more- than the housewife.)

and

"A Beauty parlour only for the Cutie- The girl in college."

You have to show your id card to get in this Beauty parlour.

Imagine the kind of response you will get from this.

Let's Change........and Change for Good.

Happy Changing............

Cheers........

Part -III- The Pokemon Phenomenon- In India

Part –III

for part I-The Pokemon Phenomenon- 90's Born can't resist and 80's Born can't figure out
for part II-PART -II The Pokemon Phenomenon- 90's Born can't resist and 80's Born can't figure out

So after getting into the American Market and penetrating deep into it, Indian market became lucrative and hot-spot for most brands.
Well, the fact was who doesn’t want to target the country among highest population and also with most youth.
The same thing happened with Pokemon. In India Cartoon Network on 12 May 2003 first showed Pokemon, which coincide with summer holidays. This gave them what we learned before the importance of "TIME FRAME".
Only after launching the TV Show they launched the toys.
Funskool became the authorized dealer for Pokemon toys and launched it in India.
Little did it knew that Pokemon Toys will become such a Huge success. During November Funskool had to launch 22 stock keeping units, sold seven lakh units in the cards category, 4-5 lakh figurines and around 30,000 games.
The price of the cards was Rs 30 and the figurines Rs 50 per piece.

Now Indian market challenges were mainly with the network.
Cartoon Network was available in English, so language was not that a big issue ( until they had to dub it in Hindi ).
Let’s look at reasons why it became huge success in India.

Indian Kids are so much used to Role playing that this game gave them an opportunity to relive it.
Most of the kids (male) have tried to shave with the father’s cream and kids ( female) have put on the lipstick and bangles of mom. The Pokemon belonged to RPG.(more already posted in Part I)

The introduction of the game was very well planned. All the Shanzhai's ( to read more on Shanzhai’s click hereThe Temptation and Shanzhai ) were given opportunity to make as many copies and toys as possible, and were never banned for it after a year launch from Funskool.
This led lots of toys to float in market thus increasing the product recall.

For Indian Market the Communication strategy was slightly different. Everything was built around the concept of Cuteness and they targeted first the English speaking belt of India the South India.

They roped in “Karthik” a singing sensation of south to sing the title track who himself enjoys a lot of credibility among youth.

These were the tactics to make Pokemon became a phenomenon in India too. Hope you all likedthe three part series.

Keep reading for more Insights and Truths.
Cheers

PART -II The Pokemon Phenomenon- 90's Born can't resist and 80's Born can't figure out

This is the second part of the Post “The Pokemon Phenomenon- 90's Born can't resist and 80's Born can't figure out”. If you have not read Post one kindly click here..http://tiny.cc/otj9t

PART –II

So we know what Pokemon is and how it spread in Japan.

Let me share with you a great news. Can you imagine people feeling ill and are forced to be taken to hospitals because they watched a particular TV program. I know you will laugh at me. But this has happened. More than 700+ Japanese were reported to have admitted to hospitals because on December 16, 1997 a particular episode caused viewers Seizure.(Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain).

If you are interested to know more about it click this link

http://tiny.cc/e33cc

So after that dose lets come back to our discussion.

INVADING US

Before launching the game in America, the Nintendo knew that this should not be a game but it must be projected as a Phenomenon as a Wave.

So they played a great strategy. Before officially launching the game in America, they allowed the kids of Japan, who were studying in America take with them the Cards and comics.

So they ensured that the relatives of Japanese in America will bring back with them goods and products of Pokemon with them.

To maintain a relationship with their country, it became a sort of phenomenon for Japanese kids to collect the Pokemon cards and show them off to American Kids.

Second the makers distributed the game through infiltration to America from Asian/Japanese market and labeled them as Goods , “Not for Sale or Use outside Japan”, thus creating a sort of Black Market for the Pokemon.

ADAPTION ISSUES AND TROUBLES:

The biggest issue to deal with while transferring the Pokemon to American market was , “Different Ideologies.”

If you see the children in America and in Japan, there is a very crucial difference on how they grow up.

Take for example, a Music piece.

American Kids are used to fast music, peppy and quick while the Japanese kids are oki with the “Silence” between music tracks.

So the challenge was to convey and showcase the exact worlview of Pokemon to American audience using English language. Hence the vice editor and head of the Character Planning Department of Koro Koro Comics visited the U.S. several times to arrange the broadcast of Pokemon. The issues of: how to translate the names of the 151 different pokemon types into English, choosing the voice actors, and the promotion of game-related products.

Authors also believed that in America, “Cuteness” doesn’t sell. What sell is “Coolness” hence the character names were made cool and were given the look which matched the “Cool” factor.

There were many more issues, like in America, action games were more preferred than other genre.

Anyway, the biggest challenge was to make Pokemon as brand the 151 characters as Sub Brands.

So what they did was, remember the game came in two versions, Red and Green.

But for American audience they made it RED and BLUE. Blue because it was major colour in America than green.

There were lots of adjustments done, like every character had different voice, so different artist were chosen.

One major point which I believe you must know is

The Track: The American version of the Title track was made like a Rap Song, “ which was made for easy acceptance of American kids. You might also be amazed to know that this Rap song contained names of all the 151 Characters, so that the kids can remember it.

Now comes the

PROMOTION.

The fourth P of Marketing Mix. To make it a Phenomenon, what the marketers of the game did is known as “SYNERGY” tactic in the Marketing arena. Kindly read more on Synergy through Internet or get in touch with me in case you cant find satisfying answers.

Now after this the target was 6-12 year Boys. To include the girls, they allowed Ponny tale, which somehow related with the Boyish girls. Also the Secondary target were Parents. To ensure that parents promote them to use this, they added a great trick.

In Pokemon, one cannot die in battle. You can only faint in it. Thus the message of Non-voilent ( death) was erased and even parents became somewhat positive towards the game. Also they included mathematics in cards and fights, and ensured that BODMAS was promoted aggressively.

Next came the Time frame. Based on the principle of Synergy everything was woven around December 25th Christmas.

With such acute planning, the game was sure to succeed.

So that’s how the whole Pokect Monstors became a Phenomenon in America.

Tomorrow I will try to explain how it was brought to Asian countries and how customized for Indian Children.

Hope you like it.