Navigator really navigates (about Nokia 6110)

I recently gave up on my O2 Windows Mobile based device. To be sure, I am certain the problem had more to do with Windows Mobile than with the hardware. In the 11.5 months that I owned the device, I had to send it in for repair 3 times – twice for failing to even turn on. The folks at the service centre could not be specific about the problem except to say that they changed the mother board.
With the last servicing just a forthnight from the warranty’s end – I decided, to trade it in for a Nokia – a Navigator 6110.
I have had it for three weeks – and I have been wondering, why did I switch to a Windows based device in the first place? The phone I had before this was the 6680 – a first generation smartphone of the time.
One key difference – the S60 now is the latest version and is superfast! With the 6680, it took ages to for e.g. close the calendar app – but with the 6110 it is effortless.
The GPS is also surprisingly useful. Ok – I HAVE NEVER been able to get a position lock in doors. But whenever I am driving, I just get my general direction (e.g. which highway to take) and in about 5 mins or so, the phone will pipe “Your route has been calculated”.
But the amazing thing is that the GPS works in partnership with you. If you think you know better – you can choose to go straight even if the phone says ‘Turn left here” and it immediately recalculates the new route. In one or two occassions, the distance to destination drops. In most cases, my alternative route is still about the same distance (hey, many roads (of equal distance) lead to rome, no?).
The next common question my friends as if it tracks traffic conditions – the answer is no. So the most inaccurate feature is the ETA – it assumes zero traffic.
The one thing I miss a little by switching to this phone is the lack of wi-fi. But even when I had wi-fi in my other device, more often than not the connection is unstable.
On the whole – it has been a great phone!

Making Work Environment Work

One of the issues that have always been on my mind have been about inspiring staff – getting them really going and doing well. Many years ago, a friend of mine from a large IT company shared that the policy of the company with respect to people has been that “everybody wants to do well and that if the person is not doing well, then there is an unmet need.”
I have always found that a good starting point when relating to colleagues; that each and everyone I am interacting with wants to do their best. And if they are not – then there is something management needs to do – there is something that management is not doing right.

A little less naive now that I am, I still believe the philosophy to be true – under some assumptions.

I have been reading a couple of books, though unintended to for the same theme, tended to discuss about this issue of inspiring and invigorating staff. The books are ‘Future of Management’ by Hamel and ‘The Starbucks Experience’ by Michelli. I even picked up this book out of curiosity at the library – the CEO and the Monk by… the CEO and the Monk (can’t remember their names – I have returned it to the library after a few chapters). All these three books have got components tied to inspiring and invigorating staff.

So what are the assumptions? I think it would seem first and foremost – there must be purpose, a compelling vision for colleagues to identify with and believe about. From the FOM and TSE – this was clearly one of the things discussed at length. Makes sense – people need to be in businesses they believe in – beyond the economic gains, people need to know that they are contributing to a cause.

The second thing that struck me was not so much a book – but a speech I heard (and a short one at that) at my wife’s company dinner. The big kahuna of the company asked all present to reflect about their life goals and what they are and then asked them to see how this company could be leveraged by them to fulfil those life goals. How cool that is! The starting point is the individual – what his or her goals are – what excites them – what makes them feel alive and what will get them to their life’s objectives and then consider how the organisation for which they work for can support that.

So now that you have got staff/ colleagues who

Share your organisations sense of purpose and are deeply compeled by its purpose; and
Can see that their life goals can be fulfilled through their career goals – both are tightly intertwined
then what next?

(Ok… the baby is crying and I gotta go)

a first reflection

i have been working on websites way before this blogging thing came along. people have asked me, do i blog? i say that i have a website, which does not seem quite as impressive. but the question remains in my head – do i blog? and y would i want to blog? some have said that this is internet voyeurism. others, it is a form of reaching out, still others – it is about enabling – enabling people to be movie makers, recording artists and of course, publishers.

i am going to try to remain anonymous. i will probably reveal something about myself along the way – such as the fact that i am involved in education and that i am sort of a leader type person. i have a family – a couple of children and well, that i am indian. you may also figure out that i live in a tiny island off the tip of west malaysia. and that as a nation in its 40s, it is still a nation undergoing puberty. that as a nation, it has achieved the tangible successes – performing well economically, high education achievements and low poverty. yet, people can’t help to continue to feel something is missing – perhaps even something more human. but this is a topic for another day.

for this day, i am feeling a little reflection – certainly, i am not sad and as i sit here on the balcony of my humble home, i cannot help but feel how blessed i am to have all that i have – especially in terms of the richness of experiences i have had; and in terms of well-being and wealth – which while not filthy, my family is comfortable.

yet, amidst this thankfulness, there is a sense of ‘moreness’. More that i need to feel, more that i need to experience. there is a sense of moreness in the sense of reaching out and reaching back to old friends and acquitances.

a sense of peace prevails as i am tucked here in a relatively serene neighbourhood. the main main road perhaps 0.5 km away where I can see cars drive by and a less busy main road jst right downstairs, much fewer cars, but those that come by often make a racket. i have kevin kern playing in the background – probably the first of 3 CDs that is playing through my iPOD (4GB) that is playing through my home entertainment system.

I have a 3-in-1 coffee with me as well as a candle i got from the new IKEA on the eastern side of the island i live on.

so here i am, just savouring this feeling – a sense of satisfaction/ contentment and a sense of excitement and anticipation of the new experiences that are to come by.

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