The You of Yesterday Won’t Be the You of Tomorrow—How Does Your Situation Reflect That?"

Dear Friends,

Samsung's remarkable journey began in 1938 as a grocery trading business in Daegu, South Korea, founded by Lee Byung-Chull. Starting with simple products like noodles, the company expanded to textiles and electronics in 1969, and later to heavy industries and semiconductors (yourstory.com). Now, I don’t need to tell you what Samsung is. In 2023, Samsung shipped 226.6 million smartphones worldwide, accounting for 19.4% of the total smartphone shipments (is.com).

Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA in 1943 at the age of 17, selling household goods like pens, wallets, and picture frames (ikea.com). By 2023, the company generated nearly 48 billion euros in global revenue by designing, manufacturing, and selling furniture.

LG (Lucky Chemical Co., Ltd.), established in 1947 by In-hwoi Koo, was initially named "Lucky" (sounding like "Lak Hui," meaning "giving joy to all") after the success of "Lucky Cream," Korea's first makeup cream (lg.com). Today, LG is known for its home appliances, TV/Audio/Video products, air solutions, computing, and more!

Ray-Ban symbolizes pride and affluence. However, did you know that Leonardo Del Vecchio, an Italian billionaire and founder of Luxottica—the world’s largest eyewear company owning brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley—grew up in an orphanage and faced a childhood marked by poverty?

Napoleon Bonaparte rose from modest origins to become a dominant military and political figure in Europe as the Emperor of France. His defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 led to his exile on the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

Mussolini, who rose from humble beginnings to lead Italy as its fascist dictator, was captured and executed during World War II while attempting to flee to Switzerland in April 1945 (realclearhistory.com).

People who believe in the philosophy of Karma may resonate with what Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 22: "As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one." Yet, in our short time on Earth, we try to deceive, dominate, and cheat. Nothing is permanent.

A building may be demolished within three generations, an expensive jewel may disappear within two generations, and a car may be dismantled in one generation. Within four generations, even our kin may not remember our names. Yet, for family's sake, we work hard, strive, and accumulate wealth!

This is not to say one should be irresponsible or neglect family. Instead, today, "Responsible Manufacturing" has become a vital concept in response to the carbon emission crisis.

Similarly, a responsible life is essential but should be approached with responsible detachment. Don’t own, but don’t disown too!

Ravi Saripalle

How Couples Met in the US Over a Period! Does this Scenario Reflect India as Well? What Are the Learnings and Messages for You?

Dear Friends,

Stanford University and Statista published an interesting article on how couples have met over the years. These samples are from the US or Western society, but there are some lessons for Indian society as well. In the 1930s, meeting points were as follows: Family 22%, School 22%, Friends 18%, Neighbours 11%, Church 10%, College 3%, and so on. After 50 years (1980), Friends took the lead with 26%, while Family dropped to 14%, Bar/Restaurant 14%, Coworkers 14%, School 10%, and Church decreased to 5%. Exactly 30 years later (2010), Friends remained at 24%, Online interactions increased to 21%, Family decreased to 8%, College 6%, and Church 4%. As of 2024, Online connections have surged to 60%, Friends 13%, Coworkers 8%, Bar/Restaurant 4%, Family 4%, School 3%, Church 2%, Neighbours 1%, and College 0.7%.

This trend may be intriguing to some but concerning to many. Every social scientist should take note. In 2000, Online was at its lowest at 4%, while the Church was second-lowest at 5%. By 2024, Online has become the top method, while the Church remains in the lower bracket. These trends challenge traditional family systems, friendships, schools, colleges, churches, and restaurants! The rapid growth of online interactions is astonishing.

The National Library of Medicine published an article (PMID: 30135799) on online intimacy and well-being in the digital age. The research is still inconclusive. While online intimacy is acknowledged, its impact on well-being remains underexplored.

