Divider and Ruler
Originally published February 2006
It’s been interesting discovering how companies go about being private firms with “vested interests”. And in this myopic capitalist commerce I have seen an incredible phenomenon.
Almost every company out there is the market leader. It has shown incredible growth in the recent years (if it is that old!). It is the number one in what it does. It’s customers are the most satisfied people on the earth, and come up with great quotes to encapsulate this rapture. The company has revolutionary and innovative products and/or processes. The company has a go-getter, trend-setter attitude, a fun work culture, a remarkable benefits package and great career prospects.
It’s the curse. If the HR management in a company does not already have all the above; then they are trying to get there. And to add to the hogwash, are the surveys. “We are the leading provider of custom assistance services over physical communication lines to the pharmaceutical companies that have a track record of being the leading providers in their respective largest markets”. It’s like the fellows at Bagpiper, who have to grapple with a ridiculous ban on advertising of alcoholic beverages: Ajay Devgan, cow-boy-like; “Khoob jameiga rang, jab mil baitthengey 3 yaar; aap, mai aur Bagpiper… <whisper-afterthought> soda</whisper-afterthought>”.
And here we come to a very important principle in the modern corporate world. Divide and rule. Not very fresh or innovative, but potent. All you have to do, to be a market leader, is to divide appropriately the markets of the world/locality that you operate in (or not). You are the king of the “Sales and Marketing Research and Analytics for Profit Making Pharmaceutical Companies”. Lord!
I don’t know if there is an alternative, if there is a place for honesty and candidness. But I’d like to hope there is.
Current state — Showing Potential.
:D.
Telling myself — for the 6th time in 14 years. It was a bad idea. Go back.