Author Archives: nimeshbhandari

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About nimeshbhandari

I am heading an Internet business and have over 10 years of experience in mobile and internet domain. I am a technology enthusiast and loves blogging about technology, poems, management and entrepreneurship.

Down Under Family Adventure: 14 Days of Wildlife, Wonders & Unforgettable Moments in Australia

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By Nimesh – Travelling with Nikki, Yathaarth and Kshitij

From the moment our plane touched down in Melbourne on 4 May 2025, we knew this family trip to Australia would be special. As a family of four – myself (Nimesh), my wife Nikki, our elder son Yathaarth and younger son Kshitij – we had dreamed of seeing kangaroos up close, watching penguins waddle home at sunset, and standing before the dramatic cliffs of the Great Ocean Road. What we experienced over the next two weeks far exceeded those dreams. It was a perfect blend of wild nature, thrilling adventures, starting from Melbourne to Tasmania and going upto Great Barrier Reef.

Here’s our story – a heartfelt recap of our 14-day journey from Melbourne to Tasmania, the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays and Brisbane.

Arrival in Melbourne! No Luggage Arrived. Night Shopping upon Arrival

When we arrived in Melbourne, the first thing that took us by surprise was the biosecurity check at the airport. Dogs were sniffing the bags to check if we had carried any fruits, nuts, or dairy products from India. We had 2 bags full of food items, and we were really scared that the biosecurity check might catch it and we would have to dispose of all the items. But we had another surprise waiting for us. While we were waiting for our checked baggage, we were called to the office and informed that none of our luggage had arrived and it could only come the next day. The officers of Singapore Airlines were kind enough to give us a Rs 40k worth voucher to arrange for clothes and essentials in the meantime.

We were in a state of shock for a few minutes and panicked as we did not know where to go for shopping. We were all very hungry as well, but due to the paucity of time, we had to first go to the nearby Woolworths to do essential shopping and then only go for dinner. We quickly passed through the biosecurity check as we did have only hand luggage and picked up our rental car. We headed to the nearest Woolworths and quickly finished shopping in 2 hours.

We checked on the nearest Indian restaurant, and Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar popped up. It was quite late, and we were not sure if it would be open by the time we reached there. We arrived by 9:30 PM, and the restaurant staff were just closing the restaurant. I requested the owner to kindly open the restaurant for us, as we were really hungry. The owner agreed and asked his team to make hot chapatis and dal for us. It was the best food we had during our entire trip to Australia. I am really thankful to the owner of the restaurant. He was really kind.

With the Owner of Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar

In hindsight, I feel that what happened with us upon arrival was in best interest for the family. If luggage would have arrived it would have gone through Bio-security check and we might have had to dispose lot of items which was our lifeline.

Melbourne Arrival & Phillip Island Magic (4–5 May)

After landing at 5 pm, we checked into Pegasus Apartment Hotel, picked up essentials at Apna Desi Indian Grocery and enjoyed a relaxed dinner at Gopal’s Vegetarian. The next morning we were up at dawn, heading to Moonlit Sanctuary by 9:30 am. The boys’ eyes lit up as they hand-fed kangaroos – Yathaarth gently offering pellets while Kshitij beamed with pure joy. We then drove to Phillip Island, hired bikes at Cowes Bike Shop and pedalled the scenic Rhyll Inlet Walkway with the sea breeze in our faces.

Afternoon treats included the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, followed by the Nobbies Centre where we marvelled at the rugged coastline and Antarctic Journey exhibit. The grand finale was the Penguin Parade at sunset – hundreds of little penguins waddling up the beach after a day at sea. We ended the day with dinner at Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar and freakshakes at Three One 2 One. A perfect introduction to Australia’s wildlife wonders.

The Great Ocean Road: Kangaroos, Koalas & Iconic Coastline (6 May)

Our Great Ocean Road day was pure bucket-list magic. Leaving Melbourne at 8 am, we first stopped at Anglesea Golf Course where wild kangaroos grazed peacefully on the fairways – a surreal sight captured perfectly in our photos. We climbed the historic Split Point Lighthouse, enjoyed a delicious lunch at Ras Leela Restaurant, and then drove to Kennet River for the famous koala walk. Spotting sleepy koalas high in the eucalyptus trees felt like a dream.

