Monday blues: Knock Knock

Open doors do not mean absence of problems and oppositions. In fact they often go together! Some doors will appear closed. Closed doors do not mean locked doors. All you need to do is knock. So this week don't think you do not have a chance take it up once again and try. May be this door is not locked. Happy Monday!

Monday Blues: Thriving in Chaos

Being a leader when things are working our fine is something we are always good at. We celebrate success more than what we should be doing and we mourn failure more than what it deserves too. 

As human beings, we have a desire for certainty and routine that keeps us feeling safe and able to plan what lies ahead in an organized manner. 

When unpredictable situations or accidents impact us, it can be traumatic, and we will likely feel a sense of disappointment, frustration, and loss.

If someone is going through a hard time, especially when things take a different turn from what is expected, it is not 100% about what the person could/should have done but more about how they recover. As a generation that has spent more time in front of non-living things - television, computer, phone, factory machinery, we must question ourselves about something really important. 

Are we slowly turning more apathetic to other human beings? Are we being too judgemental like the robotic voice of big-boss that makes livings a circus where you are just being judged all the time?

Is failure really a failure? Is it for now or for life? 

Is success for life or it is just a phase of life?

How do you determine, if a person can do or cannot do certain things? Is it worth taking a risk about something just by their past or a single mistake or success? 

Are we trying to take decisions based on certain qualities or how you feel about someone rather than simply relying on their past? I urge you to be open to possibilities. 

May be you would see a day when your bet pays off. If not, you can still learn from that.

Only a person who went through chaos can really have a fighting chance to survive in it. 

#BeOpen #OpenDoors #GiveChances #Takeupachallenge #MondayBlues #PositivePsychologist @Talktotiger  

5 Best Ads for Diwali 2021

 Diwali is a special occasion, which is celebrated across India and the world. The "Festival Of Lights" brings all family members together to make the event memorable and unique.  

You will also find your TV screen bombarded with various Diwali-related advertisements about clothes, jewelry, food, and other things. Even though these ads are created to encourage you to spend your money, not all of them. 

You will surely come across some advertisements that carry messages that are worth taking note of. Here, in this article, you will learn about some unique and beautiful ads that you must take a look at this year's Diwali. So, let's dig in. 

1. Amazon – This Diwali, Let's #DeliverThatLove!

This particular advertisement from Amazon is worth watching this Diwali 2021. It's pretty meaningful, and the ad celebrates the familial bonds that people make when they are far away from home, along the way as everyone lives their lives. The ad shows that a mother and son duo drive 50km together to deliver a very special family. The teen son doesn't show much interest when it comes to delivering one specific gift. But in the end, his mother's insistence leads towards an unexpected but joyful reunion. The advertisement is meaningful as it helps in teaching a valuable lesson.  

2. Vivo – Celebrate The #JoyofHomecoming! 

Vivo has always been unique and outstanding when it came to making advertisements for festivals or other events. But the company's Diwali advertisement features Kanwaljit Singh, who suffers from the empty nest syndrome. He also plays the father of three children. In the advertisement, Kanwaljit Singh is forced to reside within a massive mansion with empty rooms as the moment with all his three children becomes limited through the video calls. This particular advertisement is pretty emotional, and it will surely bring tears into your eyes.  

3. RealMe - #HopeForGreatThings

Losing someone close to you and with whom you have so many memories can be heartbreaking. This advertisement from RealMe is all about that. The ad shows a young boy who mourns the loss of his grandfather, with whom he shares a unique and special bond. He completely withdraws into himself, but his Diwali ends on a high note thanks to some unexpected turn of events. The concept of the ad is surely emotional, and it's currently one of the best ads that you must watch this Diwali.  

4. Eicher Trucks And Buses – Yaaron Ki Diwali

This advertisement from Eicher Trucks and Buses is educational and informative. The advertisement is a way through which it weaves friendship into an individual's journey on the highway. The advertisement completely discourages drunk driving so that the chances of accidents don't take place when people drive on the highway. The advertisement carries a lot of meaning behind its existence, and its ideal for those individuals who frequently travel on a highway. 

