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Author: ashokkarania

  • FaceBook’s Purchase Of Whatsapp – Its About Mobile Leadership !

    FaceBook’s Purchase Of Whatsapp – Its About Mobile Leadership !

    Facebook Buys WhatsApp for USD 19 Billion ! This has been one of ‘the’ topics to discuss in the last week. Even at the Mobile World Congress, it is a big topic. Two customers called me saying that let us work on billion dollar ideas. Social media, startup communities, VC board rooms, office conversations are all talking about this big deal.

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    It is an important event. I had the following thoughts on the deal:

    1. Mobile is the gateway to human interaction and life – we already know that. The deal re-affirms that.
    2. WhatsApp had overtaken Facebook as the most addictive mobile app. Whether I am in London, Barcelona, Bombay or any village in India, WhatsApp is the app people are hooked to – the first morning ritual, the last evening habit, the multiple updates throughout the day. The first people check after a flight lands is WhatsApp! The CEO’s executive assistant shares important files through WhatsApp. Domestic help reviews the stationery/vegetable choices. Taxi Driver at an airport pickup can identify his customer. In short, WhatsApp was the app that mattered a lot to people in their daily lives. Hence it mattered a lot to FaceBook to claim its mobile leadership. “No one in the history of the world has ever done something like this,” Facebook Chief Executive rightly Mark Zuckerberg said that.
    3. WhatsApp is a hit with youth. And youth are at the centre of mobile revolution.
    4. WhatsApp is big in many emerging markets and it helps to grow and consolidate Facebook in these markets. WhatsApp is adding 1 million users a day.
    5. The acquisition is a costly one. USD 19 Billion. Facebook is paying through ample amount of stock and that hurts less as anyone who knows the stock maths. Also, compare price versus importance of WhatsApp as seen in Point 2. Also, the per user price is reasonable as compared to Facebook’s purchase of Instagram or Google’s purchase of Youtube.
    6. Facebook may have also feared that WhatsApp could have been sold to another giant – Google, Yahoo, Microsoft. Competitor fears are real !
    7. People may also feel that Facebook is running out of ideas and is desperate. I think Facebook is being bold and courageous. I am sure they may have lot of ideas being cooked but they have not shied away from open market purchases to defend the mobile leadership.
    8. The challenge for Facebook is to ensure returns on the deal within next 12-18 months. Consumer taste is fickle. WhatsApp may give way to something more exciting. Hence Facebook will have to use the users and the time to continue to excite the consumers with new offerings.
    9. WhatsApp, Instagram show the power of simple ideas executed well. It shows the power of focus. It shows that small teams can win big! The valuation of WhatsApp is bigger than outsourcing giants like InfoSys, Wipro etc.
    10. Funnily, Blackberry had WhatsApp in it with BBM ! Had it been agile and moved it to cross platform and added features – it would have been different story. Today Blackberry’s worth is less than WhatsApp sales price.
    11. The deal is great news for entrepreneurs and idea bulbs. It shows that sky is the limit for the right idea. It will encourages thousands of people to create the next big WhatsApp. That is wonderful !

    Facebook Purchase of WhatsApp is definitely an important milestone !

    Ideas Win! Simplicity Wins! Entrepreneurship Wins!

  • Welcome Aangi Karania !

    Welcome My Princess !

  • Entrepreneurial Opportunities – Mobile Apps

    Entrepreneurial Opportunities – Mobile Apps

  • The New Gateway Of India

    The Mumbai’s T2 Terminal Will Soon Open For General Public. It Is One Of The Most Beautifully Designed Airports.

    The Airport Is Inspired By India’s Warmness And Open Heart And Diverse Art. Western Airports Are Cold And Steel And Glass – But This Airport Is Different.

    The Best Example Of Differential Thinking Is The 3Km Art Wall With More Than 7000 Pieces Of Art ! It Is One The Biggest Art Museum In India – But You Will Need A Boarding Pass !

    The Jai He Is Another Innovation. The Airport Is Inspired By Dancing Peacock – Peacock Is India’s National Bird !

    I Admire The Management And Project Execution Skills Displayed On The Project. The Entire Airport Came Up With Minimal Disruption To The City. Most People Never Saw The Airport Being Built. The Most Common Question Is That How Did They Do It? We Never Knew Such An Important Airport Was Being Built Without Disturbing Anyone?

