Author: ashokkarania

  • Dhoni Leads India To World Cup Victory !

    Dhoni Led India To The World Cup Victory In The ICC Cricket Final at Wankhede Stadium Mumbai.

    Usually the major finals have been a disappointment. But the final between India and Sri Lanka was worth every penny spent. The match was dramatic from the word Go ! M S Dhoni won the first toss but Sangakkara claimed that there was confusion. The re-toss was won by Sangakkara and Sri Lanka decided to bat.

    India had the early victories but Mahela Jaywardane stayed at the crease, as instructed by his beautiful wife, and scored the century in the final. Sreesanth could not rise to the occasion and the ever-tidy Zaheer was also sent packing by Lankans in his second spell. From a difficult start to 275, Sri Lanka had made a fighting score. As expected, Dhoni gave Tendulkar a bowling spell. Dhoni is a master charmer and he knew this was Tendulkar’s special match in his home ground and he just gave Tendulkar the chance.

    Sri Lanka had the perfect start with Sehwag out in the second ball. Tendulkar could not achieve his dream of ‘Century of Centuries’ at home ground. When Tendulkar got out and India were 31-2, a strange silence and fear engulfed the entire India. Will India collapse again? Oh My God !

    Thankfully Gautam rose to the occasion and Virat Kohli and he played the most sensible cricket. They dealt in 1s and 2s and marched towards the target milestone by milestone. First reached the 100, then 150 etc. Dhoni came in at the fall of Kohli. He came ahead of Yuvraj, the in form champion.

    Dhoni’s master stroke was the X Factor of the match. He knew Murali and Sri Lankans very well – thank to IPL. He could take the pressure and wanted to lead from the front. He wanted to win. He showed his determination from the very first ball. He batted like a champion and his best knock of the tournament proved the cup-winning knock.

    Dhoni has been a hallmark leader. Though he did not score runs, he has been a master strategist and a great reader of the game. He ensured that India was on target. He did not take any risk. He kept the score board ticking. He ensured that they treated Murali and Malinga with respect. He rotated the strike. He did not try to become a hero. He inched towards the target with strong determination.

    Cheers to Kumar Sangakkara as well – Great speech by him. Extreme humility. Dhoni’s speech was good too – nice humour about proving a point.

    Dhoni has a great midas touch. After T20 World Cup, No. 1 Test Ranking , he now has the World Cup for India. The 1.2 Billion Indians will love it. The celebrations have started in India. The positive effect of this will be felt all around. The overall confidence and optimism will help India as a country. The self-belief will be on rise.

    Kapil Dev and Dhoni share many similarities. Kapil Dev’s 1983 world cup inspired a generation of cricketers. Dhoni’s 2011 world cup will inspire the next Indian achievers. India Shining ! Go India Go !

    Jai Ho !

  • InfoStretch Features In “The Hottest Companies in Silicon Valley” List

    InfoStretch Features In “The Hottest Companies in Silicon Valley” List

    The Journey of Excellence Continues….

    InfoStretch has featured in the “Hottest Companies in Silicon Valley” list. Lead 411 has compiles the list to recognize the fastest growing technology companies in the Silicon Valley area.

    Cheers to the entire InfoStretch Team !

