The Insightful Author: A New Chapter of Wisdom, Words, and Growth

Introducing "The Insightful Author": A New Chapter of Wisdom, Words, and Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 20:40:00 +0000

Introducing "The Insightful Author": A New Chapter of Wisdom, Words, and Growth

Dear Friends and Readers,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that my professional blog and social media profiles have embraced a new, unified identity: The Insightful Author. This evolution reflects my passion for sharing over 46 years of industry experience through meaningful insights, strategic wisdom, and empowering knowledge designed to inspire lasting professional growth.

While the core of my work remains rooted in business consultancy and facilitation, this platform will now serve as a dedicated space for thoughtful exploration and knowledge sharing, welcoming professionals, authors, and lifelong learners alike. The new banner, handle, and consistent branding across all channels mark this exciting transition.

Together, we will delve into topics that matter — from strategic business growth and innovation to personal development and emerging trends like AI and digital transformation. I invite you to join me on this journey of growth, learning, and meaningful connection.

Please follow the updated blog links and social media profiles below to stay connected and inspired:

Linktr.ee Profile: https://linktr.ee/sachinkate

Facebook Page: The Insightful Author Sachin Kate: https://www.facebook.com/sachinkatebizcon/

LinkedIn Company Page: Sachin Kate | The Insightful Author: Sharing deep wisdom, strategic insights, and knowledge to inspire lasting professional growth.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sachinkatebizcon/?viewAsMember=true

Twitter: https://x.com/InsightfulSK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22904161.Sachin_Kate

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Here's to a new chapter filled with wisdom, growth, and shared success!

Warm regards,

Sachin Kate | The Insightful Author

Evolving My Journey: From Business Consultancy to Author Insights

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:13:00 +0000

Evolving My Journey: From Business Consultancy to Author Insights

Dear Friends and Readers,

I’m excited to share an important update with you. After much thought and reflection, I am evolving this platform to focus on sharing rich insights and inspiring stories drawn from over 30 years of industrial experience.

As many of you know, this blog, along with my Facebook page and LinkedIn company page, has been dedicated to Business Consultancy and Facilitation Services. Going forward, this blog and those pages will no longer offer consultancy services but will serve as a knowledge-sharing hub designed to empower and enlighten.

For all my ongoing author work — including new book launches, reviews, and writing guidance — I warmly invite you to follow my dedicated Author Blog here:

https://authorsachinkate.blogspot.com/.

You may also connect with me on my Author Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/sachinkatewordsmith/

Do keep an eye out for a fresh presence with new expert content on the LinkedIn Company Page at:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sachinkatebizcon/?viewAsMember=true.

I’ll be unveiling this fresh presence with new expert content on these platforms very soon, so do stay tuned!

Thank you sincerely for your continued support during this exciting transition. Let’s continue this journey together.

Warm regards,

Sachin Kate

From Active Consulting to Sharing Industry Wisdom: An Invitation to Stay Connected

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 12:57:00 +0000

From Active Consulting to Sharing Industry Wisdom: An Invitation to Stay Connected.

For over 35 active years, I have navigated diverse industrial sectors—from precision investment castings, refractories, and metal treatments to marketing solutions and soft skills facilitation. This journey has been driven by a commitment to troubleshooting, process innovation, quality control, cost savings, and enhancing market reach for many businesses.

Recently, for health reasons, I have chosen to scale back on actively providing services such as business consulting, training, and change management. Instead, I am focusing on sharing the valuable insights and experiences gathered over these years—writing about industry practices, challenges overcome, and key learnings that can serve to inform and assist business professionals and enterprises.

This mindset perfectly complements my profile as an Author, Writer, Blogger, and Wordsmith, where embracing growth and continuous learning is at the heart of every word I create.

This is not a farewell, but an evolution. I invite you to connect with me at any time via email (mailsachinkate@gmail.com) or WhatsApp/phone (+91 9579783990) for personalized guidance, inquiries about available services, or collaborative opportunities.

Why the tag "Growth and comfort do not coexist" some may ask? - In the context of personal and professional development this tag / mazim emphasizes that real growth requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone and embracing challenges or discomfort to reach new potential. Today at this stage due to my health considerations I felt that it encourages healthy discomfort as a necessary catalyst for progress and success. Seeking your continued Blessings and Best wishes as always!

Thank you for your continued support.

Together, let’s leverage decades of industry knowledge for your business’s sustained success.

Navigating Four Decades of Industry: A Journey through Evolving Marketing and Commerce Models (1979–2025).

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:13:00 +0000

Navigating Four Decades of Industry: A Journey through Evolving Marketing and Commerce Models (1979–2025).

Across a career that spans from 1979 to the modern day of 2025, my professional voyage has traversed diverse landscapes: from heavy industries such as Precision Investment Castings, Foundry Minerals, Corrugated Boxes, and Aluminum Pressure Die-Castings to specialized fields like Special Purpose Machines, Battery Components, Industrial Heating Elements, and Mechanical Transmission Products, extending further into Travel, Tourism, Writing and Publishing landscape and allied service sectors. Each industry, and each era, demanded a distinct approach to marketing and commerce—shaped by technology, consumer behavior, and the broader economic climate.

Digital Commerce Business Models did exist earlier too. But it was during the Covid 19 Pandemic and after that period that there was an exponential rise in these Digital Commerce Business Models hereto would be referred to as DCBM’s.

This article is my maiden article on this topic and draws upon historical and current analyses of marketing and digital commerce models, as well as milestone events in the evolution of e-commerce and industry trends. I give full credit to innumerable resources from which I read and collated the details and contents for this article. My core intention was to share my views and connection with the way in which Marketing, Commerce, and later on Digital Commerce including all models of E-Commerce were used and how they may have affected the Industry in reshaping the landscape of commerce as a whole. The key points which this whole article briefly deals with are connected with:

· How did marketing models change in each industry from 1979 to 2025?

· What role did digital commerce play in transforming the foundry and chemical industries?

· How did traditional marketing methods evolve into e-commerce across industries over time?

· What specific digital strategies matched each industry's technological capabilities in their respective periods?

· How will my experience with these industry shifts influence future marketing approaches(personal application), which I may take up as a separate article later.

I will make every further effort to elaborate on each of these Models, and present to you my thoughts and views on how each of these models have made a mark in changing the landscape of Digital Commerce Business Models.

1979–Early 1990s: Traditional & Industrial Sales Models.

· Industry Context: Manufacturing sectors—castings, foundry chemicals, corrugated boxes—relied on relationship-driven, business-to-business (B2B) marketing.

· Core Model: Sales were powered by personal networks, trade fairs, printed catalogs, and field sales teams. Transactions occurred via phone, written POs, and in-person meetings. Trust, technical expertise, and after-sales support were critical.

· Commerce: Digital commerce was non-existent; most deals moved at a measured, predictable pace.

1990s: The First Glimmers of Digital and New Media.

· Transformation: As basic IT infrastructure entered Indian and global industry, some early adopters began digitizing documentation and communications. Marketing started to use desktop publishing for better catalogs; fax machines became the norm for swift quotes.

· Industry Example: Aluminum Die-Castings and Incoloy Heating Elements industries, often serving exporters, began to explore basic computerization to support traceability and quality assurance in their offers.

1995–2005: Internet, Early Email & Static Online Presence.

· Emergence: The advent of the Internet saw industrial firms creating their first basic websites—online business cards listing products and contact details.

· Marketing Models: Email replaced faxes in many contexts. Some companies in transmission products and SPMs started digital newsletters and online PDF brochures.

· E-Commerce: Online marketplaces (e.g., IndiaMart, Alibaba—launched 1996/1999) emerged for B2B procurement. Still, for specialized industries, buyers and sellers remained heavily reliant on personal connections and technical presentations.

· Tourism Shift: In travel and tourism, OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) like Expedia and MakeMyTrip (founded late-1990s, early 2000s) revolutionized how travel products were marketed and sold to consumers and corporates alike.

2005–2015: Advanced Digitalization and Interactive Marketing.

· Key Trends: Increased Internet bandwidth enabled product demo videos and more interactive websites. The perceived need to “be found online” led to rudimentary search engine optimization (SEO).

