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When I read any book, I scribble my comments / notes in the margins
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Main Page
· Quote – p: 155/164
· “Mass Marketing”
Pg. No. xv
· 1/5/1971 – commercial Manager CLIL
· 1/5/1979 – General Manager (Powai)
· 01, May 2014 – 55th Anniversary of my first visit to Ahmedabad
· We launched 3pjobs.com on 14 Nov. 1997 (10 months before official launch of Google).
Pg. No. xvi
· Foreign companies – thru chambers of commerces
Pg. No. 2
· B2B wille Such.
· Of tate, a large no. of internet startups are coming up in India.
Pg. No. 8
· Differentiate from the rest (What I am tryin to do in B2B.)
Pg. No. 9
· B2B would be my 9th website!
Pg. No. 10
· Like the time, I was laid-off at MICCO after 1 yr!
· Like those 5 yr long “Strategic Plans” that I pvepaved for L & T, during 1987-1990, when I become GM-PLANNING.
Pg. No. 11
· I am!
Pg. No. 12
· From internet, we compiled database of 8200+chambers of commerce and 1400+ NGO’s. (out of 39, 000 still to be downloaded). Took 3 months.
· Although we beta-launched B2B as “free”, 2 months back, next week we plan to introduce a Tariff (20p per email)
· B2B = Marketing.
· This is exactly how B2B idea came to me, while trying to promote CustomizeResume.com to corporate.
Pg. No. 13
· At JustDial.com (and a dozen other similar websites), I had to send out my Marketing Messages, ONE-AT-TIME, to each company listed thereon!
· Ti was a pain-in-the-neck! I said “There has to be a simpler solution”. And B2B was born.
Pg. No. 15
· True
· Simple / fast way to broadcast marketing message to hundreds of corpprate
· I agree!
Pg. No. 16
· I hope to make it before 85!
Pg. No. 17
· So far, I treated all previous websires as no more that hobbies-without any feature to make money. Although RecruitGuru.com had such a feature, we nevev pursued it. NOW, hopefully, B2B will change this attitude.
· If B2B succeeds, it will be a diversification into e-Commerce, which could overtake 3P.
· Overseas companies who want to trade with India – when their oun economis are shrinking
· No foreign company would have time to build a database of Indian companies
· Foreign companies would be able to send their Marketing Emails to Indian companies, for $ ONE to 300 companies! 20p / email, out of this, we will pay Net core, 6 paise / mail.
Pg. No. 18
· See “View Demo” page
Pg. No. 20
· Sounds like B2B!
· This is where we lack.
Pg. No. 27
· My only resource today, consists of 2 days / week of S/W development engineer at Sentient Systems + myself. Prut if B2B succeeds, we will need to add resources. Then, we will have money to spend.
Pg. No. 29
· Would my idea (blog) re: INVERSE TAXATION regime, fall in this category?
Pg. No. 31
· Get any business, anywhere in the world, to reach-out to any other business, also anywhere in the world, with just ONE CLICK
· Send messages
· Receive messages
· Our Mobile
Pg. No. 32
· I retined from L & T on 14 April 1990 – to start 3P on 15 / 4.
· We have in our library, his book, “Screw it Just do it”
· By now second largest economy in the world in the world, contributing 15% of world GDP on PPP basis. India is 3rd, with 6.5% woorld’s GDP.
Pg. No. 34
· For last 6 years, we have been downloading Job Advts. (thru RSS feeds) from Naukri / Timesjobs / (lickjobs) we have accumulated – 4/5 million jobs. + Names email ID’s of 2.27 lakh Companies we plan to leverage this 2.27 L in B2B. Someday, we will do wonders with 5 millian job-addvts using [BIG DATA] techniques to generate TRENDS & PREDICTION we just need 2/3 full time S/W engineers!
Pg. No. 36
· I believe B2B will become a Marketing Platform for companies around the world. The more join, the more useful, B2B becomes. Network Extemality.
Pg. No. 42
· In B2B, every subscriber will be a SENDER as well as a RECEPIENT of marketing messages. Each sits on, both SUPPLY side, as also on the DEMAND side.
