As the year draws to a close

It's been a while since my last blog post.. but I have been a tad bit busy with exams and projects.

But on Christmas day in a foreign country, I feel that I should take a moment and say thanks to all the blessings that I have. In this constantly changing dynamic we call life, we are rushed, often pushed into doing things, things we may or may not want. We crave for those that we can't possess, we wish for those that we had and lost, we pray for something different. These will happen, when it is meant to and when it is the right time.

Understand that there are those across this vast and glorious earth that live to find the next morsel of food. There are those who live in poverty and a desperation that encapsulates and engulfs their entire existence. There are those who live without hope.

But we are the blessed lot. We have family who care for us. Friends who wish us well and whom we can share and enjoy. We also have that someone special, who thinks of you and no one else.

So on this Christmas day, I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, an education that enlightened my mind, family that will always stand by me and friends I can count on.

A Storm is Coming

A crystal blue

Sullied by a darkened hue

Impending storm

It’s nature’s norm

Precipitates fear

And unknown despair

Protection mechanisms of yore

Informs to secure, find shelter and store

Then a rumble, a tumble

A horrendous grumble

Flash of light

Quick and glaringly bright

Afraid and fearful

Shelter we seek

Scramble, scour for shelter; almost hopeful

Humbled by thee, understand we humans are meek.

What do I believe in?

The importance of one's beliefs is not apparent when  one is a young boy. During childhood, we are in a search for the beliefs that we know inherently represent us. It is quite beautiful the process by which we arrive at the conclusions of our existence. I am particularly intrigued by the time when one would make that choice, the choice to be a particular sort of person. It is almost like an anti climax, the beginning of the end.

My quests  of inner self discovery have always been a sort of understanding to find out if I am an atheist or theist. It is quite difficult let me tell you. There is a plethora of data supporting each. To assume one stance is to put yourself at a risk of antagonizing  the other.

But then you do need to sort it out. It gives you a sense of relief at the end. Deep down you always knew the answer. That is the realization at the end of this exercise of introspection. So if you were like me a believer in the one true god, you would be surprised at why did you ever doubt His existence in the first place. The evidence is all around us, but why this doubt. Does it mean that we were meant to doubt ? Maybe finding the answer through the haze of doubt helps it make it a little clearer.

Richard Dawkins, the famous scientist and self proclaimed atheist talks about how his beliefs firmly founded on Darwin's famous theory, makes it almost impossible to assume that there is a god. He outlines his believes quite succinctly. He also takes a playful jab at the creator stating that he would ask god why he took such pains to hide himself. Quirky and funny. But interesting though. Very. If He does exist, then why all this secrecy? Again I am thrown into a the dark hole of confusion.

Why be stuck

It's like my life is jammed on the pause button and you have thrown away the remote. Where is it? But deep inside, I know the answer. Why is it that we get stuck in this quandary?  This ungodly depressing mess of past memories. Memories that are like wisps of smoke, very clear but difficult to touch. You can fathom the shape, even sometimes smell it, yet to experience you need to float away to the past. A place long ago, but etched deep within your consciousness. It is a place which looks mesmerizing now, but at that time was it so? The present would one day be the past of tomorrow. So do we remove the unpleasantness , the tensions, the despair of the past and transport them to the present. Is it a defense mechanism to escape from the realities of the present? To prevent from being hurt? to be untouched? 

Escapism, how did I master you. Unknowingly, wantonly became an expert at it. How to escape from escapism. This is the beginning of a neuro psychotic bullshit, yes. It is.

When I see you, I see my future

When I see you, I forget the past

When I see you, I see my present

"The problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts and the stupid ones are full of confidence." - Charles Bukowski

An Overdose of Promotions

There is a shop in Bahrain which has had the 'Flat 50% Sale' signboard for well over 2 years. After I returned to Bahrain after a period of 2 years, I was surprised to see the same signboard. I noticed it but my folks said that this sign board has been there for the past 2 years.

In fact, there are many such shops.

1. The whole reason for promotions is to create a  spark, make the cutomer notice, entice him and initiate the sales.

2, Hopefully, after his awareness, he makes that most difficult step and enters your shop.

3. Once he is in, well it's up to you to seal the deal.

But if your shop has a sale sign for two years, no one will ever enter. why?

1. They stop noticing the sale sign. It has become a part of the infrastructure.

2. Customer doesn't believe you and starts to distrust you. He also, more dangerously starts to think you have just marked up the prices and then given a sale which is a 'make the customer a fool' ploy.

Once he starts seeing it as a ploy, it is next to impossible to get him to even enter the shop even if you are giving freebies.

There was a time when everyone eagerly awaited the sale season but now with this over dose of promotions, it has become passe. A customer rearely if ever is enticed into a purchase because of promotion. Now it is either convenience, or low price which factors in a purchase.When you have used a tool to frequently, it does become blunt.

Another irritating thing one notices as a marketer is the 'Upto 50%' deal.

Now the 'Upto 50%' deal is pretty useful bait. Very useful until it pisses off the customer, when he finds out, the discount is only for a very select few materials that cannot be sold to a sensible customer.He will accept it for sometime, until he brands you the shop that never gives discount on the items he wants to purchase.

I understand marketing is a very difficult task, but when you actually drive away the customer, it is just nonsense marketing.


Will post some solutions soon. It's easy to be back seat critic.