The highlight? The Twelve Apostles and London Arch emerging from the misty ocean. Standing on Gibson Steps with the waves crashing below, we felt small yet incredibly connected to this ancient landscape. Dinner with friends at Laddu Gopal Pure Veg was the perfect way to unwind.

City Vibes, Puffing Billy & the Spirit of Tasmania (7–8 May)

Back in Melbourne, we parked at Docklands for a morning walk and cycle, then hopped on the free City Circle Tram (#35) for a relaxed city tour. We visited the ISKCON Temple for a peaceful lunch and later explored Waratina Lavender Farm. The real highlight was boarding the Puffing Billy steam train at Belgrave for the scenic ride to Lakeside – the boys loved waving to passengers and feeling the historic engine chug through the forests.

That evening we drove to Geelong and sailed overnight on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, arriving refreshed in Devonport the next morning.

Tasmania: Misty Mountains, Rail Rides & Glow-Worm Nights (9–12 May)

Tasmania stole our hearts. At Cradle Mountain we hiked the Enchanted Walk and Dove Lake under dramatic mist, spotting wombats along the way. A guided mine tour with Roamwild Tasmania followed, then stops at Ironblow Lookout, Nelson Falls and Lake Burbury. We stayed at the charming Derwent Bridge Chalet and enjoyed dinner at Pumphouse Point before a magical Platypus Bay walk at Lake St Clair.

The next day we experienced the unique Railtrack Ride through the forests to Queenstown, visited Westerway Raspberry Farm, and reached Hobart in time for the vibrant Salamanca Market. We stocked up at The Spice House grocery and treated ourselves to ice cream at Van Diemens Land Creamery before a night view from Rosny Hill Lookout.

The following days were equally packed: the quirky Pooseum, Huon Valley Orchard, Saffron Farm, Geeveston Platypus Walk, Hastings Caves (complete with a thermal spring bath), and an unforgettable Glow Worm Tour at night. We capped our Tasmanian chapter with a sunrise at Mount Wellington, a visit to MONA Museum and a quick bite at Chaat Corner before our night flight to Brisbane.

Gold Coast Thrills & Tamborine Mountain (13–14 May)

The Gold Coast brought high-energy fun. We headed straight to O’Reilly Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park for short walks and the Mountview Alpaca Tour – the boys were in heaven feeding and petting the fluffy alpacas. We explored Tamborine Mountain’s skywalk, enjoyed fudge at Granny Mac’s, and joined a magical glow-worm tour.

The next day started with the quirky AquaDuck amphibious tour, followed by parasailing over Surfers Paradise and jet-skiing on the sparkling waters. A quick visit to The Spice Trail grocery and lunch at Sankalp Indian Restaurant kept our tummies happy before our evening flight to Mackay.

Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef: Pure Paradise (15–16 May)

The Whitsundays delivered postcard-perfect moments. A scenic flight over the famous white-sand islands was breathtaking, followed by a full-day Great Barrier Reef tour with snorkelling among colourful fish and corals. We relaxed at Airlie Beach Lagoon and enjoyed dinner at Lovely India before our evening flight back to Brisbane.

Brisbane Finale: Bridges, Wake Parks & Last-Minute Memories (17 May)

Our last full day began with the thrilling Story Bridge Adventure Climb at 8 am, followed by wakeboarding at Bayside Wake Park. We refuelled at Govinda’s, explored the Queensland Museum and shopped at DFO before hiring Lime bikes for a sunset ride along the Kangaroo Point Bikeway. Dinner at Sankalp was the perfect finale.

Reflections from a Family That Travelled Well

Fourteen days, countless smiles, and memories that will last a lifetime. Watching Yathaarth and Kshitij feed kangaroos, spot koalas in the wild, ride steam trains through misty forests and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef was priceless. Nikki and I loved every scenic drive, every vegetarian discovery (from ISKCON temples to Sankalp restaurants), and every quiet moment watching the boys marvel at nature.

