RIP King of Pop
Funny how one can suddenly feel so heavily at loss and so fortunate too at the sametime. Lohithadas (54) and Michael Jackson (50), great artists, geniuses, passed away this week. Lekshmi and I once spoke about how we are so lucky as a generation to experience the genius of such artists and even wondered whether we ever will have people like them again: Mammooty, Mohanlal, Tom Hanks, Kamal Hasan, Steven Spielberg, Roger Federer, Obama, Yesudas, Chitra – a few that came to mind at awe by the wonders of their work and persona.
Our generation did miss out on the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Lincoln, Martin Luther King. I’m glad that we as a society do understand the need for preserving history and passing on the greatness of such people to younger generations. Oh please, whoever’s in charge, do take care of all that is left of these demised souls (finished and unfinished work, artefacts etc). I pray for the King of Pop to Rest In Peace and thank him for bringing in me the love for music(I think ‘beat it’ is the first song I ever hummed in my life!).
Been long, been very happy.
Wow!.. It’s been such a long time I blogged.. And unlike the usual guilt overflow, I’m happy! 
It was last year Aug 9th that I met the woman of my life, Lekshmi, we took our time getting to know each other, got engaged on Dec 7th and plunged into marital bliss on Feb the 1st, 2009. What a ride it was, time flies.
I got into Twitter recently, chanced upon a friend’s blog and remembered mine Just an announcement – Sreelesh is back.
Cheers!
Wimbledon 2008 men’s singles final, what a ride!
I just finished watching half of the Wimbledon final. The second half. I have never been so nervous, excited, humbled, impressed, (a true rollercoaster of emotions), watching any other sporting event ever! I am yet to understand fully how the game’s point system functions but I tell you, I went mad for every single point earned. I wanted Federer to win and you can imagine how I felt when he was on the verge of losing more than two times before the final ‘fatal’ fall. The way he came back and the way Rafael kept his cool! Federer truly summed it up when he said “tried everything!”
To be the best in the world and to beat the best in the world, these two gentlemen truly displayed great character speaking after the awards ceremony.
Federer(very cool and calm, with his characteristic charming smile): “I tried everything, it went a little late and everything, but look Rafa is a deserving champion, he just played incredible today…. He’s the worst opponent on the best court, but it’s been a joy again to play here, I know I couldn’t win it under the circumstances, but I’ll be back next year.”
Rafael(very happy but yet calm): “This is my favourite tournament, for me to win on this court is a dream…. I’m playing in the same time as the best player in history, Roger Federer…. He’s still number one, he’s still the best, he still has five titles here, and I just have one.”
If ever I get a DVD for a sporting event, this shall be it! And I want to get to playing tennis!
Gmail listens to their users
Posted by Sreelesh in Technology on June 15, 2008
I was reading on “What’s new in Gmail” and couldn’t help ‘postulating’ on their success. I’ve blogged on ‘customer feedback’ before and these guys at Gmail are probably where they are today because of this one reason – listening to customers. I’m quoting write-up about their new features from their website.
Embarrassment-reducing new message notifications
Ever replied to a message only to find out that someone sent a better, smarter reply right before you? Now, if someone sends a reply while you’re in the middle of reading a conversation (or replying to it), you’ll get a notification that a new message has arrived. Click “update conversation” to see what you’ve missed.
Did not these guys “get in your shoes” with that new feature?!
Also, I’m so happy to see attachments increased to 20MB! What they say:
Increased attachment limit– 20 MB!
Now you can start sharing more of those home videos, large presentations and files you just can’t seem to get smaller. We have doubled the allowable attachment size to 20 MB to make your Gmail space even more useful.
Please note that you may not be able to send larger attachments to contacts who use other email services with smaller attachment limits. If your attachment bounces, you should invite them to Gmail.
To share my granny’s smiling video, yes I will invite all my cousins to Gmail, thank you. Marketing’s the easiest when you’re bang on with what the customer wants.
Aside: I’ve been so long away from my blogs! Last time I saw my blog it had a PageRank of one, today it’s three! I thought one has to be regular at blogging to start being seen as “important” to have your PageRank increased.. Whatever.
Why did Jack select Jeff?
I recently read an interview between Kumar Mangalam Birla(Chairman – Aditya Birla group) and Jeffrey Immelt(Chairman & CEO – GE). Birla was doing the interview for the Economic Times “Straight Talk” section. It was very interesting with KMB getting out good juice: goals set by Jeff when he took over GE seven years ago, numbers in his mind when he qualifies an acquisition decision, when does he choose to divest, his view on India(he’s all gung-ho!), how he apportions his time at work and many other informative points. Here is the whole interview.
There’s this question by KMB “What do you think made Jack select you for the role of the chairman”. Jeff says:
“I always think people get a chance like this not because of what they know but more because of how fast people think they can learn. I’d have to think that maybe Jack and the board thought that I was a good learner and that I could adjust to the world and drive the right changes at GE. “
I was thinking, leaders are definitely those who have in them tonnes of courage. For Jack & Jeff, there was enough money(12 billion plus dollars cash reserve!) for the new CEO to ‘learn’ with
Doing business & the Internet
Posted by Sreelesh in Marketing, Technology on March 9, 2008
Brick & mortar companies, click & mortar companies, internet-only companies.. I remember feeling so interested just by the coinage of terms!
