Decoding and Messages

Take a TV series like Boy Meets World. It was a typical American coming of age story with a middle class Protagonist boy, Cory Matthews (calm, average in intelligence, kind hearted) his stereotypical best friend – Shaun Hunter (Bit Wild, rough, street smart, also poor)

It also had characters like Topenga Lawrence (His ever too sweet Girl friend) Mr. George Feeny (A very moralistic and ideal teacher/professor) and other characters like Cory’s brother, his family, Shawn’s Dad, Shawn’s other influencers etc.

This series was a comedy/drama sitcom. It was also done realistically. (Slice of

Life) Now an Average American/ Canadian could watch it on Disney channel or ABC Even now its reruns are going on.

When a sitcom like this that is so American in nature is shown around the world, it is bound to have a variety of reactions.  It was a Disney product and hence it was distributed widely. Firstly the Asian countries got shocked by seeing the bold story lines and felt the culture shock. The fact that two 12 year olds have a perfect understanding of topics like sex, love, commitment, give and take was very hard for them to comprehend.

Infact the series was pulled out of India after season 1 simply because the Disney India was not quite sure if Indian people would want their kids to see a love story develop between two preteen kids.

Also the series talked about values that the Asian people do not understand quite well. Like the school Janitor (Shaun’s Dad in one season) is respected for the work he does. In India we never value work. We only value status, money and tittles.

Also Mr. Feeny is shown to empower his students, including Shawn Hunter and Eric Matthews (Cory’s Brother) and not over power or black mail them. This is something we as Asians definitely lack. We like to (as Academicians) point out mistakes, we like to punish them, and we like to embarrass them in front of their colleagues. We also don’t like to give second chances even with a handicap.

The point is that Mr. Feeny was not tolerant about sub standard work, plagiarized work, or no work at all. But he allowed his students to do something which not only covered up for the task they missed/cheated on but they had learning’s about management, about friendship, about how nothing is impossible, about how quality depends upon the interest generated. Mr. Feeny is the professor who teaches Shawn that if he puts his mind in to something he can do anything. He leads Eric to College after high school and on a personal note he even helped me come up with my Eskimo theory. This kind of professor who brings best in students comes out of the fact that he is modest, dedicated (despite of low pay) and communicates with his students regularly to understand what makes them tick.

Of course such an academicians is a rarity in India, where the teachers are least bothered. Eventually the motivation of student is lost and learning does not happen. The only motivation a few academicians believe in is the threat of punishment.

So in the end what does Boy Meets World say of America.

Well it projects it as a well-protected country where manifest destiny can actually come true and anyone can become successful. It gives an image of American youth, full of hope, completely dedicated to friends and committed to a partner (with whom sex is to practiced only after marriage) and has only a few problems like unemployment, divorces, drug /alcohol addiction issues

Chamber of Secrets part 2

So Daily Prophet was bought over. Nothing unusual about it. But its the lack of Integrity which amuses us. How do one sleep with mudblood all over ones hands.

The things may change and soon muggles would be back carrying on with their lives. But some amount of transparency is required. Trust is never bought over. It has to be earned. The lack of accountability is clear. The thickheadedness in denying the careless way the whole Basalik incident is treated will be remembered.

Finally Harlem

Harlem
By Langston Hughes 

What happens to a dream deferred? 

......Does it dry up 4
......like a raisin in the sun?
......Or fester like a sore–
......And then run? 
......Does it stink like rotten meat? 
......Or crust and sugar over–
......like a syrupy sweet? 

......Maybe it just sags 
......like a heavy load.

......Or does it explode?

Chamber of Secrets

 Muggles dont get it.  Basilisk will hurt us over and above what it usually does and the room of requirement is not secure anymore. Its all up to the seekers skill to actually bring out the change. But who can be the boy who lived in the world run by he who should not be named.

To make the market and to grow it.

If the first stage of marketing is to make sure you have a right product, which is desirable and it is easily available then the next  step can be how to build on such a market. What does a consumer need? Does he need an unique experience or does he need his expectations to be fulfilled.

It is a tricky situation because designing unique experience requires investment in manpower, technology, operations, and other logistical management.

 But just providing satisfaction to a consumer can lead to the brand being a me too as it is not unique.

For example today Pepsi is coming out with Pepsi Max its new zero calorie drink or Intel is coming out with Atom after a hugely successful Core and Pentium . One might say that these are just examples of product innovations are they are not unique experiences. But isn't unique experience something never seen before/felt before. So doesn't it fall under the domain of innovation.

By Ninad Tatke

3 days grace

Day 1

I was devastated. I felt lost in the crowd. I felt lost while having food. I felt lost working out. I felt lost surfing the net. Life could not have felt worse. And then it happened again and again in my mind.

Day 2 the grace day one

I floated through the day. I felt like zombie and I still did everything I was supposed to do.

Day 3 the grace day two

I got my hope back but I did not feel any joy. I was involved but emotionally detached.


Day 4 the grace day three the resurrection

I got the things in place. Lost some goodwill and yet the world seemed a better place now and I thank the force for the 3 days grace.

A story of sweet coffee - A short story

She asked me for a coffee and that instant my heartbeat skipped a beat. Was she asking me for a coffee or was it more. Her fingers playfully went near her loose hair and then she tossed them behind her ear. Her ear was pierced with a green stone ring. I don't know how they do it, girls I mean... they Pierce their ears, wax their legs, it was seems so painful to me.

So Coffee it was. Hot steaming brew which smelled like heaven even for not a coffee lover like me. then suddenly as if pre-planned it rained. One umbrella, two people. Just me and her with the rain. Her shoulder next to mine. Her every step was measured and so was mine. It was like dancing but only this was with out any music. The rain did provide the rhythm though. She took something from her pocket. "Here have this". And the coffee sachet was given to me.
"Whats this for"
"To remember the coffee and the walk" her eyes blinked as she said this, and I just pocketed the coffee sachet.

 The Coffee we drank while walking seemed so great. And then it was over. We both parted and the moment was gone. The taste of coffee still lingered and so did the smell. But was it just the smell of brewing coffee.

By Ninad Tatke

What it is to be brand.

You are a brand. You have physical presence. You can be touched, feel, sensed, loved, hated. You might feel that these features make you a product but these are the same things which make you a brand.

What was the first thing you said today when you looked in mirror. How did you present yourself to the world. What are your values and things you are willing or not willing to do with no apparent benefit.

Ninad believes that as a 'person' that his word creates the world and hence he tries to fulfill what he commits. That's part of Ninad as a brand. But there are also other aspects of the same. Ninad as a brand can be resting on his past laurels and not innovating, Ninad might not be marketing himself well or the investments in terms of intelligence, time, money are not in tune with current demands or future needs.

Thus the image anybody might have about Ninad depends upon where he stands currently or what he is doing to protect his perception. Brands create goodwill over the years but only a few seconds can disrepute a brand.

So what are the measures for brand Ninad to see to it that his branding efforts are not lost.

a)branding is a continuous process and it has to be genuine.
b) branding is about unique values /services which can delivered consistently
c) branding is about creating experiences and not just serving what was asked for or was implied.

Ninad as a brand has to strike a balance between all these elements and create his image which people believe and rely upon.