Though this data is based on Western contexts, similar trends might be emerging in India, especially with the rise of online matrimonial platforms. Surprisingly, the role of family, friends, temples, and shared philosophies is diminishing. Ideally, these factors help build strong and often lasting connections. While not infallible, they have stood the test of time in our cultural system.

While technology provides new opportunities for connection, maintaining strong community and family ties remains crucial. Social institutions, including families, religious groups, and educational institutions, may need to adapt to support healthy relationship formation in the digital age. This kind of education is needed now more than ever.

How can families help? It is a collective responsibility to nurture relationships. How can religious institutions help? Faith provides support, offering detachment and mental comfort when relationships become strained. The concept of Karma—the principle of cause and effect, where a person's actions (the cause) influence their future (the effect)—is a belief shared by all schools of Indian philosophy. Institutions should focus on teaching these principles even more than modern education.

It’s important to recognize that no relationship can be perfect—this is not practical. If a relationship is based on wealth, status, beauty, or health, it becomes more complicated as all four are temporary and will fade over time. However, when a relationship is built on shared philosophy, family connections, or strong principles and values, even when strained, it is less likely to impact the individuals negatively. Karma theory provides a foundation for resilience.

Virtual bonds may spark the flame, but deeper roots outshine the game!

Views are personal

Ravi Saripalle

Brilliance vs. Reliability: Which is More Important in the Contemporary World?

Dear Friends,

 

Recently, the famous Hindi actor Sunil Shetty shared a post reflecting on the value of reliability over raw talent or brilliance, drawing from his experiences in the film industry and the business world.

 

Shetty provided personal examples of long-standing relationships with team members who have been with him for over 30 years: Parshu, who manages his personal affairs; Kiran Dada, his makeup artist; Ashok, who handles his accounts and taxes; Kanta, who runs operations in his offices; and Muchhad, his former driver who now looks after his farmhouse.

 

In today’s world, brilliance is often rewarded, but the quiet power of consistently showing up and delivering is underrated. This is reflected in many areas. Forbes published an article on “What kind of characteristics, what kind of personal qualities, in the aggregate, are most valuable?” The answer is reliability over brilliance. Brilliant, difficult employees often consume a lot of management time. In a twist on the old "80-20 rule" (where 80% of your business is said to come from 20% of your customers), the author found that they spent 80% of their time on 20% of their employees—and they weren’t the calm, collaborative, easy-going, reliable ones.

 

However, today, this notion is slowly fading. Of course, brilliance is needed to some extent in every organization. However, it should be utilized according to need. Thanks to technology, brilliance can be acquired as a service. Organizations can buy that service, but they need a reliable team to sustain it. Hence, reliability becomes more important.

This issue extends beyond organizations—it has also crept into family systems. Parents appreciate their children’s brilliance while they pursue degrees, but it often loses value afterward. Today, in the context of marriage, if a boy or girl is reliable, this quality is often overlooked. Brilliance takes precedence in selecting a bride or groom, yet this model has proven to fail over time.

 

Rahul Dravid is known as “Mr. Dependable” in Indian cricket. In the 2004 India vs. Pakistan Test Match, Rahul Dravid played a 270-ball inning over almost 12 hours. Can you imagine playing for 12 hours straight? In the history of Test matches, no Indian batsman had ever played an inning that long. He is known as the "Wall" of cricket. For most of his career, Dravid was considered to be in Sachin’s shadow. However, he proved himself as a true gentleman and a complete test cricketer. This is the power of reliability.

 

Consider these scenarios:

 

• Would you buy a car that can reach 150 km per hour but whose engine fails frequently, or one that goes 50 km per hour but never fails?

 

• Would you invest in an asset that offers a 40% return but might plunge into negative territory, or one that offers a consistent 6% return over the long term?

 

• Would you take a job with the highest package, but with the risk of being laid off anytime, or one with a lower package but long-term stability?

 

• Would you board a train that is always on time, or a flight with unpredictable arrival times?

 

Today’s society is divided by these questions. One generation prioritizes risk over reward.