5. Vodafone – Never Alone 

Spending Diwali alone can be pretty boring and saddening at the same time. But you will not feel that way to anyone if you watch this advertisement from Vodafone, which the company made especially for Diwali. The advertisement shows that no matter where you are, you can still get the chance to celebrate Diwali with your loved ones through Vodafone. This advertisement is filled with happiness, and you will surely like it once you watch it.  

Final Thoughts 

You will surely come across many Diwali-related advertisements on television and the Internet, but the ones mentioned in this article are worth checking out. They are informative, educational, emotional, and do teach something pretty meaningful. Make sure to check out these advertisements and make your Diwali a unique one. 

What is your style?

For ages most of the general population have followed and worn dresses from what a select few have chosen every year. These fashion designers, masters, tailors, gurus have always looked at finding out what trends are catching up and how they can guess it before it hits the market. Some even went of elaborate plans to make a particular fashion a hit. In India Karan Johar is known to have introduced GAP hoodies and tees to the teenage audience through the film Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge so much that everyone from the fruit and vegetable vendor to the guy on a Yamaha bike were wearing counterfeit tees without knowing that the original brand GAP was non-existent in India at that time!

Trends come and trends go. You stay the same! The fashion police look down upon and sneer about the choices that many people think are cool and have glorified horrible looking selection as well. I have always, reiterating the word - always, had my own fashion and have been comfortable in being so. Very few times, I liked what was being thrust on to me as a fashion trend we cannot miss and hence the style has become the same almost all these years. I am glad I did stick to a particular style that remained with me so much as I have always been photographed or seen on the same trend - my trend. 

My choice of fashion has two main reasons:

1. Is it comfortable?
2. Is it made from good material?

Simple huh? Well! not for many people. Some people have closets that are much bigger than the one in Chronicles of Narnia! And yet have always wondered what they should be wearing. I have heard and read a lot of people talking about the body shapes and stuff but don't you think it is too much to think of? While I always want you to be fit and healthy so you would live longer (Isn't that the idea?), I would recommend you take the trends off your chest for a while and look at life more easily and make things less complicated. Wear whatever your heart tells you to. Make sure YOU are comfortable. Don't bother about what others think. What they would say. Worry about you being presentable and being nice and don't give everything else a damn! You look best when you are happy and comfortable. Just make sure you have a smile on your face when you step out. You are mint new!

Having said that, I have had my share of suits and boots and have rocked them too. Sometimes mom wanted me to look so (on my graduation), sometimes the occasion demanded so (my wedding being one such occasion). But just can't have then every day.

So choose your fashion choices wisely and go with what you like. Choose your style. Make one that is your own, personal and close to your heart. Something you would be comfortable in and can pull off. I myself like a black tee, blue jeans and sport shoes any day, every day.

Get more fashion advice and tips from here.

“I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”

What's our communication strategy?

For all my friends who are starting out their ventures, marketing professionals handling a brand here is an interesting thought. 

As a professional or a brand, what is the expectation you are setting? Can you afford to have an expectation that signals that you are not trustworthy? Can you repair it now? Can you start monitoring your communication? 

If you are a brand, sit with your communication/social media team now and set the course for the next 3 months and see how you can create a better narrative. Trust me, you cannot afford to not have a communication strategy. 

The best thing that can happen to you as a brand or as a person is that you are clear about what you want to communicate. You address the challenges you are going to face - seen and unseen. You pick which battles you are going to fight and what you are going to let go of. The worst thing that can happen is that you are clueless and are doing everything impromptu. What a bad state to be in!

With growing cacophonous clamor fighting space in your consumer's mind, it is eternally difficult to occupy a meaningful space to convey your message. It becomes even more difficult if you don't have a plan in place. 

Here are a few things you can talk to your audience in the last leg of this year to make a positive dent in their consumer psyche.

1. What are you going to do in the next few months - product, service, research...
2. What you are planning for the next year
3. Exciting upcoming things for your audience to look forward to
4. Reasons why they should work with you & how can you help them - could be financial, technical...
5. What is your brand promise? Why should your audience move down the sales funnel to engage with you?
6. Are you fun to work with, to engage, to problem-solve? Tell them that.

Set up your communication strategy to address these and more. If you want to talk/question/debate, write to me or comment here.

#TalktoTiger #PositivePsychologist #BrandingTiger #ConsumerPsyche 

Everyday is a Sunday!

