You took the wrong job - Now what?

You take a new job with high hopes, wanting to be in a place that helps learn, thrive, and make significant contributions. What if it doesn’t turn out the way you plan, and the new job enthusiasm wears off in the blink of an eye? It can be difficult to admit and at times it’s down to embarrassment – but there are certain tell-tale signs that should not be passed off as day-to-day grievances or underplayed as part of the new working life. They will either hit you right away, or the realization dawns on you at a gradual pace. No matter how it folds, the disappointment and the sinking feeling that follows are hard to deal with.  Irrespective of trying hard to focus on the positives of the new role, exploring whether it is salvageable, the downsides may loom large most of the times, no matter how hard you try to zero in on the advantages. Should you quit right away, or wait for things to turn around? No - don't make a hasty decision. Give yourself time to think. Resolve to sail through the first quarter with an open mind. If you’re still waffling and are unsure, you can always un-make your choices any day, because, your happiness is your greatest priority. If you decide to stick around, here is what you can do to keep yourself upbeat:

Identifying the reason behind the frustration is far from easy, but once you are aware of the reason, it is easy to find potential solutions that help make situations better. Conscious efforts to improve the experience is the best way to take control of any dilemmatic circumstance. Always keep your mind open and take every day as it comes.  You are in for a change and a learning experience, and both are far from easy.

Once you identify what bothers you, convey it to your manager and raise your concerns to get the helping hand that can pull you out of the frustration you are battling with.  Your manager will recommend some concrete steps on how to improve the situation and make it better.  Implement them without fail and see how things turn out without prejudging the outcome.

The worst-case scenario – You do all that it takes to make a new job work and express your concerns, yet things on the ground never improve. If that’s where you are currently, it’s time to move on.  When you fire up a job search now, you are aware that you did all that you could to make it work. It’s important to leave on a good note, but here is a word of caution – Never let your eagerness to leave your current job to push you into a role that proves to be an equally bad fit.

Not everyone will like you

In an ideal world, everyone will like everyone. But that's not the world we live in.  Some people will find reasons to dislike you, no matter what you do or how good you are.  Even if you change everything about you, they still won’t like you. In other words, being disliked is something that none of us can avoid. Or, it's normal to be occasionally disliked, especially at workplace.  A few years ago, I was reporting to a manager who hated me for reasons best known to her. She used to talk negatively about me to my team members and taunt me with malicious jibes. Incessant barrage of negative comments and scoffs coloured every interaction we had, and the experience of working with her was anything but easy and smooth. I was forced to constantly defend myself, give multiple clarifications on every decision, and deal with the endless volley of negativity and derision. To my knowledge, I hadn’t done anything to upset or disrespect her. Yet, she had made it her personal mission to make the workplace as toxic as possible.  I moved on after eight years, but, here is what I learned from the bumpy professional relationship with my former manager:

Never react defensively, shut yourself down emotionally, or get stressed about an awful colleague or manager. It is their burden and not yours. Acknowledging it is the best way to remain resilient. That said; honest and unbiased feedback from a reliable friend or colleague will unfold the opportunities to fine-tune your decisions and actions. It can help mend a few of those shaky relationships that have almost hit the rocks.

No matter professional or personal, no relationship will stick to a pre-set script. Hence, you have made a conscious effort to maintain a fine balance between your need to be liked and a firm understanding of what is true about each situation and relationship. If you refrain from doing things that could be insensitive and offensive or willingly step on others to get ahead, dislikes or negativity can never set any major roadblocks on your way.

Even if you never rub people in the wrong way, learn to accept that not everyone will like you – and that’s normal. Your motto in life is not to become a people-pleaser and try to convince the world to like you.  While courtesy is indispensable, make sure to be true to yourself and others. Imperfection is just a human nature and accepting is what makes us happy and contented.

Does that mean you should never engage with people who dislike you? Absolutely not!  No matter how strong the urge is, never cut ties with them. Instead, keep your interactions normal but transform every negative conversation into a positive one with your intellect and wit. Does that sound like a tedious and energy draining process? Believe it or not, it is not as difficult as it sounds. If you are resolute in your decision to shake off negativity and surround yourself with positive vibes alone, the mission is never hard and laborious.

If a person doesn’t like you back, count on the number of things you like about yourself. That’s the best way get up and keep going after getting stumbled over by a rejection because you just cannot have any influence over the feelings of others. So, why are you allowing them to influence you?

A colleague or a manager who dislikes you will undoubtedly test your patience multiple times or force you to brainstorm on all the possible reasons to not work with that individual.  How will you overcome this dilemma? The answer is simple – Just shake off all the previous experiences and hit reset whenever you start working with that person. This is the best way to avoid letting those negative experiences eat into your enthusiasm and confidence. If they take a dig at you, show some restraint and don’t give in.  When a person dislikes you, a sudden impulse incites you to prove your worth. But, if you doubt your worth, you are letting that person get the power to determine your worth for you.

There are many upsides to being disliked. One among them is the opportunity to invest your time and energy with those who genuinely like you.  If you remain unaffected by the barrage of dislikes and negativity around, nothing can stop you from reaching your goals and dreams. You are so much more than a small group of people who dislike you, and you do not exist to make everyone happy.

Worth keeping an eye on

What do customers want? That's the question every entrepreneur wants an answer to. As you know, predictable customers no longer exist. Or, to convert prospects into customers, you have to exceed their expectations every time. If you are an entrepreneur, find out how and why your target customers make buying decisions and you’re on the way to finding out how to sell your product or service effectively. At the outset, you need to understand how people make buying decisions and the thinking that drives them.

The eyes of a consumer hold a wealth of information. They say the eyes say it all. Eye tracking can measure a consumer's attention span, engagement, and non-conscious responses in real-time. Finding out where people look while they visit a brick-and-mortar store, a website, watch an advertisement, or use a web application or a software product is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to uncover the customers' subconscious responses and deep-seated emotions.

Where it works best

If you are wondering how to catch the consumer’s attention, analyze where they set their eyes on and where they turn a blind eye while viewing:

Advertisements and marketing messages - They play a critical role in the positioning products in the market and eventually in the customers’ minds. Eye tracking can uncover a wealth of information that conventional research methods miss out on.

The positioning of products in physical and virtual stores and the placement of signage boards, standees, and other offline and online marketing visuals - Keep an eye on where the gaze of a customer falls, It speaks louder than words. If “seeing is believing,” and “believing is buying,” eye tracking is the best way to learn how to inscribe the benefits of a product or a service into customers' memory banks.

Impact of design and layout of a physical store or a website - You can deduce a plethora of objective, unbiased, and accurate just by monitoring the eye movements of customers.

Eye tracking is an innovative way to uncover new perspectives and gain a whole host of valuable insights into a customer's visual attention and purchase intention. Eye movement cues can detect what catches a customer's attention and interest, help understand how customers perceive the world around them and how they make a purchase decision. It also captures the spontaneous and unfiltered responses and delivers data-rich results through heat maps, gaze plots, and so on. Eye tracking and visual engagement analytics can answer crucial marketing questions about visibility, engagement, and viewing patterns.

To understand customers better, you have to get actionable insights into how they behave and what makes them tick. Monitoring and measurement of eye activities can capture reliable, unbiased, and actionable data to figure out what makes customers tick and how to influence their buying behaviour.