Pg. No. 44
· In B2B, subscribers will need to pay in advance (thru ccAvenue Payment Gateway), - before blasting their messages. Of course, we will too need to pay Netcore in advance. But, whereas we will collect from subscriber @ Rs. 0.20 per email we will pay Netcore only Rs. 0.06 per email leaving us a margin of Rs. 0.14. If the idea catches on, we will not worry about cashfor operating capital.
Pg. No. 45
· Black Swan I decided to
· Spend minimum (Rs. 15400/=per month to Sefient)
· Not to borrow
Pg. No. 46
· Very little in my case.
· All the time, I can
· Very little / month, but
· Quite a lot (few crores of rupees) over the past 12 years. Fortunately 3P’s revenues could sustain this.
Pg. No. 47
· My “launch” expenses (for B2B) will consist of only a few thousand emails that I plan to send.
· Thos did happen to me, when we started “Royal Marbles”
· Finally, for first time in B2B, we will NOT spend unless, we first EARN.
Pg. No. 48
· For me, this is Rs. 15,400/= per month I pay to Sentient + Salary of Sanjivani (Rs. 10,000/= p.m.). Total = Rs. 50,000/= p.m.
Pg. No. 49
· Never a borrower, nor a lender be!
· We did this for Royal Marbles, which we finally closed.
Pg. No. 50
· For B2B, we are planning ADMIN pages for this.
Pg. No. 52
· When I was negotiating agreement with labour union, as GM-Powai.
Pg. No. 54
· Bhaati Supported me in every possible way, when I launched 3P at the age of 57, fortunately, my very first month billing (Rs. 2000/=) paid for office rent! I lived off my monthly pension of Rs. 3700/= from L & T – which also re-imbursed my medical expenies.
Pg. No. 59
· I walk for 1 ½ hour daily.
· I have come up with most, during my walks.
Pg. No. 62
· What I try to do. My very first thought every morning: “What will I do today?”
Pg. No. 67
· Eg: other day, while talking to Abijit (INCOME), he offered a good suggestion, viz: enabling a Subscriber (of B2B), to select (___) targeted companies rather than simply targeted CITY (___). This could be offered as a PREMIUM – feature, and could be charged @ Rs. 1/= per email. GOOD IDEA.
Pg. No. 72
· Comeup with an online service that will enable companies everywhere to send their marketing messages to other companies. Hopefully, this platform (B2B) will inercase infernational trade. It will enable small companies, to offer their products / services, around the world.
Pg. No. 73
· See “Our USP” page. Where as all online websites listed there, catev to individual consumers to locate mfrs / dealers / shops, for the produots / services that thay are searching, B2B is meant for “Businesses” searching other “Businesses”.
Pg. No. 74
· I have set for myself, a VERY LOW STANDARD for the monetary risk, that I am willing / prepared to take, in order to achieve my goal. I know this to be my limitation – hence I don’t complain re: my actual achieve – ments. With the kind of money that I am spending on B2B, it will be a miracle if it succeeds!
· This morning, typing (Hemen Parekh) in Google refumed 9, 75,000 links. Not bad!
Pg. No. 75
· Online platform for companies of the world to meet and communicate
· See “for whom”
· Businesses of the world.
· Home page
· With one [CLICK] send their Marketing Messages, to companies around the world.
Pg. No. 78
· For making such an ompression, I depend entirely on my promotronal emails to
· 8000 + Chambers of Commerce
· 2,27,000 companies.
· I realize that this is a too little – and too narrow – effort at my own “Marketing” of B2B. But, if there is some initial success (Say 500 paid subscribers), then I will think-up of other, more expensive, methods.
Pg. No. 84
· I think, Lord Rufherford, said this. Being
· Entirely dependent on a part-time S/W engince
· Short of funds, there is no way I can speed-up the process of launch. By the time, we (B2B) gets some respouse, someone younger, with more money, more erengy, more tech-savy, could overtake B2B!
Pg. No. 86
· All I need to keep earning is approx. Rs. 1 lakh per month – to take care of expenses.
