Lessons learnt as a Google intern (1)

With three previous internships prior to joining Google and one more right after, I’m convinced that Google is in a world of its own.

Little wonder the company has achieved such remarkable success over a short time. I stand to be corrected, but never in history has a company grown so huge and powerful.

It has remained one of the most sought after companies by job seekers (ranking number 1 on Forbes Best Companies to work in 2007 & 2008) and is currently one of the top brands in the world.

Please, join me as I journey through some Googley lessons:

Lesson 1 – Build a unique culture
 

If I were to describe the company in one word it would be UNCONVENTIONAL. It is definitely one of the few places where you can truly be yourself.

No dress code, no fixed working hours, no unnecessary monitoring of how you carry out your work. Even Interns like me are treated like full timers.

Although it is not the highest paying tech company, it is arguably the most sought after. This is because of the knowledge of the unique way that the company is run.

Just like a recent study shows what truly motivates people, the Google culture allows for independent thinking, mastery of work and provides a sense of purpose.

You can take time to read about how they undertook their IPO. Never had such been approach been taken by a company to the US stock market.

Lesson 2 – Innovate or die
 

At Google, a great deal of emphasis is placed on innovation so there is just no time for competition. For me, innovation really never has to be from scratch.

It is more about having a different approach to solving a problem or improving an existing solution. Google was not the first search engine, but it has taken that idea and made it the best in the world.

Google Goggles (an app for Android phones) and the Pacman game embedded in the Google Home Page are a few example of the company’s knack for creative solutions.

Lesson 3 – Be more value oriented than revenue oriented
 

Google never really seeks out immediate ways to monetise their products and services. Instead emphasis is placed on making the product the best possible, getting people to use it and then later figuring out how to generate revenue.They understand the simple law that when you create value, money will follow.

Lesson 4 – Focus on the customer (user)
 

One of the popular phrases by Google is – Focus on the user and all else will follow. This is very true.

Many people and firms choose instead to focus on the revenue or profit.

I’m not sure if some business managers and owners have ever heard about customer service let alone know what it means. Another issue is developing products without involving the end-user in the development process.

I once asked someone who had two similar mobile apps on his phone which he preferred.

He answered: “The one that allows me search through easily”. User experience is a big deal at Google and we should learn to provide solutions and services that will satisfy the customer or end-user.

People aren’t stupid. They know what they want and will flock to where they can get it.

 

Source:Punch newspaper

What makes a brand social? (1)

A few months ago, I was on a study tour of one of the world’s most successful direct banks in Madrid, Spain. Over the course of a week, I learnt two fundamental lessons that continue to shape my work. These lessons speak to the issues around “what makes a social brand” (see my last week’s article).
 

Fired up and ready to burn
 

The bank’s executive team shared with me an intriguing story. The management decided to involve its employees in the process of redefining its brand values. Employees were asked to send in their individual suggestions of what the brand values should be.

Thousands of entries were received. Employees voted and the preferred choices became the new brand values of the bank. The real story here is not about the unconventional approach adopted by the executive management team.

The story lies in what they did with the rest of the “community generated brand values” that were not selected. The brand engraved all the suggested brand values on a statue of the brand’s logo. Copies of this statue were displayed prominently in all departments. They sure made interesting reading.

The brand clearly demonstrated the importance of everyone’s opinion. During meetings with various members of the organisation, I realised just how significant that exercise was to the employees. It renewed their passion, drive, commitment and zeal to do more. I recall Javier (not his real name) one of the product managers proudly taking me to a statue and showing me the brand value he had suggested. These guys were truly “fired up and ready to burn”. This was lesson number one of “what can make a brand social”. “How fired up is your team?”
 

Team work, not tim work
 

The second lesson was how teams could work seamlessly to consistently create superior products for the customer. Each product had a multi-disciplinary team consisting of at least individual specialists in product development, IT, marketing, business intelligence/strategy and operations – a minimum number of four team members. The strategy was to ensure that right from the ideation stage, all critical stakeholders are involved in shaping the ideas so that the best possible outcome is achieved. The collective wisdom of the team is harnessed at the very points where they are needed.

Sadly, this is not the case in many organisations. Frequently, teams work in silos often duplicating projects, products and efforts. Take a familiar culprit – the product team. They sometimes create seemingly “winning products/services” with minimal input from other critical stakeholders. The result – a significant number of the target audience literally go through the proverbial eye of a needle in order to find the unique selling proposition of such products or services. Stop trying to outwit the other departments. In the midst of all these fiefdoms, there lie the lost opportunities. We need a single view of the customer.
 

A social brand and its work place
 

A decision maker in a leading global fast-moving consumer goods company proudly told me that his brand had over 30 million fans on Facebook. Sadly his organisation has no active internal channels for engaging its employees. How can a brand be social when it has not created and nurtured the structures that enable socialisation in the workplace?