· Industrial Impact: Sectors like Lead Acid Battery Parts and Multiguaging Equipment saw buyers searching and comparing products globally, not just locally. Online catalogs, downloadable CAD drawings, and RFQ forms became standard.

· Tourism’s Digital Leap: Travel and tourism aggressively adopted dynamic pricing, package customization, online chat, and customer review systems—leveraging the emotion and time-sensitivity of this industry.

2015–2025: Hyper-Connected Commerce, Data-Driven Marketing & AI

· E-Commerce Explosion: Ubiquitous e-commerce platforms and global logistics made it possible even for mid-sized B2B manufacturers to sell internationally via online marketplaces—especially during/after the COVID-19 pandemic.

· Industrial Marketing: Adoption of digital lead generation, web analytics, LinkedIn outreach, targeted content marketing, and AI-driven customer engagement became the norm. Custom quotations, application videos, chatbots, and RFIs moved online.

· Tourism & Retail: Personalized offers, influencer partnerships, AI recommendations, and seamless mobile commerce dominate marketing approaches. Customer journeys are mapped and optimized in real-time, increasing conversion and retention rates.

· Tech Integration: AI and machine learning personalize customer experiences, predict purchasing intent, and automate campaign deployment for both industrial and service sectors.

· Sustainability and Convenience: Consumers—and industry buyers—value transparency, sustainability credentials, and integrated digital experiences (from product discovery to after-sales service).

Specifically if you consider the Non- Industrial Ventures, a particular trend was observed.

Non-Industrial Ventures:

Travel and Tourism Industry (2010s–2025): With the rise of the internet, this sector became a pioneer of digital commerce. Marketing leveraged social media platforms, online booking portals, SEO, influencer partnerships, and dynamic advertising. E-commerce enabled real-time global outreach and personalized customer engagement.

Writing and Publishing (2010s–2025): The digital revolution transformed publishing, with blogs, online magazines, and self-publishing platforms. Marketing includes content marketing (blogs, podcasts), social media, email newsletters, and e-commerce channels (Amazon, e-book stores). Building a personal brand and community engagement became essential strategies.

Content marketing, influencer partnerships, experience-driven campaigns, and data analytics underpin strategy in travel, tourism, and publishing.

It was very clear that over these decades, the journey from traditional marketing to sophisticated digital commerce models illustrates not only the transformation of industries but also the enduring need for innovation, personal connection, and strategic adaptation in promoting and generating sales.

Core Takeaway: Adaptation Defines Success.

Each era and industry required an adaptive mindset:

Traditional industrial sectors prized relationships and technical credibility during the pre-digital era.
The slow digitization of the 1990s and 2000s favored those who embraced new channels while respecting legacy norms.
The digital revolution democratized information access, making data-driven, scalable, and interactive marketing essential for competitive growth.
The travel and tourism sector led the way in B2C digital transformation, rapidly adopting direct online sales, multi-platform campaigns, and experience-based marketing.

Moving from personal visits and printed catalogs to today’s data-driven, AI-enabled omnichannel marketing, the key lesson is clear: success belongs to those who continuously adopt, adapt, and innovate their marketing—and their mindset—to meet the needs and behaviors of their buyers in every era.

How did marketing models change in each industry from 1979 to 2025.

· What role did digital commerce play in transforming the foundry and chemical industries.

· How did traditional marketing methods evolve into e-commerce across industries over time.

· What specific digital strategies matched each industry's technological capabilities in their respective periods (causal).

· How will my experience with these industry shifts influence future marketing approaches (personal application), which I may take up as a separate articles coming up soon. Till then do take a personal review of your times, and how the landscape of Digital Commerce Business Models changed over your period of time how do you thing they will change the landscape further.

46 Years across Industries: A Journey through Marketing, Commerce & Adaptation:

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:10:00 +0000

46 Years across Industries: A Journey through Marketing, Commerce & Adaptation.

Since the dawn of my professional life in 1979, I have traversed a fascinating spectrum of industries—each demanding unique skills, knowledge, and above all, adaptability. From the intricate world of Precision Investment Castings to the dynamic pulse of the Travel and Tourism Industry, and finally, to the expressive realm of writing and blogging, my journey has been about embracing change and understanding how commerce and marketing evolve with time. Looking back on this experience I realized and though sad and shocked that it took me 46 years to even analyze, review and showcase my experiences with my humble opinions to you all, I am grateful that those years gave me the wisdom that I contain within myself and am happy to share with others. Opinions may differ but the understanding; acceptance of the present landscape and being ready to welcome the new is of utmost importance!

Adapting to New Sectors: 1979 – 2025:

· Industrial Foundations: My earliest years were spent in mechanical and manufacturing sectors: Precision Investment Castings, Foundry Minerals and Chemicals, Corrugated Box Industry, Aluminum Pressure Die-Castings, Special Purpose Machines, Lead Acid Battery Part Manufacturing, Multi-Gauging Equipment, Incoloy Industrial Heating Elements, and Mechanical Transmission Products. Each business relied on traditional marketing: catalogues, trade fairs, technical journals, and networked sales teams.

· Traditional Marketing in Practice: The core model was direct sales and relationship-based marketing, reinforced by physical reputation and product reliability. Word-of-mouth, industry exhibitions, and brochures were central tools.

· Entering the Non-Industrial Sphere: Shifting towards Travel and Tourism brought new challenges. The marketing focus moved from B2B to B2C, necessitating customer engagement, emotional storytelling, and visual branding—initially through print ads, travel expositions, and partnerships with established agents.

· Tourism’s Transformation: As the sector digitalized, websites, social media, and online review platforms became essential. Search engine optimization, digital campaigns, and interactive blog content started driving engagement and bookings.

Digital Commerce & E-Commerce Evolution:

· The Internet Era: As technology advanced, I witnessed a dramatic shift. The rise of e-commerce, starting in the late 1990s and escalating through the 2000s, redefined how products and services were sold.

Each industry adapted differently:

· Manufacturing & Engineering: Online product catalogs, B2B portals, and targeted email marketing became crucial for lead generation and technical sales.

· Travel & Tourism: Online booking platforms and customized itinerary builders offered direct access to consumers. Pay-per-click advertising, search engines, and social media replaced print as marketing engines.

· Self-Publishing & Digital Commerce: In recent years, as I took on the mantle of Author, Writer, Blogger, and Wordsmith, the challenge was to learn and leverage entirely new digital models:

Self-publishing through e-book platforms demanded mastery of metadata, cover design, and digital storefront presentation.
Content marketing (blogging, sharing insights, weaving life stories into daily reflections) built credibility and visibility.
Social media and targeted ads became indispensable for reaching readers.
Affiliate marketing, email newsletters, and online book tours were used to create communities and sustain interest.

Understanding the Models: Then & Now:

· Traditional Sales & Marketing: Relied on trust, reputation, and tangible products; slow-paced but highly personalized.

· Digital Commerce: Fast-moving, data-driven, and interactive; required constant learning and adaptation.

· E-Commerce: Lower barriers to entry; allowed direct connection with global audiences; but competition multiplied and required sharper messaging and targeted outreach.

Lessons Learned

What emerges from this journey is the fundamental truth: each era and industry demanded its own unique approach to promotion and commerce. Adaptability lies at the heart of navigating these shifts. The move from handshake deals to algorithm-powered marketing echoes in every transition I have experienced.

As I continue as a writer, blogger, and self-publishing author in 2025, I reapply everything—from foundational industrial sales to cutting-edge digital campaigns—to ensure that my words reach those seeking meaning, connection, and inspiration. The medium evolves, but the core principle remains: authenticity, relevance, and understanding the needs of your audience.

In sum, my career reflects the evolution of marketing itself—from catalogs and conferences to keywords and social media, always keeping pace with innovation while honoring the lessons of the past.

Thank you all for your continued patronage, blessing, best wishes and motivation for me to do more and better!

This was only a short introductory post. Keep connected and keep a watch for my next post coming up soon titled: Navigating Four Decades of Industry: A Journey through Evolving Marketing and Commerce Models (1979–2025).

