Forest versus trees.

New Post (188): Forest versus trees.

If you want to position yourself as a high-status individual with the capacity to lead, know that: Power comes from abstraction, not just from facts.
Abstract thinkers feel less constrained by details and prefer higher-power roles.
Abstract thinking broadens options, while thinking concretely is more likely to make people discouraged.
So, if you want to take a step up, envision advancing the company’s wider game plan, and leave the bean counting to others.
The key to making big moves is thinking in terms of why (insights & strategy) rather than how (implementation).
“When you’re going through your to-do list, think about the higher-level goals each action serves.”
I often find myself reluctant to give my clients concrete advice, because I feel it could be limiting, and less powerful than the advice they give themselves. Better to ask them questions to see if they can come up with their own effective answer before I start feeding them mine.
It’s often a good idea for a consultant to describe the big picture his client is in and why they should listen before he or she jumps into the facts and figures.
The power speech begins with a wide angle shot, then zooms in for the close up, then zooms out to mid-range
In a way, the mind is like a camera. It can zoom in and look at detail, or it can zoom out and see the big picture.
The really powerful lenses and minds can do both. See both the forest and the trees.

Charlie Brown

A day long peek into the lives of the poor in India.

New Post (187) : A day long peek into the lives of the poor in India.

So interesting…………

Not a life that you would expect the future CEOs from the most prestigious B-school of India to lead.
But this is what some of the IIM-B students experienced for a day early this week — just to know what it is to be poor.

Just Rs 20 in pocket. Surviving on single banana for breakfast, rice dish from roadside vendor for lunch, biscuits for tea time.
[Note : Indian Rs 45 is roughly equal to 1 USD.]

As part of their elective programme 'Inclusive Business Models', 75 students were exposed to another world — that of people who live with just Rs 20 per day
That is the below poverty line cut-off in India.

The students, in groups of five, went to different slums in and around Bangalore, interacted with the slum-dwellers, trying to understand their lives and finally come up with suitable business solutions that can help them.

How refreshing……………

Charlie Brown

The 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in India.

New Post (186) : The 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in India.

After reading the following news item ask these “2” question/s:

How many other temples in India similarly hold vast treasures ? Whatever happened to all the treasures of India that were looted by invaders over the centuries ?

News item:

Lightly guarded India temple holds $22B treasures

A vast treasure trove of gold coins, jewels and precious stones unearthed at a lightly guarded Hindu temple in India was expected to grow further in value Monday as the last two secret vaults sealed for nearly 150 years are opened.

The government has increased security since the treasure's discovery in recent days, which has instantly turned the 16th-century Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple into one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the country.

Four vaults recently opened at the temple in Trivandrum, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, held a vast bounty that unofficial estimates peg at $22 billion.

The treasures unearthed so far include statues of gods and goddesses made of solid gold and studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones, crowns and necklaces, all given as gifts to the temple over the centuries.

The volume of gold and silver coins was so enormous that the investigators weighed the coins by the sackful, rather than counting them, officials said.

The temple, built by the maharajas who ruled the then-kingdom of Travancore, remained under the control of the erstwhile royal family after India's independence in 1947.

India's Supreme Court ordered the inspection of the vaults after a lawyer petitioned a local court asking the state government to take over the temple, citing inadequate security. The current Maharaja of Travancore had appealed to the Supreme Court against the petition.

The inventory began last week and the final vaults were to be unlocked Monday afternoon. The public knew the temple had treasures but not the quantum.

Before the trove was uncovered, there was almost no visible security at the temple, save for a few local security guards patrolling the complex with batons, mainly for crowd control.

Kerala's police chief, Jacob Punnoose, said he sent extra police officers to guard the temple and is planning a high-tech security system to protect the treasure.

"We plan to enhance security in a manner which will not interfere with the activities of the temple or devotees," Punnoose said.

The security plans include the installation of digital electronic networks, closed circuit cameras and metal detectors at the entrance and exits of the temple.

Manoj Abraham, city police commissioner, said two battalions of special armed police would provide security outside the temple complex.

