I was recently checking out websites to buy good shoes. Went to the usual suspects' pages - Nike, Reebok, Adidas.
Firstly, the shoes' market in India is huge. And all three websites had fancy FLASH websites, when the first law of website design is to have a parallel lite version (only HTML), so countries like India where broadband is limited, can have access to all the information. So, first rule violated.
Secondly, the websites had no "India" page other than Adidas, which dint count, since it was the usual website with 'India' written on top! What's the point ??!!
Thirdly, none of the websites had a store-listing in India. This surprises me no end, as these brands have been in India for so long, but absolutely no interest in fostering e-business in India.
Fourthly, navigating the website (especially Nike) was such a PAIN! Too many buttons, too many choices, redundant menus, etc, etc !! Made me feel like one trapped in a labyrinth with no way out!
Bad, bad website design is half the battle lost. Does not generate any excitement in what is a closely contested battle for the shoes market in India. Finally, I have decided to take the only way out - go out, hunt from store to store and buy the first thing that seems decent.
Back to the Bricks model for now, since the Clicks model has clearly failed the Indian shoe-buying customer!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Dynamix
It's a mix of dynamics..and hence Dynamix.
Dynamic situations are prevalent as of now. And I realize that its never how I've dealt with situations in the past or present or how I think I will deal with them in the future. Dynamix will ensure that each situation no matter how familiar, will have its own associated dynamics. This means, that try as I might, I cannot have an algorithm to solve the puzzles of life.
And hence, I will be forward looking, and not backward looking. I will think and solve each situation as I believe fit at that very moment. No preconceived notions, no pre-judgements.
Since there are so many variables (dynamix) at the moment, I try to solve situations like they teach in Mathematics (or Statistics...or something like that). Keep one thing constant and only vary the other! :) Wish I could do that in real life! Tell my boss to keep my job for me, while I go out and solve other issues in life!! :)) He he! That's a funny thought!
But maybe, keeping everything constant and only varying (or concentrating) on one variable can help - maybe Mathematics is showing a way out... Hmm... worth a thought and worth a try...
Dynamic situations are prevalent as of now. And I realize that its never how I've dealt with situations in the past or present or how I think I will deal with them in the future. Dynamix will ensure that each situation no matter how familiar, will have its own associated dynamics. This means, that try as I might, I cannot have an algorithm to solve the puzzles of life.
And hence, I will be forward looking, and not backward looking. I will think and solve each situation as I believe fit at that very moment. No preconceived notions, no pre-judgements.
Since there are so many variables (dynamix) at the moment, I try to solve situations like they teach in Mathematics (or Statistics...or something like that). Keep one thing constant and only vary the other! :) Wish I could do that in real life! Tell my boss to keep my job for me, while I go out and solve other issues in life!! :)) He he! That's a funny thought!
But maybe, keeping everything constant and only varying (or concentrating) on one variable can help - maybe Mathematics is showing a way out... Hmm... worth a thought and worth a try...
Saturday, January 13, 2007
A lifelong student of Warren Buffett
If there's one thing Warren Buffett has done...is to make me like Finance. A few days of reading his letters to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, has removed a 27-year long hatred of Finance. And for that, I remain indebted to him forever. ("Finance" for me stands for everything to do with mathematics, accounting, investments, economics, etc, etc!)
I need not explain what his letters have done for me, it is for you to read them at:
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/letters.html
As they say, the best things in life are free, just as these letters which can be freely downloaded.
Written from 1976, these letters give an annual account of why Berkshire made certain investments, why it's holding onto some of them, and why it finally decided to sell off some. Although not for the short-term "speculator", the letters are gold for the dedicated, long-term investor. Interspersed with his terrific wit and humor, these letters made my dull world of Finance into an enjoyable and educative experience.
I hope with this note of appreciation, Warren Buffett will slightly alter his statement about new MBAs - "It's difficult to teach a new dog old tricks"
Thanks for everything, Mr. Buffett!
I need not explain what his letters have done for me, it is for you to read them at:
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/letters.html
As they say, the best things in life are free, just as these letters which can be freely downloaded.
Written from 1976, these letters give an annual account of why Berkshire made certain investments, why it's holding onto some of them, and why it finally decided to sell off some. Although not for the short-term "speculator", the letters are gold for the dedicated, long-term investor. Interspersed with his terrific wit and humor, these letters made my dull world of Finance into an enjoyable and educative experience.
I hope with this note of appreciation, Warren Buffett will slightly alter his statement about new MBAs - "It's difficult to teach a new dog old tricks"
Thanks for everything, Mr. Buffett!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Loopholes and Exceptions
Most business in India seems to be done through loopholes and exceptions.
If I were to throw up a number for Exception (loophole-based) work v/s Straight (Rule-based) work, the ratio would be the famous 80:20.
But, what amazes me most is that we are a country always eye-deep in procedure/rules/regulations/laws/etc/etc/etc and yet we conduct most of our business using exceptions or loopholes! How's that for another addition to the long-list-of-contradictions that we are famous for! I think we spend more time analyzing which loopholes to avoid and which to embrace, rather than follow a simple business process, that drastically reduces the time and energy taken to conduct business.
