6 Sigma Morning ... !!!

"sharp 7:55 to 8:00 AM, you enter the gate of hostel. Not a single day you are late since last 6 months !!" - the watchman said with a big smile which was enough to count his teeth.

Don’t worry I was not returning from any bar or night club.

"yeah. I do" I also gave a smile but could not make bigger then his !!!

While walking towards my room, I mind started recalling his words.  'I am not late since last 6 months'

Is it?, I asked to myself.

And there you go !! I got my new topic to write. "MY 6 sigma Morning" OR "error free morning"

My cellphone alarms at 7:00 AM sharp. I brush my teeth. Empty my stomach, take shower  (TIME: 7:30 AM)*

I kick ass of Dharmik to wake him up. By the time he brushes his teeth, I put on my clothes. (TIME: 7: 40 AM)*

He goes to empty his stomach and take shower and I go to take a parcel of tea and coffee for 3 of us.

By the I return back to my room, Dharmik is ready and Nitin will be brushing his teeth (TIME: 8:05 AM)*

Then 3 of us open up tea, coffee and snacks and start our break fast. Break fast ends at 8:20 AM*

Then, Dharmik gets ready, Nitin goes for shower and I wrap up all the mess of breakfast.

All 3 of us get perfect ready at 8:30 AM (this is our deadline to catch bus)  

This is the culture or tradition or you can even say "Values" in management terminologies. None of us are trained to carried out this kind of "RACE AGAINST TIME" activity in early morning. This team work was automatically cultivated in us because of caring and love for each other.

Imagine a company where this kind of "values" are cultivated. Specially for HR point of view, this plays an important role as far as TEAM WORK is concerned. 

Me (Pratik), Dharmik and Nitin are such buddies that I think I will not get in my life. We are like the "3 idiots". I used to have this kind of lovers ion my school life. We live for each other, share each and every thing of life right from the date we became sperms to or crushes,  current or up coming girl friends, family issues, disputes and feelings.

Lastly, I would like to thank my another best friend Priyanka Maradiya who gave title to this article.

Love u buddiezzz   …  

The JFM concept (Just For Money)

On the first day of any B-school in this country, a professor comes and says the famous lines  "you the future mangers of this county ! !! "

Is it??

And from that day it self, every student of that B - School starts dreaming - after 2 years, I ll have a fully furnished cabin with 2-3 assistants in a central air conditioned building with the package of 2 to 3 laks per annum and then I ll have a sexy girl/boy to marry and life will be easy and settled ….

If some are thinking of establishing their own business, the first thing what they will do is, tell a friend to click his snap in a typical Dhirubhai Ambani pose (first 2 finger on cheeks and other 2 folded under jaws, gives a good smile) and will upload on social networks.

But all knows the reality, none of these things are possible in real world.

Suppose, you get those luxurious jobs in MNCs and it is confirmed that you will not be appointed as a director of the company. Initially you will be given department - sales or packing or production or marketing .

Now ask to yourself - Is that the reason you have done M-B-A just to handle a precise and specific department.
MBA comprises subjects like production line, product management brand management, selling, Human resources and research methodology and much more and now you end up handling just one department and you are the person working on the order and brain of some others and fulfilling his dream.

Just think, after 50 to 60 years , on the verge of death, if some one asks you, what have you made in last 40 years of your life?

Are you ready to give answers like "I worked for SBI for 30 years", "I worked for some XYZ company for some years" OR you would like to give answers like "I have created ______ of my own", "I have made ______ company and MNC, I have made that sick firm a profitable one"


Look at 40 years back, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai started IIM - A for the vision that this country will need some visionary managers to manage upcoming corporate houses of India, and they are quite successful.

But, what about other B-schools. Is the motive of college to just earn money? Today there are around 4000 B-school in India but, how many work for the entrepreneur development or development of students. All just knows only 1 thing - "Sing songs about the placement percentage ratio".

Look at the poster of this college. At first glance, as a marketing students I thought, a good use of current and trendy singe. They exactly know the current market and accordingly they have designed their poster.    

        But looking from a management point of view.

"We do not make door to door sales man. We shape managers".

I want to question director of this institute "Is the value of a MBA manager is door to door sales man?"

I am not experienced like that fellow director, but I can make out from this poster that they are just there to mint money and as far as teaching is concerned, ample teachers are available who also does the same "just for money" (JFM) ….

Its hard to get any teachers who understands that they are not shaping results, by educating 1 student they are shaping 1 future, 1 family; 1 society; 1 county .....