Mastering Google SEO Google Style!

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:41:00 +0000

Mastering Google SEO Google Style!

As mentioned to you the previous posts, I will be sharing quality information collated from my own experience in reading and collecting information that brings about a change in your work as well as improves the work you are already doing. This is a small set of videos I had watched a long time ago and has saved them to be shared to you all. These are only a few of the vast collection already available and being shared by Google themselves so all credit to them. I am sharing only to learn good practices.

In this wonderful set of videos I have posted certain videos which I saw recently and found great for Mastering Google SEO, and also great tips for making your site work wonders! Without much ado I am posting the videos for you all to watch for yourself. Have a great time!

Maile Ohye from Google advises your startup as if she had only 10 minutes as your SEO consultant.

Matt Cutts explains the "Disavow links" feature of Google Webmaster Tools.

This first video by Matt Cutts was dealing with a recap of SEO in 2011 and best practices for SEO in 2012 based on what we learned from last year. It gave us really good information about the panda update, however that video is has been removed by Google but you may get some content still available on some sites as I found it very good I am sharing one link here: Click on the link below to give you some information of what he had said in that video.

SEO Tips By Matt Cutts – Three SEO Strategies of 2011 still valid in 2012

Learn the 10 steps to higher visibility in Google Local Maps. Local search is an important marketing channel for your small business. This is a replay from an earlier webinar on local search engine optimization. Note: (This video is quite long - almost 50 mins so plan your time accordingly)

More videos coming up on various topics, till then keep watching!

#Hashtag

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0000

#Hashtag

In my previous post I had shared about my decision to bring to you a new face of my work profile. I will now express my views more as a Facilitator and not a direct consultant. A subtle change but I am sure it will make a big difference. I will be sharing quality content on various topics of Business, Marketing, Quality, Service for my valued readers. These articles will collate the information of my over 4 decades of experience as well as the content that is available on the internet to form a content of information that will make it easier for the layman as well as the professional to relate to easily. Without much ado lets start with this first post about #Hastags!

In this post I will lay out very simply, what we mean by hastags and how they are used especially on Social Media Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and elsewhere; and what is their impact on the quality and quantity of the exposure that post or article received if when shared without a hashtag; as against being posted with a hashtag. I have kept this post short, but also given you some amazing links of the topics related to hashtags which I personally liked and thought of sharing them with you too. Do read those articles and I am sure your view about hashtags will be completely transformed.

A hashtag is a metadata tag that is prefaced by the hash (or pound) sign, #. Hashtags are used on microblogging and photo-sharing services such as Twitter or Instagram as a form of user-generated tagging that enables cross-referencing of content by topic or theme. For example, a search within Instagram for the hashtag #bluesky returns all posts that have been tagged with that term. After the initial hash symbol, a hashtag may include letters, numerals, or underscores.

The best source for all information about Hashtags is here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag

#Hashtags and their Benefits:

Hashtags are words, titles or phrases that help send a powerful message. Hashtags can help categorize posts, increase engagement, attract followers to a certain niche, strengthen a brand image and help reach a target audience (and vice versa). A wonderful article that I suggest you read -

https://workspace.digital/hashtags-and-their-benefits/

How to Use #Hashtags Effectively in Social Media Marketing?

Hashtags are an essential part of social media strategy. They give your brand more exposure so you can spread the word about your product to a massive audience. Besides, when you use it multiple times on different channels, people will easily remember your hashtag. The use of hashtags on each social media platform may differ from the other. So you need to make a personal study of the same even though you may find innumerable articles that will help you with this. A personal analysis of the applications of the hastags in each media will definitely help you a lot. Check out this article for a start.

https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/how-to-use-hashtags-effectively-in-social-media-marketing

Are Hashtags really necessary?

The first question that sometimes comes into a persons mind is; "Are hastags really necessary?".

Hashtags are an important way to expand your Instagram audience and get more reach. When you use a hashtag, your post will appear on the page for that hashtag. If you use a hashtag on your Story, it could be included in the relevant hashtag Story, which also appears on the hashtag page. An example of what difference it makes when you use one against when you don't is explained below which may answer that question. Get to know more about Instagram hastags here:

https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-hashtags/

Hashtags Explained: The Complete Guide to Hashtags in Social Media - Everything you ever wanted to know about hashtags but were afraid to ask your teenager?

Do you just need to know how to best use hashtags for a specific social media platform? Or how you can use them effectively for your small business, or how to avoid becoming the next social media horror story?

Read on!

https://www.takeflyte.com/blog/hashtags-explained

Classic example of the effectiveness of using a hashtag!

In my personal experience in which I was offering consultancy for a NGO and they wanted the maximum information about CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility. I put to use the hashtag use even in search and was shocked at the effectiveness.

An example of how effective # are is seen by putting #csr in Google search and it has listed out for me About 57,40,00,000 results (0.70 seconds)

The same result when I put only csr in Google search is About 35,70,00,000 results (0.51 seconds).

This means just two small keywords used properly can get you such a vast collection of details. These results could be articles, posts, names of companies, or information about CSR. The same effect takes place when you place the # symbol followed by a specific keyword that are highlights of you content or article at the end of the post on your social media post.

When you put the same key word with the hashtag in Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or Instagram it shows you all the posts related to that topic directly. So the same effect comes after you have shared the post with the relevant hashtags. When any person is searching for a particular topic on that platform they normally put in a # followed by that keyword and the search ends up with all articles that may be linked to that subject. So the chances of someone reading your article is much higher.

Including hashtags in your posts means taking part in a conversation happening on that social media platform. And most importantly, it makes your posts visible in that conversation. This can lead to greater engagement, boosting your brand's social media engagement through likes, shares, comments, and new followers.

Simply speaking Hashtags make all your content easily discoverable. Hashtags allow social media users to find and engage with content related to common themes or interests. Hashtags also propel content to reach more people and be discovered by users all across the world.

In case of YouTube also according to the YouTube Creator Academy, hashtags can improve your SEO. Hashtags can help you get more views in three ways. First, hashtags can lead people to your video from other videos that use the same hashtag.

So as I said at the begining of my post, this is only a simple post about the term hashtag and how it is used. I would suggest the reader actually applies them to some of your posts and check it out in your searches and you will see the effectiveness for yourselves. Using the right keyword also is very important.

As a personal experience I noticed especially on Linkedin, when you share a post it automatically indicates some of the keywords with the hashtags at the bottom which makes it easier to select the right hashtags. Which one to select is a matter of experience as well as trial and error to be applied.

Keep reading more articles about Hastags and how they can be used and I can assure you there will be a marked difference in the way your article or post gets a better engagement and better audience.

Thank you, and do keep a watch for more posts on some fantastic topics, coming up for you soon. Happy reading!

A New Vbrant Face To My Work Profile.

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 07:42:00 +0000

A NEW VIBRANT FACE TO MY WORK PROFILE

In my recent post on my Personal Blog I had expressed the concept of “Change is inevitable, but transformation is by conscious choice”. I put this to use in my role as Business and Process Improvement Consultant to making a subtle shift in my role as a Consultant to a Facilitator / Catalyst. In this post below I will make an effort to showcase why this transformation. I have tried to make a simple comparison between the roles of a Consultant, Facilitator and Catalyst in line with supporting my transformation in this change. My Experience and skills will be further enhanced as I will be sharing more information on innumerable topics used in Business which will be a free flow of information for open use by the public without even having to employ my services. That in itself was a motivating factor in this transformation.

I will start with my most shared adage about my own personal experience from my own Book which is also available on Amazon -“The Phoenix Rising - An Inspiration for Introspective Re-Awakening”. This adage is so apt for my transformation and change of role. “Sometimes you just have to die a little inside in order to be Reborn and Rise again as a Stronger and Wiser version of you”.

It is possible that many may not see a marked difference in the transformation or change in my role per se the term or designation itself; which is true. The work content and delivery of my services would be the same but the way in which they will be delivered with now be more direct and with no strings attached whatsoever. It will be a free flow of information and sharing of best practices which I have experienced of the years in Industry.

