Auto Rickshaws (the popular "auto" for the city men ) should be banned !
Not all, but the wedge type autos ! They are devils of the City !!
The three wheeled autos have a wedge shape. They wedge the traffic in crowded roads.
These wedges are scary, they cause serious problems to the 2-wheelers.
The autos ( I have Trivandrum autos in my mind ) never stop behind another vehicle. They wedge between two vehicles in its front.
Its different with the proper 3-wheelers. I mean, the type of three wheelers having a uniform body width( not wedge shaped).
I think the worst designed automobile in this world is the wedge autos. I pray, someone do something to Ban all wedge autos.
Traffic authorities should ask the wedge makers to modify the shape immediately. They should change it to full width front end.
But another immdiate issue is : TRAIN ALL AUTO DRIVERS in Trivandrum ( and elsewhere , if required) on 'how to behave, with their passengers and other motorists'.
Showing posts with label Trivandrum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trivandrum. Show all posts
March 26, 2008
March 14, 2008
"Salesman as a strategist" - some Trivandrum thoughts
“Salesman as a strategist. Don’t just make a sale, but win a customer for ever, says a guru of CEOs”.
This is quoted from a book review : “What the customer wants you to know” by Ram Charan ( in the Business Today, March 23, 2008 ).
The review ( and maybe the book ) is very interesting. What fascinated me is not the well known salesmanship principles presented in the book, or about the (guru) author.
When I read this review, I’ve been thinking (random thoughts na ? ) about the salesmen (and not salesgirls) in Kerala, and Trivandrum in particular. You may ask me what’s so special about them. Yes, there is a lot special about salesmen here in Trivandrum (this includes shop keepers, small and big, and footpath vendors).
Important notice : I am not talking about the Tamilian vendors or shopkeepers here. They are honest and reasonable people, They behave well, unlike their local colleagues. Its also not about the polished salespeople in the big bazzars too.
Have you been to Chalai (a male dominant vegetable market) any time ? Or to Palayam Connemara (a female dominant ) fish market ? If not, please make a visit at the earliest. I am not trying to bias you. So, please take care and study well. I don’t want to tell you how (rough and tough) they behave. But, let me tell you : None of them will offer you a smile, Anger is their prime (sole)expression. None of them would ( sorry, most of them wouldn’t) show a polite response. If you try to bargain, you must plug your ears well ahead ( its raining all abuses, harsh words ). At Chalai, its different. The vendor, if you bargain, would call his friend at the opposite shop/footpath, and start abusing him ( not really him, its at you). The vendors at these markets are very particular in throwing the waste at the middle of the passage/road; make maximum life miserable for the customers and pedestrians ( and certainly to the next shop keeper too).
Even if their goods are getting rotten ( fish, fruits, ..), they won’t sell their goods for 10 ps less. In Chennai and other places, when its getting late in the evening and if the items are not fully sold out, the vendors sell them at reduced rates. Trivandrum vendors dare to throw the items, but won’t reduce any. Probably, a small fraction of the goods may be enough to earn their money ( they can afford not to sell the rest !). Their sole idea is to maximize the profits with minimum of sales ( and least of efforts) ! In Trivandrum, a customer is never the king, the shop keeper / vendors are.
Do you think these footpath/market vendors are poor people, trying to earn their daily bread by selling some goods ? That’s the general perception. But, you are totally mistaken. They are rich ! No jokes !! Make friendship with one in this ( somehow !), and try to know how wealthy he/she is. You’ll be surprised, most likely he/she will be richer than the average Keralite !
Every “meenkari” at Palayam has a mobile phone ! Most of them live in good concrete buildings. TV, fridge, .. yeah they have all. Their children are studying in one of the best schools in the city; …. These are all excellent, shows the overall development of Kerala, and is appreciable. But…
What was I talking about ? Oh ! Salesmanship ! Yeah, that’s totally missing in this corner of the world. Here, Cutomer is NOT, and never, the king.
Are not these people special ?
Trivandrumites are now so tuned well with these people, that they neither expect any better, or complain ( they just ignore, because they know how a dog’s tail is !).
This is quoted from a book review : “What the customer wants you to know” by Ram Charan ( in the Business Today, March 23, 2008 ).
The review ( and maybe the book ) is very interesting. What fascinated me is not the well known salesmanship principles presented in the book, or about the (guru) author.