I am very practical about reviews. I need time to actually check the product, use it and feel good about it to write one. This is one product that I have used for almost a month before I put my pen to paper and here is the review of my pillow!

I found these amazing ads about the Sunday pillows and mattresses and wanted to check out their pillows. We are a family that loves pillows and there are hordes of them at home. When I say hordes, I mean pillows. Even after spending a decent amount on each pillow, I see that the fluffiness comes down within a couple of weeks and then there is nothing left but a small clumpy sheet that was the remnant of the pillow, like a zombie version. Not with Sunday. I am happy till date with the comfort it is offering me and it is a special favorite with the kids too. 

The USP of the Sunday pillow is that it consists of 0.7 Denier microfiber,which is the finest fiber available with 50% more filling than of a standard pillow. This ensures that the pillow is soft (because of usage of finest microfiber) but at the same time prevents the pillow from flattening out. Sunday Delight Pillow (Costing around Rs 2000) is labelled as Outrageously comfy pillows designed with Super micro fiber filling, and has 50% more filling. It has hypo allergenic 220 GSM microfiber fabric Super soft filling for extra comfort.  The royal blue piping makes it look classy. The packaging is good too. It comes in a sling bag that is reusable and has neat branding and a story built around it. 

In the words of founder Alphonse Reddy, says,"Ideally, a mattress has to be paired with the right pillow. However, pillows are sold as an afterthought and in most cases or cheaper pillows are given as freebies in the market. There was a gap here that we have tried to bridge.” 

Is the price tag of 2000 Rs expensive? I don't think so. You spend thousands of rupees on coffee, diesel for your car or other things that get over in a couple of days and are thinking about getting a good pillow? Well, rethink. We all need good sleep and good rest. When your body rests properly and you get to sleep well and wake up refreshed, every day is a Sunday.

Check out their website: www.sundayrest.com and next time you are searching for a gifting option, gift a Sunday to them!

Talk to me

Regardless of how you feel and believe, the amount of communication, verbal and written has come down drastically, thanks to the modern tech facilitators. Look what I found online.

The time spent on sharing a few things with the people you love to care about is more worth than the time spent in messaging, texting and drafting emails. No communication, nothing can replace the joy in listening to someone's voice and take off the pain, burden, double the excitement in happiness than when you do it personally.

Here is a chance to test it yourself. Today, call someone you know and have been communicating via the electronic mode and speak to them and see how it feels. Especially the family.

The same applies to your customer.

10 leadership lessons you can learn from Dr. Abdul Kalam!

Ten leadership lessons you can learn from Dr. Abdul Kalam!

1. He was an early riser: Staff at his office and Rastrapathi Bhavan later had to change their timings to match his schedule. As an early riser, he had extra hours for thinking, planning and relaxing.
   
2. He was meticulous: His planning was perfect. He was always ahead of his schedule and finished his tasks to perfection. He also had small breaks to ensure there is enough space if there needs to have overflow.
   
3. He was a leader: In thought, ideas, plans and execution. He was always ready to shoulder responsibility. It is rumored that Atalji wanted to speed up the nuclear programme that PV Narasimharao started and despite being low on resources, Kalam accepted it as a challenge and fulfilled it.
   
4. He could see ahead of his time: This was essential to set goals. Dr. Kalam could see much ahead of his time. While all the new world and Asian countries were looking to send satellites to the moon, Dr. Kalam looked beyond and set his eyes on Mars - Hence Mangalyaan.
   
5. He helped solve simple problems: While this is a famous story about Abdul Kalam and his team made lightweight crutches, he was ready to spend time in solving simple, everyday problems to common people. Being extremely busy with his work at the Nuclear research and working on rockets, he was able to take time and motivate his team to come up with a cost effective, easy, usable solution to many people.
   
6. He was a voracious reader: Tea and books were his companions till the end. He read a lot of books. I was told that he spent most of his free time at Rastrapathi Bhavan at the huge library or in the park reading and thinking. At 84 years of age, he was far more smarter and knowledgeable than many youngsters.
7. He loved youth: He was always thinking and working with young men and women to help them achieve their goals. Most of the people who spoke to him had the privilege to cherish his ideas and his thoughts all their life. He believed in coaching, motivating and setting goals and achieving them.
8. He was humble: One of the most important factors we could see about him was that he was very humble and down to earth. He always had simple tastes and choices and lived frugally. I was told that the first day at Rastrapathi Bhavan, he chided the people not to waste so much food and wait on him as he would love to have two idlies and one wada in the confines of his room. Simple man, simple choices, humble lifestyle and extraordinary vision.
   
