Tough but Personal!

Bye Bye 2020

Thanks for hanging out through what would be remembered as a “tough year” ! Tough but Personal! Though we have been apart for most part of 2020, but it seems that we have grown closer. I had a wonderful time interacting with you all over the past 45 weeks in 2020 and look forward to many more in 2021 & beyond.
You may have to click on the hyperlinks in this newsletter to read more detailed views on various topics.

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DTW

During the Week, I read more of 2020 flashbacks and was fascinated by an overwhelming number of positive memories even when it has been an overwhelmingly difficult year for almost all of us. I have had friends and family who have seen tragedy unfolding because of Covid19 and many others who have been seriously ill but fortunately recovered. “How are you doing today” has taken a whole new meaning in 2020.

When I reflect on my journey with you on Running Platform Marketing Life, I can see five distinct themes in our discussions as captured in the below graphic. You may have to click on the hyperlinks in this newsletter to read more detailed views on various topics.

I have written extensively on platform businesses especially Reliance Jio (Potential and Execution), Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, Zomato etc among others. These pieces have focussed on the power of these businesses in shaping our behaviour especially e-commerce and social media. Of course, AAFG (Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google) appear in multiple conversations as they dominate our lives in all dimensions.

If you would like to gain an initial understanding of role of platforms in different industries, I would recommend that you go through the pieces on Fashion, Food (part 1 and part 2), Music, Money (part 1 and part 2 ), News Media, Travel, Health, Sports etc. All these industries have been irreversibly impacted by platforms and whether you work or intend to work in these sectors, these conversations would benefit from your comments.

Platforms have affected all the segments of society and few writings have focussed on specific demographics like Children, Seniors, Teenagers, Blue Collar Workers, Migrants and Women. The focus of these have been on platforms catering to and influencing the demand/supply for these specific demographics.

Platforms have had an extraordinary impact on structures and roles within society. Though we have been spending lot of time on screen and it seems that we have very impersonal interactions with colleagues and/or work relationships , we might be more aware of their family circumstances. I have ,on more than couple of occasions , interacted with family members (even pets) of my colleagues and students during pandemic. This has created a human touch to the virtual life we have led during the lockdown and beyond. I wrote about Love, Resilience , Relationships and FOMO.

Platforms have been facing lot of criticism for creating problems in their pursuit of scale and impact. There have been multiple calls for regulating them but it has so far seemed elusive goal. Platform monopolies across sectors have amassed tremendous power - economic and market. They have become too big and have been accused of using this scale to suppress competition, squeeze suppliers and possibly over charge customers. They have created negative network externalities costing billions of dollars in hidden cost to society.

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OTW

Over the Weekend, I watched KIEREN D’SOUZA in conversation with Samuel “Sam”Sudhakar in Hyderabad Runners’ Webinar series “Beyond the Track!

Kieren is a passionate mountaineer, Indian ultramarathon runner and endurance
athlete. He became the first Indian to qualify for and finish the Spartathlon, a 246 kilometre footrace from Athens to Sparta, in 33 hrs straight! While proposing vote of thanks during the webinar, Aru Bisht (my daughter) spoke about Kieren’s dedication to his passion when he chose to move away from the clutter of the city life and pursue his passion for ultra-running in the Manali. Of course, this has turned to be an advantage for him during multiple lockdowns in current pandemic when he could continue his practice runs uninterrupted and even managed to finish a gruelling 5,289-metre trail run on Friendship Peak in the Pir Panjal mountain range in Himachal Pradesh. While most climbers take around six days to scale 'Friendship Peak', Kieren did it in just under 12 hours.In one of his blog post , he talks about gratitude for people around him for creating wonderful memories and milestone- “I might have run the distance on my own for most of the way, but putting all this together and eventually the film piece – you’ll see is nothing but a massive team effort.”

As 2020 draws to an end, let us support each other and glow in each others’ achievement.

This is a new dimension
This is a level where we’re losing track of time
I’m holding nothing against it, except you and I

Afterglow-Ed Sheeran(2020)

Wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2021.

I Love You.

Shailendra