Facing Stress

We blog this article because of two reasons 1. Stress isn't good 2. The vast majority of people do not deal with their stress effectively. Coming to grips with these two things is important for anyone who wants to create a conscious lifestyle. To be aware is to be open, alert, ready to meet unknown challenges, and capable of fresh responses. When one is under stress, these qualities are compromised. Raise the stress high enough and they are reversed. The mind closes down as an act of self-defense. In that state it is very difficult to be alert and open.

But stress is bad more basic ways. The hormones that are released in the body's stress response, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are meant to be temporary. Their effect is to galvanize the fight-or-flight response, which is triggered in a primitive area of the brain, because fight-or-flight is an inheritance from our pre-human past. In the stress response, a privileged pathway is opened for dealing with emergencies, while at the same time the brain's higher responses are temporarily suppressed. 

No one can healthily sustain the heightened alertness, quick burst of energy, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and other marks of the fight-or-flight response.  Physically, the hormone rush must come to an end, leading to the opposite state - you become drowsy, lose energy, and have a hard time remaining alert and focused. 

What they overlook is the down side. There may also be physical damage done to various parts of the body, since various processes (e.g., growth, digestion, oxygenation of muscles) are temporarily shut down during fight-or-flight, which must be considered an abnormal, unbalanced state - no one would deliberately stay there. 

Therefore, don't try to make stress your ally, either by toughing it out or turning your back on the problem. The conscious choice is to recognize that modern life is a battleground of low-level stress, sometimes peaking into high stress, that will have a damaging effect over time unless you deal with everyday stressors in a consistent, effective way. 

5 Tips for Start-ups

1. Listen more than you talk : We have two ears and one mouth, using them in proportion is not a bad idea! To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so one should always keep his / her ears open for some shrewd advice. 

2. Keep it simple : Entrepreneurs have to do something radically different to stand out in business but without complexity. There are thousands of simple business solutions to problems out there, just waiting to be solved by the next big thing in business. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse.

3. Take pride in your work: One has to take pride in their work and in the company they represent. Remember your staff are your biggest brand advocates, and focusing on helping them take pride will shine through in how they treat your customers.

 4. Have fun, success will follow: If you aren’t having fun, you are doing it wrong. During a good time, there is a far greater chance a positive, innovative atmosphere will be nurtured and your business will flourish. A smile and a joke can go a long way, so be quick to see the lighter side of life.

 5. Rip it up and start again: Every successful entrepreneur has experienced few failures along the way – the important thing is how you learn from them. Don’t allow yourself to get disheartened by a setback or two, instead dust yourself off and work out what went wrong. Then you can find the positives, analyse where you can improve, rip it up and start again.

Start-up Trends in 2013

....9 Trends Entrepreneurs Need To Watch In 2013

It’s now time to turn next year’s biggest entrepreneurial trends. Here’s our take on trends entrepreneurs should watch in 2013:

1. Crowdfunding : With the flow of capital to entrepreneurs becoming smaller and smaller each year, we’re likely to see an even greater rise in crowdfunding platforms.

2. Going Global : Today's technological world allows us access to customers from all over the globe. Bringing successful business models into developing or trailing clientele presents an opportunity for startups in every industry. Startups like Pheed, 2U, and Threadless have already made the jump into the global waters with successful outcomes.

3. Augmented Reality : Moving past the mobility wars that have taken place in the smartphone sector, brands like Apple and Microsoft are making the move to augmented reality. With the release of Google’s Project Glass prototype--the augmented reality head-mounted display revealed back in June--this sector is certainly an area for tech entrepreneurs to keep their eyes on in 2013.

4. Tech Start-up Hotspot : With the help of accelerators, India may be a hotspot for startups in 2013. After starting web design company, one may see the unmatched level of talent and opportunity available in the area, which will only get stronger throughout the next year.

5. Business Focus For Start-ups : Start-ups that have a bigger focus on business and revenue models are set to succeed in 2013, drawing away from businesses with a focus on big ideas and user acquisition with no clear cut revenue model.

6. Better Social Platforms : The need for higher quality content online will certainly drive a social trend in 2013 with the creation of more advanced content-driven social networks. Pheed is an example of a social platform that I feel will reach even larger audiences in 2013.

7. Great Emphasis On Company Culture : Creating a positive company culture will be of stronger emphasis for start-ups in 2013. Many start-ups are taking new steps toward building cultures that define their products. One step I firmly believe in: dismantling hierarchies, which can eliminate micromanaging and other attitudes that squash innovation.

8. Corporate Incubators For Funding : The trend of corporate-backed funding, known as “corporate incubators,” are certain to take 2013 by storm. While these funds will ultimately provide smaller amounts of support than traditional venture capital funds, they will be able to support a larger number of innovators and have a greater impact long term.

