Virtual Identity

Hello Everyone, I think this should be a gr8 one!! It includes some research on my part and is one of my best shot!

Virtual Identity or Internet Identity has become a new kid on the block. Its nothing new but is probably the forgotten challenge of Internet that few of our matured and elderly person could predict. But at that time, they were chided at as outdated or superstitious people. Unfortunately, the fear has come true. And it has stuck at the time, when even that generation has joined the bandwagon called fast world of Internet. Today the only person left who doubts the efficiency or ill effects of internet are the newbies or left out ones. And in almost 9 out of 10 cases these sceptical people once become net freak tends to forget their fears.

Confused? You should be, cause if you are reading this then there are high chances that you too are a net freak and will not easily accept there are any flaw with internet. Well yes there isn't any flaw with the internet as such, but one new bit worrying concept of Virtual Identity has built up very fast. Well not binding, I would rather put it that this Virtual Identity has either or both of the aspects viz good or bad. It entirely depends on your comfortability level. However to me it has more of negative qualities then positive.

Virtual Identity: What does it mean?
Well by now you must have guessed it what exactly this word means, but anyways, here is a short definition coined by me, just for the sake of making the term clear.

Virtual Identity, is the form of Identity of person existing on internet. The basic part of it is composed of the name (can be a pen name too), while it can have other major details as the photos of friends and family, permanent residence or work address, email address, chat Id's, Likes and Dislikes, etc details revealing more and more about a person's characteristics.

Well Have you ever tried keying in your name in Google?

Try it, and if you are in Facebook, then probably the first search result is your profile. If your name is common enought then there are chances of it slipping somewhat down. If not Facebook, try it in Orkut, to get precise search, after your name enter your city's name, and in 90% case you ll get your profile, or the profile you are looking for. One more such site is Linked In, for which google has high priority result. But then Linked In is a proffessional networking rather than social networking, so lets spare Linked In here.

My Experiences with Virtual Identity:
Before pursuing further, I would like to share, from where this idea stuck me? Once while talking on the phone, a friend informed me about a guy who had called her out of the blue and has been harrassing for phone friendship. She gave me some details about the guy, that he has provided to flatter her. Now me belonging to Web Research Background was quite sure about the guy's Virtual Identity, so all I did was some basic search on few well known social networking site and with 99% surity I had not just the pic of this dude, but even his cell phone number. He had been calling from landline number to her and so there was a possibility that he used to call her from Local PCO. But then it was a break through with my researching skills as now it was not the dude who will reach us, but its we who will reach him. We surprised him by our "Hello" call on his cell phone and since then he has been in frenzy and has yet not dared to call back.

Since then, I have traced lot of information about quite a few girls, cell phone numbers in some cases, and have managed to whack some pics too. To boost about it, I have stolen the pics even from locked photo albums or from the albums visible only to friends (including Facebook profiles!!)

Boon or Bane?
This tool is so effective that one can know not just the external details about a person, but if minutely researched and refined the personality details as likes and dislikes, the attitude, key to drive one, etc can also be precisely known.

Have you ever thought that all the details you provide on net, be it any site, is being recorded somewhere, though not at same place, in this vast space called net. And to crack those details all one need is smart analytical mind. Till now most of us have pondered over the security of data which involves monetary worth, viz. Credit Card, net banking details, etc. because we have been reading about it in papers and have come accross various scams too. But now its not just limited to banks; the entire meaning of personal data has been revamped by social networking sites. You wish to share your information to get your old and lost pals but you forget the risk of getting your enemies, foes, and imposters along. Or you rather overlook them for the cost of opportunity lost by not putting up your details.

With this ever increasing ballyhoo being created by the social networking site, I think soon we would get to read in papers about the more personal data being theft. Well I dont think I need to eloborate on the fact that a personal picture when stolen can be used in any and every way.

So now you have to decide, whether this world of virtual identity is a boon or a bane for you?

Last but not the least I would suggest, even if you are very much comfortable with sharing your details, do analyse the long term impact that any information provided can get you into.

(all your feedback and comments are most welcome, the views are personal and might have error in logic, concept or description. So please feel free to point them!!)

Puzzlezz...!! (?)

Hey Guys,

Hope you all doing good!! I came across few interesting B-School Puzzles. Try and solve them. Leave your answer as comments to the post, but try and be honest!!

• 1st one:

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There is a dragon with three heads, and three tails. And hou have a sword. You can either cut 1 head or 2 head or 1 tail or 2 tails of the dragon. If you cut 1 tail, 2 new tails appear. If you cut 2 tails, one new head appears. If you cut 1 head, one new head appears. And if you cut 2 heads, nothing appears. So in minimum how many strikes can you kill the dragon i.e. cut all its heads and tails.
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• 2nd one:

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Emily writes a list of 10 numbers less than 100. Her list contains number in ascending order (i.e. smaller number appears before the greater one). Few other peculiarities of her list are: The difference between any two adjacent number is also a number in the list and when these number written in words, the total number of alphabets in each number is also is in increasing order. (i.e to say if the previous number has 3 alphabets in its word form, (eg number '2'), then the next number has more than 3 alphabets in its word form.)