Why the shift?
Over the years I had been an independent work from home Business and Process Improvement Consultant. My clients or rather I would term them as beneficiaries were small startups, work from home ladies with small home businesses. I treated them as my own family or friend and my work was directed to making them achieve success in their business. I put in every effort to share with them and build for them a setup that would facilitate a full scale operations in digitally promoting their work to the Market. I worked in a perspective of treating that business as my own and so to say worked on a BOT – Build – Operate – Transfer system.

I would build up the whole structure, operate it to a level that it integrates and works smoothly in all respects getting the desired results and then transferring the whole setup to them so that they can operate it themselves.

All necessary training was provided at all stages of each element of the setup so that they could handle each and every aspect independently. I was and always still remain available to them for any assistance or facilitation that is required.

This whole process involved all aspects including creating of their mailing setup, all related Social Media Integration; right from creating the respective accounts and integrating them to get the desired effects. To some extent; for those clients who desired it I would also guide them and even do a bit of their promotion activities.

However; over the years and especially with the recent advent of AI – Artificial Intelligence – and the slow transition of the general public to thinking that everything can be done by AI and accessing information on the internet, I experienced a slow degradation of the value for practical work experience and more reliance on internet based information or AI as they call it.

I had no qualms about their shift to the new technology, but found that they were distancing themselves from the reality, more so, their visions, missions statements were becoming more mechanical than emanating from the very bottom of their hearts. The human element and the value of hard worked experience of those who had gathered that experience by practical work was totally overlooked.

We do not understand that AI or for that matter even our own PC works on the commands that we have given them derived from the very practical experience that we earned from our hard work over the years. That experience became the inputs for the AI and yes with the use of technology we are making AI work for us. But we should never overlook or undermine the hard work and experience that went into generating that experience.

It then dawned on me that AI has started taking over the practical hard work that goes into the perseverance and concentration that a Consultant puts into developing a structure for their clients. The clients often felt or even expressed that “This is all available on AI / Chat GPT” so indirectly or directly indicating to you “What is your place here then”?

Without meaning any disrespect to anyone or any of my clients, in practical experience with some clients indicated that many of them did not even have a clear idea of what they want to do or how they want to approach their goals. They were relying on multiple sources of information from other business friends, family and innumerable sources who are always ready to put in an idea. There was never a set pattern or flow to the work. When confronted with the topic, some felt offended and even angry at the proposition of my even attempting to ask them or discuss that issue with them when they have appointed me as a consultant.

This became a serious impediment for my work and sometimes even could sour our valued relationship which I was not ready to accept. It is then that I decided to turn over a new leaf myself and take over a new role from a Consultant to a Facilitator or Catalyst as I may call it. How and why this change and how that makes a difference is explained below.

What / Who Is a Business Consultant?

Business consultants serve as professional advisors to help companies achieve their goals or streamline operations in a particular area of the business, such as sales, IT, finance, marketing, supply chain management, HR, operations, engineering, and security.

Who is called facilitator?
A facilitator is a person who helps a group of people to work together better, understand their common objectives, and plan how to achieve these objectives, during meetings or discussions. In doing so, the facilitator remains "neutral", meaning they do not take a particular position in the discussion.

What's the role of a facilitator?
A facilitator is a person who helps to guide and manage group discussions and activities in order to achieve specific goals or outcomes. They act as a neutral party who promotes open communication, fosters collaboration, and ensures that all participants are heard and their contributions are valued.

What is an example of a facilitator?
For example, a facilitator leading a meeting to resolve a dispute between two team members might begin by setting ground rules for respectful communication, then work to identify the underlying issues and help each person see the other's perspective.

What are the 7 roles of a facilitator?
The roles of a facilitator in a group are the activities a facilitator does in a group to create a safe learning environment in a group. They include; A motivator, guide, questioner, bridge-builder, clairvoyant, peacemaker, taskmaster, and praise.

What is facilitator skills?
One of the most important sets of skills for leaders and members are facilitation skills. These are the "process" skills we use to guide and direct key parts of our organizing work with groups of people such as meetings, planning sessions, and training of our members and leaders.

What are qualities of a facilitator?
Throughout the meeting, an excellent facilitator will be able to stay neutral and treat all participants as equals, regardless of power, personality types, personal opinions, or biases. This is a crucial element of facilitation that needs to be learned through practice.

What/Who is a catalyst in management?
It is someone who ignites action in others. That stimulus might jump-start a change in an inefficient process, spawn a new idea for a new product, or most importantly, effect change in others. Catalyst leaders are high-energy, supportive, forward-thinking mentors who spark action in the people around them.

So without much ado I now will be available to all on the same profile but in a transformed way, much to my delight. Let’s now connect once again in a revitalized association. Do connect with me on all my social media platforms and experience the new aura of my work. I am sure you will agree that sometimes it is much more prudent to let go off some extra weight and transform into a much lighter and vibrant form of yourself.

So let’s connect once again and I look forward to great times ahead. Do connect with me on all my Social media platforms through my "Contact Me" Page.

Value Added Facilitation The Need of the Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 14:53:00 +0000

VALUE ADDED FACILITATION THE NEED OF THE HOUR

LET VALUE ADDED FACILITATION ADD VALUE TO YOUR BUSINESS AND SERVICES.

Value Added Facilitation is one among the services offered by me. However facilitation is a term that is widely and loosely applied. This article aims to clarify what is meant by facilitation as a professional service, when and how it can best help leaders realize the above benefits, and what to look for in seeking professional facilitation support.

Who is a Facilitator?

A Facilitator is a person or thing that makes an action or process easy or easier.

"A true educator acts as a facilitator of learning"

What is Facilitation?

The act of facilitating: the state of being facilitated

What are the two types of facilitation?

There are two types of facilitation: Commensalism and Mutualism.

Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed.

Mutualism describes the ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit. Mutualism is a common type of ecological interaction.

When considering Facilitation in Business, Education or Commercial Terms it imbibes the core essence of both of the above types of facilitation but applies them in a way that is more of a process for mutual benefit of both concerned bodies.

What is facilitation?
Facilitation aims to broker professional services to help third sector leaders save time and money, reduce risk, make informed business decisions and get the best results for their organizations. Facilitation is among the services offered, however facilitation is a term that is widely and loosely applied. This article aims to clarify what is meant by facilitation as a professional service, when and how it can best help third sector leaders realize the above benefits, and what to look for in seeking professional facilitation support.

The word facilitation is derived from the Latin ‘facile’ which, simply translated, means ‘to make easy’. A facilitator is therefore someone who makes something easy for others. So how is facilitation different from other professional services that might also make something easier, such as consultancy, training or mediation? And how is facilitation different from other group leadership roles, such as chairing? Clarity of definition can help to manage expectations on the sides of the client, the group and the facilitator, and so achieve better outcomes.

This definition addresses three critical dimensions – the role or stance of the facilitator, what he or she does to make things easy; and to what purpose.

Firstly, the facilitator is neutral to the content and task of the group. That is not to say that the facilitator cannot or should not have any content expertise or any stake in the outcome of the task, but that the group must be able to have confidence that the facilitator will not allow these to influence the group’s work and decisions. In contrast, the consultant provides expert advice and the trainer imparts knowledge or skills, both contributing content expertise.

Secondly, what the facilitator does is to diagnose and intervene in how the group works. In other words, he or she contributes process rather than content expertise. The facilitator is not neutral to process, but indeed is granted responsibility for the group’s process, by the group. A leader cannot impose a facilitator on a group without its consent.

Finally, the purpose is to increase the group’s effectiveness – to achieve a better outcome than otherwise, but not any particular outcome. The outcome remains the responsibility of the group, thus helping to ensure the group’s ownership and commitment to it.

The facilitator will assume a diversity of perspectives, positions and needs within any group, and will help the group to relate and respond creatively to conflict, as appropriate to the task at hand. When the primary task of a group is to resolve conflict, then it may be that the particular conflict resolution expertise of a mediator is what is required.

Of course, in many cases multiple skills sets may be needed to help a group achieve a particular goal. Then a team, or a multi-skilled provider, may be required. Nevertheless, the client will be wise to be clear which role is required for which part of the process at which time.

