Tag: Jaisurya Das

By Jaisurya Das

 

The Eternal battle of Good over Evil… The Season of Dassera has progressed beyond  a time to invoke the Gods to a shopping festival that sees Rs 3000+ crore exchange hands.

No surprise actually what with young promoters stepping into the sun to deliver orders to customers. Now, this is brand-building of the highest order. No fuss, no noise, no entourage, nothing,  Just great delivery.

Brands don’t get built in a hurry. Its initiatives separate the wheat from the chaff.

Keep it up, Gentlemen!!! You are creating history.

On that note, let’s cut straight to Your Questions and Our Answers for this week. Brutally frank, straight from the heart, Dear MxM!

Because we care; we honestly do.

Read on…

 

Sir, my boss was sacked on his birthday. While a birthday is like any other day of the year, do you think it is right for any organisation to do so?  What does it speak about an organisation’s culture? Shouldn’t the HR/admin manager get the sack for this?

Oh boy! I thought these things happened only in “what not to do”  manuals for HR and top management. Quite disgusting to say the least….

Someone who does this is obviously a sadist who derives immense pleasure from inflicting pain to a wounded being.  You have decided to sack the person, why make it worse ? How is it going to help in anyway?

In fact a warm wish for his birthday, would have softened the blow of a sack to some extent. Allow the person to leave respectfully.

Yes, my friend, you’re rhetoric is absolutely justified. No cultured, people-friendly organisation can even dream of doing something like this.

This is crude behaviour and reeks of a personal vendetta of some sort.

All I can do is sympathise with your Boss. I know not the reasons for his services being terminated (I hope there is reason enough though!) but I certainly know that this is not done.

No, certainly not!!

 

Sir, I know you have answered this question in the past, but what is the education needed for someone who is getting into ad sales for a television channel?

Thanks for writing in to us at Dear MxM. Essentially most media organisations look for postgraduates in marketing, management, advertising and PR.

Not to say, that the graduates don’t get absorbed for sales ; its just that the numbers are smaller nowadays.  Personally, I have rated Relevant Experience as a much more important attribute in the hiring process.

All the best, my friend!

 

A rolling stone gathers no moss. Is this true for someone who has moved many jobs?

Yes, this is true and companies and hiring managers are quite wary when they see a track record such…  I can say this with vehemence as i have personally screened out quite a few resumes for this very reason. While there are a few candidates who have valid reasons for several shifts, I personally don’t feel too comfortable.

There is no smoke without fire… You don’t keep jumping jobs unless there is a problem, and if the problem is you, then be sure to get grilled at the interview.

In today’s times I don’t advocate a really long stint at any given company; nevertheless it’s important to be there long enough to prove your mettle.

This common practice of moving jobs at the end of every year isn’t going to help one bit in the long run Moreover bereft of anything to showcase, the candidature becomes insipid.

Hence it’s Elementary, my dear friend. No Rolling, No Moss. Stay put!

 

I heard the other day that the best CEOs of media companies are those who have done their CA. I am a CA and have an interest in entertainment… will it be a good idea to get into a media firm?

Go for it, tiger! Though I honestly can’t qualify your statement, I have reason to believe a decent understanding of finance would greatly ease some of the tasks at that level.  Finance is a subject that is gaining tremendous importance, what with increasing overheads and tight ropes to walk on in the business of media and entertainment.

 

Consolidation is the name of the game today with mergers and acquisitions happening regularly. Just this week, we saw an Experiential Marketing giant being bought over. A tight grip on finance would certainly be a significant advantage whether it is negotiation, due diligence or operations.

Best CEOs are those with vision, true love for people and passion to go beyond familiar frontiers; their degrees rarely matter beyond a point.

Media and entertainment is a good space to be in.You are more than welcome, my friend. All good wishes for a super career.

 

Dear MxM wishes you a very Happy Dassera !

May this festive season bring you all happiness, prosperity and good health.

And yes, while you have a stupendous long weekend, we shall sift through our mail, and get set to be back next week. More Questions, More Answers only on Dear MxM week after week..

Because for us, You mean a lot !

 

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

 

 

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Greetings,. dear readers. It’s good to see you back with us on Dear MxM, this 42nd week of 2015!

 

Quite recently a bunch of buddies were discussing start-ups and the much-hyped success of the shopping majors. As much as Rs 350 crore mopped up in a day!