Find the sum of all the 10 numbers of the list that Emily has!!
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Well dats two for now. Have one more but for that will have to make a small pictorial presentation, so will add that in this one soon!! Till then try and solve them, especially the second one, which is quite challenging..

When Right goes Wrong!!

Russia (USSR) and America, two former super powers confused the rest of the newly independent world as to which approach for an economic planning is best for the country. Russia being Socialist, in its early years dominated and proved to be more fierce full in overall development than the latter's Capitalist Economy. In the era of cold war, Russia definitely won over USA by means of strong internal (government) support to the budding innovations and discoveries. Many countries consequently fell into line and accepted the Socialist economy, though with some necessary alterations. India being one of them.

Well the simple ideological difference between Socialist and Capitalist theory is while Socialist emphasises on distribution of wealth in the society, Capitalist emphasises on creation of wealth. The latter being more logical in the sense that in former the wealth is just distributed and without emphasis on creation, and hence there is a possibility of depletion of wealth to be distributed, while the latter though just creates wealth, but by the chain process in creating wealth it automates the function of distribution of wealth, and hence it has dual aspect which includes the aspect of Socialist ideology too. Later years that followed, the Russian economists could see the end approaching as the superpower had gradually given in to diminution of wealth and economy in nation. An ideology change was required and hence forth from 1991 Russia changed its face and took a step forward to follow the booming Americans' Capitalist Economy. In the same year India too came out of the iniquity politics of Socialist Economy and turned towards Capital Economy. India, Russia, and etc countries that realized the importance of "Generation of wealth" did show a drastic recovery. The pace being so strong that they were being called as the future superpowers of world.

But today like 1991, once again the world stands on the bend where the same question but in counter way is being asked, "Is Capitalist Ideology better than Socialist?" And the question coming right from American Economy, where the creation of excessive wealth has left behind a trail of excessive liability. Liability worth Trillions of Dollar. And for which American government is looking for a socialist approach.

If you wondering how come I am blaming America of becoming socialist in its approach, then the answer is bit simple, the American government has passed the bailout package for Industries and Markets which means the government would provide them with tax payers money. And when tax payers money is in question no government can allow the companies to function independently and manipulate that money freely. It will definitely bring in interventions and accountability of government in the normal functioning of the industries. While the sole motive of any government is the welfare of its dear citizen, hence gradually the main objective of these companies too will shift from maximization of wealth to distribution of wealth and welfare to the society.

An indeed a paradoxical situation, Russia turned to Capitalist Ideology while now America has laid a foundation stone for Socialist Economy. Given such scenarios the major sufferer are the developing economies like India, which fails to brace while swinging between these ideologies. It has to empower various stratagems especially those related to Liberalization and Globalization, to maintain its due growth along with stability in economy.


And at last the hot debate over Capitalist and Socialist continues!!

And the Award goes to Gujarat

Narendra Modi is the showman. Finally after weeks of speculations and months of tussle Tata has chosen Gujarat for its Nano project. Its a feat and celebration time for Gujarat. Narendra Modi has gone an extra mile to accommodate Mr Ratan Tata in his jurisdiction by allowing concessions and discounts which fall against his rules and principles. He has been personally avere to giving concessions to industry, on the ground that such concessions given in the past had led to huge loss of revenue to the exchequer. But however he has made a win - win deal this time by easing his rigid laws and offering Tatas a amiable hand.

The enthusiasm and accolade shown by Gujarat farmers in Sanand is in total contrast to that exhibited by their counterparts in West Bengal. Here, farmers has readily agreed to sell their lands to Tatas and participate in Industrial Development, rather than to woo for the lost agricultural opportunity. I believe such ostentatious welcome by Gujarat might have made West Bengal Farmers and their conman Minister Mamta Banerjee to realize their mistake. Well anyway, their blunder came as a boon to Gujarat. It will surely bring lots of development and growth for one of the most developed state of India.

The implications of this project are better employment opportunities for people of Gujarat, better business opportunities to local vendors and suppliers, including less transportation cost and competitive prices, geographic and political growth of the suburb of Ahemadabad - Anand, more revenue to state and exchequer, and if Tata permits a comparatively cheaper prices for their final product (Nano and others in future). It also gives a boost to morale of overall investors building their trust in brand Gujarat, which will indirectly lure more of investors to Gujarat.

Gujarat already scores high in the list of states with Industrial Development and this feat is like a feather in the hat. Gujarat's present government has got one more acclamation. There could be a huge gift in store for Narendra Modi as he has just completed seven years in office as Gujarat chief minister.