Say No and Mean it

'No' is the smallest and shortest word in the English language, but the most difficult word to say. Often you say 'Yes' and give in to avoid conflicts, only to feel compelled and resentful later. Hence it is imperative to learn how to say 'No' without weighing down on your soul. Saying 'No' is far from easy. However, it is a skill that you can develop and refine over time. Stand by your word, and never think about going back on it. 'No' and guilt are two separate things that don’t have to go together. 

There is a fine line between being nice and being a doormat. Don't say 'Yes' to everything that comes your way. That's people pleasing and codependency. Being a people-pleaser will never make you happy. Trying to fit in and not “upset others” will only deplete your time and energy. Instead, know your priorities and make yourself a priority before anyone else. Turning someone down doesn't make you unkind or rude. Instead, it indicates "that you are in the driver’s seat of your own life".

The following steps will help you get comfortable with saying 'No' when your plate is full:

Say it and keep it brief- Don't hem and haw and don't beat around the bush. Say 'No' and give a precise explanation if required. The less said, the less ambiguous, the better.

Acknowledge that you cannot do it all - There is no such thing as the superpower. You cannot do it all and nor can anyone else. Hence, chuck the 'guilt' out of the window and say 'No' when you know you need to.

Be assertive yet courteous - A polite yet explicit 'No' is the best way to take charge of the situation and not offend the requestor. Deny the request and not the requestor.

Leverage your problem-solving skills - Recommend an alternative that works best for you and the requestor. It protects your sanity without hurting the requestor's feelings.

Spot and stop manipulators - They're best known for exploiting the weakness of others. They will flatter and butter you up, or do small favours and then ask big ones in return. Spot them and stop them before you start feeling stressed and burnt out by giving in and pleasing every requestor.

Set boundaries and stick to them - Set boundaries and prevent "disease to please" other.

Prioritizing yourself is not selfishness - Have your priorities set right, stick to them, and politely refuse all tasks that can steer you away from what's important.

Know your worth - Never put others above yourself. Learn your value and curb the urge to seek approvals from others. Approval is like a killer drug. You get addictive soon and develop the need for more. It will stop you from saying 'No' when you want to.

A careful response - Don't jump the gun and regret the decision later. Weigh the pros and cons and arrive at a prudent decision. However, never keep anyone hanging for days or weeks.

Try it before you say it - Say 'No' to your impulsive needs. The more your willpower, the easier it is to say 'No' to others without feeling guilty.

Have a go-to-reason - A rehearsed reason is the best way to graciously deal with out-of-the-blue requests and not feel guilty, awkward or disingenuous.

Know when to say ‘Yes’ – Handpick the blind reach-outs that merit a second consideration. If the task aligns with your values and goals, it's worth a second inspection.

If you’re prone to over-committing and have revelled in saying yes, it's time to bid goodbye to the people-pleaser in you. People-pleasing is a selfish act. It indicates your insatiable need to look good before others and your innate fear of facing confrontation.

The late Steve Jobs once said, “Focus is about saying No." A firm 'No' indicates that you are strong enough to set the right boundaries, manage your time, and be the person of your word. What you spend your time on should be what matters to you the most.

Try it before you buy it

Marketing and sales are the two core pillars of every business. They are intrinsically connected and interdependent. There is more that goes into marketing than billboards, cold calling, cold emailing, or interruptive advertising. Customers are bombarded with numerous marketing messages every day. They are spoilt for choice and loyalty levels are dwindling. Moreover, cutthroat competition is rampant in every marketplace.  The challenge is to find unique marketing methods to engage with customers and generate sales. In the always-connected and information-rich world that we live in, digital is the new 'normal' in marketing, and the digital marketing landscape is witnessing disruptive changes that businesses can no longer ignore.

Digital is permeating every aspect of life, changing the way in which we think, act, and live. Digital business models, markets, customer-bases, and competitors originate and thrive in the blink of an eye. In short, digital is the future and the future is digital. When it comes to marketing, digital is the king and customer experience is the crown. Digital marketing helps create innovative content and incredible customer experience.  The influx of virtual reality has ushered in a new era in digital marketing. From McDonald’s ‘Happy Meals’ box to Oreo's 'Wonder Vault, Jaguar's ‘Feel Wimbledon’, and Alibaba's Buy+, virtual reality has helped digital marketers take a flying leap forward. Thanks to its captivating power to create an immersive and compelling experience, or a feeling of being physically present in a virtual world.

VR can make a major difference in customer experience and decision-making journey. Need a sneak peek into the apartment you plan to buy? Wondering how to try the latest signature collection from your favourite designer without visiting the store?  Can't decide what to order from the list of dishes you have never tried before? The infinite possibilities of virtual reality can help answer these questions in no time.  With virtual reality, customers can see products up close and personal, and analyse why they are unique and relevant. You can do anything from playing games to visiting new destinations from the comfort of your home.  Did you know that the global VR revenues touched a whopping $7-billion mark in 2017?

No matter how effective a product or a solution is, it is not easy to demonstrate how it could work in reality.  But virtual reality enables a near-to-real experience when compared to video, social media, and print promotion methods. Immersive telepresence in VR helps creates engaging experiences at every touch point in a customer's purchase cycle. Imagine test driving a car from your desk! Given the experience of a vehicle is of highest relevance, the automotive industry can immensely benefit from VR-based marketing methods. It delivers “virtual showroom” experiences and enhances sales along with strengthening brand identity and reach.

The boundless potentials of virtual reality can now be cost-effectively leveraged to deepen customer engagement and improve sales. Virtual reality can be adapted to any business where user experience is of immense significance. It creates emotional resonance and shares surprising and delighting positive experience. Through VR, prospective customers can experience how products or services work in a contextually relevant environment. 

Emotion is the heart and soul of every marketing initiative. The findings of a Nielsen and YuMe’s 2016 study indicates that virtual reality drove higher engagement and emotional response when compared to all other platforms it was tested against. VR helps put customers in the driving seat and give them a near to a near-to-real experience of a product or service. In short, it is try-before-you-buy-it or a high-touch customer interaction in a whole new and futuristic manner.  It bridges the gap between scepticism and conversion and helps close deals in no time with a virtual handshake. In a world that’s replete with distractions, virtual reality is essential to reclaiming the captive audience and strengthen the bottom line.

With the advent of Oculus Rift, Vive, and Cardboard, virtual reality has become a part of the mainstream marketing repertoire. Virtual reality is here to stay, and it will be a major player in the digital marketing world for years to come. The economic impact of virtual reality is predicted to reach $29.5 billion by 2020.

Beyond the car

Can connected cars change your life on the roads? What if you can use your phone as the key fob, make hands-free voice calls, use an autopilot mode, or reschedule your meetings from the comfort of your car? A connected car can help do all these and more, assist in mobility and ownership needs, and ensure exceptional driving experience and safety. 

Connected car – the umbrella term comprises a vast amount of cutting-edge technologies, applications, and business models to improve your in-car experience.  Global sale of connected cars is expected to touch a whopping 61 million by 2020, generating $141 billion in revenue. A million connected vehicles will ply on our roads by 2020, says a Gartner report. 