 

These online e-commerce models certainly amaze me, what with pen-drives at one rupee and amazingly ridiculous offers such. But then, to be honest, I have been considering buying a ‘fat deep fryer’ (or is it the other way around?!) and some cool ‘quadrophonic’ bluetooth LTE/4G-enabled speakers with calling facility and extreme sensory touch tech. Has multiple flashing LED lights as well!

 

Now, isn’t this just Epic stuff!

 

As they say its ‘full fun’ for the customer; He is the King after all. All looks very hunky dory as of now but for how long?? Or have I understood this wrong?

 

What baffles me even more, is the fact that all these online giants rely on print when it comes to impact and traffic !

 

And yet, we say the younger generation cannot be reached by Print any longer.

 

Strange paradox. 70%, 80% and 90% discounts, despite losses of 300, 400, 600 crores last fiscal. More paradox.

 

When am I going to learn that the more you spend, the more you earn?

 

I think its best that we go straight to our Q&A for the week. As always the blatant truth.

Your Questions, Our Answers @ Dear MxM simply because, we care..

 

Sir, I have a friend who insists that his creative juices flow best in the wee hours of the day. Although I think he has turned into an insomniac. What is your view?

He may have a point there… Frankly, this may be a very biased answer, since I am pretty much an owl myself. I have personally seen many a friend working through the night primarily to be undisturbed.

Creative juices may or may not have anything to do with the time of day, yet getting some good peace and quiet isn’t a bad idea.

Having said that, it’s pertinent to add the need for 6-7 hours of deep sleep to be able to have the body and mind gets its much required rest. Lack of sleep can create a host of health issues ranging from physical debility to anxiety etc.

I am not sure what your friend’s sleep pattern and quantum is like, though he is certainly blessed to have a concerned friend like you. Am sure he will do just fine.

Let him be, let his creativity flow. Fatigue sets in quite soon, if you burn the midnight oil day after day.  When you’re tired, sleep comes naturally.

 

I was at an event last week and a leading media professional told me that most media awards are rigged. I don’t agree with this view. What do you think really happens?

Thanks for writing in to us at Dear MxM.

You obviously don’t like me too much do you?

Jokes apart, it’s questions like these that keep us on our toes, week after week.

As always, we work on the simple principle that ‘ what has to be said , must be said ‘ !

At the risk of committing professional harakiri, I must confess that I have heard such remarks being made in the past. Media has been at the receiving end of criticism for time immemorial and hence a lot of us take these things with a pinch of salt.

The media fraternity isn’t really as big as it seems , and hence the same names gets bandied around for most awards. This in itself raises quite a few eyebrows.

Advertising and sponsorships do curry favour with the powers that be in the industry and hence there is a possibility of a few of them being engineered for reasons of PR.

But then, what isn’t engineered ?

Have can we forget ‘The Great Indian Jugaad Trick’.

 

Sir, my younger brother is very good at organising community events in our housing complex like Ganapati and Navratri celebrations. I have been advising him to take up event management as a career but there are many people who say that it’s not a respectable profession. I seek your advice, Sir.

This is completely incorrect. Events are an important part of the marketing landscape today, be it a launch, award ceremonies or just fancy weddings.

I have personally worked on events for over eight years and enjoyed every bit of it.  Events today offers you excellent careers which are coupled with great creative exposure and operational finesse.  Additionally this is one career that gives you the chance to meet and interact with a wide variety of people be it film stars, musicians or politicians! Teaches you much patience too.

Respect is a state of mind when it comes to work . Work is worship, no matter what you do. How does it matter as to what people say or think about you?

Finally, it’s all about you , your career, your life and the difference you make on this planet.

My suggestion would be that you scout around for a good Event Management course for your brother to enable him get a strong foundation. Alongside he could probably work on a few events as an intern.

Soon enough am sure he will turn out to be a great experiential marketing professional. Sit back and watch him Rock.

All good wishes for his success !

 

Deserve before you desire. But if you dont have targets, you will never achieve results. What according to you is the right policy?

I am in total agreement of this dictum and strongly believe that without a clear objective in mind, one cannot achieve. Its almost akin to jumping on a train and travelling without knowing its destination…..!

Targets are undoubtedly the catalysts for one’s own growth as they create a level playing field for everyone. Performance is measurable and in Black & White.

No one can refute clearly demonstrated excellence.

Having said this, I must add that setting unreasonable targets is an exercise in futility as they only add to discontent and attrition within the team.

So my friend, accept the target gracefully, chase it like a dream and walk head high into the Sun. All the best !

