Leadership Skills
Blog Posts by Satish Mehta
Friends and enemies
It is true that in life, the company of friends adds to happiness. However, the same nearness to friends can distract you and make you careless. Friends focus on and praise your good qualities and strengths. They increase your pride. Spend much time with the fans and supporters who work so hard to help you […]
History
Why do people write history? Why are the events and biographies recorded? Is it because they make a good read and will sell a lot of books? No. The primary purpose of history is to teach and encourage curious minds to learn from others’ experiences. It is said that education and experience teach us a […]
Degrees and schools
What does a college degree do for you? Does it open the door for meaningful work? What is the future of education? The 2018 college graduates carried an average debt of $33,654. For most young people, this debt is unbearable. Instead of enthused about the future, often, they slide into depression. Compared to the students […]
Groundbreaking work and the jeering crowd
Have you noticed a caravan? Everyone is moving in a herd-like manner. It is easy, safe, and you fit in. Traveling in a group is less complicated, and there are fewer obstacles. But, being in a group, you lose your individuality, your real identity. Why? Because you are following somebody else’s direction. You are moving […]
Novice or an Expert
I was talking to someone interested in working in the IT industry. I asked him what he thought about working at TCS or Wipro. He had not heard about the top two IT companies in the world. I met a young, aspiring actress at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston. I asked what she thought of the work of Martin […]
How good do you want this to be?
Your offer. Who is it for? How would they benefit? Is it essential, or just urgent? Is it right, convenient, or just there? Is it improving things, or creating more pressing items? Is it just creating new wants? Is it making customers more productive or squandering time? Is it making or breaking relationships? Is it revealing […]
Endless Growth
The entrepreneurs seeking funding often forecast excessive growth. They project $XXXM in revenue in the next three or five years, growing from YY to YYYY users in year NNNN. Most revenue projections, notably five-year predictions, are a wild guess. All growth forecasts are wrong (including mine). Investors are interested in how the start-up would acquire […]
Leader, Lackey, And Politician.
Leaders discuss ideas, Lackeys hide behind labels and shout slogans, the politicians exploit emotions and just chase money. Most organizations have all three. A leader examines the facts, speaks the truth, takes a strategic view, and does the right thing, even if she pays the price in the short-run. She does not worry about who […]
Before you speed up, know where you are going
In the nineties, first to market was the panacea. Who gets the new telecom innovation out in the market first? Lucent or Northern Telecom. Market entry faster than the competition was deemed critical. But what about direction? How relevant is speed if you are going in the wrong direction? Lucent and Northern Telecom were adept […]
It’s for you
Just about everything customized is better received. One reason is the psychology of “I.” The recognition that attire is: Custom made (for you) With care (the right material) Short-lived (is boring after wearing a few times) Think what else (ideas, services, products, relationships) could be tailored to your liking? Just about everything, I think. Is […]
Drop apathy for change
I have the power of position or expertise. I can affect the corporate culture. I can make you apathetic. I won’t respond to your communication. Dismiss your suggestions. Treat you irrelevant. I will just address the lowest common denominator. Revise the offers to appeal to illiterate or simpletons. Diminish the need for critical thinking and […]
Trapped
Competition drives companies to focus on customer satisfaction. Unhappy users will move to your competitor. But will they? Often, the cost and disruption of the move are a significant barrier. The customer is kind of “trapped.” Pharma companies do not need to make the drug less addictive. They seek to maximize profitability for each drug. […]