9. He skipped protocol: Many a times, he broke protocol and mingled with children, youth and common people. He was more of a people's man than to follow the rules. He always had a jig in his step and was very spontaneous.
   
10. He was a great communicator: He conversed mostly in small sentences carefully worded with simple easily understood words. Though he has an amazing arsenal of languages, he was true to his diction of Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi and could quote many verses easily. He told so many stories and anecdotes in his speech that people would remember what he said clearly.
    
11. He was a great teacher: As his twitter handle says, he is a teacher forever. Once you learn something, make sure you teach that and add value to many people. He was a great man and could just relax in his retirement years. He chose to teach and as you saw, he was teaching even a second before his death.

May his soul rest in peace. No. May he make more shooting stars and send them to many unknown planets.

Pic is from here.

Monday Blues: Explore, dream, discover

Toda, explore, try and discover.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.

–Mark Twain


All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography.

Why were you born?

"May you live long enough to know why you were conceived." - Cherokee Birth Blessing 

 What is the one reason for your life on Earth? Don't you actually ask this question? I do. 

 I regularly can't help thinking about what may be a definitive objective of my existence on this delightful blue planet. Simply envision the way in which we are born, in light of the fact that we are conceived and born as a mathematical delight! What are the chances! 

I trust God has made every one of us with enormous potential to develop into superb people equipped for doing extraordinary things for us, for other people, and for the whole of humanity. We come to this world with one mission - to make an extraordinary dent with our existence on humanity. We don't have to be incredible entertainers, writers, researchers, and the kind to have an impact. We can do that slowly and carefully. I, for one, work every day to understand the consumer psyche and use it to help people out to connect to their better selves. So, here are some simple things we can do.

•  Be kind - the easiest way to make a small change to people around you is to be kind. Be compassionate to friends, family, strangers, animals... 
• Be helpful - whenever you can help out to anyone in need. Be the grace, blessing you are meant to be, one small step at a time 
• Be a great listener - The world needs more people who talk less and listen more. If only we are better listeners, we can be better human beings 
• Be empathetic - Understand what the other person's view is. Listen to the other version of the story. Try and be empathetic to their situation, their struggle, and their misery. 

The entire world would be a better place if we are more compassionate, kind, and loving. Live out the vision God has for you - to be a great neighbor and friend. That will make you fulfill your destiny. Just think about it. 

Have an impactful Monday.

#PositivePsychology #TalktoTiger #ConsumerPsyche 

Do what your heart cherishes!

Do what your heart cherishes! For what reason accomplishes something different? 

Trust me when I say this - It is your quintessential obligation to think about #selfcare first. As parents, administrators, pioneers, we are frequently in the battle to be there for everything and everybody. Particularly when you have a close-knit group, bigger duties or as a parent, or as a partner. In other cases, perhaps you are accepting a bigger obligation as you are the most ideally the best (wo)man for the job. Not that we all can be as cool as Dhoni. In some cases, we got the opportunity to pick self-care. At the point when you are giving more than you have, your cup gets empty. Enjoy a break and top off your cup. This applies to your life in all zones. Regardless of whether it is work, love, relationships, finances, a similar principle applies. 

Deal with things you have been putting away. Go for that new hairstyle, rest and catch up on sleep, watch a film, read a book, clean your home, work area, PC, or figure out how to make and eat that dish. Enough of delaying. We don't have the foggiest idea of whether we would get an opportunity to do them once more. Give #selflove significance. Just when your cup is full and overflowing, you can give. Top off, at that point give. In this perishing world, it is significant that you organize your time, endeavors, and discover harmony, bliss, and joy. Include more love, zest it up, and have mental peace. 

Comment and tag that person who you think needs to hear this. Tell me what you think?

#TalktoTiger #PositivepsychologistBangalore #selflovejourney #MondayBlues#Covidblues

Be better, marketer!

 

How to be a better marketer?

