With a little help from my friends
The most common question that I am facing these days is, “How is the book Biz World doing?” or “How many copies of Biz World sold till now?” The answer is not 42 and is not blowing in the wind either. The truth of the matter is – I simply do not know. I even tried finding out from Dial-a-book few days and guess what was the reply that I got – “I don’t know. It is doing well. Will find out and tell you.” And even if someone did tell me that the number of copies sold is 236 – what can I interpret from it? Is it good? The only people who would know whether it is good or not are the publishers of the book. They have certain expectations in terms of sales and how well is the book meeting those expectations or for that matter – not meeting them. There are couple of friends (should I say people on my Facebook friend’s list) who have published a book recently but their categories are so different that it would be comparing apples and oranges.
But this entire process brings me to a more pertinent question – “Why should it matter, how well the book sells?” If you think one should be bothered with it because of the royalty that he is going to receive – forget it. Even if the book is a bestseller, a definition which varies widely depending on who you are talking to, I would make the same amount of money that I made in a month as my salary when I first started working in 2006 at IMS in Kolkata. For those not familiar with the CAT coaching business – let’s just say enough money to survive in Kolkata but not in any other metro. If you think one should be bothered with it because of the fame and recognition that it is going to bring to the author – again not a very solid argument. The book is in the ‘Business Awareness’ category – so the point of being invited to speak at a public forum or even getting a pass at the Jaipur Literary Festival does not arise.
Snapshot from 'The Wonder Years' where I first heard the song / title of the post
I think I am bothered with sales because it will be a validation to the effort that has gone into the book. The days that Avinash put in drawing up timelines and gathering facts about companies. The uncountable hours that Sunil Tyagi spent coming up with sections which have not been covered in the book. Arkadev’s editing of the essays has brought them to a level that they make sense and are not intermittent ramblings of a quiz junkie. All this effort needs validation, which can come in the form of sales. I do not know what all I can do to ensure that the effort is validated but I guess I am doing my part. Have done a few quizzes just to promote the book and plan to visit a few coaching institutes in Delhi to do the same. Not to forget, I am trying to promote it online as well.
The help that I am getting from friends in online promotion is phenomenal. A few blogs (Arkadev, Q-BIT, Corridors) have put the book cover. A few of the quizzing groups on facebook (Knowqout, Jaquizzi, LNMIIT, Quizzing Buzz, Q-Frat) have started posting snippets from the book titled – ‘Funda of the Day’ on a daily basis. Two of the quizzing groups have refused to the same also - you have to decide which side of the fence you are on. Deepak from Pune is working on a Facebook application which would be used to promote the book. Jessy from Bangalore is working on creating a simplistic page for Biz World on the website. Saptraj made a video to promote the book. Nikhil from Mumbai is making a ‘welcome screen’ for the Facebook page. The question however is – is this enough? A bigger question is – how much would be enough? I know that there is no good answer to this question also. But surely – you can help. If you have a blog / Facebook group you can help a lot. Even if you don’t – I am sure I can find a way to extract that help from you J. So, if you have the willingness to help out – in a not so noble cause – email me at ravihanda@gmail.com or just pick up a phone and dial the numbers 09461493393.
Cheers!
Bring BQC Back
I do not think that Bournvita Quiz Contest needs an introduction to someone who has grown up in the 90s but still to bring everyone up to speed on this – it was a quiz contest which started sometime in the early 70s on the radio. The show host at that point of time was Amin Sayani, one of the prominent broadcast personalities of the yesteryears. Video eventually killed the radio star and the show moved on to television in early 90s. Not only it made Derek O Brien a star but gave every kid an opportunity to be on the tele. And boy oh boy, I had fun watching it. I guess the peak for the show would be somewhere in mid to late 90s when ZEE TV used to rule. The show did drag on for some time but eventually died its inevitable death few years ago. I guess it had moved to Sony Entertainment Television before it happened. Couple of reasons why I think the show lost the popularity –
a) The money involved in other shows became a little bigger.
b) It had no semi-nude girls or irritating idiots mouthing the F word.
