Lessons from Chennai Super Kings and Shane Watson in IPL final 2018

Congratulations Chennai Super Kings and well played Sunrisers Hyderabad. Here are some quick takeaways from the super charged final of IPL 2018. 

1. 1. Face the tough times:Watson had been resilient in these situations like the final twice - today with the calm Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and with the instigating charged up Wahab. In both situations, he maintained his composure, didn't let the situations dictate his moods or actions and came out as winner. Just like this, Each of us will have many tough things we have to go through in life, work, relationships and there are no two ways about it. The best way when nothing is working your way is to hold your head high and absorb everything happening around you and make that as your experience.
   
2. Have a plan and a back up plan and another back up plan:
   What makes leaders differ from others is that they are always thinking about strategies and have a plan to back up if things don't work out and always keep improvising and put things they planned in to execution. Keep thinking on your feet, all the time. When Watson had 9 dot balls on his score card, he wasn't thinking about the match or the bowler, he was focusing on how he can start going back to run a ball and then accelerate. Be in the how and hold your peace.
   
3. Believe in yourself and your team:While things weren't going well, Watson got enough support from Raina, Bravo and team in the dugout who didn't have a tense moment as they believed he would come up with a cool knock. You could see Dhoni in the dressing room keeping his cool and pacing calmly.
   
   Believe and depend on your team to help you get out of tough situations and be there when someone is not doing well. You need to back your team and work together. Working as a team and focusing on the enemy will help everyone move forward.
   
4. Training and process pays:Did you observe Shane Watson was not able run singles? His lower body wasn't helping him and he decided not to push himself in running singles and strategically played to score 4s & 6s. This applies to our business and life too. When you know you aren't going well in any area, play to your strengths and recuperate where you are down. Simple logic but very useful. If one of your products isn't doing well, focus on the better moving ones and help rework on what is not working.
   
   Having the best training where you can see all possible scenarios and work on them before going to the field.
   
5. Winning is not everything:
   While it is important to win, it is not everything. Going there in tune with your value systems, trust, respect makes it as important. Williamson proved this just right. Thrust upon the responsibility to captain a team who lost their leader in an ugly scandal, he evolved into one of the top leaders easily this IPL. Dhoni has his share of points in this as well. He could come back after a gap, regroup and live up to the tremendous pressure of the fans, management and himself. In business world we need to always remember the values you have for yourself and your team. Respect, trust and honesty are virtues you need to live for and this will be with you even after you have moved on with the situation you are handling.
   
6. Family is equally important, if not more:
   Seeing visuals of Dhoni carrying is daughter, Sakshi, Anushka and lot of family support in the ground actually helps show how important it is for the players and the fans. Spending time with the family and sharing your thoughts with the experiences help your reduce stress. Giving equal importance to the family helps you think clearer and be peaceful. Make time for the family.
   
7. Keep yourself fit.
   Several players in CSK are over 30 and no one seemed slow or easy to go. This shows the amount of importance given to physical fitness and mental strength they have. Dhoni is as for as ever. Time to bit the gym and lose those extra pounds and get fit. Being fit helps you take things to a different level.

What is your takeaway from today's game? Share in the comment below!

Photo courtesy: i.guim.co.uk

Genelia overdose

Genelia, Asin, Deepika and Dhoni. All face it. Watching few IPL matches on the small screen has exposed me to an overdose of the celebrities mentioned above. Too many advertisements and brand endorsements confuse the consumer with the association of the celebrity and the brand behind it. Brands should be clear about what they are trying to get the consmer remember after watching the communication. Information being given out should be consistent and not at all confusing. All the money spent on Genelia, Asin and others in the company goes waste on me and other consumers like me as none of the brands appeal to me or do I remember any of them.

Every brand that is advertising in this manner is running a risk of going over the consumer's head. The only ads that stand apart are the zoo zoos and Limca ones which seem to stand out and register. Mere celebrity association isn't taking your brand anywhere. Check which ones would stand out and how you can register your brand in the consumer's mind space. That's marketing greens well spent or else it is going down the drain. What say you?

Lessons from IPL!

Cricket has reached exciting levels with IPL. As expected some nice things are listed and should be introduced in academics, exams to be precise. Here are a few suggestions:

• Reduce exam duration to 1 hr and marks to 50
• Introduce strategic break after 30 minutes(you know what to do)
• Give free hit, that is a chance for students to frame their own questions and write answers
• 1st 15 minutes power play, that is no invigilator in the exam hall( How about students deciding timings of power play?)
• Introduce fair play awards
• If any wrong question is asked you can give your own answer for the next question(Free hit)
• Cheer girls to cheer for every correct answer written!

Can you add some more?

Down the mask? Or

All the followers of Fake IPL Player are waiting to know who is behind it. The posts have been anonymous and have given juicy tit-bits from what happens in the dressing room to what each of the players think. Now that IPLT20 is approaching its finale all the readers expect the owner of this blog to reveal his identity to them as he promised. Now he has put up a poll to check if the readers wanted him to reveal his identity or not. The results as of now are given below.

Yes, stick to your word man				23139 (64%)
Yes, I'd like to see your ass kicked				1334 (3%)
No, let it remain a mystery				4400 (12%)
No, I fear for your safety				1906 (5%)
No, I want this to continue				2471 (6%)
Who cares a f**k?				2579 (7%)

Vote on this poll
Votes so far: 35829 Vote before 16/05/09

What happens when the author reveals his identity? A few options...

• IPLT20 career surely would come to an end
• Possibility of law suits from KKR management, friends
• Become an outcast from parties, circles
• Lose credibility, trust
• Lose readers, followers

The biggest loss would be the lack of thrill in guessing who the author is. The whole concept was built around the mystery about the author. Once this is revealed boom goes your substance.

Another interesting thing about this is how readers of this blog responded about the question in point. Almost 67% voted for revelation. Knowing that this would doom his career and chances (if he is a player). It seems no body cares what happens. Exhibiting crowd behaviour its fun to watch the show as long as I am not involved. After all its your call. Lets see what he does.