Storm the Norm

Business plans have always been created for Growth. We all know that the single biggest lynchpin of progress—whether after crises or in regular times, whether in the world at large or in the world of business—is the pursuit of growth. Right now, obviously we’re seeing the opposite of growth and this is the right time to pause & reflect on our norm for this episode. Is the relentless pursuit of growth, the only way for business to progress? Can we create a business plan for DE-GROWTH & yet advance? Listen in and share your views

Everywhere around us, the world is in turmoil. And perhaps the answer to still this turmoil is not at a global or even at a collective level, but at an individual level. What does it take to succeed in a disruptive world? We will explore it at an individual level and not just at a business level. The norm—and it seems so true intuitively as well as in lived experiences—is this: Success is the result of constant activity, not quiet meditation. Listen to Anisha Motwani and Narayan Devanathan storm the norm with Anil Chandwani, a globally renowned meditation mentor, clinical hypnotherapist and serial entrepreneur in this week's Storm The Norm

How do you define form and function? Are they synonymous with style and substance? Do they change based on individual characteristics and contexts (of people and businesses)? Do they vary based on mediums of expression? Do they change over time? Is form only about expression? Is function only about utility? In this episode of Storm The Norm, Anisha Motwani and Narayan Devanathan continue to dissect, analyse and interpret existing norms to decipher what's the new norm!

This norm is going to sound very basic, very simplistic even, but there’s a very profound truth underneath—one that is the unquestioned norm, or at least, has been so far. We are talking about the ownership of cars. Especially in a country like India, it’s both the norm and the aspiration, isn’t it? It’s why the car industry is a bellwether for the economy itself. It’s why a slowdown in car sales has economists and the public alarmed. But there’s something a lot more personal in owning a car. It’s an aspiration, identity and transportation all rolled into one. Everyone who can dream of owning a car. In that simple statement, though, we see two norms, not just one. The idea of ownership—having something in your permanent possession, and the specific idea of owning a car. That’s never going to change, or is it?

Think about it. Business & Politics have kind of been on opposite sides on many counts. • Politics is right-brained/ emotional & business is left-brained and factual. • Politics is raw and rough. Business is structured and organized. • Politics is ideology-based & business is ideology-agnostic. But increasingly, business and politics can’t seem to stay away from each other. Very visible issues today impact how businesses run, how they present themselves to the world. What we are seeing now is (a) it’s easier for the public to see where the two are mixing, and (b) that visibility is making it apparent that businesses can longer get away from being shallow in living up to the purpose.

I am sure there was a lot to absorb from what Ashish Bhasin said about ‘How do you become a successful entrepreneurial professional?’ But, Ashish is a bit of an exception. What’s a little rarer are successful professional CEOs who make entrepreneurs. Not long-standing corporate leaders who are entrepreneurial in a monolithic organization but those who venture out of successful corporates to become entrepreneurs. Falguni Nayar who founded Nykaa after a successful career as a banker is a great example of that. Sameer Bhatia, ex-Citibank who founded Equifax credit bureau in India is another. Here are the Five # STN Fundas to give to our audience on what stars to align for this?

There are those of us who, even as kids, would see a puddle and jump into it. Or see a red button and press it to see what would happen. And then there are those of us who wait to see what happens when that other kid presses the red button and then decide what's the prudent thing to do & that's the defining trait that continues to separate grown-ups and whether they become professionals or entrepreneurs.

Powerful Innovation is rarely a random idea that emanates from a casual brainstorming session or a bright spark in the middle of the night. If you don't understand the difference between ideas and innovation, it is unlikely that your idea will end up with a transformative innovation aimed at solving a real problem. Just follow the 5 #STN Fundas to put your IDEA through the INNOVATION FILTER and avoid making a mistake..because failed initiatives are expensive at several levels of business.