morningboy.space

morning boy's letters on serious matters and commentary on funny things aplenty

Category: A Mix

  • Seaview of the book NUDGE by Richard Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein

    For me, every book (read ‘non-fiction book’ :)) is an ocean. And I am the fish that dives into that ocean. And every dive into such an ocean prompts me with two questions (before and after diving):

    • How much fun will/did I have diving this time?
    • How deep will/could I dive?

    Since I’ve been reading a hell lot of books, especially non-fiction, off late, I will publish seaviews of these books as and when I am done with my diving. Find the fish and you'll know how deep could I dive and how much fun I had :).

    If the seaview makes you feel like having a dive, you can check more details by clicking on the link right below.

     Review Seaview of the book Nudge by Richard Thaler

    If you are curious what led to the origin of ‘seaview’ and want to understand ‘seaview’ from my perspective, read on…

    • When I say ‘book’, I mean ‘non-fiction book’. So read it as such.
    • When I buy books online, I invariably go through a lot of reviews. A substantial amount of reviews (more than any other site) are found on amazon.com. So it becomes my obvious place to check reviews.  So either I’ve to rely on the over-all star-rating or the heavily worded reviews of some readers of the book.
    • The star-rating, though a quick indicator, on many occasions feels inadequate to base my decision on.
    • On the other hand, those heavily worded reviews, though they explain a good deal about the book, consume a hell lot of time and often leave me in confusion as to whether to read it or not. As such, buying decision gets deferred (because of reading reviews, resultant confusion and hesitation) many a time or I don’t just buy the book at the right time. Over-all, the action time (reading, thinking and applying that thinking in practical life) gets delayed and I hate that. It has happened with so many books; I decided not to buy (because of the elaborate reviews) but went on to buy (and read) later and regretted why I didn’t read them earlier.
    • All in all, I needed a review system which explains it a little better than the stars but is not as time-consuming and confusing as 100-200-word reviews.
    • And I realized that for a non-fiction book all I am interested in, before buying a book, is:
      • Does it seem like it’ll take me deep into a subject?
      • Does it seem like it would not bore me? In other words, does it seem fun/easy to read?
    • If I can estimate the book to be high on these two aspects, most likely I’m gonna buy it.

    If you've stayed with me till this point, then I would love to have your views on this concept of seaview. :)

    Picture courtesy: http://asrc.pjohnsen.com/imgs/files/underwater.jpg
    Fish courtesy: http://www.strangelittlefish.com/Home.html

    For her face

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  • Take the fight to the market

    On a lot many occasions, during some critical discussions, you might feel what you say will work in the market. And what you say might be big enough to significantly impact the market. But it isn't accepted by the people around, the people at office – your office, your colleagues. And therefore, you give in but not without disappointment, not without frustration, not without a feeling of loss.

    Isn't it better then to take the fight to the market instead of just fighting a losing battle within the office? Test yourself. If you get it right, great. If you don't, you learn. Importantly, you'll live without frustration and will be mighty prepared for the next challenge.

    For her face

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  • How to create a jewelry brand?

    Here's a small and simple presentation. But do not discount it just because it is so. Jewelry brands haven't been able to create 'brands' simply because of violating these principles.

    How To Create A Jewelry Brand?http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=howtocreateajewelrybrand-100303072314-phpapp02&stripped_title=how-to-create-a-jewelry-brand

    For her face

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  • Brandon Boyd (lead singer Incubus) on patience

    Brandon Boyd puts in perspective 'patience' (for anyone who feels he/she is creative but feels a bit frustrated by slowness on the path to commercial success or lack of recognition):

    "If you are in a hurry, write pop songs
    and make a sex tape."

    You might want to go through his interview here.

    For her face

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  • Royal Enfield royally trips my plans

    I booked a grey Bullet Classic 350 on 23rd Dec '09. I was informed that it would take 60 days to deliver the bike since the demand is high and production has constraints. Understandable. Scarcity is a sign of goodness.

    They say, "Trip". So I made some tripping plans too coinciding with some important occasions. And I requested them to deliver in time so that these plans can be executed. And they assured me of full cooperation.