Commonly facilitators are engaged to design and lead one-off workshops, events and meetings of various kinds. However, facilitation adds great value to broader and longer term processes of organizational change, development and capacity building as well.

These may involve multiple events or other interventions spread over time and geography, and often online as well as face to face participation.

When and how can facilitation help?

Most third sector leaders will not need convincing of the imperative to engage effectively with staff, service users and other stakeholders, to partner and collaborate with others, and to innovate to achieve more with less in the context of falling incomes and rising demand for services. Most leaders and their organizations will already be using facilitation to some extent to improve group effectiveness, with varying degrees of expertise, confidence and success.

However, many may not realize that there is a body of professional knowledge and expertise available for them to draw on, or just what value that professional facilitation expertise can add.

Expert facilitation can be particularly helpful where issues are complex or contentious, where perspectives and interests are many and diverse, and where a high degree of creativity, consensus and collaboration are required.

An external facilitator may be particularly helpful when the leader needs to contribute fully to content of the task, rather than its process, or when the group may find it difficult to trust that the leader’s facilitation will be content neutral.

In the short term, it is not quicker or cheaper to engage a professional facilitator, or even to design and facilitate a participatory process in-house – at least not compared to the traditional top-down approach of developing and cascading decisions, policies and plans from the top. However, if you’re wondering why your decisions, policies and plans sit gathering dust on a shelf, or why they are not delivering the outcomes that were hoped for, then it may be because stakeholders essential to their success were not involved adequately in the process. While taking a longer view, upfront investment in a more inclusive and effective process can save a great deal of time; and money in more effective implementation down the line.

If you are going to seek professional facilitation support, however, do not delay! The greater value to be gained from professional facilitation is not in the room with the group on the day, although even that alone can be considerable. The greater value is to be gained from the diagnosis and contracting with the client in advance, and the process design for the intervention. If you wait to seek support until too close to your deadline, even if you have designed a process yourself, you will be missing a major opportunity to benefit from the expertise of the facilitator.

What are the Benefits of Facilitation?

During any Value Added Facilitation, an initial discussion is generated with the Head of the Organization or Manager designated for the same. They may discuss the facilitation personally or in a Group consistent of their designated Associates. For all practical purposes let us call this a Group even if it may be only one person. A group of associates is recommended as it spreads the message throughout the operating team.

There are a number of common benefits to using facilitation skills in group settings:

•   Group members are often more motivated to support the decisions made because of their investment in the process.
•   The best efforts of groups usually produce better results than individual efforts.
•   Increased participation within the group increases productivity.
•   It is possible for managers and leaders to draw more on their staffs as resources, which contributes to overall organizational success.
•   Everyone involved has a chance to contribute and feels they are an integral part of the team.
•   People realize and respect that responsibility for implementing decisions lies with everyone.
•   Innovation and problem-solving skills are built.
•   People are encouraged to think and act for the overall benefit of the group.
•   Higher-quality decisions normally result.
•   A forum for constructively resolving conflicts and clarifying misunderstandings is created.
•   Negative attitudes, low morale, low involvement, and withholding of information are less likely because everyone is involved in a joint process.

Why is Facilitation Important?

Facilitation is important because meetings of large groups of people can be very hard to organize as well as to control when they are in progress. First of all, a facilitator can help members of a group get to know each other and learn to cooperate.

Having a skilled facilitator run or lead a meeting should also help focus the energy and thoughts of the various members on the task at hand. Ideally, the group facilitator is someone who is not interested in the outcome of the meeting (decision-making). Therefore he or she can fully concentrate on how members of the group are working together and help the group work toward their goals, without bias. As a result, facilitation can be extremely useful in helping groups develop consensus on issues.

Facilitation has become a more and more important communication skill in recent times. Many businesses and organizations have restructured, giving more power to a wider range of employees. Companies and organizations are relying more heavily on the input of individual employees in a broad variety of decisions. In addition, professionals in many areas are also increasingly being asked to work as members of groups. Facilitation is therefore becoming a critical skill for coordinating the ideas and contributions of diverse sets of people within organizations. In today's organizations, facilitators play an essential role in discussions, meetings, teamwork, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Through this special service of Value Added Facilitation I pursue to offer the most important features that a Facilitator offers. These are covered in the Attributes of a Facilitator.

Attributes of a Facilitator
•   Think logically.
•   Exercise patience.
•   Listen actively.
•   Summarize accurately and quickly.
•   Lead.
•   Observe.
•   Have a positive attitude.

Let us hence go ahead on this very positive service offered. Connect with me through the Contact us section and take advantage of this facility.

LET VALUE ADDED FACILITATION ADD VALUE TO YOUR BUSINESS AND SERVICES.

The History of Six Sigma

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:29:00 +0000

The History of Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a Methodology that has evolved over a period of time. Though the concept behind Six Sigma took shape centuries ago the actual methodology took shape only later.

The roots of Six Sigma as a measurement standard can be dated back to Carl Frederick Gauss (1777 - 1855) who introduced the concept of the normal curve. Later in the 1920's Walter Shewhart showed that the three Sigma from the mean is a point where a process requires correction, and Six Sigma emerged as a measurement standard in product variation. Many measurement standards like (Cpk, Zero Defects, etc...) later came on the scene but the credit for coining the term Six Sigma goes to an Engineer from Motorola named Bill Smith. Incidentally "Six Sigma" is a federally, registered trademark of Motorola.

Even with the advent of Six Sigma over the years there was an Era of change in the form of measurement and understanding of Six Sigma. In the early and mid - 1980's with Chairman Bob Galvin at the head of Motorola, Engineers decided that the traditional quality levels - measuring defects per thousands of opportunities - didn't provide enough granularity. Motorola then developed this new level of measurement of defects per million opportunities and also created the standard, methodology and cultural change associated with such a system.

The proper utilization of Six Sigma Methodology helped Motorola to realize powerful results in their Organization which in terms of results is documented to the tune of achieving more than $16 Billion savings as a result of application of Six Sigma Methodology.

Since then hundreds of companies all over the world started taking notice of this methodology, and applying it to their system, and adopted Six Sigma as a way of doing business. Over the years the Leaders and Top Management of companies like Larry Bossidy of Allied Signal (Now Honeywell), and Jack Welch of General Electric Company not only praised the benefits of Six Sigma, but applied them to their companies in a way that the results speak for themselves.

Six Sigma has evolved over time, and apart from not being a Quality system like TQM, or ISO, it has evolved as a way of doing business, a vision, a philosophy, a metric,or a goal setting methodology that has taken the Corporate by storm, and achieved results that many would want to emulate. But this can happen only with a dedicated approach to the system, and a systematic application of Six Sigma to the Company Work Methodology.

In the Posts that follow we will see in detail how Six Sigma emerged as a force to reckon with.

How Does Google Search Work? Trillions of Questions, No Easy Answers, Find it Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:44:00 +0000

How Does Google Search Work? - Trillions of Questions, No Easy Answers - Find it Here!

Having worked for over 4 Decades on the Internet well before was Founded on 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States. Those were the days when we used Alta Vista, Ask Jeeves and any other available search option to find anything we wanted to search for , but it was a hell of an experience. I have always had a very strong liking for search related Knowledge Empowerment and still share the same with my clients and friends, as I feel true Knowledge Empowerment is the key to your success and growth.

I was always eager to know about the mechanics of how a Search Action works on the internet, but always felt a lacuna in trying to come to terms with it, though the basic idea was very clear. Recently I came across two amazing videos from Google themselves which caught my attention and thought of sharing them with you. Without much ado I will share the videos below. One is a very short video of about 5 mins and the second one is the more exhaustive video of about 1 hour which I liked very much.

Before you watch the videos below I would be happy to share the links of where you could connect with the whole Google Family. Google has been an integral part of my work and career and they have become an inseparable element of my work.

Subscribe to their Channel: https://www.youtube.com/google

Tweet with them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/google

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/google

Join them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Google

Subsidiaries: Google has a large stable of over 160 subsidiary businesses that have played a role in turning the corporation into one of the largest on Earth in terms of market capitalization. Here I have listed only the top few. I will delve into details of each Subsidiary in my subsequent posts.

