You are special!

Yes, I am special, special to myself, Is what I do when I wake up every day.

“How I feel about myself is more important than how I look.”

Somewhere, Indian parents never had a habit to tell their child “ you are special “ or rather we are happy in whatever you are doing. It mostly ends up comparing the child either with their sibling or to the other peers of their age or above. Maybe, its good to set a benchmark but if constantly keep expressing their displeasure or unhappiness for their poor performance, it will break and not build their self- confidence.

“Believe in yourself a little more.”

We majorly lack in expressing our thought process, rather we find it difficult to find anyone around us to express it which slowly leads us to be silent. Not to treated as accessories as an object to show off in social circles. By setting unrealistic goals, they tend to exploit and bring disappointment for themselves and ruin the lives. Should be treated with respect as independent individuals and need to be loved and understood.

When I was in school I could still remember there was a jealousy, there was a hatred between the classmates which we cannot show to the society. While we were learning moral science in school simultaneously we have also learn to be competitive enough, when we were taught to share our things we were also taught don't share your notes as other may get better marks.

Mostly, parents have always pressurized their student to be better than the others as it makes them proud rather than understanding their children uniqueness.

“There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let others get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.”

After, all the hassle comes the time to choose Science and commerce where again the parents take the decision of choosing their stream without judging probably what interests their child, because the child is cannot be any less than their sibling or society, not considering the fact the child is no more a child now, none ask their interest or choices.

It always the matter of “comparison” that being heard all throughout, we were never appreciated of our qualities we were always taught to be someone else to be like someone else in life and not like ourselves.

A little personal information, I am being the lower mediocre student was never considered for any competition, it was just like you are good for nothing so there were never peer pressure on me - just go with the flow, I still don't know whether it was a blessing or a boon.

Many, of us face a behavioral problem sometimes as an adult we might think we should go to a psychiatrist but no one considers why it has happened one of the major thing being repeated comparison and insecurity which we cannot admit but somewhere we eternally know which tends to distance us from others.

Suppression of our thoughts, suppression of our talents may eventually lose everything which we might be good at. We blame time but is it really the time did anyone ever tried to know what we are interested into what we like to do or we have dumped it over the years?

Every one is different, so we should value them for who they are created to be. Words have a powerful way of shaping our self-image, therefore words used positively can be a miracle tool. Rather than pointing out what they do not have, make the effort to compliment them on their positive traits, like their kindness, determination or creativity.

                                                      

Stress & Conflict:

A phase where we are into colleges probably a little more conscious with our career, a crush on someone or a newly found love.

Love is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. Ideally speaking, it is involuntary, gratifying, and rewarding.

As individuals, we often tend to have a basic idea about the kind of partner that we would like to be with. Some wish for a person who is athletic, some want an individual who is intellectually very sound, while some simply desire an understanding and jovial partner. That said, we not only are at least mildly aware of the kind of person we want to romance; once we do find that somebody, we continue to pitch their strengths, and primarily their drawbacks against those around us. In simple words, it is called “comparing your partner”. While it would be great if we appreciated the person we’re with by drawing positive comparisons, what majority of us do is its exact opposite.

There is no limit to the number of factors upon which comparisons can be drawn. The basis on which we compare our partner to another being may vary from person to person. However, some prime factors serving as reasons for comparison have been identified below:

Physical Appearance

Family Background and Socio-Economic Status

Educational Background

Personality Type

Popularity Quotient

Romantic Equation of another Couple

When comparing your partner to someone else’s could be a key source of stress and conflict, which is why it is important that we view our partners and ourselves as one single unit.

In real life many a time we have noticed we generally don't appreciate our partner who in spite of all the hassle makes time for us. Rather, we end up comparing them with others, what we tend to forget is not all people are same neither all have same life style nor working life.

When people walk away from you, let them go.

As much as I would advise self-reflection to those who wish to discover more of themselves, in this case it would mean for you to remember your own flaws and how you are living with them. Nobody is perfect, and so the way we accept and love ourselves, we must do the same when it comes to our partners as well.

We all have certain characteristics that contribute towards our uniqueness, and make us different from those around us. Likewise, every being has their own way of both loving, and showing love.

“In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.”

It's time

It was time, time to go to college with a lot of expectations not only for the future but also to start a new phase of life, first time when you think that you are free now, you are an adult it’s time to experiment all the things that you have always imagined doing, that you have seen around happening but somehow you were in boundaries of restriction that you couldn't try, Its time now.

I guess all of us had that same feeling in mind once we were done with school. 

