Saturday, May 30, 2020

Inspiration can come from anytime, from anywhere


One of my favorite stories from the world of Olympics is that of high jumper named Dick Fosbury. For the most part of his early career,he was an average high jumper. But he was courageous to question the prevalent technique(straddle technique).He practiced & mastered the reversal of this technique, that came to be known as the Fosbury Flop and is still in use since 6-7 decades.

His story really teaches us to never think of conventions as a rule & to keep challenging the assumptions.

Inspiration can really come from anywhere if you choose to keep your eyes & ears open.

Sharing my recent source of inspiration from Steve Wilson's session with USD School of Business https://bit.ly/3epmvZM. Some of the gems below (my #sketchnote included)

-It is okay to not know what your life goal is.You can figure it out as you go,pivots are a natural part of life.

-It is essential to be #authentic & passionate.

-Crisis provides #opportunities for growth.

-Be confident but never arrogant.

-Do not worry about not having all the #skills. Your #attitude & aptitude are more important than skills.

-Networking is key,you must always differentiate yourself.

-No matter what you choose to do in life,life is a marathon not a sprint.Remember to breathe!

Sketchnote:


My LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6672104776857190401/

My Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1266236508081545217?s=20

What can Product Managers do to prepare for Post-Covid world ?


With the world around us still working to get a grip on the disruption caused by Covid-19,there is also a parallel thought process emerging around how the world post-Covid will look like.

While it is quite evident that we should be keeping eyes,ears open for unexpected new opportunities that would emerge, it is equally looking certain that consumer behavior and market/competitive landscape will undergo a massive change in the near term.

So what can #productmanagers do now to prepare for the business world that's approaching?

In the quest to find the answer to this,I found this interview of Marty Cagan with Adrienne Tan quite relevant.Marty touches the right chords and brings forward some actionable thoughts.My #sketchnote has the summary of this insightful discussion & you can read in full here- https://bit.ly/2XoI6uw

Not changing the context here, I also find the below product perspective by Jeff Bezos super-relevant and an ageless wisdom-

"I very frequently get the question: "what's going to change in he next 10 years?"

I almost never get the question: "what's not going to change in the next 10 years?"

I submit to you that the 2nd question is actually more important of the two."

#productmanagement #product

Sketchnote:


My LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6670616009763897344/

My Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1265466076843749378?s=20

See one, Do one, Teach one


The current Covid-19 times have brought in massive changes in various facets of our lives. One such area that i would like to specifically call out is the renewed the respect for the medical practitioners. Just like soldiers, our medical practitioners are right in the field facing this invisible virus and protecting us. While a lot can be learned just by observing the professionalism, sense of duty and commitment of these unsung heroes, i asked myself a more fundamental question- What learning models do doctors follow to become experts in their respective fields ?

The quest to find answer to this led me to this learning approach called as- "See one,Do one,Teach one" (SODOTO). This phrase is often used for medical personnel, particularly trainees focused in surgical areas. It reflects a method of teaching in which a surgical student will observe a procedure,perform the procedure on their own,& then teach another trainee how to conduct the procedure.

Isn't SODOTO is an universally applicable learning approach to become masters in any technical areas ? Indeed, it is.
The Feynman Technique https://bit.ly/2X14lXk takes it even further by prescribing to teach any learned concept to a class 6 kid.

What #learning approaches do you find most effective ?

Sketchnote:


LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_learning-activity-6667436477015846912-8Uqp/

Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1261674398710329344?s=20

Book Review: Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment


Here's my short review of the #book- "Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment". The book is written by the best selling authors of "Ikigai" and I found it much more relevant in today's times when we are dealing with the periods of extended isolation from the outside world.

The meaning of Ichigo Ichie is- "What we are experiencing right now will never happen again. And therefore, we must value each moment like a beautiful treasure."

Catch details on my #sketchnote, but if i have to pick a few points that cover the essence of this book:

1. Learn to live fully in the present, acknowledging and appreciating the gift of every #moment. Become hunters of special moments.

2. Four basic #emotions and time
    Anger: keeps us tied to the past
    Sadness: keeps us tied to the past
    Fear: projects us into the future
    #Happiness: belongs to the present and is the home to ichigo ichie.

3. People who are able to lead long & meaningful life usually have two characteristics. They are aware of their #mission. And, they know how to enjoy every moment.

4. Everything we experience, is a unique treasure that will never be repeated in the same way again. So if we let it slip away without enjoying it, the moment will be lost forever.

My Sketchnote:

My LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_book-sketchnote-moment-activity-6665192024930680832-jv0-/

My Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1259426747453300736?s=20

Principles in dealing with crisis

Recently, went through this enriching podcast (here: https://lnkd.in/gsMYFB8) between Pankaj Mishra and Ravi Venkatesan. The core theme of the conversation was building resilience, which is what is the need of the hour. Few thoughts that resonated with me: 1. Stockdale paradox: Embrace reality that you are in and plan for the worst but at the same time hoping for the best and staying optimistic. This is the paradox that we have to be able to hold. 2. Seek hashtagOpportunities: Every organization can make something that can be leveraged in this crisis. What is it that the world needs right now that you have some capability to produce ? 3. Lead with heart and head in these times: Treat others the way you would want to be treated is really important. 4. Develop a practical set of short term plans: Develop 2 scenarios- 1) Realistic scenario 2) Worst case scenario 5. Stay calm: Make thoughtful hashtagdecisions and calm down others who.may be agitated. More in the hashtagsketchnote below. What else would you add to the list above ? hashtagleadership hashtagleadershiptraits

Sketchnote summary:


My LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_opportunities-decisions-sketchnote-activity-6663067842457534465-SoYm/

My Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/manish_saarthi/status/1257107266668380160?s=20

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Remote Working Tips


Last week saw many professionals working from home (WFH) (including me) and it being a first-time experience of continuous WFH for many.
While we hope to be through with this challenging phase of life soon, but at the same time it offers opportunity to learn new #skills.