Connected car features are no longer an illusion or a luxury for the elite and tech-savvy.  The app-powered accessory is available even in the most economical cars and can be retrofitted to provide entertainment, information, and seamless connection with the outside world.  Connected to the cloud by wireless technologies, chips, onboard computers, and advanced smartphone-based applications, connected cars represent a new era in the automotive world. However, automakers are yet to capitalise on the $155 billion worth connected services market. 

Many industry wonks have invested and continue to spend millions of dollars to develop advanced connected car features and technologies. However, their investments haven’t paid off yet, says a recent global study. Four out of ten (39%) survey respondents (connected car owners) were unaware that they own connected cars. They were oblivious to the benefits of connected car technologies and failed to see how the digital transformation can enhance their day-to-day lives.  The ratio will undoubtedly be higher in the Indian scenario. 

Lack of product exposure and the inability to create awareness are the reasons behind the failure to monetise this innovative in-car technology. If customers remain in the dark and miss out on the advantages of connected cars, auto brands should take a step back and reevaluate how they market the benefits of car connectivity. If they fail to do so, new entrants and tech giants such as Google, Uber, and Apple will soon gain the market monopoly, and OEMs will risk losing the ground. The findings from a Capgemini survey validate this probability -  About 57% of the survey respondents indicated that they would buy a car from a technology company (such as Apple or Google) if that were an option.  The number hops to a whopping 78% in emerging markets. 

Bridging the gap between car connectivity and cost efficiency, protection, and better in-car experience is the best way forward to improve sign-up and subscription of connected car features.  It will open new revenue streams, diversify core services, boost profitability, and help stay ahead of competitors who own the larger pie of market share.  Initiating the continual usage of connected features will enhance subscription renewals and lessen the prevalent scepticism and unawareness.

Real-world relevance is the key to unlock the market potential and growth of every product or service. Connected car features are no different.  From safety to driver assistance, hands-free support, maintenance alert, anti-theft features, and in-car-payment, they have to cater to the day-to-day needs of every car owner.  In the futuristic versus relevant battle, relevant will always stand out. Hence, pertinent, simple, intuitive, and impactful features and technologies are indispensable to gain competitive advantage. 

On-boarding customers during testing and trials will also enhance the uptake and usage of connected car features.  Time-bound and comprehensive training for dealership staff can significantly improve customer adoption and ROI.  Regular updations too are integral to stay competitive and relevant. OEMs must enable over-the-air (OTA) updates to fix bugs and roll out updates globally. Cars equipped with Wi-Fi connections can leverage OTA and receive bug fixes and updates in no time.

Furthermore, from hardly palatable jargons and complex elucidations, the real-world benefits of connected cars and related technologies should be made available in chewable morsels of information that every car owner can get enough of. Can't cars be equipped with pre-loaded tutorials and digital handbooks on connectivity features?

How to deal with negative people

If one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch,  the havoc that a Negative Nancy or a Negative Nigel can create is profound. Toxic people are everywhere, and most of us know at least one or two in the form of a nagging friend, a cynical boss, or a pessimistic companion. They are good at dusting you with the poison of negativity, right from head to toe.   Most of the times, we unknown-willingly let them win over our thoughts, actions, and feelings. They intrude in an unwelcomed manner, the reason why negative people are not entirely unavoidable. You cannot change their words or deeds but can tweak your response to avoid or pare down the devastating impact.

Here is how you can retain your power and win over the detrimental effects of negative people around you:

Keep tabs on your time

The notoriously pessimistic people will leave no stones unturned to monopolise your time, even when they are away from you.  Never let them steal your time, energy and happiness. Always strike a positive conversation or limit the time you spend talking, thinking, or worrying about them and their unpleasant conversation.  It helps invest the least amount of time on negative people.

The right attitude matters

The longer the time spent with negative people, the quicker you spoil your mood. Their pessimism and eternal gloominess will drain out your motivation and change your perspectives about people and things. A conscious step to choose the right attitude will prevent negative people from dictating your thoughts and emotions.

Redirect your thoughts

Negative people are awfully distracting and often monopolise your thoughts and actions all day long. Stop fearing, worrying, and dissecting their thoughts and actions. Instead, take a  deliberate effort to increase the effort and energy to uphold  positive thoughts.

Productive steps and actions

Take control over the she-makes-me-so-mad thoughts, because it’s tempting to indulge in blame games and rob you of the power to control your thoughts and feeling. Take accountability and respond judiciously. Avoid being a victim of circumstances and remain true to your optimistic thinking.

Have positive people around

They keep you balanced and brighten your spirit, even if negative minds rub off on you all the time.

It’s easy to take back your power and not let negative people in everyday life bring you down.

Don't ask, don't tell

“What was your last salary?” – Answering this intrusive question is no less than a tightrope walk. It is intimidating and badgering to say the least.  There are several cities and states across the world where questions on earning history are either banned or set to be banned any time soon. It should be enforced across the world. The reason is simple and clear: Judging a candidate’s worth based on earning history will create discrimination and perpetuate pay disparities. Here is the dilemma that the question stirs up - Dodging it could be the kiss of death whereas sharing the actual salary will erode the earning potential, especially if you are currently underpaid. It gives employers an upper hand in salary negotiations.  

Why do they insist?

I’ve been job hunting for a while, and many hiring managers have tried to judge my capabilities based on my earning history.  It's disappointing and frustrating. No law requires me to disclose my salary history to a prospective employer.  But I’ve been compelled to divulge it over and over again, forcing myself to get stuck in a corner from where I cannot negotiate my way out. They leave no room for a polite refusal. Once I disclose how much I’ve been paid in the past, the pay package offers I receive will mostly be far from reasonable or almost the same as that of my previous paycheck. 

Salary history is a private and confidential data. It is rude and inappropriate to compel candidates to disclose their salary history. Divulging the salary history will only harm your chances of getting a fair compensation. Once recruiters know what you’ve earned in the previous positions, they will low-ball their offers in no uncertain terms. I’ve been there before and have received less-rewarding offers multiple times. The disappointment grows manifold if you were underpaid in your previous job and was denied a reasonable incentive citing downsizing, budget cut, and so on.  What if you are comfortable taking a step down in compensation for your next job? Most employers will shy away fearing you might jump-ship on receiving a prospective offer.

How to reply

Use of diplomacy is the right way to deal with a compensation trap.  Stand up for yourself and give a polite reply. The question is, how to reply politely without spoiling your chance of getting a job?  Here is how I reply without sounding defensive or shady: "I keep that information confidential, but the salary range I am looking for is…"

Extensive research is crucial to put your salary requirements out on the table. It helps back up your demand with your qualifications and experience. In other words, know your worth before stating your salary expectation.   If you’ve already shared the numbers,  a comprehensive research will help explain why you feel it was below the market standard for your position and experience.

Don't ask, don't tell

The much-needed demise of this cringe-inducing question will be highly applauded by candidates across the length and breadth of the country.

Uber “2.0”: Can Dara Khosrowshahi turn things around for Uber?

