Guest Lectures and Invited Lectures

 These are different from regular teaching that might stretch over 30-45 sessions. Therefore, you can approach it differently.

Create interest by either asking a question or have a good first slide. I tried it with a dummy visiting card created with Canva in one of my invited sessions. I included two or three different photographs, chosen for their impact, to create the card.

I used it at the Calicut Management Association invited talk..

Know your audience, and what makes them tick. Most people don't want a long discourse with you giving gyaan. Instead, share interesting experiences and leave the lesson to be drawn out by the audience. 

Thank the people who invited you. But for them, you wouldn't be there.

Use the board, if there is one. It creates interest.. 

If you can ask questions, even if rhetorical, it breaks the monotony. It can be a poll, where people have to raise hands to agree..

If it's a class of students, give them a small group task. Usually works..

Stick to the time given.

Unsolicited Mails

 I have taught marketing most of my working life, and am aware that direct to consumer' is a valid way of generating leads. But I am also a consumer, and have some views about what I am subjected to, as a consumer.

First, when you don't know someone, be extremely polite. Not pushy, aggressive, entitled, etc.

Read between the lines, when a potential customer replies. H.R. guys do it well, they say, "We'll get back to you." They don't say when. It's OK, to remind someone after a week or two, just to check. Not everyday. Not on Whatsapp, not on mail, certainly not on 'social' social media. Because I am there to socialise. If it's a friend I want to talk business with, that's a different thing. 

Learn about education. For instance, last names with a Mr. or Ms. is normal, but in the field of education, Dr. is used if the customer is a Ph.D. -and works for both genders. Not the first name, usually.

Things I was (Am) Scared of

As a kid, I was scared of a few things, like the dark corners, snakes, and exams. And boredom. But managed to read everything I could lay my hands on, watched films (any I could) and spent time with friends (any who were ready to tolerate me) to keep the latter away. I was also scared of the mythical Count Dracula, though I saw only a film about him a lot later in life. The Hindi horror films I saw were actually funny-and the whole Ramsay family seemed to work in the horror genre films.

In the present times, I am scared of fanatics (maybe it comes from being in Delhi during the anti-Sikh riots in 1984), bores and hypocrites, in that order. Not wild boar, as in Asterix and Obelix, but Bores. Since my mega theory of Life revolves around the idea that every one of us is trying at all times to avoid boredom, I like to avoid the Bores like the plague- actually the Plague must be a lot more interesting.

Hypocrites are the people who take the Hypocritic Oath like the doctors do theirs. They say one thing, and do the other. But you can get used to them, after a while, and discount their statements by around 100%.

The other category that I am scared of is people who are Clueless. I will give you two examples-

They speak in a language not understood by all the people in the conversing group.

They like speaking on the cell phone at all waking hours (haven't checked about their sleeping behaviour) as if the Earth will stop rotating if they don't do that.

QED.

Life and Technology

We used to debate in school on whether technology is a boon or bane, in the 'good old days'. Now, technology is a given, except to a few technophobes like  my generation.

The good that tech has done is tremendous. Communication technology has really changed lives for the better (mostly), except for some uncouth elements who do not have good usage etiquette.

The cost to an average user is also down, thanks thanks to competitive innovation by software and hardware manufacturers.

To me personally, tech is a great tool which attempts to enslave. This blog and Facebook, in particular, have helped me communicate with more people (since nobody has hacked these yet, I assume they are not totally pissed off). If you are able to keep it on a leash, it can be of great use- rather like Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra, my favourite weapon of mass destruction. It can kill Bill, Tom, Dick, at will, but Krishna (Vishnu's avatar) uses it sparingly.

Likewise, the idiot box, the cell phone, gadgets of all descriptions. Apply your mind-don't lose it, is a good watchword in using any of these. People are more important. Maybe nature too.

Cellphone Etiquette

A cellphone, though useful sometimes, is the most invasive tool ever invented by mankind, heat-seeking missiles included. Here are some tips for its use on me.

I am not a teenager and you are not my girlfriend. Therefore, I am not waiting for your call. Sorry, I got better things to do (eat, sleep, work, blog, golf, stare into space etc.), so if possible, stay away from your cell- and DON'T call me. Note: This does not apply to about 6 people. And, I KNOW who they are. You can guess who.

If you have to call, be prepared for my not wanting to answer. It's my cell, and my prerogative. Some days, I may not charge it, if I don't want to. Obama will not stop bombing Syria if I pick up your call.

I have some email IDs that could be accessible if you try and find out. Please send me a note explaining why I should talk to you. I will think about it.

Don't ever try to sell on the cell to me. I most likely will never buy from you after that. Even if it's a free holiday to Hawaai.

SMS was invented for Dodos to send relatively less invasive messages. Use it. And wait for a reply. It may happen in a minute, or a day, or a week. You did your job by sending it. (Yes, I know the Dodo is supposed to be extinct. I am still not sure.)