  • Robin Sharma : The 50 New Rules of Work

    Robin Sharma : The 50 New Rules of Work

    Robin Sharma’s New Post : The 50 New Rules Of Work

    1. You are not just paid to work. You are paid to be uncomfortable – and to pursue projects that scare you.
    2. Take care of your relationships and the money will take care of itself.
    3. Lead you first. You can’t help others reach for their highest potential until you’re in the process of reaching for yours.
    4. To double your income, triple your rate of learning.
    5. While victims condemn change, leaders grow inspired by change.
    6. Small daily improvements over time create stunning results.
    7. Surround yourself with people courageous enough to speak truthfully about what’s best for your organization and the customers you serve.
    8. Don’t fall in love with your press releases.
    9. Every moment in front of a customer is a moment of truth (to either show you live by the values you profess – or you don’t).
    10. Copying what your competition is doing just leads to being second best.
    11. Become obsessed with the user experience such that every touchpoint of doing business with you leaves people speechless. No, breathless.
    12. If you’re in business, you’re in show business. The moment you get to work, you’re on stage. Give us the performance of your life.
    13. Be a Master of Your Craft. And practice + practice + practice.
    14. Get fit like Madonna.
    15. Read magazines you don’t usually read. Talk to people who you don’t usually speak to. Go to places you don’t commonly visit. Disrupt your thinking so it stays fresh + hungry + brilliant.
    16. Remember that what makes a great business – in part – are the seemingly insignificant details. Obsess over them.
    17. Good enough just isn’t good enough.
    18. Brilliant things happen when you go the extra mile for every single customer.
    19. An addiction to distraction is the death of creative production. Enough said.
    20. If you’re not failing regularly, you’re definitely not making much progress.
    21. Lift your teammates up versus tear your teammates down. Anyone can be a critic. What takes guts is to see the best in people.
    22. Remember that a critic is a dreamer gone scared.
    23. Leadership’s no longer about position. Now, it’s about passion. And having an impact through the genius-level work that you do.
    24. The bigger the dream, the more important the team.
    25. If you’re not thinking for yourself, you’re following – not leading.
    26. Work hard. But build an exceptional family life. What’s the point of reaching the mountaintop but getting there alone.
    27. The job of the leader is to develop more leaders.
    28. The antidote to deep change is daily learning. Investing in your professional and personal development is the smartest investment you can make. Period.
    29. Smile. It makes a difference.
    30. Say “please” and “thank you”. It makes a difference.
    31. Shift from doing mindless toil to doing valuable work.
    32. Remember that a job is only just a job if all you see it as is a job.
    33. Don’t do your best work for the applause it generates but for the personal pride it delivers.
    34. The only standard worth reaching for is BIW (Best in World).
    35. In the new world of business, everyone works in Human Resources.
    36. In the new world of business, everyone’s part of the leadership team.
    37. Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well.
    38. You become your excuses.
    39. You’ll get your game-changing ideas away from the office versus in the middle of work. Make time for solitude. Creativity needs the space to present itself.
    40. The people who gossip about others when they are not around are the people who will gossip about you when you’re not around.
    41. It could take you 30 years to build a great reputation and 30 seconds of bad judgment to lose it.
    42. The client is always watching.
    43. The way you do one thing defines the way you’ll do everything. Every act matters.
    44. To be radically optimistic isn’t soft. It’s hard. Crankiness is easy.
    45. People want to be inspired to pursue a vision. It’s your job to give it to them.
    46. Every visionary was initially called crazy.
    47. The purpose of work is to help people. The other rewards are inevitable by-products of this singular focus.
    48. Remember that the things that get scheduled are the things that get done.
    49. Keep promises and be impeccable with your word. People buy more than just your products and services. They invest in your credibility.
    50. Lead Without a Title.

    I encourage you to share + discuss + debate these with your team and throughout your organization. Within a quick period of time, you’ll see some fantastic results.

  • Gartner Insight: Ten Consumer Mobile Applications to Watch in 2012

    Gartner Insight: Ten Consumer Mobile Applications to Watch in 2012

    1. Location-Based Services
    2. Social Networking
    3. Mobile Search
    4. Mobile Commerce
    5. Mobile Payment
    6. Context-Aware Services
    7. Object Recognition
    8. Mobile Instant Messaging
    9. Mobile E-Mail
    10. Mobile Video

    Source: Gartner

  • MoMo Session – The Tablet Mania

    MoMo Session – The Tablet Mania

    The Tablet Revolution has started ! 2011 is the year of Tablets.

    Mobile Monday Ahmedabad proudly announces the Tablet Mania. The session will cover:

    – The latest market trends and solutions for Tablets
    – The industry perspectives for monetizing the Tablet Space.
    – Showdown of the Different Tablets
    – Interesting Apps on Tablets

    Speakers:
    1. Anand Jain & Vishal Anand – Leveraging The Tablet Devices For Business & Media
    2. Asim Mittal & Hamish Patel – The Tablet Mania – Business Implications For The Mobile Community
    3. The Tablet Showdown

    Day:
    April 4, 2011
    6:30 PM Onwards

    CIIE
    IIMA

    Register Now @ EventBrite

  • Sales Super Saturday

    Sales Super Saturday is a special training and knowledge-sharing event organized to sharpen the saw. The idea is to unwind from daily routine, look at larger picture, evaluate sales organization, address gaps and have lots of fun. The event is held on third Saturday of every month.