Being a CEO is not easy and glamorous as the title sounds.  Not at least when the company is besieged by innumerable scandals and mounting losses.  When Dara Khosrowshahi took the wheels as the CEO of Uber, the embattled ride-hailing company, I couldn’t help but wonder how will handle the not-so-magical title bestowed upon him. Dara literally inherited a real mess from the Kalanick era. From regulatory hurdles to sexual harassment complaints, data breach, a bombshell lawsuit on trade secrets, alleged usage of duplicitous software, and burgeoning losses, the challenges to deal with were insurmountable. But the CEO of the scandal-ridden company made a commendable move and won our hearts by settling the self-driving car dispute with Waymo. Despite paying a whopping $245 million, Dara added a huge feather to his cap. He cleaned up a potentially devastating lawsuit and eliminated the biggest roadblock on Uber’s ambitious move towards the promised 2019 IPO. The decision burnished the new CEO’s ability to salvage the battered reputation of the ride-hailing giant. By closing a crucial funding round with Softbank, he gained another significant achievement to his credit. It’s the second biggest feather in a short span of five months.

The troubles are far from over. The company’s full-year loss widened to a mammoth $4.5 billion in 2017, however, its revenue jumped 85% when compared with 2016.Uber still faces uphill battles in many countries. But his initial steps have proven beyond doubt that Dara is willing to learn from past experiences and is ready to instill the lessons for a better future. He is capable of cutting down the losses and helping the company sail through the turbulent times with ease. He knows how to play safe and rebuild bridges of trust, loyalty, and compliance. The Waymo settlement is a clear example of his low-risk approach, which I believe is the need of the hour. The introduction of eight “cultural norms”, six hours mandate breaks for drivers, willingness to make concessions, and so on, indicate a welcoming change from the once antagonistic approach of the company. Dara is gradually putting out the fires and clearing the path with diligence and perfection.

Every company has varying faces and diverse leaders with unique approaches. Kalanick brought the company to where it is now. But his relentless drive to succeed gradually transformed into an aggressive and abrasive leadership that drove the company to a damaging path. Many of their problems were self inflicted. Dara has come in with a mature decision-making ability as well as transparent and balanced communication skills. The company now has a mature leader who believes in learning from mistakes, paying attention, and initiating fruitful conversations with riders, drivers, and regulators. Their open apology and warmer stance indicate the possibility of newer discussions with Transportation for London. Uber had lost its London taxi license at the fag-end of 2017.

Can Dara help the company regain its lost glory? Given the quick and effective steps that he’s taken over the short span of five months to repair the company’s image, I feel Dara, an executive with a clean reputation and impeccable business track record, might soon clean up the mess and restore the image and financial stability of the ride-hailing company. 

Can AI-powered chatbots redefine customer experience?

Conversational AI is no more regarded as a fad or overhyped technology. Instead, it is an integral part of every corporate strategy. Conversation AI helps build robust virtual agents that carry out human-like conversations, communicate knowledge, answer questions, or walk you through critical processes, and thus get smarter overtime. Conversational AI is expected witness a meteoric growth in the coming days. It will eventually supersede both cloud and mobile within a decade. The big fours, Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, have already started making conversational AI the main gateway to communicate with customers.

From answering queries to entertaining users and selling products, conversational AI chatbots have become a highly viable and engaging customer interaction channel. They are not just looked upon as basic bots or mere personal assistants. By harnessing AI, NLP, and machine learning, chatbots can enable highly responsive and personalized level of interactions like humans. That said; a complete replacement of humans is far from possible. But AI-based chatbots can help handle simple, repetitive, and non-mission critical tasks with ease and precision.

What are chatbots?

Simply put, a chatbot are smartly designed AI-enabled software programs to provide simple, natural, human-like responses that facilitate meaningful communication. They can be integrated to major chat apps such as Facebook Messenger, Slack, and Telegram.

When it comes to customer service, chatbots offers a real-time conversational experience, bypassing conventional ways of emailing or dialing up the customer service team. Through constant interactions, chatbots can amass exhaustive knowledge on customer sentiments, preferences, opinions, purchase behavior, and so on.

Chatbots: The future of customer experience

Customers look for swift, comprehensive, and satisfying responses to their queries.  From welcoming messages to replying to customers’ queries, an AI-powered chatbot can undoubtedly elevate customer engagement to the next level by responding to both text and verbal queries like a human staff member. They help free-up the time spent dealing with customers directly, and ensures better consistency due to reduced human intervention.

It’s always exciting to engage with a chatbot that exhibits a personality or sense of humor that’s similar to human beings. Moreover, a single chatbot can perform the tasks of multiple customer service personnel. They never keep you waiting or never sleep. Use of chatbots can help customer-facing brands cut down costs and improve operational efficiencies. Deploying AI-based chatbots will help cut labour costs by 29%, says a recent survey report. They also help reach broader set of audience, and save critical customer intelligence data that businesses can make use of to tailor services and marketing strategies. However, chatbots should not be deployed without having a reliable escalation channel through which a query/an issue can be routed to humans.

Customer experience is a competitive differentiator in today’s fast-paced and increasingly competitive business environment. Businesses are constantly reinventing themselves to keep up with market changes and stay ahead of competition. AI-powered chatbots can be a major game changer for businesses across the world. They are here to stay and will revolutionize customer engagement in more meaningful ways in the coming days.

Why rider loyalty programs are imperative and influential

Ride-haling is not a substitute or a passing fad that will soon fade into the annals of history. It’s a necessity and a booming business in today’s transportation sector. From Uber to Didi Chuxing, Ola, My Taxi, Grab, and Lyft, ride-hailing companies are taking the world by storm. The autonomous car revolution is regarded as the game-changer that’s expected to take ride-hailing businesses to the next level. Because, driver-less ride-hailing will help cab aggregator companies dismiss their profit-gobbling driver partners and save a lion’s share of their earnings.  However, as more businesses jump on the bandwagon to make in big in today’s “pay-as-you-go car era”, the bigwigs are facing the pressure to maintain their relevance and dominance in the market.

Market competition and customer demands

Despite having a viable business model that’s still on track, eclipsing the market is no more easy due to increasing competition and changing customer expectations.  From stupendous growth and market monopolization, some cab aggregators are now reeling in the low-growth world. Their ballooning losses and shrinking balance sheets indicate the impending need for improved strategies to fuel operations and combat competitors’ fare subsidies. Cost cutting or withdrawing from key markets cannot be regarded as prudent and sustainable strategic responses. Instead, the focus should be channelized on augmenting and sustaining market share through feasible and welcoming steps. Customer reward/loyalty program is one such time-tested method.

Loyalty programs

Loyalty or frequent rider programs can undoubtedly drive sizeable market share and attract more customers. But, they have to be devised in simple, accessible, relevant, and appealing manner to attract all riders and cater to their changing needs. Success of loyalty programs mainly stem from valuable services and gratifying customer experience. They are paramount to every business, and helps grow by leaps and bounds. Loyal customers convert better, spend more often, and share positive experiences. As we all know, word-of-mouth publicity drives more new customers than any ads and branding methods.  If The Loyalty Report 2017 is anything to go by, customers continue to join more loyalty programs every year, though engagement rates have fallen flat.  It doesn’t indicate a flaw, but a hidden opportunity to deliver better experiences from reviving unworkable loyalty programs. The investment needed could be substantial, but having a strong and workable financial model in place can ensure long-term success and profitability of loyalty programs.

When it comes to Uber, currently, the perks are currently limited to occasional discounts and referrals, despite previous successes of loyalty programs in partnership with Visa, AmEx Barclays, and Starwood.  The test-run of Uber’s VIP loyalty program was limited to just two cities in the U.S. A different one was launched in selected cities in India.  It was tested in New Delhi, for selected riders, says an official blog of Uber.  UberPASS too was rolled out as a pilot in a few chosen cities. However, none of these offers have been made available to the entire user base in the country so far.

