What is India Thinking during Year-End Week (Dec 22 to Dec 28, 2022)? Are You doing a Responsible Search?

Dear Friends and Students

Yesterday I got this question while I was walking. What is India thinking this week? India’s population is 139 crores. I am sure understanding this question for the population scale is next to impossible. We have different classes of people belonging to the rich, upper middle class, middle class, lower middle class, and poor. Outside basic necessities, if we want to know a broad level of thinking, we need to rely on individual digital search footprints.

Out of curiosity, I analyzed last 1-week daily trends in India on Google! Here is a quick analysis. Maybe I am subjective to error but broadly sets the context for this story.

The total key searches analyzed are 1,62,50,000+. Out of them, 44.3% searched for Sports! 38.4% searched about Religious related aspects (Christmas, Tulsi Pujan Diwas, and Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti), 9.7% searched for famous People related activities (PM Modi, PM Modi Mother’s Health, Ratan Tata Birthday, Salman Khan Birthday, Sushant Singh Rajput, FM Nirmala Sitharaman, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chanda Kochhar, Curry King, Elon Musk, etc), 4.7% Entertainment, 2% for Employment and Economy, 0.4% for Education, 0.3% Health and 0.1% Environment (trends.google.com

).

I don’t want to comment on why more people trending on sports and less on education, environment, and health. However, the goal of this post is to create awareness of what is “Responsible Search” is.

Google says it spends about 0.0003 kWh of energy on an average search query, translating to roughly 0.2g of carbon dioxide. Searching the web 100 times is equivalent to drinking 1.5 tablespoons of orange juice (store.chipkin.com

). 1 search = 60W light bulb for 17 seconds. It is mind-blowing to hear, it requires 70 billion Kilowatt Hours a year to run the internet, equivalent to 8 big nuclear reactors.

My Dear Students, Responsible Search is an attitude! If you attach a purpose to every search you do, indirectly or directly you are contributing to the environment and economy. 

Would you contribute to Responsible Search in the Year 2023?

Happy New Year 2023
Ravi Saripalle

Leadership is Light, not Heat! Spectacular Picture of the Sky at 2 PM IST 19-12-2022! Let’s build a Healthy Space Competition as No Geography defined!

Dear Friends and Students

Today afternoon, I captured a mighty picture of the Sky at 2 PM IST 19-12-2022, Kommadi, Visakhapatnam! It was an intersection of 2 rockets forming an X shape encompassing the Sun in one of the Vs. Immediately I was searching the space calendar!

There were 135 orbital launches in 2021! The number increased to 181 in Year 2022! In terms of numbers, the US launched more than 5500 space objects (in the form of satellites, Space station flight equipment, space probes, etc in the space), Russia 3600, China 731, the UK 515, Japan 300, France 130, India 127! More than 86 countries attempted to keep their objects in space!

This looks amazing! It exhibits our scientific temperament! However, space is a universal property without any boundaries! No one on the Earth, for that matter no one in the Universe can claim their space except by shooting a few objects! We require leaders who understand space beyond the technology! We need to study these programs from various dimensions like political, economic, environmental, social, legal, cultural, technological, etc.  

We cannot make too much combustion in the name of development! Every satellite should be launched with a purpose in mind but not for simple revelations!

We should not let space for fun and tourism. We are unable to clean pollution on the earth itself!  Rather, we should go to Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh with an altitude of (9680 – 13450 ft) to watch a glittering sky including shooting stars. Neil Island - Andaman & Nicobar Island, Turtuk Village, Pangong Tso Lake, Nubra Valley – Ladakh, Rann of Kutch – Gujarat, Kodaikanal - Tamil Nadu, Coorg – Karnataka, are a few other places where you can have stargazing!

Let’s not overcrowd the space in the name of competition as it is the joint responsibility of every person on this earth. People with purpose should lead all space programs across the world. They all should look at the next 50 years in mind and release an object.

We require people like Prof. Satish Dhawan who not only contributed to space but also to rural education! Prof. Dhawan garnered 3 different types of Degrees- Science, Engineering, and Humanities. BA in Maths and Physics, MA in English Literature, B.E Mechanical, M.S in Aeronautical Engineering, Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Mathematics!

In 1979, Prof. Dhawan was Chairman, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was Director. Mission failed to launch in the orbit! Prof. Dhawan said to Press that We Failed! In 1980, the next mission was successful. Prof. Dhawan did not come to the press and asked Dr. Kalam to lead the press!! A man of substance and purpose!!

Leadership is Light, Not Heat!

Ravi Saripalle

Somebody asked me to write a Story on "The Year 2022"! Here is my attempt!