"Later, we will discuss with temple authorities and members of the former royal family what kind of permanent security system should be put in place," Abraham said.

Every year, devout Hindus donate millions of rupees worth of cash, gold and silver to temples. Some temples in India are so wealthy, they have formed trusts which run schools, colleges and hospitals that offer free treatment to the poor.

The discovery has sparked a debate over the future of the treasure trove.

Vellappally Nateshan, a Hindu leader, said the wealth should remain with the temple authorities.

Some social activists in Kerala have demanded the treasure be handed to a national trust to help the poor.

Kerala's top elected official, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, assured the people that the wealth would remain with the temple.

"It is the property of the temple. The government will protect the wealth at the temple."

Chandy said the government would bear the cost of stepping up security at the temple and ensure that worshippers were not inconvenienced.

Charlie Brown

Control freakdom.

New post (185) : Control freakdom.

1. The head of the IMF has always been an European and the World Bank presidency has always been held by an American.
That unwritten agreement between Europe and the United States, is now being aggressively challenged by fast-growing emerging market economies that have been shut out of the process.

2. Neither institution has ever been headed by a woman.
It may well be that for the first time ever both the institutions will be headed by women. A French woman at the helm of the IMF and an American woman at the helm of the World bank---is a possibility.  Waiting to happen.

Well......(at least).......its a start in the right direction. Towards opening up to the democratic value of equal opportunity.

Charlie Brown

Sell out your (senior) citizen to gain “WHAT” ?

New Post (184) : Sell out your (senior) citizen to gain “WHAT” ?

1. Serbian President Boris Tadic signaled Monday that he expected his country to make progress towards European Union accession after complying with the bloc's request to arrest suspected war criminal Ratko Mladic.
The EU had made Mladic's arrest and extradition to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) a key condition for taking forward Serbia's application for membership, which was presented in December 2009.

2. Cyprus (among a few feeble other voices) is asking for Serbia’s candidacy to be effectively fast tracked.

Comment: This ironically is the first time in history that “a rat is struggling to board a sinking ship” ………….. [i.e. before he is booted out of power by his own people in the next elections for betraying them]. Any doubts ?

Will the EU oblige him ? I doubt.

Charlie Brown

The E coli lesson.

New post (183) : The E coli lesson.

Read on and draw your own conclusions.

News item (1)

A rare strain of E.coli has infected people in 12 countries, and has killed 22 people and made more than 2,000 ill. German-grown bean sprouts and other sprouts could be the source of the deadly outbreak, German officials said.

News item (2)

German researchers are still trying to identify the source of a deadly E. coli outbreak after Spanish cucumbers were found not to have the lethal strain. About 470 patients – mostly in north Germany – have the most severe and potentially fatal symptoms. The E. coli has killed 16 people – 15 in Germany and one in Sweden. The Spanish government is threatening legal action after its growers were forced to destroy tonnes of freshly harvested vegetables.

My conclusion :

Quick to panic (justifiably so). Hasty to point a finger (UN-justifiably so).

Nature’s germ warfare against humans is much more virulent and vicious than we can imagine. Finger pointing is pointless. We are all in it together. For better or for worse.

Charlie Brown

A corporate going “social” takes time and commitment.

New Post (182) : A corporate going “social” takes time and commitment.

Going “social” is not a flirting engagement.
Social initiatives must be integrated in everything the organization does:
Use intelligence gathered through social media in improving business, to create new products and services, and improve the company's ability to predict potential outcomes in the market.
Have a social mindset reflected at all touch points and within all business functions.
Going social doesn't happen overnight, so don't expect it to.
Gauge where you are and take the necessary steps to solidify your current position—or advance it.

Social media engagement is for Corporate branding, what product advertising is for brand development
As a corporate ---never stop asking---Are we doing enough? What more can we do?  
Going forward consumers will screen and prioritize products based on the credibility of their makers as responsible entities.
Social and societal are intimately wedded ideas. You need rich content to communicate well.

Be honest. Consumers can always see through a hoax.

Charlie Brown