Uber recently launched Uber A-ONE, a driver loyalty program, but overlooked the rapidly increasing number of riders.  Ola, the main competitor of the San Francisco based company, has a ride-with-rewards and ‘Customer of the Month’ rewards programme for users who take maximum rides. However, they haven’t yet worked wonders for the company. GrabRewards, Grab’s free rewards program has been enticing more and more users each day, but cab aggregators in India are yet to recognize the success of this amazing program.

Emotional and transactional loyalty

Loyalty can be broadly classified as emotional and transactional. The former makes customers adhere to a brand regardless of price, convenience, or any other related factors. Transactional is the one that most of us are familiar with; the one that works on attractive and compelling pricing.  Most loyalty programs are based on transactional loyalty. They are driven by discounts, vouchers, and so on; or factors that appeal to our rationality. What if that approach isn’t working? Create emotional loyalty, because, it can play a better and effective role, says experts.  They help create a habit by elevating a brand, be it Ola or Uber, into the most preferred choice. Creating emotional loyalty is a more of a subtle and time consuming effort, but ensures firm foothold and steadily burgeoning customer base.

2018 and beyond

When it comes to India market, the battle royale between the Silicon Valley giant and home-grown is heating up each day. Bootstrapped startups like WagonCab too are giving Uber and Ola a run for their money with their USP of flat fee models with no surging and minimum fare. In other words, the pressure to meet customer expectations is growing at an ever faster pace. If the companies intent to beat out their competition in 2018, their strategies and technology should evolve exponentially while keep customers at the heart of their businesses. Optimized loyalty programs can definitely help take advantage of today’s market to drive customer engagement and profits, strengthen customer relationship, and evolve for tomorrows consumers.

Surge or scourge? Decoding surge pricing of cab aggregators

“I was overcharged.” Not even a day goes by without finding this gripe on Uber rider reviews. The overcharge that most riders whine and snivel about is the dynamic pricing or surge pricing which the ride hailing company has been following since its inception. Frequent Uber riders like you and me have experienced surge pricing at some point or the other.  It’s never fun to shell out those extra bucks, but surge pricing or prime time, the so-called nasty surprise, is just simple economics.

What exactly is surge or dynamic pricing?

It’s an algorithmically-driven pricing that varies with demand and supply, or, when the demand is excessive and supply is less, the fares increase based on scarcity of available drivers. When demand exceeds supply of cars, surge fares are charged by applying surge multipliers, not manually, but based on algorithms or pricing bots that make use of real-time data.  Simply put, the rate is revised to bridge the demand supply gap, along with reducing time delay. It also ensures that more taxis ply during rush hours and meet the increased demand.  Peak-hours, weekend, a festival day, or rainy evening might augment the demand and shrink the availability of cabs for the same exact reason– while riders look for more cabs; drivers may choose not work during those times. It’s simple logic.

Lack of awareness and transparency

Here comes the tricky part of this rather unfamiliar pricing. Despite being active in my city for more than three years, Uber team still fails to help riders understand why fares swing wildly on certain days. Hardly a few commuters in the city are aware of surge pricing, the reason why most riders equate the sudden increase in fares to gouging or swindling. The dissatisfaction and subsequent bad press related to dynamic pricing mostly stems from lack of awareness and inadequate transparency on how dynamic pricing works. That said; riders too are guilty of willful denying the benefits that come along with the fare change which is in no way exorbitant when compared to auto rickshaw and taxi fares. If auto rickshaws and taxis can charge above meter rates and swindle riders, how can surging be termed as gouging and unjustifiable? Surging doesn’t last long, whereas, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers contriving tricky ways for fleecing their passengers remain a usual affair. Furthermore, surge pricing is not a hidden cost. Riders are informed upfront about the fare change, and have the choice whether to take the ride or not. In short, surge pricing is a win-win solution that promises comfort and convenience, with hardly any time delay, even during peak traffic hours.

Is surging a new concept?

Absolutely not! From airlines to resorts, most businesses make use of the whack-a-mole game of surge pricing to strike a balance between demand and supply. Revenue algorithms of most airlines are programmed to apply surge pricing when demand increases and supply declines. Haven’t you seen airfares skyrocketing during holidays and weekends? Hotels and resorts also make use of dynamic pricing to adjust the tariffs of rooms and holiday packages based on demand and supply changes. Of late, the Indian Railways too have implemented surge pricing model, says a recent news paper report. The tatkal ticket booking too is faintly similar to surge pricing or real-time pricing that most people are aghast about.  Online retailers also adopt dynamic pricing in periods of increasing demand and limited supply.  So why can’t we accept the ride hailing company’s rationale?

If we’re vehemently against the dynamic pricing model, shouldn’t the criticism apply to other industries as well? Why blame the ride hailing companies alone? Shouldn’t we argue with our vegetable vendors as well for hiking prices based on changing demand and supply ratio? If capping surge pricing and limiting the frequency of pricing changes is an absolute necessity, it applies to every business that makes use of real-time pricing model. That said; here is one solution that that cab aggregators can make use of – Rebrand the entire concept of surge and focus on promoting the increased convenience and availability that comes along with the fare change.  Surge as a label has garnered humongous amount of negativity and it’s high time to replace it with a better and welcoming one that benefits everyone.

On a side note, unlike Lyft, Uber doesn't help book trips in advance, lock in your fares when they are low. Will apps like SurgeProtector, Ride Fair, and Surge for Uber help avoid surge pricing? Not sure, as the reviews are mixed. Surge protector has a 2.7 rating on Google Play Store, whereas the rating of Ride Fair is 4.7 and Surge for Uber is 4.2. Heat map on Uber Driver App might help find areas where surge prices are in effect, says an recent online article. Can drivers “go offline enmasse”, trick the algorithms used by ride hailing companies, and force surge pricing? It's possible, claims a research by Warwick Business School.

An issue of mind over matter

“Macron Marriages” – the strange phraseology in the article didn't surprise me at all. From public to media, everyone is obsessed with The President’s marriage, and not his works as a public servant. Endemic and mostly derisive posts and comments on the age gap between Emmanuel Macron and his wife are disgusting and nauseous to say the least. They've given me strong reasons to pen down my thoughts on how rampant ageism and sexism are, especially in societies like ours where older wives aren't as common as older husbands. In spite of claiming to be progressive, people continue to attack Mrs. Macron with sexist insults of all sorts. No, she doesn't deserve this. No one does. Yes, Mrs Macron is 24 years older than her husband, but why should a birth certificate get in the way of one’s happiness? Here comes the most ironic part – The age difference is almost the same as that of the U.S. president and his wife, but no one talks about it. That’s the typical double standard of our society.

Source - yahoo.com

If two people love each other and get married, that's their prerogative. Love is the most natural and purest emotion known to us. True love is powerful enough to transcend every hurdle, because “the heart wants what it wants”. Yet, love still fails to defy some longstanding societal notions based on gender, age, and so on. Age is the most ‘decisive’ one among them. Our prudish society is yet to accept the fact that romance can blossom even without being hindered by the so called ‘significant’ age gaps that pique people’s curiosity. When two consenting, respectful, and mature people are in a relationship, age doesn’t matter at all. Because, true love seeks physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual fulfillment, and it’s solely based on understanding and compatibility.

