Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
the second becomes the third
i am luurving it
and this is Ash's first ...
and richard's last one.. no more...
and this is Ash's first ...
and richard's last one.. no more...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Our 9 year old bundle of joy ( pardon the melodrama)
Dear Team DDW,
How many times i've told you to stay back and finish this one job off... how many times i've lost my temper on you...how many times i've cancelled your leave for a campaign that finally got postponed anyways... how many times i've said "its code red urgent... Need this ASAP" how many times i've hated myself for calling you in on Sundays.... each time you've humbled me, encouraged me with your smile and a simple" ho jayega" ..so many times you've made me stand with my head held high for a job well done and delivered on time. So many times, you've made me feel part of the DDW family when it's really my duty to do so.
Last year swhished past us... the Murud outing seems like yesterday... since then theres been so many changes, some good, some fantastic, some very very painful. New accounts have come in. New guys have joined in..Some of you had to leave...our first branch offices started off...
but the last few months haven't been easy on any of us...some of the toughest months we've seen.. how did we pull through? Simple. Trust. Faith. Confidence. Not mine. Not Rickys. Not Ash. Not Mel. Yours. You see, when we see you, we see your rock solid faith in DDW., there's no ways we could let you down.. it makes us try harder and harder... The times we falter, you put us straight back on track.
So as we turn 9 today... I thank you . Thank you for DDW. Thank you for letting us enjoy our moments in the spotlight whilst you guys slog backstage. Hats off.
On a more practical note, as promised our usual picnic that happens around 23rd will happen in April... and since you've all been such good kids, vikrams taking you all to GOA :D
For the first time, Ricky, Ash and me didn't raise a toast to our baby at midnight... (all of us working in 3 diff locations on a super urgent project) But hell guys.. lgfad once its done!
ARV
How many times i've told you to stay back and finish this one job off... how many times i've lost my temper on you...how many times i've cancelled your leave for a campaign that finally got postponed anyways... how many times i've said "its code red urgent... Need this ASAP" how many times i've hated myself for calling you in on Sundays.... each time you've humbled me, encouraged me with your smile and a simple" ho jayega" ..so many times you've made me stand with my head held high for a job well done and delivered on time. So many times, you've made me feel part of the DDW family when it's really my duty to do so.
Last year swhished past us... the Murud outing seems like yesterday... since then theres been so many changes, some good, some fantastic, some very very painful. New accounts have come in. New guys have joined in..Some of you had to leave...our first branch offices started off...
but the last few months haven't been easy on any of us...some of the toughest months we've seen.. how did we pull through? Simple. Trust. Faith. Confidence. Not mine. Not Rickys. Not Ash. Not Mel. Yours. You see, when we see you, we see your rock solid faith in DDW., there's no ways we could let you down.. it makes us try harder and harder... The times we falter, you put us straight back on track.
So as we turn 9 today... I thank you . Thank you for DDW. Thank you for letting us enjoy our moments in the spotlight whilst you guys slog backstage. Hats off.
On a more practical note, as promised our usual picnic that happens around 23rd will happen in April... and since you've all been such good kids, vikrams taking you all to GOA :D
For the first time, Ricky, Ash and me didn't raise a toast to our baby at midnight... (all of us working in 3 diff locations on a super urgent project) But hell guys.. lgfad once its done!
ARV
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Main bhi Thirty
And it finally happened...my friends were looking forward to this day more than I was... The day when I would have to stop pulling their leg about being over the hill..err.. over 30 ... I turned 30 ! My friends breathe a little easily now (thats till they cross 40 ;) lol... )
So half my life has like whooshed by( im hoping to kick the bucket at 60) and am happy that not all of it was a complete waste of oxygen. I've been blessed twice over with great families ..was born into a great one...and married into another rocking one.. i've been fortunate to have excellent companions all through my life...I've had a good life so far and looking forward to the rest
Had a wonderfully peaceful "bringing in" of my birthday (now thats a sure shot sign of getting older ) a quiet evening of banter with my dearest friend, Ricky. As the day dawned it promised to be one of the usually busy chaotic days and true enough it was. Juggling meetings, deadlines, calls, pings,e mails, creatives and so on..till I walked in to DDW at noon.
