Recently read somewhere that if you want to be a good entrepreneur, spend some time working in good companies. My present company is one such company. Continuous improvement and best practices are its core values. It has several websites for internal use like:
- It has its social networking site similar to facebook which is to be used by employees only.
- A micro-blogging site similar to twitter where employees can post short streams and share information.
- A blogging tool where employees can create their own blogs to share their knowledge with colleagues.
- A website which enable employees to take trainings online.
- A website to get financial information anytime. Employees can set compensation plan, download salary slips and submit tax related information.
- An idea submission site where employees are encouraged to submit ideas on a regular basis. Each idea is analyzed and short-listed. There is an execution plan for selected ideas.
- A website for grievances.
- A website to track transportation.
- A website to share technical documents, tutorial videos and research works.
- A website to recognize your colleagues for their good work.
- A website from which employees can download employment proof, address proof letters.
And many other online initiatives.
Long term resolutions soon fade away and you loose enthusiasm. Short term goals, baby steps, increase will-power and enthusiasm to move further. I also found written resolutions to be more effective. It is rightly said:
"A Goal not written is just another dream"
So my top priorities for August 2012 are below. This list also includes shopping.
- Reduce weight. Includes brisk walking and three to four days workout at nearest gym.
- Hands on new technology (Ruby).
- Join electronic guitar class.
- Buy digital camera.
Technorati : priority
Del.icio.us : priority
Relatively low from a Salesman perspective, but enough in two-three hours time. I have a permanent day job where I am working as a Lead Developer. After office hours I have three hours time to invest in marketing my business. So how this resolution of contacting five customers daily initiated?
Well, thanks to Amway seminar held last year in my city. I attended the seminar on request of my neighbor, an active Amway Sales person. I had no wish to attend initially but on my neighbor's intense request, I attended the seminar. I knew I won't loose anything but I will definitely gain something.
One senior Amway member, in his speech, impressed me. He was telling his story of how he started network building many years before when he was a newbie member of Amway. He made a resolution to contact at least ten new potential customers daily after his office hours without any second thought in his mind. Whether a customer would buy his product or become a member under his leg (stream) was not an issue, he said. What was important, than, was to keep building the network and give away his business card. According to him, he was satisfied with the fact that his business card is reaching ten new customers daily and his network of product awareness is growing.
Days became months and months converted into an year. No good news and this chap got disappointed. "I simply broke down", he said. He contacted Amway and someone guided him to keep patience and carry on with his resolution.
Soon a day came when a customer contacted him regarding his products. One customer brought more customers and soon he had many active members under him.
His courage and perseverance touched me. When I started marketing a month ago for my products and services, I had his speech in mind. I made a resolution to contact five new potential clients daily without giving any second thought on rejection. In this short span of time marketing my products, I have not closed many leads, but what makes me happy is that I am not rejected either. Closing a deal is just taking time but it will soon close.
As I sit in my office cabin, cool breeze fills my room indicating the arrival of monsoon. I could see from my office window a nearby road where children enjoying the rain water on roads without hesitation.
This season reminds me of my spiritual journey two years back which started from July. In the first post of my blog, I shared few photos of that journey. It also reminds me of few commitments left unfulfilled in a holy place. I promised to donate water-proof poly sheet to a temple and large storage containers for storing commodities to an Ashram. I want to fulfill these promises this July.
Photos of my garden at home (taken from a poor 10mpx cellphone camera)
I am in a process of restructuring my bank accounts and cashflow. I want to stop all the irrelevant bank charges and penalties by the end of June 2012. The goal is to:
- Close all the bank accounts which require heavy Average Quarterly Balance.
- Transfer all the stocks from an expensive DEMAT service to a fairly inexpensive one.
- Open a recurring amount with auto-debit facility. This will automatically deduct small amount of money from my salary account and save. It is a good disciplinary step.
- Put little money in Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) of a good mutual fund.
- Generate more sources for income from part-time business.
- Use my blog to advertise and sell products of companies that I have partnered with.
(Below) A view from a temple on top of a small hill amidst dense forest.
(Below) While returning from a temple located on a very high location.
(Below) While performing Parikrama (Circling) a holy mountain.
(Below) While taking bath in holy river Mandakini.
(Below): The Caves of Indian Yogis. My Cell phone unable to focus well from a long distance.
(Below) A Machaan (house built on trees or on top of wooden pillars) of a Sadhu taken from a distant location.