9. Internet TV : The growth of internet usage has spawned the next generation of television -- Internet TV. In 2013, In Internet TV, one may take off with the help of Google and Apple TV, leaving space for new innovations in this market.

5 Ways to share

Five ways to be resilient during tough times

Please share them with those who need it now.

1. Be Positive. “Resilient people are characterized by an ability to experience both negative and positive emotions even in difficult or painful situation. They mourn losses and endure frustrations, but they also find redeeming potential or value in most challenges.” If you work for a good cause, you have this quality. You find hope amid terrible tragedies in the course of advancing a mission.

2. Live to Learn. When resilient people encounter pain, they look for solutions. That would be you.

3. Open Your Heart. Counting your blessings and committing acts of kindness and service boost resilience. That’s your day job!

4. Take Care of Yourself. Good physical and mental health boosts resilience.

5. Hang on to Humor. This is so true. A laugh goes a long way. Do you bring levity to the job?

VC's predictions on Start-ups

As 2012 comes to a close, CEOs and venture capitalists are both heading into the new year with cautious optimism. According to the National Venture Capital Association's seventh annual predictions survey, both sides of the start-up world expect small, but notable growth for small businesses and investors alike. The survey polled more than 600 CEOs of venture-funded start-ups and venture capitalists between November 26 and December 7 of this year. Turns out both groups generally saw eye-to-eye on a number of topics, especially when they involved acquisitions and venture spending.

Here are the top findings from the report:

1. Rise of the acquisitions. More than half of the venture capitalists and CEOs polled thought that there would be more start-up acquisitions next year, with the majority of each group seeing the most acquisitions in the tech industry. On top of that, 35% of CEOs and 40% of venture capitalists thought that the quality of acquisitions would improve. Comparatively, both CEOs and venture capitalists are putting less faith in the IPO. Only 40% of venture capitalists thought that more companies would go public in 2013, while 29% of CEOs felt the same way. 

2. 2013 will be the year of the venture capitalist. When asked who would have a better year—CEOs or venture capitalists—both parties agreed that venture capitalists would fare better in 2013. Specifically, 65% of the venture capitalists polled thought they would have a better year, while 56% of the CEOs felt the same way. In addition, 42% of the venture capitalists polled thought that venture firms would invest larger amounts of funding to a smaller batch of companies. With this strategy in mind, 50% of venture capitalists thought that their investments would have a higher return rate than last year.

3. Not a lot of faith in the U.S. economy. The only discernible pessimism that the groups shared was for the U.S. economy. Only 49% of CEOs and 42% of venture capitalists predicted that the U.S. economy would improve in 2013, showing slightly less hope than they did when polled last year.

4. Hiring will be up.  In one question, 83% of CEOs said that they expect to hire more employees next year, while 46% of CEOs said in another question that hiring would be “achievable” based on their company’s needs.

5. IT start-ups take the spotlight. Venture capitalists predicted that IT start-ups would receive more funding than necessary next year, with 62% saying that the sector would be "over-funded."

7 Great Entrepreneurs Tick

Silicon Valley has gazillions of successful entrepreneurs and brilliant innovators. You can’t walk down the street. View without bumping into two or three top executives who started out in a little garage shop, research lab, or college dorm room. Funny thing is, they all seem to have unique outward qualities, some more eccentric than others. All that may be true, but it’s a big mistake to think that defines them. You see, everyone gets so caught up in the public personae and the hype that it’s easy to forget just how much these folks have going on under the hood.  

One minute you’re getting grilled about your crazy idea and the next minute the guy’s not only on board but asking why you can’t get it done sooner. It can really freak you out if you’re not used to it. Not only that, but it’s dangerous to take everything they say and do verbatim. They’re not infallible. They don’t walk on water, you know. In any case, if you want to know more about what makes these people tick, what makes them the way they are, here are seven things that, in my observation, successful entrepreneurs seem to have in common.

1. They all have a process. It’s the strangest thing but every single one of them seems to have their own process for thinking things through, making decisions, whatever. They’re very process -oriented. Sometimes they don’t even know it. Also they definitely do not want you inside their heads so mum’s the word, if you know what I mean.  

2. They trust their gut. It seems they’ve spent their entire lives being self-absorbed or self-sufficient. As a result, they’re extremely self-confident when it comes to trusting their own instincts and following whatever it is that inspires them. They will listen to others -- a trusted few -- but they’ll still make the final call in the end.

3. They have a passion for what they do. That’s why they do it. Whether it’s writing software code or coming up with the next hot gadget, they love it. It inspires them. It makes them feel safe, comfortable. It draws them like a powerful magnet. They feel at home doing it. And there’s nothing else they’d rather do. Nothing.