 

Here’s wishing you and all at home a fabulous Dassera with much shopping, eating and festivity! Do take good care of yourself. It means a lot to us.

 

And, yes, don’t you forget that we will be back next week, same day, same space, New Questions and Brand New Answers!

 

Dear MxM…Yes, We Care.

 

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

hello Friends !

 

Welcome back to Dear MxM, your very own ‘ Agony Uncle ‘ where the Sun never sets on Living and Learning ! Over the past few weeks, I have been doing a fair amount of informal research to back my recent hypothesis that ‘ Brand Loyalty is history ‘

 

It’s interesting to see how on the one hand, brand consciousness is on a meteoric high and yet, the consumer has no love lost in courting another brand !

 

Peer pressure, societal impact, affluence and the propensity to spend are all factors that probably contributed to this dilution of the fundamental emotion of loyalty.

 

I can’t think of one brand across categories that my own family for instance is loyal to. Coming to think of it besides Liquor and Cigarettes ( Stay far away from both of them ; the latter being worse..) how many people stick to one brand today ?

Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner, TV’s, Refrigerators, Bread, Butter, Tea, Chicken, Computers, Smartphones and what have you! Brand A in and out , Brand B in and out again only to be replaced with Brand C.

Probably the time has come for marketers to delve deep into the minds of the consumer to understand what this new equation is about.

Neurologists may just have a new career option ; Marketing Consultants to Brands.

Life is getting interesting. Go for it!

Time’s up. Your Questions , Our Answers only because its Dear MxM !
Read on friends, Read on….

 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race… would you say this dictum works for media professionals, or is it better to zigzag your way ahead?

Thank you for writing in to Dear MxM, your Virtual Friend, Guide and Philosopher 🙂 While your question is both interesting and relevant in today’s context, the answer is likely to be a shade biased, thanks to my own experiences at work !
Honestly, there is no dictum or Gospel on what is the ideal length of one’s stint at a media house ; Neither is there an ideal age/ experience level to handle a specific role. All this is entirely individual led and will always be so…thankfully.

What is important really, is the kind of learning you get at your current work place. As I have always said , master your craft and be rest assured, career and the rest will follow, no matter what.

Yes, in today’s environment its considered sacrilege to stick on to one company beyond 2 years. A move is meant to satisfy the never ending desire for money or a fancier designation.

Having been in the HR consulting space as well, I have rarely seen any other objective behind quick moves. but then no objective = no learning = no growth.

Probably why that despite the younger, fast track media professionals being omnipresent, it is still the old bandicoots (yours truly included!) who are still talked/ written about. Maybe our generation did a few things right, eh ?

Having said this, If it works well for you ; Just Do it, Man !!!!

 

We read about what happened in Volkswagen. But in many ways, our media also knowingly does out substandard stuff. Your comments, Sir ?

The difference my friend is that, in media there is no Emission Test !

Jokes apart , Lets examine the publishing industry for instance….  Leading brands are no longer read for news, so much so, that a simple query on who edits the paper will go unanswered !

Substandard is a state of mind in this context. The dumbing down of content has been a well orchestrated intervention that has really worked well in the marketplace. Finally it is the audience that decides….. Hence infotainment crazy audience = dumbed down content = media that sells = win win !

Driving a car isn’t like absorbing media. Driving is a right brain activity and media ( Television , Radio etc) is a left brain exercise. Standards are set by the right brain. The left brain purely assimilates, sensitises and transfers to the subconscious.

Now, if this answer hasn’t made you forget your question, then all i can say is ‘ start using the left brain my friend ‘.

 

I find a lot of publications just picking up photographs from Google without adequate permissions… haven’t they heard of intellectual property rights?

This is a huge problem and as I have said before in this column, a typical fall out of the connected world. From entire theses to articles, poems, project reports and photographs are happily used as their own.

The point here is that while it is extremely difficult to monitor, it as also a demon that people themselves have encouraged.

I have personally seen so much of downloaded matter being used by even citizens of pre-eminence, that i now look at everything with suspicion followed by a pinch of salt or oregano.

Honestly, in the absence of a uniform code for use of the Internet, basic understanding of the Do’s and Dont’s is also limited. Most people dont even know what is prohibited and so on. Yes, the publications are more than aware but it’s also important that the senior management / editors sensitise the staff on Internet hygiene.

IPR is a highly ignored subject, to the extent that its difficult to even find a good IPR lawyer in most cities. So if you do have a solution , write in since you would be doing a yeoman service to IPR and Copyright law keepers.