 

"Facts from paper are not the same as facts from people. The reliability of the people giving you the facts is as important as the facts themselves." – Harold Geneen.

 

What is your priority? Brilliance or reliability?

 

Ravi Saripalle

Decoding Stress! The struggle between Ambition and Anxiety! Embracing Ubuntu!

Dear Friends,

One of my acquaintances is preparing for a postgraduate medical seat, and it's clear that the journey is becoming more stressful. While getting an MBBS seat today is relatively easier than 20 years ago, pursuing a postgraduate degree and sustaining a career as a doctor is increasingly stressful. According to the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students 2024, released by the NMC, an alarming 27.8% of undergraduate and 15.3% of postgraduate medical students have voluntarily reported being diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Additionally, 84% of PG medical students experience moderate to very high-stress levels, and 64% say that the workload negatively impacts their mental health (The Hindu, August 16, 2024).

There are various reasons for this stress. Financial strain is a significant factor, and many students also fear failure. These findings highlight the immense academic pressure medical students face.

By the time most students complete their MBBS, they are around 22-23 years old, and many spend an additional 2-3 years preparing for a PG seat. The success rate is low, with only 5 out of every 100 MBBS doctors securing a PG seat. By the time they complete their postgraduate studies, they are often 27-28 years old, followed by years of searching for job opportunities, getting married, and settling down, which can take another 3-4 years. This entire process places immense pressure on them.

Unless a child is truly passionate about becoming a doctor, parents should avoid pressuring them into taking up BiPC. One parent mentioned that their son joined BiPC simply because he feared math. However, parents should realize that every career path has its challenges. There is no perfect path unless career planning is done using the Heads-Smart, Heart-Smart, Hands-Smart, or Heels-Smart framework (http://www.linkedin.com/.../ravisaripalle_career.../).

As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, it's important to note that WHO estimates 15% of working-age adults suffer from a mental disorder at any given time. Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year, largely due to lost productivity.

If someone claims they have never experienced depression or anxiety, they are likely fooling themselves. We all go through difficult times—some during education, others during marriage, while raising children, managing jobs, dealing with finances, or facing health challenges. Prolonged exposure to these stresses can lead to mental health disorders.

Recently, a famous cricketer took an extreme step after battling severe depression and anxiety for two years. He was in his early fifties. Growth isn’t always possible at every moment in life, and though we all understand this, we often act differently. It’s crucial to leverage our skills and talents, but going against our natural abilities can lead to significant stress.

I recently came across this thought-provoking message on LinkedIn: “An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe. He placed a fruit basket near a tree and told them that whoever reached it first would win the sweet fruits. When he gave the signal to run, the children held hands and ran together. They sat down and shared the treats. When asked why they did this when one could have won all the fruits, they replied, 'Ubuntu. How can one of us be happy if all the others are sad?' In their culture, Ubuntu means: 'I am because we are.' This tribe has preserved the secret of happiness that many so-called 'civilized' societies have lost."

Let us practice Ubuntu.

Ravi Saripalle

Mindset = Mindset + Skillset! What is this Equation? How does it Impact the Future Job Market in the Era of AI?

Dear Friends

Imagine you're at a grocery store and want to count how much you've spent as you add items to your cart.

Start with zero: You haven’t picked anything up at the beginning yet, so your total is zero rupees. Now, each time you pick an item and put it in your cart, you look at its price and add it to your total. Repeat until you're done shopping

In computer programming terms, this is exactly what happens in a loop:
• Start with sum = 0; → Begin with a total of zero, like starting with an empty cart.
• While there are more items (or a condition is met), → You keep adding prices as long as there are more items or conditions to meet.
• Sum = sum + item price; → Just like you add the price of each item to your total spending, the program keeps adding a value to a running total.

Ultimately, you have the total amount you’ve spent, just like the sum of numbers in a computer program.

To date, this programming concept is aptly fit to the following equation. 