    Sales Super Saturday has been a great success in promoting team spirit and shared vision. Sales Super Saturday has a special format:

    1. Knowledge Presentations by Team Members covering Sales and Non-Sales Areas.
    2. Group Discussions on Sales Function, Sales Cycle, Organizational Events and Trends
    5. Guest Sessions by Cross-Functional Teams
    4. Luncheons with One Question Funda
    5. Sales Movies & Interesting Videos
    6. Games & Exercises

    No laptops. No cell talks. No distractions.

    Please find the snapshots of an offsite Sales Super Saturday:

    Sales Super Saturday – Offsite

    So what actually Happens in Sales Super Saturday? See two comments:

    Comment 1:
    A great event pulled together for best utilizing the Saturday! It was a super Saturday indeed.
     
    I’m sure that Kunal’s session on lead generation will bring up everyone’s skill sets at par in capturing the right contacts for prospecting efforts. Also appreciated the expert inputs from Parag on using Google in the best way.
     
    The presentation & interaction on Customer Service from Umeshbhai was also a great way to get insight on how customer service never ends! Though Sales People are the torch bearers of customer service it is equally important to get support from every corner of the organization. Getting the live case studies from Umeshbhai like the Air India, Barcelona Stock exchange and Railway explained how customers challenges should be mapped and how the proposing the right solution will help in winning a relationship with the customer.
     
    Just as we thought that we just had the best, the sales videos came in as a fun way to have a new paradigm of the mistakes happens during sales. I was undoubtedly sure that videos were handpicked very carefully. We shall not forget How important it is to “listen” to your prospects?
     
    Post the gala luncheon, the brainstorming session was everyones delight, as finally the sales guys were allowed to do what they love… talk! Talk! And TALK! As mentioned, we look forward to a next session soon!
     
    Hope everyone were able to connect one’s self with the story of Chris Gardner (Will Smith) in “The Pursuit of Happiness”! Lets try the Rubic’s cube trick on your next sales call 😉
     
    Three Cheers to Sales Team!!!
     
    Premal

    Comment 2:

    I read this below agenda as a perfect case study of a Salesperson – looking to crack a first deal and needs desperately.
     
    9:30 – 10:00 : Kunal – Lead Generation Tips – Salesperson identifies leads using his lead generation skills
    10:00 – 12:00 : Customer Service by Umeshbhai – Salesperson is well-versed with Customer Service basis (Most IMP), but it still important to keep in mind, every time.  
    12:00 – 13:30 : Sales Videos – Diff Sales Areas – Salesperson prepares himself for a Sales pitch, after referring some sales videos and past experiences
    13:30 – 15:00 : Lunch Treat @ Dasprakash – Salesperson meets client at the schedule venue and trying to sell.
    15:00 – 16:00 : Open Q & A – Improving Effectiveness Of ISPL Sales, Good To Great – Salesperson certainly had a good lunch, but not lucky to get a deal. He is trying to figure out WHY?
    16:00 – 18:00 : Movie – One Of The Best Sales Movies – Bcoz of many failures, Salesperson is losing his confidence. Salesperson’s Supervisor plans to go for a movie that helps Salesperson to get motivated and rebuild.
    18:00 – 18:30 : Learnings, Next Steps, Action Items, Closing Remarks – Salesperson is now charged up and plans for next day. He resumes again and gets ready for another Sales call.
     
    Regards,
    Parag

    Like every good concept, Sales Super Saturday has its planning and feedback cycle. A lot of brainstorming is collectively done by the team for the same as it is an area of common interest.

  • Good Books for Understanding Financial Crisis

    The Bailout Nation – Barry Ritholtz
    Survival+ – Charles Hugh Smith
    This Time Is Different – Reinhart & Kenneth
    Economics For Real People – Gene Callahan
    China Shakes The World – James Kynge
    The Great Crash 1929 – John Kenneth Galbraith
    The Case For Gold – Ron Paul
    Melt Down – Thomas E Woods JR
    Anatomy of A Bear – Russel Napier
    Financial Armageddon – Michale Panzner
    13 Bankers – Simon Johnson, James Kwak
    New Monitarism – David Roache & Bob McKee

    I came cross these recommendations while visiting Sundaram MF’s site.