Jaagore (a review)

Won't make it banal explaining the importance of exercising your basic right of democracy, viz right to VOTE..

I believe we all know its importance, and if we yet fail to realize it, then I am sure, my words wont make any difference either. Still you have an excuse, here is an answer to all your excuses, read on:

Did you know that if you live in a city for more than six months you are eligible for Voting from that city. Even as a student staying temporarily in a different city, you can vote!! Amazing isn't it? Well many such facts and myths about our basic right to exercise franchise is mentioned on this site http://www.jaagore.com

It is a benediction activity undertaken by few youths of society, to awaken the sleeping citizens of our country. It just not clear the air regarding your basic rights but also manage all your worries regarding the election process. On your behalf, at the time when the voter's list is being prepared, it applies to be included in the list and ensures and conforms back that your name exists in the final version. It also sends update and reminders about the coming elections including details about your polling booths, via mail and SMS. For all this all you need to do is a small registration and tell them more about your constituency and other details.

And, now if you are one amongst the many, who simply curse the system in our nation, you have a bright chance to give your contribution by becoming an active member for the organization. And its simple too. All you need to do is carry the message along to as many citizens as you can. The site also runs an Orkut community, where it has active forums and polls amongst which many discusses hot topics about India and Indian politics.

Well you have definitely seen it on TV, and have thought it to be an innovative commercial from Tata Tea. But it has nothing to do with Tata Tea. Tata Tea is probably just the supporters to this noble cause. And as perfect business strategy they are yet earning marketing benefits from this propaganda.

Do visit this site, enroll yourself, and in the registration form in the field of "credit my voter registration to" enter my email id as: priyesh.sicsr@gmail.com

One Billion Votes!! Lets make it come true..

It will just help me to move along the level of my volunteership.

Confidence is the trick!!

Well, time to bell the CAT is nearby..!! Sweet September has ended, had enough sleep.. now its time to be awakened..!! This time, there would be no If(s).. but just WoW..!!

Confidence is all what matters.. it determines your attitude and supports your unconscious brain!! The funda is very simple and most of us even know it.. But yet we fail to exercise. We let our unconscious mind win over our conscious mind, and probably that is why we call it unconscious one. We fail to know what is there in it, or what is cooking up there against our concious pious motives!!

For me, few bandies that often helps win the notorious one are:
1. I can and I will
2. I am the King
3. If I wont do it then who will?

hhmnn.. sounds stupid, rather childish, but whatever it is, it does help.

Well the most common therapy for this self control, is exercising Yoga, controlling your breath, and etc-etc. The limitations of this therapy is that it needs regular practice. But for me, I feel such requirements arises at few moments or at few critical issues, as otherwise I feel I am emotionally quite strong. Hence for me such short hand techniques (bandies) are more apt.

So when you know you can, then you can.. and when you doubt "can you?", then you cant.. When you say if its in my fate, I ll get it, implies you doubt; but if you say, you rule and will write your own fate, you are confident!!

I am not an anthropologist, but on my own experience I am quite sure, gathering confidence is not easy. It requires a perfect combination of good number of positive experiences mixed with right attitude and emotional stability (especially from the part of our unconscious mind). And once attained such level of confidence, one will never be dubious to challenges. And its just a immense confidence that determines a winner.

Confidence deserves more than 90% of the winning credit, the others being friendly-open attitude towards challengers, rather than bamboozling, augmenting one's own efforts, etc.

Well then according to me these are the few major components needed to mark the win, and if I am able to develop them all, I would definitely come up with a WoW on 16th November, 2008!

PS: Do tell me if I have missed on any other attribute or if you agree/disagree with me.

Become a Registered Reader

Hey Friends,

I know you have been liking my blogs, though lately I have not been writing much and whatever I am is probably bit personal and for you difficult to relate to, yet you can be assured of some quality works soon from my side, but before that I invite you to become my Registered Reader and get all updates of my new posts. Click on "Follow This Blog" link which is the last item in the (right) sidebar.

I am quite busy studying these days and I am restricting myself to get philosophical and innovative, as when I once get ardours about a topic, its then difficult to stop the cognition process, which involves assay of every minute happening around in light of the topic.

But no worries, soon I would reset my mind to wander and hit upon all absurdities of life and world. And I am sure you would love such articles. So till then please be patient and try and do with all my arrant posts.

And yes do not forget to add yourself in the list.... Promotional Offer is on... First 100 names, get a surprise gift [;-)] lolzz...

Doomsday and I

Today I woke up after a day's rest cause of overeating of outside food, and was about to leave home to wind up the pending chores of MBA forms, etc, than my servant in a worried tone declared about the Dooms Wednesday. Not very sure about what exactly it is he informed entire city is panicking out of this some crazy meteorite fall or some fault with earth, that is scheduled at 12:00 PM today. Unaware of this I tried surfing news channel but "maano ya na maano" found same "vardaat", serials on them. Thanx to easy and handy information source, I quickly surfed through some sites. Though bit coverted it was there all over net under some other headings. "Will the world survive this Wednesday". At first I thought its very serious. and today is the doomsday that most had always talked about. But then after the first glance of the complete article itself when I realized that couple of thousands of brains are involved in this , I was relieved.