 

I have just passed my MBBS examination and while studying for my MD entrance, I have realised that I want to be in the media like my father and other members of my family.
I feel guilty to quit medicine, but this is my calling ? Please help me, as if you would advise your own daughter.

Now, this is uncanny !!! My elder daughter has just become a Doctor and is now preparing for her PG entrance exams so your question is both interesting and challenging !

Having said that, my personal advice is to give this a good thought if you haven’t already. Its important to be sure that a move after five and half years of gruelling study is really what you want.

Introspect to identify your core interests. Did you for instance enjoy some parts of your M.B.B.S or was the entire time a sheer waste ? Did you feel good during your clinics ; interacting with patients etc ?
How much does your white coat mean to you today ? Would you consider stashing it away once for all ?
Think young lady, Think.

I have always advocated going after one’s passion since I believe success comes with that. You have to eat, sleep and live your passion. Yet, this is a confusing critical phase in your life and hence careful decision making is called for.

Maybe a small exercise of listing down all the pros and cons of both these options would give you some direction. Weigh them only after you have listed them dispassionately and completely true to heart.

Media is exciting and so is Medicine. We don’t get a chance to strut around in that formidable white coat though..Sigh !

Am sure you will take the right call. Don’t worry.

And yes, if you do need any more inputs, feel free to write in  anytime. All good wishes to you. Stay Blessed.

Oh boy ! Your questions are getting complex aren’t they ? And with my on-the-face answers, it won’t be long before I am banished by my own industry. Jungles of Denkali, here I come.

But then, this is imperative so be rest assured, I will be back with Dear MxM Thursday next,when we will see even more exciting Questions and Answers !

Because We Care, We honestly do. Amen.

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Just a few days ago I changed my profile picture on a popular social site. I didn’t realise however that this would evoke so much of negative response…

 

The contention being my ignorance/ error in judgment about the dynamics of pushing internet.org and the main contenders agenda for consolidation. I may be completely wrong but I certainly stick to what I did. I shall go back to the old picture (if you prefer seeing me without the tricolour!) but not

 

before I say what I have to….

 

Who does anything without an agenda ? Why would a company invest time and money if they get absolutely nothing from an activity or social initiative. Either it’s branding, or a soft sell of a brand/ service most often.

 

The point is that if at the end of it , if there is some tangible benefit to people at large, then it’s worth it. Why should we complain? If basic internet access will be given, then so be it. Are you and me going to be affected? No.

 

Propaganda works both ways and hence all the articles damning this entire free basic internet initiative could also be a well-orchestrated editorial plant. Right?

 

No, I don’t know anyone in these companies. I just speak my mind.

 

Give India a Chance. It’s about time.

 

And before I forget, it’s about time, I take you to our Q&A for the week.

 

As always, Your Questions, Our Answers. Candid yet true to heart.

 

Because We Care.

 

I just discovered last week that my editor carries readymade stories doled out to him by PR agencies with his own byline. I have always treated my editor like my god, he is my mentor. I am shaken. Please advise what I should do?

Error in judgment, my friend. However, don’t despair ; there are exceptions to the rule everywhere. Having said that, I completely understand how you feel about this disgusting habit.

 

It’s unfortunate that such practices thrive even today. The digital revolution has only made it easier I guess, what with ‘copy & paste’ and other ingenious marvels of the computing world taking over our lives.

 

Let me however assure you and our esteemed readers, that this is not how the industry works . Our fraternity has exceedingly competent journalists and content professionals who are more than capable of writing and captivating audiences.

 

The Crutch of Compromised Editorial Content is for the Incompetent.

 

I have been reading Dear MxM for several weeks and I find that you are very ethical. But since you worked with a newspaper group which pioneered  practices like Medianet and Private Treaties, how did you manage to stay on?

Your’e related to Shane Warne, aren’t you ??

 

I stayed on simply because I had a huge responsibility that I was committed to… launching and establishing the TOI Pune’s supremacy within 12 calendar months. For the sake of record, this was achieved in nine months flat.

 

The group had the advantage of probably the best possible team working on this across geographies. To be honest nothing else mattered at that point of time, though I distinctly remember voicing my concern, when Medianet was being discussed by the people who mattered.

 

Private Treaties was a master stroke that paved the way for a financial coup of sorts legitimising the group’s entry into hundreds of companies in the country. I am given to understand that this non-cash synergy created has benefited many companies. I sincerely hope this is true.

