Still Figuring Out...

  This blog is inspired by my own struggles with cooking and I am sure many of you might be in the same boat as me. Jotting down a few thoughts around how, what, why and when of it?! So, Let's go back in time when the jobs were very clearly divided among men and women. Men were to go out of the house to earn a livelihood, provide food, protect their families and do all things that would justify the purpose of testosterone. On the other hand, women were responsible for nurturing, taking care of the family, looking after aesthetics and all the tasks related to the inside of a house, and cooking was one of those. For a very long time, this system was in place and it became a norm for men and women to do their jobs. As with many things, when a certain system - that might have been started for good - prolongs for a long time without adapting itself with time – it starts to outdate, benefitting only certain members of the society – in this case, it was men and women were confined to four...

  The concept of an "influencer" might seem like a modern phenomenon tied closely to the surge of social media, but in reality, the essence of influencing—impacting others' thoughts, decisions, habits, and overall lifestyles—has been a significant aspect of human interaction long before the digital age. Historically, our ideas and choices have been shaped by a variety of figures, from Bollywood stars and cricketers to politicians and community leaders. These individuals have always had the power to influence public opinion and personal decisions, albeit without the hashtags and viral videos associated with today’s social media influencers. Consider your own life: it’s highly likely that you have influenced someone, perhaps without even realizing it. Whether it was a younger student in your school, a neighbor, or a family member, your actions and achievements could have inspired others. Maybe someone admired the way you handled a difficult situation, or perhaps they were i...

  The title might sound contradictory to the common belief that introspection requires solitude and freedom from distractions, but I think in today's digital age, where our days begin and end with mobile apps, t he way we engage with digital content can unexpectedly assist in self-reflection. With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, these apps catalogue our choices and continually tailor their content to our preferences. Consider how platforms like Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, and Swiggy cater to us: they offer recommendations and suggestions based on our previous choices, creating a feedback loop of content consumption. For instance, there was a day when I found myself aimlessly browsing YouTube on my MacBook. The homepage was filled with the types of videos I had recently watched. As I scrolled through these suggestions, I realized I had been watching very similar types of videos repetitively, prompting me to wonder why I was drawn to them. This observa...

  Let me begin by clarifying two key marketing terms. Brand image refers to how consumers perceive a brand, while brand identity represents what a company intends its brand to embody. Now, think of these concepts in personal terms: your brand identity is who you believe you are or aspire to be, and your brand image is how others perceive you. If your brand image aligns perfectly with your brand identity, that's excellent—it means you're communicating and presenting yourself effectively. However, if there's a disconnect, you're certainly not alone. It’s common to receive feedback from friends or family that surprises you, making you think, "That's not me at all!" Why does this happen? Often, it's because we blur the lines between who we think we are and who we want to be. So, how can you determine your own brand, or how others view you? Start by engaging in conversations with a mix of people—new friends, old friends, and family. Don't explicitly ask...

  Why is it often so challenging to explain our jobs to our parents? Is it truly that complex, or might it be that we don’t fully grasp our own roles? I believe that most corporate jobs, about 90%, are actually quite straightforward—they're just adapted to contemporary ways of working. The corporate world does love its jargon, which, while sometimes necessary for precision, often complicates simple concepts unnecessarily. If you really want to help your parents understand what you do, start with the broader context. Explain that every company, whether it deals with products or services, is actually running some kind of business. From there, you can narrow down to describe what you specifically do within that framework. This approach not only helps your parents understand your work but can also clarify your own understanding of your role. I hold the conviction that if parents truly grasp what their children do professionally, they might offer insights that seem irrelevant at first b...