Brand Creation

It was a nice lazy friday evening.. i started back from office at 5 PM.. on my way back, i wanted to pick up something exotic to start my weekend.. i entered into the super mart and started checking out the shelves for something nice and soothing to eat or drink.. something in tea section attracted me.. it was a very attractive pack of tea.. i went closer to check on what was it.. this was tea with various flavors which is quite a big market in europe.. but this was something new, targetting the "organic and healhty" crowd.. as i held the pack in my hand, i could smell strong cardamom and liquorice.. i had picked up a detox pack.. retail being my passion, i went on hunting a bit more within the section.. i saw that this tea was priced almost 50% higher than the normal green tea that i buy.. but i just wanted it.. the marginal price difference did not look too much for a month's consumption..
Curious, i picked the pack, as i wanted to try this diffuser tea.. The curiousity has proven to be good, i guess.. i have a learning..
Here is what i saw how brands and commodities separate themselves out:
-- Certification from USDA Organic, Organic soil association and Kosher Parve
-- Detailed information on how i am different from other teas
-- Unique combination of ingredients
-- Elegant , soothing colors and packaging

This is "Pukka" detox tea for you.. It is an Indian sourced tea, marketed extensively in Europe and i must say, if you have it once, you would just want to try more of it.. its perception, attention to details and keeping eyes on niche markets.. they say your love and passion shows in everything you do.. looking at their product and then further into website and details, i feel entrepreneurship is about finding your passion and getting started to build it brick by brick.. in the end either you will find your way or you would have been through a journy which you shall never regret.. Not to forget India comes back to me in so many ways.. :)

Cirque Di Soleil

I am not one of the theatre and art enthusiasts.. I like good things in life, but animation and television was what art meant for me.. then came this art which becomes the part of my subject line..
During my visit to Vegas, some of us decided to watch "Ka", a circque di soleil's show.. this is a theatre which involves circus gymnatics and theatre art.. I did not really know what was i going for till i landed in and got introduced to this amazing world of art..
Lavish stage concept and direction, amazing acting, superb flex bodies, music, a neat story line and an awestruck me.. the colors of clothes, the impact that this theatre left on me is memorable for life.. I just knew that artists are unique and desrve to be the guys in fortune's top 50 rich people to live in this world, if only world was a fair place to live in and people got rich for their relative value of skills..
I like the way th art has been preserved, a niche market created and priced well for the same.. the uniqueness and quality has drawn more investments and hence has helped the organizer improve the art by adding visuals, costumes and stage effects..
Truly inspiring.. all form of arts, all over the world, need some enthusiasts, who can build these up and offer to the world.. the right shall survive and thrive.. :)
For all the money that "KA" in Las Vegas seeks, its worth a lifetime experience.. if you are around, just go in..

Inspiration!!

What is so common among all who do well and make their mark in life?? Most of us die ordinary.. we are born in comfortable setup, we know how to find faults, we know who can solve our problems for us and we die average.. with a few lakhs here and there, we die same..
Then, there are street hawkers, Dhiru bhai Ambani's, Chris Gardners of the world.. nothing seems to be working for them.. born in poverty, struggling for food, no one seems to be solving anything for them.. they dont have a choice but to fight and then one of such million fights turns their fate.. what dsnt change?? they keep fightng till they die, its an addiction, they dont realize till the end of their life that they achieved what they fought for long back.. With a lot of lakhs here and there and addiction to generate them, they die same.. just that they become inspiration for millions before they die..
So, what does really drive you to make your mark in life? Circumstances? Yes, in more cases than not.. Drive? Yes, if you dont fee like giving up, its a genetic disorder you have and you will carry it.. passion? you have to be mad enough to not be pulled by crowd of averagers who think you are hitting in dark, while they really are.. last but not least, perseverance to follow the silver lining in dark crowd till the last breath of your life!! Really, the ones who give inspirational speeches, dont really care about them.. their life is a never ending journey to move and learn.. there is never enough to stop and feel proud about and feel thankful about.. In the end, nothing is good or bad, great or faulty, right or wrong.. if you became an inspiration, you probably fought all your life and in the process never sat and looked back at life; if you did not, you probably did not fight for anything, so you dont know what is it to create and live a life of your own.. Life is equally exciting for the 0.5% who stand of stage and inspire and 99.5% who sit on chairs aspire..

Isle of Wights

It was the 31st Aug 2010 long weekend.. one of my friends from India was in London and in an early morning discussion, we decided to head to Isle of Wights!
Its a simple travel from London.. We took a train from Waterloo to Southamptop, a free bus to ferry station, a fast ferry to Crowes, a family bus pass for isle of wights!! The journey is around 2 - 3 hours..
The must see attraction in Isle of Wights is : the Needles.. this is a beautiful cut of valleys that overlooks the sea.. The white cliffs and natural beauty around is extremely calming.. There is a ferry ride for 15 mins which can take you near the white cliffs and give you a view of the island from proximity of needles.. you can take a sitting trolley down the cliff to reach the sea side.. The journey from New port can be done in an open top Breezer bus.. the natural beauty of the island settles in your mind.. while coming back from needles, you can choose to take the coasters bus ride... this bus takes the sea side route through the Isle of Wights and covers almost whole of island .. Some of the sea side towns are beautiful and comfortable.. if you are the kinds who enjoys your peace of mind and love nature, then just stay on for a night before you move on.. you can always choose to stay out in coasters ride for 2.5 hours, come back to Rhyde or Crowes, take the last ferry at 11:15 to Southampton and a train back to London..
All in all a MUST SEE place around London.. Very beautiful countryside feel with sea all around.. very far away from crowd..

