My chat with Barkha Dutt – the Editor, Anchor-Journalist at NDTV

BDUTT: Funny how its all unfolding on twitter – from IPL rows to marriage blues. New confessional culture of India? or clever marketing?!

DonnKabiraj @BDUTT: It is both! It is just re-kindling the age-old concept – ‘tell the truth (fact) anyway!’…you always stand to gain going forward.

BDUTT @DonnKabiraj: Thats a good way to put it.

Foster’s New Avatar in USA

Foster’s Group has appointed the ex-head of Constellation Wines in Australia, John Grant, as vice president of its California wine division.

* Source: Just-Drinks

Wonders Take Time

Robin Sharma, the Author of books like ‘The Monk who Sold his Ferrari‘; ‘The Leader Who Had No Title’  & also a Leadership Advisor to many FORTUNE 500 companies says:

“Wonders Take Time”

 

Just came back to my hotel in Agra after watching the sun set on The Taj Mahal. Hard to find words for the beauty I just witnessed. 

So many ideas came to mind as I sat there. One in particular – just as it took 20,000 human beings 22 years to build the Taj Mahal, great dreams take a ton of time. Be patient. Move your dreams forward – block by block. With fierce devotion and a commitment to excellence, wonders really will show up. I know – I saw one today.

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. – James Allen

Importance of Balance in Life

Just the other day when I was searching for a particular book in my bookshelf, I had suddenly bumped into this book called: ‘Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas’ by James Patterson. I was then able to recollect that one of my co-passengers who was sitting just next to me in a flight from Chennai to Dubai many years back had simply gifted me this book while we were parting our way from the airport at the end of our flight. I then thought of reading this book leisurely when I get back to India; but it had never happened in past many years until I discovered it on my bookshelf few days back.

This is actually a novel written by James Patterson in 2001 which throws vital light on the importance of balance within one’s life. The story of the ‘five balls’ in this novel leaves a significant impression behind. Let me share a glimpse of it here today.

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, Friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four Balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it”.

Source: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

Shorter-Working-Week (less working hours per day) can actually help us to optimize our productivity and live a quality life!

As a result of industrial capitalism, like work, time has also become a commodity now. But shorter working hours does not mean less productivity. In fact, studies suggest that those who work shorter hours are more productive. It could also bring parity in the society by creating more jobs and address the current unemployment issues worldwide.

Not only this would let us pursue our passions, but also help many to find life, love and mend their relationships. Needs no telling that the quality of our life would also enhance significantly by valuing our time in many different ways.

This shorter-working-week model would definitely act as a catalyst to ensure a sustainable socio-economic revolution.

Value-Work: a Vista

To survive from the socio-environmental catastrophe that the world has led itself into, today both organizations & employees should start looking at their paid-jobs from the perspective of ‘Value-Work’; not merely as some preferred activities. If we really want to have the impact of our performance to last longer in a positive space, we must ask ourselves, – ‘Is the work vital?’, ‘Is it empowering my values?’ or ‘Does it motivate others?’ or ‘Helping the community at large?’.

I think we must assign a ‘value’ to all kinds of paid-jobs that we do. And this ‘value’ must be determined not just in terms of profit & productivity but by measuring the socio-economic & green values that these paid-jobs churn out or wipe out! This would definitely draw attention to the unfair discrimination that our industries & organizations adapt to incentivise some jobs that generate insignificant social improvements and at the same time neglect others that conform to much higher social benefits. Because of the absence of such matrix & guidelines for value, today in many cases we see jobs those are socially damaging may be attracting the best and brightest talents at the expense of other professions. Example, the guy who had passed out of the best business school, joined some top ‘accounts & audit firm’ with a very high pay; and as demanded by their clients, he started using his analytical & creative talents to help cooking clients’ account books to turn around their balance sheets. 

The priority for organizations as exist today is simple: ‘higher-pay’ – ‘attract best staffs’ – ‘higher bottom-line’. Corporate or their employee’s socio-environmental responsibility? It is another story!

Point to Ponder: Is our employment ‘worth’ to us as a society?

Wow! “First ever” re-sealable can in UK?

Hot and cold drinks supplier Aimia Foods is to launch its new energy soft drink in what it says is the UK’s first-ever re-sealable can. 

No Fear Extreme Energy will be produced by Aimia under license for the US-based, extreme sportswear brand, No Fear.

The firm said today (8 February) that the 485ml re-sealable can will help No Fear Extreme Energy rival other energy drinks on the market with its unique “twist and shut” feature.

The packaging is designed to appeal to the brand’s active, ‘on the go’ audience, Aimia said, and will stay carbonated for up to 24 hours once opened.

The cans will be priced with an RSP of GBP1.09 (US$1.70) – GBP1.19.

Targeted at the core energy drinks market, males aged 16-24, the product will be supported by a national marketing campaign, including promotions and events, using both online and offline media throughout 2010.  

Neal Haworth, category marketing manager at Aimia Foods, said: “No Fear Extreme Energy is a hugely exciting proposition. A well-established brand, already synonymous with extreme sports and attention grabbing campaigns, No Fear is edgy and holds massive appeal with energy drinks’ key audience. This, coupled with the innovative and quirky re-sealable can, gives it the potential to be a new ‘must-have’ drinks brand for a young male audience.”