Australia welcomed us with open arms – its wildlife is friendly, its landscapes dramatic, and its people warm. If you’re planning a family trip Down Under, our advice is simple: rent a car, book wildlife experiences early, pack layers for Tasmania’s changeable weather, and always leave room for spontaneous ice-cream stops.

Thank you, Australia – we’ll be back.

Have you explored Australia with kids? Which destination would you add to our itinerary? Share your thoughts in the comments!

All photos by Nimesh & family. Follow us for more family travel stories.

Why is Aryan Invasion theory baseless and wrong?

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Last few months I have been reading a lot on Ancient Indian History and trying to make sense out of the sequence of events as described in various books.

One thing which all of us have studied in history books is the Aryan Invasion theory which blatantly claims that a group of people from Central Asia invaded the Indus valley Civilisation and killed the locals and started the glorious Vedic period in Indian history.

I am sure this has been puzzling for most people as to how can an evolved civilization like Indus valley be extinct by a group of invaders from North India? Why did the locals adopt hindu customs & religion and did not bring with them the custom / religion followed in Central Asia? Why vedas which are voluminous do not mention anything about Central Asia and almost everything is about Bharat?

How did Aryan Invasion Theory come into being?

During the excavation of Mohenjodao ruins in 1925, sixteen skeletons were found in Mohenjodaro’s ruins in 1925. Later, in 1947, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, a British archaeologist tried to correlate the Harapppan ruins with Rigveda and he concluded that men, women and children were massacred by the invading Aryans, then he made his infamous proclamation about Indra being guilty of Indus Valley destruction.

Looks like NCERT has already questioned the theory but for some reason, it is still part of many textbooks which our kids study till date.

In 1960s, the evidence of the massacre in Mohenjodaro was questioned by an archaeologist named George Dales. He demonstrated that the skeletons found at the site did not belong to the same period. He further concluded that there are no signs of destruction, war or any weapons. Thus ending the speculation about some invaders destroying the Harappan civilisation. This is how NCERT presented the Aryan Invasion Theory in a balanced manner. From the chapter on the Harappan Civilisation; Class-XII, Themes in Indian History-I, NCERT, page-18

Now let us look at other evidences which proves that the theory is based on a very weak ground and it is surprising how was it accepted by larger historical fraternity without a sound evidence :–

  1. There is no large culture / civilization in Central Asia around 1500 BCE and Indus valley was one of the largest civilization. How can one explain the demise of an established civilization by a group of nomads who were not advanced as the Indus people
  2. Vedas constantly venerated the land of Sapt Sindhu ( land of seven rivers) and there is no mention of a original land from where these people belonged to. Vedas also clearly tells that Vedic people had a good knowledge of surrounding geography of India but they do not mention anything about Central Asia
  3. The alleged Aryan Invaders were said to have introduced the horse to south Asia, and students have been taught that no horses lived there before 1500 BC. However, bones and teeth of the true horse have been found in Indus and pre-Indus sites in India, and identified as such by a zoologist, Sandor Bokonyi. At least one ceramic figurine of a horse was found by archeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler in an Indus site. Details about the horse matter can be found in archeologist Michel Danino’s paper, The Horse and The Aryan Debate. Further Recent discoveries in Sinhauli excavation in Uttar pradesh have shown horse carriages were being used in India even before 1500 BCE
  4. One can find multiple texts in Egypt, persia and greeks where they mention about “bharat” and how there were established trade links. There have been evidences that as far as 1500 BCE people in Indus valley were trading with people in Egypt, persia and africa. But none of the texts mentioned any sort of invasion from Central Asia.
  5. Mentioning a very nice post by Ranjiv Kurup who states that most of the Indian population seems to have originated from Indus valley people.
  6. One of the arguments given by proponents of Aryan Invasion theory is that there is similarities in languages between Indic and European languages. But that could possibly have happened because of outwardly movement of population from Indus valley
  7. Other argument given is the mention of horses in Vedic texts and no artefacts of horses found in Indus valley. But recent discoveries in Sinhauli also debunks the theory.

So basis so many observations made by people who have been studying Ancient Indian history, it is quite evident that Aryan Invasion theory is full of holes and was enforced upon the Indians to prove a point on white supremacy.