To be really honest, I do not think that TV makes much sense for BQC now. May be a ‘special’ between previous winners might work. Then why is this post titled ‘Bring BQC Back’ and not ‘Good riddance’. It is because I believe in the idea of BQC. I believe in the ethos that BQC represents. There is definitely a need to engage youth on a national platform on the basis of knowledge. Give the kids in Jamshedpur to lock horns with the Delhi Boys. However – TV is not the answer.
I believe, the time has come for the next avatar of BQC. The time has come for the show / concept to go online. BQC did evolve from Radio to TV and moving online is the obvious next step. From what I know about the school going youth of today, which I agree is not much, they don’t move from cartoons to TV shows to the internet these days. They move from cartoons to Facebook. The middle age of youth has been lost in evolution. So in conclusion, this is my request to Cadbury – if they are listening – which they should be considering that around 1.5 Lakh people are yelling on Facebook – Bring BQC Back.
I am going to do my bit for it. Have already had a word with a friend cum fellow quizzer in DNA who seems interested in a doing a story on it. Have talked to friends at the www.theiquest.com to may be do a game around it. And then there is always ‘Biz World’, my book on Business Awareness which can act as a preparatory tool for BQC if it is back or rather when it is back.
Biz World: Pre-release jitters
As the day of release comes closer, I sit back and wonder about the journey that Biz World has been and the book has carried me with it like branches of river in a tree. For those of you who read the previous post announcing the dream – might notice that it was written just after I submitted the manuscript to Alchemy Publishers. It also said that the probable date of release would be around Feb end but I was as clueless about the publishing process as I am about why did Dhoni choose to play Sreesanth in the final. Since the submission it has been an anxious wait. I do not know how expecting parents feel but I believe it is probably something similar. Although, in that case the wait period is pre-defined and there are always 272 aunties who are more than willing to guide you. The role of that ‘aunt’ was played to perfection by Pinaki who has, among other things, also designed this beautiful cover. If you look a little closer, you would notice that the cube on the cover is slightly raised. The Rubik’s cube with monetary signs on it is symbolic of knowledge – something that you can strive to achieve but you can never completely have it. Writing this book is a step in the quest to ‘know more’.
Biz World Front Cover
The preliminary feedback about the book from those who have gone through it in brief or full has been very encouraging. What have been even more encouraging are the phone calls / messages from quizzers about how they have been waiting for something like this for a long time. I must add that I got couple of angry messages from friends as well – for not releasing the book in time for Tata Crucible Campus edition. I hope the book meets their expectations. I am a strong believer in the ‘Under promise and over-deliver’ philosophy and I hope to be able to say this after the book is released.
For those of you, who are still wondering what the book is all about, you can download the summary from here. Although the price is 150 Rs., it is available at a discount price of 120 Rs. in the pre-order period. You can book your author signed copies by sending an SMS – ‘book biz world’ to 9650457457 (Dial-a-book). For those who prefer the online medium, it is also available on flipkart and infibeam. It is expected to release on 10th April.
If you want to know more about the book or get regular updates or just help me in spreading the word about the book - like and share the Facebook Page of Biz World.
My upcoming book – Biz World
For those of you who don't know, it has been a dream of mine to write a Kafkaesque novel one day. A dream which might not be realized because of my extreme laziness and procrastinating nature. A more realistic wish is to write books in at least three Dewey Decimal Classes and I guess I will be covering 900s with Biz World I know.. I know.. it is not one of the best titles possible but it is the best to communicate the ethos of the book. (Download summary)
The idea originated from couple of eBooks that Avinash and I had compiled - Company Name Etymologies & Best of Tata Crucible. We made them available for free download via paywithatweet and it landed on Krishna Mehra's desktop. Other than being a friend from IIT Kharagpur days, he is also well connected with the publishing world. He and few other friends like C. Ramshankar and Kumar Vaibhav did push me to go ahead with it. Having Avinash as a co-author was a great asset and that ensured my finishing it.
