Rajeev Unnithan’s Post

Here's to the founders and leaders who want to lift up the world instead of crushing it.

This rings so true, but it depends on the context of the economic context of the times. In eras of business bundling (such as the SaaS era we are entering), yeah you sure do not want to use languages and metaphors of wars. In the era of unbundling (such as the SaaS era we are just coming out of), then this simply yields sameness and tameness. An unbundling era spells a proliferation of solutions that are all the Same and provide similarly tame elements. In such a landscape, you sure do want to be as differentiated as possible. This is because if two solutions are exactly the same, then one was not needed in the first place. The interesting thing is that as we enter the era of Software bundling on the macro scale, the cloud is being unbundled at the same time. At least that’s what many disruptors are trying to do. In a funny twist of fate, the metaphor, actually the Mobility of war is what Humane has used to launch their AI Pin in direct action against the current dominant mobile ecosystems. They are saying there is no chance for co-existence between their wearable pin and mobile phones. This is of course a colossal failure of strategy, because mobile devices represent the distributed edge computing nodes in stark contrast to the cloud servers. Therefore, they are actually being bundled with every other edge computing infrastructure and distribution compared to the opposite trend of unbundling in the cloud. Thus, Humane trying to isolate themselves from this global edge distribution is simply a folly of not reading the larger market trends.

My colleagues and co-founders at my first startup were greatly amused by my use of American sport metaphors. Prior to founding my first startup #Impulsesoft in Bangalore, I had spent nearly 15 years in California. Their ribbing is what led me to realize how much I'd internalized watching San Francisco 49ers games! So when I read and saw Jason Fried talk about the "metaphors of war" it hit close to home for a number of reasons. The most obvious is the violence that war connotes and we are seeing in Gaza or Ukraine today (in Nagorno-Karabakh, Sudan, Syria, Yemen for far too long) Much like my cluelessness (and at times inappropriate) use of sports metaphors, which have their share of military/war roots, many of us in business use these as jargon or shorthand. It also makes me stop and take stock of things I say, whether in a class or in a business meetings. As someone who advocates ever more #storytelling in business, I urge folks to "use metaphors and analogies." I now need to remind myself and them that such analogies and metaphors need not, nay should not, be imbued with the imagery of war. As Leo Tolstoy remarked "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.' I'll begin by being deliberate and mindful in my use of metaphors and analogies. #wordsmatter #culture #change

This is one of “the most important post” you should read. Jason Fried captures why product companies should focus on creating something useful.

Hi Jason, I completely agree with your perspective that work should not be seen as a war. It's all too easy to get caught up in the competitive nature of our roles and lose sight of the bigger picture. In my experience, when we view work as a battle, it can lead to unnecessary stress and burnout. Instead, approaching it as a collaboration where everyone can contribute their unique skills and ideas fosters a more harmonious and productive environment. By focusing on cooperation rather than competition, we can create a workplace culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and teamwork. This ultimately leads to better outcomes for both individuals and organizations. Thank you for sharing this insightful post!

Words are a primary building block of culture. We are precise in almost every numeric aspect of business… we even obsess over words in marketing. Imagine the results if we were as intentional and rigorous with the words we use in our daily interactions!

Delve into the evolution of the Associates of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion with our historical video series. Discover more here: https://buff.ly/3UVd1ht #PassionistHeritage #CrossandPassionSisters

In this month's Big Read, Vic Handley, a competitor in the 2024 World's Toughest Row, tell us his story and how he is preparing, both mentally and physically, for what he describes as his ‘challenge of a lifetime’. Read his article here 👉 https://buff.ly/45clpfB

My friend and colleague, Raffi Andonian, is doing some amazing things. One in particular is a very interesting workshop for small business owners. I fully endorse and recommend Raffi and his wonderful offerings. Please see the attached video and link to learn more about this special program!

Rushed, demanding, and relentless-does this describe majority daily life? If so, you're not alone, I'm one of you. In a world where it's easy to feel left behind and lose sight of your purpose, ancient Stoic wisdom offers a beacon of hope. Learn how embracing patience and persistence can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Kindly check my latest Medium article to transform your journey with timeless guidance. Cheers! 💪