There are lots to be gained by companies who finally decide to have Internet presence. Apart from the immediate extension of distribution channels, brand equity, economies of scale and what not, the most to be gained from is the whole new feedback mechanism that your products and services are exposed to. You now get immediate, usable feedback from your patrons; in fact, you can probably do away with your Market Research and idea generation teams!
This brings me to more serious thinking: if your company’s not doing good in the Internet age, you are definitely not giving your customers what they want! If you are planning to go online with your business, make sure you have the stomach and the head to make use of customer feedback: listen up or you’ll soon shut shop!
You have time to blog?
I was so fascinated with Seth’s statement, decided to post it here! He was asked if posting a blog post everyday was “intimidating or a grind”.
His response:
“I view it as something I get to do. I spend most of my blogging time deciding what not to post.
The best work, at least for me, is the stuff you get to do. If you are really good at that, you’re lucky enough to have very little of the have to stuff left.”
What bothers me: “I spend most of my blogging time deciding what not to post“… someday, somehow I’ll get to that
Nick Vujicic – The true Man of Steel.
This post was begun trying to do a separation/identification of all those really successful people who went out there and ‘Got what they liked’ rather than ‘Like what they got’.. Yeah we must have all come across many of them motivation stories.
What if you got something you hate? Worse, what if you’re stuck with a nightmare-come-true for the rest of your life? Here’s the story of a young man, aged 25 years, born without any hands nor legs. Do take a minute or two and think through a parents’ state of mind in finding their newborn limbless. Another minute to think of how many times the kid would have felt deep despair as he grew up.
Nick Vujicic, ‘the limbless man’, hated how he was born. He did try quit life. But today, he’s out there “Getting what he likes” and the best part – helping everyone around him live their dreams through his organization : Life Without Limbs.
We’ve got so much to thank God for. We can do so much. It’s all within us. Thanks Nick. My prayers for your new book and I hope to see you in Oprah’s show very soon.
Tata Nano – part suppliers
Posted by Sreelesh in Technology on January 16, 2008
Happy New Year Everybody!
Lots of interesting developments in the very beginning of 2008 – the cheapest car in the world, the first probable black US president/first lady US president, biggest ever Indian IPO – RPL, ‘racism’ incidents in sports.. Suddenly News channels* are the most viewed channels at home. Personally, I want this new year to make me some good money. Praying myself a Happy & very Prosperous New Year
This post is one for the stock market freaks. 2008 is certainly going to be a very happening year for the Indian automobile industry: Over 30 new models (highest ever in India) to be launched by various players, Tata Nano at 1 lac rupees($2,500), Tata buying jaguar & Land Rover (India ki Jai!), many foreign luxury brands getting in, Bajaj’s entry…
So who stands to gain apart from us consumers? Check these guys out. Already main suppliers to the Nano, they are sure to play a big role as more vehicles are rolled out the next few years.
Lumax Industries – lighting
Sona Group – Sona Koyo Steering Systems
Rico Auto Industries – Engine housing
SEKURIT Saint-Gobain India – glass (formerly Maharashtra Glass and Agro)
Motor Industries Company (MICO) – design
Exide Industries – battery
Since the Nano’s expected to be out in the latter half of 2008, keep these company stocks in mind over a 1-2 year investment horizon. They’re sure to be winners. I hear over 100 local suppliers for the Nano – need to get that good list somehow!
*very unrelated: Smriti Rao of NDTV has captured my mornings , one very sweet and pretty newsreader!
Indian Thanksgiving?
It’s Thanksgiving in the US today.
I asked myself have we no such day here in India? That’s when I realized that we are supposed to be giving our thanks on Onam, Pongal & Makar Sankranthi. Instead we are all so excited about the new clothes, gadgets, food, sweets, gatherings etc. that comes with the festivities.. I don’t recall any Ad campaigns that focus on the ‘thanksgiving’ part during any of these festivals. Instead it’s just “50% off”, “buy one get two free” and other plays on numbers. Someone should do a campaign on the ‘gratitude’ aspect of these festivals, bring alive the goodness and love within society and yes get some good sales done while they’re at it. Marketing is a powerful act, in getting profits, for your company as well as society.
Here’s saying Thank You to all my friends who’ve encouraged me on my writing here. If I ever get more regular at this, here’s an even Bigger Thank you!
The Kenyan Keralite- SLAs – for differentiation & positioning July 31, 2010
- You have to be the First-Announcer in the Internet age March 1, 2010
- Congrats Premchand! February 18, 2010
- Implementing IPv6 November 30, 2009
- marooned, n lovin it! November 10, 2009
- Tata Nano suppliers’ performance in the stock markets October 25, 2009
- For effective SMS marketing October 10, 2009
- Cartoons for advertising and communication October 4, 2009
- Happy Onam! September 2, 2009
- ‘Dil titli’ Airtel ad – thumbs down! August 26, 2009