Dear Friends and Students

2022 is a message to the entire community! As on Jan 2022, we were still in Corona Age!  36 Lakhs cases were reported. At the same time, Jan 2022 witnessed something good for hi-tech employees. It was the period of a “Great Resignation” or "Big Quit". More than 4.2 million employees Quit their Jobs in January 2022. IT employees are offered huge salary packages. Even Freshers attracted the best packages, even in Tier 2/3 colleges. On average 10% salary hikes were announced across the industry. Employees were offered work-from-home/remote working options. Companies were liberal in moonlighting! Wow, factor for IT!!

As of Dec 2022, only 3 lakh Corona cases were reported! It was a great relief for all people. However, the IT industry started “Great Layoffs”. More than 0.5 million were laid off officially. Many companies deferred assured job offers. Moonlighting is banned in many companies and cracking down on the employees who were indulged in Jan 2022!!

When we see these extremes in the same year (positive and negative), I remember watching a documentary about Yellowstone National Park in the US, published in US Entertainment Magazine. In 1970, there was no evidence of wolves in the park. However, it witnessed a lot of deer. Consequently, it resulted in less grass as deer were dependent on that grass.

In 1995, they introduced 14 wolves. As we all know wolves are a major threat to deer. They started hunting deer. Then the population of deer rapidly decreased. Deer avoided that area completely. Deer’s absence made a lot of grass and plants grew again.

As the bushes and trees grew, more berries and bugs came to that area. Various bird species started visiting the National Park. The beavers who were extinct started visiting that place. As a result, these beavers started creating small dams and ponds.

However, these wolves started killing coyotes. Hence, the park witnessed more rabbits and mice. However, they attracted red foxes, badgers, hawks, and eagles to the park as they eat a lot of rabbits and mice.

In the whole process, as vegetation grew, the rivers' course of direction changed in this region. Land Erosion decreased due to more trees. River banks stabilized. More pools formed. The whole Park's physical geography changed.

Dear Friends, Wolves are characterized by Negative! Deer is characterized by Positive! Who is right and who is wrong, completely unknown! They have done their natural duties! The same thing applies to us as well. What is the right thing to do and what is wrong thing is mysterious in certain circumstances!

Often people ask us,

Does this job good or bad for me?

Does this Package decent or not?

Does this boy or girl suit me for marriage?

Should I stay in India or abroad?

Should I go for Higher education or not?

Yellowstone National Park Wolf's story is the answer.

2022 is the year of all ups and downs. It is no good or bad! Just take it as it is. The year 2022 is a clear message. Welcome, 2023 with that positive note!

You may listen to the same story on YouTube  https://youtu.be/0Vhr8gzBWpY

Ravi Saripalle

 

Learn Tech or Learn to Adopt Tech? Which is more appropriate for Students and Budding Professionals?

Dear Friends and Students

A couple of days back one of our alumni sent a message. In fact, it is revealing for me as well.

He says, “There are 9000+ coding languages in the IT world. Out, 250+ are known, 50+ are popular like Java, Python, C, C++, etc. On top, we have 65+ popular software development frameworks like Django, Flask, Spring, ReactJS, Flutter, etc. There are minimum 500+ popular custom products, packages, and databases! I am working for a company. I always feel insecure. If I learn another language/package other than what I am currently working on, it makes my career better”. Very loaded question! Let me attempt this. Of course, this is my personal view and subjective to error.

Technology is rapidly changing. 127 new devices are connected to the internet every second! To reach first 50 million users, airlines took 68 years, Automobiles took 62Y, Telephone 50Y, Credit Cards 28Y, Television 28Y, Computer 14Y, Mobile 12Y, Internet 7Y, Facebook 3Y, WeChat 1Y and Pokemon Go game reached in 19 days!

Now I don’t need to explain how much time a new technology takes. Now tell me do you learn every new technology or learn to adopt new technology? There is a subtle difference between learn tech vs learn to adopt tech! This is a hard skill today. I see a lot of students and professionals working hard to learn every small syntax! That is not going to help in this disruptive world. You need to learn only the critical pieces of a particular technology. On the fly, you should able to pick the rest based on the demand. Going forward IT career would be like this only!

25 years back, I used to write a postcard or inland letters to my parents and friends! The first time I created my yahoo mail was in 1997. We used to book a slot to check our emails! We used to think that there is no replacement for a postcard as our heart writes when we pen! Can you imagine postcards now?

Did we use to stand in a railway queue at 5 AM to book 8 AM tatkal tickets? Can you imagine life without IRCTC now?

Once in a while, I used to go to a bank with my grandmother to collect the pension! Literally, if we go at 9 AM, we used to come out at 3 PM!! Can you imagine such a bank transaction now?