But when it comes to a misogynic society like ours, a man should be the protector and patriarch, and should be superior in all aspects. So, men are free to choose younger partners, and their jaw dropping age difference doesn’t surprise anyone. If age isn’t anything but a number why doesn’t it apply to women as well? Why does all hell break loose if an older woman is happy to settle down with a younger woman? Forget persuading the puritanical society, she never gets a nod of approval even from her kith and kin. She is tormented with endless ridiculous and unjustifiable wrath, and eventually gets ostracized for putting her love above the options and expectations of the society. Sadly, we have no dearth of conservative-minds that discourage relationships that fail to meet the preset standards of the society, and treat them as immoral and scandalous. Why can’t such relations be tenable and possible?

Regardless of age, no relationship comes with a guarantee. All relationships have their share of hurdles, and takes fair share of time, effort, understanding, and patience. Hence, it’s high time to relinquish the anachronistic notions about gender and marriage. We should start reassessing what makes a couple comfortable and compatible, and appreciate relationships from beyond the walls of archaic traditions rooted in patriarchy. Marriage and choice of partner is one’s personal preference.  Everyone is free to live the life they choose. Hence we must be willing to accept each others' choices and not entwine them in the frivolous complexities of age, traditions and patriarchy. Simply put, can’t we let love and happiness exist the way they are?

Impact entrepreneurship – Balancing profit and mission

India is abundant in human capital and talented minds, and of late, there is no dearth of entrepreneurs in the country. But entrepreneurship isn’t just about making profit.  It’s about building businesses that make a difference in the world. In other words, its problem solving and making money by taking the roads less (or never) travelled. Businesses that solve problems and thereby impact and influence the lives of people grow exponentially in the shortest time span. When such businesses work wonders, the world grows and transforms right before our eyes. Impact entrepreneurs (coined by Adam Levene) at the helm of such initiatives help tackle some of the toughest challenges of our time. Simply put, they never sell, instead, they solve problems.  Sandith Thandasherry is one such impact entrepreneur who came up with an innovative and futuristic solution for inland water transportation. An IIM-Madras graduate and founder of NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats, Sandith is the man behind India’s first solar-powered boat, Aditya.

Source - www.motivateme.in

Aditya, operating between Vaikkom and Thavanakkadavu, is propelled by electric motors that are powered by a 50kWh Lithium battery pack. The boat carries about 1500 passengers every day. Aditya takes 22 trips each day, travels at an average speed of 6knots, and covers about 55km from 7.00 am to 7.pm.  Each trip involves a 13-15km journey, and the daily energy cost is just Rs. 163. Do a bit of math and the result will surprise you – In a year, Aditya saves about 35,000 liters of diesel and 22 lakhs in energy costs, along with preventing the emission of 94 tonnes of CO2. Isn’t that an amazing achievement, given the growing environmental problems that we face each day? Solar ferries like Aditya can put an end to the rising pollution menace; reduce energy consumption, noise, vibrations, and so on by leveraging the benefits of a whole host of futuristic technologies in boat manufacturing. Aditya, a catamaran, is ergonomically-designed with comfortable cushioned seats, and contain a music system and television. An exhaustive analysis of the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) indicates that solar ferries like Aditya are way more advantageous than both conventional and modern diesel ferries. Furthermore, unlike diesel ferries that cannot withstand passenger overload, catamarans like Aditya ensure better and reliable margin of stability when it comes to handling passenger overload. 

Despite having navigable waterways, inland water navigation in Kerala has always remained neglected or underutilized. Sandith managed to turn things around with Aditya, a 75-pax solar ferry. Why solar boats? Solar powered boats are the most feasible ways to leverage our waterways and improve connectivity. When compared to conventional and modern diesel ferries, solar ferries ensure better safety, comfort, and pleasure. They are cleaner, viable, comfortable, and eco-friendly and the operational costs are surprisingly reasonable. Entrepreneurs like Sandith can thus devise both problem-solving and problem-preventing solutions at the same time, and turn disruptive ideas into world-changing business ventures. They are unconventional, creative thinkers who approach problems without getting affected by prevalent constraints and stigmas. Moreover, they are calculated risk takers who can balance risk, opportunity, innovation, and business acumen to provide optimal, futuristic, and sustainable solutions.  We need more such impact entrepreneurs who can elevate themselves above the current and future problems and discern opportunities from every obstacle or challenge that we face daily.

Go-Jek to take a big leap forward

Of late I’ve been trying to learn about ride-hailing companies and global ride hailing market in detail. A recent online article which I read had an interesting information on an Indonesian ride-hailing firm, Go-Jek, one of the most promising startups in Southeast Asia. Google, Temasek, and Meituan-Dianping are gearing up to invest in Go-Jek, and this might skyrocket its value to a whopping $3 billion. KKR and Co LP and Warburg Pincus LLC, its existing investors, too might join the new funding round.

For those who haven’t heard about Go-Jek yet, here is what I learned about the ride-hailing startup. Founded by Nadiem Makarim in 2010, Go-Jek is a leading provider of on-demand transportation, food delivery, logistics, and mobile payment services in Indonesia. It was founded with the aim of bettering the lives of underemployed motorcycle taxi and cab drivers, by providing a whole new set of opportunities in the form of transportation and food delivery orders. Go-Jek, which began as a bike taxi company, currently has over 200,000 drivers across 25 cities in Indonesia. Why bike taxis? They are highly effective in most of the busy and congested streets in Indonesia. Over the years, Go-Jek has grown by leaps and bounds, expanding their business and advancing into car-hailing and several other areas like grocery and meals delivery services. GoCar, its car-hailing service, is similar to Uber and Singapore-based Grab. The Go-Jek app was launched in 2015. The app has till now amassed about 10 million downloads, with a user rating of 4.3 on Google Play Store. It is quite admirable (Uber enjoys a 4.2 rating and so does Lyft, whereas the rating of Grab is 4.5.).

In addition to its commendable presence in the home market, Go-Jek has a strong development team in India as well. The company acquired C42 Engineering and CodeIgnition in 2016. Go-Jek has bettered the lives of almost a million bike taxi and cab drivers, and empowered as many as 100, 000 restaurant partners and many other small and medium businesses across Indonesia.  Isn't that a praiseworthy achievement, given the intensifying market competition and increasing customer expectations? Recently, Go-Jek acquired three financial technology businesses Kartuku, Midtrans, and Mapan, thus foraying into digital payment services, aiming to become a major player in Indonesia’s payment sector. Go-Jek may soon expand their business with overseas operations, boost rider and driver subsidies, and develop their digital payment business.  The new magnanimous funding will undoubtedly give Go-Jek an upper hand while facing market competition from deep-pocketed competitors.

Southeast Asia’s largest internet economy, Indonesia alone is home to nearly 261 million people. Yet, the current Uber CEO said in a statement that Southeast Asia is unprofitable (as per a TechCrunch article). I can't figure out the rationale behind his words, given that Southeast Asia has more than 600 million customer currently.  It sounds like a defensive effort to conceal Uber's inability to keep up its foothold in Southeast Asian market. Growth of ride hailing industry in the region is expected to hit $20.1 billion per year by 2025, says a report co-authored by Google. Will Go-Jek become the next Uber or Grab, or surpass them all in growth, profitability and customer satisfaction? Have to wait and watch.