    The Stories Of Negotation And Cajoling With Different Stake-Holders Is Worth Of A Business Case Study !

    The City Of Dreams Deserves Such A Wonderful Airport ! It Is Indeed The New Gateway Of India !

    See It !

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  • Culture Trumps Strategy

    Culture Trumps Strategy

    For a company to succeed, strategy is important, but a great culture is paramount. It’s the one distinguishing feature that a competitor can’t duplicate. So how does one go about planting the seeds of a great culture? First, leaders must surround themselves with the best and the brightest — people with extensive experience and high emotional intelligence. Second, leaders must be compassionate. People are the most engaged, the most passionate, and the most productive when they’re listened to, and when they’re encouraged to grow and learn new skills.

    SOURCE: Creating a Culture of Unconditional Love by Claudio Fernández-Aráoz via Harvard Business Review

  • Gujarati Literature Festival – A Wonderful Debut !

    Gujarati Literature Festival – A Wonderful Debut !

    The Vodafone Gujarati Literature Festival had a great debut in Ahmedabad. It was wonderful to see the galaxy of Gujarati intellectuals, writers, artists and lovers of language. The most heartening fact was to see more young enthusiasts.

    The sessions saw a heady mix of literature, art, music, drama, film and folk art. More than 100 creative people interacted with the discerning audience.

    Ahmedabad got itself one more annual event worth waiting for ! It also put the city on Literary Festival circuit.

    Cheers to the organizing team of Gujarati Literature Festival!

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  • The World Is Changing – 2014 Thoughts !

    The World Is Changing – 2014 Thoughts !

    1. The business world is getting dynamic with each passing day. Winners are created in a short span of time and old reputations shattered in even shorter span of time. Samsung and Blackberry are good examples.
    2. Winners are created in shorter span of time. Also, winner takes it all ! Samsung and Apple control the profits of the entire industry.
    3. No Innovation – No Respect.
    No World-Class Offerings – No Admission In Business World.

    4. Mobile and cloud are now integral to enterprises. There are no fence-sitters now!
    5. Big Data Analytics indeed seems to be the next billion dollar opportunity.
    6. Wearable Devices are the next big thing. Smart Shoes, Smart Accessories. Hopefully human beings will be more smarter as well !

    7. As always, money is still not the prime motivator of people. As always, designation does not determine the leader. It is always the purpose, vision, challenging work and respect that drives people !
    8. Digital Detox is gaining currency ! Slow Movement will fasten !

    9. AAP is transforming and influencing Indian Political thinking. India’s Jasmine Revolution is beyond the social media now.
    10. Youth are driving the change across Sports, Movies and Businesses.

  • 500 Crores – Not An Impossible Task For Bollywood !

    500 Crores – Not An Impossible Task For Bollywood !

    In the last 2-3 years, the Indian Film Industry had got a new aspirational goal – 100 Crores. Suddenly 100 crores was the new benchmark of success. With each passing year, the number of films in the 100 crore club grew. And it will continue to grow. The rationale is simple.

    India’s population is more than 100 crores. Even if 2% of Indian population watches a movie, it is 2 crore people watching a movie. Multiply it by the average lowest price of Rs 50, and we have 100 crores !

    Movies were always popular in India and hit movies made good money. A few important changes have happened in the Indian Film Industry and that has contributed to the 100 crore movies:

    1. The revenue leakages are getting reduced due to multiplexes and digital technologies.
    2. Multiplexes have increased the number of screens. They have also increased the ticket prices and hence the yield.
    3. Strong marketing strategies ensure carpet bombing of the movie. Maximum people watch movie within 2 weeks.
    4. Modern management has ensured a good template for the success of a big size movie.

    Inspite of the above facts, India has less number of per capita screens. The movie watching audience will continue to swell and we will soon move to new benchmarks. In fact, 200 crore is the new 100 crore with three movies already clocking more than 200 crores in 2013. The day is not far when 500 crore will not be an impossible feat in Bollywood.

    Indian Film Industry is bullish in outlook. The only challenge is to ensure high quality content with global best practices. It can then make a bigger dent in the global entertainment order !

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  • Are You Ready For 2014?

    Are You Ready For 2014?

    The end of the year ! Time to review. Time to redefine.

    2013 will soon be history. I am sure we will say “GoodBye” to 2013 by remembering its highs and lows. More importantly, enriching ourselves by the lessons it taught us.