Book Summary: Emotional Equations

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Recently read a wonderful book – Emotional Equations by Chip Conley

Book is really insightful and helps you distill your thoughts and understand your emotions

Putting down all Emotional equations which I learned here.

  1. Emotions = Life
  2. Serenity = Sigma Constant + Sigma Variable
  3. Self Esteem = Success / Pretensions
  4. Depression = Unexpressed Anger ( bottling up of emotions)
  5. Event + Reaction = Outcome ( you are product of your decisions, not your outcome)
  6. Optimism – Joy = Anticipation
  7. Despair = Suffering – Meaning ( How who has a why can bear almost any how)
  8. Regret = Disappointment + Responsibility (Regret results from the actions we could have taken and also actions we took.. Regret lacks immediacy and tends to come from reflection or after some insight that comes from time)
  9. Happiness = Wanting what you Have / Having what you want
  10. Happiness = Practicing Gratitude / Pursuing Gratification
  11. Suffering = Pain * Resistance
  12. Disappointment = Expectation – Reality
  13. Remorse = Regret + Guilt
  14. Jealousy = Mistrust / Self-Esteem. Fear of Loss
  15. Envy = (Pride + Vanity) / Kindness.. Wish for a gain
  16. Anxiety = Uncertainty * Powerlessness
  17. Calling = Pleasure / Pain = Want-tos / have-tos
  18. Workaholism = What are you running from? / What are you living for?
  19. Flow = Skill / Challenge where Skill should match challenge
  20. Curiosity = Wonder + Awe
  21. Authenticity = Self Awareness * Courage
  22. Narcissim = (Self-Esteem)^2 * Entitlement
  23. Integrity = Authenticity * Invisibility * Reliability
  24. Joy = Love – Fear
  25. Innovation = Creativity – Cynicism
  26. Thriving = Frequency of Positive / Frequency of Negative >=3
  27. Anxiety = Fear + Rumination
  28. Faith = Belief/ Intellect
  29. Curiosity + Faith = Peace
  30. Wisdom = Squareroot (Experience)

a. It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. So always on quest for what is life asking you right now?

b. Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed

c. We probably can do more to affect the quality of our lives by controlling our expectations than by doing virtually anything else

d. Frustration can serve as a temporary bridge to a better outcome

e. Frustration moves forward. Disappointment retreats

f. My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything after that has been a bonus

g. Anticipated regret will make decisions harder to make, and post decision regret makes them harder to enjoy

h. Seizing the moment is the antidote to the fact that we are so heavily influenced by the immediate sting of regrettable action that we favour inaction over action without calculating the long-term toll of this choice.

i. The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself when anxiety has taken us hostage.

j. To reduce anxiety remember that whatever you do – do with love.. Don’t be worried about the outcome and what you can control and cannot control

k. To reduce anxiety create a “worry period” and indulge in worry as much as you want to during this time.

l. Pleasure for its own sake grows old quickly, but when it is a by-product of doing something that fulfills you, pleasure is divine indeed.

m. Work is love made visible.

n. Flow is a highly focused state of relaxed concentration that obliterates all else out of consciousness. State of flow involves a loss of self-consciousness (loose consciousness of oneself)

o. The more I challenge myself, the better I become.

p. Mastery isn’t a destination, it is a way of living

q. Albert Einstein said – I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.

r. Curiosity is the engine of growth. Curiosity requires you to admit that you don’t know what you don’t know. Curiosity fuels creativity

s. Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

t. Where you come from (your roots) will help you know who you are (authenticity) and where you are going (your calling)

u. Living a fulfilled life is living an authentic life.

v. Courage can be broken down into 4 subcategories – bravery, perseverance, honesty, zest.

w. Ask yourself this – Who do I need to be – not what I need to do – to represent my authentic self in the world?

x. Guilt is when you feel you did something wrong, Shame is when you feel you are wrong to the core.

y. When two people relate to each other authentically and humanly, God is the electricity that surges between them.

z. It is never too late to what you might have been.

a. Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. Beware of chasing happiness, happiness ensues so be careful of pursuing.