Tata Nano v/s Cadbury Silk

you might be thinking .... wat a weird combination !! cadbury V/S car ... !! !!

its not regarding the product but the strategiyes that they have used....both faced the same problem but one is succes and other is a failure ..... take a look ... enjoy reading ....

For the first time in my life I purchased a product looking at the advertisement.

"Cadbury Silk".

 As a MBA student, I know how these adds are made and how much fake is presented against public by some rosy stars and people actually buy the product just looking at the advertisements .

I Still remember, while I was in Surat, undergoing my training in PepsiCo, I was given the task to sell "Getorade" in my area and one retailer asked me weather company will give a good add of Getorade on TV?

I said "yes"

He Exclaimed  "then I am ready to purchase. Here people will even buy poison if good adds are shown !!!"
(I completely agree to his point)  

This is called a "BRAND" - People will eat even poison if add shows that it will kill you without any pain and make 'Hittler', as Brand ambassador.  

In the world of brand - it is said "when u have to put the product in the mind of people, you should attach a specific identity with your product"

Say for example: If you think of mobile, it is Nokia or Samsung…... when u think of a tuff car, it is Tata safari……. if u think of an antiseptic liquid; its Dettol…..if u think of an MBA college, Its IIMs. …. If u think of a good millage bike, its Hero ……... and the list goes on …. And slowly and steadily it starts "ruling the mind of people"

Now, all this is based on their branding that they do while advertising.  while advertising, all companies have to see to it that they offer something new and unique in their product to customers.

When it comes to FMCG products advertisements: some companies focus on price, some in odor, some on weight, others on whiteness and etc …

When it is comes to home appliances advertisements: companies concentrate on power saving, some on advanced technologies, other concentrate on styles and looks

Now coming to the story that I want to share of TATA NANO ..….

All knows, the project is a big failure. Management gurus and entrepreneurs from all over the world have given reasons like - product launch  was in wrong segment, week design, low engine capacity and much more reasons…..

Now, if people are ready to purchase poison because of branding, this is TATA NANO….how can this be a failure ?

The tag line of Nano is " Kusiyo ki Chabi" … but the tag line in the mind of people for Nano is "duniya ki subse sasti car"

This was the line which hindered the sale of Nano,….. WHY will a common man buy a cheapest car in a country like India where neighbors are always ready to pull legs.

"the cheapest car ?!?!" this line hurts who so ever buys that car…..

On the Contrary, look at Cadbury Silk ..

It’s the worst product I have ever had I my life, because it spoils my whole mouth and I have to lick my lips, fingers and even her fingers at times …. Yuksss … eeee … …

but look at the way they gave a start to the product; what a fantastic and emotional add they have made. The sensation we hate about the product, they took the same think and presented in a positive and emotional way, that licking your fingers is not eeeee or Yuks, it’s a sigh of true friendship …..  

TATA could not do this …..they could not convert mentality of people in a positive way to force them to buy the cheapest car !!!!

This Sunday

Don’t think I have celebrated my Sunday in a Romio-Juliat type or hanging out with friends till late night…. :) Don’t even expect that I will write any picnic story or joyful day. If u expect thrills and dramas in this post , please don’t read to waste your time. But, you will learn good management concepts from this blog.

It was 22nd January. Sunday. Morning 10:30

I received a call from my underwear friend (langoote yaar) Jignesh Tejani.

He was coming to Gandhinagar at 12 o' clock, for no reason, just wanted to hang out somewhere in Gandhinagar as he was getting bored in Ahmedabad.

The friends who were to go out were I, Jignesh, Soham, Nilesh and Pankaj.

First we went to "Pooja Snacks".

A shop which was underground, hardly anyone can see the hooding of the shop, were little space inside the shop with only 3 tables and maximum 20 people can sit inside the shop. On top of that, it was self-service, you have to pay first and then have food. 

Despite all this, the rush of people goes on and on like anything. None of the cook was having time of even one second to answer. The cash counter receptionist was busy counting the bundles of notes.

I asked Nilesh "What is the reason that this shop is so popular, even though it has no facilities?".

He answered “no.1 is, this is in the market - sector 21. No 2 is it very old and has become very popular. Another reason is the taste and now it is hard to find the substitute for this shop."

I thought, none of the people running shop are MBAs or Engineers. They found the opportunity when that sector 21 was given the market that it was the best place to have a snacks shop. Develop relation with customers, establish a brand when there are no competitors, and then gain customer loyalty.

I must say, "A perfect player. Perfectly played each and every step with patience. First established its brand and then did compromise with his service and still keeping the brand value the peak".

From there we went to "Trupti Ice-cream" an Ice-cream shop.

A PURE INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS MARKETING.