Yet for sure there was some doubt what if it is true! But then its not my personal doomsday, so in that case all my commitments, promises and desires would stand null and void with no one to blame me later. Well, than thought of giving tensions to few friends as I was sure very few know about it or else I would have got some calls since morning. So called up a frnd who is generally very apprehensive. But to my surprise, even she reacted quite coolly and the only tension she got was about her unaccomplished tasks of the day. This made me more relax as the person who takes the most tension didn't get any tension then why do I need to bother.

Well the time passed by and finally the "Vardaat" started screening the experiment. Well needless to mention each channel had few lines recorded which they kept playing again and again and the major part of those lines had big time marketing slogans in it. After few initial hours most of them assured that the risk has been subsided.

To conclude, I think the experiment is unique in its own way and has lots of hope of few thousands of scientists, the figure is yet ambiguous as different channels had different figures for the number of scientists involved. Wishing them all lucks and congrats for proving the dooms foreteller wrong. Again a different yet true school of thought, "You can guarantee that nothing should go wrong, but you cannot guarantee that nothing will go wrong". Let us all hope that this experiment is completed without any hindrances and is beneficial to the entire mankind.

Wake Me up when September Ends

Hey here comes September...!! The season of Falls...(Autumn). Finally a respite from hot summers can be expected soon....

Wishing you all a happy September. For me, Last month where I can afford sleeping cause after this month I would have only one month to go for CAT and other exams which will decide my future. So guys Wake me up when September Ends!!

{This is one of my favourite song}...

Take Care...

Time to Pack Up

This is my last week at work. Will be going for a two and half months long leave after this. I wish to come back and rejoin my work. It has been a very nice experience here. Good people to work with, very supportive. Indeed the fact that I got leave for my MBA entrance exam is the evidence that the management here has broader perspective and are open to educational advancements.

There is an excitement to be at home. After a long time would be at home with a satisfaction that I am at home to achieve something and do have some objective in life. Last time after graduation I felt as if I have lost in life's race and am being at home, initially I even got feeling that probably life is at a turning point and hence forth my entrepreneurial skills will be honed, but however gradually that feeling sublimed and I got as comfortable as ever. But this time its hard work and dedication. I want to get lost in my efforts that I never get chance to think so much as I did last time. This time with a supplement with my good mock scores I would probably stay at home with a good feeling and proud. Moreover there's no heaven as good as love and care of my mother. I am looking forward for a great time at home too. But I don't think my work ex for 3 months would add any great impact on my resume so anyways I would have to work after this leave period.

Looking forward for positive things as always!!

Are you Proud of Independence Day? I am not!

Its nation's 62nd Independence Day, but for me its 20th. It has been 20 long years, which I have breathed in this free country. Till this year I have always been proud of this day. I always felt, that the day rejuvenate the lost spirit of nationalism, though not to everyone but atleast to few of the proud Indians, and to few like me who's sentiments ardour only at such national festivals. Always thought that if properly utilized then such occasions can actually help to revolutionize the entire era of excessively busy and myopic people. Something like Rang De Basanti style.

I really don’t want to sound so negative, but the only basic question that I would ask anyone on this day is, Are you happy particularly about this day? Happy in all sense. Happy for this wonderful nation. Do you get sense of security and stability on the day?

Probably most of you would agree that yes we are happy about this day, we are free and we are more secure. Even I would have agreed to it unless this year, I would have come across a similar debate with a friend and finally a journey at the eve of this Special Day.

But isn't it that during such national festivals we fear the most of terrorist striking the peace in nation. Moreover this year amidst the recent terror attacks at Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkatta, and futile ones at Surat, there was no feeling of security in the great Nation.

It just happened that I had to travel on the eve of Independence Day and my friend warned me to avoid travel for security reasons, and gradually we got into a debate with a friend about how we all are supposed to surpass the feeling of being terrorized and scared when terrorists strike, so as to make their basic motive of creating unrest in the nation a futile attempt. So I was of the opinion that whatever the situation may be, every citizen of India should come ahead on this Holy Day to celebrate the day in true Indian spirit and try to feel the way our great freedom fighters have felt. The only difference being we will be fighting against terrorism. So I tried to convince him that its just a normal day for me and that I will move around as normally as I do, or rather more proudly than other days.