Do you know how you can be a great marketer? Be a good listener. If you care to listen to people, to their soul, you will comprehend more than what they say. When you understand what they are saying without words, you are not telling a story or trying to market, but voicing their beliefs.

And listening is not an easy art. You need to learn to catch the nuances and be extremely observant. Improve it every day, hone the skill and you would connect better. Ignore the din, chaos, narcissism, popular notions, what is selling. Listen to what the other person wants - solutions to their problems and help them achieve that. It is their win, not you selling. That is what makes story-tellers great.

You can help people more than you know, more than sales, more than targets. You can help change someone's life and that is the best feeling in the world! As a marketer, don't just sell, transform the other person's life by helping them overcome their problems. 

Lessons from the coffee bean - COVID 19

Coffee beans are extricated from the plant to make great espresso. As somebody who cherishes a well brewed espresso, some of the times more than tea or ice cream, I wanted to take a couple of lessons that I learned and check whether they can be useful to you. I am certain you will cherish what I'm going to explain since this is something that we are experiencing in these difficult times. 

GRINDING PROCESS 

The extraction procedure of coffee from the beans looks extremely simple when it is plucked from the plant however it is definitely not simple. After the seed is sun-dried, it is required to experience a grinding procedure. At the point when the coffee beans are placed in the processor, they lose their shape, their structural integrity, and are changed over to what exactly may appear to be an aimless powder very different as what it was previously.  But this is just the beginning of the process because they are to end your more into becoming something. If you get coffee bean to talk at this stage, it might say that is been through a really tough time and it has lost its entire identity as it has gone through the painful grinding process. But we don't get the coffee powder to make good coffee unless the bean is ground thoroughly. So when you are going through tough times it is not always tough on you for a bad reason but it might be an opportunity for you to endure this pain and learn something nice and become something better. When you compare coffee beans with coffee powder, I prefer coffee powder because that is ready for me to do something with it and even smells better than the bean. So hang on when the grinding is happening because it is going to make you and your life better. Learn what you can during this grinding.

SIZZLING HOT BAPTISM 

If the coffee bean thinks that its pain is over and it is ready to flourish as a good cup of coffee, it is in for a surprise. The extracted powder that just endured the grinding process, is then suddenly sent into another tough process where is put through more pain where it is added to hot boiling water. The sizzling hot water baptism burns the coffee powder and takes only the essence out of it leaving the remaining coffee powder, which is of practically no use. You might say that the coffee powder has served its purpose but if you think of the bean or the plant, it is just discarded at this stage and can add nothing more to the coffee. So when you are going through tough times I encourage you to look at the better side of life. You have a significant role to play in whatever you are doing. Take the good in. Ardently see how you can pass on your essence and give whatever your character is to make the way better further. Don't just be there and exist or survive through this but thrive. Strive to add something to your work, family, or someone else so that you are able to change from what you are to better. Many of you are making the best of this time by creating content, working better, by helping others, by being with your family, by taking care of your parents, by rekindling relationships that are lost or teaching your children helping out with chores. Some of us are taking additional responsibilities at work, helping people who are down, managing our finances better, and so on. Make sure this tough time helps you to learn what is important and encourage you to be ready to bring the best in you out. 

THE DRESSING CONUNDRUM 

Let's go back to the journey of a coffee bean. Are we at the end yet? Now that we have a sizzling hot cup of black coffee, many people are happy at this stage as they might prefer black coffee. Some of us like to add quite a few things to our black coffee like milk, cream, cinnamon, chocolate, icecream, froth, or all to make it interesting. So at the end of the entire tiresome grinding, being put through sizzling water, the coffee is then taken to add more elements to make it interesting or personal to someone. Just like the basic dark coffee that comes out of the coffee machine is the same, each of us is going through the toughest of times our generation has ever seen. But each of our experiences is different just like how we can customize by adding your own flavors & choice of ingredients to make it better. 

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR COFFEE? 

So when this unavoidable time is upon us and we are forced to go through this grinding process with health scares; hot sizzling water like situations that have led to job losses, financial struggles, lock-downs, delayed loan payments, mental health issues and uncertainty about future, I urge you to add your own flavor to it to make this bitter experience better. Add love, joy, caring, compassion, and empathize with people around you to make this bitter experience better. 