b. I developed a habit of love. We don’t grow by just loving the people who are good to us. We grow by learning to love those who are less lovable, those who are pumped with fear in their lives.

c. The most significant difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is solid and joy is liquid.

d. When we have about three times as many positive emotions or influences in our lives as the negative ones, a domino or cascading effect starts to emerge that leads to what we call a “momentum of victory”

e. Faith mines thew wisdom of the heart. Intellect taps into the reason of the mind. Belief is the intersection where heart and mind meets.

f. Joy comes from wanting others to be happy and all suffering in this world comes from wanting only oneself to be happy.

g. Wisdom is fundamentally a subtractive virtue, not an additive one. Wise men filter insights when others get lost in piles and piles of knowledge.

h. Wisdom is all about distilling down complexity of life with all its distractions to what is at its core.

i. Serenity prayer – God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

k. Experience fuels wisdom, and insight is what allows your wisdom to create a quantum leap on occasion.

l. The magic of life is not in computing more but in learning to make sense with less.

5 Most Romantic Places to Live

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Paris, France

If you are a philosophical romantic type, Paris is an ideal destination for you. Be it a lazy picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens, meditating stroll along the banks of the Seine, and afternoons lost among the cobblestones of the Latin Quarter…these are among the most romantic pastimes this world has to offer.

FOTO-PARIS

Paris is magical, and you experience romance is whatever you do in this city. Once in the city, you should be spending your time looking at the intricate detailing on every structure lining the boulevards, the saucy Moulin Rouge shows, and an atmospheric dinner on Eiffel Tower.

Istria, Croatia

If sailing in Yachts is your way of romance, Istria is an ideal place for you. The cobalt blue of the Adriatic Sea on Istria’s cost belongs to a different world. The coast is dotted with flotillas of white yachts. The city looks like frozen in history with a beautiful fortresses and bell towers creating a picture perfect city. Later, this region was ruled by the Venetians, who also left an architectural legacy.  The spell bounding beauty of Istria, made the romans name it as Tierra Magica.

The country side looks like a carefully crafted with olive groves, cherries, figs, and walnuts. High in the hills, behind more medieval walls, are yet more toy-town settlements of fountains, chestnut trees, and frescoed churches. Frankly, I defy you not to fall in love with Istria.

 

Leh, India

If bitter cold does not deter you from having romance, Leh is your dream destination. The average temperature in Leh in summers is 20 degrees, but it sharply falls as you climb to heights.  Leh’s topography is a cocktail of muddy houses, snow capped mountains and blue lakes. What takes you by surprise is the contrasting landscapes in the region – Lake surrounded by Dry mountain on one side and snow capped peaks on the other side.

This is the place where vast boundaries of Pangong Sa lake would merge with the azure sky. The serenity which Leh offers is unmatched and you will fall in love with the mystique nature and simplicity of people. You will be few notches away from divinity!!

leh

Santorini, Greece

If you are the adventurous romantic kinds, Santorini is the perfect date for you. Situated in Greece archipelago, Santorini is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Santorini has one of the most active Volcano zones and has erupted many times, with varying degrees of explosivity.

Santorini’s offers a splendid view of coloured beaches – black pebble beach & red beach, because of the molten lava. The stunning view cliff perched town (Fira) is enchanting and the whole town looks like crafted in white marble. Santorini is symbolic of Dreams which transcend all limitations and still persist.

 

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

If you want to stimulate your romantic passions, Rio is your ideal destination. It is a perfect combination of Latin passion and cool see breeze nights. Rio offers tons of spots for the lovers – Copacabana to Tijuca National Park, Maracana Football Stadium, the Cinematheque nightclub. The carnival city offers you loads of fun from Samba dance to steamy nights and eclectic music.

Rio is one place where the entire population of the city is in a perpetual romance with life and dance, music and fun are way of life.

Can You Change the World? – Mr. Product Manager.

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Do you DAY DREAM of product which will change the world for better, for ever ?

Do you believe that you can see the world through a PRISM which exposes the intricate details the way it operates ?

Do you get PAINED by gaps in the offerings in a industry and do you wish to solve it?