I could still remember my 1st day of college where I found few too admissions as couples, few were busy texting their friends, seniors banging doors to take introduction and gave us tasks to do, few seniors gave an extra required help to share no.s of girls and telling them they are just a call away. I remember I refused to do a task and my seniors named me "Mamta Banerjee".

I guess like this observing people around us we unknowingly make connections with them which were likely not based on any give and take, nor we demand and have expectations from them it’s just happening.

As, the days passes by many couples where no more couples, heartbreaks happens tears where on eyes but simultaneously new bonding are starting the new way of supporting each other we were discovering, different ways to bunk classes and escaping from college, kids are no more kids they started exploring things a first day “try is a habit now.” 

Few named it as a part of betrayal and few to gain more concentration in studies, there is something my best friend told me who was a part of it " You never start these stuffs for others or for betrayals, you start it because you always wanted to do. It, betrayal was just an excuse to give a reason to the world!” . Somehow, those words touched my heart and could never forget.

Those 4 years of college was a time when many new people peeped into our life, some added value to it, some managed to gain trust and break it simultaneously, some people never promised us anything but silently was there all throughout the time like a pillar never demanding anything nor complaining.

A silent feature at college was you were never alone it was someone or the other to hold your hand and say "It’s ok! I am there."

Slowly, we were all placed now we all got a job and out of college we retained few friends, few couples were no more couples now, although few are trying their best to survive, manage time for family and their partner, few were not placed the frustration of seeing friends getting placed with a job and handsome salary is killing them.

But, it was time, time to be apart if not mentally but physically for sure in different cities, in different countries, far from family, its time when society expects you to be responsible, it’s time to enter a new phase of life.

Some decisions were emotional, somewhere required. 

We are alone now we don't know anyone in the city neither our family is nor with us. Every day, new survival strategy need to be found out, in that mean while we are losing our contacts of our dearer ones, time is lacking we cannot be on the phone for hours, struggling to adjust in the new environment, we are bursting with emotions but we don't have enough people to share them or rather to understand the state of mind. It was hilarious once it was a time when two friends used to have a lot of gossips and laughter now it’s changed to the competition of telling who has more difficulties in life, an unknown race we are running but we never want to win. Office politics is a part of life, and survival strategies are the only thing we plan on weekend sitting on a PG with a bed too small to sleep. 

It was hard to imagine now what the hobbies are or rather what we are good at all our skills have gone for toss. Rather, it just “we don't have time."

It’s the time we realize and remember how small things matters how our room unknowingly became the dream place to take a peace nap, those small memories on the lanes of your city.

It’s the time we are fuzzed up in our mind we pretend to be happy, half of the time we are sad, we pretend to dwell happily in all decisions, we look for a support but we are scared of betrayal.

It's time now wrap up the old thoughts, old feelings, grudges it’s not easy, though, but we can all try rather than swirling within old memories.

Somehow we have all lost ourselves with time, changed with time, maybe an unknown demand it was. But, it's time again, time to live our life the way we wanted not what society wants us to do.

Mental Peace is what we are looking for!

We remember the lesson learnt and start living the life the way you wanted.

The Campaign That Changed The Game

                                     
                                                                Part-1

This blog is mostly a review of a book "The Modi Effect- Inside Narendra Modi's Camapaign To Transform India" - By Lance Price and few articles read on different articles.

On May 16, 2014 history of India took a new turn Narendra Modi was declared the winner of the largest democratic nation ever conducted in human history. But, many of us have that question in mind how this magic happened in such a short time.

On an interview with BBC correspondent and political vet Lance Price was granted exclusive access to write about this book which details message management and technological wizardry combined to create a vote winning colossus.

If you have ever observe on one of the Modi's campaign he claimed in his speech that he has an 56 inch chest ," 56 inches is very cleverly crafted tool to develop Modi's Alpha male image". Which also signifies that as soon as a  person  sees him there will be already in mind that he is physically commanding.

Mostly, speeches of  Indian politician used to be lengthy text, written by others covering all the issues confronting by government the major fallback of this used to people couldn't relate them in their personal life  it never used to pierce through the AAM ADMI's heart.

When Modi came to the picture his address straight touched people's heart, he has handful of notes  with him, though there was a little diversion of the topic in all his speeches where all spoke about India's greatness he spoke about its shame. The nation can send a mission to Mars but couldn't provide toilets. Poverty and filthy streets disfigured the country where it one of the most advanced nation in IT. He also spoke about degradation of women. After hour long mould-breaker speech he addressed the audience as an "I am an outsider" " quite isolated from the elite class of this place" which was an ice-breaker for all. Here, the ice being the hierarchy of Indian politicians " the elite class" where as in India most of our population is struggling from poverty Modi addressed him as he is from one among the public. Which, also signifies that he can better understand the need of the people and help them out in their way. 

