Only Connect...

Contrary to what the pundits will tell you, the most engrossing epic you will ever write will be the one that’s based on your own life.

A life that refuses to conform to any set norms, will not progress the way you thought it would and will schizophrenically alternate between a placid, meandering river and a crazy rollercoaster.

And, in this passage from cradle to crematorium, you will discover – as I wrote a year ago – that the joy lies in the journey itself: just when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, something will come along and lift you up in a giant wave; just when you tell yourself, things couldn’t get better, they will. Or won’t.

That’s life.

And, today, as I look back at the year that was, at the journey I began on Fool’s Day 2017 (as did the alma mater, Contract Advertising in 1986), I remain grateful to the ever-supportive family and friends who stood by me and gave me strength. The ones who transferred their trust unquestioningly. The ones who, with all good intention, dissuaded me and, yet, reinforced the conviction that was creeping up within. The ones who abruptly abandoned me midway, or simply chose not to respond and passed away into nostalgia. People who were/are episodes and chapters in this story called Life.

A lot happened over coffee (and not just at CCDs), across cities, across countries, across time zones… bridges were rebuilt and every word of advice was heeded. Not necessarily followed but heard. Thank you for sparing the time.

A few of you – a handful – know that last year, at this time, I faced a crisis that could have crippled my career, my life. The details aren’t necessary for the world at large; what’s important is that adversity was overcome – not alone (not by any means) but with a wonderful set of folks who believed in what I was setting out to do.

On April 1, 2017, I awoke with no office to go to, no teams to brainstorm with, no clients to pitch to, no corporate targets to meet, no salary to look forward to... Nothing. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

Happiness.

Now, while some folks think I’m a 35-year old, I’m not. And fear, unlike what Mr MacLean wrote, is rarely the key: it’s usually the lock that can shackle every dream, every aspiration.

But, hard times call for a good hard look within.

And so, I set out to assess what I should – or could – do next. To unlock new doors, explore being an entrepreneur, to consult, to coach, to advise. To adapt to a whole new world as I migrated from working with an MNC to a bunch of startups.

And, contrary to what Johnnie might say, a journey of a thousand miles begins, not with a step but with a sigh. And with a friend. Or a few.

Which is why I’m here, a year later, having not just survived but having thrived thanks to the wonderful folks at IAMAI, Human Factors who trusted me as their Jedi,  Jaypore.com, YourNest… friends who became clients and vice-versa with rewardingly gratifying assignments.And then, in no particular order, are a horde of friends like Aniruddha, Atishi, Suprio, Sourabh, Sanjay, Paroma, Amarjit, Jaya, Amitabh, Sivakumar, Madhuri, Sreekant, Shubho, Apurva, Unny, Upen, Benny, Apoorva, Deepa, Sumanta, Jayant, Shuma, Indranil…and many more. who I may have missed acknowledging and apologise for doing so.To every one of you, Salaam, Shukriya, Namasté!

Today, as I enter the second year of being a daily wage earner, it’s an apt moment to revisit EM Forster’s preface to Howard’s End and the two words that have guided me all these years. Two words that were the philosophy of my guru, the late Subhas Ghosal, and of Contract Advertising as it bridged the gap between the client and the consumer: ‘Only connect’.

Over the years, I’ve discovered many weaknesses within and failed at a lot of things. But the one skill I seem to have imbibed, in some measure, is the ability to consistently link seemingly disparate ideas, link good people who don’t know each other and connect strategic business opportunities with actionable insights. And so, it seemed only right that I should package this into a brand that will epitomise this mantra and mission into a visual identity. And thanks to Brother Hira, here we are: his design skills are the finest I have seen (and trust me, I’ve seen many, globally) and wish he would leverage it much, much more. Of the seven logos that he came up with in a jiffy, I’d like to use them all. But, since selection is mandatory, here’s the one I homed in on.

In the coming weeks, you’ll see Only Connect evolve into not just a strategic advisory service but also a place to discover fascinating associations and brainstorming workshops. And if your brand – or you – need any help, in any way, you know where to find me :-)

So, having rambled on, thank you once again.

Stay foolish. Stay connected.

And keep the faith.

Cheers!