Bring up Baba by Birsa-1

This is first in series and I plan to keep a note of some interesting conversations between myself  (Baba) and my son (Birsa). He is growing fast and it is great experience.
This series was sparked by one unusual conversation.
I am one person who truly believes in Free market- even though i admit- my younger days first I was all for communism. The ideas of communism was very romantic for me. slowly I understood the fallacies of that line of thought and moved over to socialism. I still believe that socialism has good to offer but free market with human touch is required for world's growth. the same thought process overflows my ideas and i was lecturing Amrita- about benefits of free market and why she needs to be financially more literate. that the idea of earning money is not bad and money is important.

Birsa was listening and suddenly commented. Baba- Money is not everything.. and stop lecturing mumma. I was stunned. I asked why he thinks so and was bowled over by his explanation.
He said- Money is not everything as it cannot buy happiness all the time. Happiness can be got from some luxuries but mostly by being with mumma and baba. very simple but straight forward.
I had to beat a hasty retreat and explain that yes- money cannot buy happiness but it is important to make it nevertheless.

There was a deep meaning and lesson in this.

Birsa-- like any 9 year old amazes me-- the exposure they have, the deep sense and awareness. another very funny thing that i absolutely love is his changing ambitions.
For long- when he started to understand professions-- he was definite that he will become a doctor. I think because he adores his grandfathers ( both his maternal and paternal Grandfather are reputed doctors). Then one fine day- he decided that he needs to be a Car designer....and in a year it changed to Car designer plus mechanic !!! Then he graduated to being Astronaut. This i feel got inspired by multiple rocket & satellite launches  which I follow very keenly ( my customer success stories).But after he saw 2 astronaut falling from sky... He got really bothered about the safety aspect of it. He declared one morning.... He will study and be astronomer... Desk job for him. Astronaut job looks bit risky. No amount of counselling dispelling the myths helped. However when he started reading more books, his ambition became to be author. And he is determined that he will be such a good one that he will be having a special illustrator specific for his books. As of now we are stuck with a budding author who specializes in historical fiction and lots of fighting....Watch for more here. Amen.

Digital wave is sweeping us all

Six to seven years back- when Amazon used to suggest me what to buy even before I have clicked through the options- it sued to amaze me. Then somewhere down the line- the ads which used to suggest the most appropriate flights when I have just been thinking of going to meet Ma in kolkata or giving me suggestions of gifts in august or in November- i took these intelligent suggestions as some kind of granted magic. Slowly understood all these are part of digital wave. This is the new era of digital transformation. Whether it is ask avnet chat bot( which learns overtime- which microcontroller to suggest the customer, or what parts or articles they may like to read) or the exact song that youtube somehow managed to understand-- i need it is all part of it.
Best is- Google maps- or google assistant- understands what I am going to do or where i want to go. Effect to me as a sales guy was- when claiming for travel bills or for  car kms. Earleir- we used to have distance chart- office to customer- 16.5 kms, home to xyz supplier office- 12km. Now no need. just go to that date and see the exact km. It even asks you politely- were you there? and if you have taken photo- it shows a thumbnail of it. so cute. Basically you are identified with your email and phone number- and entire world is under convenience role.
Approximately 2 years back- my company which is traditional 95 years old- also moved to similar transformation and the results are encouraging. the adoption of digital tools- helps in increased productivity, better customer support.
But all the conveniences are for people who are honest and good. If you are being naughty- ok.... you will be exposed. For example- one of my teammate- youtube suggestions are all ... ok in mild words- erotic. and he was embrassed- when he had to open a content in front of me and the suggested  next clip was- " jawani ka hawas".. what fun in pulling his leg. He argued that all digital intelligence is eroding privacy.
I countered telling him- my suggestions are all nice and warm-- all old hindi movie love songs or motivational songs or new army/airforce videos. My wife's feeds is full of histry of empires, biology and cars ( ok!!! that one because of Birsa).
Digital transformation or revolution is sweeping us and people are trying to hide behind the curtain of privacy. on one hand you have no qualms in sharing your picture or check in when you are going from one airport to other...as if....
But that same person will lecture why AAdhar and google infringes his private private life.
So Privacy is real concern but it is your freedom - how you want to conduct your life. It will all be recorded and no point in cribbing about it. If you are a good citizen, good guy fundamentally- nothing to fear-- rather enjoy the benefits of digital revolution.
We are in interesting confluence of life- We have to concentrate on AI, VR, ML and Data analytics- main components of digital revolution. My next year goal is to be more knowledgeable about these and win more customer projects on it.