Claiming outsider status is a familiar gambit among politics. It is effective in places where disillusionment with status quo is particularly intense. India in 2014 was in such place. Though nobody walks straight through an outsider corridor but they can absolutely pretend too!

On the day of results Modi had the best answer to all his critics public knows it all nonetheless that he was the man to take the nation forward.

Modi's campaign was partially taken from West but it is Indianised for us to reach all the corners of India.  Its use of innovative technology and social media with the capacity of galvanizing young people  uninterested and disillusioned Modis's campaign took the game over. A very high turnout among young , first time  voters was a notable feature .

The campaign hit the right people in right time.

As a marketing student I can tell Product, Price, Place, Promotion, Process and Physical Evidence all hit well!  

MANY RESTAURANTS-ONE KITCHEN(CLOUD KITCHEN)

The rapid growth of Online Food ordering sector creates new business opportunities for existing & upcoming restaurants to grow their business, one such upcoming trend is the Cloud Kitchens business model. Nowadays all the restaurants you visit collaborate with online food ordering portals like Zomato, Swiggy, etc,. to ease the ordering process and expand their business as well.

While we were busy licking out fingers we never realized where is the restaurant from where we are getting this.

So,What Is The Cloud Kitchen Model?

 A cloud kitchen/ Dark Kitchens / Ghost Kitchens / Cloud Kitchens / Virtual Kitchens is a restaurant that has no physical space and no dine-in or takeaway facility as it does not exist as a restaurant of any sort. It relies entirely on third-party integrations or home delivery orders placed on call or through a website.

The cloud kitchen format gives the restaurant the flexibility to more than brand using the same kitchen infrastructure. For example, if a restaurateur who owns a delivery kitchen and delivers South Indian food, decides that he should start delivering Mexican food as well, but instead of adding Mexican to the menu of his current band, he can start operating a different brand that sells Mexican from the same delivery kitchen. Customers are most likely order pasta from a restaurant named La Italiana instead of Punjabi Delight even if the same chef is preparing the pasta. But the customers don’t need to know that!

Here’s what happens exactly in a cloud kitchen model:

Orders come in, meals are cooked, packed and then whisked immediately to their delivery locations by the assigned fleet. Quite easy isn't it!!

There are many other advantages of it also:

Lower real estate costs, since you’re removing table servicing out of the equation and offering a delivery-only service, you’ll save a huge amount on real estate costs. Also, the best thing about cloud kitchens is that you don’t need heavy investments to begin. You can start small but expand fast. Once you build a brand and get loyal customers, expanding to new localities and even new menu variety gets easier.

There are cons too in this business Cons, online only visibility as there is no physical restaurant present, challenging brand building brand recognition becomes a big challenge as there is less customer interaction.

To overcome this cons marketing plays a major role as cloud kitchens have very less visibility comparing to restaurants with physical outlets. Hence it is important to have a strong online presence. Social media sites such as facebook, instagram, pinterest can helps to spread a word about business. Regular updates to engage customers makes them try out your food. Online listings is also a must to enhance your presence. SMS and email marketing helps  to notify your customers about the launch of new items, discounts, etc. For the offline presence, pamphlets mentioning the discounts, signature items, contact details, etc could be circulated. One can also put up a stall at carnivals, food fest to announce presence louder. 

Very important roles is being played by the material used to pack, the design involved, the way it is packed plays an important role in building repeat business with loyal customers. Using modern technology once we get the database and food habits of loyal customer we can offer discounts accordingly.

So you might be thinking what all you need to start a cloud kitchen business.

Starting a cloud kitchen involves various decisions. From the delivery areas and restaurant name to equipments, licensing and so much more. Don’t worry we have a step by step list to help you in planning your next action.

Location

Keep these elements in mind while choosing your cloud kitchen’s location:

·         Accessible for target delivery areas – As all your orders will be delivery-only, it’s important to ensure that the location of your kitchen is near the locations you want to deliver for.

·         Affordable – That’s the main point of opening a cloud kitchen – saving on rent and other real estate costs. Make sure you have a cost-effective space and you make the most of it.

·         Windows and space to breathe – Cloud kitchens are usually built in closed spaces, garages, and small complexes. With hectic cooking happening all day – it becomes even more important to make sure that the space has windows and enough space to breathe for your cooks and staff.