It is difficult to conduct one straight deal, one clean transaction, one process-based closure. Most are negotiated on terms such as past relationships, current favorites, back-the-winning-horse strategy, screw-the-loser strategy, white-lie-syndrome, etc. So, the mind basically becomes a chessboard with various possible moves based on the opposing side's (often more than one!) move.
India is also the birthplace of Chess - Ah, now I get it! :)
If I were to throw up a number for Exception (loophole-based) work v/s Straight (Rule-based) work, the ratio would be the famous 80:20.
But, what amazes me most is that we are a country always eye-deep in procedure/rules/regulations/laws/etc/etc/etc and yet we conduct most of our business using exceptions or loopholes! How's that for another addition to the long-list-of-contradictions that we are famous for! I think we spend more time analyzing which loopholes to avoid and which to embrace, rather than follow a simple business process, that drastically reduces the time and energy taken to conduct business.
It is difficult to conduct one straight deal, one clean transaction, one process-based closure. Most are negotiated on terms such as past relationships, current favorites, back-the-winning-horse strategy, screw-the-loser strategy, white-lie-syndrome, etc. So, the mind basically becomes a chessboard with various possible moves based on the opposing side's (often more than one!) move.
India is also the birthplace of Chess - Ah, now I get it! :)
Friday, January 5, 2007
Means and the End.... Journey and the Destination
As I go along, firmly into the "Action" phase, after a long long association with the "Introspective" phase... I pause very briefly.
Means are what is more relevant at the moment. The Journey is what is more important and alive at the moment. The thoughts of the End or the Destination are firmly pushed to the backburner, since the dynamics of myself and my surroundings are too multi-faceted to focus on one particular End or one particular Destination. Hence, the End will take care of itself, and the Destination will be reached automatically, wherever or whatever it is.
Deja Vu - this is exactly how I felt many years ago - before I aged prematurely! And now, I'm back into the "young-and-restless" phase! :) I like it!
Means are what is more relevant at the moment. The Journey is what is more important and alive at the moment. The thoughts of the End or the Destination are firmly pushed to the backburner, since the dynamics of myself and my surroundings are too multi-faceted to focus on one particular End or one particular Destination. Hence, the End will take care of itself, and the Destination will be reached automatically, wherever or whatever it is.
Deja Vu - this is exactly how I felt many years ago - before I aged prematurely! And now, I'm back into the "young-and-restless" phase! :) I like it!
Monday, January 1, 2007
New Year Resolution
2007 will be an awesome year! Either its just the number 2007 or something else - I dont know! But I know that this year will be something! Last year during this time, there was the thought of "now that your long-desired MBA is almost over, what next?". This time, its more like "why dont you do much more than what you are doing currently". So, the new year resolution is more like "maximizing potential" - and promising myself to think less, do more!! Too much thinking in the recent past has turned hair gray and double-guessed every move - no more! It's EFFECTUAL thinking and DOING over thinking for this year.
New Year's at Pondicherry...
The trip with old pals and some new faces started out rather well with visiting old pals in Chennai (my first time there - no specific observations, since it was just a transit stop). Good to meet old pals anytime! Then on, visited Mahabalipuram - lovely stone temple next to the seashore - and well maintained too. Onwards, the trip dipped in enthusiasm, as we were beset with lodging problems, driver problems, etc. The next day dawned with fresh hope! Alas, more driver problems! Then, lunch with uncle and finally visited the French-part of Pondicherry.
You know, Indians somehow are not too good with planning. The French part of Pondy is so neatly planned with quaint little houses, rectangular layout of blocks and paved streets - and just a kilometer away, is the chaos of yet another Indian town - what have we learnt ???!!!
The afternoon was spent in a nice French cafe, and evening too was spent there after much hunting around for greener pastures. Quiet ushuring in of the New Year and early start to the next day - Auroville - a place bookmarked to revisit and spend 2-3 days.
Back now to the grind - Cheers to the forthcoming year ahead!
New Year's at Pondicherry...
The trip with old pals and some new faces started out rather well with visiting old pals in Chennai (my first time there - no specific observations, since it was just a transit stop). Good to meet old pals anytime! Then on, visited Mahabalipuram - lovely stone temple next to the seashore - and well maintained too. Onwards, the trip dipped in enthusiasm, as we were beset with lodging problems, driver problems, etc. The next day dawned with fresh hope! Alas, more driver problems! Then, lunch with uncle and finally visited the French-part of Pondicherry.
You know, Indians somehow are not too good with planning. The French part of Pondy is so neatly planned with quaint little houses, rectangular layout of blocks and paved streets - and just a kilometer away, is the chaos of yet another Indian town - what have we learnt ???!!!
The afternoon was spent in a nice French cafe, and evening too was spent there after much hunting around for greener pastures. Quiet ushuring in of the New Year and early start to the next day - Auroville - a place bookmarked to revisit and spend 2-3 days.
Back now to the grind - Cheers to the forthcoming year ahead!
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