Solving field problems- using key principles

Among all the training that I have gone through during my professional stint-- my favourite will always be DDI training. Among various modules- the most important one is Communicating for leadership success or a.k.a communicating with impact. I have tried imbibing it in my personal life and have seen huge benefits. It talks about key principles and how you can use it to meet personal needs of the person you are interacting with. 5 of the principles are- Esteem, Empathy, Involvement, Share and support.

In very brief- for every interaction- we need to maintain or enhance self esteem.Many a times- people will get stuck- then maintain the esteem- if good accomplishments- then enhance it.Listen and respond with empathy--- in many a sales situation- this is the most important one.I was under firing line of a customer- who was comparing 2 leadership style- one who does not pick his call and another who even if busy- sends a message stating that he will call back. In most of the sales situation- when we are down and out- the simple reaction is flight.. donot pick that call and go for tough talks. I believe that is sheer disservice and disrespect. However difficult the situation may be- we have to talk and practice empathy. Short lead time order- complete order screw-up, ego being trampled by colleague in earlier interaction-- all and i repeat all can be solved by this practice.
3rd one- also can solve many sales oblong situation- ask for help and encourage involvement.. to build trust we can use sharing of thoughts, feelings and rationale ( where you need to!!). and final one is provide support but without removing responsibility. This type of support helps to build ownership.

I plan to write more examples and real life- examples of sales- and how it was solved using key principles. Stay tuned.

Pathos behind waiting

तलाश ना जाने किसकी हैं इस आँखों को,
हासिल हैं बहुत कुछ......मगर तसल्ली फिर भी नहीं..
वो याद आये यूँ ही बहुत..
की लौट आएं सब सिलसिले...
वो ठंडी हवा, वो  गिरते पत्ते
और वो कितने सारे यादें।
There is always a poignancy behind every 'missing' thoughts. The abnormally usual days of last quarter of year. The same challenges all over again. But the days.. They never fail to leave behind the imprints on our mind.
In mind, in our dreams... Reaching early to this great iconic metro. One of the nicest and safest city of India. The quite breakfast ..All veg fare. Then to go to our work. Then having the privilege of having a silent walk in Elliot beach. Silent, but full of meanings. Half life time waiting for such things to happen. Like an unfinished love story.Small vignette of talks. Catching up on life. Urging self to move on.The lighthouse... So mysterious yet so dignified. The orange hue of sunset and then counting the stars. Common ground of likes and wonderment.The company par excellence which is tied but ever youthful mind.  The slow fresh breeze giving the awesome fizz of life.New meaning, and refreshed outlook for life. Which still amazes me... The graceful steps, the slow and engaging talks.Those beautiful gazes. Then a great dinner...Which is always a fantasy. Always awesome.Never thought of but always dreamed of. Next day again breakfast with sweet memories of fantastic time. And after a hard day in field... Somehow matching time and again great company at terminal. Then it is always ...The same feeling so much talked but still nothing said.
In actual... It was  all finally very mundane. Only in back of mind planning. Nothing concrete. Usual responsibilities overwhelm. The same type of rough meetings. The usual firefighting. Multiple meetings. Solving problems. One at a time.Motivating the field and then at end of day. Feel empty.. When you are tired to the boots, a little roaming around in the streets of vadapalani. The sarvana bhavan also does not attract the lonely person any more.Feeling lost in front of that restaurant.. About turn, get into shell. Same old routine of punishing self... As if to find out how much I can stretch. 3 am to 1130pm in same day. Have I forgotten the rigour??. Clearing all emails, presentations and the calls. You just close the eyes and float away. The hard work clears the cobweb of mind.The rush of memories overwhelm. Next day, half empty airport. The delayed flight. In different times I may have welcomed it, just to have more time.Observe people. Study fellow being..Nice hobby. Count them only 6 of them. How strange. No pending emails, no calls. Closest of people will be busy. You feel embrassed to talk or whatsapp. You understand.Withdraw.You suddenly feel like crying..And find the tear ducts have been empty long back.Hard cold facts, hard cold numbers. The quarterly numbers fog the mind. No time for self pity. It is how life is, no time for nurturing the soft side of mine. But Keep loving, keep living. And it repeats.....