Do you at times just want to listen to soothing music and let your CREATIVE juices flow?

Do you see yourself PASSIONATELY talking to the audience on how your product will change future?

Do you have the guts to CHANGE the present by moulding user behaviour and evangelizing your product?

Do you want to SIMPLIFY the complex use cases you see around you?

Can you think of COMPLEX scenarios and create a workflow around them?

Are you ANALYTICAL enough to understand the micro-behaviour of consumers?

Do you have the OWNERSHIP drive to conceptualize, create and popularize your product?

Can you EXECUTE your vision by orchestrating the entire process working between technology, design, business teams and top management?

Do you want to CREATE the next Apple?

Do you want the chuck the job and be an ENTREPRENEUR?

If your answer is re-sounding yes for all the above questions, you should be talking to us!!

At RealtyCompass, we are working hard to solve the agony the consumer goes through while looking for a house.  Everyday we are hatching tons of ideas everyday and are hungry for more!!  We are looking for serious product managers, who can not only hatch ideas, but can also nurture and grow it.

You are SMART, GENIUS, CREATIVE, ANALYTICAL, ORCHESTRATOR. But the proof of the pudding is in eating !!

If you think, you are the RIGHT guy, send us a very brief note summarizing your views on RealtyCompass and what would you like to change in it as a product manager…..

You can mail the same at hr@realtycompass.com

Nimesh Bhandari

CEO, http://www.realtycompass.com

My Dad, Today as I remember you,

My eyes get soft & wet, as tears wait on the fringe!

I clear my glasses every few minutes, in true hope to see you again…again

My hopes soon fade into bittersweet melancholy,

As your absence reminds me of all those years you were nearby!

*

I remember the days when kid in you played with me,

I remember the days when you gave me the inspiration to be!

I remember the days when we passed our time playing board games,

I remember the days you took over the kitchen to make your favorite curry.

I remember the days when as my friend you help me untangle my life,

I remember the days you took us for vacations to beaches,

I remember the days when as ‘grown up’ I got into squabbles,

I remember the days you gave me car keys with a confident yes,

I remember the days when I left the ‘present’ for my future

I remember the days when I used to rush to house to meet you and mom,

I remember all those days when you hid your sorrow to gave us smiles,

These are the leaves of my life; I can only turn, but cannot stitch!!

The emptiness it has left cannot be explained; and expressed by my cold demeanor

*

I know, you are still watching me; guiding me with your invisible hand,

My dreams always chase you, as if you were always here,

My actions always mirror you, as if I am part of your orchestra,

My thoughts always wander to see how it all can be reversed!!

*

I still hope that one day you will give me a surprise,

I still hope that one day I would be able to shed my tears; knowing that I will not have do that again.

I still hope that one day you will re-appear to stay with all of us!

I remembrance of my beloved dad Shri Rajeev Bhandari

5 Things to take for Product strategy of Internet company

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Be Remarkable

Today an average consumer is bombarded by all kinds of messages everyday and he has less and less time to look at them. Only way a consumer can remember you if your (Product) Design is remarkable. Therefore it is important that you not only make your UI elements good looking, but also let it stand out.

Don’t Design for Mass Market

Mass media marketing is far less effective today as the mass market consumers prefer to ignore you in this world of hyper communication. Therefore don’t design a product which large audience will find good, but rather design product which Early Adopters will like (and others might not like). These early adopters will spread your word and convince the mass consumers.

Connect the Tribe

As earlier mentioned that you should design for early adopters who would spread the word. For the early adopters to spread the word, you need to first connect the tribe ( early adopters).  You need to understand what drives these people at the highest level.  Communicate as much as possible with the tribe and also connect them with other early adopters. Once they feel connected, they would spread the word for you.

Less is More

Having too many features does not necessarily mean that your product is good. A minimalist product with focus on details of few features is far better than a product having lot of sub-standard features.

Help your consumer choose  from choices

Too many choices confuse consumer. Categorize your products in simple categories so that consumers can navigate through maize of choices.  If your product objective requires the consumers to take multiple decisions, navigate him from decisions which involves simple decisions to decision which involves complex choices.  Let the consumer start simple and then increase complexity.

