Category: General

  • Top 50 Cities

    Mercer HR Consulting, a global leader in HR domain, conducts a ranking of Top Cities of the World based on Quality of Living Index every year.

    According to Quality of Living Index 2007, Top 5 Cities of World are:
    1. Zurich
    2. Geneva
    3. Vienna
    4. Vancouver
    5. Auckland

    The interesting thing to note is that Top 5 Cities in 2007 are same as in 2006. All the cities are in developed world. No Indian city is here! 🙁

    But I was happy to see this disclaimer:

    The Quality of Living index is based on several criteria used to judge whether an expatriate is entitled to a hardship allowance. A city with a high Quality of Living index is a safe and stable one, but it may be lacking the dynamic je ne sais quoi that makes people want to live in world-renowned cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London or New York. Sometimes you need a little spice to make a city exciting. But that “spice” may also give a city a lower ranking.

    Aha! Bombay has maximum spice. Bombay has high-rises and slums. Bombay can learn from Genevas and Viennas and still retain its spice. Bombay is currently down, but definitely not out. It will rise like a Phoenix. Politicians may talk of it becoming a Shanghai or the next international financial centre, but Bombay will create its own unique space. Amen!

    You can download the entire list here. Check the official press release too.

  • Innovative Ideas @ Wharton Business Plan Competition

    Wharton Business Plan Competition 2006 – 2007 saw various innovative and interesting ideas. Some of them included:- Building a web-based software system that collects and integrates data from multiple software platforms into one intuitive and customizable data base

    – Providing proper-fitting business attire to female executives in UK

    – Flash-Memory integrated circuits that can operate at lower power and with much higher density

    – Predicting likelihood of a heart attack

    The winner was Neil Malhotra’s NP Solutions. His idea is to relieve patients of lower back pain with a tiny injection of a hydrogel treament into the affected disc. Back pain is one of the most common pains and is responsible for nearly 15 million physician visits a year.

    Hope to see these ideas into successful business models soon!

  • India & US : Democracy @ Work

    My dear friend and a great artist, Harnish Jani has a unique take on the Shilpa Shetty – Richard Gere Kissing Controversy.

    Having been to India several times, Richard Gere should have known the following by now:
    Democratic differences between USA & India –
    In USA, you can kiss in public places but cannot shit

    In India, you can shit in public places but cannot kiss!

  • Lakshmi Mittal’s Biggest Regret

    “The biggest regret of my life is not having an MBA Degree.”

    Lakshmi Mittal, CEO Arcelor Mittal
    quoted in Outlook Money dated April 30, 2007

  • Ginger Hotel : Great Value Proposition

    TATA Group‘s Indian Hotels’ Ginger Hotel is a very great concept. It provides smart accommodation at reasonable price. The charges for single room are Rs 999 and double room are Rs 1199. And we get a discount of Rs 50, if we book it online.

    So need to spend a bomb while on your accommodation when you are on a business trip. This helps business travelers like me whose main focus is business. Our entire day is usually packed with meetings and we have our food outside only. What we actually need is a clean and comfortable place to stay. Ginger exactly serves this purpose. It scores better by providing facilities like WiFi, Multi-Cuisine Restaurant, Gym, Meeting Room etc. to the guests. Thus it lives up to its USP of Smart Basics! Time to check it out!

  • Online KBC!

    Its KBC Time folks!

    The show that changed the fortunes of Star Plus in India and resurrected the career of Amitabh Bachchan is back with new energy, new look, new strategy and of course, new host – Shah Rukh Khan. The media has already done great service to KBC by highlighting SRK and Amitabh cold war.
    KBC3 is live at www.kbclive.com. The site sports an energetic look in its new colors. One can play KBC Online, download wallpapers-ringtone, get show updates etc. It also has used Web 2.0 elements for social networking. The main highlight is definitely going to be the SRK Blog and content build around him.

    Star Plus has shown that it is going full guns for KBC3. The promo videos and TVCs have been amazing so far and got thums-up from all. It is a refreshing change and quite creative. It is also one of the most debated ads on Agencyfaqs.com. Star is also heavily inserting KBC content in its soap for cross promotion. Will the show live upto the hype? We will know on Jan 22 9pm.

  • MP3 Breasts!

    Technology is going places! Now boombastic babes can carry MP3 player in WonderBra.

    According to The Sun, a UK tabloid – ever watchful for life-enhancing technology, especially when it’s got a big jubs angle – BT Laboratories bod Ian Pearson reckons breast implants may as well do something useful if they’re to be permanently installed, rather than just looking decorative.

    Accordingly, he’s proposed sticking an mp3 player in one dug, and a storage chip in the other. Quite how playback is achieved we’re not quite sure*, but it may well involve the listener burying his or her head in the cleavage for a full stereo effect.

    Read full story : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/13/mp3_breast_implant/

  • Professional Recovery Agents

    What is the image of a recovery agent? Crook, small time goons, unprofessional jerks! Times are changing and so are the recovery agents.