A growing number of employees do not believe that their opinions are valued. There seems to be a pervading atmosphere of “de-innovation”.

Any organisation that neglects the internal harmony of its employees while actively promoting a caring external image is simply living a lie.
 

From fans to cash – the missing link
 

At the end of the day, all the great stuff that happens on social media would come down to the wire – “We need to convert some of these virtual love into hard earned cash. Yes, we love the fact that you have liked and followed us all this while but now its time you gave us some of your money”.

Every member of the value chain is key to making service happen. They must be actively involved if we must achieve the expected return on effort (ROE).

Do you have adequate service recovery plans? How empowered are your employees to create “wow” moments for the customer?

Start the co-creation process within your organisation before you involve the external customer. “How social is your organisation? How social can you afford to be? Can you build a physical and/or virtual atmosphere where employees can connect, create and share in an atmosphere that is not simply another platform for company speak?”

“To lead people, first touch their heart before you reach for their hands”.
 

The making of a social brand
 

A social brand is not about its level of activity in the various technology platforms, products or events. Its perception as a social brand is reinforced or diminished with every interaction the customer has with its employees.

A social brand demonstrates its sociality in its corporate behaviour (internally and externally).

Is a social brand possible?

Yes it is. It can be formed gradually in line with a strong executive commitment to putting its internal customers first. This means deliberately creating and nurturing listening channels where employees can engage with executives without fear. It is a place where executives are demystified, chords are broken, bonds are formed, and alliances forged. It is place where a brand’s employees are its most ardent social media fans. It is a journey.

The take out for this article is simple: If we honestly believe in “People First” then it is time for some housekeeping. Charity must begin at home. Social media should not be an exception.

 

Source: punch newspaper

WE SEE THINGS NOT THE WAY THEY ARE BUT THE WAY WE ARE

WE SEE THINGS NOT THE WAY THEY ARE BUT THE WAY WE ARE

 

 

There is a legend about a wise man who was sitting outside his village. A traveler came up and asked him, "What kind of people live in this village, because I am looking to move from my present one?" The wise man asked, "What kind of people live where you want to move from?" The man said, "They are mean, cruel, rude." The wise man replied, "The same kind of people live in this village too." After some time another traveler came by and asked the same question and the wise man asked him, "What kind of people live where you want to move from?" And the traveler replied, "The people are very kind, courteous, polite and good." The wise man said, "You will find the same kind of people here too."

What is the moral of the story?

Generally we see the world not the way it is but the way we are. Most of the time, other people's behavior is a reaction to our own.

 

 

 

LIFE IS A BOOMERANG

 

 

 

 

Whether it is our thoughts, actions or behavior, sooner or later they return and with great accuracy. Treat people with respect on your way up because you will be meeting them on your way down. The following story is taken from The Best of Bits & Pieces.

Many years ago two boys were working their way through Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low, and the idea came to them to engage Ignacy Paderewski for a piano recital. They would use the funds to help pay their board and tuition.

The great pianist's manager asked for a guarantee ofÄ$2,000. The guarantee was a lot of money in those days, but the boys agreed and proceeded to promote the concert. They worked hard, only to find that they had grossed only $1,600. After the concert the two boys told the great artist the bad news. They gave him the entire $1,600, along with a promissory note for $400, explaining that they would earn the amount at the earliest possible moment and send the money to him. It looked like the end of their college careers. "No, boys," replied Paderewski, "that won't do." Then, tearing the note in two, he returned the money to them as well. "Now," he told them, "take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest."

The years rolled by. World War I came and went. Paderewski, now premier of Poland, was striving to feed thousands of starving people in his native land. The only person in the world who could help him was Herbert Hoover, who was in charge of the US Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and soon thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland. After the starving people were fed, Paderewski journeyed to Paris to thank Hoover for the relief sent him. "That's all right, Mr. Paderewski ," was Hoover's reply. "Besides, you don't remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, and I was in trouble." It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

Goodness has a way of coming back; that is the nature of the beast. One doesn't have to do good with a desire to get back. It just happens automatically.

LIFE IS AN ECHO....YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR WEAKNESS

‎

A little boy got angry with his mother and shouted at her, "I hate you, I hate you." Because of fear of reprimand, he ran out of the house. He went up to the valley and shouted, "I hate you, I hate you," and back came the echo, "I hate you, I hate you." This was the first time in his life he had heard an echo. He got scared, went to his mother for protection and said there was a bad boy in the valley who shouted "I hate you, I hate you." The mother understood and she asked her son to go back and shout, "I love you, I love you." The little boy went and shouted, "I love you, I love you," and back came the echo.

That taught the little boy a lesson that our life is like an echo: We get back what we give. Benjamin Franklin said, "When you are good to others, you are best to yourself.”

YOUR STRENGTHS AND YOUR WEAKNESSES

 

 

 

Take Inventory: Make a List of All Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Write it on a Piece of paper and make an action plan accordingly.

