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Words. Wisdom. Winners.
Solstice – ISB Alumni Reunion 2010
Solstice happened this weekend from Dec 17-19. ISB was kickstarting the ISB@10 celebrations and our batch was celebrating its 5th year. Needless to say, the 3 days were awesome. The current batch left no stone unturned in making us feel special and ofcourse meeting everyone in the same setting once again can never be boring!
Strings played and played crazy! All feel in love with Bilal and Faisal! And I fell in love with their music, all over again! Making me go back to the “yeh hai meri kahani” days!
The icing on the cake was the ISB@10 kickstart event. Beautifully ‘anchored’ by Dean Rangnekar, it comprised panelists that have been instrumental in designing ISB the way it is today. Was awesome hearing the stories of how the idea was conceptualized to what it is today!
Some exploits from the weekend
How Best to Monetize From the Internet
The Internet has turned out to be an awesomely cost-effective (and no, that doesnt mean cheap. It means just that – Cost effective) medium of promoting oneself. Compared to other channels available, the Internet is far more measurable, controllable and reportable!
I am not a big fan of print because it also serves as a lead generation medium, but with little success nowadays given the clutter. And there is nothing in the name of innovation that happens in that space. Its run by people whose philosophy is “less is money. Control space”. And its not measurable. I know of cases where education institutions have run quarter page ads in 5 national dailies, only to generate 33 leads! No accountability!
Radio suffers from the same. I think its high time that Radio innovated and went social. Ads are rarely effective on radio (and OMG, whats up with the real estate ads on radio. WHO MAKES THEM?) and the medium will do far better if they start promoting business through conversations and the audience, than through these stupid ads.
And TV doesnt make sense for 99% of businesses!
Problem is, while most people know that the Internet is important, most people dont understand it. So here are the top 5 things that you should know, if you wish to Monetize from the Internet.
Why The Internet Isnt Simple To Monetize!
So KK came up with this business plan (I feel bad for him, because he consults me on these multiple plans he has and I end up dismissing most of them! He must feel I am so full of myself!)
Lets buy bags from cheap production centers such as China and sell them in India
And how will we market them?
We will build a website!
—
The problem is that most people out there (and KK is surely far advanced than most already) feel that creating a website is equivalent to sales and recognition. Its like in BSchool, whenever the prof asked, “Ok, so how will the product sell?” the answer was invariably almost always “we will advertise”
Doesnt work! Well, mostly!
Cooks Source Magazine Is Dead! Cooks Who?? Exactly!!
I LOVE THE INTERNET!
Writer Monica Gaudio discovers that one of her articles has been reprinted in a magazine named Cooks Source, without due credits and ofcourse without permission. She writes in to the Editor of the Magazine asking for an apology and (brilliant) a USD 130 donation to the Columbia School of Journalism. Judith Griggs, the editor, writes back
“…I do know about copyright laws.
Entrepreneurs Don’t See The Risk?
PK comments:
“I think you are so risk-loving not because you face it, rather you dont see the risk in the first place”
I would agree. I dont see the risk infront of the other options. Infact I cant.
Travel Blog: Pushkar
Pushkar was an unexpected surprise. I hate religious places and the likes of Haridwar and Rishikesh have done more damage to my belief in god than Swami Nithyanand! I still believe in god though, but surely not the way these places preach and teach!
But Pushkar was far better. Clean lake, beautiful market with warm friendly people who actually speak Hindi in India (you have got to go to Udaipur to understand what I mean), not out there to get you and rob you! The occasion was our anniversary and we stayed at a nice eco-resort 10kms ahead of Pushkar – strongly recommended for its luxury and service (nevermind the average food!) – The Green House Resort, Pushkar
While the cuisine spread is quite impressive (and natural, considering the international tourists), the quality is quite average. Nonetheless, the good places to eat would be “Out of the blue (on the main Pushkar Market Road), Raju Restaurant (same location, with a nice view of the lake) and Sixth Sense (Closer to the bus-stand, in the Haveli Inn)
Some clicks from the place!
ISB R1 Interviews For Batch of 2012
The R1 ISB interviews for Class of 2012 are almost over. Delhi was the last venue (severely postponed because of the Ayodhya verdict – no the panel was not involved in declaring it!!) and a few remain at ISB itself and telephonic. Results are scheduled for Nov 15th and we are pretty much on track.
This year was slightly different from last time. I dont know if its the likes of Pagalguy or the GMAT coaching institutes that define the flavor of the year, but something has got to be happening out there to this respect. It reminds me of MTV’s Artist of the Month (when MTV still used to be about music, most of you might not even remember or believe that!). All you got to hear through the 30 odd days was that artist, and rarely anything else.
So while last year, candidates smoked up Social and NGO shit as their future goals, this year it was entrepreneurship.
What Dont You Like About Delhi?
Nothing – there isnt anything that I like about Delhi!
—-
So Ruchi and I are out for a movie, part of our busy jobless life schedule, that we are approached by this 21-yr old. The presence of the camera guy suggests that she is a journo and yes, she turns out to be one!
“Can we please have you say a few words on the things you dont like about Delhi?”
Discover Music: Google India Music
Google launched its Music Search feature in India today.
Such an elegant blend of collaboration, technology and customer delight! And at the same time, again disruptive in nature. Direct traffic loss for the music streaming sites, google acquires higher power through search and their argument – hey, we are only increasing discoverability!
Double-edged! But neat!
CWG Delhi 2010 – Strangely Feeling Sad At Its End
I love the month of October. It has a festive feel to itself, with the weather changing, the discounts increasing, Dusshera and Durga Puja celebrations. This year however, Delhi wore a festive look early on itself with the CWG. I still recall how scared I was for India, during the runup to the games and whatever was being splashed in the media. While at one hand, its easy to dismiss India’s objective to hold these events in the first place (and honestly, I dont quite disgaree with Mani’s point of view on the games), its something that we had brought upon ourselves. And we had no choice but to deliver.
It was the night of October 01 that I finally felt that we would do it! I recall the drive through Lutyens Delhi and it was a feeling I had last experienced while walking on the India Gate Grass on Aug 15th, 1997 (India’s 50th Independence Year). The city was dressed like a bride, prim proper, shining infrastructure!
And it does seem we have done it. The games ended, I managed to catch 2 days of action (pics below) and feel sad that the festivity is over. I loved the crowds we bumped into at the stadium, the metro ride to the venues, the thrill of watching India win and pride when the Anthem was played.
Unfortunately (and I hope not), we all will forget that the games were not the best prepared for, just because they happened to be fantastically managed through the days. But such is India. Public memory is short and the same media which was blasting its own country cannot help praising it today.
I will admit. Even while I respect Mani’s views, a part of me wants to witness the Olympics in my lifetime, in India.
Proud to be a delhilite. Proud to be an Indian
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