    To my complaints, their reply-emails have been nice and kind. But "nice and kind emails" are a given, aren't they? Bigger promise is "Trip".

    A few days back before the anticipated delivery date, they said they would take another 60 to 75 days to deliver the bike. Which means it could be May.

    I requested for a refund of the booking amount. They promised a quick refund. It's been more than 20 days now and I am still waiting.

    One way or the other I trip!

    For her face

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  • How to write error-free presentations?

    I've introduced a way to ensure that the presentations we write are more or less presentable.

    Whoever writes the presentation, if that person makes any error (grammar, spelling, formatting, etc.) he/she pays Rs10/error as a penalty. This penalty will be collected in a common pool and spent for common welfare (like buying books, etc.).

    Alternatively, if the presentation is error-free, I add Rs50 on behalf of the person to the common pool.

    For her face

    One response to “How to write error-free presentations?”

    1. punit Avatar
      punit

      Meet the ensured Victim :(

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  • So how do you nudge? By gifting a Car Polishing Machine

    Just finished reading this book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness and also observed a live example of it up close.

    Car owners would know that every building has its set of car-washing men (I'll call them car-washers, for ease). They charge a few hundred bucks every month, depending on the frequency of washing and the size of the car.

    A cousin of mine just bought a big car. Fond of cars, he went about accessory shopping. He found a car-polishing machine. Who wants a dirty car? Besides, the belief that machines will do a better job than bare hands.

    But he knew that he wouldn't be able to use and maintain that machine. But he bought and gifted it to his car-washer. The deal: this car-washer can use this machine for whichever car he washes but he would render his services at lesser prices for some time to my cousin. Voila!

    This car-washer has a diploma in electrical. Any better way of charging up his services and nudging him towards a better life?!

    For her face

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  • Discovered a management tool

    Our life (personal, professional and any other) is filled with projects. Everything you do fits as a part of some project. In fact, if one looks at it life itself is one big project filled with sub-projects.

    Numerous software are available for certain kinds of projects. But very often you can't afford them. What's available for a project called life?

    The 5-SUBJECT NOTE BOOK! If you haven't used one beyond the classroom yet, try it. It will ease things in ways you couldn't see earlier. Yes, of course, you have to determine the subjects and the names you wanna give them. In schools, it was obvious, given, forced and ridiculous too. Here, you've got some choice. :)

    And it's okay if you've to use more than one 5-SUBJECT NOTE BOOK. :)

    For her face

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  • I don’t do much about it

    You don't either, I guess. In fact, both of us cheer. Both of us work to aggravate it.

    Am talking about cars and traffic.

    The way newspapers/publications write, it is a matter of cheer that sales of cars are growing phenomenally in the country.

    I take nothing less than 1 hr everyday to reach office in the morning. There's no space to drive within these cities. The way car launches are happening, buying 'one' is all that's needed; whether you drive or not is immaterial.

    For her face

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  • Tutti Frutti

    This post is also about Nose Hair Scissors! :)

    Little things but they matter. Where do you get them?
    The other day Arti was preparing to make a cake and she was looking for Tutti Frutti to mix in the preparation.
    She didn't find it either at Haiko or D-Mart – both supermarkets. She found it at a small old store which sells just these kinds of things. And the point is, I'm sure, all shopping at the supermarkets isn't as delightful as shopping for cake preparation and finding the right ingredients for the preparation.

    Tutti frutti

    The other day I was searching for these Nose Hair Scissors. In fact, I lost the ones I had quite some time back, and would inquire everytime I was at these supermarkets. Yet again, I found these scissors at Lucky Stores, a relatively small but very well-known shop in the area. 

    Nose Hair Scissors

    Big attracts. But not because it's big. Because for general (average, typical) purposes, it is convenient. But when did average thrill anyone? And these big shops won't hold such things because they feel these are unnecessary (unprofitable, infrequent) stock keeping units. They satisfy average consumer needs.

    Aren't the small trying to become big? Yes, but thankfully without forgetting the special consumer needs. And haven't they been satisfying the average consumer needs all this while?

