Engaging With People

 In digital marketing, one of the objectives is increasing engagement on various media. But suppose you want to do it in your life, how do you go about it? Well, I don't want to sound like Dale Carnegie 2.0, but many of the same principles would apply, I suppose. I am probably reiterating what others have said before, but from experience.

It's easier to engage with many people at once on social media, because it's faster. To develop a relationship with 5 people would have taken years -10? -without social media, whereas here, you can do it with 50 people in 3, maybe 5 years. Of course, you still need to listen, remember things about the other person, and use your own strengths (quirks, if unique to you) to engage. The results can be amazing. I speak from experience.

It's not about you, but the other person. Find out what they are good at, ask questions, give them a chance to look good (not literally, but to express themselves), and applaud when they do. That tip alone was worth a million, but I will let it pass. I have already sold my Ferrari, and am fine with my Maruti...

On Friendship

 You can be friends with anyone you come across. Then how come we don't? There are friends we do have from every stage of life. This is an attempt to classify or figure out how I became friends with many of my friends, starting from my childhood.

Neighbours were friends- Talpallikars, a family who lived next door in Bellampalli, A.P., for example. We and all their kids became friends. Also those we played with in our club, being from the same company. Bridge, Badminton, music were other interests that brought us together. Friends from school (residential in my case), college- many of whom have remained thick pals-two of them are Golfers too. From my MBA, and from Ph.D. days abroad -USA. Many are in touch, thanks to social media and email.

Colleagues from office- I met Muthu while working with a Market Research firm, and we still play Golf. Colleagues in my teaching stints at IIM Lucknow, IIM K, IIM Indore, PESIT, IFIM (recently reconnected with a couple of them), VJIM and Kirloskar Institute. IMT Nagpur and Ghaziabad too, whom I keep meeting off and on. 

Student friends are a very special category, close to my heart. I have alum/ex-student friends from almost every institution I have been in. Feels great to share their life stories when we catch up, or online if that does not happen. I have been enriched by all their interactions, and it feels like I am a billionaire. Some of my wife's students too became my friends over the years.

My doctoral students have also become good friends due to our prolonged association, and we do meet professionally at conferences, etc. I have also met a few international academics who are friends online. Made a couple of author friends too, because I read their books and wrote reviews on my blog. Devapriya Roy and Usha Narayanan (both authors) come to mind. 

Of course, brother's friends and sister's friends also became my friends in many cases. 

What Friends Mean

They remind you that you are not alone. Of course, in a way different from your family members. The ones who give you advice -right and wrong, are usually friends. They stand by you when the going gets tough.

 College gang above, and MBA classmates, below.

 Dilliwalas when I was one, briefly..

 Can Chennai be far behind?..

 Man's best friend, on IIM B terrace many moons ago.

 KIAMS students with me..

 IMT students..

 more of them..

 Harfan maula Chasha and gang at IIMB.

 Samren and Annie, life support in the U.S.

 Fog and Golf go well..Dhanapal, at Kodai Golf Club.

 Indore MDP on Digital Marketing..

 and the winners of the Google Online Marketing challenge on karaoke..

Friendships of childhood are often strong, and can persist over decades. The ones formed later in life can be strong too, but have less time to be tested. I can remember many friends made pre-facebook days, who are still friends. We are in touch virtually a lot more than earlier, but that helps too, just to check on what's new and be reassured that they are doing fine. I consider myself fortunate to have a large friends' circle, including former colleagues, former students and just friends from college and beyond. I have made friends from blogging, too- fellow bloggers. Others share interests such as travel, photography, food, or gossip. Just made a bunch of new friends over the last two years through a music group I joined, thanks to a former student from 1991.

Meeting old friends or new is a joy for a fairly long period, and highly recommended. Unexpected meetings, even more so.

Make friends, meet friends. It's Friends' Day. But then, every day is.