The Neemrana Palace

This time when i visited India, i decided to spend a weekend off at Neemrana.. its an old fort which has been refurbished and converted into a resort.. Priced fairly, it does not really boast of the 5 star facilities, lavish lobbies and excellent room service.. this is a "true fort".. for those of you who want to go there, this has 11 floors, you might not realize it, but yes, you might climb 8 floors on your feet to reach to your room.. the rooms are very simple and have been decorated with old pots and craft from time of kingdom.. each room is different from other and has a history of its own which is preserved and explained in pictures and decors.. Small fort windows might lead to a scenic view of the village or a the back view of mountains.. there are cultural folk dances, buffet lunch and dinners and fire fox( zipping) activities which can be done in this resort apart from spending a lazy day and exploring the fort..
The fort has local staff which ensures that you get personal touch and you are taken care of.. all in all, a must once in lifetime experience.. a very well preserved heritage which shall make you relive the moments that you had read about in some tales..
Price : INR 4500 - 12500
Food : Buffet - Average
Services : Good but unique
Decor : Simple and elegant
Attraction: Pool and people
What you can see around : A Bowri and walk in the village
How Long : A day or two may be

A week in Las Vegas..

This was around July 29th.. My first trip to US.. i was somehow never so keen on working in US.. and i must say that i probably like to be comfortable and not run after many things.. but i have realized one thing in life, what is most important in your life is ability to understand and appreciate differnt cultures, learn from all, adjust with all and take back the best of all.. Vegas is fun and lively..being an MBA i will appreciate the business sense of its establishment.. Mid of desert, no where is this "strip" of land.. showcases some of the world's largest hotels.. entire economoy is gambling and fun.. yep, this is like a dream world.. "sin" city.. they say whatever happens in vegas stays in vegas.. and trust me it does along with the money that you bet.. :P
I stayed in Aria resort, which is spacious, neat and well maintained, has a huge casino and a very interesting and cheap buffet with a real large spread.. This is in middle of strip, so you can turn right or left walk for 3-4 kilometers on either sides and be back on foot.. In Vegas one needs to visit all casinos, all casinos have some or the other attraction to attract people to its vast casino floors and entice them into this world of gambling.. Must see attractions: Paris, musical Fountains at Ballerio (This is a must watch), Lion habitat at MGM grand, volcano around Caesar's Palace, the venetian for its massive marble floor and venice look.. you just need to walk in the strip at night, park yourself at each of the casinos for sometime, watch the players and move.. remember, longer the time spent, more the chances of a rip off.. :)
Try the luxurious ice creams, the large sized paris drinks, and variety of food available all around.. While the public transport is bad, you should still hop on one of them and take a 2 hour bus drive in 2-3 dollars from one end of strip to the other.. For the shopping freaks, this is a brand's paradise.. But you find the low priced brand outlets at extreme ends of the strip, so could catch one at manageable price.. Caeser's palace shopping mall with a sky ceiling is worth a go.. all in all, really, it can be one of the most leisure holiday spot to laze around and enjoy..

Real world Ahead!

So,it is just another day in life.. I did my honest work, came back home at 6 and decided to watch a movie.. As always i did not know which movie shall i watch till i reached the theatre.. I watched Woody Allen movie, quite liked it..
The day is over.. Another day in life.. I dont know what is it that i like to do.. I have been associated with innovation, sales and i always like what i do, but then there i something missing.. I always feel ething around me is too systematic.. An MBA is basically hired to run large systems with almost known and predictable inefficency.. There are some lucky ones who have to face extra ordinary situations during their tenure, but then owning extra ordinary challenges for someone's else' business is not really "luck".. If i see around me, everyone is struck in same mess.. A consultant is making ppts, investment banker - excels, PE guy - evaluations, reseacher knows that his data indicates preditable, but he does it anyway.. Its all standard.. Initially everyone feels, whats the big deal.. i mean handling 100 people was always me, thts where my leadership was proven and b school gave me an admit, thinking big and passion was always me.. BUT, am i using it?? NO, not really.. Someone used all that once, when he started his busiess.. then he grew it, got bored and handed it over to MBAs to run the systems and make money by solving systemic inefficiencies.. It is easy, fair money.. but then what?? Money does pull you, but then to an extent.. After that, there has to be more.. Somethng which is created by yu, challnges that are yours.. I used to think, i will never pick up book again, i am done.. but now i like to grow, read more on different subjects, think beyond work, think of new ideas, learn frm all cultures.. Thats something unique about ISB, when you come out, you just want to thnk and do.. Sometimes i used to wonder, why so many people, why 20 hours schedule.. It makes you hungry, makes you learn from differences, teaches you passion when u spend endless nights on your ideas.. it takes away all inhibitions.. it says, you are human, you can do a lot, you have 24 hours in a day, you have millions of friends and if you have a case, money is never an issue..
I have nt done justice to my degree yet, i am a part of a large system, i am good at it.. but my school did not make me an MBA, it made me a thinker, doer, it told me in multiple ways, nations progress from ideas, not following.. Now that i think of the last words that ISB had displayed on its exit when i left in 2009 " REAL WORLD AHEAD", i smile at them.. really.. thats so true.. The real world needs both followers and leaders, either you give in or you find your way.. this is the ultimate choice you will make..