4. They’re unusually quick on the uptake. They can assimilate data, come to grips with a situation, or grasp something that took you two hours to understand in what seems like a heartbeat. It goes without saying that they’re unusually smart.    

5. They’re born problem solvers. To them, problem solving is a fantastic game. They get off on it. They live for it. And they’re the best at it. Once they understand the problem, they revel in bringing their intellect, inspiration, and observations to bear in coming up with the right solution, plan, decision, whatever’s appropriate for the situation.

6. They’ve got something to prove. It’s not usually clear -- to your or to them -- who they need to prove it to, but I really don’t think it matters. They all just seem to have this relentless need to achieve, to make things happen, to do great things. It drives them and motivates them.

7. They work their tails off. Their work is, to a great extent, their life. That’s sort of an obvious result when you consider how passionate they are about what they do and how driven they are to accomplish great things. And you won’t always see them working, either. Day or night, at work or at home, they usually have a hard time turning it off.

One more thing. If you end up working with some of these folks, the worst thing you can do is be in awe of them. They don’t generally like yes-men and are quite impatient with folks who don’t add value. They have you around for a reason. Do what you do best and be straight with them. That’s generally the way to go.

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property (IP) is a juridical concept which refers to creations of the mind for which exclusive rights are recognized. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property rights include copyright, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and in some jurisdictions trade secrets. 

Although many of the legal principles governing intellectual property rights have evolved over centuries, it was not until the 19th century that the term intellectual property began to be used, and not until the late 20th century that it became commonplace in the majority of the world. The British Statute of Anne 1710 and the Statute of Monopolies 1623 are now seen as the origins of copyright and patent law respectively. 

The stated objective of most intellectual property law (with the exception of trademarks) is to "Promote progress."^] By exchanging limited exclusive rights for disclosure of inventions and creative works, society and the patentee/copyright owner mutually benefit, and an incentive is created for inventors and authors to create and disclose their work. Some commentators have noted that the objective of intellectual property legislators and those who support its implementation appears to be "absolute protection." "If some intellectual property is desirable because it encourages innovation, they reason, more is better. The thinking is that creators will not have sufficient incentive to invent unless they are legally entitled to capture the full social value of their inventions."  This absolute protection or full value view treats intellectual property as another type of 'real' property, typically adopting its law and rhetoric. Other recent developments in intellectual property law, such as the America Invents Act, stress international harmonization.

Trademark law is not based in the intellectual property clause of the U.S. Constitution, and has distinct policy objectives. 
These exclusive rights allow owners of intellectual property to benefit from the property they have created, providing a financial incentive for the creation of an investment in intellectual property, and, in case of patents, pay associated research and development costs. 
The WIPO treaty and several related international agreements are premised on the notion that the protection of intellectual property rights are essential to maintaining economic growth. The WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook gives two reasons for intellectual property laws:

One is to give statutory expression to the moral and economic rights of creators in their creations and the rights of the public in access to those creations. The second is to promote, as a deliberate act of Government policy, creativity and the dissemination and application of its results and to encourage fair trading which would contribute to economic and social development. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) states that "effective enforcement of intellectual property rights is critical to sustaining economic growth across all industries and globally". Economists estimate that two-thirds of the value of large businesses in the U.S. can be traced to intangible assets.^[19] "IP-intensive industries" are estimated to generate 72 percent more value added (price minus material cost) per employee than "non-IP-intensive industries".

A joint research project of the WIPO and the United Nations University measuring the impact of IP systems on six Asian countries found "a positive correlation between the strengthening of the IP system and subsequent economic growth." Economists have also shown that IP can be a disincentive to innovation when that innovation is drastic. IP makes excludable non-rival intellectual products that were previously non-excludable. This creates economic inefficiency as long as the monopoly is held. A disincentive to direct resources toward innovation can occur when monopoly profits are less than the overall welfare improvement to society. This situation can be seen as a market failure, and an issue of appropriability.

According to Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author".Although the relationship between intellectual property and human rights is a complex one, there are moral arguments for intellectual property.

The arguments that justify intellectual property fall into three major categories. Personality theorists believe intellectual property is an extension of an individual. Utilitarians believe that intellectual property stimulates social progress and pushes people to further innovation. Lokeans argue that intellectual property is justified based on deservedness and hard work.

