Serendipity and Learning

 It was a summer afternoon and it was my vacation between two semesters. What better to do than to sleep. But that was not to be.  While I was asleep, one of those "survey" takers had landed at my doorstep. The survey was for some upcoming cosmetic cream launch or something. Survey duly completed, my mother became curious. She asked the boy, "Who are you? How come you are doing this job? Are you studying?" The boy told her how he was in college, but he was using this vacation as a way to earn, learn and gain some experience.  And she told him, "I also have a person like this here, but he is sleeping. Give me the address, he will also come from tomorrow" And thus it was, that my afternoon reverie was broken - with an earful about how college students are being so resourceful and how I, as a college student was lazy. And that I have to show up at 9 at this place the next day since my mother had promised that boy that I would come.  Thus, I landed up next day...

Once upon a time, i was tasked with running a newsletter and this was being run by someone else - but somehow the issues never came out. I said, sure and took over the newsletter team. Called for a few meetings, but hardly anybody turned up. And then I asked the one or two people who regularly turned up and then it struck me... I met all the "committee members" 1 on 1 and asked them are they here because of the love of writing or because their managers sent them. Most of them had no love of writing - they were there because someone asked them to be on the committee. I then gave them a choice - no repercussions, you can leave this committee.  Most did. Two stayed back. And we managed to bring out a couple of issues. After that we sent an mail - Would you like to join this newsletter team? With a few fun lines thrown in. In a week we got another 5 people who were there because they liked writing. And then the newsletter never missed an issue! A very similar experience to the ti...

We upgraded our washing machine. After nearly a decade and a half or thereabouts. For good measure, we purchased the same brand and roughly the same capacity - since, well, we were used to the machine and as change averse as we are when it comes to washing clothes, we decided to stick to the brand. But little did we realise that the world has changed. From simple washing machines to fuzzy washing machines - nowadays they also use AI and IoT - to wash clothes. I think by the time the next generation of machines hit the market, we will have to offer it crypto coins, biometric scanners and use blockchain to identify the clothes and modes.  Jokes apart, after using it for a few days, I am fairly convinced, washing machine designers do not use the washing machines they designed.  The washing machine does not allow me to put wet clothes into it. Why do I put wet clothes, you ask? (Because I am a user and I have my quirks). But rational explanation - Some times clothes need to be scr...

 I have three or four subscription programs of ecom sites. I wont name them here, but this is just my reflection after I cancelled one and decided to see how long I can live without a subscription program and some of my thoughts post that.  The moment I have a subscription program - my purchase from the entity goes up. And some of these entities also show you how much you have "saved" and that makes me purchase even more. And not in a binge purchase mode - but the fact that you have subscribed makes you rationalise the ordering in your head. I have already paid for it and they are offering me free/overnight/fast delivery, so I need to order that much to make up for it or it is paid for anyhow.  It obviously locks me up from having to try anything new - because I have paid for one and the second one will probably charge me more. And with all that, is there a significant value add? Possibly nothing that I can discern. One of these programs came for review. (By the way, one ...

 I recently read a report on the future of l&d and I must I am disappointed. To sum up, here were the broad points.  Digital learning will grow:  My take: Yes, but getting access to good content is more and more difficult. Companies want to sell you a billion licences. Employees want learning only at the point where they need it and dont want to waste time searching through dozens on videos, learning and unlearning digital frameworks. So, digital learning will grow - but where is the quality?  In future I hope, Digital learning is relevant, shorter (minus the preambles), crisp and very very context specific. I personally think companies are better off investing in making their own content especially if the content has to be repeated - standard frameworks, relevant to the values and so on.  L&D will be key to talent retention: My take: Not in India. Not in tech. I cant think where else. L&D was never and is never the key to talent retention, except in...