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/

Fitbit - https://www.fitbit.com/in/home

YouTube TV - https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/

Google AdMob - https://admob.google.com/home/

Firebase - https://firebase.google.com/

NOW LET US WATCH THE TWO VIDEOS I MENTIONED ABOVE.

The First video is A short video about how Google Search works, including how Google’s software indexes the web, ranks sites, flags spam, and serves up results.

********

Trillions of Questions, No Easy Answers: A (home) movie about how Google Search works- if you’ve ever wondered how Search works, or are curious to see what goes on behind the scenes, there may be something here for you too. This second video is about 1 hour.

*******

The topic of Search on the Internet is an exhaustive one and the above post and videos will only give you a birds-eye-view of the same. My subsequent posts will be more elaborate, so keep a watch for my next. Subscribe to my Blog Feed from the Box on the right so you will be automatically updated when I publish my next post.

Collaboration Through Knowledge Empowerment

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:14:00 +0000

Collaboration Through Knowledge Empowerment

Many of my Clients, Patron, Friends had always questioned me as to what I meant by Tagging myself as "Business and Performance Improvement Facilitator, offering Total Business Development Solutions".

My Blog mentions this clearly in my Services as - "We are Happy to offer you our Unique Brand of Business and Performance Improvement / Enhancement Facilitation Services with Total Business Development Solutions. A never before experience of hard-core, no-nonsense approach to rendering Quality Facilitation and Value Added Services for YOUR Growth and Prosperity!"

But there is more than that meets the eye. This I normally do when I meet people personally and explain to them what is so Unique about my work. Over the more than 40 years of my total work experience in various Industries and fields; I realized the there was a huge imbalance between - Knowledge - Information - and Education. It was like laying out these key elements on a platter and we do not know what proportions or order we should use them.

This inspired me to start this Unique Brand of Facilitation where I make every effort to first review the needs of the Customer, gauge the level of Knowledge they have about it, What information they have been collecting or searching for to meet their needs or solve their problem and then try and Educate them on the subject. I humbly submit I have kept that same process for myself as well. It is not possible for any Facilitator to be a "Know All And Be All" of the subject he is handling. Collaboration through Knowledge empowerment was my idea of not only rendering my best services to the customer but also in turn Empowering my own knowledge to perform better.

I had also mentioned that my consultation did not stay limited to only meeting people or offering my Business Facilitation to them. I have believed in open sharing of whatever knowledge I possess, either through informative posts on my Blog, related to any topic that may be related to Business, Industry and its development and growth. Acquiring knowledge is a complete process and it always has a START but never has an END.

So in short my sincere efforts in this post and subsequent posts would be to share maximum knowledge, Information and Ideas to my readers, Patrons and Customers who keep interacting with me. I would be happy to review, research and post about any topic that my readers would like to know more about so you are happy to write to me with full details to my email - mailsachinkate@gmail.com and feel free to interact with me on the same. It will be my privilege to be of service to you all.

In the subsequent posts you will find me sharing some amazing information which for the layman would be very important to know while even the professionals would find interesting to read about. Many times it happens that we feel we know about a subject until we come to face with a simple post, video, or share on the same topic and we are shocked and at the same time inspired by the content. I would be doing nothing different. I have collated a mountain of information that I would be happy to share, so keep a watch for my subsequent posts to come up.

I am sure the posts will be very engrossing, so please spare some of your valuable time to Comment on the Blog posts or even on the Social Media Platforms that i share these posts so that I will get a feedback on your views. Your valuable suggestions, ideas, and inputs will be always appreciated and welcome.

HAPPY READING

Post-COVID-19 Business And Workforce Management

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 09:11:00 +0000

Post-COVID-19 Business And Workforce Management

It's been a long wait, during the Covid-19 Pandemic and the subsequent lock down which really crippled the very life of people. This includes, personal life, Business, Economy, Health and the very well-being of every citizen be it in India or abroad. This as we all know transcended all boundaries and was a World Pandemic.

We are thankful though, that through the persistence and perseverance of all people and governments, we are on a much better platform today, notwithstanding the continued precautions and risks that we are still going through. But with time passing by, we have come out of the severe lock downs and Business and life are slowly coming back to normal if not better situations.

In this post I will only be giving a bird-eye-view of how this pandemic basically affected Business and the Workforce, and how we are now coping with it with a newfound resilience, and routine. The solutions may not apply to each and every business but will only be a guideline to know how and where we stand, and what changes would be required.

Significant uncertainty surrounds what the “new normal” could look like for firms beyond the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in terms of the new approach to Business Management and Workforce Management and Routine of working itself.

Winning Organizations so to say - those who have overcome to a large extent the challenges of the Post Covid-19 crisis, have laid down certain guidelines maybe based on those provided by WHO and applied to their own work scenario. As mentioned above this post is only a small introduction to some of the topics, and subsequent posts will elaborate on each Topic and subject.

WHO - has given some amazing Guidelines on how to manage your workforce during Covid-19 crisis, the link below will take you to that article.

How to manage your workplace - during COVID-19?

This second article which I found really well laid out and giving an elaborate explanation was:

Planning for the Post-COVID-19 Workforce: Four Scenarios

A third one gives out specific points on which the complete scenario has changed:

5 ways COVID-19 has changed workforce management.

On a conclusive note for this introductory post, it would suffice to say that the key point that would be targeted to lay out a safe and perfect Business and Workforce Management Plan Post Covid-19 pandemic would like on the following notes:

Primary and Key Objective - Individual and Social Well-being and Safety.(Social Distancing).

Changing Leadership and Management Competencies.

Rapid Re-skilling and training of Workforce to match the changed scenario.

Shift to Hi-Tech, Contact less work programs and systems.

Implementation, Monitoring, and Adapting to changing Environment.

Total transparency and Acceptance to Constant Change.

This is an uphill task and one that will test the patience and perseverance of all involved, but the larger picture being survival of the fittest, both in terms of Business and Workforce will definitely bring about a total new outlook to Business and Workforce Management as a whole.

Keep a watch for my subsequent posts related to the above topic as well as some new surprises coming your way.

A Introduction to Six Sigma

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 16:25:00 +0000

AN INTRODUCTION TO SIX SIGMA

Six Sigma is a Methodology which cannot be just read and understood overnight. It is a Culture that one has to inculcate within ourselves. I will try to explain in brief each Term, and also try to give links to those pages where you can read at length and in details from the Professionals in this field.

These details have been compiled from innumerable articles from the internet, books, manuals, and Training books. There will be a series of posts on this topic covering a specific segment of the Topic. So starting with this Introduction of Six Sigma we till take it forward from here.

We will in brief try to cover the following topics.

• What is Quality?

• What is Six Sigma

• Uses and Benefits of Six Sigma in Business and Industry.

• The utility and benefits

• Introduction to Six Sigma as methodology

• The Six Sigma organization

What is Quality? - Well the dictionary explains Quality as " the standard of how good something is as measured against other similar things" a very simple definition. In fact it is true that we mention the word Quality when we try to distinguish the excellence of a product or service against the other.

The concept of Quality and the very angle with which we perceive and imbibe it into our systems has changed over the years.

There has been an Evolution of Quality. Quality can be viewed in two perspectives in so far as Six Sigma is concerned.

Reactive Quality- (Historic)

Quality Checks (QC) - Taking the defectives out of what is produced

Proactive Quality – (Contemporary).

Create process that will produce less or no defects

Six Sigma follows the second method.

Segments of Quality - When we say segment we understand classification of Quality systems and the way in which Quality is measured and applied to a particular Product, System, or Process.

We can Broadly classify Quality into three major Segments.

Methodologies.
Standards.
Capability Models.

Let us look at the Segments in brief.

Methodologies: Such as Six Sigma, Lean -Which are Scientific ways to improve capability, and Quality in a process.

Standards: - ISO 9000, ISO 14000, COPC, Malcolm Baldrige etc- Sharing "Benchmarked" practices - “Standardizing”

Capability Models: eScm, CMM, CMMI - Best practices to build capability.

