Destino.

Upgrading Worldview.

You may have heard this before, but let me join those who have highly recommended you the book: “World is Flat” by Thomas L. Freidman. The book is beyond you reading your weekly copy of 'The Economist' and talking about China / India / USA.

A fantastic real world picture you can endorse with your own travelling and experiences at AIESEC / Work. W-is-Flat creates this urgency inside  you to go beyond understanding the crazy pace at which collaborations and ideas are getting materialized with new technologies and behavior…more importantly, where it’s all coming from.

The book brings to surface at-least one good idea sitting inside of you to start a ‘disruptive venture’ and elbow your way in doing something only you & others like you see.

No 'acquired B.S. opinion' and 'opinion on opinions' on Globalization, technology, emerging economies, eradicating poverty etc. or other immature concerns of bursting economic bubbles. The book is one genuine piece of ‘News’ and it is affecting everyone’s lives. Freidman is telling what is the world we are living in? As just who he is: A journalist. All in all, a great ‘world view’ book giving you new lenses, more importantly, to your dad.

In any case, a rule of thumb.. books that are on NY Times bestsellers list for over 6 months & crack beyond Barnes & Noble / USA are usually worth reading.

DI(GIT)WALI

I was on a call with my sister couple of days back, and this is the most hilarious thing I have heard:

On Diwali day, she was supposed to do ‘puja (prayer + offerings)’ in her office, and the last minute search for a Sanskrit-mantra-reciting-‘pundit’ to ensure a ‘good puja’ was on,….now, each one of the Pundit is ‘in - demand’ on Diwali day by estimated 89% of households of the 3 million strong city - Jaipur, so she could not exactly find who she was looking for… and in such situations as you usually do, she called upon a-revered-someone having a second name ‘Dwi-vedi, Tri-vedi, Chatur-vedi, Pandey or Sharma’.

The usual puja requires you to have prayers for ‘Ganesh’ and ‘Laxmi’… our voracious Panditji recited the Ganesh vandana eloquently to begin the ceremonies, however when it came to Laxmiji.. the Goddess of Wealth and prosperity, the ad-hoc summoned Pundit-ji confided…slightly embarrassed…”I do not know this puja”… ofcourse, neither does my sister or the others participating… ghastly silence in the office…the Indian fateful mind thinking….”would we not have prosperity this year??” 'up-shagun'.

However the Pundit, being a wise-guy had a solution…

He went to his cell phone….quickly browsed the ‘R-World’ digital space.. reached the ‘Devotional music' section.. and there you go! He had the Laxmi puja taken care of in great voice and music :) now with the digital binary coded puja running in the background, one could not help but favourably think…the Goddess has given a ‘sign’ on where prosperity is! ;)

The Gods with their omnipresence have taken the web-space too. ! YaY!!

'The Business Experiment'

The Business Experiment (www.thebusinessexperiment.com) - it's a new business idea that is based on the 'wisdom of crowds' concept.  WoC refers to the idea that the average opinion of common people is better than the best estimate of the most knowledgable expert. 

TBE is basically a bunch of people trying to start a business (it looks like it will be some type of niche consulting firm).  All major decisions are voted on by members.  The more people participated the more shares they earn in the company.  A unique and interesting concept.

Another interesting similar business in function already is www.trendspotting.com. However it doesnot give you ownership, but gifts etc. to spot a useful emerging consumer trend. For those in Europe, try and join one of their conferences focusing on emerging consumer patterns and marketing to niche audiences.