#Work from anywhere was mostly an exception till now, is all set to become a new norm. As Citrix CEO David Henshall paraphrased Citrix's philosophy (CNBC interview https://cnb.cx/33FirAr) -

'Work is not a place but its a thing we do.'

So we are really at a turning point that will change the way the world works.

Before embarking this week, i tried to learn some of the good practices for effectively working from home. I found the blog by Sachin Rekhi quite relevant. In summary, he shared these 5 points:
1. Build your personal routine
2. Change your scenery
3. Build healthy #habits
4. Invest in your family, friends
5. Learn to #write well

My favorite from last week as build healthy habits. Tried going for a daily walk in the morning, during lunch, or in the afternoon which helped get some extra steps, opportunity to clear head, and to also address cabin fever.

More on my #sketchnote summary below
Blog: https://www.sachinrekhi.com/remote-work-tips

Sketchnote summary:



Linkedin post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_skills-work-habits-activity-6647086960248782848-Zd7N

Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1241322662644736001?s=20

Bouncebackability


Given the current global situation, few questions that are universally prevalent-
When will the world get back to normal ? When will the economy improve ? What will be the job scenario ?

This post is not to discuss the answer to these, but to share something that is in our control.

I came across a pertinent word 'Bouncebackability' while reading Simon Taufel's book- "Finding the Gaps: Transferable Skills to Be the Best You Can Be".

Bouncebackability is the #skill of having a setback or #failure and being able to regroup, refocus, and get back on track to face the next challenge.

Most people have a negativity bias and the effects that Covid19 has thrust upon us feeds on this bias. I found the word Bouncebackability provide a breath of fresh air.

Sharing below (and in the #sketchnote) some more nuggets from the book that i found useful:

1. The way you speak to yourself matters. We need to show ourselves that we care, but not through the language and tone that puts us in a negative spin.

2. Don't allow negative thoughts and events to continue in your mind. You cannot look ahead when you are looking behind at the same time.

3. Writing your thoughts down provides more clarity and objectivity when it comes to working through the setback.

Sketchnote summary:


Some more nuggets from the book:

Bouncebackability is the skill of having a setback or failure and being able to regroup, refocus, and get back on track to face the next challenge.

Mental toughness is the ability to control your thoughts and emotions and not let them control you.

Majority of any sport is predominantly played out in the space between the ears.

There are three places your mind can be- past, present or future. You need to be aware of what is happening around and remain grounded in present.

Staying in present is a skill and it requires hardwork and practice.

Changing the self-talk
The way you speak to yourself matters. We need to show ourselves that we care, but not through the language and tone that puts us intona negative spin.
'Its OK, these things happen, are you alright? Let's get back on and have another try.'

Move-on: Don't Dwell
Don't allow negative thoughts and events to continue in your mind.
You cannot look ahead when you are looking behind at the same time.

Focus on the process, not on the outcomes
If you create robust and correct processes, committed to them, worked hard, practised and executed with purpose, the outcomes would take care of themselves.

HOW TO MOVE ON FROM SETBACK FASTER:
1. Acknowledgement:
Acknowledgement often takes the heat and anger out of the situation faster.
Having courage, internal or external, to be honest, and admit it is one of the first steps to being able to move on and bounce back by focusing on what comes next.
It is vital to acknowledge the error as it allows the door to learning to be opened.
Denial or dishonesty is, therefore, one of the roadblocks of being open to learning opportunities.
Put your hand-up and take responsibility.
Ownership of the setback, the error, or the situation comes down to you. Take responsibility of what is working and what is not in your game/

2. Release: Let it go
Because I was holding on to the setbacks, my brain was stuck in the past, still thinking about why and what impact it would have.
Letting go of negative thoughts and event sounds easy, but it is not.

Two tips:
a. Write it down:
Writing provides more clarity and objectivity when it comes to work through the setback. Writing detailed and specific self-assessments from each match provided me with an opportunity to download what worked, what didn't and ideas for what i needed to work on for the next match.

Writing it down showed me objectively and rationally where I was going wrong, how many times, and where the commonality may have existed.

b. Talk about it:
share the setbacks more with the people around you, your team.
It shows a professional approach to learning, a vulnerability that no one is perfect, that we all make mistakes, and offers an opportunity for others to provide input on the setback that may help us to move on faster.

3. Imprint: Visualize the right thing to do
Visualizing getting the task right helps building self-belief. It needs to be supported with positive self-talk.

4. Acceptance

The reality is, making mistakes is a part of the job and you have to learn to accept this to minimise the impact the errors have on your mental health

LinkedIn post:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anujmagazine_skills-skill-failure-activity-6659844602805268480-W428

Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/anujmagazine/status/1254091364519669760?s=20