Finally at the D-Day, I reached the Pune Railway Station. It was night hours and the nation was very quickly and swiftly moving towards its 62nd Independence Day. I had thought that probably the city would be undergoing decoration so as to celebrate. I was myself very proud of the feeling, but then at railway station the condition was rather gloomy and tensed. All over policemen! Checking posts, stations overly crowded as always yet no one interested to ponder over the date or time. Zombies, without smile or sign of happiness, moving and making their way around. I still had hopes that probably at 12:00 midnight the situation would change. My train got delayed and luckily I happened to be on station at midnight to experience the situation at myself. I was watching the needle of the Platform Clock and as excitedly as it was birthday of my girlfriend I had my cell in my hand with all greetings for the day typed along with the recipients. It stuck 12:00 and I sent the messages for which I did not get even 2% of reply back. It was for the first time that I was in a public place at such a great day. And according to me there would have been very few places better than Pune Railway station to feel the joy of celebrations of this day. Pune being hub of youth there are maximum chance to feel innovative spirit of the day. I was expecting a formal announcement from the authorities. Anyways instead of announcement they flashed their wishes on the display screen at platform which was pretty decent on their part. Next I was expecting was a formal greet from the persons I accost to, which obviously I deed the entire journey, but this was in vain too. Instead all I got from people was the look of fear and worry. Most of them could not hide their helplessness in avoiding the journey on this day.

Well as and when the journey progressed I felt that for people its just another day, and they are grateful that at least their station or train was not bombarded at sharp 12 by terrorists.

I am happy, I got a chance to travel on this day and observe the true Indian Nationals. I think this day in 21st Century actually doesn't bring pride or happiness to the citizens but a burden and sense of insecurity. It carries with itself a face of terror. And majority of us fail to look at the brighter side of the day and treat the day as a burden to Indian Legacy System. A day where anything can go wrong on a huge scale without notice. Unfortunately this day doesn't unite people anymore, if we want to create a society where people celebrate, come and interact and try to understand each other than probably we need more of days such as Valentine's, Christmas, New Year, etc. At least on such days youth of 21st Century without worrying about sure shot terror attack from local political parties gets courage to go on roads and celebrate. And in case if you really want to see the national spirit of people of India than you should wait for India Pakistan match rather.

Please, I just want you to be truthful at least to yourself, if not others. Please ponder over it and answer this question. Do you actually feel proud about Independence Day in today's world?

If your answer is yes than probably you have yet not travelled or remain unsolicited in a crowded public place all alone on the night of Independence Day.

Role of perception in consumer marketing

This one is based on personal experience.

Some time ago, I often used to hear from an elderly age group of people about the complexities that new technology has introduced. Say an ATM machine. Those people were introduced as oldies or outdated people. But today such complains have decreased substantially or to put it in other words those complains have escalated one more generation gap. The people in their mid ages have mostly got adapted to such technologies. Due to which marginal people of next level has also followed.

Now interestingly the fact is that there had been hard efforts to reduce complexity in using technologies, but however it alone did not help substantially to get more people using these technologies. Infact without changing the customer perception by proper marketing mix it would not have been so successful.

Its very hard to alter an established perception of a consumer. Only a deliberately thought marketing can help to make it real. The perfect marketing mix is what is needed to hit the established thought process of the consumer. Especially when we talk about Indian consumers who has their traditional and conventional products and alternatives, which they have been using for years, its very difficult to alter their taste. And majority of brands has also failed in doing so. Finally the marketeers has to adapt to the consumers, the best example being Pizza Hut with its Indian - Punjabi Menu and Mc Donalds with its Indianzied food. Still its not easy for them to get customers to their restaurant. Mc Donalds in India faces heavy competition from Vada Pav stallers, who without any strong marketting, forms the basic diet of lower working class of people of Indian metros especially Mumbai, Surat, Pune, etc.

Mc Donalds have hence evolved to a marketing strategy which serves the basic purpose of transmitting the message that the burger is yet cheap and that that the outlet is not only meant for kids or youths but to older people who has lost their love for such foods. It aims at altering the general perception that the product is expensive, and though if logically thought a visit to their outlet finally proves to be heavy on a normal customer's pocket as he end up spending more.

The basis of any marketing is to make the target audience realize that there is a neccessity of his product in his life and to make him agree to spend his disposable income on the product. The challenge was bigger in recent future. But with the increase of purchasing power of the consumers, more and more class of people has migrated towards better standard of living. Hence Air Conditioners , Laptops, Car Makers now lays more importance on middle class people as their target audience. There has been tremendous increase in advertisement of laptops from "Life is Easy, to King Khan's Compaq series". It has now been accepted trend in Indian consumers that in case you are looking for a machine for your small or big need then better go for a laptop. Needless to say that the sale of laptop has surprassed that of desktop by a huge number.

To sum it up, I would conclude that for any marketteer the most necessary thing today is to first read the conceived pereception of targeted audience and then mould the same with proper devised marketing principles and fundas.

Blogs from Learned Proffessors

Hey, here's a list of blog sites of learned professors from various Big and Famous B-Schools. These blogs gives a great insight on various Economic, Financial, Marketing, etc issues. Its great to read about their ideas.