So What is Six Sigma?

It is a methodology for continuous improvement

It is a methodology for creating products / processes that perform at high standards

It is a set of statistical and other quality tools arranged in unique way

It is a way of knowing where you are and where you could be!

It is a Quality Philosophy and a management technique

Six Sigma is not:

• A standard

• A certification

• Another metric like percentage

Two Meanings of Sigma

• The term “sigma” is used to designate the distribution or spread about the mean (average) of any process or procedure.

• For a process, the sigma capability (z-value) is a metric that indicates how well that process is performing. The higher the sigma capability, the better. Sigma capability measures the capability of the process to produce defect-free outputs. A defect is anything that results in customer dissatisfaction.

As we have said we will take one topic at a time to try and get a better and clearer understanding of this fantastic methodology. Watch out for my next post.

What decides the Success or Failure of a Startup?

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:29:00 +0000

WHAT DECIDES THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A STARTUP?

Following up on my assurance that I would come up with some Quality content that would not only be related to Business Development and Improvement, but also value added information for all Entrepreneurs, here is a warm up post.

As a consultant I often come up with aspiring youth trying to do something of their own either Mid way in their Education or just as soon as they have completed their Graduation. Some of them are lured by the Tag of an MBA qualification, spending lakhs of rupees to pursue the Masters, surprisingly and shockingly sometimes at the end to find and share with me that either they had made a wrong decision.

Many of the youth who are mid way through their Engineering/ Medical or other Technical Educational Semesters; voice the unpleasant feeling that they had taken up the education only because their parents forced them to do so or one of the parents was in the same field. They often end up either leaving the education Mid-way or completing the full education but with a blank mind as what they would like to do ahead in their careers. I will write about this in another post on my personal Blog but for now the same situation is prevalent in the case of many Start-ups, hence this post.

Let us first understand what Mindset an aspiring Start-up Candidate goes through. Similar to student who are caught at the cross-roads at each level of their education, be it the 10th Std, or the 12th Std, Competitive examinations or a decision to be made on which field they need to select, Start-up candidates also go through the same phase. There will be a lot of the so called “Guru’s” and even many sites which offer you Start-up assistance right up to the final stage for a whopping fee. But it would be prudent for any new comer to have a firsthand review of what makes a Start-up Fail or Succeed.

Like everyone would always like to hear the Bad news first, let’s take a simple review of the probable reasons Why Start-ups Fail. This is no Thumb-Rule or Rules etched in stones because each Start-up has its own profile, prevailing situations that they operate in and how they are managed, so these guidelines should be taken only as a helpful yardstick to define your path even before you actually have your Start-up.

WHY YOU COULD FAIL?

1. Know your skills and capabilities with respect to the Business you are planning to start. Know your purpose for setting up the Start-up. If your skills and capabilities mismatch the purpose of the start-up, especially in cases where I have seen many aspirants totally opposite of what they are providing through their start-up you may be in for a sure shot failure.

2. Match your purpose and end goal of the Start-up with something you LOVE to do, and not out of Force, or just because it seems or looks attractive.

3. You have to BELIEVE in what you are doing, and not do it half-heartedly or always second-doubting you’re every move. If that is existing at the start itself, just shelve the proposal.

4. Put the customer First – a large percentage of the Start-ups have failed because they didn’t solve the markets need and they never put the customers first.

5. Lack of Focus on every step of your proposal and plan for start-up can be devastating. You cannot pay more attention to one and overlook the other or you are in for a shock of your lives.

6. Business Model Failure – most Start-ups fail because they have never laid out a proper Business Model or worked on it. The lack of attention to the CAC/LTV Rule – (Cost of Acquiring a Customer / LTV – Lifetime Value of a Customer, which we will deal exhaustively in another post), can be detrimental to the very start let alone growth of any Start-up.

7. Poor Management Team or Setup – You can’t do all Businesses Single-Handedly. In some cases it may work but in most cases it would be prudent to have a well planned team in your Start-up or your whole idea could fall like a pack of cards.

8. Fiduciary management is always recommended but it may not be possible in small set-ups but running out of Cash, Lack of Money management and Bank Support issues can cripple any Start-up.

9. In cases where the Start-up has a product to sell and does not deal in intangible products and services it is very important to define what product you want to promote or sell, and how it stands with respect to the Market needs. Any miscalculation in this department can be devastating.

10. Some Start-ups may get off to a great start but fall like a pack of cards due to Premature Scaling meaning, trying to do too much too soon, out of over-enthusiasm or just to honor the customers ego, which can also be a bad proposition.

We have seen the basic weak points due to which a Start-up may fail. It could be any one of the above reasons or a combination of many so a prudent, sincere, and honest approach to analyzing all the above points is very important.

HOW YOU COULD SUCCEED!

No Guaranteed formula is available for a 100% Success of any Start-up but we can rest assured that if you follow certain basic rules your success ratio could always be tipping the top of the scales. Let us now look at the brighter side of the Topic being What Tips you could follow to ensure that your Start-up doesn’t fail.

1. Put your Ideas into writing – Ideas can keep coming and going especially with so many people giving suggestions and ideas so first thing first start documenting all that you do on a decent notebook or notepad that will remain like your Bible till the end.

2. Take a serious review of your Skills and Capabilities and how you are going to apply them to your Business. If you are falling short somewhere develop them first, then proceed. Take a honest SWOT analysis of your Capabilities and your skills to match the Business you are planning to undertake.

3. Define what product or Service you are going to deliver through your Start-up, and be very clear about it. Work around that decided path and leave no stone un-turned to ensure that you deliver what you promise.

4. Setting up and managing a Business is not as easy as it looks so, meet with your small business development center, take advice from them. They sometimes have amazing ideas up their sleeve which could help you.

5. Identify your customer base. Once that is identified find out what your customers want using surveys existing or even if you have to hire a professional survey agent do it. Remember today Customer is King.

6. Depending on the Product or Service you want to sell decide on a Catchy Name for your firm that will appeal to the masses. A good name that makes the customer feel connected as well as wanted hits the mark.

7. Financing is very important so Outline your finances.

8. Every company that starts has to define an Project Growth, so Have a plan for your future well laid out and track it diligently.

9. Unless you have a comfortable Seed Capital on your own, don’t take the risk of doing it all on your own and that too, on a hairline margin. Make your Bank Work for you. If necessary secure a loan or any other type of investment to support your whole setup.

10. In case of having a business that sells a Product ensure that you manage your Inventory efficiently.

11. Handling a Business is not an easy task and needs backup support in terms of additional staff. Consider hiring a professional Financial Advisory and also a good Team rather than trying to do a one man show.

12. Get all your Licences and Statutory Compliance in order as many times they are the hitch in the whole smooth process of running a business.

13. “Organizing and Delegation” of responsibilities and work load is very important for the success of an organisation so pay extra attention to this point.

14. As I said Customer is King so to deliver to them what they want you would need to have a Targeted Promotional, Marketing and Sales Campaign handled by professional team of employees, or outsourced to an agency of repute.

15. Networking is the need of the day today and any level of Networking be it one to one with the customer or Social Media interaction and connectivity is a key to success of any organization.

16. Customer Feedback is utmost importance so try to keep a feedback mechanism in place, collect references which you could use for attracting new customers and even using as a promotional tool.

17. Person to Person contact between the Owner and the Customer can work wonders. So be accessible on all terms such as email, social media, and any other tools you could use to put his in place. You will be shocked how much this factor can help in enhancing your Business.

18. Remember that the Start-up you have setup is not for your own personal enjoyment – it is for the service of the customers. So deliver what you promise. If you fail to do so, or shun away from your assurances it will have a negative ripple effect on your business even to the level that it could collapse in a matter of a jiffy.

19. Be open to criticism and constructive feedback. When you are adaptive to change and do not fear any new turnaround strategies, it attracts the attention of Customers who will develop a Trust factor in you and your Organisation which we often call as Brand Loyalty which is the single largest Success Mantra for all upcoming Start-ups.