    Small implies detail and that's the point of retail.

    For her face

    One response to “Tutti Frutti”

    1. Tushar Jambhekar- tujams Avatar
      Tushar Jambhekar- tujams

      Just adding on to what you have explained in an elaborate manner. Super Markets have scale, spread and volume selling as their motto. A small shopkeeper might have 200 different SKUs of various products and up in their mind they have an ERP tracking the stock.
      Sadly, the isle helpers in a supermarket are not aware about half the brands, SKUs and their stocks. My experience, I wanted food grade cellophane wrapping and just about no one understood in a supermarket as to what I exactly wanted. Wrapping was equated to foil- which I did not want since not useful for microwave. The only large format retail place having it had something of 50 meters and worth Rs 200.
      It was finally for a place selling plastic buckets, tiffins and other wares to hand me a 20 meter roll for Rs 40. BTW, this guy has the foil as well and 3 different SKUs.

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  • Pi: Kindle clone or India’s own e-book reader?!

    You can keep debating. But India's first e-book reader is about to be launched. And it's called Pi! Wow! That's reason enough to cheer.

     Infibeam Pi

    Kudos to Mr. Vishal Mehta (founder of infibeam.com) for his enterprise and guts to launch such a product in India, for Indians, and at a seemingly reasonable price (for the moment).

    At Rs.9999/- am sure it's gonna have a lot of takers. Features look impressive. Looks pretty cool too. Hope it stands up to its promise. Cheers! :)

    For her face

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  • Sardarji’s explanation

    Just left office with my colleague. Was driving through a crowded street. Both rear-view mirrors were open. Suddenly a Sardarji on a motorcycle passed by brushing the rear-view mirror on my left side, twisting it out of its position. No damage, thankfully!

    I wasn't surprised since such incidents are likely to happen some or the other time if you are driving in Mumbai. 

    Setting the rear-view mirror again in the right position, my colleague jokingly called out to the Sardarji and said, "Sardarji, bahut jaldi mein ho kya (are you in a lot of hurry)?"

    Sardarji smiled back, "Arre nahin, ek khadda aa gaya toh balance nahi raha, is liye touch ho gaya…" And he left the scene.

    My colleague said to me, "Poora explanation de diya, par 'sorry' nahi bola!"

    Apologies at the right time (not explanations) amount to better customer service. Acknowledging a problem is a quicker way to serve the customer instead of frustrating him with obscure explanations. He might not care. He didn't buy you for explanations.

    In fact, a quick apology might just open up a window to please him with the same explanation that would frustrate him otherwise.

    For her face

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  • Willingly waiting in queue

    iPad's launched and am in the waiting list. Time to wait: nothing less than 6 months I guess.

    Bullet Classic's launched and am in the waiting list. Two months to go I guess.

    Seth Godin's just released his new book Linchpin. I am waiting for it to hit the shelves.

    Besides, I am just preparing to go for a Kindle (with all the levies and taxes applicable in India).

    I am willing to stand in the queue. Now you know what kind of products need to be created?

    For her face

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  • 26th January needs to be more

    Every year on this day (and 15th Aug as well), there's a parade in New Delhi, some theatrical acts and a speech by the top man of the country. Societies and colonies in cities across the country arrange their own programs typically including flag-hoisting, some acts and a continuous run of some songs.

    I am tired.

    And most coz of the songs that keep playing one after another for a few hours. All have the same flavour. Patriotism. And that too, simply in one flavor. Is dying on the war-front all that's relevant?

    Need more anthems. More songs. More relevance. Any body? I'm trying. Perhaps next year.

    For her face

    One response to “26th January needs to be more”

    1. Manish Kumar Sharma Avatar
      Manish Kumar Sharma

      I hope you embrace it, Sid Soni.
      Love,
      Manish ( MICA:2004)
      09243862142

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  • Ideas like shampoo sachets

    This is Porter applied to Ad/Communication/Media Agencies. Barring a few exceptions, this applies to all the agencies. Think about it.