Needless to say, if you share your cup of coffee, whether it is a cold one or a hot sizzling one with cream on the top, with someone you care about or even a stranger it always enhances the experience of having the coffee and takes the bitterness out of it. So today, take this opportunity to connect with somebody that you'd love to share your story or send me a message and I would love to hear from you #TalkToTiger and I promise to get back to you at the earliest. 

Time for a cup of coffee and driving the blues out. Wishing you an August day ahead.

Book review: Irrationally Passionate by Jason Kothari

What makes an entrepreneur successful is not just your education, your grit to push forward in the face of adversity, definitely not just luck and timing but the composition of her decisions come from the culmination of several experiences from childhood, friends, family values, traditions and a lot more than what you can read in a book. And there is no quick solution to any problem and that definitely is not in a book. Then why would you be reviewing a book on entrepreneurship?

Is it because, the author has helped turn around the down trail of not one, but many companies and that too in different cultures, markets, verticals? Maybe, yes, but more than that he exposes his vulnerable moments and how he was able to bring in his experiences and work towards the solutions and that is something really interesting about this particular book. Jason makes it look so easy but cautions you that the reality is harsh and how we are to maneuver through the problems and fight our battles. 

Writing style: While the writing style is that of a first-person, lifestoryish journal, it is unfair to call it a romanticized version of Banting gran. It is true, fresh, raw, direct and in your face facts kind of writing that makes you connect with the author, be in his shoes, face his enemies, fall in love with him for his failures make you hurt and his victories are having you cheer on. Easy to read and pleasant to finish over the weekend. 

Pros & cons: The problem in the book is that Jason is an excellent negotiator and makes it seem easy and then it helps you understand what Jason believes that one should learn. Every entrepreneur cannot be a great businessman and it is vital to note that and take corrective actions so that the business side doesn’t get affected. What I loved in this book is the fact that Jason doesn't sugarcoat it for you. He lays it out, bare naked truth. he was bullied, he was beaten, he was punished and had to do more than what his other counterparts could do but tat energy he takes in to build himself up. Whether being a great negotiator or taking tough decisions while rebuilding something or helping entrepreneurs learn how to be a great businessman, he is clearly digging into his lifetime of experiences and moving forward.

Whether it is SprayIT or Valiant or Housing.com, he has managed to bring in the change in the working style of the stakeholders, making things fit into a channel of success was tough. His seven pillared principles seem to be close to reality and being an entrepreneurial journey myself, I see gold in his glow. ‘Irrationally Passionate’ explores the turbulent and successful life of Jason and how it can inspire you to take up the entrepreneurial journey and helps few lifebuoys to fight out the rough waters. 

Verdict: A must-read if you are thinking about starting out your entrepreneurial journey. A perfect gift for youngsters to understand the nuances of being a business owner.

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday Blues: Every step counts. Make it count.

Did you know that a honey bee travels 500 times from flower to flower to get one drop of honey? Five hundred times! Every single trip might not give enough to notice but it gives a small, tiny bit of contribution to the main goal. If the honey bee expects to see big results at the end of every visit, it loses its focus. But being consistent, regular and showing up with the same enthusiasm helps it to have progress. 

The same applies to sales tasks, therapy, fitness. Every single step counts. Make it count. Even when there is no visible progress, non grand change, make it count. Be your best, motivate yourself and push forward. Because soon enough you will have seen through and you will have enough to talk about.

Life, work, health, relationships are hard. Now if you see the honey bee, while it is collecting honey, it also helps in pollination of 500 flowers. In one way the bees keep the entire cycle of pollination, plants, food, vegetables going and without them the world as we know will cease to exist. The direct action of the bees is just a drop of honey but the indirect action is the world going forward. So while your small steps might get you to your main goal in sometime, they might inspire others in your team, families of your team mates, your clients and that is a pleasant result. 

So keep moving forward, regardless. Make small steps of faith forward, cheer up and move on.

The art of being frugal

If there is one thing that Covid19 taught me personally, that is frugality. I am still getting accustomed to the fact that we could survive with so little! I am talking not only about money but also about the use of various resources. Let me explain.

