Pink sky

Pink sky. Does it exist?
Do get out more, put it on your list.

Hit the highway. Stop. Look up at the big blue.
No, it is not violet enough. Keep going.
Slow down.
What do you hear?
Cattle in the fields or battle in your deals?
Move.

Keep rolling.
Lessen the possessions. Let go.
Stop. Reverse.
...to where people are sitting together, wherever
Watch them converse.
Laughing, joking, living. Keep driving.

Is the most beautiful thing the earth? River and trees?
Ok now, we are getting somewhere… Jeez!

Ask for directions. Not because you need directions.
Just look at faces and a trace of humanity surfaces.

Talk. Wait till that battery drains. Put it away.
Talk a little more, with someone.

Lie down on the grass, rock or sand.
Think of nothing but the moment at hand.

The sky should tell you what you missed. You should be pissed.
Stare at the stars, think of Mars. Not the scars, but moments of ours.

Pink sky. Up there.

Pink sky

Pink sky. Does it exist?
Do get out more, put it on your list.

Hit the highway. Stop. Look up at the big blue.
No, it is not violet enough. Keep going.
Slow down.
What do you hear?
Cattle in the fields or battle in your deals?
Move.

Keep rolling.
Lessen the possessions. Let go.
Stop. Reverse.
...to where people are sitting together, wherever
Watch them converse.
Laughing, joking, living. Keep driving.

Is the most beautiful thing the earth? River and trees?
Ok now, we are getting somewhere… Jeez!

Ask for directions. Not because you need directions.
Just look at faces and a trace of humanity surfaces.

Talk. Wait till that battery drains. Put it away.
Talk a little more, with someone.

Lie down on the grass, rock or sand.
Think of nothing but the moment at hand.

The sky should tell you what you missed. You should be pissed.
Stare at the stars, think of Mars. Not the scars, but moments of ours.

Pink sky. Up there.

Strong processes, better people

Its been 4 years since I completed a course in Lean Six Sigma with Benchmark. Apart from the course-ware, things we discussed in the class back then still hold strong. 
We discussed the importance of setting up strong processes in particular; that enable success paths for companies. The stronger the process, the less we depend on particular talented individuals.

Our faculty Mr Vishwadeep Khatri gave an example of China at the Olympics. China wins most medals, yet we do not hear of a particular superstar; like Micheal Phelps from US or Usain Bolt from Jamaica. That's because China's selection process enables more people to achieve their potential, thereby removing the dependence on a few talented individuals. This way, China wins over a period of many years and not just at a particular event or because of special talent.

The stronger the processes, the less we depend on individuals who may leave the company and bring the house down with them. So if you are a talented individual, then make others in your team as able as you are and let them go beyond. Create the culture wherein anyone can achieve more.

Very proud to be with Benchmark. Here's my spot there- http://students.benchmarksixsigma.com/competitve-edge/

Strong processes, better people

Its been 4 years since I completed a course in Lean Six Sigma with Benchmark. Apart from the course-ware, things we discussed in the class back then still hold strong. 
We discussed the importance of setting up strong processes in particular; that enable success paths for companies. The stronger the process, the less we depend on particular talented individuals.

Our faculty Mr Vishwadeep Khatri gave an example of China at the Olympics. China wins most medals, yet we do not hear of a particular superstar; like Micheal Phelps from US or Usain Bolt from Jamaica. That's because China's selection process enables more people to achieve their potential, thereby removing the dependence on a few talented individuals. This way, China wins over a period of many years and not just at a particular event or because of special talent.

The stronger the processes, the less we depend on individuals who may leave the company and bring the house down with them. So if you are a talented individual, then make others in your team as able as you are and let them go beyond. Create the culture wherein anyone can achieve more.

Very proud to be with Benchmark. Here's my spot there- http://students.benchmarksixsigma.com/competitve-edge/

Trust digital!

We don't want to let go of printing. It is still perceived as more convincing, tangible and still real - more real than a digital message. We still find printing reassuring despite our lives so enmeshed with net-banking, online shopping and living online with our friends and family.

We still want to courier or personally hand out the special invite to our recipients. We want our returns on investment on that matt feel of the special paper we sourced with much effort, and the attention we gave to details on the envelope and finishing. The magnetic catch on the cover has to close with a classic soft click. When the client opens our brochure, the silk varnish must shine in the light with our branded message.