My cabin was COMPLETELY jazzed.. streamers, posters, flowers, gifts, more flowers and my favourite...white roses! Girls thanks for coming in at 9 to do this...(try getting them in at 9 for a job lol ) Speaking of favourites...it seemed as if it were "these are a few of Anita's favourite things" day in DDW
I got loads of white roses.. flowers by the dozens! Every 15 min to be precise. Almost EVERYONE was wearing black :) which well..I kinda obsess over ..Since I love undhiyo, the girls actually arranged for undhiyo for lunch!!! The cake was my favourite flavour... Got cake on my face.. threatened everyone with 4 working weekends if I got cake in my hair..hahahahahah... it does pay to be boss sometimes... I got books for gifts.. and chocolates too...
Sighhh...you guys have scored enough brownie points to last you a year! umm..lets make that a month.. :D
Missed Ivan, Naresh, Mel & Saurabh.. but you guys can always make up later :))
Thanks a million guys! It's sure nice to feel loved ;)
So half my life has like whooshed by( im hoping to kick the bucket at 60) and am happy that not all of it was a complete waste of oxygen. I've been blessed twice over with great families ..was born into a great one...and married into another rocking one.. i've been fortunate to have excellent companions all through my life...I've had a good life so far and looking forward to the rest
Had a wonderfully peaceful "bringing in" of my birthday (now thats a sure shot sign of getting older ) a quiet evening of banter with my dearest friend, Ricky. As the day dawned it promised to be one of the usually busy chaotic days and true enough it was. Juggling meetings, deadlines, calls, pings,e mails, creatives and so on..till I walked in to DDW at noon.
My cabin was COMPLETELY jazzed.. streamers, posters, flowers, gifts, more flowers and my favourite...white roses! Girls thanks for coming in at 9 to do this...(try getting them in at 9 for a job lol ) Speaking of favourites...it seemed as if it were "these are a few of Anita's favourite things" day in DDW
I got loads of white roses.. flowers by the dozens! Every 15 min to be precise. Almost EVERYONE was wearing black :) which well..I kinda obsess over ..Since I love undhiyo, the girls actually arranged for undhiyo for lunch!!! The cake was my favourite flavour... Got cake on my face.. threatened everyone with 4 working weekends if I got cake in my hair..hahahahahah... it does pay to be boss sometimes... I got books for gifts.. and chocolates too...
Sighhh...you guys have scored enough brownie points to last you a year! umm..lets make that a month.. :D
Missed Ivan, Naresh, Mel & Saurabh.. but you guys can always make up later :))
Thanks a million guys! It's sure nice to feel loved ;)
Monday, May 14, 2007
customer service? customer harassment?
How much crap can you take?
At the restaurant, when the waiter botches up an order.
At the ticket counter, when they shut down the counter for "lunch" half an hour before lunch time.
When the new branded shirt you bought, last week, shrinks
When the new DVD player you bought, comes without a remote.
When you paid for 2 burgers and realised theres only one when you get back home.
When was the last time you were cheesed of with a (usually very well established) company, for lousy service? This is after they spend millions of monies in advertising trying to lure you and ( get you to emotionally aspire to use their brand.. right!!!) you'd think they would want to make sure you stay happy and satisfied.. But oh no...
Many of these companies are so bad (mobile phone companies top this list) that at one point you really start wondering if its better to do without whaterver it is that u wanted from them in the first palce
One company in particular offers an experience absolutely contrary to its brand name. Forget "relying" on them, its a wonder if you can get the right information out of their help desk the first few times you call them. Their office staff says one thing, the call centre another..the technician yet another.. Pheww..
But to be fair to them...they are polite...lost yes...but well mannered.
Nothing beats this incident which happened to a close friend of mine.