I used to write duplicate notes to a few friends as photocopying was not affordable! Some days, I used to write whole night to duplicate 50-100 page notes! Can you think of such adventures?

Learn Tech or Learn to Adopt Tech? My Pick is Learn to Adopt Technology!

Ravi Saripalle

Decide to Quit your Job? Before Writing Resignation, Read this Job Description!

 Dear Friends and Students

Amid the Global Recession, one of my known contacts decided to quit the job! Did I ask why? The job seems to be boring production management and manual testing. He has been working on the same application for years. He gets a few production tickets here and there. He just has to attend and close! After a fix, he has to run all manual test cases and release them into production! He is paid well. He is stuck in a super dilemma. I was just thinking about how should I respond to him!

I was going through various career opportunities and job posting websites! I found a few interesting! There is an underwater hotel in Florida. they have a scuba diving pizza delivery man who supplies them with pizza by carrying them through the sea in a watertight case. There is a role called Odor Judge, who smells volunteers’ breath, feet, and armpits!! A snake milker is to collect the venom of poisonous snakes. A hotel in Finland hired a ‘professional sleeper’ to test the comfort of their beds. A research firm hired a professional sleeper to understand sleeping patterns, dreams, and so on! (theundercoverrecruiter)

Now I am living in the city! However, during my childhood, I used to see Professional Mourners! Throughout the night, they used to cry and weep loudly along with relatives!! They used to sing songs and drum.

People are doing such odd jobs for years! I shared some of these with my friend. I asked my friend, “Why not wait for some time till this recession recedes?”. I am sure, he must be waiting for the next L1 ticket and testing it manually, but more happily, merrily!

What about you? Do you have any such plans? Read these Job Descriptions before writing your resignation letter during this season!

Ravi Saripalle

Gen Z! You Missed those Days! “I Love You Rasna”! Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta Passes Away!

Dear Friends and Students

I belong to the Gen X category (1965 – 1980). My Millennial friends (1981 – 1996) agree with me! 

Gen Z (1997 – 2012)!! You really missed those wonderful days!

Can you imagine any Kids birthday party in the 80s and 90s without the following snacks and Rasna? Can anyone miss the Ad by Ankitha Jhaveri as a child model and her emotional connection with the ‘I love you Rasna’ brand!

In 80s, there used 31 seconds Doordarshan Ad used to be popular-

Ankitha Jhaveri used to play with a teddy bear! Calling bell rings! Papa Aagaye (Father comes!) Mother asks father, “ Coffee, Baby responds Papa ko nahi chahiye!(Father doesn’t want it), Chai, Baby responds Papa ko nahi chahiye (Father doesn’t want it). Ab Mummy kya karegi(what does mummy do now?). Ah! She signals mummy! Rasna is ready and served father! I love you Rasna! by Ankhita Jhaveri!

Watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgCJ9apCZK4

Gen X used to wait for summers for Rasna! Not just kids, I am sure Gen X agrees with me! Every arranged marriage meeting between boy and girl used to have the same snacks and Glass of Rasna! Do you disagree? Every housewife found it a ready source for guest hospitality!

From the times when there was no digital branding to till date, Rasna has managed to reach 1.8 million outlets and 60 countries! This is all by Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta Ji, a true startup founder, a fruit pulp-based start-up started in the 1970s.

It is not just emotion, but economics too. Touched the Indian middle class families!  A pack of Rasna of Rs 5 can be converted into 32 glasses of soft drinks, costing a mere 15 paise per glass. The soft drink packs not only contained vitamins and minerals, but were 10 times cheaper than the alternative beverages available in the market.

Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta died due to cardiac arrest. May the soul reach the higher planets!

Rasan taught many lessons to the startup world. One of my mentees Vivekananda Nareddula (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekanandadotme/) started Apaizer - A Premium Goli Soda Brand! (https://www.apaizer.com/) I wish Apaizer goes Rasna route!

 

Ravi Saripalle

 

Hack the MAANG or Happy with WAIT Companies!! Dream vs Dignity?

Dear Friends and Students

Slowing Global Economic Growth is Increasingly Evident! I have been receiving multiple calls from the student community. They are in total confusion.

Last year the aspiration of every competitive coder was to crack MAANG (Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) or MAMMA (Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet). Within 9 months, the weak global environment weakened the hiring sentiment. Now students are asking me, what should be their goal- Dream or Dignity? This is not an easy question? It has a lot of depth involved.