What really happened? The courier never reached the recipient and the material is returned to sender... poof! There goes all that effort and bubble around the reaction and response we dreamt of. We end up with a stack of returned invites and brochures. Why did the prized printed message not reach the recipient? Was he traveling? Maybe they shifted office. Or they received it, but just dropped it in a drawer to be handled later.

What is that recipient doing right now? He is looking into a smartphone- toying around with either an app, an email or a responsive website which is interactive, intuitive and simply, instant.

So why does it take so long for us to accept the fact that creating apps and responsive websites is not worth the money? Why do we rather print so much; knowing well that there will be significant wastage and lost response? The app lasts longer on our phones and memories than the printed material does in our offices. On the app we can run a search, go directly to sections by clicking on tabs instead of flipping around pages, respond quickly and select options, fill in fields where comments are required, and forward to others. Printed material does not facilitate easy responding. Filling in forms need paper and pen to be carried around. Filling a form in an app or website is easier.

We know these things. So come on. Let’s change the way we look at printing- anything. Let’s create interactive material. We can print though, if really necessary. Apps can be created for events to clients, potential entrepreneurs can nominate themselves at ease on their brand new phones. Awards nights can be relayed live, interview telecast timings can be sent as notifications. Users can respond to event management teams. Twitter handles can be connected. Partners and directors can flash latest company or government policies, notify on latest thought leaderships posted on the website. 2-minute YouTube videos of leadership can reach out better than emails.

Way more awaits. Let's do this.

Trust digital!

We don't want to let go of printing. It is still perceived as more convincing, tangible and still real - more real than a digital message. We still find printing reassuring despite our lives so enmeshed with net-banking, online shopping and living online with our friends and family.

We still want to courier or personally hand out the special invite to our recipients. We want our returns on investment on that matt feel of the special paper we sourced with much effort, and the attention we gave to details on the envelope and finishing. The magnetic catch on the cover has to close with a classic soft click. When the client opens our brochure, the silk varnish must shine in the light with our branded message.

What really happened? The courier never reached the recipient and the material is returned to sender... poof! There goes all that effort and bubble around the reaction and response we dreamt of. We end up with a stack of returned invites and brochures. Why did the prized printed message not reach the recipient? Was he traveling? Maybe they shifted office. Or they received it, but just dropped it in a drawer to be handled later.

What is that recipient doing right now? He is looking into a smartphone- toying around with either an app, an email or a responsive website which is interactive, intuitive and simply, instant.

So why does it take so long for us to accept the fact that creating apps and responsive websites is not worth the money? Why do we rather print so much; knowing well that there will be significant wastage and lost response? The app lasts longer on our phones and memories than the printed material does in our offices. On the app we can run a search, go directly to sections by clicking on tabs instead of flipping around pages, respond quickly and select options, fill in fields where comments are required, and forward to others. Printed material does not facilitate easy responding. Filling in forms need paper and pen to be carried around. Filling a form in an app or website is easier.

We know these things. So come on. Let’s change the way we look at printing- anything. Let’s create interactive material. We can print though, if really necessary. Apps can be created for events to clients, potential entrepreneurs can nominate themselves at ease on their brand new phones. Awards nights can be relayed live, interview telecast timings can be sent as notifications. Users can respond to event management teams. Twitter handles can be connected. Partners and directors can flash latest company or government policies, notify on latest thought leaderships posted on the website. 2-minute YouTube videos of leadership can reach out better than emails.

Way more awaits. Let's do this.

Stoned radio

There was this surreal experience, experienced on a sultry Saturday noon, when I was driving back home and had to speak with my wife. I had the radio on all that time. And radio, goes without saying, is more about ads and talkative RJs than music. Coming back to my call with my wife, I decided to use the car speakers for the audio and hooked up my phone via the car USB. I randomly pressed the USB/AUX button thinking the car speaker would amplify the call- which did not work. After the phone call was over, the car goes back to the songs. Now here’s what happened- the car stereo connected with my phone songs and started playing them, without firing up the iTunes app on the phone. Not realizing what happened, I was listening to songs belting off my phone thinking the radio was playing it. Oh man, o man… what a dreamlike moment that was. Here I am wondering what an awesome day it was with radio doing an about-turn with no ads or RJ nonsense, and my kind of music playing for the world to listen to. Steve Winwood, The Beatles, Train… What station was this? That’s when I looked at the display which read… ‘iPod’... and poof! Of course dammit.. what was I   t h i n k i n g ? !

A few minutes later I spotted something really surreal and had to get photos of this- colourful stones on sale, all the way from Gujarat! Here’s what the assortment looked like.