 

References

  1. http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_godin_on_sliced_bread.html
  2. http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_godin_on_the_tribes_we_lead.html
  3. http://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_choosing_what_to_choose.html

The Magic

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 The Magic

As we all play the game,

The novice, the veterans and the savvy – all make their move,

The board has odds in favour of the rich and successful,

But the odes are in favour of the resolute,

The dice of success begins to slip with the sweat of diligence

And the young begin to script the future ahead,

The caravan grows to grow even more & colorful,

With wings to destiny, the stories fly,

Call ‘em magician, who swiftly learnt the tricks of the game,

Magic was born in one day; the magicians got created with tenacity.

More Poems

https://osantorini.com/my-poems/

Bollywood – Old vs. New

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Yesterday I partially watched three different Bollywood flicks.

  • Naseeb – Family separation and animosity
  • Mawali – Uncle vs niece for Zameen Zayadaad
  • Lofar – Good man against Gundas and Politicians. Police being absent

Pretty much the three themes on which most movies in 70’s & 80’s were made. Every movie would be a pure copy paste & edit of one such themes..

Then came 90’s when movies were made around teenagers falling in love..

Bollywood has come a long way since then. These days movies are not stereotyped and have refreshing themes.  More producers are willing to experiment and more and more consumers are willing to watch different themed movies.  The agent is the new urban middle class, explosion of multiplexes and advancement in technology which enables production at flexible costs.

Bollywood movies are in some terms reflection of our emerging society and culture. In 70’s and 80’s it was the angst against red tappism and crony capitalism, in 90’s it was the emergence of independence and expression of teenage love, and in 2000’s it is the emergence of new middle class and freedom of expression of different segments of the society….

 

 

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Five point someone – learnings so far..

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Last four months journey has been exciting, full of impatience, worry, happiness and all kinds of feeling one ever experiences…

As I am working on building one of the best Internet Media company, I am learning as I am failing, experiencing and observing.. Here are some of my learnings so far.

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1. Don’t ever under-estimate the impatience of internet audience: You can keep on mulling over on what is the product feature you are lacking and how you should make it more useful for the end consumer, but the problem might lie somewhere else.  Don’t assume that Internet audience has the patience to see what lies beneath. They are an impatient lot and want results quick, real quick!!

 2.  Hire Hungry,  Not Experienced Sales People:  When you are battling with so many things – product, marketing, operations, sales – you would think that hiring the experienced sales guys is the best thing to do as they would have least learning curve. My experience tells me that it might go wrong in a harsh startup environment where power of brand is not behind the sales guy. Experienced sales guys, working in large companies are like courier boys collecting cheques on the power of brand.  They struggle, or rather are not willing to work extra hard when power of brand is not behind them.

Therefore, look of hungry sales guys who have never say die attitude and can withstand the pressure and harsh environment.

3.  Invest Early in Brand Building: In the internet business, Search engine marketing is like a necessary evil. Sooner you reduce your dependence on it, better it is.   Bids only increase over the years and starts pinching you.  SEM is like putting an ad in classified where every ad is competing for attention from the user.. Display is like a insert in main line newspaper.

Invest in Display ads with powerful communication. Be patient in terms of results as brand recall takes time to build.  Be happy seeing more and more people searching you on google via brand keyword.  Have your TG well defined and have targeted publishers for Display ad.

4.Don’t invest early on on Design – fix the UX first: While undoubtedly design is super important in Web 2.0 world, but not more than UX.   And UX is not an elixir which somebody can tell you in 1 day. You need to rigorously experiment, measure and evaluate to fine tune your UX.  While this is a never ending process, spending heavily on Design makes sense when you have a good handle on UX, or atleast you have a good sense of what does not work, otherwise you might up end up in a beautiful UI but a crappy UX.

5. Every employee is an integral part of the success story: As you build the business, you will hire lot of people in operations and seemingly mundane jobs. I can’t stress on it more that it is important to keep every employee engaged and involved. If mundane tasks are not executed properly, a well thought strategic move will not result into anything.. As is rightly said, every brick in the house is important!!

Chief Marketing Officer,

http://www.realtycompass.com

 

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