1. T T Ram Mohan (Professor, Finance and Accounting Area, IIM-A)
2. Harish(Marketing lecturer at ICFAI,Cochin)
3. Mr Piyush Shah(Operations Narsee Monjee)
4. Madhukar Shukla(XLRI)
5. Madhukar Shukla(XLRI)2nd Blog
6. Sabu Mangalasserril(Assistant Professor at ICFAI)
7. Jayanth R Varma, IIM Ahmedabad
8. Pitabas Mohanty (XLRI Jamshedpur)
9. Rajeev Sharma (XLRI Jamshedpur)

Some of them are very good. I would post my personal comments and likings about each one very soon.

Perception..!!

{Well this blog I wrote as a project. It seems you guys have really liked all my previous blogs. Thanks for your appreciations, but instead of praising them in private I would love if you guys can write them as comment below each blog. Anyways about this blog: Its an outsourced project to me. I am supposed to write more of such types in very less time alloted. Hence without reviewing it for second time I am publishing it. I will reconsider it asap and update the editions. Till then I am quite sure the words below will be make atleast some sense}

Perception



Perception plays a very important role in decision making!! Take this example:

In a party, where Shyam was on his part time job of a waiter, a lady lost her diamond ring. There was a police inquiry and all the guests, servants, caterers and everyone in the party were Maharashtrian except him. He being a Bihari was detained by police for inquiry. He was harassed to the best possible way. Though later the ring was reported to be misplaced by the lady herself, the question here is why didn’t police detain anyone else than a Bihari? In a heated argument with the friend over the same issue we came up with the conclusion that it was all about Perception. See perception took a place so widely and wildly that no one from police, caterers or guests even thought of having a second thought about the police detaining or questioning just a poor outcast Bihari without any sort of proof or reason. Is being a bihari his fault?

Same goes for Muslims in our country and I probably need not explain what I am talking about, cause it’s a wide perception.

If perception when so strong can make the most learned living being on earth loose his logic and reasoning then its noteworthy to think that how this perception when harnessed in proper sense can help to serve personal or utilitarian motives.

Marketers today make the maximum use of this perception game theory. They are the people who understand completely the power of perception. They do not leave any stone unturned to catch, mold and create consumers perception. Be it be FMCG basic product or an Luxurious product, each marketer try to hit on the perception of the consumer. Better put as Brand Identity. Identification of each individual to the brand.

Remember Anchor and Colgate war for their toothpaste box cover design? And of course the close up jingle “kya aap closeup karte hai?”. The only motive behind it was to impact upon target consumer’s mind that its just close up because of which that you get confidence and all good things happens to you. And how about Big B coming to screen and often advising you to include Dabur Chawanprash in you diet, or to drink Dabur Glocouse, or to eat Dabur Hajmola, or to apply Emami Boroplus cream.

In case you are aware of the few facts as that Shahrukhan is no more brand ambassador of Santro, now he is for Hundai i10, similarly, Pepsi has not renewed its contract with Sachin for Pepsi’s promotion, because it feels Sachin no more represent youth.

What’s the relation between Shahrukh’s not being a brand ambassador and perception? Its very obvious that now Santro wants its consumers or target audience to look at Santro and say it’s a Middle class man’s vehicle that were not able to identify themselves with the standards of Shahrukh Khan now with ordinary people can perceive the car to be affordable and meant for them.

Similarly now Pepsi has Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Narayan Kartik, Deepika Padukone, etc as young face of its youngistan campaign. And it wants its target audience to perceive that it’s the voice of Young people who fall in category of Youngistan, a utopia where everything is possible.

Perception is everywhere. Probably the reason behind our every action is the perception of things.

Well as a consumer, to decide if this marketers have the right to play with our perception, will be diplomatic answer. Its after all depends on customer to customer how he takes these imposed perceptions. So you decide if its perception or fact..?

Blog for QED Users

Dear all QED Users,

I have made a blog site where we can share experiences, knowledge, expertise, fun part and your new innovative ideas. Please leave me your email id in the comment, and I will send you the invitation to contribute and write on for that blog site.

Visit the blog site here. QED

Hoping for your enthusiastic contribution.

Regards

QED Baton as I see it!

This one is dedicated to my office at Pune :

QED.. A fun filled place to be in!


It offers work,
It offers entertainment,

It gives challenges,
It gives solutions,

It ensures mental blockade,
It ensures total leisure,

It gives Flexibility of shift duration,
It calls for late night stay backs!!


Carom at one corner,
comps at another,

Bosses at one end,
Work Floor at another,

Washrooms round the corner
Both separate from each other,

Hot Drinks towards the lunch arena,
Coolers yet to find a place,

Lots of work,
Lots of Fun,

Fun filled Fridays,
Though not very often,

The mixture of both,
The positives & the negatives,
Yet with well balanced gradient.