 

Medianet is a different story all together as this heralded the end of the sanctum sanctorum of the paper . Its content was on sale.

 

I must confess that this is undoubtedly a brilliant marketing idea that catapulted revenue. Advertising occupied about 50-60% of the city-centric newspapers’ inventory and suddenly thanks to Medianet, it shot up to 100% !

 

Emotion, Tradition, Editors, Journalists, all stupas that meant nothing in this scenario considering that circulation and readership only grew and so did revenues. The rest is history, sweet, bitter… whatever !

 

If it’s marketing, its the TOI group. No argument on this.

 

It is Gandhi Jayanti on Friday. And while Bapu was a lawyer and later an activist and a freedom fighter, he was also a journalist and Editor-Publisher of Indian Opinion. If the Mahatma were to be alive today, what would be his Opinion on the Media? Sorry, this is not an advisory question, but I wanted to have your perspectives on the issue for my own clarity…

Interesting question, my friend!

 

My understanding of Mahatma Gandhi is limited really, to what was written about him and may be a few pieces he wrote.

 

However, given his strong views on a variety of subjects, I would imagine that he would have been fairly disturbed on the conscious dumbing down of content quality.

 

The obvious focus on Infotainment as opposed to news may have been quite an unpleasant surprise for him. I think it’s essentially his propensity to create opinion leaders that would have taken a beating . No opinions, no leaders !

 

On a lighter note, I suspect he would have been exceedingly amused with the news channel and their never ending debates. The Solar System wants to know……!

 

And there never will be another Mahatma Gandhi!

 

Sir, I lived in New Delhi and have now moved to a Tier-2 or Tier-3 capital city. I find that the newspaper which my family and Igrew up on has a truncated edition from the city. While I understand that this happens because of low revenues in smaller centres, from the newspaper’s point of view, doesn’t a half-baked edition mean a loss in brand value?

No, it doesn’t if the brand is already an established name. Newspaper readership is significantly loyalty-driven. It’s almost akin to your toothpaste; colours change, paste becomes gel, tubes get smaller and yet we can’t do without it!

 

The publishing industry is a business like any other and this is something that must be understood. Costs are phenomenal what with raw material (read newsprint) accounting for a bulk of the DVC( Direct Variable Cost).

 

To add to this is the large wage bill that is incurred month after month.

 

As you rightly said, low revenues are a challenge for the publisher and there are only a few options to overcome this blow to the profitability. Either you bolster revenues  (which may not be possible in small markets!). Or you cut costs.

 

Less pages = Less Cost = Brand Remains Profitable.

 

End Of Story.

 

We do hope you enjoyed reading this edition of Dear MxM.

Heady Questions, Straight Answers.
Have a splendid, fun-filled weekend & do take good care of yourselves !
See you next Thursday, same space, more Questions and even more Answers.
Dear MxM… Because We Care.

 

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Hello and Welcome to Dear MxM, India’s only online counselling column for Media, Advertising and Marketing!

 

I sometimes wonder what will become of all of us, what with young kids teaching us the fundamentals of our own trade !

 

Haven’t you been awestruck with kids who take to computers and before you realise it, become pros at using them?

 

Yes, it is superior intelligence. Their brains allow them to multitask with ease, processing information at lightning speed. They are designed for the future, we are not!  We need to cultivate some of the qualities they possess to be able to equip ourselves for the years ahead.

 

We must learn to stop absorbing all the information thrown at us.

 

As it is, there is an information overload and to make things worse, we imbibe every single aspect of everything ; blissfully ignoring the fact that it will be of no use to us whatsoever. Why do we need every single detail of a murder for instance ?

 

It’s not going to make a difference to our lives, be it a small bag that was found or a big one. Who is the investigating officer on case? Whatever happened to him ?

 

Does it really matter? Ask a teenager this, and he/she is going to say “Ya, I know, she was murdered ” and that’s it.

 

Their neural networks work on a simple premise ;

Absorb the Relevant, Purge the Rest!

Think of it! We do have a problem.

OK, Time’s up…. Cut to your questions and our answers, because we care.

 

Sir, I am likely to join an organisation which has a hire-and-fire regime. I have heard that one can ask for a severance pay, but is that a done thing at the middle level in an ad agency?

Hi and Thanks for writing into Dear MxM.

 

Am afraid, there is no concept of a severance pay at middle level in an agency, or for that matter a media house.

 

Severance pay is more an exception than the norm and is offered exclusively to top management / editorial hires.