·         Safety-checked – Safety should always be your priority, make sure all the health, electric and other concerns are double checked before signing up for the place.

Technology

Let’s talk about 2 pillars of restaurant technology that are essential for setting up a cloud kitchen:

Online Ordering Platform

In a delivery-only model, your online ordering platform or app is the front-of-house place where your customers interact with the brand. From a profitability point of view too, it’s always preferred to get orders on your own platform so that you do away from the third-party commissions.

POS & Order Management

When running a cloud-kitchen, having a restaurant POS that helps you integrate with different tools and runs on cloud-tech will make your life much easier. Another must-have technology is an order management system that can bring orders from different third-parties into one place, as fast as possible.

Equipment

From racks to oven and other electrical items, equipment forms a major part of setting up your kitchen.

Licenses

Licensing is a really important step whenever starting a new restaurant. From your FSSAI license to GST registration and various municipal clearings for trade and safety, it is advisable to consult fellow restaurant owners or an agent that can help you in making a list and acquiring them all before starting out full-fledged operations.

People

Running a faced-paced delivery kitchen can get very hectic. You need people that can handle that level of pressure and still churn great orders.

Here are a few roles that are necessary to be present and filled for a cloud kitchen:

·         Chefs

·         Operation Handlers

·         Cleaning/Housekeeping Staff

·         Your own Delivery Fleet or Delivery Partner

Discussing of cloud kitchen how can we forget about Rebel Foods, it gained a head start as it pivoted from a quick service resturant to pure cloud kitchen. The company has built 10 brands each serving different segments Behrouz Biryani, Fassos, Oven Story Pizza, Mandarin Oaks, Firangi bake, The Good Bowl, Kettle and Keg, Lunch Box and Navrasam all catering to different cuisine and are made in same kitchen.

Rebel Foods  has silently raised $125 million (about ₹864 crore) in a fresh round of funding, led by New York-based technology-focused hedge fund Coatue Management.  Series-D round, which is reported to have valued the nine-yearold company at $500-525 million and closed last month, also saw capital injection by Indonesian ride-hailing firm Go-Jek and Goldman Sachs.

Lastly, Are you ready for the time when even more than half of the restaurant consumption happens outside the restaurant? It’s certainly around the corner.

A SALES WOMAN

                                         

                                   

“When I grow up, I want to be a saleswoman!” … said no kid, ever.

When you were a kid, if you are female, did you think, “When I grow up I want to be a salesperson?” Probably not. You might have thought about going into business, but not into sales.

Sales wasn’t sexy, it was skeezy and it certainly didn’t speak to me as a teenage girl.

The problem is, it should have.

We were always driven by success in numbers — points scored, dollars earned, miles travelled.

Unfortunately, the sales profession is treated with disdain, and salespeople are often dehumanized, in media and popular culture.

This widespread portrayal is not just inaccurate and unfair – it discourages fantastic would-be salespeople, male and female alike. 

Assumptions we normally see in a sales team and the misconception created is "Female applicants see a team of men – and they don’t want to join." though it is just a mere excuse we generally hear from the hiring team as well as the woman who don't want to join sales.

Selling is all about …Guiding the prospect or client to understand and see beyond their initial perceived value of what you offer so that they will instead realize that you what you have is the answer to what they are experiencing and need to tackle.  Position your value in terms of where they want to take their business, and also in terms of profit and loss. Qualifying the prospect or opportunity  through a strong value statement since it will help to sort out those people who just aren’t interested, have no need or no ability to buy. Creating a sense of urgency within the client’s mind and connecting them to that emotionally so they seek help now rather than later.Owning your own authentic voice  yet creating and presenting it using the language of your customer and also, if applicable, your company. Discovering the needs of your prospect or client, and aligning your value statement with what the client must resolve. Presenting benefits that shift negatives, e.g. pain points, the client faces to positive outcomes. If possible, include value-added services that are not as apparent in what they first see or hear about what you offer. Understanding the culture of both the company that you represent and the company or person that you are selling to. Awareness of what is important or critical to each should be clear in how you position the value you bring to the sale, both in terms of yourself and your product or service. Establishing a trusted partnership with the prospect or client and doing so through consistent and relevant engagement, both online and in person (if possible). Telling your story with your entire self, i.e. mind and body. Genuine regard for and interest in the prospect or client is shown through your words, your body movements, and your voice. Having a process for obtaining feedback. It is good to create a value statement and then ask someone else to listen to it and verify if you are authentically and clearly stating what you do and why, how you do it and for whom. It is best to do this type of verification with someone not in your industry or company. Also, ask your clients for feedback! and REPEAT!!