I am surely going to miss,
This paradise called QED Enabled Services Private Limited.

Office Office..!

Life in a corporate is Fun too. Before joining this office there were lots of skepticism about the first job. I felt I am too young to work in an organization and that people might look at me as a kiddo and might now value me. Will I be able to cope up? Do I really need to do jobs?
Probably like every new joiner I had lots of questions and ambiguities. Learning, mugging up, and writing exams is what I am perfect at. But here the world will be totally new. The feeling is somewhat comparable to a child who has been riding a tricycle and now has been kept over a bicycle to try his luck. The same enthusiasm and same fears all through out.  And as I steadfast on the track, I am sure the lessons will be learnt in the same manner as in case of former, by falling - paddling - breaking and above all practicing. I hope to get the most of the learning here before I call it the day of working under employment.

Is it all about MBA?

The topic in discussion over here is probably one of the most hyped one. At my age, around millions of people are crazy about these three words. And even I am one of them. Yet out of those millions each have a different reason of his being in this Rat’s race. Most common would be “to make a career”. But one question keeps haunting me. Is it all about MBA? Is your career just because of an MBA? If that is really the case then why do you run after top B – Schools? Do they impart good knowledge? If MBA is all about exposure then do they offer better exposure? If yes then how do you decide the other one doesn’t? And if you are the student in question then have you ever thought what kind of exposure is right for your career? And if you know your right exposure then why don’t you want to research which institute is offering that exposure? Or is that you simply believe that the best one is doing so? And above all is MBA the only means for setting up your Career? What about the time that you loose getting into your dream institute? Doesn’t that affect your career? Is it worth taking risk of wasting couple of years? So many and many questions....

Well probably you are thinking that I am either crazy or frustrated. I am neither. And I feel proud to say that I am also one of those millions who want to get into dream MBA B-School but I have a different reason for it. So what's new, each one of them has a different reason, at least each one believes their reason to be unique. And those who doesn't have one are probably the dumbest or smartest, too extreme to be worth getting selected for any B-School.

Some time back, before I started my preparation for CAT, I used to wonder over the applicability of all these entrance exams. I always had a feeling that why does our education system expect us to excel in our Graduation (or the stream we had last worked on) and at the same time prepare for another exam for pursuing further studies. Why can't they be related and equated and made unique. Isn't it the system that is trying to deviate focus of students? Isn't it that our education system encourages multiple focus at a particular point of time. (And when a student like me attempts to deal with CA and MBA both at one time, people taunt saying, I have got foot in two boats! ) And the main question that I could not understand then, if i had the caliber to appear and top such exams then why would I want to join an MBA course, because that is what they are finally going to teach! (I mean Management here).

Well you yourself might have seen some flaws in the above logic, but that is what I used to think for this unjust and tyrant entrance exams like CAT. But later when I started preparing for these exams, I came across many aspirants, many of whom were complete B-School package and many of whom did not even deserve to go to any B-School and yet all of them have successfully complete their grads. So if this is the case of one batch of my coaching class then there are innumerable of them all over India.

And if these top B-School takes admission on the basis of the grads ranking then most of these guys, popularly known as book worms, would occupy it. Hence to have best of talent these B-Schools need to have some good evaluation system. I tried to think over any such possible evaluation system, but could not think one better than this for a time being. And as far as its practical applicability is concerned, I feel, its all aptitude and is basis of everything. They are all analytical and logical. They used to be laborious and hectic but that is long back. Now these exams are more of democratic one, where each one gets substantial time to solve few limited number of questions. Yet one thing that doesn't get justified is the high application fees for these exams. These institutes should realize that the students appearing for any institute entrance will for sure be appearing at least for 5 more of such. Anyways that's entirely a different issue.

Anyways I think I ll end up this blog. Small thing that is yet left to tell is my reason for running after this rat's race. The only reason probably why I want to compete here is because I want to get a feel of B-School. I am quite crazy to experience the life style the B-School offers. I have heard that life is tough there and you have to be on your toes every moment. I simply want to challenge life and see how a B-School can effectively bring discipline and values in my life. And as far as education is concerned, I believe I have a lot of it to build my career and the rest I can acquire from books and experience. And as far as placement is concerned, I really don't need one as I see myself as an entrepreneur learning from experiences rather than classroom sessions. Its just life and people at these institutes is all cause of which I aspire to be in one of the best of them.

Hoping for the Best with all your wishes and lucks..!! Thanks for reading anyways!!

Social Hijacker!!

