By Jaisurya Das
It’s amazing isn’t it, how most Indian’s have turned economists overnight thanks to this public outrage and debate on social media. Yes, #demonetisation is precisely what I am referring to.
Ladies and Gentleman, welcome back to this fresh edition of your favourite online counsellor. I have taken great pleasure in joining some of the recent online debates and in fact sparked off some of them. It’s a different matter that I quietly exited soon after only to sit and watch the drama that unfolded online.
The topic of the discussion isn’t my focus for this intro as what interested me was really the persona that one takes on the moment you are on social media. It’s most often a careful thought off character, a know it all who has a view on almost everything under the sun. Now this is akin to being a humanoid version of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
From deep analysis of CRR ratios and the functioning of the RBI, most of us have had a view. Some have even had amazing details on how the note press at Nashik functions. I wonder why all this talent isn’t being leveraged for the better good of our country.
I am quite tempted to tweet some of these comments to the PM and PMO and inform them of the sheer wealth of economic knowledge that exists on a platform like FB. In fact, my next business venture should ideally be a huge consulting firm that specialises in niche analysis of the global economy. I am currently working on the feasibility study before I launch this venture in partnership with 1,14,311 others who have recently commented on economic debates on my timeline…
Till then, join us in our Q&A for the week from our esteemed readers in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Lucknow and Goa.
I am interested in television journalism want to be an anchor in a Hindi news channel. But I am balding, and I am worried that I will be rejected because of this. Would you know If channels have a view on hair on the head?
Ha ha, this is indeed a new one. But you have a point. I wouldn’t want to see a bald head on screen. Now this is precisely why I don’t look at the mirror!
Coming back to your question, while this is something that TV channels would probably not admit to, it is the reality. Bald and beautiful doesn’t work
here. But this doesn’t mean you cant become a good TV anchor and fortunately news journalism doesn’t require hair on the head!
May I suggest you consult a reliable trichologist who will be able to check on the nature of your baldness and suggest the best line of treatment. Hair weaving, transplantation etc are commonly practised across the world. This might set you back by a fair sum of money but can be certainly remedy this gap… oops patch I mean.
This is not a career question, but it is impacting a career in a big way. My colleague – a 22-year-old girl couldn’t hold her drink and passed out while she was in the company of another male colleague. Now she is very embarrassed about it and is wondering what to do? She is debating whether to stay in the same organisation. Please advise.
Ah! The famed Bacchus affinity. To be honest, I haven’t really understood the need for such over reaction. An excess of alcohol can get anyone of us to pass out and this isn’t a huge crime.
Yes, in a corporate environment and in the presence of colleagues (who you may not be great friends with) is something that is completely avoidable. Pass out but not at work, with work ! Having said that, the simplest thing to do would be to advise her to apologise for this incident and close this issue before it starts telling on her work and peace.
Everyone understands such situations and am sure this can be settled once for all. The greater the emphasis on this incident, the more complex it will get.
Apologise, forgive and forget. Amen.
And yes, before I forget do tell her that the consumption of alcohol can be seriously injurious to health. Tomato juice may be a safer option. Â Orange is fine too.
I have been a journalist for two years with a leading film magazine but I want to get into the development sector. What is the career scope there?
Thanks for writing in to Dear MxM. To the best of my understanding, people join the development sector more for the passion of giving than making a career out of this.
Having said this, yes careers are made too. However it may be prudent to do your research into this segment, the organisations you are targeting, its trustees, founders, credibility etc.
Please do ensure that the source of funding, the methodology etc is checked as well since often these organisations are used merely as a conduit for money laundering. It would be advisable to actually visit one or two of the projects they have worked on independently and actually see their work on ground. First-hand information on their quality and commitment to purpose is critical.
Remember, one bad organisation or experience can leave you with a tainted curriculum vitae.
Go on, do your research and then step in, to serve the needy. May the force be with you!
Sir, I have working with a leading auto company in the marketing department. But I am interested in running an auto magazine – on the sales and marketing front. I am told that there is no future in magazines. True? But how come all the auto magazines are doing so well?
I have reason to agree with this reality. The magazine market is a rapidly declining one and the biggest of brands are finding it difficult to sustain and improve on bottomlines.
While some niche magazines can work, it is only the highly specialised one where unique researched content is the mainstay. A typical example of this are the exclusive high end medical journals. These niche brands carry actual research papers that are not available elsewhere and hence can boast of a loyal subscriber base.
Auto magazines are doing better than the rest since most automobile fans collect images and specs of their favourite cars and bikes. However, it may interest you that none of these auto magazines have been able to expand or grow exponentially. They survive and make some amount of profits by keeping their print run’s low.
The online world and its spontaneity has rendered this market almost non-existent. Personally, I would advise you against this space. Consider an interesting online product that is smart, quick and relevant to the audience of today. All the very best to you.
Vrrrrooooom Vrooom and its time for me to speed away now. Have an enjoyable weekend and take good care of yourself.  Remember, it pays to be good or so I am told.  Keep those questions coming in to us at editor@mxmindia.com with ‘Dear MxM’ and your ‘City’ mentioned in the subject.  Till next week then, Sayonara and God Bless.
Jaisurya Das, maverick and media evangelist, eats, sleeps and makes love to brands. His consulting interventions are aimed at making brands powerful and sustainable. He is also Contributing Editor of MxM India and Co-Founder of pune365.com. For more on his work visit www.xanadu.co.in. The views expressed in this column are his own.