I told them there are several factors that influence this decision. It depends on your family affordability, your depth in competitive coding, and your attachment to the brand. Here is the simple formula in current scenario

1.     Affordability High, Depth High, Brand Attachment High- Wait for Your Dream Company/Job

2.     If any of these are weak, Go for WAIT (Wipro, Accenture, Infosys, TCS) type of companies!

Personally, I suggest Start Small, Think Big! I had a bitter experience in my life. As a fresher, I joined a UK based company. My first salary as a fresher was 3 times higher than my second company’s salary. However, My learning in my second company was 3 times higher than my first company! What an irony?! This dignity raised my spirits!    

My preference! First in First out is the best philosophy for the next 2 years! If some company gives you a job, that means, there is some need for a customer in some part of the globe! Respect them! It is God's arrangement! Rather waiting for a dream, grab one that comes to you!

The next question by some one! Low package means low level of work! This is incorrect! There is no low level of work. Even if someone assigns a simple web page development job, you can rise to the level of a UX designer! UX Designers are Beyond UI Design!  

A typical UX designer can go to the level of understanding formats of media files, HTML, JS, CSS, Vector illustration apps (Inkscape, Illustrator, CorelDraw, etc), Raster graphic editor (e.g Photoshop, Paint, etc), Diagramming tool (Visio, Gliffy,), Mock-ups and wire-framing tools (Balsamiq, UXPin). At an advanced stage, user research, design thinking, concept of responsive design, information architecture (IA) patterns, visual communication skills, etc.

In summary, a best UX/UI designer works on Research, Develops Empathy, Team work, develops Visual skills (aesthetics, layout, typographic), tools to be used (Figma, Adobe), and finally Psychology.

When this is the learning scope, where is the question of low-end work? It is only our mind that restricts us based on the pay package offered. If this pay part is removed, learning is unlimited!!

Dream and Dignity are 2-sides of the coin! The way we look differs and matters!

Ravi Saripalle

Join me in this celebration! Nation is proud of these co-founders! India Celebrates!

Join me in this celebration! Nation is proud of these co-founders! India Celebrates! Directly or indirectly, the State of AP also made a small contribution to the Mission. Give me your valuable 3 minutes. Please listen and celebrate.

Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka, and Skyroot Aerospace Congratulations Once again! We are proud of you. Little Angels School, Visakhapatnam is proud of you.

Amazing contribution by Divya Kurapati, N SPACE Tech, Tenali, AP

Proud of ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization

Listen to this! https://lnkd.in/gwyPsCXw

Ravi Saripalle

A Piece of Advice Amid Global Layoffs

Dear 3rd/2nd Year Students

 

A Piece of Advice! If it appeals to you, please consider it. If not, please ignore this message. There is a famous quote- "Whatever advice you give, be short". I will try to follow in this message.

 

Today morning one of my friends called. He is into a high bracket salary. Suddenly he is asked to move to a non-engineering role. Couple of days back a student called and shared his opinion, "rather aiming for big package jobs, better to aim for a 4-5 L package (fresher) which is sustainable for companies (manageable during this period) and to the individuals (no cost to the organization hence we are not in layoff radar). we are unable to bear this social pressure! Artificially we are taking more work to show to our manager. The other side of the issue, "Managers are giving more work to us to show to their managers"!!". What an irony?

 

Looks simply but it is a serious issue. See the Headlines of Economic Times today!

 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/amazon-india-likely-to-axe-jobs-amid-global-layoffs/articleshow/95539763.cms 

 

On Sep 23 2021, I wrote an article- "Don't Overprice Yourself! It is End of Your Career!!". Many disagreed with this philosophy. In that article, I mentioned, "You know what, currently you are wearing chappals. Now, you need to wear skating shoes! The challenge is finding the rink so that skating shoes move! If it is rough terrain, skating shoes fail!"- https://i2itm.blogspot.com/2021/09/dont-overprice-yourself-it-is-end-of.html .

Today Nov 16 2022. Rink became rough. Skating shoes became a hindrance to many. They are not able to wear chappals back, the issue is not with feet but societal eyes!

 

Now what is the course correction and saviour?

 

1. All 2nd and 3rd Years- Search for an Internship, preferably more than 6-8 months. Ask for work. Don't demand Pay. Learn more, Help more!

 

2. No Dream Companies!! Aspire for Dream Work! Aspire for Deep Problems as your work title!!

 

3.Interviewing skill is more critical now! 10,000 hours of degree is decided by 5 Minutes Interview! Practice https://skill2030.com Mock Interview. It is free now for students. 

 

Today, Nov 16 2022. I will write again on Nov 16 2023! whether this model makes sense or not? 

 

Happy Interning. No Pay Packages. Build Software Packages!! This is the mantra for next 1 year. 

 

Note: I am not complaining neither corporates (for layoffs) nor individuals (who are aspiring for high packages). Advice is to start small, think big. Don't rush for packages. Rush to solve problems in human centered way, money is the by-product.

 

Ravi Saripalle