Humans v/s Food

Life is ironical. 

Before: 

Humans learned to walk in search of food as the environment changed. They started to walk upright on two legs and lost body hair. That allowed them to regulate their body temperature and conserve energy. They could now strategically plan their travel over longer distances in search of food. They essentially evolved chasing food (given the role of food in survival). The process was super efficient. Each calorie was measured and used productively, much like Toyota's golden years at the turn of the century.

Now:

Modern humans get their food easily, provided they can gather enough energy to use a telecom/ Internet device. Although theoretically food is still a need, but for all practical purposes it's more like a want. A lot of humans consume food for entertainment, much like urban pets. It is not surprising they end up eating way more than they need. The focus has shifted from conserving to spending energy. They walk, run, lift/pull weights, stretch their muscles for a rather unproductive objective - chase away the food they didn't need to eat. 

The "pehle aap" rule of economics

Customers are not sure if they will retain their jobs, so they try not to spend on non-essentials. 

The companies guard their hiring budget, as they wait for the customers to start spending with optimism. 

Face off. 

Amid speculations of US collapsing into a double dip this year, no one wants to make the first move. The road ahead seems unfamiliar since we can only boast to have read about the great depression. No one really trusts anyone in matters of economic recovery and we will have to wait and see who blinks first.

It smells fishy and I don't think it's important

The other day I had a discussion about Baba Ramdev with my wife. A good part of the discussion contoured on the boundaries of morality and ethics of freedom and the leader-follower relationship. We are not ardent followers of any public leader. In fact some times I'm concerned if that's good but let's keep that for another time. 

I see that a lot of people now don't want to follow Baba Ramdev and suddenly feel that he has stopped making sense. I want to question that. Why did he make sense before and why is not making any sense now? What has changed?

Lets see:

1. A lot of people found out that there might be some grey areas in his yoga empire 

2. A lot of people found out that he is perhaps not the most suave and sophisticated leader you will meet (not in politics anyway)

what else...

3. Oh yeah that little thing about how he went back on his promise to a couple of seasoned politicians. And so the Government really had no choice but to smoke him out and subsequently "not arrest" him. So that showed that he can go back on what he proposes to seasoned politicians. Got it. 

what else...

4. He is quite a showman. I would have to completely agree with that. I think he is quite funny too :)

5. I can't think of anything else. 

...anyway so because of this information people now don't want to follow him or what he saying. And I almost jump from my seat to ask them - Why? Let's assume, he built his empire with lots of black money. I ask the recent 'converts' or turncoats: 

1. How does it change what he was preaching? His Yoga not effective anymore? 

2. How does it affect you personally? Is that black money bothering you? Does his Scottish island haunt you? 

3. Is it very difficult to accept a 'grey' leader (assuming the leader in question is). Does he really have to be all white?

4. Does your intellect refuse to separate what the leader is saying from who he is?

Where do I stand? I am not his follower and I won't be for multiple reasons. If you really have to know - I don't think I can relate to what he preaches. I am still figuring out myself as a person and not comfortable in following anyone at the moment. I am not into yoga and for now don't dig the anti-corruption movement (or any nationalist movement) more than just reading about it. 

Talking about leaders - I personally wouldn't trust a 'white' leader. I think a 'white' person will have the same motivation as a 'grey' person simply because he/she will be surrounded with a lot of grey people. So its nearly impossible for that person to completely dedicate his/her energies to a cause when he needs to work with/against grey people. So for me, grey works. Also I back myself more than anyone else to judge what's right and what's wrong. I know the implications of banning high-valued currency notes so what Baba Ramdev does for a living doesn't really matter. 

I just wish that somehow (I know it doesn't make any economic sense, but still) some part of the media would concentrate more on the issue of corruption, promote debate/intellectual conversations rather than the drama around the lives of the public leaders. Especially when people are paying attention to national issues for a change (thanks to Social Media). 

If quitting is bad, waiting is worse

Okay so you don't like to quit. You believe that it is better to hang in there and see what's in store rather than quit. Sounds good? Lets revisit that today. 

It must have been a tough situation that made you think about quitting. Bad year in sales? Your manager conveniently ignored your hard work (or smart work) when it came to appraising you? Couldn't get your book published? Must have been something that pushed you against the wall. 

Hanging in there will not change anything. You will be up against the wall tomorrow, the day after and the day after that and everyday till either you do something about it or nature does it for you. 

You can do few things, apart from hanging in there - 

1. Improve your skills. 

Basically "put your head down" and slog it out till you get better and better. 

2. Change the environment around you. 

Go talk to your boss, if you want a change of role. If your company is failing in certain areas - reach out to other players in the market and see if you can build partnerships (e.g. form a sales partnership with a complementary product company and go to the market together). 

3. If you are not doing point 1 and/or 2- do yourself a favor and quit. Quitting is not the same as failing. By quitting you shut down the energy drain on things that are not solving your problems (so that you can focus on something you have a better chance of succeeding at). If you have a big home loan and you want the monkey off your back you will have to do something drastic to achieve that. Cribbing about your situation over cups of coffee will release some pressure but is not going to help you sleep at night. 

We would have been extinct millions of years ago, if we had waited on the trees, as the environment changed around us.

Evidence is Gold!

People naturally look for evidence to validate or substantiate their choices. It is vital not just in the court of law, but in every walk of life. Consider two young companies trying to break into a new market. Even before they start introducing themselves, we get impatient and curious - 

"Who are your clients?"

Evidence helps to lower the risk of our next move, improves our chances, enhances our learning without failing... We ask our friends, family and colleagues - 

"Did you like the that movie?"

"How was your experience of working for that company?"

Evidence is important to understand what went right (or wrong). Its not just about big events or sales calls. Consider a 9AM meeting which starts with some numbers from reliable sources. Wouldn't that be interesting for a change? 

Some people try too hard to make their presentation interesting/charming (even practice their jokes a 100 times) to grab attention. Your prospective customer couldn't care less about what your product 'can' do, let alone your forced wit. Tell them what it has done for other customers (even if that was in a test/pilot launch) and note the change in their attention. 

Start your elevator pitch with it and it might just make your day (until of-course, you run into other problems).