When I sat down to write it, I wanted it to be the definitive book on Business Quizzing in India. Most of the quiz books that I have seen contain primarily questions - but I wanted something which went BEYOND. There are also few books on Business Awareness which are available for Management entrance preparation but let's be honest - they are really boring. I do not know whether the book that Avinash and I have put together will achieve its goal of being the best resource possible, but I do believe that it kicks ass. As a matter of fact, as I go through it over and over again for checking facts and making it more interesting - I get the feeling that I should own it. Keep it to myself and not let it go out in the domain. May be I need to get my head checked. May be I love it too much. May be both.
The response from whoever has had a sneak peek at its contents has been really encouraging and often overwhelming. You can download a brief summary of the book and tell me what you think of it. I would love to hear your feedback about the same. Also, if any of you can provide some relevant contact of someone who can write the foreword to the book - that would be of great help.
The book will be released in probably the first or second week of February in time for Tata Crucible campus edition. The pre-ordering procedure will start as soon as the book cover and "The Foreword" is finalized.
“Life Made Easy” Extensions
If you are a Google Chrome user this blog post will transform your life.
OHK! I admit, I said that to lure you to read this post. Well, now that you are reading it, I am not going to say much and come straight to the point.
I have compiled a list of 5 very helpful Chrome Extensions/Apps. They will surely make your life easier (It has made mine) and enhance your browsing experience.
Install them and keep browsing.
1 - Facebook Photo Zoom
Why do you need to click on every photo of your friends? Stop wasting time on clicking "NEXT" & "PREVIOUS" and stop waiting for the page to load.
Install - http://j.mp/h1dYaI
The cabinet minster Mr. A. Raja has made this extension of great importance to Indian. I wonder if this extension lead to 2G & 3G Scams 
2 - Google Dictionary
Never get stuck. This extension will bring the meaning of every word on the webpage you read. Apart from its own dictionary, it sources its data from various other knowledge websites like Wikipedia, Princeton, etc. ...SMART
Install - http://j.mp/ec5m5r
3 - Tweetdeck
A cliche you would think. But its worth repeating. One of the best social media related app. Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare... everything on one page/tab.
Install - http://j.mp/dR4MFT
4 - GTalk
No need to install Google Talk or open GMail every time you want to chat with someone. Install this extension and chat is made easy. The best thing is it opens in Chrome and stays there.
Install - http://j.mp/h6Iflt
5 - CricInfo*
Primarily, for Live updates on cricket scores.
Install - http://j.mp/hFA1FQ
*Seeing the current performance of Indian team you might uninstall this soon.
BONUS
Beauty Clock - Very cute girls will show you the current time, which refreshes every minute with a new image.
Install - http://j.mp/i4HnW2
You will not install it for time.. will you? 
The Butterfly Effect – I
William Knox D'Arcy - a millionaire London socialite & one of the principal founders of the oil and petrochemical industry in Persia (Iran).
Shah Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar of Persia - fifth Qajarid Shah of Persia. He assumed exclusive rights to prospect for oil for 60 years in a vast tract of territory including most of Iran.
&
George Bernard Reynolds - geologist
Egg
In 1901 William Knox D'Arcy, negotiated an oil concession with the Shah Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar of Persia. In exchange the Shah received £20,000, an equal amount in shares of D'Arcy's company, and a promise of 16% of future profits.
Caterpillar
D'Arcy hired geologist George Bernard Reynolds to do the prospecting in the Iranian desert.
Conditions were extremely harsh: "small pox raged, bandits and warlords ruled, water was all but unavailable, and temperatures often soared past 50°C".
