Monetizing the connections
Milind Shimpi
Experienced Leader in Global Delivery of Digital Transformation, MCA registered Independent Director. I help the CXOs to demystify digital transformation journey and help them execute and deliver for business outcomes.
Before the reader goes on to read this, I wish to share a disclaimer that this article is in no way aiming to hurt and religious sentiments of anyone. It is just an observation which came to my mind.
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It so happened that a few years ago I visited the famous Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati. I am sure that many readers specially in India have been to this temple. And most people visit this temple either for an auspicious occasion like marriage or as many others to pray to the Lord to solve some issue in their lives. This temple is very famous and worshippers from all over the world come there. During my first visit I could find that there are different tickets for the visit. For example, if you can afford to buy a higher priced ticket then you are allowed to have the darshan (sight of the deity) faster by joining the VIP queue which is different from the normal queue which is very very long and it may take 6-8 hours before you are actually in front of the deity. So, in short what it means is you can save time and shorten you wait time if you can afford a higher priced ticket. Or in rare cases if you are a celebrity/government servant, etc. But a commoner takes much longer. Having said that what stuck me was our own LinkedIn platform. It has a similar model of working. If you can subscribe to their premium membership then and only then you can write to anyone outside your own network using what is called as InMail. Also, it means if anyone else outside my network wants to write to me, he will also have to probably have the premium subscription. Of course, there are other benefits of which are advertised by LinkedIn for their premium membership. I started thinking that when long ago internet started it was assumed that finally technology has arrived which can help us connect to each other for free for networking and professional growth. But as they say reality is different. In good old days Sudha Murthy could write directly to JRD Tata and stir him to allow women to work on the shopfloor. All she needed was to send a postcard / letter and it reached his attention. But today if you need to connect to anyone powerful in LinkedIn for professional purposes it is become important to have a premium subscription. So, it means there is a so-called middleman in between who has monetized the contacts and networking. I wonder if this was necessary. Just as I feel is it necessary for human beings to create a ticket system to visit the famous deity? But as they say it is a rich man’s world at times.
The same year I also visited another famous temple in India- The Golden Temple of Amritsar. And to my surprise there was no ticketing system there. And so, all worshippers had to go through practically the same queue. Then I remembered Facebook by meta. In Facebook one need not take a premium membership to write to anyone or send a friend request. And it is upto to the receiver to decide to accept the invite or not but still the sender can still write on messenger even without getting connected. So, this is a totally different business model.
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These two business models have really amazed me. One based on monetizing the contacts and making revenue out of it while the other which gets revenue from the advertisements. Based on the temple it means whenever it is God or God related activities, human beings have found a way to monetize it. But in case of Golden Temple, it is not a temple of a deity but of the Guru / Holy book of the Sikhs. In short in today’s world professionals at powerful positions have become demi Gods and hence professional networking comes at a cost. While approaching an unknown person on FB to become a friend is free. Though both are a form of networking so to say.
Once again, I do not wish to get into any debate on religion and sentiments. This is just my observation and hope someday visiting the deity of the God will not be based on differential ticketing system (though some uniform ticketing is good for maintenance of the premises) as much as I hope one day we can approach and network with demi Gods also without any subscription. Challenge is God will agree for it but will the demi Gods (of LinkedIn) agree to being easily accessible? And so, the subscription continues.
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Group Chief Technical Director, Mentor, Advisor to the Board, Strategic Planner, Telecom Expert ,Program manager,Independent Consultant
1 年Milind Shimpi religion was and is always a big business and so is God as long as people are ready to pay to salvage them of their fear
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1 年?? Hello Milind, your observation on the varied models of accessibility, whether in religious sites or digital platforms, raises intriguing questions. ?? Monetizing Connectivity: It's interesting how different models emerge, be it in temples or tech platforms. Some opt for monetizing access to enhance user experience or manage demand, while others prioritize a more egalitarian approach. ?? Sacred Spaces and Digital Realms: The comparison draws attention to how perceptions of access and connectivity vary even in sacred and digital spaces. Whether it's queuing in temples or engaging on social media, these models shape our interactions and experiences. ? A Reflection on Connections: Let's ponder on how we navigate these models, ensuring that the essence of connection isn't overshadowed by subscription or ticketing systems. Perhaps, fostering inclusivity and meaningful interactions can bridge the gap. ???? ?? It's a thought-provoking observation, urging us to consider the evolving dynamics of access and connectivity in diverse realms. #ConnectingRealms #Observations ????
GM, BSP, SAIL / B.Tech(Chemical)/ MBA(Finance)/ PGDIP (Industrial Safety & Fire Safety)/Certified Independent Director/ Author - From Principles to Practice- Crafting an ethical workplace with real-world examples.
1 年In our fast-paced world, where time is a valuable commodity, the concept of paying extra to gain privileges or access to services is becoming increasingly common. This phenomenon extends to various aspects of life, including religious experiences like visiting a temple and professional networking on platforms like LinkedIn. Nicely put Milindji!
Finance & HR Director
1 年Hi Milind, In this example if consider the worshipper or user of services, i feel it is he who has choice at all times how to connect to the world, to the deity or to oneself. What takes priority for him. So pay for a ticket or not. For eg can the trains run only non ac general category services. No its has options. Now it's the user who decides. But can he reach his destination or darshan of God here, yes in everyway he can. This is my opinion.
Founder/ Director | MCA Certified Independent Director | Talent Acquisition Expert | Soft skill Trainer | POSH Trainer | Blogger I SCARF certified Mental Wellness Expert | Energy Healer | Volunteer [HOME Aadharavu]
1 年Hi Milind, Straight from the gut !! Good read, you've thrown a deep perspective with relative ease. Keep writing. Simple script, powerful message.