The shop was normal like the Ice-creams shop of Metro cities. Big entrance, Standing tables were arranged (it reduces the cost of chairs). Big banners on the side walls which displayed the products of the shop.

The most distinct thing I watched there, I don’t know if they have copied from somewhere or they own innovative idea.

It was written on big bold letters on the wall "if you like our Ice-cream, ring the bell".

There were 4 copper bells hanged to the celling like as temple and there was also a Lord Ganesh idol in the shop. I observed that, every 30 seconds the bell would be rang by either children, adult or some good looking girls, or some old age people who wished to go temple but came in this shop by mistake and now worshiping god here itself.

Every 30 seconds the bell would ring and people on the road will be attracted by the sound of bell and their eyes would catch a 3-star ice-cream shop. Now, who on this earth will not be wanting to eat a cup of Ice-cream when it is against your eyes, if not you, your kid, or your spouse will demand for the same and you will end up in paying at least 100 rs. note to the "TRUPTI Ice-cream"….. …

Thanks to Jignesh, Nilesh, Soham and Pankaj …… love you all …

My Managerial uttrayan

On 13th January, at 9:30 after the dinner of myself made Rajma-Chaval, I went to my uncle's house.

"hello Brother" - my cousin said

"hi brother" - I exclaimed and we hugged.

After all the formalities of "how r u" and all he asked - 

"look Pratik, we are planning to go to Akshardham - Gandhinagar. Will u come?" - my cousin asked

"for me, going to Gandhinagar is like going to meet my in-laws. No matter, you deny how many times, it will be mandatory to go." - I said

All laughed and I said yes I will come.

14th January, 11:30 we, (I, my cousin, my uncle) reached Akshardham.

We all walked inside. I looked the idol of the god. It was amazing to see that idol sitting with folded legs near about the size of 20 X 10 X 5.

I was having glance at the temple rotating my 360 degree. My eyes strut at one person. 5 feet height, bit fair, wore white shirt and trousers, and the most important thing I saw, was his forehead. It carried that "U" shaped Swaminarayan mark. It is like a stamp on forehead that proves that you are loyal towards your organization.

"Jay Swaminarayan" - I said to that person

"Jay Swaminarayan" - he said with a big smile as if his wife has become ready to sign on divorce papers.

I asked - "sir, this idol is …zz .. .. ??"

He started the story             

"It made up of - 5 metals (gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron). The outer layer is covered with gold, near about 10 kg gold."

"W T F" - I said to myself listing to the last line.

He continued "this is nothing; the gold buried under the temple is round about 20 cr. There are more than 100 temples all over the word in more than 20 countries worldwide."

After speaking this much he went because another branded (stamped) forehead was calling him.

My brain started calculating the digits. 20 cr in 1 temple, more than 100 temples in world. That means 2000 cr gold which has "zero productivity" is buried in the underground of this Swaminarayan and then we are blaming thousands of reasons and researches for the price rise in gold.

I came out of the temple. Standing on that platform, I glanced at the compound of the temple. Marvelous cutting of trees, elegant color combination of flowers, tight security. Professionals are kept to take care of the temple.

According to my estimation, this temple would be a property of 50 - 70 cr. More the 100 temples ?? The net worth would be more than 5000 cr.

OH MY GOD. There are still 30% people in my country who do not get one day proper meal and this people are having 5000 cr property which in which the investment output ratio is hardly any percentage. 

Again that stamped person came to me and started

"hey, you are here, I was searching for you inside"

I nodded my head

"you are from ?" he asked

"form Bhavnagar" I replied

"Oh, we also have a small temple there" he said as if that 5000 cr property was his and the temple in Bhavnagar was his branch office.

He added "We are even thinking of expansion in the Bhavnagar as the number of devotees is increasing in Saurashtra region"

Oh my god; this people are talking like MBAs, expansion plan, increase in customers and what not.

"What is your educational qualification?" - I asked

"I am just HSC passed" he laughed "we will meet when Swamiji will come there for Satsung in Bhavnagar"

"ya sure" I said.

He went away and my head again started with the calculations of the property of this Brand Product "SWAMINARAYAN".  The digits started running to and fro in my mind.

I am sure, if they publish balance sheet, the net worth would be equivalent to TATAs and RELIANCEs.

 

But I will just write one line to justify my mind - the days are not far when this people will come with IPOs in the market.

Just think, if the property which is equivalent to giant corporate houses, is just behind the screen and no legal income - expenditure is shown to public. How much capital this temples might be blocking??

The government should make compulsory book-keeping for all the temples in the country and a large amount of tax should be levied on them.

I bet, the amount that will be released form this temples will make the country super power on its own.