25 Quotes for Innovation

Nothing works better changing a mindset than a great quote. 25 favourite quotes on innovation:

1.       Nothing is stronger than habit. [Ovid]

2.      If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. [Albert Einstein]

3.      It’s tough when markets change and your people within the company don’t. [Harvard Business Review]

4.      They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. [Andy Warhol]

5.      We cannot solve a problem by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. [A. Einstein]

6.      Necessity is the mother of invention. [Anonymous]

7.      Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open. [T. Dewar]

8.      The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. [George Bernard Shaw]

9.      There are no old roads to new directions. [The Boston Consulting Group]

10.    You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. [Andre Gide]

11.     Innovation is anything, but business as usual. [Anonymous]

12.    The best way to predict the future is to invent it. [Alan Kay]

13.    If at first the idea is not absurd, then there will be no hope for it. [A. Einstein]

14.    The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards. [Arthur Koestler]

15.    A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind. [A. von Szent-Gyorgyi]

16.    Innovation is the ability to convert ideas into invoices. [L. Duncan]

17.    Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises. [Demosthenes]

18.    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by and that has made all the difference. [Robert Frost]

19.    The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible. [A. Clarke]

20.   The key to success is for you to make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear. [Vincent Van Gogh]

21.    The impossible is often the untried. [J. Goodwin]

22.   An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all. [Oscar Wilde]

23.   Ideas are useless unless used. [T. Levitt]

24.   It is not how many ideas you have. It’s how many you make happen. [Advertisement of Accenture]

25.   The best ideas lose their owners and take on lives of their own. [N. Bushnell]

SPEED is important

When Apple launched their first iPhone in 2007, one of the comments from the CEO of Research in Motion (the company that created the Blackberry) was, “Why would anyone want to watch a video on a phone?” Obviously, he did not see the future.

Failing to see the future, failing to understand the difference between hard trends (trends that will happen) and soft trends (trends that might happen), is what often causes companies to fall behind. With today’s rapid pace of technological change, falling behind can mean you may never catch up.

Since the first iPhone was launched, Research in Motion (RIM) has had plenty of time to learn its lesson. But have they? The company is close to launching the new Blackberry 10 operating system, hoping it will give new life to RIM, which has been struggling since the iPhone came out.

Unfortunately, based on the current CEO’s comments, RIM has failed, yet again, to see the future. Their lack of apps for the Blackberry compared to their competition is very apparent, but according to the current CEO, that doesn’t matter. As he says, “What we’re going to focus on is a few really good apps, because there are a lot of bad apps in the Apple store, bad apps in the Google store. There are also a lot of apps that business users don’t need.”

His comment, which is correct, basically states that there are hundreds of thousands of apps that business users aren’t interested in. However, he fails to see that business users are personally interested in many of those non-business apps, and they want smart phones that can use them. Additionally, people want innovative apps that take advantage of new smart phone features and give them amazing new capabilities. They want new apps that solve their personal and professional problems. And the most creative developers are creating apps for the biggest ecosystems (Apple and Google), because that’s where they have the biggest potential of making money. In fact, it’s naïve for Blackberry’s CEO to think that just focusing on a relatively few really good apps is going to outweigh the problem of not having a big app ecosystem.

RIM has also failed to see that Apple has developed a total business ecosystem, where they are not just building smart phones, tablets, and computers that connect to iTunes. They also have an integrated supply chain, demand chain, and collaborative logistics system. All of these things are global, integrated, and getting bigger and better each day, creating a much larger ecosystem than simply having a good app store.

So here’s the point. It used to be that the big ate the small. Now, the fast eat the slow. RIM was a leader until the iPhone came along and changed the game. But RIM didn’t recognize the game had changed. They didn’t recognize what the iPhone had done—that Apple transformed what a smart phone could do. Apple recognized that people want abundance and unlimited innovation from inside as well as outside of Apple. Innovation, not scarcity, is what defines success. RIM’s scarcity model won’t fly in a world of increasing abundance.

These days, speed is important. So when you see a game change take place, it doesn’t mean you’re dead in the water. Rather, it means you need to act fast, bold, and decisive. RIM acted slowly. They weren’t bold. They weren’t decisive. They didn’t recognize the hard trends until they were well in place, and then they kept trying to catch up—a game that will no longer work.

The message to all businesses is clear: All companies need to notice when the game has changed, and when that happens; they need to take action quickly. Moving slowly when there’s a new, game-changing hard trend will only put you farther and farther behind, until it gets to be too late. So don’t fall behind. Use the predictability of hard trends to anticipate, act quickly, and lead.

smallB Branch

Dena Bank's specialized Branch for Innovation & Start up Financing

Invitation

smallB : Innovation & Start-up Finance 

Invites members from 

(1) Alumni of IITs, NITs, IIMs, B-Schools, MS (Biotech), who have innovations and want to start up a business or have already started a business.

(2) Angel Investors / Venture Capital Firms

(3) Banks/ FI's engaged in start -up Financing

(4) B Schools, Technology Institutions, Research Institutions, Incubation Centres, Govt Department promoting entrepreneurs etc