After several years of prospecting, D'Arcy's fortune dwindled away and he was forced to sell most of his rights to a Glasgow-based syndicate, the Burmah Oil Company. By 1908 having sunk more than £500,000 into their Persian venture and found no oil, D'Arcy and Burmah decided to abandon exploration in Iran.
Chrysalis
In early May 1908 they sent Reynolds a telegram telling him that they had run out of money and ordering him to "cease work, dismiss the staff, dismantle anything worth the cost of transporting to the coast for re-shipment, and come home."
Butterfly
Reynolds delayed following these orders and in a stroke of luck, struck oil shortly after on May 26, 1908. Hence, Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded which later became British Petroleum Company (BP Plc).
P.S. “A single ray of light from a distant star falling upon the eye of a tyrant in bygone times may have altered the course of his life, may have changed the destiny of nations, may have transformed the surface of the globe, so intricate, so inconceivably complex are the processes in Nature."- Nikola Tesla
What After CAT 2010?
| "I have attempted 'x' questions and expect 'y' of them to be right. What percentile can I expect? Do I stand a chance of getting an IIM call? Which other colleges should I apply to?"
These have always been the most frequently asked questions after the CAT. The answers to these questions have always been probabilistic. However, this year, lack of information on how the IIMs plan to calculate percentiles and the absence of valid student performance data for the CAT(s) conducted over twenty days, make the estimation of percentiles and the subsequent choice of B-schools all the more uncertain and difficult. However, we appreciate your need to take a decision on which B-schools you should apply to based on your 'perceived' CAT performance. We would therefore like to help you apply to the right set of B-schools by following the steps given below: Step 1: Calculate your score assuming that each question carries 3 marks with 1 mark deducted for every incorrect response Estimating your CAT percentile based on your attempts and accuracy Based on the inputs received from various test-takers on the first few days of the CAT 2010 test window and statistical analysis of SimCAT data we have arrived at the following percentile-score mapper for the benefit of all students:
Important Note:
Short-listing criteria of IIMs The expected number of CAT takers would be somewhere around 1.75 L and around 7500 students are expected to receive GD-PI calls for the 3000 odd IIM seats. This translates to roughly 4-5 percent of the total test-taking population. Considering that equal competence across sections is emphasised by the IIMs and some weightage is also assigned to academic background and work experience, we expect the IIM cut-offs this year to be lower than that of last year. IIM percentile cut-offs for CAT 2009 (General Category)
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IIM Cut-offs for SC/ST Candidates:
IIM Cut-offs for NC-OBC Candidates:
Short-listing criteria of other top B-schools accepting CAT The probable cut-offs given below are estimated based on the selection criteria of various institutes for last year’s selection procedure (as mentioned in their mandatory disclosure documents) and the estimated percentiles for CAT 2010. For institutes where mandatory disclosure document was unavailable, we have used past year students’ data to estimate the cut-offs. Note that quite a few institutes shortlist on the basis of overall cut-off and do not have sectional cut-offs. The institutes may choose to change their selection criteria at their own discretion.
* Some B-schools may not be particular about a minimum CAT score and look at the overall profile of the candidate before issuing a GD/PI call. Via: IMS INDIA |
Facebook and Video Response
After a long wait - the "Handa Ka Funda" Facebook page has become a reality.
I could have done it long ago but avoided it for the simple reason - what is the value it would generate to the user / liker (new term?). I got the idea to make it really useful from the Old Spice campaign. The idea is pretty simple - there are plenty of students who have doubts with Math, DI / LR, Aptitude problems. Now they can post those doubts on the facebook page and I would solve as many as I can. Avinash has agreed to shoot the video. As a matter of fact these days he would agree to shoot anything - including me dancing to Sheela Ki Jawani.
The first video is ready and it was made in response to an email I got from A.Dasarathan about aptitude problems related to ages.
So here are couple of things you can do to help me out - Like the facebook page & spread the word. And if you have any doubts - don't hesitate to post them. You will soon get a video response for the same.