Since lockdown got announced, we haven't ordered food from outside, used only what is here, and in fact, almost stopped wasting food. Not that we were bad before but we could feel the difference. We actually are using our resources very carefully. Right from water, vegetables, fruits, dal, rice, wheat, ghee, or even snacks for children. Amazing that we could actually eat healthy, tasty food, thanks to the superior cooking skills of the home minister, and loved what we are eating. Along with drastically changing our habits, we are able to actually enjoy food, love a better healthy meal. 

Something similar has happened to our dressing. We used very few. Same with the car - almost never took it out, bike - sparingly used and so on. Our waste output has come down drastically. We are actually giving out dry waste only once in a week!

When we look out and see heartwrenching images of people walking miles and miles, most of the time barefoot, and carrying all their possessions on their shoulders, it is really humbling to see how much we have and how less they do. We are a generation of hoarders (for the lack of better term). And we need so little to live. Wify has been telling me not to waste that last tomato piece on my plate, eat that curry leaf, and so on. In fact, it is literally respecting what we have and are blessed with. 

Thankfully we have enough and probably more and it is important to look at life with the positive eyes and see how we can be happy and use less. I realized that most of the things I take for granted are not so easy to get anymore. With so much job loss, economic crash, health issues, and financial losses being projected, it is always better to learn to live frugal, even if you have everything. 

As an organization, learn to spend less on things you don't need and try to add more value to your employees, to your customers, and deliver delight. Support a cause that is close to your heart and aligns to our calling. Don't add to the baggage but lighten it. 

As a family spend more on things that add to your skills, experience and knowledge than material comforts. Being frugal is in. Appreciate what you have. Hug your family, thank your parents, pray, and thank God that he made you more fortunate than many. Be kind, be humble, and be frugal. God bless.

The importance of being humble

Are you humble enough? They say you can't teach humility overnight. It is true. It is something you imbibe in you over a long period of time. 

I remember what one of my very educated professors at Nizam college said about research. When I asked him what lies beyond his post doctoral research, he replied that he now knows that there is so much more to learn and that he had just wet his feet in the waves of the ocean. I understand that now. After reading so much we know that there is so much more that humans have written down, documented, catalogued in the last few thousand years and we don't even unwrap the gift box yet. May be we just know a minuscule amount of things as a humanity yet.

When you are growing up in life, in knowledge, in career, learn to grow with wisdom too. As we grow we need to remember to cultivate the ultimate knowledge that the best among us are just a speck of dust on the scales of time. Jawaharlal Nehru described Napoleon was a comma in the history of mankind. Just a comma. Not even a full stop. It meant that the history of mankind pauses to observe the greatness, the passion and the great heights this puny French man achieved and yet moved on. When I had a chance to see the life-size bust of Napoleon in the famous Salarjung museum in Hyderabad, I was blown not see the face of a man, who made history pause, actually had a face smaller than mine!

As we grow, expand, learn, increase in power, never forget the less-privileged, helpless, lost souls, I implore you to remember to be humble. to be kind, to be gracious and act sensibly. Behave like you would want the other person to behave if your roles are switched. Empathise and have gratitude. If you do that you will be an angel with wings and will be blessed. Be humble despite what is the fashion as of today. Be humble as if you don't bother. Like Socrates. Like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Like Ratan Tata. Like Mother Teresa. Like Mahatma Gandhi. Like Jesus. Be what your soul with wings of an angel would behave like. Be what your child, father, mother would be proud of. Or else your millions won't matter, your awards, your achievements, your influence, your life, your name - won't just matter and will disappear.

But if you choose to be humble, things change. Because it is easy to be humble, you would actually matter more. You wouldn't have to pretend, if you grow to be a humble person. Your work would talk more. Your actions would stand out. You would grow as a person, gain respect, influence others, change lives, deliver blessings. You would be the real deal, the real hustle and the real angel. Can we all try and do that? Can we make being humble fashionable again? I hope you do! Share a story with me about anyone you have seen be humble.

Monday Blues: Be a promise keeper

You would be known be the promises you keep. As simple as that. The words you say will carry more weight and people will hang on to them if they know you are someone who can keep up with the promises. As a brand, it is about the things you stand by. The existence of anyone, a person or a brand is dependent upon how much value people give you. They need not be your customers and can be just observers.

