Fountain Pen

So, they say it is a mobile revolution in India. To give you a perspective of how things have changed in the last 3 decades – Overall tele density in India was 0.6% in 1990. Today it is a whopping 89.9%. Mobile telephony when it was introduced around 1995 was considered a luxury item then. Incoming calls were charged at the rate of Rs.16 per minute.

Emails and internet also started to gain some traction, roughly about the same time. 

Slowly things started to change. Somewhere we saw a convergence of Internet and Telephony. That was the beginning of a new era. The Millennial era!

Rest as they say is history.

New Telecom operators were born. Initial thrust was to increase telephony presence. Call charges dropped. Incoming calls became free. Outgoing calls were charged under a rupee. That was the real beginning of the “mobile revolution”.

What did it do to the psyche of people? Mobiles shifted from being an aristocratic luxury item to be a common man commodity. Missed calls became a phenomena. SMS lingo were invented.

Then started the data penetration.  Tablets, smartphones came to existence. Apps and social media became a part of life. From cameras to address book, Computers to wallets, shopping to books & music - everything got encapsulated in the small device.

But as in any new technological development, there were collateral damages. Slowly but surely people started losing some of their life skills. For example – people started being more comfortable texting than talking. PMs meant Private messages and not Private Meetings. They were more comfortable in their virtual world of social media. Group chats took the place of group meets. Not to forget, Mute buttons in group chats got more importance.

Does anyone remember any telephone number now, apart from their own?

Writing with one’s own handwriting – that has definitely taken a beating. Either it is typing on the computers or extensive usage of thumbs on the phones. Thankfully the new smartphones have made it easier for the thumbs.

Now even the doctors have starting typing their prescriptions. As the joke goes, deciphering what the doctors wrote in their handwriting needed some skill!  

Would the thumb have actually liked to provide the good supporting role that it used to do while holding that mighty pen? Remember the days when the thumb would be soiled with ink from the fountain pen?

With the latest thrust on data penetration, spectrum availability for faster speeds etc – the good old voice calls have now become free. Yes, all incoming and outgoing calls are free. There’s one silver lining there. Move on from missed calls and short messages. Take the telephone and speak. SPEAK. Let your voice be heard by the other person. Lest, that life skill would be lost too.

With technological advancements in SMAC & IoT, looking forward to some interesting applications which can enhance and utilise the life skills of people as well.

Can there be a laptop without the key board – but have a writing pad wherein one can write with one’s own handwriting? Artificial intelligence(AI) can take care of deciphering the letters and words. With the option of displaying in the original handwriting as well as a digitized version. After all, AI can now identify human faces faster than humans. 

The day may not be far when the traditional paper back note book be connected to the cloud? Whatever one writes in the notebook, (which would perhaps be sporting a printed antenna built-in on that paper), gets stored in the cloud too.  A few years ago – the laptops were named Notebooks and had tried to take over the traditional note books. There will be a time, when the traditional paper back notebook takes over from the laptop with even better technology at a fraction of cost.

The fountain pen hopefully will have a rebirth with an embedded chip inside, coupled with AI and to connect to the cloud.

Lovely name – Fountain pen. Will the new fountain pen spread data and connectivity in all directions just like the fountain? Will it have music too?

Seeds of Success

“What’s so great about working for that family enterprise?” – quipped a successful CEO of a large multinational enterprise to the gentleman. “You are intelligent, well educated, you have a mind of your own. Why then? There’s plenty of money outside. You will get global recognition. You can travel worldwide. You will be entitled to Five Star holidays and can play golf during your spare time. Not exactly spare time – you can actually play golf anytime you want, even with your clients and get them to sign contracts.”

The young man was still not impressed. And was getting impatient. The professional CEO had a puzzled look on his face. The young man then asked the Prof CEO – “Have you ever personally rushed any of your employee’s relative to the hospital? And have you visited the hospital to check on the well being, more than once?”

“Ah, that’s no justification. Why be a mere soldier when you can be a King?”

The young man corrected – “Loyal soldier. Not mere.”

“This is ridiculous. This is a feudal mentality. I am shocked to see this in this era and age.”

“Right you are! Feudal indeed. Namak toh khaya hoon. And yes, food is provided every day.”

The professional CEO still couldn’t get it. The super successful global CEO( as he thought he was), was bewildered that he couldn’t convince this mere soldier to switch sides. What is it that the family is offering this bright spark and holds him to ransom? How have they managed to put him in the golden cage with resort like perquisites? ( Any inference to the recent “Golden resort” is purely coincidental).

Isn’t the above phenomena true with most family enterprises? And also with so called political dynasties. The members hardly speak up against the family. They defend them through thick and thin. And they would like to ensure that the family is always at the helm despite the organisation having many more capable leaders to run the show. This love for the family is unimaginable.

Perhaps that is one of the secrets of the success in the family enterprises across the globe. They value their employees. A small touch of warmth that they provide, does the wonders.

Some interesting points about family enterprise that various researches indicate:

• A feeling of “I feel loyal to my organisation” is far higher.
• Employee retention and longevity is definitely high.
• There have been many instances of employees' families generations working in the same family enterprise.
• High levels of productivity including multi-functional-tasking by employees.
• Interesting and intriguing sentiments by the top employees - "I know I can never be the number one nor do I want to be one. I am just happy to be of support." Unlike the quest for power that happens in the professionally run. (Disclaimer: -The infighting for power amongst the family members if at all, is not considered in this).
• Customer’s faith towards family enterprise is far greater as there is an element of trust embedded. This is really big.
• Across diverse business interests and across generations in the family, it is  the “Core Value” that binds them together for decades. This core value is the reason for success, despite the vagaries of the market place.

And so on…

Does this mean, it is a cakewalk for the family businesses? Certainly not. They strive hard to establish themselves. Hard work, productivity, value for money from employees are significant. They concentrate to provide a clean, simple environment than to provide a luxury laden ambience. Small family enterprises are more often training grounds and thus poaching grounds for bigger multinational competitors. Certainly there would be some percentage of employees who’d jump across for the “greener golf course”.

While, the family balances to manage the above factors, there are a few things which they need to be wary of. As per studies, only about 30% of family and businesses survive into the second generation, 12% are still viable into the third generation, and only about 3% of all family businesses operate into the fourth generation or beyond. Some sample questions that arise in their minds – I've built a great business but my children are not ready/interested in it. My father built a great business, but I am not a good fit to take it to the next level. Our family-owned business has family issues affecting the business. Our older generation cannot/will not 'let go'. We have a lack of the right talent as family members without skills or experience occupy management positions. Etcetera.

The key to longevity of success depends on the critical nurturing of Management Succession Planning, Ownership Succession Planning & Leadership Development. It is as important as the business itself. 

Organisations will thrive. Political dynasties will thrive. 

Yes, call it SuccesScion Planning!