What no one tells you about losing weight

Stop having dinner, cut down on fat, you can skip meals if you are not hungry, workout as much as possible, eat protein supplements– I was told all these and more when I started my weight loss journey a few months back. Back then, I weighed a whopping 75 kilos. I was morbidly overweight and wanted to do all that it takes to lose the excess weight. I was surrounded by body shamers, I was embarrassed beyond words, and my self esteem was at an all time low. Weight loss, career, or life, a bad approach yields bad results, and I didn’t want to end up in tears or frustrated about not being able to shed the extra pounds. But self-confessed diet experts around me kept recommending all the misinformed and counterproductive ideas that have been repeatedly proven wrong.  They kept tossing around those unscientific plans incessantly, and I knew that I had to figure out one on my own to deal with my weight gain woes. Let me share some of the insights that I’ve picked up.

At the outset, you needn’t drastically change your lifestyle or eating habits to lose weight. Let things happen in a natural progression and you'll get the needed results in no time. Excess weight is the end result of bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. It also depends on age, hormone changes, health problems, daily activities, stress, food preferences, and so on. Starting off by getting the facts right and change or fix what’s wrong, in a slow and steady pace. Let me also remind you that you needn’t shell out lots of money on gym memberships. Yes, you don’t need to slave away for long hours in the gym to lose weight. 45-60 minutes of brisk walk in the morning and evening is more than sufficient if you can stick to it diligently. Does walking alone help get fit and toned? No! You have to eat right, eat well, eat on time, drink ample amount of water, and say no to all junk food.


My first step was to deal with my stress eating disorder, and I have curbed it to a significant extent. I never used to hesitate mindlessly loading myself up on coffee and junk food or munching on chocolates when I used to get stressed and upset. I’ve changed it over the past few months and I am extremely happy about the results. Believe it or not, the whopping amounts of junk food I’ve gobbled over the years are not as tasty and enjoyable as what I currently enjoy having each day. That said; if you intent to completely cut out the bad food one fine morning, you shouldn’t. I’ve been there myself, and the impact is extremely dangerous, because, it can lead to uncontrollable cravings, and you will end up binge eating and falling off the track soon. One-size-fits-all diet plans too can rain on your parade, because, what’s right for me might not be right for you. Most of us battle food allergies, intolerances, and so on, the reason why a professional help from an expert dietician is indispensible to figure out a diet strategy based on your body and nutritional needs. Wrong diet plans can leave you unwell, weak, and perennially tired.

Here is another lesson that I have learned the hard way: never fall for any of those gimmicks that you read online; or pop pills and consume supplements with potentially dangerous side effects. Instead, go to a trained professional and seek and follow recommendations that are best for you. My friend Deepa George did a phenomenal job to help me decide my diet plan. In short, I didn’t adopt a caveman diet nor did I compel myself to avoid the indispensable morning and evening tea or breakfast. But I managed to shed 6 kilos in the first month and I continue to adhere to my chosen routine. Let me concisely put down what I’ve learned within this short yet significant time span - Always be realistic and realize that weight loss doesn't happen overnight, and no one can adopt that perfect eating habit to lose weight “in the blink of an eye”. Instead, you can make gradual alterations in what, how and when you eat, and stick to what you opt. Work smart and success will be yours.

#uberUNDALLO: Why I prefer Uber over autos and local taxis

Being a Kochiite since 2008, I’ve traveled to most parts of the city, and here are two mounting problems that I’ve faced everywhere – choking traffic and errant auto and cab drivers.  Traffic menace keeps getting worse each day and so are the number of rude and indecent auto and taxi drivers who rip-off passengers by demanding jaw-dropping rates.

You will get caught up in traffic jams at every signal in every 5 minutes during peak hours of traffic.  Police officials are deployed at most key locations in the city to speed up traffic; yet, you might get stuck on the roads for hours together due to unmanageable traffic blocks that have exacerbated considerably with the ongoing Kochi Metro construction. 

Depend on auto or taxi services and you’re in for endless troubles. Let me narrate one among the bitter experiences I've had – It was a usual Monday morning and I was on my way to office, unaware about an abrupt auto strike. I flagged an auto and headed to my office. The vehicle had hardly moved a few yards ahead and it was surrounded by a group of uncouth and belligerent auto drivers who shouted at me and the driver and threatened to beat him up. I was unwell and told them that I won’t be able to walk in the hot sun, but my requests fell on deaf ears. I was forced to move out of the vehicle, had to pay the fare, put up with the rudeness, and walk all the way to my office.  Here comes the most ironical part – A police man watching my ordeal from a nearby traffic signal and never came forward to help me. 

Most of the auto and cab drivers enjoy unfettered reign in the city, and keep fleecing the public by charging exorbitant rates. Some even ply without permits and yet get off scot-free. They flout traffic rules, never ply on meters, refuse destinations, and decide rates as per their whims and fancies. You can hardly see an auto with a properly functioning fare meter. They are either dysfunctional or fully tampered. The only safest and reasonable mode of transportation is Uber. While they don’t help deal with the city traffic snarls, ride-hailing services like Uber offer innumerable advantages that are hard to ignore.

I have been an Uber rider since they first launched their services in Kochi. Safety, reasonable fares, and upfront pricing before I hope in (no haggling or arguments at the end of a ride) are the most important reasons why I choose Uber over other modes of transportation. They help hail taxis from anywhere, anytime. I don’t have to wait for hours and keep flailing my arm for a taxi or auto. Instead, I can book a taxi at the tap of a button and get nice, GPS-monitored rides in swanky cars, and the app shares every bit of detail about the chosen route and the driver. It also helps share my trip status with my parents back in my hometown. 

As someone who travels alone on most days, my safety is my utmost priority. Believe it or not, Uber taxis are secure, even while travelling in unfamiliar surroundings, highly cost-effective (much lesser than autos and conventional taxis), and utmost convenient all the time. Their online payment options are immensely advantageous and so are the carpooling services, a real game-changer that enables comfortable rides at competitive rates. Uber carpooling helps share rides and split the costs with three others who requests rides along similar routes. No wonder why they enjoy an enviable 5 to 10% week-on-week growth, with about 3.5 lakh customers per month. With exciting discount offers that I get to enjoy practically every week, why would I bother to choose any other mode of transport or put up with the tantrums of impolite and greedy drivers?

But of late, Uber cab drivers in Kochi are getting waylaid, abused, and assaulted by unruly auto and cab drivers every other day. The situation is alarming and might likely worsen in the coming days if no stringent actions are taken against the offenders. This growing ire is absolutely unjustifiable. Online cab aggregators like Uber thrive by leaps and bounds because they promise safe, time-bound, and impeccable service without burning a hole in a rider’s wallet. And in a democratic country like ours, everyone has the right to work hard and enjoy a slice of the pie.

Unruliness and greediness are the sole reasons why conventional taxi and auto drivers face a major drop in their revenues. Hooliganism and vandalism will not help anyone find their footing in today’s fast-paced and competitive transportation market. And the ongoing apathy of the authorities will only drive forward-thinking global ride hailing companies away from the state. Strong and sustainable measures are the need of the hour to protect online cab aggregators from the thugs among auto drivers and local cabbies. It’s the only effective way to stop all the ongoing organized assaults and abuses long before they intensify and spiral out of control.