Successful people realize their limitations and build on their strengths. Focus on what you want to do and be, rather than what you don't.

Motivational Stories!-Must Read -Forgive and Forget,Spoken Words can't be retrieved

 

See More pics

When a person refuses to forgive, he is locking doors that some day he might need to open. When we hold grudges and harbor resentment, who are we hurting the most? Ourselves.

Jim and Jerry were childhood friends but for whatever reasons, the relationship fell apart and they hadn't spoken for 25 years. Jerry was on his deathbed and didn't want to enter eternity with a heavy heart. So he called Jim, apologized and said, "Let's forgive each other and be done for the past." Jim thought it was a good idea and decided to visit Jerry at the hospital. They caught up on 25 years, patched up their differences and spent a couple of hours together. As Jim was leaving, Jerry shouted from behind, "Jim, just in case I don't die; remember, this forgiveness doesn't count." Life is too short to hold grudges. It is not worth it.

While it is not worth holding grudges, it doesn't make sense to be bitten time and again. It is well said, "You cheat me once, shame on you; you cheat me twice, shame on me."

John Kennedy once said, "Forgive the other person but don't forget their name." I am sure that his message was that one should not get cheated twice.

 

 

 

SPOKEN WORDS CAN'T BE RETRIEVED

A farmer insulted his neighbor. Realizing his mistake, he went to the preacher to ask for forgiveness. The preacher told him to take a bag of feathers and drop them in the center of town. The farmer did as he was told. Then the preacher asked him to go and collect the feathers and put them back in the bag. The farmer tried but couldn't as the feathers had all blown away. When he returned with the empty bag, the preacher said, "The same thing is true about your words. You dropped them rather easily but you cannot retrieve them, so be very careful in choosing your words."

Motivational Stories- Meaningless Goals? or Smart Goals...

MEANINGLESS GOALS

 

 

 

A farmer had a dog who used to sit by the roadside waiting for vehicles to come around. As soon as one came he would run down the road, barking and trying to overtake it. One day a neighbor asked the farmer "Do you think your dog is ever going to catch a car?" The farmer replied, "That is not what bothers me. What bothers me is what he would do if he ever caught one." Many people in life behave like that dog who is pursuing meaningless goals.

Life is hard by the yard,

but by the inch,

it's a cinch.

 

--Gean Gordon

SMART Goals

 

 

 

If you ask most people what is their one major objective in life, they would probably give you a vague answer, such as, "I want to be successful, be happy, make a good living," and that is it. They are all wishes and none of them are clear goals.

Goals must be SMART:

1. S--specific. For example, "I want to lose weight." This is wishful thinking. It becomes a goal when I pin myself down to "I will lose 10 pounds in 90 days."

2. M--must be measurable. If we cannot measure it, we cannot accomplish it. Measurement is a way of monitoring our progress.

3. A--must be achievable. Achievable means that it should be out of reach enough to be challenging but it should not be out of sight, otherwise it becomes disheartening.

4. R--realistic. A person who wants to lose 50 pounds in~30 days is being unrealistic.

5. T--time-bound. There should be a starting date and a finishing date.

 

Motivational Stories-Why are Goals important?...Keep Your Eyes...

Why are Goals Important? - Must read

 

‎On the best sunny day, the most powerful magnifying glass will not light paper if you keep moving the glass. But if you focus and hold it, the paper will light up. That is the power of concentration.

A man was traveling and stopped at an intersection. He asked an elderly man, "Where does this road take me?" The elderly person asked, "Where do you want to go?" The man replied, "I don't know." The elderly person said, "Then take any road. What difference does it make?"

How true. When we don't know where we are going, any road will take us there.

Suppose you have all the football eleven players, enthusiastically ready to play the game, all charged up, and then someone took the goal post away. What would happen to the game? There is nothing left. How do you keep score? How do you know you have arrived?

Enthusiasm without direction is like wildfire and leads to frustration. Goals give a sense of direction. Would you sit in a train or a plane without knowing where it was going? The obvious answer is no. Then why do people go through life without having any goals?

KEEP YOUR EYES UPON THE GOAL

 

‎On July 4, 1952, Florence Chadwick was on her way to becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. She had already conquered the English Channel. The world was watching. Chadwick fought the dense fog, bone-chilling cold and many times, the sharks. She was striving to reach the shore but every time she looked through her goggles, all she could see was the dense fog. Unable to see the shore, she gave up. Chadwick was disappointed when she found out that she was only half a mile from the coast. She quit, not because she was a quitter but because her goal was not in sight anywhere. The elements didn't stop her. She said, "I'm not making excuses. If only I had seen the land, I could have made it." Two months later, she went back and swam the Catalina Channel. This time, in spite of the bad weather, she had her goal in mind and not only accomplished it but beat the men's record by two hours.