How important are constraints to a problem?

After all, the more solutions we have to any particular problem, the more likely we are to solve it right? In actual practice when we are properly constrained we are more likely to spend our time and resources more effectively in solving problems. An infinite number of solutions includes the bad ones, the ones that take spend our resources too freely, the ones that don't consider risks and unintended consequences, and the ones that address symptoms but do not address the root causes.

It seems like open minded thinking, but what actually happens is inspite of having a near  feasible solution, we tend to come up radical alternatives and explore them. This wastes time, resources and energy. 
 

Role of the Boss

Found this article on how the relationship should be between an employee and his boss.

"My job is to hold the umbrella so the shit from above doesn't hit you.

Your job is to keep me from having to use it."

"I think this is  brilliant because there is so much wisdom on so many levels.  First, it is really funny, especially when paired with the picture in the post.  Second, there is deep wisdom there about the relationship between a good boss and good followers -- these are mutually supportive relationships, not one way. 

Even the best boss can't do everything.  This boss --"gschaadt "-- is more than willing to go to bat for his people.   But the implication for him or any other boss is, if people keep creating conditions where he or she constantly has to protect them, say, from superiors that they piss-off because they do shoddy work or break too many rules or anything else-- a point comes where the difficult employee ends-up undermining the boss's reputation, the reputation of his or her team, and ultimately hurting everyone involved. "

Courtesy: Bob Sutton's blog

Your birth order and number of siblings, is more important than you thought.

According to research, your birth order plays a very significant part of your personality.

"Firstborns, over represented among CEOs and political leaders, are likely to be relatively more comfortable and successful in situations where they can execute within an existing structure,........."

"As children, first-borns strive to emulate and please their parents, and often dominate and care for their younger siblings. Parents tend to delegate responsibility to firstborns, who identify with their parents and with authority. Therefore, relative to their younger siblings, first-born children tend to be more extravertedconscientious and academically inclined, and more dominant and authoritarian." 

"Additionally, firstborns may be uncomfortable when they are required to work in subordinate roles."

"Second-born children, relative to their older siblings, tend to be more flexible and open to new experiences, more empathic and altruistic, more creative and innovative, and more rebellious,...."

Read the whole article here.

Another research shows that  people with multiple siblings tend to be better leaders. Because, they are more in tune with constant harsh feedback from their siblings and are better tuned to reality.

" having multiple siblings also had other advantages as it forces you to learn to cooperate and learn that the world does not swirl around you -- plus to return to the strongest finding form this study, siblings usually give each other unvarnished feedback, making it tough for any of us to live in a fool's paradise."

 

Spell the Benefit of the Benefit.

An old advertising maxim says you’ve got to spell out the benefit of the benefit.

The most frequent reason for an unsuccessful advertising is advertisers are so full of their own accomplishments (the world’s best seed), that they forget to tell us why we should buy (the world’s best lawn).

Courtesy: Made to Stick

Who counts..?

“It is not the critic, who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man, who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows great enthusiasm, great devotion and the triumph of achievement.” - Theodore Roosevelt.

Nuru Light

If you haven't heard of Nuru Light, this is one of the path breaking ideas to fill light and increase productivity in rural areas.



More details about the project are shared in this interview.
http://blog.ennovent.com/2010/03/led-there-be-light-nuru-light/

A man recharging four Nuru Lights with Pedal Power

Voice and Choice

Voice and Choice inspire people.

Once your employees are given a choice and an opportunity for their voice to be heard, they will be inspired to make their choices successful.

The future of shopping

The presentation secrets of Steve Jobs

As I was browsing over MBA blogs, found this presentation on " The presentation secrets of Steve Jobs".

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

View more presentations from Carmine Gallo.

Was just blown off with some of the advice offered in the presentation. Listed a few as a trailer to what the presentation is all about:

• "The single most important thing you can do to dramatically improve your presentations is to have a story to tell, before you work on your PowerPoint file."
• "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
• "Your brain interprets every letter as a picture. So a wordy slide literally chokes your brain.
• "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Watch the presentation to learn a lot more.

Number of millionaires in India far more than 81,000

An excerpt from the BUSINESS INDIA magazine, Feb edition.

"According to D&B - the world's leading provider of sales and marketing solutions - there are more than 81,000 millionaires with each one having an investible surplus of over $1 million (Rs 4.6 crores) across the metros as also Pune and Ahmedabad.

There are around 2,54,300 millionaires with an investible surplus of $50,000 - 1 million (Rs. 2.3 crores to 4.6 crores). Mumbai is leading the table of such millionaires (with around 63,750 individuals: inclusive of both categories), followed by Delhi (around 56,000), Bangalore (at a distance , with around 18,675), Chennai (around 18,500), Kolkata (17960) and Hyderabad (13,450). The number of millionaires in India is growing at a rapid pace. With such a big amount of surplus money available, these HNIs (High Net worth Individuals) often tend to upgrade their lifestyle. "