    Bargaining Power of Suppliers: High (perpetually rely on so many external entities, very often they control the medium or the content)

    Bargaining Power of Customers: High (all know how we fear clients)

    Threat of New Entrants: High (any individual can pose a big threat to any existing set up, no matter how big)

    Threat of Substitutes: Substitutes galore

     Porters_five_forces 

    Is it any wonder then that 'words' and 'ideas' are sold and treated like shampoo sachets.

    For her face

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  • Understanding Avatar

    I wrote earlier that Mahindra Two Wheelers doesn't understand Avatar. I expressed my doubts about Bajaj's understanding of Avatar too. But it seems Royal Enfield understands it well and is also applying it well…

    That's Thunderbird

    Thunderbird-twinspark

    That's Classic 350

     Classic-350 

    And that's Cafe Racer

     Royal-Enfield-Cafe-Racer

    Same engines, but very very different characters. And every character as likeable. The bigger brands with pockets full of money don't seem to get that though.

    Picture Courtesy: royalenfield.com & bikeadvice.in

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  • Naked but not sexy

    Marketers at Mahindra don't understand Avatar. But hey, even at Bajaj it's the same. Here. If these first pics of the 2010 naked Pulsar 220 are to be believed, Bajaj needs to take a break. More surprising, this comes after launching a wonderful bike like Pulsar 135 LS.

    For her face

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  • Are you investing in lifestyle or life-dream?

    Oh, I find so many people around with great business ideas and searching for venture capitalists to make those ideas a reality. They feel implementing those ideas would change their lives forever.

    When I talk about funding the ideas on their own, they do not quite nod convincingly. Say, "Money is the problem." I wonder, is it?

    Why is money the problem? "There's a certain lifestyle we need to maintain", they say.

    That's absurd. What's bigger, lifestyle or life-dream? What will investing in lifestyle get you? But you know for sure, what will investing in life-dream get you, don't you?

    Besides, if some idea isn't worth investing in as compared to investing in lifestyle, then your idea isn't good enough. Forget it. Spare yourself some cribbing for something else.

    For her face

    2 responses to “Are you investing in lifestyle or life-dream?”

    1. Ninad Avatar
      Ninad

      Bang on! Sustaining lifestyle can never be an excuse to not investing in life-dream.
      However another school of thought(I dont necessarily subscribe to it) says that business is never done with your own money.

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    2. Kapil Avatar
      Kapil

      Well this is an interesting perspective. We had a bit of an animated discussion in a group of 7 on this interesting topic. I kind of agree with both discussing parties. While we give up life dream for comparatively cheaper thrills, a life dream in a social setup is a dream / life of more than one individual. In a non social environment (no parents / siblings / responsibilities) the term ‘life style’ looks like a selfish, superficial, materialistic concept. But with your responsibilities towards your parents / family and near and dear one’s the impact of your living your dream has more implications that a certain ‘altered’ life style. That was a resounding consensus in the group. The debate goes on…

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  • If advertisers can sell any brand…

    what stops them from becoming entrepreneurs?

    I've always believed that given a little patience, communication professionals will most often prove better entrepreneurs than those who have businesses but do not have communication expertise.

    If they have the conviction, they should, isn't it? One can argue, they don't have the money to do so. Is it really the case? Sometimes, it feels they don't have the balls to do so. On other occasions, it feels they are plain lazy.

    Let's say if all good advertisers muster the courage to become entrepreneurs, who does the job of marketing communication for big brands? Is that a problem? Is that really a question? Why, of course, marketing department of each organization might handle the responsibility.

    Guess, that's when the real face-off happens  – advertisers-turned-entrepreneurs vs. businesses-which-hire-advertisers. In other words, if marketing is what runs businesses and advertising is what constitutes a big part of marketing, it would be interesting to see what kind of adversaries do advertisers make.

    My guess, communication professionals or advertisers would come out winning.

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  • Every opportunity to present…

    is a sort of permission received to advertise yourself/company/your recommendation.

    Now just think about the presentations you make. Forget theories. Forget constructs. Just think about grammar, words, pictures… What are you showing? What are you conveying? Who's writing them? Who's presenting them?

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