• Step 1: Mindset=0  Begin your mindset with total unlearn
• Step 2: While more skills are needed (or a condition is met), → You keep adding skills to your resume.
• Step 3: Mindset = Mindset + Skillset.

Ultimately, it gives the total skills you’ve learned, just like the sum of numbers in a computer program.

But this equation is trembling! 

Before typewriters were invented, we used to have document writers at property registration offices. They used to have 2 skills in hand. They were good at handwriting. They had a property domain knowledge. After typewriters, this skill is divided between two people—property domain specialist and typewriter. Typewriter skill is measured based on number of words per minute. Handwriting skill is replaced. Once computers came to market, typewriters became computer operators. Otherwise, jobs would remain at two- property expert and computer operator.

Recently, Arvind Sanjeev, an award-winning designer and artist, Creative Technologist Co-founder & CTO - http://Lumen.world, Trained as an electronics engineer from Kerala and, Master's degree in interaction Design from Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, developed Ghostwriter! He took a vintage typewriter and converted it to an AI-powered typewriter. He powered a vintage typewriter with a GPT-3 language model from Open AI. He repaired the typewriter - 2 hardware units were installed –Raspberry Pi (minicomputer), which talks to the ChatGPT, and Arduino (microcontroller), which simulates the key presses. Now, ChatGPT or any other micromodel has taken over the job of a property expert. The computer operator job is done using Arduino. 

What happened to the original equation Mindset = Mindset + Skillset? It translated to Mindset = Mindset + AI. 

Let us draw a few more equations in the context of AI progression. 

The following are still in the early stages, but eventually, they might shape out in this direction. 
• Oncologist = Oncologist + C2i Genomics' Cancer Detection Platform

• Ophthalmologist= Ophthalmologist + AI detection of Glaucoma, Cataracts

• Police = Police + AI Algorithm to regenerate the images of lost children 

• Programmer= Programmer + OpenAI o1 model (Ranks 89th percentile on competitive programming questions (Codeforces); Places among the top 500 students in the US in a qualifier for the USA Math Olympiad; exceeds human PhD-level accuracy on a benchmark of physics, biology, and chemistry problems (GPQA))

• English Teacher= English Teacher + Skill2030.com (AI Powered English Avatar)

• Accountant= Accountant+ Silverfin Assistant (AI-Enhanced Accounting)

 • Data scientist = Data scientist+ Pyramid Analytics (Gen BI Model)

Slowly, skill is getting replaced with AI. Mindset is like Mahout’s skill (one who tames the elephant). AI is an elephant! 

The message: Develop a Growth mindset and drop our Fixed mindset. You cannot beat AI in skill, but you can tame AI for your own purposes! Learn that art

Ravi Saripalle

Tubeless Plug Kits were Invented for Tubeless Punctures! What’s the Solution for Blood Vessel Punctures?

Dear Friends,

A few months ago, I experienced a flat tire three times in one month! It was unusual, but it happened. Since I live in the city, I managed it easily with the help of a tire technician. However, it’s not a simple issue.

A tire puncture occurs every seven seconds in the United States, resulting in roughly 220 million flat tires yearly (bankrate.com). Remember, this is the number despite sophisticated roads! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find data from an Indian or global perspective.

However, I recall reading an article on November 18, 2023, titled "How Two Punctured Tires Brought Bengaluru's Busiest Area to a Halt" (ET). Mahadevapura Outer Ring Road (ORR) came to a grinding halt for almost four hours. Now you can imagine how each puncture can cause havoc in our lives!

Thankfully, tubeless plug kits have come to the rescue many times. They offer a quick and easy method for fixing tubeless punctures. A tubeless plug kit is a piece of rubberized cord that you insert into the tire cut. The plug fills the hole, allowing the latex sealant to do its job and seal the puncture.

So, if we have tubeless plug kits for tire puncture, what is the solution for a cut blood vessel? How do we manage traumatic wounds, severe injuries, gunshot wounds, and stab wounds? How do we stop and control severe blood loss?