The visible god

I couldn't hold back my tears while reading it. It was a heart wrenching news report on how a young professor allegedly pushed his mother to death because he was "fed up" with her illness. What has the world come to? Why are parents abused, disowned, or killed by their own children (Unless you've been living under a rock, you might have heard of Thalaikoothal or senicide).

"God cannot be everywhere, so he created mothers". Aren’t these words true beyond doubt? Hell yes they are! But humans are the most insane species, they worship the invisible God and abuse or kill the visible. Mother is symbolic to god, universe, happiness and a lot more. Since the day you took root in her womb to the day you opened your eyes to the world, and forever, the only person who continues to shower all the love and affection in her heart is your mother.  Can anyone else do what she does for you? Absolutely not! A mother is the only person who can love and accept you unconditionally. Her love is deep, pure, and genuine. It will remain unchanged forever.  She is patient beyond words and loving beyond measure. She is the only person you can turn yourselves to, at any age and in any situation, and look for boundless love.

Mother is a god’s greatest gift to us. I’ve disagreed with my mom several times, I have argued with her on several occasions, and have questioned her choices many times. But, age and experience brought the realization moms are always right, and the sooner you accept it, the better off you will be. Many a times I was too preoccupied with frivolous and momentary joys when she needed me the most. I feel regret and guilt over all those irresponsible steps. I’m at the fag-end of my thirties but there is one place where I can be a child again, and that’s in front of my mom. I am sure everyone else in this world too feels the same.  My mom means the world to me and not a day goes by that we don’t text or talk to each other. From predicting my exact emotional state of mind to lending me a shoulder to lean on when I need, my mom always makes me believe that the world is still a good place. She is the only person I can pour my heart out to. She has that magical power to turn things around and make me smile even on those worst days.

How can some people heartlessly abandon their mothers, most selfless and loving people on earth, while continuing to lavish love on the rest of the world? How can one commit parricide or matricide? Not a day goes by without hearing bloodcurdling stories of elderly citizens getting abused, mistreated and left to starve, or killed. Why are they considered as marauders of those whom they’ve cared nurtured throughout their lives? From abandoning them in old age homes to committing gruesome acts that put all of humanity to shame, people are simply failing to realize the value and worth of parents.

I’ve been to many old age homes for women and the sordid tales of most inmates are absolutely tear-jerking.  How can one hardheartedly shun and abandon parents to live and die lonely? Despite dealing with all the odds and hardships to bring their children up, most of them are left alone at the dusk of their lives. Why? Because, their children believe their lives get difficult if their parents continue to live with them. I just cannot fathom the reason behind this barbaric thinking. Here is the ironical part – Most of might have prayed to be blessed with children and at their twilight years they’re facing abandonment and loneliness. Let’s remind ourselves that humanity, sensitivity, and emotions are dying the most pitiful death while the world sprints forward to attain more material and momentary pleasures.

Awkwardly candid

A face-to-face conversation is the best way to know a candidate before a decision is made. It helps hiring managers find candidates who excel and stand out, while weeding out the unfit. While it’s justifiable to get a little candid, friendly, and informal to put the candidate at ease, it’s absolutely necessary to draw a borderline and weigh the words carefully. A thoughtless word or the slightest wrong impression will drive a potential candidate away in no time.  Now let me divulge the actual reason behind this rather ambiguous introduction.

With my hopes set high, I attended a job interview last week, but was taken aback when told that “work matters” are mostly discussed outside of normal work hours. Yes, most of us are forced to work crazy hours to pay the bills. But being adamant and insisting obstinately on odd timings at the very first phase of an interview is rudeness and harassment. Soon came the next startling precondition - Upon selected for the position, I will have to relocate to a “suitable” place where I am free to reach late in the night, as late as 12 or 1 AM on most days. That conveyed a very alarming message. More intimidation followed when I was told that employees who ask about work timings will be fired without any reason or notice. Everyone else is staying late, does that mean I should too?  I don't mind going that extra mile and doing those extra works when situations demand. But, why should it be made a day-to-day requisite, despite the fact that commuting alone from an office located at the fag-end of a narrow lane in a hidden corner of the city is far from easy and highly unsafe?

Escalating my scare further, the interviewer narrated how the leading executive of a top agency sleazily told subordinates that it’s absolutely normal to sleep one’s way up the ladder, while reiterating that it will never happen in the firm I visited.  My heart sank and I felt sick to my stomach. The last straw was the inelegant confession that all the employees are free to go beyond protocols and get drunk at official events and parties.

While the rest of the conversation was very engaging and informative, these awkwardly blunt statements left me completely uncomfortable, stressed, and perplexed. I felt uneasy and petrified. Though I am really in need of job, this discomfiting interview session has left me on the fence as to whether I go ahead or go back.

Being cheeky or loudmouthed is acceptable when you are amid friends or family members. But it’s improper and unprofessional while conversing with a candidate. It’s obnoxious and absolutely intrusive. I am well aware that job seekers must be prepared to face that odd ball or strange question that might come into during an interview. However, these seemingly harmless comments are still disturbing me and leaving dents on my hopes. Chances are that the comments could have been random and innocuous. But isn’t that odd to hear them from a stranger? Or, am I thinking too much about the whole incident?

Are you happy?

“Are you happy?,” the question is simple and straightforward, but hardly anyone answers it with a simple and confident “Yes”. Instead they think through a list of what’s happening now, what looms ahead, and what their expectations are, dissecting everything in detail, only to come up with this reply - “Sort of.” Why does this happen? We always do our best to be positive and not get encumbered by the hurdles that life throws at us from time to time. Yet, why do we reply with a frustrating and lethargic ‘blah’ feeling, mostly for no reason?  Why are some of us never contented with what’s in hand, and why do we cry over and grumble about what’s lacking?

It’s in fact easy to save oneself from this frustration and muster lots of motivation. Because, we have more control over your happiness than we think. Being realistic about hopes, dreams, and future is the most critical step towards being happy. On the other hand, the inability to be realistic is the key reason that fuels unhappiness in most people. Happiness is reality minus over expectations. It’s also about accepting the right perspectives and believes. Instead, we tailor the emotion of happiness based on over expectations, the attitude of the people we’ve met, and the experience we’ve had over the years. We stubbornly cling on to them and never give up. Everyone is guilty of making this mistake, I too am no different.

Happiness is a choice, and it’s totally up to us. We’re in charge of how we respond to people and situations. When looked at in the right way, most people or circumstances are all neutral in life. But we fine-tune ourselves to categorize and label them based on our beliefs, perspectives, and expectations. This is where we go wrong. We can choose to be realistic and optimistic or miserable and negative. Choice conditions mind, thoughts, and beliefs. It in turn affects the way we look at people, situations, and circumstances in life.

That said; do complex situation influence our happiness? Of course, they might, but fleetingly. Hence, never label them as negative and exasperating.  Instead, take a step back and spin them into your advantage. This can also help nurture empathy and compassion by attaining the realization that views and reactions of people around are solely based on their restricted beliefs, thoughts, and circumstances. In short, this simple lesson will help avoid getting upset in life or offending anyone.  Because happiness is all about making the right choices; and it is inversely propositional to expectations.