........................................................................
Airtel delhi offered a scheme by which you get a return air ticket to a destination of your choice, on the purchase of a sim card. Since my friend required to fly down to mumbai often, she decided to go in for this over the other operators.
After she subscribed, on enquiring about the air tickets, she was told that she would have to show 3 months of bills for them to release the tickets. Though she wan't informed about it at the time of purchase, she realised it was a fair argument as you would have guys signing up for a connection and then disconnecting after gettng the tickets. So alls fair..
3 months up, bills in hand, she contacts the offices , is directed to another branch..from there to the branch she got the sim from..then to the head office.. (and you thought government offices were bad, think again)..to no avail!
now what we are talking about here are Air tickets.. so eventually..though very pissed at a promise not delivered, my friend did what most of us do.. she gave up for a bit.. a month down the line..she again called up.. she was informed that the scheme was closed! When she told them that shes been following up, she was told " Sorry for the trouble you've gone through ma'm but theres nothing i can do"
think that's bad ..read on.
One month down the line, she had to relocate to Bombay. Still pissed at airtel, she moved without disconnecting the line.
Once she reached bombay, she begain getting calls from airtel on the charges she has to pay as she didnt disconnect the line. She informed them that, she would definitely pay up, but only after someone has addressed the issue of the airtickets or replied to her queries in writing. She also reminded them that she has never defaulted before, always paid her usually huge bills, well before the due date.
She also mailed the same to the airtel management.
The calls didnt stop. They increased. And worse, they started coming from the recovery agents. These uncouth guys actually started harassing her, abusing her in filthy language!!! Be***ot etc... Bloody unacceptable.
When she stopped taking those calls, they then go one step further. They actually place calls to her friends ( information from the bills am sure) posing as guys from ICICI bank delhi etc.. saying that theres an important piece of information to be given to her, pls give us her mumbai no.
So now, she starts getting calls on her mumbai no. They have kinda stopped after she filed a case against them.. but the point is how bloody disgusting can you get?
How much crap can you take, really?
At the restaurant, when the waiter botches up an order.
At the ticket counter, when they shut down the counter for "lunch" half an hour before lunch time.
When the new branded shirt you bought, last week, shrinks
When the new DVD player you bought, comes without a remote.
When you paid for 2 burgers and realised theres only one when you get back home.
When was the last time you were cheesed of with a (usually very well established) company, for lousy service? This is after they spend millions of monies in advertising trying to lure you and ( get you to emotionally aspire to use their brand.. right!!!) you'd think they would want to make sure you stay happy and satisfied.. But oh no...
Many of these companies are so bad (mobile phone companies top this list) that at one point you really start wondering if its better to do without whaterver it is that u wanted from them in the first palce
One company in particular offers an experience absolutely contrary to its brand name. Forget "relying" on them, its a wonder if you can get the right information out of their help desk the first few times you call them. Their office staff says one thing, the call centre another..the technician yet another.. Pheww..
But to be fair to them...they are polite...lost yes...but well mannered.
Nothing beats this incident which happened to a close friend of mine.
........................................................................
Airtel delhi offered a scheme by which you get a return air ticket to a destination of your choice, on the purchase of a sim card. Since my friend required to fly down to mumbai often, she decided to go in for this over the other operators.
After she subscribed, on enquiring about the air tickets, she was told that she would have to show 3 months of bills for them to release the tickets. Though she wan't informed about it at the time of purchase, she realised it was a fair argument as you would have guys signing up for a connection and then disconnecting after gettng the tickets. So alls fair..
3 months up, bills in hand, she contacts the offices , is directed to another branch..from there to the branch she got the sim from..then to the head office.. (and you thought government offices were bad, think again)..to no avail!
now what we are talking about here are Air tickets.. so eventually..though very pissed at a promise not delivered, my friend did what most of us do.. she gave up for a bit.. a month down the line..she again called up.. she was informed that the scheme was closed! When she told them that shes been following up, she was told " Sorry for the trouble you've gone through ma'm but theres nothing i can do"
think that's bad ..read on.
