Business – Page 2 – Krishan Patel

September 3, 2017

On Beingness and Technology

I think about the potential of technology often. Whether it be artificial intelligence or blockchain, we are facing new found possibilities.

The efficiency is stunning, and the certainty is reassuring — and we have the possibility to try to think with the logic of technology — in a way — we can become reductionists: a belief that each piece serves a specific utility and no more — that the sum of parts is not greater than the whole.

Logical algorithms must assume a complete logical breakdown of systems, while humans can account for the subtle. If a mechanic takes a part a car to each of its pieces, and puts it back together, then it will likely drive again. If the best surgeon takes an animal and tries to dissect it, and put it back together, then obviously it will not live. There is a difference.

Human beings that break problems into their individual pieces and logically pieces them together — this is what computers do, not humans.

To not lose ourselves to technology, we must practice and honor that which is human: wisdom, love and compassion.

August 7, 2014

The Don’t Talk About Your Product, Strategy

The Don't Talk About Your Product, Strategy

Here are the rules for this strategy

Don't talk about your product.
Don't talk about the details and specs.
Don't talk about how much better it is than the competition.
[Insert any other standard marketing]

Instead, Create Stories

There are three examples of organizations doing this method extremely well.

**1. Holstee Manifesto: **I love the Holstee Manifesto. It is great and inspires me to think different all the time. So, how has this tiny company been extremely successful: They let others tell their personal stories of inspiration and transformation: My Life.

The stories are personal, moving and most importantly, real.

*2. Lifehacker's "The Way I Work:" *

Lifehacker started this series where they interview interesting folks and ask them questions about they work. These people are entrepreneurs, change makers, and regular individuals sharing their stories of they make their lives more productive and happy. I love hearing their stories, and I keep coming back for more. It is as though I am getting advice for super successful people.

3. Day One's:

I journal in Day One and I love it. I love hearing about how journaling or morning pages has improved peoples lives. Day One knows it creates an instant connection between individuals that journal. They made it personal.

Why does this strategy work?

Feeling Special: If I am a user of your product, and you ask me to share my personal story — I am definitely feeling special.
Contribution: If I am a user of your product, and I am able to contribute to others through the synthesis of my thoughts and experiences. I will feel happy about myself.
Connection: If I am a user of your product, and I share my story. The product is no longer what the conversation is about — it is about my personal story and sharing it with others.

August 7, 2014

My New Motto: Progress, Everyday

My New Moto: Progress, Everyday

I stole this from the folks at iDonethis. I have know about these folks for ages, but have only recently started to use their simple and elegant service.

Here is what happens: Everyday, whenever I choose, they send me an email and ask: What did you do today?

And, I answer the question and add a hashtag. For example:

Finished TPS Report #work
Meditated for 10 minutes #selfgrowth
Spoke with Mom and Dad #family

Or, throughout the day, I jump into the website and enter what I did.

There has been a subtle shift: instead of asking: “What do I need to do next?” I am asking: “What did I do?”

Tony Robbins says change the questions you ask, change your life. This tiny change is creating self-awareness and self-reflection on where I am focusing my attention and my energy.

And, most importantly, it is helping me focus on how far I have come each day, rather than how much further I have to go.