Friday, June 27, 2008

justmeans-A medium to reach

Justmeans- A medium to reach


I have been working on justmeans.com techside for about 7 months now. we have been developing some cool features on justmeans and i am really happy that all the ideas are now coming into shape.

When I started working on justmeans, I have been hearing the words “ CSR, Social entrepreneurs, sustainability ,green jobs etc etc( This is a next big thing after .COMS).My first thought was “ Here comes another hype from west”, I even once said to vikrant ( justmeans system architect ) this is all bullshit, these guys only want to make money, they are not bothered about changing the world in a good way ( a typical Indian prospective about west world).But after reading quite a few books( how to change the world, banker to the poor a few examples) and articles ( many of them have been posted on justmeans) I started realizing, these terms do make some sense and most of the people, companies are trying to make some positive change about the world, still till last month I was really apprehensive about “ How these efforts will reach the people who are in really need and deprived of even the basics of the life, every dollar spent should help the betterment of these people”. I was not sure about how use of the technology can change the life these people.

Then, I read the book on BABA AMTE, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Amte) who spent all his life for leprosy patients when there was no social awareness and support. He once said that: I wish I have some medium to reach more and more people. I found missing piece of the puzzle. I started thinking about all the social activists of the past and the present who don’t have means to reach the people and because of this constraint their work is limited to a particular region

With justmeans we are doing exactly what he said, connecting the people and companies who really mean to make this world a better place and expanding their boundaries beyond regions, nations and continents (this is the true meaning of globalization).

I am now very happy that I am contributing to this phenomenon (thanks to justmeans)

So don’t just sit, help us to reach, join www.justmeans.com

Monday, June 23, 2008

Commitments

Today i got a firing from a potential client,i felt very bad and looked for the reasons why he fired me?

here is the case study:

Case 1: Fail to keep the commitment.

Scenario: Got firing from new potential client.

Reason: In last week, Mr.x contacted me and asked whether we can take new project and introduced to a new client. I had a chat with client and agreed to study the Project and take a sample work. We did not see the new requirements and on Monday (the day when we were supposed to start new work) I mailed client that we cannot take the new work because of current workload. Of course he was pissed off and gave me firing.

Implications:

1. Lost 2 clients.

2. Bad name for company.


What should have done:

1. First place said NO to X that we cannot take new work.

2. If we agreed on taking new work and later due to lack to time/resources cannot fulfill the commitments, inform client well in advance.

Lessons to be learnt:

1. Never give commitments without thinking and planning.

2. Get your resources first and then look for projects.

3. Never treat any client small, everyone can turn into big.