One month down the line, she had to relocate to Bombay. Still pissed at airtel, she moved without disconnecting the line.
Once she reached bombay, she begain getting calls from airtel on the charges she has to pay as she didnt disconnect the line. She informed them that, she would definitely pay up, but only after someone has addressed the issue of the airtickets or replied to her queries in writing. She also reminded them that she has never defaulted before, always paid her usually huge bills, well before the due date.
She also mailed the same to the airtel management.
The calls didnt stop. They increased. And worse, they started coming from the recovery agents. These uncouth guys actually started harassing her, abusing her in filthy language!!! Be***ot etc... Bloody unacceptable.
When she stopped taking those calls, they then go one step further. They actually place calls to her friends ( information from the bills am sure) posing as guys from ICICI bank delhi etc.. saying that theres an important piece of information to be given to her, pls give us her mumbai no.
So now, she starts getting calls on her mumbai no. They have kinda stopped after she filed a case against them.. but the point is how bloody disgusting can you get?
How much crap can you take, really?
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
When technology revolts..
Its a fine monday morning ( as much as monday mornings can be) My usually reliable hand phone, an xda atom, suddenly goes into a coma.. so gave it the usual dose of charging , thinking that i probably hadnt charged it properly. An hour passes... two.. but looks like the little baby is really in some deep slumber. So begins a day , nay, a week,of chaos.
Later that day, we lose electricity in our office for half hour...and out goes the internet connection as well.. so i whip out my trustworthy Reliance Net-connect card and... hola Mr. Murphy. It's a no-go!
Lights come back..not the internet. Slowly, the panic begins to set in. mail needs to
go... banner has to go live.. client is screaming.. thinks i am bluffing (all clients do nai?) What saved that day was ..MTNL dial up... we all go back to the basics na?
Net comes back. And as usual many of my mails dont reach my client. So its a case of resending and resending and confirming whether they got da mails.. ( Clients still think im bluffing)
I reach home hoping to finish off some work...get down to it ... realize i need a file from the office...Then the panic really hits. I cant call as i dont have a phone..(we dont have a landline) I cant ping anyone as i cant connect.
So am technologically stranded on an island.
The panic continues into tuesday where i am desperately trying to get things right... but hey we are talking bt Murphy here, right..
And for my net connect card ...getting thru to reliance customer care is a horror story in itself... those blokes there really have no clue on what products their company offers. Its always the same story..After countless calls by ruthi, finally the usb net connect card finds it way to the service centre.. where am told, it will take 15 days to check it out. 15 #&*%ing DAYS!!!!
By the end of thursday that im actually beginning to enjoy life without a cellphone.
And then ofcourse, Richard to the rescue .. gets me a "temp' Sony ericsson to use for now.. Sigh...time to start limping back into the connected world.
Later that day, we lose electricity in our office for half hour...and out goes the internet connection as well.. so i whip out my trustworthy Reliance Net-connect card and... hola Mr. Murphy. It's a no-go!
Lights come back..not the internet. Slowly, the panic begins to set in. mail needs to
go... banner has to go live.. client is screaming.. thinks i am bluffing (all clients do nai?) What saved that day was ..MTNL dial up... we all go back to the basics na?
Net comes back. And as usual many of my mails dont reach my client. So its a case of resending and resending and confirming whether they got da mails.. ( Clients still think im bluffing)
I reach home hoping to finish off some work...get down to it ... realize i need a file from the office...Then the panic really hits. I cant call as i dont have a phone..(we dont have a landline) I cant ping anyone as i cant connect.
So am technologically stranded on an island.
The panic continues into tuesday where i am desperately trying to get things right... but hey we are talking bt Murphy here, right..
And for my net connect card ...getting thru to reliance customer care is a horror story in itself... those blokes there really have no clue on what products their company offers. Its always the same story..After countless calls by ruthi, finally the usb net connect card finds it way to the service centre.. where am told, it will take 15 days to check it out. 15 #&*%ing DAYS!!!!
