Persuasion - To what degree one should pursue?

This is about a project that I am currently doing in my organization. The project is about doing a particular process at the factory and currently the same is done at the store. The reason for doing this is to bring in simplicity and consistency. I thought of sharing few learnings here.

BE READY TO LISTEN TO NO:

I reached out to fellow managers and expressed desire to this project. The immediate answer was

• No, this will increase cost
• No, this attracts excise duty
• We tried this 2 years ago & we failed
• All suppliers can't do this

Somehow I had a hunch that this is doable and we must do it!

BREAK THE PROBLEM IN PARTS:

I checked with taxation expert (both inside the org. and outside). After multiple follow ups we got a confirmation this process if done at factory will not attract excise duty.
HOPE came too early!

I reached out to knowledge holders and revisited all the numbers...line by line for instore costing.

Looped in SCM team for vendor capability and cost of doing the process at the factory.

There were few setbacks but situation started turning into the favour with the revised numbers.


ENGAGE WITH SENIOR EMPLOYEES:

There is always a merit in discussing the project with senior resources. By virtue of their experience, they can always add value/give helpful directions. 

DO NOT HESITATE:

I met the senior most resource of a particular function and used his influence to drive the stalled project. It gave the desired thrust to the project. 90 days has past by this time.
I presented the project in one of the key forums to get desired management attention. It worked well.

We are going to the plant for trials by the end of the month. I will make this happen. BTW, did I tell you how much we will save if we are able to get this right? Few million dollars :)

The answer to the title question is...Pursue till the end!

Vacation

The word vacation generates great amount of excitement and hope in our mind. I am planning a trip to Europe and USA and visit few cities during a month long vacation.

While I was working on the visa, air tickets etc., I realized that the hope for a good time itself is a proxy of good time.



No doubt there has been a great deal of work that has been done so far but it was done with an elevated spirit. The work did not stress me. I could narrow down on few points:

• Hope for a good time is a proxy of good time
• The destination may not be as good as expected but the hope gave you a good time already
• Work done with a visualization of fun does not stress you

I am trying to replicate this at work too...by challenging myself that if I make this presentation a little better, chances are audience will stand and applaud. 

This hope keeps me going, makes me deliver better and helping me transform without putting stress on me.

Will update you in Jan'15 on my vacation experience.

  

What goes around comes around...

In Aug 2013 were getting ready to launch a new product code named 'RB'. The product construct requires 70 gms of gravy for which a ladle was required. In order to meet the launch timelines we were forced to use a existing ladle from the restaurant which can be used to portion 70 gms gravy.

The other stakeholders in the team finalized a 1 Oz black ladle which was giving 70 gms gravy when heaped twice.

In my heart I was skeptical about team members heaping the ladle as it was tricky (the heaped liquid will slip back owing to gravity). I did voice out this concern but the squad demonstrated that 70 gms was possible with that ladle (in the lab).

The product was launched and shortly we had to rework and develop a new ladle that was giving right quantity.

I had a great deal of learning here. I knew that black ladle will give best 60-65 gms but not 70 gms. But in the interest of project timelines and to maintain the harmony in the squad I went ahead only later to rework on the ladle.

Its only in retrospect you realize what alternate you should have opted for...However these experiences make your decision making sharper.

Sudden Realizations...

Innocence Unlimited... 

Needless to say that life has picked up too much of a velocity in today's time. Only thing that's increasing everyday is no. of emails in your inbox apart from cost (inflation). Myriads of notifications, watsapp messages, linked inn updates etc... which makes life too full for anything else.

Then we have SUDDEN realizations in life in one form or the other. Today I got a phone call from my wife which I disconnected. Later I got a text, pls call back.

I called back after an hour and found that she is crying as our pet rabbit has passed away. I came back home and sat with her and realized that probably we should have cared a little more...spent a little extra time with him...

I had to bury the cute little creature. I was deeply troubled inside and pretending to be strong...

I got some relief when I poured the white salt...then came a layer of mother earth and things were calm.

Today it was a sudden pause from so called fast life. A good realization that life is certainly MORE than what it appears...

Women Drivers

I can see the wit with which you have clicked this blog post :)
Let's admit that this is one topic which attracts attention of both the gender equally.

Let me share some experiences that I had...

@Toll Plaza

Cars are queued up & almost everybody is stressed to reach office and punch in time.

Since cars are not moving at all, the lady in the car in front of me thought of doing justice with time. She tilted the central rear view mirror and picked up a lipstick.

She just started her 'paint job' and the traffic started moving. She was completely ignorant about this. When I press the horn to seek her attention, she adjusted the rear view mirror and gave a look as if I am unreasonable here.

When I pointed towards the road, she grinned and moved on.

@Office Cafeteria

These supposedly good drivers are definitely clueless about car parts. When I asked a colleague that what is piston? She said, is it in the front of the car which covers the engine? She meant bonnet

 

This gross ignorance made me laugh. And not to mention that she finished her meal in a jiffy and disappeared!

 

You can share your experiences too :)    

  
 

That feeling – I can smell it in the air!

I want to share a very intimate phenomena that happens with me every year.

 During this time of the year, when monsoons are over and winters are approaching, I feel AWESOME!

There is something about this phase. I feel elated for everything that I see or do. I feel good about the people living in slums who are taking an afternoon nap on their terrace (which I can see from my 12^th floor office window).

I feel excited about the concept called LIFE. Everything looks beautiful. It has a weird psychedelic effect on me. I can sense the upcoming festivity. I CAN SMELL THE CRACKERS IN THE AIR.

I visualize the market place decorated with lanterns, crowd thronging the streets, shops extended to the road, houses taking a shower with lights etc…

I was skeptical about sharing this concept. I did tell this very recently to someone who also experiences the same. If you feel the same do click on like button J

Contemporary design - Creating the differentiation





I wish to highlight the recent changes in  Hotel design and the impact of the same on consumer experience.

I recently experienced Novotel - Hyd and Vivanta by Taj.

Traditional hotel rooms were having a bath tub which is no more prominent in modern properties.

Well, When I use a bath tub, invariably i get up with a guilt of wasting water - close to 200 liters which otherwise could have been sorted out in 20 liters!

Things which I really like about the new design is that they are vibrant, bright and full of utilities.

I remember connecting my laptop with LCD and working on it was fun. The bedside iHome puts a smile on Apple users. The rooms are designed keeping in mind the modern day traveler. The connectivity panel which can connect the most of modern day devices was impressive. I like blackberry charging port the most!

Rooms had one touch control to manoeuver the room lighting temp etc.I was wondering if i make my parents stay here, they will spend the night figuring out how to operate !

This was reiterated when I experienced the electronic shower next morning :)

The design element was leaving a mark in coffee-shop ,conference halls etc. Well lit, bright carpets and concealed lighting's make the hall look bigger than it is.

I am happy to see the tectonic shift in hotel design. Thankfully we have moved away from maroon carpets and golden chandeliers :)