    Adhikrut Jabti Evam Vasuli is a recovery agency promoted by Parag Shah.

    Their website proclaims their beliefs:
    – Change and be ready before time changes
    – Performance and Integrity speaks louder than words

    They are totally professional in approach and have transparent operations. They have even put their licenses, police protection letter, service tax numbers, audit report of last three financial reports online. Look at their services and fee structure. Also do not forget to see their performance and code.

    They have many women on its board since it helps in recovery process. People do not swear back or fight aggressively with women.

    They follow strict code of conduct with the intention to be have dues-collection policy is built on courtesy, fair-treatment and persuasion. They claim that they do not follow policies that are unduly coercive in collection of dues.

    They have recovered Rs 2274.78 Lacs and seized 1036 Tractors till date.

  • The Psychology of Happiness

    James Montier gives us the following tips for Being Happy!

    The top ten list for improving happiness (in no particular order):

    1) Don’t equate happiness with money.
    People adapt to income shifts relatively quickly, the long lasting benefits are essentially zero.

    2) Exercise regularly.
    Regular exercise is an effective cure for mild depression and anxiety. It also stimulates more energy, and is good for the mind and body.

    3) Have sex
    Ppreferably with someone you love! Need I say more?

    4) Devote time and effort to close relationships.
    Confiding and discussing problems and issues is good for happiness, so work on these relationships.

    5) Pause for reflection, meditate on the good things in life.
    Focusing on the good aspects of life helps to prevent hedonic adaptation.

    6) Seek work that engages your skills, look to enjoy your job.
    Doing well at work creates happiness, and the easiest way of doing well at work, is doing a job you enjoy.

    7) Give your body the sleep it needs.
    Too many people have a sleep deficit, resulting in fatigue, gloomy moods and lack of concentration.

    8) Don’t pursue happiness for its own sake, enjoy the moment.
    Because people don’t understand what makes them happy, pursuing happiness can be self-defeating. Additionally, if people start to aim for happiness they are doing activities for happinessÕs sake rather than actually enjoying the activity itself.

    9) Take control of your life, set yourself achievable goals.
    People are happiest when they achieve their aims, so set yourself goals which stretch you, but are achievable.

    10) Remember to follow rules 1-9.
    Following these guidelines sounds easy, but actually requires willpower and effort.

    Let’s leave the last words to Adam Smith (quoted in Adam Smith, Behavioural Economist by Ashraf et al (2004) from the Theory of Moral Sentiments):

    Through the whole of his life he pursues the idea of a certain artificial and elegant repose which he may never arrive at, for which he sacrifices a real tranquillity that is at all times in his power, and which, if in the extremity of old age he should at last attain to it, he will find to be in no respect preferable to that humble security and contentment which he had abandoned for it. It is then, in the last dregs of life, his body wasted with toil and disease, his mind galled and ruffled by the memory of a thousand injuries and disappointments which he imagines he has met with from the injustice of his enemies, or from the perfidy and ingratitude of his friends, that he begins at last to find that wealth and greatness are mere trinkets of frivolous utility, no more adapted for procuring ease of body or tranquillity of mind, than the tweezer-cases of the lover of toys.

    Source : www.drkwresearch.com

  • Stop Them!

    Every Indian knows the undying love Indian politicians have for India. Everyone knows the great work done by them for India. Till date, they have not contributed to the development of the nation. They have only been roadblocks. And now, they are blaming others for their failure!

    Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda criticized Infosys Chairman Narayan Murthy for the dismal infrastructure of Bangalore. He also accused Infosys of grabbing agricultural land. Not fair!

    First, it is the duty of the government to provide infrastructure. What are the initiative taken by Shri Deve Gowda in this regard?

    Second, Infosys has done phenomenal service to India. Not only have they put India on the International Map and created a entire new industry, they have created wealth and jobs for Indians. Deve Gowda should be thanking Narayan Murthy for making Banagalore a international IT hotspot.

    Third, Infosys also has taken active involvement for improving Banagalore City. Their proactive cooperation with Government resulted in BATF, a role model for everyone. Incidentally Shri Deve Gowda’s coalition Government has put it on the back burner. And now they think about improving Bangalore City.

    Shri Deve Gowda was one of the ineffective PM of the country. Press photographers got ample opportunity for that special Kodak moment : Sleeping PM! He is following the sadist principle: When you cannot do anything on your own, to prove your importance, you start criticizing others and be a roadblock. That is how you get power. Their best idol : Indian Left!

    It is a pity that we Indians do not act. Bangalore Citizens should have raised the voice when Bangalore Task Force was silently buried. Mumba Citizens made usual noises after 26/7, but then no action! We need to stop these politicans. They are disempowering India!

    Note : Like any self-respecting person, Narayan Murthy has resigned from BIAL. Check his letter to CM on Rediff