It’s estimated that around 15 lakh people worldwide die from hemorrhage (bleeding from a damaged blood vessel) every year (forbes.com). Is there a kit like the "tubeless plug kit" for this? Not yet, but something is coming soon!

Introducing Traumagel! The first gel-based therapy designed to prevent life-threatening bleeding. Traumagel is an algae-derived gel that comes in pre-filled syringes and is applied to traumatic wounds and severe injuries. Its effects are almost instantaneous. Once inserted, it helps the patient form their own blood clots to stop the bleeding. The best part? It doesn’t require direct contact with the wound!

We must appreciate Joe Landolina (CEO and Co-Founder of Cresilon, Inc. | Forbes 30 Under 30) and Isaac Miller for this extraordinary invention, along with the necessary FDA approvals. Joe earned his BS and MS in Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering from NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Kudos to Joe, Isaac, and the entire Cresilon team!

Can we imagine a similar invention, like Bone Plug Kits, used for bone fractures? This is both a challenge and an opportunity for Joe and the biomedical fraternity.

Note: Views are personal

Best,
Ravi Saripalle

Career Switching: A Blend of Art, Science, and Engineering

Dear Friends,

Recently, I read an article that Archana Kamath, an Indian table tennis player, is stepping away from elite sports to pursue a Master's in Public Policy at the University of Michigan (TOI, Aug 22, 2024). She won the gold medal in women's singles at the 2023 National Games of India and was part of the Indian table tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Hailing from a family of doctors (olympics.com), she began playing at the age of 9.

It’s easy to read, relish, and comment on this switch, but from an individual’s perspective, it’s not so simple. At 9, providing such an opportunity to a child is not an easy choice for an academically focused family. Her parents deserve recognition. Many parents today would rather have their children prepare for IIT or NEET at that age. Taking someone from that point to the Olympic level requires tremendous effort from both the parents and the individual, who would undergo significant social, psychological, and societal pressure. When an individual reaches the highest level, quitting and taking up an academic pursuit is another major challenge for both the individual and the family. Archana is a great example of this.

Career switching can be viewed as a combination of art, science, and engineering:

• Art involves creativity, intuition, and personal branding. Switching careers often requires reimagining one’s identity and presenting transferable skills in new ways.
• Science involves analyzing data such as market trends, job growth, and aligning personal strengths with opportunities.
• Engineering requires methodical planning, reskilling, networking, and creating a roadmap for transition.

There are similar examples. VVS Laxman’s parents are physicians, and he is related to India’s second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (Wikipedia). Laxman was brilliant in academics, scoring 98% in the science stream on the Andhra Pradesh board exams. Though offered a medical seat, he chose cricket as a career. Similarly, Aavishkar Salvi, who balanced a successful cricket career, and PhD in Astrophysics, demonstrating how transitions can be successful across domains.

Career switching is neither easily accepted in India nor easy to execute. I’ve experienced this firsthand. I started my career in IT (13+ years), transitioned into the Academic Ecosystem and Enablement (13+ years), and now am involved in formal Academics and Ecosystem roles. Formally, systems are not designed in the Indian context. However, things have improved in recent times.

Every career demands specific skills and comes with certain expectations. Adapting to a new job is like wearing shoes with intentional pebbles inside—it comes with inherent risk. The chances of failure are high, and the family may face financial risks. Apart from your personal strength, faith in God is often required.

However, as we enter the age of AI, I believe everyone should experience a career switch at least once in their lifetime. Why should you try switching?

Read the paragraph below: Our jobs are being encroached upon!

On Sep 12, 2024, OpenAI launched new models called o1 and o1-mini, significantly outperforming previous versions in reasoning and problem-solving, particularly in math and science. These models reportedly scored 83% on math Olympiad problems and performed at a PhD level in physics, biology, and chemistry. Today, o1 can build a video game using just a single prompt.

Are you planning to switch careers? Remember to apply art, science, and engineering to your process and create a safety net.

Ravi Saripalle