    2014 is in front of us. Let us look ahead.

    How do we want 2014 to be?

    What do we want to be in 2014?

    And in 2015? And further ahead. It is important to set those right priorities for ourselves. It is important to set clear goals. Once that is done, there is tremendous clarity of thought. All things fall in place.

    The most important things after having clear goals is discipline and commitment. Nobody won a nobel prize for their plans. Nobody got a promotion for their thoughts. Everyone got ahead because of results and actions, which only happen after execution and discipline. Let us act. Let us fight that cynical voice. Stay away from negative thoughts and persons.

    Things may not go as per the script. But we still have to face reality. Take adversity by the horns. Accept challenge and prepare a new approach, if things do not right. It is always important to have Plan B.

    Always be positive. Always manage time well. Google Maps cannot guide our lives. Nor can anyone else. We are our own architects. It is convenient to find problems outside of us. Difficult people will fall in line eventually.

    Finally pursue excellence. It helps you become expert. It helps you to leave your mark. It helps the world to help you !

    How does this translate into workplace? Let us have clear goals for ourselves. Let us have clear KRAs. If we have some challenges, be pro-active and clear it. Review self. At a high level, if we see our work or anything that we do as job or task, we have one approach. But if we see our work and other activities as mission, our perspective changes. We get lot of power and energy from within. HR Performance Appraisals, Punctuality, Attendance, Follow-Ups, Reminders, Stress – all go out of our lexicon. Leadership becomes our mantra. Making it happen becomes our mantra.

    Time flies. 2013 is gone. 2014 will also be soon gone. Focus on only 3 goals for 2014. These goals can cut across work, family, self. No more. No less.

    I hope everyone of us have more achievements and more celebrations in 2014. Dreams do come true.

  • Bollywood’s Top Movies 2013

    Bollywood’s Top Movies 2013

    The End Of The Year – Time To Review. Time To Reflect. Time To Relive.

    2013 Was A Mixed Year For Bollywood – India’s Film Industry.

    The 100 Crore Club continued to welcome new members and three movies rocked even into 200 Crore club – Dhoom 3, Krrish 3 and Chennai Express.

    At Half Year mark, I had commented: “The content and treatment continues to win. The new talent is getting better results and traditional stars are being challenged. Good times for Bollywood continue!”. It still holds true at the end of the year. (See Bollywood 2013 Half Year Mark Review)

    Ranbir tasted first failure when he let money to precede our his cinematic choices. Though Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani was no great cinema, it balanced commercial and contemporary cinema. The same treatment was dished out to Himmatwala, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai 2. Ranbir’s Rocket Singh is yet to be bettered, Barfi not withstanding.

    Ranbir got a challenger in form of Ranveer with Ram Leela and Lootera showcasing his talent. Sushant Singh Rajput is the new talent where banks are betting their money on ! Parineeti and Alia Bhatt are the new ladies to watch for ! Nimrat Kaur seems promising !

    Deepika was the actor of the year with 4 hits – Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Ram Leela. Behind the beautiful face and awesome acting is an intelligent mind – who redefined herself. Sonakshi and Shahid Kapoor need reinvention for sure – they can learn from Deepika.

    I still feel the best film of the year was Ship Of Theseus. It was seconded by The Lunchbox. Ship Of Theseus showcases the best of Indian Cinema and so does The Lunchbox. A R Rahman still rules in the music department. Though Aashiqui 2 brought new challengers.

    Top 5 Films:

    1. Ship Of Theseus
    2. Lunchbox
    3. Kai Po Che
    4. Raanjhaana
    5. Shahid
    6. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
    7. Shuddh Desi Romance
    8. Special 26
    9. Aashiqui 2
    10. D-Day

    Other Honorable Mentions:
    1. Madras Cafe
    2. Ram Leela

    Top 5 Movies That Did Not Work !:
    1. Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobara
    2. Himmatwala
    3. Besharam
    4. Zanjeer
    5. Phata Poster

    Top Grossers Of The Year:
    1. Dhoom 3 – 250 Cr +
    2. Krrish 3 – 250 Cr
    3. Chennai Express – 225 Cr
    4. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani – 190 Crore
    5. Ram Leela – 110 Cr

    I am pleased to note that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag crossed 100 Crores – 100 Crores is not an elusive number anymore with even Grand Masti touching the magical figure.

    Ram Leela Poster