No Fear ‘Extreme Energy’ is the latest big brand name to add to the Aimia Foods license portfolio within cold drinks. It joins Slazenger S1 sports drinks, a hypotonic drink Aimia launched last year and Outspan Drinks.

Source: just-drinks

Donn Corporation – What’s New !

Donn Corporation is presently offering Technology for Renewable Energy, Clean Technology, and Strategy for Bottled Water Biz, ‘Fostering Innovation in Organization’ workshop in collaboration with IIM-C, also Providing Business Intelligence solutions.

Donn Corporation recently executed a workshop on ‘Fostering Innovation in Organization’ for PayPal / eBay as a part of their current innovation initiatives.

Donn Corporation is now engaged by a multi national group to set-up their international business strategy as a part of their diversification initiative for their Natural Spring Water project in Armenia (Europe).

Donn Kabiraj – Factfile

Donn Kabiraj is the Founder & CEO of Donn Corporation.

He is also the Managing Director & Chairman of Donn Strategy & Solutions Pvt. Limited.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Donn S. Kabiraj was conferred “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” – for his contribution to the Bottled Water Industry in India (as an outstanding Sales and Marketing professional) – by Dr. Rakesh Mohan, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India & UWA. As an expert Business Growth Specialist, Donn has served many start-ups and as well as many world famous brands (MNC) to put their strong foothold in the India & Middle-East market at various capacities like Consultant, Sales & Marketing Manager, General Manager, Vice President, Executive Director etc.

Sryas Inc. (New York, USA)

As a Consultant & Head of Strategy Planning for Sryas Inc. (New York, USA), Donn had initiated the vital partnership with Gartner Inc. to capitalize the opportunity in the fastest-growing Business Intelligence (BI) space for their BI-product “Analance”. As a result of this initiative, “Analance” was endorsed by Gartner for its capability and the product was also featured in the prestigious Gartner’s Review which in turn helped the customers to install confidence in their BI-product which was relatively new on the block.

Aventis Pharma Ltd. (Hoechst-Marion-Roussel)

Donn Corporation was engaged by Aventis Pharma Ltd. to execute the comprehensive market/sales analysis in the field-level for Generics vs. Brands/Innovator in Chennai (India) region. The analysis had tremendously helped Aventis to cut an edge over the fierce competition.

Nestle

Donn Corporation had executed several Market Analysis projects for Nestle (India) and helped them to detect the gaps in the market-place.

FINO (Micro Finance from ICICI Bank)

Donn Corp was engaged in setting up & running the FINO-project (the Micro Finance network for ICICI Bank) in Chennai (India).

Himalayan

Under Donn’s umbrella, the brand ‘Himalayan’ (the most premium brand of Natural Mineral Water in India) has reached it’s all time highest sales and captured the highest market share in the segment in South India in just a period of one year.

PepsiCo

Donn has also received recognition from the Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo (India) for his critical contribution towards strategy planning for the World Debut of ‘Aquafina’ (bulk water).

Kinley (Coca-Cola)

As a General Manager for the Franchisee Operation of ‘Kinley’ (a purified-drinking-water brand of Coca-Cola), Donn has supported the company in planning, setting up and guiding in pre-sales and post-sales strategies, product launch, market penetration and attaining profitability.

Hello

He was a pioneer in establishing the Bubble-top (bulk water) concept in India through the brand ‘Hello’, way back in 1995, when the bulk-water segment itself hardly existed in India. By bridging the opportunities with market challenges, Donn as an anchor had ensured that the bottled water business was established and emerged as a successful business unit.

Agility

• Experienced in operating in the International Market, Donn believes, “Every business is marketing and an optimum balance between the top-line & the bottom-line is what constitutes a healthy business growth’’.
• Right from identifying market segmentation, finding suitable channel partners and optimization of supply chain management, Donn has always emerged as a key pivot in bringing in best business practices in his organizations.
• Operational efficiency in sustainable business growth and paving way for wider penetration in the market are his key impact areas.
• As a consultant, Donn was a pioneer in strategy planning, designing, implementation for many projects and products in the Bottled Water World. Donn has been instrumental in the success of many companies and also turned around sick units regain with required energies, re-vitalize and reestablish as profit making business units.
• Right from providing required exposure, guidelines for setting up a business, strategic planning and  helping in identifying client base, Donn has always been there as a consultant and guide to look upon.

DONN’S VIEWS

On Management:

Flexibility in approach is a must today to respond and maneuver in the present dynamic market condition.

Work Ethic:

It’s not only the talents or the skills; it’s the motivated manpower, which is the key to success for any business.

On Profit Making:

No amount of profit is worth making by ignoring the welfare of the work force and the society at large or by compromising the greater interest of the stakeholders of the company.

On Himself:

Making money does not excite me, though I am committed to do it for my company and the share holders. What excites me is achievement. I am addicted to it. I am like an explorer and could never do a normal job.

Fact File

• Studied Management (SMP) from Indian Institute of Management – Calcutta
• ISO Certified Professional in Marketing & Sales (CMS: EN-14352) – from Dutch Council for Accreditation (RvA)