Mantras to Enrich Life (Contd...)
We all want the magic mantra - Happiness. All I want is to be happy......
3 simple things:
1. Live in the present: One of the most important changes in my life has come from living in the present & this includes multiple things: Don't put away things you want to do for the future, do them now. Concentrate on whatever you are doing. Don't think about whatever other people will think and don't assume things. Just enjoy each moment as it comes.
2. Gratitude: Be thankful for all that you have. Connect or do things for people who don't have all that you do, develop compassion. Avoid comparisons with others at all costs.
3. Is it Important? If something is bothering you, ask yourself if it will matter a few days from now and if not, stop bothering.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Products Versus Services
A dilemma that many IT services companies may be familiar with, your services are doing extremely well in the industry. You keep getting repeat business and everything is fine. Should you diversify into products? For the uninitiated, a diversification into products involves high initial investments and hence high risks as well as returns.
So why do companies venture into products? They do so because once a product is established in the market, it generates consistent revenues and returns far beyond what services can generate (services generate returns of 10-20% on an average). So if you are a startup, it is great to begin with a services model and grow your team . Once you are well established on revenues and cash flows, begin working on products. This helps grow both the divisions without losing focus.
A dilemma that many IT services companies may be familiar with, your services are doing extremely well in the industry. You keep getting repeat business and everything is fine. Should you diversify into products? For the uninitiated, a diversification into products involves high initial investments and hence high risks as well as returns.
So why do companies venture into products? They do so because once a product is established in the market, it generates consistent revenues and returns far beyond what services can generate (services generate returns of 10-20% on an average). So if you are a startup, it is great to begin with a services model and grow your team . Once you are well established on revenues and cash flows, begin working on products. This helps grow both the divisions without losing focus.
Schooling Versus Home Education
On Sunday, while reading the paper, I chanced upon some parents who had decided not to admit their children to school - they preferred educating their children at home. Schools are too disciplined, they create too much pressure on the children, we can teach them a lot more at home etc.
I don't dispute the fact that these parents may be able to do a much better job on teaching their children than the teachers. So much attention focused on one student! But does that give parents the right to deny children the access to a social support support? A school is the best place for a child to learn the ways of the world and teaches the child to interact in a social setting. Independence, friendships, first crushes, fights, outings, discipline and what not, don't deny these to your children!
On Sunday, while reading the paper, I chanced upon some parents who had decided not to admit their children to school - they preferred educating their children at home. Schools are too disciplined, they create too much pressure on the children, we can teach them a lot more at home etc.
I don't dispute the fact that these parents may be able to do a much better job on teaching their children than the teachers. So much attention focused on one student! But does that give parents the right to deny children the access to a social support support? A school is the best place for a child to learn the ways of the world and teaches the child to interact in a social setting. Independence, friendships, first crushes, fights, outings, discipline and what not, don't deny these to your children!
Friday, June 06, 2008
Networking - How it Helps
(To the best networker I know - Ripul)
It is really hard to begin networking if you have never done it earlier. You may wonder, why should I bother talking to a stranger? Why should I spend time and energy getting to know these people, they are not my friends or family or even my work colleagues! However once you begin networking, you realize that networking is rewarding personally as well as professionally.
1. Professionally: We prefer working with people who we like. Clients usually prefer working with the same teams if they enjoyed working with them earlier. And also leads to more repeat and new business. And its easy to build better contacts with your clients. Drop them an email on some interesting news from their industry, a phone call to update them about some developments or check if they have any suggestions etc. And this works both ways, both parties develop a mutual relationship of trust and co-operation.
2. Personally: Networking is the best teacher. Most of us hang around with people in the same age group, talk to people with similar backgrounds and have friends who are just like us. However, restricting our circle of friends produces dullness and boredom and can lead us to a rut. For a change, try talking to people from other industries, talking to people in your neighbourhood, to a person on the street, email people across geographies and share your thoughts and views.
Lets talk!
(To the best networker I know - Ripul)
It is really hard to begin networking if you have never done it earlier. You may wonder, why should I bother talking to a stranger? Why should I spend time and energy getting to know these people, they are not my friends or family or even my work colleagues! However once you begin networking, you realize that networking is rewarding personally as well as professionally.
1. Professionally: We prefer working with people who we like. Clients usually prefer working with the same teams if they enjoyed working with them earlier. And also leads to more repeat and new business. And its easy to build better contacts with your clients. Drop them an email on some interesting news from their industry, a phone call to update them about some developments or check if they have any suggestions etc. And this works both ways, both parties develop a mutual relationship of trust and co-operation.
2. Personally: Networking is the best teacher. Most of us hang around with people in the same age group, talk to people with similar backgrounds and have friends who are just like us. However, restricting our circle of friends produces dullness and boredom and can lead us to a rut. For a change, try talking to people from other industries, talking to people in your neighbourhood, to a person on the street, email people across geographies and share your thoughts and views.
Lets talk!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)