 

As far as the ‘Hire and Fire’ bit is concerned, believe me, all jobs today are similar. You are as good as yesterday, no matter what the Legacy !

Having said that, there is no harm in trying your luck. You may just strike gold ! All the best.

 

Last week, I read an old article where it was being discussed that news is not a profitable proposition, and that it takes years for organisations to profit. If that’s the case, how do we have some not-so-old publications making huge money?

The article you read isn’t far removed from the truth. General interest news isn’t profitable any more. It’s the infotainment era and publications have to toe the line and increasingly clone TV and online media in order to sell.

 

More than 90% of the news is in public domain the night before and hence the relevance of a news break is lost.

 

News magazines that sold like hot cakes in multiple languages are struggling to stay afloat with one or two languages.

 

The not-so-old publications you mention that are raking in the moolah are exceptions, if at all.

 

Most mediaowners believe that a good marketing team is the answer to all woes!

 

At the risk of sounding repetitive, the best of marketers aren’t magicians and can only act as catalysts for revenue. Finally, it’s the brand, its persona, its content and its positioning that make the difference.

 

Get you act together before you blame it on marketing !

 

The news business isn’t easy and more so for print media.

 

Carve your own niche and claim your audience, or else perish like the rest. Amen.

 

Is it legal to moonlight?

In India more than 95% of the companies prohibit secondary employment of any kind. Moonlighting may be considered illegal from this point of view, though there is no law preventing secondary employment.

 

I must add that such service rules are normally for full time employees only. Part-time staff quite often take more than one assignment, in anycase.

 

It may interest you that countries like the US permit moonlighting and do not really care as long as the primary responsibility is taken care off. To be honest, this does make ample sense.

 

Sir, I practise a certain faith, but I find that my organisation only has a corner for the prayer and pictures of the gods of a certain religion? Is there any law governing organisations to disallow company offices from becoming mini-temples/ mosques / churches/ etc?

Not that I know off my friend , though am not too sure if any organisation would wish to transform itself into a temple/ mosque/ church etc. The point really is about giving the employees the freedom to practise their Faith even at work.

 

The prayer room normally represents all faiths and there is no discrimination of any kind.

 

May I suggest that you have a chat with your HR colleagues about this lacunae. I am more than certain this will be taken care of immediately since most organisations are sensitised to respecting all faiths.

 

Above all, do not forget that god lives within us…..

 

And then we will see you next week, same day, same space for it will be time to Answer your Questions one after the other.

Yes, we care !

Be Good. It’s Important.

 

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

 

By Jaisurya Das

Good Day, Ladies & Gentleman.Welcome to Dear MxM.

It’s the time of the year when The Vighnaharta is brought home with ceremonial splendour. I wonder if it’s the Ukadichi Modak, the Powerful Resonance of the Arati or just the bonding this festival creates, that makes it go beyond the divisive boundaries of Religion, Caste and Creed!?

Ganapati Bappa Morya, Bappa Morya!

Okay, now it’s time for the Q&As.

Your Questions & Our Answers, Because We Care!

Sir, I am sure you must be receiving several questions every week? How many questions do you receive? And what makes you select the questions you respond to?

Ah ha… This is classified information you are seeking my friend!!!!! Nevertheless, transparency runs in our blood stream and hence here are your Answers:

a. Yes, we certainly receive quite a few questions through the week, though more the merrier.

Some weeks more than the other, typically post appraisals many many questions :). Like: Sir, Do you think I should continue in an organisation that has given me only a 20% raise after a whole year of slogging?

b. We get an average of about 25-35 questions through the week, with expected highs and lows. The maximum we received was four weeks back when we got 47!

c. To be honest, we have no specific formula for selection, but often give priority to questions that are time-bound and/or have requested for an urgent response.

Questions that literallydemand a response (candid or otherwise ) also move up the list. I must confess, that there are some questions that are very entertaining or are different and hence slip in once in a while. Like your question 🙂

My youngest brother is going to graduate this year. He went through career counselling and was told that he should become a Public Relations Officer. He is an extrovert and is good at making friends. But our family isn’t aware of the career prospects as we are all into pharmaceuticals. What are the career prospects in PR?

PR is certainly a good career and offers both learning as well as growth. Inherent ability to interact with people at various levels is a distinct advantage in this line.

As far as career prospects are concerned, I always believe that it is greatly dependant on the individual who can make or break a good career.

Ideally, your brother could talk to a few PR professionals, and understand the finer nuances of the industry. While I would have liked to give him a more micro perspective, current space constraints prevent me from doing so.