By the end of thursday that im actually beginning to enjoy life without a cellphone.
And then ofcourse, Richard to the rescue .. gets me a "temp' Sony ericsson to use for now.. Sigh...time to start limping back into the connected world.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Purple no more?
Friday:
Microsoft wants Yahoo! so that it can try and squash google. No one wants to comment. Goog says its not going to affect the way people search so we arent giving a damn. Market says yaaayy oh wow and Y! stock prices soar.
read the real thing here http://www.ciol.com/content/news/mgas/2007/107050501.asp
Sat:
oh no.. nothing of that sort is happening... the courtship is off... what happens to Y! stock.. we'll see
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003694286_microsoft05.html
ho hum.. but i am kinda glad.. you see.. I bleed purple. Really.
A love affair that started the day i logged on to the big bad world of internet through VSNL ( remember that one?. The first site i went to was of course, Hotmail...u know.. sabeer bhatia et al...With all the excitement of a newbie netizen..i did what everyone else was doing.. i went to yahoo! The funky red logo with the cure graphics on its masthead... the oh so adorable emoticons on the Y! msgr.. i was hooked and how..
Years n years later, imagine my reaction when I get a call asking whether I would be interested in doing JUST ONE ad for...Yahoo! India... Interested? YES YES YES a MILLION TIMES YES... Next call was to Ash, who was out gallavanting somewhere during office hours .. told him to come back to office..we had two days to work out some ads for a new client.. After the usual copy writer-ish response : why do all clients wake up on the weekend... 2 days is too less.. not fair.. blah blah blah.. (hes going to kill me for this) he calmed down enough to ask me, 'so who's this new client anyways'
and then when i told him... there was a 3 min long silence at the other end of the phone. PRICELESS.
Since then we've been living, breathing and sleeping Yahoo!... its products... the guidelines... the people...There's nothing more inspiring than clients who are crazily in love with their brand.
Its been over 4 years to that day...the industry has turned around... people have moved.. things have changed...
But whatever (.....) happens,i think i will always remain a little purple.
Microsoft wants Yahoo! so that it can try and squash google. No one wants to comment. Goog says its not going to affect the way people search so we arent giving a damn. Market says yaaayy oh wow and Y! stock prices soar.
read the real thing here http://www.ciol.com/content/news/mgas/2007/107050501.asp
Sat:
oh no.. nothing of that sort is happening... the courtship is off... what happens to Y! stock.. we'll see
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003694286_microsoft05.html
ho hum.. but i am kinda glad.. you see.. I bleed purple. Really.
A love affair that started the day i logged on to the big bad world of internet through VSNL ( remember that one?. The first site i went to was of course, Hotmail...u know.. sabeer bhatia et al...With all the excitement of a newbie netizen..i did what everyone else was doing.. i went to yahoo! The funky red logo with the cure graphics on its masthead... the oh so adorable emoticons on the Y! msgr.. i was hooked and how..
Years n years later, imagine my reaction when I get a call asking whether I would be interested in doing JUST ONE ad for...Yahoo! India... Interested? YES YES YES a MILLION TIMES YES... Next call was to Ash, who was out gallavanting somewhere during office hours .. told him to come back to office..we had two days to work out some ads for a new client.. After the usual copy writer-ish response : why do all clients wake up on the weekend... 2 days is too less.. not fair.. blah blah blah.. (hes going to kill me for this) he calmed down enough to ask me, 'so who's this new client anyways'
and then when i told him... there was a 3 min long silence at the other end of the phone. PRICELESS.
Since then we've been living, breathing and sleeping Yahoo!... its products... the guidelines... the people...There's nothing more inspiring than clients who are crazily in love with their brand.
Its been over 4 years to that day...the industry has turned around... people have moved.. things have changed...
But whatever (.....) happens,i think i will always remain a little purple.
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