LESSONS FROM LAST SUNDAY @TEDxGateway

Lesson #1: The value of a normal day

Dr. Saurabh Rana, talked about his battle with TB and how he struggled to find a support system to fight through. As a result of this ordeal he has started a called ‘Survivors against TB’ www.survivorsagainsttb.com.

But what has stayed with me was the simple but ever so powerful thought, that we should all be thankful for and value a normal day. I so often hear people cribbing about being bored of what they do or how nothing special is in the horizon. I myself have fallen into that trap and forgotten to enjoy what I have.

My normal routine is to play tennis on the weekends. Due to a minor injury that routine has been broken for the last few weeks. Infact the very reason I am able to reflect and pen down my thoughts is because I am not out on the court today. And that is the lesson, I could be cribbing about not being able to play. Or I could value the time I have on this very normal morning and share my learning.

So, I look forward to having lunch with my family. I look forward to going for a walk this evening. I look forward to meeting some friends and enjoying a normal weekend. I hope each one of you too get this gift of many normal days in your lives.

Lesson #2: Content is not always king

Bharat Anand, a Harvard Business School professor and author of ‘The Content Trap’ asks us to think about ‘who is good at making connections rather than who is good at making content’.

The example he gave of News Vs Classified elaborated on the question ‘what was the impact of the internet on newspapers?’ instinctive thinking would lead to the answer that online is faster, cheaper, has more variety and has rich media plus it is personalized and hence online wins. He then pointed out that the main problem newspapers face is a decline in revenue stream from classified ads (typically 40% of revenue) which was taken away by online platforms that connected buyers and sellers more efficiently. So, if the attempt to fix the problem is merely limited to producing better content, it won’t do much good.

He goes on to say that the key to success is therefore not being focused on creating the best content but creating and leveraging connections between users. These connections can be social or functional. If consumers value your offering because it connects people with each other, he believes you would have created conditions for dramatic success.

This set me thinking about our business. How can we help journalists and clients connect better with each other is probably a better preoccupation than just focusing on how to create better content and distribute it. I believe the GBM Live Newsroom is on the right track in this regard and the more time and collective energy we invest in finding new and interesting ways to leverage its power, the more dramatic our success will be. How can we connect people in a way that creates impact and influence in a lasting way? is the question we must answer. If you find this interesting I do urge you to watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJSvevhma4

Lesson #3: Technology does not have a moral compass

Jagdish Mahapatra a cybersecurity expert left the audience with a simple message. In todays connected world our homes are one of the weakest links in the digital security chain. We must anticipate risk and make it a habit to do so continually.

Some of the simple common-sense things to do are.

·     Passwords, change them often and don’t make them obvious.

·     Delete apps you don’t use.

·     Updates are important, don’t ignore them.

·     Make cyber security a family conversation.

I particularly liked the last tip. This Sunday dinner table conversation is going to be about cyber security. Im sure my son will teach us a thing or two J.

Stay safe and have a great Sunday.