However, I take this opportunity to wish him all the very best in his career.

Sir, your decision to switch from hotel management to media has inspired me and I would also like to switch from a hotel job to that of a media agency, as I like crunching numbers and media innovations. I hope I am not taking a wrong decision?

I didn’t ever think my radical career shift would inspire anyone. It wasn’t meant to 🙂

Having said that, I must confess that it is exceedingly difficult to arrive at a conclusion on which option is better.

However, some amount of reading and interacting with media planners etc would help you weigh your options.

Believe me, there is a lot more to Media Planning and Buying than number crunching and Innovation. There are deadlines , fiery clients, bosses and burning the midnight oil that is integral to the role. It’s a high pressure environment and only the very best move up the ladder.

It’s not really easy getting hired with no relevant experience, but if you have it in you, Go for it ! All the best.

I feel I am stagnating in my job in a newspaper in Delhi. Do you think it will help working in a smaller town where I will get to do more exciting work?

I cant help but say Yes!

I may be biased however since I accepted a shift from a large market like Chennai to Kochi. Revenues that I gloated about plummeted and I was faced with a market place that had zero affinity for the brand I represented.

It’s really left to you to make the work exciting by exploring new  avenues, conceptualising innovative options and building a new base of clients.  A smaller market offers you immense challenge and noticeability, however there is no umbrella cover. You are as good as what you did yesterday.

The downside is that it can get quite frustrating at times as you will need to literally educate the market before they buy into your proposition.

Yet if you ask me, I would only say yes 🙂

May Lord Ganesha Bless each one of you with Happiness, Prosperity and Good Health!

Have a splendid weekend and take good care of yourself.

We will be back next Thursday with your Questions and Straight Answers….

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

By Jaisurya Das

 

Social media has taken over our lives. I was at an interesting conference last week and while some presentations focussed on social media, almost all the others mentioned it. The thousand-strong audience were rapt in attention, yet took time off to post photographs and snippets to their social accounts.

 

I noticed that an informal interaction between Bollywod’s icon Shah Rukh Khan and Karunya, the gushing fan went viral within minutes. In fact, even before she returned groggily to her seat!

 

Life isn’t ours anymore.  It’s more and more inclusive as the days go by, much like the Selfie Revolution, more often than once, creating an occasion when there isn’t any !

 

I would imagine it’s very tough to always be your photogenic self, ever-prepared for that selfie… stick or otherwise. The line between personal and public is blurred by the immense reach of the Social Media platform, where everyone is a Celebrity.

 

Page 3 has lost its meaning. It’s people too. Social has taken over our Lives. Amen.

Well, no more time for hypotheses. Cut to this week’s Questions and Our Answers:

Last week, my boss told me that I am no good at work because I am unable to undertake ‘settings’ for sales contracts. Basically, he meant that I should be ready to bribe clients and/or media planners so that I can get ads? Does this really happen? Can you advise how I should go about it?

Greetings! Thank for writing in… and how!

 

Once this column goes live tomorrow, two possibilities exist ;

1. Yours truly is ostracised from the fraternity with a few broken bones for good measure. Obviously I will cease to exist as the ‘MxM Agony Uncle’ either.

 

2. You my friend, get fired, fried and fed to the falcons.

 

But, jokes apart, I wouldn’t work at such a company long. If they do resort to such methodology to get business, it is obvious their brands have no intrinsic value to offer to its constituents.

 

If selling means greasing palms (or so your boss claims!), then it’s worse than the worst of roles to be in. Fortunately my friend, this is not the case.

 

I would suggest that you start examining options in the market in order for you to be part of a professional work environment. Believe me, there are numerous corporates that can give you a enriching work environment. All the very best to you.

 

Sir, why is it that IIT-IIMs are treated with awe and given such respect when they actually don’t bring too much to the table in terms of knowledge?

I wouldn’t agree with you on this. A majority of IIM graduates do bring a fair amount of knowledge to the table. I have personally hired and worked with them, and it would be unfair to say they are not equipped.

 

As far as the awe and respect is concerned, it is entirely based on the environment they are in. They are quick on their feet, have strong soft skills, clearly analytical and also strong on the financial aspects of business.

 

Hence, am not too sure how you have this impression about the IIMs. In fact I would go a step further and urge you to enrol for one of their executive programmes. This will not only hold you in good stead from a career point of view, but also give you a better perspective of the IIM acumen.

 

Does one have to have done a special course so as to get a job as a Media Planner and Buyer?

