The phone's not just a phone any more

The mobile phone no longer is used for just talking... it's no longer a phone, it has turned into a technology hub to serve your computer/pda/tv/ipod needs. The applications that the mobile platform currently supports lets you bank, buy stocks, order food, make reservations and do everything under the sun at your finger tips. Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare and other social media sites have basically taken the mobile route. And with location registry, instant messaging and twitter, you basically the world now knows where you are and what's on your mind before you yourself know it :) Every industry is, and will increasingly be affected by mobile devices and location-sensing technology. What we're seeing today in the arenas of local commerce, deals, and productivity is only the beginning. With Internet and location-enabled phones in the hands of billions all around the world, the future of mobile location is rapidly becoming our future as an advanced civilization.

As the new terminology puts it - SoLoMo (social, location, and mobile) is a trend larger than any single app or company, and it will encompass every industry on the planet. The future of mobile location will see the integration of location-enabled features and insights into every product you touch and every process you engage in during the course of your life, providing great efficiencies and incredibly valuable insights. Products like FitBit, Tripit, and RunKeeper are already leveraging location-aware smartphones to provide users with reports about their health, travel, or exercise habits. You can expect nearly every product you touch to eventually provide this type of personal data to you. The emergence of mobile location over the last few years has laid the foundation for anywhere computing, and the future of that is exactly what the name says: anywhere computing. I expect the next generation of devices such as your home appliances, your car, and your television to engage with you, and to know where you are and what you're doing. What truly excites me as an entrepreneur, an investor, and a consumer, is that everything I have mentioned is already at work in our lives and the speed of its integration is remarkable. As it relates to mobile location, the future truly is now.

Motivate Your Employees - It's not only about the money

The picture attached says all I could think of :)

But there's never a possibility of keeping everyone happy anyways... More or less it boils down to the fact that the employee should know that the organization cares for the work that he's doing and the organization should also not be wasting any investments on someone who is not useful. Here's a list of observations which I think could bridge the gap between a Satisfied and a frustrated employee:

1. Don't hold back on the praise: Everyone quests for it and in my opinion it’s one of the easiest things to give. Plus any praise from the peers or the higher management (CEO, COO or the CTO) goes a lot farther than you might think. Praise every improvement that you see your team members make. Once you’re comfortable delivering praise one-on-one to an employee, try praising them in front of others.  
2. Make your ideas theirs but don't let the creativity die: People hate being told what to do. Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. “I’d like you to do it this way” turns into “Do you think it’s a good idea if we do it this way?”. There is a very thin line between a discussion about a decision and a forced decision, in my opinion one should never allow the employee's creativity to die out and make him just a machine to do only what you are telling him to. There should not be a case where the employee is totally let of the hook too, so that the goals stay intact.
3. Never criticize or correct. No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear that they did something wrong. If you’re looking for a de-motivator, this is it. Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them. Ask, “Was that the best way to approach the problem? Why not? Have any ideas on what you could have done differently?” Then you’re having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.  
4. Make everyone a leader. Highlight your top performers’ strengths and let them know that because of their excellence, you want them to be the example for others. You’ll set the bar high and they’ll be motivated to live up to their reputation as a leader.  
5. Take an employee to lunch once a week. Surprise them. Don’t make an announcement that you’re establishing a new policy. Literally walk up to one of your employees, and invite them to lunch with you. It’s an easy way to remind them that you notice and appreciate their work.  
6. Give recognition and small rewards. These two things come in many forms: Give a shout out to someone in a company meeting for what she has accomplished. Run contests or internal games and keep track of the results on a whiteboard that everyone can see. Tangible awards that don’t break the bank can work too. Try things like dinner, trophies, spa services, and plaques.
7. Get rid of the managers. Projects without project managers? That doesn’t seem right! Try it. Removing the project lead or supervisor and empowering your staff to work together as a team rather then everyone reporting to one individual can do wonders. Think about it. What’s worse than letting your supervisor down? Letting your team down! Allowing people to work together as a team, on an equal level with their co-workers, will often produce better projects faster. People will come in early, stay late, and devote more of their energy to solving problems.
8. Throw company parties. Doing things as a group can go a long way. Have a company picnic. Organize birthday parties. Hold a happy hour. Don’t just wait until the holidays to do a company activity; organize events throughout the year to remind your staff that you’re all in it together. 
9. Share the rewards—and the pain. When your company does well, celebrate. This is the best time to let everyone know that you’re thankful for their hard work. Go out of your way to show how far you will go when people help your company succeed. If there are disappointments, share those too. If you expect high performance, your team deserves to know where the company stands. Be honest and transparent.

There's never gonna be a perfect world, yet I have one easy principle in life "An attempt may be a failure, but a failure to attempt is always gonna be a failure!" :)

Risks of Living Digitally

The phrase "my life is an open book" has never been more apt. With facebook, twitter, internet dating and rest of your online world taking atleast 20-30% of your time in a day, it's rather easy to fall pray to the risks of living digitally. Here’s an interesting fact: Every American has, at some point, appeared naked, drunk, unconscious, rude, crude or felonious online. Okay, maybe not everyone, but surf the Net and that’s the impression you’ll get. If you're looking for a job, potential employers may be looking at your Facebook or MySpace profile. And with websites like LinkedIn, About me and nearly everyone heading towards integration, you might soon be a sorry figure. The deal with online dating sites is a known fact. Online dating sites do not typically have a way to verify if the photograph and information users post is accurate. That means that when two people meet online, they are relying solely on the photographs and information provided by the other person. Some people can upload old photographs of themselves or even photographs of other people and create appealing profiles that are fraudulent. This is why it is important to only meet potential dates in a public place, and get to know them on the dating site and by telephone prior to meeting in person. Here's a list of top 100 most traffic getting websites http://www.quantcast.com/top-sites.

And, I'm back!!!

Too bad the technical blog writing, a long trip back home and my new projects kept me from posting here... but I've decided I'll write again :)