Web Addiction Alert: Sudoku

Instead of building businesses, instead of making money, instead of writing blog posts, instead of following up with people . . . .

 

I am instead addicted to Web Sudoku.  At least it keeps my mind alert (according to my 89 year old grandmother)!

Vodafone, Google, Facebook - I HATE YOU

While I was in the U.S. I had my Vodafone India Blackberry turned on.  I did not make or receive any significant amount of phone calls but kept the phone on so I could receive email.  I have been using Vodafone for three years and I understand that the bulk of the roaming charges that I incur when I travel are usually from voice calls, not data usage. . . . I mean how much data does it take to send and receive an email.  Well, in reality, not much!

 

So why am I angry?  Because the Google Maps and Facebook applications on my BB ended up using INSANE amounts of data while I was roaming without me even knowing it!  Google Maps has a "current location" option that constantly updates your locations and in the process uses a lot of data.  Facebook updates photos of your friends into your contact book which, again, uses a lot of data.  I had no idea these features were even turned on! 

 

That brings me to Vodafone.  I have been a very high spending post-paid customer for three years - i.e. a high margin customer!  When I saw my bill I called Vodafone explaining the situation to see if there was something we could do . . . i.e. reducing the bill.  I assumed that being such a high paying customer would give me some leeway. I was completely wrong, there was nothing they were willing to do, even after I spoke to a few layers of "managers." I finally told them that I would just not pay the bill and instead get a new number with a different provider. They still didn't budge!

 

One of my friends told me that i should have just reported the phone as stolen and they would send a new sim and redact the charges.  Damn! I should have tried that first. I tried this method only after I had given them the prior explanation so it obviously didn't work.

 

So I'm torn . . . should I pay the bill or should I just leave it and go . . . . FYI the bill was >40,000!

The Daily Struggle – an Emotional Rollercoaster

In a “corporate” job where you always answer to somebody more senior then you (and, more importantly, where responsibility can be passed off).  As a struggling entrepreneur, I am always, and only, answerable to myself.  This makes for a very bipolar emotional rollercoaster because all of my successes and failures are magnified . . . .

 

In the morning I may “sit around” and answer a few emails, but I will still feel unproductive because no “progress” is being made, no money is coming in, or no milestone is being reached.  Furthermore, some new risk or potential barrier usually emerges.  I’ll feel lazy, apathetic, and generally horrendous.  Then, BAM!, all of a sudden a new tangent, a new opportunity, or an improvement to an idea – generally progress – emerges.  Over the course of the last couple weeks this “BAM” comes during a “networking” meeting where one of my ideas is disected and some solution or new approach is suggested.  The excitement of new opportunity or a light at the end of the tunnel is heavenly! 

 

Is there prozac for entrepreneurs?  Well, at least I have Yoga!

Dr. Strange(looking)Jew or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Indian Entrepreneur

Although I have just "Left the Corporate” so to speak, it is interesting to speak with friends of mine who are still in the business of investing.  I can already see a difference in perspectives on how to approach "investing” (both in terms of time and money) . . . . Financial hilarity ensues (for those of you who do not get it, don’t worry, you are probably not financially savvy!):

 

Azeem: So here are the 8 ideas I have, 3 of them I am more serious about; think service businesses focusing on a transfer of knowledge . . . you know, consulting.  I need cash dude!

 

Joe: Ummm, none of those ideas are scalable . . . i would never invest

 

Azeem: I need cash!  I don’t care if they are scalable, I can figure out how to expand the business model later.  Baby steps!

 

Joe: Look, just build me a scalable idea and then spend all your savings and max out your credit card debt for the next two years until you hit it big . . . that’s how the Americans do it!

 

Azeem: Worst advice ever. I don’t want to gamble away my ENTIRE savings (which, incidentally is small anyways)

 

Joe: You’re so Indian

 

And finally . . . . do you get the title now?  The title is a parody of Dr. Strangelove??? Come on people!

Scared, Frustrated, Lazy – Focus on the SMALL Picture

I am scared, frustrated, lazy. I have no job, no cash flow, and no confidence in my ability to build my own business. While I have no dearth of ideas, achieving / building my own company to the place where it would match my idea / conception would take years!

 

What I need to do, I think, is focus on the SMALL picture, i.e. the first step, the first cashflow, the first client / customer. I have never built a business completely on my own and I need the confidence of some cash in the door before I can scale up and build the big businesses I want to.

Don’t worry though, just because I feel like *$%@ it doesn’t mean I’ll go back to the corporate!

5 Weeks Later – Summer Camp was a Success!

As a quick refresher, after I left NSR I spent a month in Mumbai doing my own version of a summer camp and then spent 5 weeks running around the US visiting everyone I know and attending some important life-events (weddings, reunions, etc) . . . . . you can catch up here and here

 

During my five week – and I hesitate to say this – vacation, I made pretty good use of 3 out of the 5 “lessons” from my Summer Camp.  To clarify, “using” a lesson means not only practicing or playing, but also talking about – is in cocktail party faire.  Leaving India directly after Summer Camp made it tough to actually execute on all the lessons.