Yes, ideally a qualification in media management would give you the edge during the recruitment process.

 

Experience in advertising sales, with a large credible media house is also valued for media planning/ buying jobs. Media planning involves a lot of number-crunching and negotiation skills making it a fairly specialised job.

 

Hence, go for it provided you have the acumen , patience and the ability to negotiate the life out of people!

 

The world is your stage. Play on.

 

My boss is a veteran in the business and is well-respected by everyone in in the industry. Every Diwali, I find his cabin flooded with gifts. More than feel happy about it, I am embarrassed. Please help in clearing my misgivings.

Am very happy to hear of your sentiment on this horrible practice. This is nothing short of accepting bribes from people and is undoubtedly despicable professional conduct.

 

I must add that both parties are equally responsible in this case. While one will take his pound of flesh, the other will compromise the values of the company he represents.

 

People often forget that the market loses all its respect for the individual, making them a pawn in the armtwisting game. Stay far away from these practises, however festive them may be.

 

Buy your own dry fruit box. It tastes better. Always. Cheers my friend. Be well.

 

Thank you Readers for the overwhelming response week after week. Somewhere we must be doing something right! Do let us know if you think otherwise… Do take good care of yourselves.

 

Till we meet next week then, Sayonara it is.

 

Inbox your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line

 

By Jaisurya Das

 

Welcome to this week’s Dear MxM. Your one and only forum for asking professional and as we see this week, some crazy personal questions!

 

Sir, my daughter is considering a career in the media. At the undergraduate level, would you recommend a BMM, BMS or a BBA course or one of the traditional undergraduate programmes?

Hello ! Thanks for writing in to Dear MxM. Happy to hear that your daughter is considering a media career. I would ideally have liked to have some more information on her specific interests in the media domain etc, nevertheless let me try and give you a better perspective.

 

A Bachelor in Media Studies from a reputed institute would certainly help her build a strong foundation for a career ahead in Media. This would also help her in terms of employability straight after her graduation.   In fact, good institutes today boast of excellent placements , what with all the leading media firms making a bee line to get the cream of the batch.

 

I must however add that doing a regular degree i.e. Bachelor of Arts, followed by a PG in Media / Communication is also a good option, provided she’s not planning to start her career post graduation.

 

Dear MxM would be happy to guide her, should she require any further inputs.  All good wishes to her for a great career in Media ; the industry with never a dull moment !

 

I am a journalist and am considering switching to PR. Your advice?

Hmmm ; Not enough bylines ? Or is it the remuneration ? Or genuine love for the PR industry ? I sincerely hope that you are really keen on the PR industry, else it can be very monotonous for a good journalist.

 

One of the important KRAs is to build strong relationships with media houses and journalists in particular. I presume you are much liked among your peers!

 

PR as an industry is doing fairly well and hence from a career perspective, it’s certainly worth looking at. All this, is assuming that you have decided to foresake the adrenalin of the journalistic domain.

Be well, my friend. All the best.

 

My client is a well-known automobile brand. Since the product hasn’t sold as expected, he’s considering changing his creative agency which will affect my employment. Do you think I could change his mind?

Well, that depends entirely on his analyses and reasoning behind the poor sales.

Irrespective of what you may possess in terms or sales acumen or advertising excellence, it’s finally the product that drives sales. If you have a bad product, sweet nothing will help sell it.  Advertising is a critical catalyst in the marketing plan and hence it needs regular review to ensure maximum efficacy.

If you swear by your agency’s work and quality, convince him to stay. If not, be fair and let him go get his money’s worth elsewhere !

 

Sir it’s Raksha Bandhan on Saturday, and I feel like tying a Rakhi to my boss. While he is a cool guy, my colleagues are dissuading me. Your view, Sir?

Wonders will never cease will they…!!

Young lady, I do hope you understand the True meaning and Sanctity of Raksha ZBandhan. I honestly don’t know how Good or Bad your rapport with the Boss is, but I can certainly tell you, that this is just short off professional sacrilege !

What do you expect to achieve ? If it’s genuine sisterly affection, then why ask…

I do hope better sense will prevail upon you this Raksha Bandhan. Amen.

 

Ladies & Gentleman, Have a Wonderful Weekend ! Take Good Care Of Yourself. 

Yes, we will be back next week with new Questions, Ekdum Taaza Answers & More….

Dear MxM Because We Care.

Send in your questions to editor@mxmindia.com with Dear MxM in the subject line