· 15,400 + 12,000 + 10,000 = 37,400 + 13,000 (Misc) = 50,000 + 20,000 (to NetCore) = 70,000
Pg. No. 87
· I am too old for this! I will use Social Media to promote B2B, + some ex – L & T colleagues + Nirmit’s clients & candidates
· B2B will be such a case.
Pg. No. 88
· To make it attractive for Sentient Systems (Shuklendu) to put inn extra effort to develop B2B, I have agreed to share with him, 25% of B2B “Net Revenue” – after deducting payments made to NetCore for emailing. Once launched we will know in 3/4 months, if B2B clicks!
Pg. No. 89
· I have no intention (at this stage, at least), to invite outside investors or Venture Capitalist, in order to grow B2B. if it starts making Rs. 2 lakh / month, after 3/4 months – and that is a proof of concept – then, I will persuade Nirmit / Manish to pump-in extra funds to “Promote / Market” B2B more vigorously notneed much more than Rs. 25 lakhs to ramp up B2B.
· Most of the money required will be for hiring 3/4 people to promote / market.
· With no outsider to answer, my exit-strategy is simple. De host website!
Pg. No. 90
· I don’t have a clear idea, myself!
· That is one more reason, I cannot have investors.
· May be one of the online businesses, listed at “Our USP” page. But if we are profitable, this question will not arise. And if we make a loss, no one would buy!
Pg. No. 93
· America / Europe / Japan, have become “high-cost” economies.
· China has become “Manufacturing Shop” to the world, from where America / Europe are buying / Outsourcing.
· India has become the “Back Office” to the world.
· Indian Economy will continue to grow faster than USA / Europe companies would look to India buy its products / services, since their own economies are sluggish.
Pg. No. 96
· May be it was a good thing that I did not know, how to write S/W code! That allowed me to focus on “conceptnalizing”. I was able to put myself in the shoes of a website visitor and ask myself:
· Do I understand this? Does it leave any questions? Does it tell me what I am supposed to do next? Does it tell me, what will happen, if I do as asked?
Pg. No. 98
· I do
· I am not!
Pg. No. 102
· A Spanish proverb reads:-
· If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans!
· That “One” is only guessing! The way new competitors are coming up, daily, most won’t know what will happen next month!
· Today’s businesses need course – correction on a daily basis.
· So true.
Pg. No. 124
· As GM (Powai), I was, kind of a CEO, at L & T’s Powai works, where nearly 7500 people worked. During those 8 years (1979-87), I tried to communicate to them, what was happening to other companies, in India and abroad – and what lessons can we learn from them. I distributed hard-copy print-out to each employee (there was no email, then). You will find these letters at “Letters to L & T Employees”.
Pg. No. 107
· Over the past 6 years, we have accumulated approx. 5 MILLION job advts. Each carries (1) Title (2) Job Description (3) Edu. (4) Exp. (5) Skills-related keywords etc.
· Applying BIG DATA techniques, we can unravel many trends / decision-rules of recruitment
Pg. No. 108
· A good source for job descriptions is www.OneNet.com
Pg. No. 109
· When Bjorn Petersen interviewed me (for the position of Planning Engineer in Switchgear Factory of L & T, in 1959), he gave me a Pump Body Casting and its drawing and asked me to prepare its Mfg. Processchart. After some 2 hours, he asked me to STOP!
· Very Imp.
Pg. No. 111
· In B2B website, I have offered Shuklendu (Sentient Systems), a 25% save of NET revenue (affer expenses), in return for developing & maintaining the Website. I will focus on conceptualizing new features and on promoting the site, and on building necessary databses
· Including one on Marol-Maroshi road, just 2km away from where I live
Pg. No. 112
· I think Shuklendu and my self, compliment each other, in B2B.
· If B2B picks up well with foreign companies (-thru chambers of commerces), we can get own past and present clients / candidates.
Pg. No. 113
· In B2B, ownership will vest with 3P.