Sales departments are especially prone to inadvertently alienate female job-seekers just by failing to vet a job description for words like “killer,” “crushing it,” “rock star,” “he,” “his,” or even phrases like, “long working hours" adding this statement discourages woman and their concerned families to take it as profession.

Though, on the other side present generation to get over old trend are more enthusiastic to take up new challenges. 

A woman in sales at times take a whole new view of getting the sales done.

Woman have a strong socializing skills and can engage themselves with others particularly clients, managers and other senior women in customer firms. This helps to build a broader base through relationships outside of the office.

Most sales woman have complained of pushed down in company so it is suggested to build healthy relationships with advocates, create a strong personal brand, establish guidelines before each project, position themselves as experts in their field, and communicate with confidence.

Basically to image themselves so strong that people will think twice to compete or look down as a woman.

A common myth that a male colleague will always tell is woman are good "entertainers" to male clients and mostly when a woman is standing at the door people generally don’t say no. At times woman are really in dilemma how to deal with these type of situations where a client misbehaves or communicates with a woman in a very sneaky way, offering meetings only at night and many more. Though, these stuffs is bit awkward to be shared off, but yes it totally depends how we deal with the situations or how trick fully you can extract your business. Most importantly a woman in an organization should be free to discuss this with and take opinions on it.

On the other hand, woman is good at keeping people engaged which is very important for sales. 

A sales woman is known for more "hysterical" rather to be told of "passionate" but again there is punch in their behaviour they are mostly calm and soft spoken with a punch in their words.

Although, young girls, we were taught not to brag. It was a behaviour perceived as boastful and improper. This behaviour is most noticeable in networking and professional development. Women believe their accomplishments should speak for themselves, and many are hesitant to discuss things such as their education and reputation, erring on the side of modesty. Therefore, when a more senior position opens up, they assume they will be considered based on their accomplishments and credentials, despite having been reluctant to voice them.

While modestly is an admirable trait outside of the workplace, it is foolish in the professional world. 

Konrath compares it to the tree falling in the forest: “If no one knows about your accomplishments, they don’t exist.” 

An organization's work doesn't end after hiring a woman in sales. 

When a woman joins a sales team there are different questions that arises in mind:

1. How to build my credibility in my company and in the industry?
2. How do I know if I’m being paid properly?
3. How do I determine what to spend my time on?
4. How do I optimize my career path?
5. Should I move into management or grow as an individual sales professional?
6. How can I become a better sales manager and grow people?
7. How to engage at events?
8. How to best communicate upwards?
9. How do I get to the next level and stay there?
10. How do I brand myself?
11. How much responsibility should I take?
12. How to get better at negotiation skills because if you don’t ask, you don’t get?
13. How to build confidence that I can ask for things and not be afraid?
14. How to work with men or women that are older than me?
15. How much should I socialize at work?

All the answers to the question lies on the environment that is set by the company by the image since the time of her interview to the date she joined and whom they are joining with.

By creating and nurturing a work environment conducive to open communication, fairness, and the reduction of implicit bias is one of the most difficult changes to implement, especially for companies lagging behind the diversity movement. To begin developing connections unhampered by gender stereotypes throughout departments, start by completely opening the line of communication between managers and employees.

Your employees should always feel as if they have a safe space where they can talk about things that negatively impact their ability to meet or exceed their performance expectations without feeling uncomfortable or intimidated.

Winning the fight for female sales talent requires more than an attractive initiative. It takes deep insight and recognition of workplace diversity as the new symbol of 21st-century business success, along with a willingness to adapt to a rapidly-evolving sense of the global community.

Major challenge a woman faces is overcoming their perfectionism and at times ending up into tremendous nervousness. Women tend to be perfectionists. We don’t want to let anyone down—including ourselves. Above all, we don’t want to look foolish. As a result, many women in sales tend to play it safe. They pitch the safe pitch. They use the same tried and true ideas because they know that they work.

Another, amazing quality a woman possesses being in a sales team is when all your guy colleagues are discussing sports which you have no idea off. To fit in the group either speak something of their interest or just simply change the discussion and the whole group will mould to it without the second thought and you fit in.

Concluding, Are women better at sales? Is there any substantial evidence that points to this conclusion? As with success in any industry, it comes down to the individual. If it is true that women are more attentive, better listeners, more inclined to prospect, and have more opportunities for advancement that do men, then women should have an advantage over men in the sales industry.

But like any advantage, if the advantage is not used, then it ceases being an advantage at all.

                    “SELL YOURSELF BEFORE SELLING YOUR PRODUCT”