20. Anticipate the future because no one knows how the customers mind can change. Be aware of the Trends in the market and bring about a proactive change, if possible involving your customers too and you will be surprised how well the customers will react to your treating them with that respect.

21. Surround yourself with the right people, be cautious as we should never underestimate the value of good useful customers but also never underestimate the power of someone who isn’t in line with your line of thoughts or success.

22. Most people get tensed up with the difficult situations you go through when setting up a Start-up, but I suggest you Relax and give time for yourself in between or at the end of work hours as in not to burnout yourself – mentally and physically.

23. Above all the whole process of setting up and running a Start-up is a taxing process which at times may test you to your limits so learn Never to give up.

What I have shared is only the text version, which is totally different from what you will face practically, and application of each of these steps is specific to respective needs of the Start-up. It is always good to discuss, share and talk to people concerned who can guide you, so if you have anything that I could help you with, you can connect with me from the Contact us Page on any medium and I will be happy to help you.

Wishing you all the Best in your Endeavors!

Stay Connected!

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 04:03:00 +0000

Stay Connected!

While thanking all my Readers, Friends, Family , Patrons and Well Wishers for bearing with me for the immense support, motivation and Blessings I am getting for this new venture. I am happy to inform that you will now see a steady flow of Quality Content on this topic coming to you shortly. This Page will help you with connecting with me on all Platforms that I work on to bring to you the best of my services!

Keep a watch for the posts and to help you further please click on the SUBSCRIBE TO MY FEED / SUBSCRIBE THROUGH EMAIL - boxes on the right hand side column to ensure that you are always informed of any new post I will publish.

Connect with me on my Twitter Handle which will also be sharing each and every post I Publish here. My Twitter Handle-

https://twitter.com/kate_business

You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/sachinkatebizcon/

My Linkedin Page is at your Service at ..

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sachinkatebizcon/?viewAsMember=true

Instagram Account

https://www.instagram.com/thewordscripter/

New Quality information coming soon!

Keep a watch for my next Post!

Get The Feel Of How We Work

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 03:12:00 +0000

Get The Feel Of How We Work!

Dear Patrons and Fellow Business Entrepreneurs,

It gives me immense pleasure and pride, once again, while connecting with you, after my recent launching of my Facilitation Services. I would like to elaborate on my introduction paragraph, in which I highlighted “Unique Brand of Business and Performance Improvement / Enhancement Facilitation Services”.

The core intention of launching this “Unique Brand” was to not only offer the Industry with Quality Facilitation Services, but also create a sort of mutually helpful synergy of activities through which each of us benefited in some way or the other. The customer benefited through his availing of our services, and “We” as in which I will explain below – myself and my associate consultants from a freshly generated and newly born pool of upcoming, smart, thorough like-minded professional consultants would offer their quality services to you in their own way.

I had observed over the last few decades that there was an immensely large source of thoroughly professional, smart, dedicated and live-wire talent that was trying to make its place in the Industry. Each of them was an expert in his/her own field with years of experience to back their skills. Yet many of them voiced not being able to tap on to the niche market or even those who really needed their services.

Not at all in an effort to blow my own trumpet but in a way to express what I feel at heart, have I humbly submitted the following? Fortunate to have had over three decades of work experience in various fields in the Industry I had developed a knack of keen sense of pin-pointing the need, for improvement, enhancement of performances both at the technical as well as the commercial ends. While this keen sense and knack that I developed would shock many of those who I associated with for my services or even during the course of my general discussions with them; my reviews, analysis and inferences of the trouble shooting sessions would turn out to be optimal solutions to their problems.

This spiraled into my thinking on the same lines as to how I could use this skill and knack, not only to offer Quality Services to those who needed them but also try and help those upcoming and hardworking talented professionals into getting a lead and thereby enhance their own business. Hereby came my unique idea wherein I decided to pool in my skills and along with the help and assistance of a like-minded pool of technically/commercially sound associate base offer amazingly high quality and fast solutions to those who needed them.

It’s basically a truly expanded view of what we so often talk about but never practice in working as a TEAM. By TEAM I meant the following as we all know....

T – Together

E – Everyone

A – Achieves

M – More

This culminated in an Idea of creating a “Talent Pool” so to say, comprising of upcoming bright talent, and Start-ups who want to take a leap forward. This in no way pushes away the stalwarts who have had years of experience behind them, yet are always ready for some good work coming their way. My Concept in no way undermines their capabilities and skills to generate their own business, but I have always experienced that many times an inquiry may click when sourced through another platform while it may have never realized in its normal course.

Hence I look forward to any of you who would like to feature on my Blog or so called “Talent Pool” in forwarding to me your complete profile with all relevant information about your services, your website, mail, contacts which will help me in reviewing your services and they will be added to a separate page on my Blog where you will be tagged as “Partners In Growth”. That Page will be having a Drop Down menu leading to a dedicated Page showcasing your profile.

So feel free to write to me at mailsachinkate@gmail.com with your complete profile specifically highlighting the Heading of the Service you provide so I can categorize you in the relevant Menu.

Besides this the “Unique Brand” of my Quality Facilitation Services, was in extending my Blogger/Writer Skills to the Clients and Public in General. The articles posted on my Blog will cover a wide range of topics relevant to any Business in General, and that will enhance they way in which your Business could work. These could cover subjects as simple as How Google works , Gmail Delegation, SEO, Google Adsense, Google Adwords, Multiple Twitter Account Handling, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Pinterest or any such topic that could be or relevance to enhance your business efficiency and capabilities. I am sure this section will be a huge hit!

There are many more Ideas on the Anvil and will be delivered to you as I go ahead. So do connect with me and feel free to share your ideas and suggestions which could develop a strong bond of mutually satisfying and fruitful business association among us.

The first of those Posts I mentioned above, coming up shortly!

Thanking you, assuring you of my Best Attention and Services at all times,

I remain,

Yours faithfully

Sachin Kate

Chief Facilitator and Corporate Head

Quality Services for Growth and Prosperity!

Getting to Know Us

noreply@blogger.com (Sachin Kate) — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 10:34:00 +0000

Brief Introduction to Our Services.

FOR THE DESK OF: CEO / PROPRIETOR / VP / VENDOR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER / MARKETING MANAGER / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

We are Happy to offer you our Unique Brand of Business and Performance Improvement / Enhancement Facilitation Services with Total Business Development Solutions. A never before experience of hard-core, no-nonsense approach to rendering Quality Facilitation and Value Added Services for YOUR Growth and Prosperity!

Highlights of our Services:

• Quality Business Development Solutions and Value Added Services.

•Professional yet Personalized, Analytical and Confidential approach to any service, in breaking down complex issues into simple components, reviewing them and deriving at an optimal solution.

•Paperless Operations supporting the Go-Green Initiative.

•Services include: Review of Present Business Operations, Analysis, Trouble-shooting, Solution finding and streamlining of Process in respective fields of * Manufacturing * Production * Quality * Marketing * Sales * Overall Business Development * for optimal operations.

We always endeavor to offer the best of our attention and services at all times, and leave you with an experience of contentment, and wanting to relate with us more at all levels.

IMPORTANT FEATURE HERE ON THIS BLOG!

All Business Owners / Entrepreneurs / Start Ups are informed that our Blog will cover Four Important Menus / Tabs/

* Business Information: will be highlighting latest information about Business Tips, New Developments, Ideas, Noteworthy posts from other sources and special updates from the Author himself.

* Our Services: This Page highlights our Services in detail and explains all that we offer. This Page may be updated from time to time so keep a watch.

* About Me: This Page gives you an introduction of the Author and Business Facilitator in Brief.

* Contact Us : This Page will mention all our Contact Details including Address, Contact Number, Email, Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media Platforms on which we are available. All above pages are subject to change and updates so please keep a watch for latest information and updates on all pages. The Business Information Page will however keep updating you with any such changes.

Please do Subscribe to our Feed at the right hand top corner so you will be able to get an automatic update as and when we post something new.

Looking forward to being or service to you and a long and fruitful Business Association.

Sachin Kate

Business Development and

Performance Improvement Facilitator.

Quality Services For Growth And Prosperity!