· “Sentient” is not expected to make any financial commitment
· Sentient will devote, whatever S/W developer resources it needs to develop / maintain B2B
· After cleducting from ccAvenue receipts, amounts paid to Net core, the NET will be shaved 25% / 75% (Sentient / 3P)
· If new hardware / broadband needs to be added, 3P will bear the cost. If B2B business booms, I propose switching-over to CLOUD, instead of adding own hardware / software resources. In this case, CLOUD expense too, will be deducted from subscriber revenue, to get NET.
Pg. No. 114
· This is my main worry. B2B does not require Rocket Science. Anyone, with Rs. 5 lakh can launch similar site in 2 months! I outsourced (to Sentient, due to lack of funds / availability of expertise with Senticnt.
Pg. No. 115
· In case of all of my websites (incl B2B), I draw-up all U/I, SearcResults Display, and Page write-ups. At every stage, I guide sentient developers on cosmetirs of Site.
Pg. No. 116
· I think this (failure to communicate expectation) was mostly responsible for 1 year delay in redesign of 3P website by Sentient.
· This is what happened in case of 3P website. Only way to get a good job (from developer) is to FULLY DESIGN / DRAW-UP. (U/I), each & every page of the websites and hand it over to the developer. It should be so complete that developer should not need to ask questions.
Pg. No. 117
· Ballons popping-up on Google Map, during (I simply insisted on this) selection of CITIES.
· “Google Map location” popping up when clicking on company Name.
· Short SMS on Subscriber’s mobile that someone has responded to email.
· B2B is
· I go & meet Shuklendu / Nitin / Satish, every 2 weeks – to review progress.
Pg. No. 122
· Some 15 years back, we purchased a copy of “Dragon Naturally Speaking”. Did not work well. Next week, we plan to have a demo of its [V 12.0] which is tailored for Indian accent. If it gives 99% accuracy we will buy and train Sanjivani to use it to “dictate”, 10,000 pages of my handwritten notes rather than type. I firmly believe in “Human Use of Human Beings” (by Norbert Weiner-Father of Cybenatics)
Pg. No. 123
· I hope B2B llives upto its punch-line:
· “Stop Advertizing / Start Marketing”. If it does, it would revolutionize marketing.
· I hope popping up of ballons on Google-Map (in Blast your Message) page, will introduce a “gaming” element, in B2B!
· As we go along, I plan to introduce additional “Animations” of interactivity.
Pg. No. 125
· For me, each of my earlier 8 websites, was a “Small bet”. Their failures did not break 3P! who knows, B2B may trun out to be a “Black Swan”!
· 3P does have annual picnic + a few celebrations within office, every year.
Pg. No. 127
· “Pushing the Envelope” a little every single day.
Pg. No. 141
· We never spent any money to promote our web-sites. May be we did the right thing-since none (except RecruitGuru.com) had a revenue source
· Anokhee’s Birthday.
Pg. No. 142
· If B2B succeeds-even modestly-then, this is our biggest risk. It won’t take more than 2 months to launch a similar site-if you can afford to spend 2/3 lakhs of rupees. So, risking a lot of money does not make sense.
Pg. No. 151
· If things go as planned, B2B lift-off could come in 6/7 days
Pg. No. 153
· New Features:- My gness is, “sharply targeting” of recipient companies. A shop-owner or a Super Market, would like to canvass business, locally. But that applies to [B2C], not [B2B].
· In B2B, subscribers, would like to be able to select individual companies rather than ALL companies in one city.
Pg. No. 156
· Quote
· Promo Emails that I plan to send out next week:
· 8000 chambers of commerces
· 25,000 Senior Executives
· 2,72,000 companies.
Pg. No. 157
· In my promo emails, I am pitching differently to each target group.
Pg. No. 159
· My main target group is Forcign Companies, many of which, want to sell their Products / Services to India, because their own domestic markets are shrinking. Since, I don’t have their email ID’s, I am targetting thru chambers of commerce, in 5332 cities of the world.
· Next I will try to build a database of Indian Exporters.
· This is [THE] problem, which B2B is trying to addres, viz: No money to Advertize!
· It is my problem, too!
