Learning from Mistakes

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learning from mistakes, small business risks

During my days of training executives, I remember I used to ask the group ” Who would you call a fool?”. This usually was met with a stunned silence. Then people spoke out with their views. I used to say “The fool is one who doesn’t learn from his/her mistakes”. Building on this theme, I would next ask ” Then who is the wise guy?’ Almost always people would echo ” The guy who learns from his mistakes!”

SMS Marketing

I have lost count of the SMS messages I get everyday. Honest. In the recent past, I have been bombarded by messages asking for my business in numerous sectors, many of which I have no interest whatsoever. I am offered pointers for attractive education loans, when I am through with my formal education years ago; sites/land plots. villas by the score when I have no money to invest in them and already have my own house: attractive offers for massaging, yes massaging and not messaging  and offers to join assorted social groups and holiday home schemes. I really need none of these. The problem is that I know this, the telemarketer doesn’t. For him/her I am a small statistic amongst millions of others in their data base.

Over Identification?

Ms. ABC had the right qualifications and the personality to make an impact wherever she worked. In her organisation, she was quickly taken under the wings of a very senior executive. He recognised her potential and her obvious strengths. He soon gave her a free rein, perhaps more than he did with others. Over time, Ms. ABC came to be known as the power behind the throne even if this was an exaggerated description. It was rumoured that she had a role in important decisions and that the Big Chief consulted her more than he ought to.

Raghu Pillai RIP

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Raghu Pillai

I cannot claim to have known him well but I have met him a few times at gatherings of the RPG Group. When I got to ICIM in the mid-90s, Raghu Pillai had moved to head RPG’s infant retail sector so I didn’t have the opportunity to work with him. However one did, from time to time, hear of the innovative things he did in opening up entirely new markets and segments in India which have since grown to gigantic proportions.

Vacation Deprived?

Global travel portal Expedia.com which has 31 million customers globally found in their recent survey that India ranked fourth amongst the vacation deprived on the world. I was not surprised to see Japan on top of the list though I was surprised to find the US at No.2 and Australia at No. 3. I always thought people in the US were serious about their vacations but I guess things have changed with the times.