What an interesting word it is! It can probably take any form of meaning supporting your explanation. If used effectively it can be a big blow to the person’s character. I have not checked any dictionary, but I don’t think it exists in any of them yet. Hence the user probably can take the entire credit to mould it as a positive or negative word. Whoever coined this word would be a Genius. A good friend of mine used this word for me (I am not sure if he himself coined it). It took me a week to analyze what actually he wanted to convey through it. I was confused if his intention was to compliment me or to make a sarcastic remark.
I being a very confident person (confident to the extent of sometimes being overconfident) wanted to think the word to be a positive word describing my nature. I wanted to think it over as my friend probably wanted to say that, “I am an ebullient personality, am the show stealer and can make the atmosphere of any place light and contagious by breaking the ice. I can make others feel comfortable and make them see me as a trustable and responsible person. In short, without using any coercion I can coax people and hijack their perceptions or importance.
But then was it really his intention. It’s very rare that a friend like him would appreciate and that too at an occasion when nothing great has happened. Again there is a negative explanation for this word. I would take an example:
You are out with your gurl (gf) in a party. You happen to meet a friend and you make a formal introduction of your gurl with him. It happens that both of them share some past link to which they can relate as both being present at the same time, but never noticed the other one. This is a good help to start a long conversation. Now gradually as days passes you notice that your gurl is probably has developed interest in talking to your friend and also demands you to get him along at your so called dates. Your friend being an extra smart person starts editing your scene from the picture and tries to fit himself in your shoes. But this is not what makes the friend as social hijacker. It’s his smart, efficient tricks, and techniques that he uses against you to get your gurl away from you without even making you realize that he is devising any such plans. Hat’s off to Social Hijacker!! And it’s really very difficult to track if a person is a Social Hijacker of this sense or not!! It’s advisable to keep such Social Hijacker at an arm’s length.
Just to tell you that, in my case it was not the situation. I think he might have perceived it in a similar fashion though.
Anyways, my intention here was just to make you aware of this interesting word called SOCIAL HIJACKER!! Do let me know if you can make any other sense out of this word. Also I would love to hear that when and how you tried to use this new vocabulary in your conversation.

Finally a Graduate

An end or a beginning? It is a question that life often throws at any junction. I have today completed my graduation. Finally a Graduate! It’s a good feeling though. It’s time in life to move on. To go in search of a way that will probably lead me to me livelihood. All my friends will be left apart. My friends for whom I always wished that if given a chance to select my kin I would have selected them as my brothers. And life is even a greater mess when you actually don’t know what next? However, well equipped with my patience and calmness and my supportive family I never panicked as one of my room mate did. We were celebrating the Graduation Day and also summing up all the pending parties of pals. I was one of the host for the party, which I came to know only after a huge order that was placed. But at that moment more than money something else was troubling me, or rather many of us. However the mood was of party. The party to forget everything. Party to cheers three years of our life. Party to call it the end of struggle – Struggle of sleeping overtime – Struggle of studying overtime(I mean during exams) – And struggle of whiling away the time. Probably each one of us had different definition for the college life. But Sleeping was the one consensus for majority. At party no one dared speak of his opinion about others, as for the one time in life we wanted to enjoy alcohol without getting sentimental. One after the other there were round of cheers. What a lovely night! A beer in one hand and a cigarette in another. Both were mandatory for members of the party and unfortunately I was not an exception.

Well just purely on my memory I think we were around 11 or 12 of us. And when 11 or 12 of Punters, (that’s what we call ourselves”) are together, than you can expect nothing but pure and full masti. One after the other, each punter started going crazy. And finally all of us were in a notorious mood all together. And finally after three warning the notice to leave the place as other guests were getting annoyed was announced! Well you think it must be embarrassing, but for Punters its normal and without it the masti is yet not over. Well that night was amazing; in fact the whole episode of the police catching us tripsy on the scooter was also most memorable. It’s a long story would tell you later about it, just to give you a brief idea, life is a romance when you challenge it in each and every way.

Blog Blog Blog….Keep Blogging

Today at office Angad and Lavi, my pals from college and now my colleagues at office, on a break were discussing about few blogs from our college friends. I instantly came back to check each of theirs’. I found blog sites of the people who were least expected to write anything. It stuck me with an inspiration to write it. After all a blog from a typist like me, having more than 80 WPM is the most expected thing. It’s not that I have not thought about having my own blog site before. It has been my dream since long back, even before you heard of Amitabh Bachan and Lalu Prasad blogging. It’s just that I always had a feeling that why would one waste his energy and time to read my blog. I am neither a personality to be watched closely to. Then why should I waste my energy writing this blogs? It always seemed logical, but this incident of the day made me realize two things. 1. A person writes blog not with the expectation that it will be read by someone, though it feels good that if someone reads it and acknowledges it (so in case YOU have read it till here then please do acknowledge). 2. People like me just in order to see who all is blogging or to check what all a person is blogging about can actually read and form an opinion about the blogger. 3. One obvious reason that anyone would cite is that you can always share your blog site with your loved and cared ones. (N I am sure my loved one is going to read all my blogs with utmost attention and is also going to appreciate it.)

Now I think blogging is an amazing idea. In fact each one of us should blog. So guys and gals Blog Blog Blog, Keep Blogging. It’s amazing!!