Take the packet of lays for example. When I buy the pack, I am expecting the chips to be nicer, cleaner cuts and have a lot of 'air' too. When I buy the discounted packs or the ones with offers, I know that they have been second quality chips - broken, burnt, cut into odd pieces or even rejects from the batch. So my expectation is set accordingly. The same happens to Good Day biscuits and many such snacks. Organisations push these subpar, low quality products through the 'lower'/'cheaper' markets to help sell. So my expectations when I am buying these discounted or offer packs giving me more for less is always like that. I am okay with this model actually as it sets the story right, addresses the customers right.

When I buy a box of Pringles, I don't expect the chips to be broken, burnt or misshapen. In fact, it would really upset me when I find it is not up to the mark when I get a pack like that. Same applies to all our communication. The you set out to say you are the best, be the best or strive with everything you have to be the best. Without that you are not going the right way I setting up my expectations. Be a promise maker and promise keeper. If not, what is the use of just saying things anyway.

As a brand or as an individual, what are the promises you can afford to make and keep? Stick to those. In times of crisis, if you are downsized and cannot respond to my queries in  a certain time, tell me before. If you cannot be at 100% make the same promise - the one you can keep. Or else all the trust you built all this while is simply lost.

Damn! Now I am craving for chips. Pringles or Lays... bring it on!

Do more, with love

Being stressed with extra work is always hurting - physical and emotionally. One of the things we tend to do in situations like that would be to see the quickest way to get out of the work. Being able to finish things on time is awesome. When extra work crops up, we all crib (Okay, some of us). But some people do take it up as a challenge and make it a point to sail through the extra bits as if they are enjoying the work. This happens when you have a very strong work ethic and take this up as a challenge. Sometimes they even do it to perfection.

Let me give you an example. Most of the mothers in this lock down are stressed out with the extra cleaning, cooking, caring and it has been really tough on them. Most of them have been able to dish out everything they can with a smile on their face and without cribbing or complaining. Isn't that amazing? Some of them went out of their way and created amazing snacks, dishes with whatever is available to keep children and family happy. That is simply outrageously positive.

Let us take this scenario to work place. While most of us are working from home and are handling our tasks, I am sure that there would be few people in your organisation who outdid themselves in their work. They might have taken up additional duties, tasks, been creative, tried out something new, learnt a new skill or something else. Make a list of them. Appreciate them and let them know they are valued. When we are pushed to uncertainty, some of us embrace fear and defeat it. These are the guys you would want on your team, to fight for your firm, for your family.

Also take some time appreciating the ones who are working at home without breaks, holidays, lockdowns or should I call working from home all the time. Give them a week off, take over the kitchen, clean the house, homeschool children, make that coffee, watch a movie or just given them a break. They are the real heroes of this crisis.

When you have a chance to do more, DO MORE, with love. That is what makes us better leaders, better people and better souls. Thank you!

Pic is of the special peas pakora made by wife. Yum it was! Made with love.

The wealth that compassion is!

Be compassionate. Despite what is happening with people around you, regardless of what people say, or what situations demand, just be compassionate.

Most of are compassionate by compulsion. When it suits us. While there is nothing wrong in that but when you see how things are going on around you, once cannot keep quiet. There are many people who are suffering. Even animals, birds are suffering. Most of them silently. I am sure you are doing your bit and I want to thank you for that. If you are not, anyway is a good day. Even if it is really small, kindly start.

Being compassionate makes us a more emotionally stable, strong, even improves our mental and physical health. It makes us a better human being. One of the many things that we learn during situations like the Covid-19 is the discovery of our character, the inner one. What is yours depends on how you treat people around you, how you respond to someone who needs your help. It also means that you are given an important opportunity to keep up humanity and what you do is your choice.

Some of my friends argue that they need to take photographs and videos while helping out. While I don't see anything wrong as long as it doesn't hurt the receiver, I would hate it when someone does it to me. So be compassionate again.

When it comes to our children, they look at us and are absorbing everything like sponges. When we behave with dignity, respect and compassion, it echoes in them and creates a foundation for better fulfilled living.

This is what you and I should be proud of sharing and teaching our children. I hope you are a compassionate person and will continue to be one. More power to you. If you have a story/experience your would like to share, I am just an email or call away!

#TalktoTiger #Consumerpsyche #Compassioniswealth