Pg. No. 160
· Companies / Employers are main “Clients” of job-portals or some e-comm sites
Pg. No. 161
· I am sure, all those 8000+ chambers of commerce (who I plan to write), have their own websites, - which we, mostly visited by their MEMBER-FIRMS. I am offering them, a link-ekchange program.
· I have none!
· I cannot think of how B2B can do this, but to all corporate subscribers, I am offering to place a link on B2B, pointing to their sites.
Pg. No. 162
· We need the very same thing which we are offering!
· I am writing to 2,27 L corporate, “when I place your URL link on my site, thousands of corpo executives will see it and visit your site”.
· Being able to sell their products / services to other businesse (their clients).
Pg. No. 164
· Just like Recruit Guru
· [See my promo letter]:
· Why can’t you Advertise?
· -Because you cannot afford to! That is why.
Pg. No. 165
· I have, today, sent to Kailas 5 promo email drafts for
· Existing registened subscribers
· 8000 chambers
· 25,000 Sr. Exec.
· 2.27 lakh companies.
· Oneach my name at bottom is a hyperlink to Google Search Term. (hemen parekf), with 100,000 to 300,000 results! Will this help?
· Most Sr. Indian Execs. Are on Linked In.
Pg. No. 166
· Advt. Industry Mktg. PR
Pg. No. 171
· This could well be true for B2B – an unexpressed “Want”. We will know only once B2B is launched
Pg. No. 174
· If B2B clicks with companies, the very first NEW feature that I want to add is:
· Ability to Select ___ specific, individual companies rather than ALL or NONE, in a given city. Next, being able to select ALL companies (without having to select “INDUSTRY”) within any given city. Many small & local businesses / self-employed would want to “target”, any company (No Industry preference) within their own city.
Pg. No. 175
· Would our B2B subscribers come back, again & again, to blast their marketing messages, to same or another batch of “Recepient” companies? Or, would it be a onetime affair?
· I suppose, that would entirely depend upon what kind of “Response” they get against their FIRST blast. If the response is good, they will return.
· No such worry for hre.
Pg. No. 176
· Overstretched
Pg. No. 177
· If B2B succeeds-and brings in enough case – I would like to hire:-
· One / two persons for building Databases and one more for promoting and one S/W developer to add new features.
· This does not affect us since our subscribers will pay in advance before they can blast. No doubt I will need some starting money to pay Netcore.
· If B2B grows rapidly, it could be wise to move our server to CLOUD instead of buying additional hard-ware and more local maintenance.
Pg. No. 180
· True, but to be able to “hire” someone to whom you could delegate, you need to be “Earning” money first! Money to pay the salary of the guy you want to delegate stuff.
· Very important
Pg. No. 183
· Satish’s absence from work today, is such a small bump! So the launch of B2B will get delayed by a couple of days. Can’t help or grieve!
Pg. No. 184
· Depends on how much is at risk. You can hang on longer if recurring expenses are small.
Pg. No. 186
· Even for well – established businessmen
Pg. No. 187
· Like Satish did not turn-up, second day in a raw and Nitin, who was to resume duty today, also did not turn up! And Kailas is proceeding on leave tomorrow! B2B launch will have to wait.
Pg. No. 188
· For me, such a purpose is to enable small / Medium Businesses (SMB) of the world to send out their messages to each other, at a very low cost.
Pg. No. 189
· Had things gone as planned, we could have launched B2B with declaration of 2014 Lok Sabha Election results.
Pg. No. 191
· I believe B2B will open for millions of SMB, a “Window to the World”. It will enable them to announce their “Existence” to the International Trade.
Pg. No. 195
· Those 250,000 + promo emails that I plan to send out to corporate, aer “Unsolicited”. Many are obsolete and may bounce. There is real danger that our IP addmight get black-listed. (as it happened 6 months back). My plan: As soon as revenue-inflow permits, we will send these thru Netcore Emevgic Service.
Pg. No. 206
· Profitable
· Very True
Pg. No. 207
· Hopefully, Satish / Nitin (Sentient), will complete integration of B2B with payment gateway, ccAvenue, today and thoroughly test it tomorrow. If everything goes well we may be able to launch B2B, on 21st or 22nd.