 

Yoga was by far the skill that I used the most – both by practicing and in discussion.  I used Yoga routines in the place of a regular aerobic / weight lifting gym routine.  Since you can do Yoga almost anywhere, it is much easier to workout “on the road.”  It also makes a great topic of conversation! 

 

I unfortunately did not have a chance to go sailing or play a game of bridge during my travels but knowledge of both were great conversation topics and helped make a connection with some great people.

As for cooking and Hindi, both were utterly unused during my foray.  I had no opportunity (nor did I want to) cook a meal and obviously it would be tough to speak Hindi with people who do not understand it.

 

So it seems that I have some traction with at least 4 of the skills I tried to learn (Hindi is a given) even during a 5 week hiatus.  I would say that Summer Camp was a resounding success. 

Welcome Back (to the grind?)!

For those of you who did not know, I have been on a whirlwind tour of in the U.S. for the past five weeks visiting friends, relatives and former colleagues as well as attending a wedding and my 5th year college reunion.  I’m back in Bombay (finally!) and will post on a regular basis from now on . . . . .

I have to say that while I was looking forward to a relaxing vacation, I came back far more exhausted then when I left.  Spending three days per city over the course of five weeks is tiring!  In each city I had scheduled up to five meetings a day to catch up with friends.  Additionally, I was able to meet some new friends along the way – people who have done interesting things with their lives (both inside and outside “the corporate”). 

So I’m back!  Look forward to more posts from me soon . . . .

Adios for Now - I'll Be Back in a Month

To all of my loyal readers (maybe 3??). I'm off to the U.S. for 5 grueling and fun weeks of visiting friends, attending weddings and my 5th year college reunion . . . .

What does this mean? It means that I probably won't be posting for the next month or so. I'm sure i'll have some delicious stories when I get back so stay tuned . . . . .

“What do you do?”

Whether I am at a business networking event or just hanging out with my friends at a bar, somebody (or everybody) will always ask me a scary and sometimes boring question - “What do you do?” 

 

This kind of question generally comes at the beginning of a conversation with a new person or at a lull in an ongoing conversation.  It is both a way for somebody to get some context as well as find something familiar to talk about so the conversation can continue.  Personally, I like to ask ridiculous questions like - “What is your SECOND-most passion in life?” 

 

Now if somebody asks me “what do you do?”  I tell them exactly what I am currently doing – “I’m retired” or “I’m searching for my soul” (those of you that know me understand why I can’t put my most favorite and third answer on this blog!).  Generally the shock value of these statements is completely worth quitting my job over.  What I am trying to do is create an answer that engages people in conversation and makes me the center of attention (which I really like).  Most people I talk to think I’m lucky or want to know how/why. 

 

The bottom line is – when you are having a conversation with somebody and are trying to keep them engaged.  Don’t follow the standard patterns of conversation (“what do you do?”) but try to talk about something you are passionate about!

Honesty IS the Best Policy (except . . . . . )

Here is a great article that everyone should read.  John Loeb is spot on.  I want to dive a little bit further into his “rule no. 9:” “A reputation for fair and honest dealing will be your greatest asset.”  While I might not always follow “rule no. 9,” I am generally very honest with people in my personal and professional relationships.  BUT, I find that this honesty gets me into trouble sometimes . . . .

 

The reason I get into trouble is that I have a tendency to be bluntly honest.  I say the EXACT truth instead of using strategies to mitigate the harshness of my honesty.  Like any good Management Consultant, my father has tried to teach me two ways to avoid getting myself into trouble when speaking the truth:

1. Change the tone of the discussion (i.e. say “that isn’t quite right” vs. “YOU are wrong”)
2. Wait a day before making the comment – you will generally think over the statement or situation and be able to approach it in a more constructive way vs. an accusatory way

 

I have noticed that in my personal life, being bluntly honest should be mitigated with the above two techniques because individuals tend to be more sensitive to their friend’s opinions (especially women – please please I know I'm generalizing so don’t get mad!).  On the professional side, though, I have gained a lot of long-term good will from telling the precise truth, no matter how much it hurts.  People will trust that I am giving them my full opinion instead of skirting around an issue or flat-out lying.  Over the course of my career at NSR I definitely raised a lot of hell about certain issues I didn’t agree with but my relationship with my former colleagues actually grew rather then suffer.  In fact, even if there was some sort of professional issue, my personal relationship with my colleague’s did not suffer – i.e. no awkwardness in grabbing some drinks even if we were in the middle of a professional spat.  I think my father still finds this astounding because he knows how blunt I can be!  My advice is to develop a reputation for blunt honestly so that people expect it.