Life Update and a few Busines Lessons

Haven’t posted anything for a considerable amount of time here (Though I’ve been pretty active over at WATblog).

I don’t really have a reason – it’s just not wanting to post, or perhaps not being in the mood to post. So finally at 2:30 in the night - I thought...chalo thoda post karte hai!

Well rains were pretty bad the weekend I last posted…here’s a pic of Ghatkopar station on the Saturday (June 30th)…



















Will try to upload other pics when I have enough dedication to do so!

Well that very day – always being game for adventurous Mumbai-Pune journeys – I took off for Pune around 4 in the evening. Heavy rains had lashed the city till about 3:30 and at 4 it was just a drizzle.

Waded through water for 2 KM’s and then managed to get a highly over-priced rick ride to Chembur. From there after a considerable wait, was able to catch a Karnataka State Tourism Bus on its way to Bangalore.

Was able to convince a friend to pick me up at Hinjewadi on the outskirts of Pune (Some where on the Pune By-Pass road)…

Return journey and the next weekends journeys were highly boring and not even worth mentioning!

Other arbit incidents in this phase:

Bike puncture last to last weekend. This is where I learnt a very important business lesson – Provide a service to people at a time they aren’t in a condition to bargain and you’ll definitely be on your way to a successful venture.

Why do I say so?
The tube had 3 punctures – the repair waala said, ‘I don’t have time to sit and fix 3 holes, I’ve a lot of customers waiting – do you want a new tube?’
I mean WTF? But what could I say?

So anyways he shows me some third grade local tube which had a price tag of 120. He said Rs 180 hoga!
WTF?
150 tube ka and 30 Rs service charge.

I’ve been biking for as long as I remember – and I've had my fair share of punctures, but I’ve never paid this much. Me being me – obviously had to argue and bargain…to which he simply said – Jao, mujhe nahi karna aapka tube change. Kahi aur se karva lo.

Yeah right! There was no tyre repair waala for around at least 2-3 kms! Plus he’d already taken off my tyre, so I couldn’t even think of dragging the bike. Thus, I had to ultimately give in to his price.

But come to think of it – I liked the arrogance and self belief of that chap.

Another incident:
This is one time I really miss not carrying my camera.

Was eating at this local Chinese dhaba in Mumbai – there was a door hanging of sorts which said – Hot Garlic Prowns

After staring at it for like 10 mins – I finally summoned enough courage to ask the owner as to why he couldn’t get the spelling right?

He started smiling. WTF?
And that’s where I learnt another essential business mantra – Always keep your end consumer in mind. Market your product according to the guys who are going to be using it.

He said – you know the correct spelling of prawns and so do I. But the average customer in my small place doesn’t. A day before I got this hanging printed – I asked 10 of my regular customers to choose the correct spelling of prawns – Prawns or Prowns?

7 of them selected prowns!

He further added – everyone knows what hot is and garlic is considered as a staple Chinese product.

Damn! They need to teach such stuff in Business Schools.

Well back to my life update –

Too much on my plate….too many thoughts….too many ambitions…..i hope I don’t run out of steam. At times believing in yourself is much more important than believing in the mere presence of God.

Loneliness:


















P.S: I paid only 160 to the Puncture Waala :-)