When I read this review, I’ve been thinking (random thoughts na ? ) about the salesmen (and not salesgirls) in Kerala, and Trivandrum in particular. You may ask me what’s so special about them. Yes, there is a lot special about salesmen here in Trivandrum (this includes shop keepers, small and big, and footpath vendors).
Important notice : I am not talking about the Tamilian vendors or shopkeepers here. They are honest and reasonable people, They behave well, unlike their local colleagues. Its also not about the polished salespeople in the big bazzars too.
Have you been to Chalai (a male dominant vegetable market) any time ? Or to Palayam Connemara (a female dominant ) fish market ? If not, please make a visit at the earliest. I am not trying to bias you. So, please take care and study well. I don’t want to tell you how (rough and tough) they behave. But, let me tell you : None of them will offer you a smile, Anger is their prime (sole)expression. None of them would ( sorry, most of them wouldn’t) show a polite response. If you try to bargain, you must plug your ears well ahead ( its raining all abuses, harsh words ). At Chalai, its different. The vendor, if you bargain, would call his friend at the opposite shop/footpath, and start abusing him ( not really him, its at you). The vendors at these markets are very particular in throwing the waste at the middle of the passage/road; make maximum life miserable for the customers and pedestrians ( and certainly to the next shop keeper too).
Even if their goods are getting rotten ( fish, fruits, ..), they won’t sell their goods for 10 ps less. In Chennai and other places, when its getting late in the evening and if the items are not fully sold out, the vendors sell them at reduced rates. Trivandrum vendors dare to throw the items, but won’t reduce any. Probably, a small fraction of the goods may be enough to earn their money ( they can afford not to sell the rest !). Their sole idea is to maximize the profits with minimum of sales ( and least of efforts) ! In Trivandrum, a customer is never the king, the shop keeper / vendors are.
Do you think these footpath/market vendors are poor people, trying to earn their daily bread by selling some goods ? That’s the general perception. But, you are totally mistaken. They are rich ! No jokes !! Make friendship with one in this ( somehow !), and try to know how wealthy he/she is. You’ll be surprised, most likely he/she will be richer than the average Keralite !
Every “meenkari” at Palayam has a mobile phone ! Most of them live in good concrete buildings. TV, fridge, .. yeah they have all. Their children are studying in one of the best schools in the city; …. These are all excellent, shows the overall development of Kerala, and is appreciable. But…
What was I talking about ? Oh ! Salesmanship ! Yeah, that’s totally missing in this corner of the world. Here, Cutomer is NOT, and never, the king.
Are not these people special ?
Trivandrumites are now so tuned well with these people, that they neither expect any better, or complain ( they just ignore, because they know how a dog’s tail is !).
March 5, 2008
36 years in Trivandrum, and counting
On the evening ( 10 pm) of 2 March, 1972, I've landed in Trivandrum. From Kottayam, by the chuku pukku raile, the Great Venad Express.. To live in... And, now, 36 summers have passed since then. Hey, what was I doing all these YEARs ? I don't have a quick answer. Maybe, I'll think over for a while and answer this question.
I was a boy that time, 21 years! But now, I am a BOY of 57 !!
Being at 57, and 36 years here at Trivandrum, are certainly reasons to be happy. Making a balance sheet of life here sofar is difficult, and meaningless. I don't know what are at the Assets side and what those are at the Liabilities side. In any case, it is a zero balance statement (Is it really, I an not sure ).
Why should I try to make a balance sheet now. No need. I don't have to present a balance sheet to anyone. Its all an open book, in front of the God almighty.
Moreover, if it balances over, in my own consciousness, then, that's the best statement.
How many moments did I live here? If a moment is a second, then 36 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 moments. Its not that a large number. Or, is it ??
Anyhow, the count goes on increasing (and counting up or down ? )!
I was a boy that time, 21 years! But now, I am a BOY of 57 !!
Being at 57, and 36 years here at Trivandrum, are certainly reasons to be happy. Making a balance sheet of life here sofar is difficult, and meaningless. I don't know what are at the Assets side and what those are at the Liabilities side. In any case, it is a zero balance statement (Is it really, I an not sure ).
Why should I try to make a balance sheet now. No need. I don't have to present a balance sheet to anyone. Its all an open book, in front of the God almighty.
Moreover, if it balances over, in my own consciousness, then, that's the best statement.
How many moments did I live here? If a moment is a second, then 36 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 moments. Its not that a large number. Or, is it ??
Anyhow, the count goes on increasing (and counting up or down ? )!
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