    I recommend other books in Finance Area:
    The Barbarians At The Gate
    The Rogue Trader
    The Scam – Sucheta Dalal – Good Books To Understand Indian Scam
    Cold Steel – Great Book for Understanding M&A Dynamics
    The Richest Man In Babylon – Simple Classical Gyan About Managing Personal Wealth
    The Snow Ball : Warren Buffet & Business Of Life – Alice Schroeder – Another Great Book

  • The Official Blackberry Development Workshop – Part 2

    MoMo Ahmedabad is proud to announce the Official Blackberry Development Workshop Series. The Workshop will be conducted by Research In Motions’ Pradeep Rao and Alan Wong. The Workshop give a complete picture of Blackberry Development, The Potential of Blackberry Platform, The Opportunities, The Future Trends etc.

    Mobile applications are changing the way people work and live and it’s never been easier to develop and deploy custom solutions in an enterprise environment. If you’re involved in developing mobile applications, or are interested in learning how to get started, this track is for you. Learn how the new BlackBerry Browser Widget platform can simplify the process for mobilizing enterprise applications using HTML and JavaScript technologies.

    Learn about the newest Java development tools and how to leverage advanced services to build tightly integrated, highly-contextual apps for your users. Discover best practices and get a preview of the new partnerships and developer tools that can speed up and simplify application development.

    Hurry ! Limited Seats !

    Event Details:
    http://momo-ahmedabad-blackberry-development.eventbrite.com/

    Speaker Profile:

    Alan Wong

    Alan Wong is part of the Developer Relations program at RIM, which is responsible for managing the technical relationships and programs for RIM’s developer community worldwide. Alan works specifically with RIM’s developer community in the Indian region to provide support and guidance as developers work to integrate their applications to the BlackBerry platform

    Pradeep Rao

    Pradeep has over 24 years of professional work experience with responsibilities covering Business Development, Alliances & Partnerships, Consulting and Account Management.

    He joined RIM UK in Feb’09 in Professional Services team as a Business Development Manager and later as a Business Consulting Manager for Enterprise Sales EMEA. His current role is in the Alliances team as a Solutions Consultant based in Bangalore, India.

    Pradeep’s past work experience has been with IT Systems Integrators with a focus on professional services around ERP/CRM/Analytics for enterprise customers.

  • Gujarat Wins 3 e-Governance Awards, EliteCore Wins Inovation Award

    Government of Gujarat won three awards at the National e-Governance Awards, given by Governmnt of India

    The Chief Minister’s Office, Government of Gujarat was awarded the Gold Award for SWAGAT programme for its outstanding performance in citizen-centric delivery through the State Wide Attention on Grievances with Application of Technology. SWAGAT has been running systematically for over 7 years resulting in 96% cases being resolved to date.

    Gujarat’s Integrated Water-Shed Management Program (IWMP) won Silver Award for innovative technology usage in e-Governance. Gujarat is the first state to apply Satellite GIS to fully plan, implement and monitor watershed management. The GIS Satellite imagery is used to transparently identify watershed boundaries and most needy areas. GPS and mobile software are used to feed data and create maps to plan and to monitor progress. Gujarat State Watershed Management Agency (GSWMA) has used technology to benefit 1,048 villages, 7.08 lakh hectares, and 2.5 Lakh farmers.

    Rajkot Municipal Corporation e-Governance won Bronze Award for innovative technology usage in e-Governance. All of Rajkot’s civic services have been covered with ‘M-Governance’ Mobile Governance. Over 1 lakh SMS alerts were sent for Property Tax, Birth registration, Awas Yojana instalment and other services. Over 49,000 SMS alerts were sent for out-standing dues and Rajkot Municipal Corporation’s dues have doubled to 320 Crore. A 24×7 Call Centre registers complaints through phone, SMS and website. Since 2009, citizens have sent more than 1.6 lakh SMS complaints to the call centre. Over 55,000 Vaccination SMS alerts were sent for timely immunization coverage.

    Meanwhile, EliteCore won the Nasscom Award for Innovation for its UTM Product. Great going for Gujarat !