CSBS Business Advisory

27/08/2023

No this news is not fake but....
This CEO fired 900 workers on Zoom in December 2021.
Trading of shares on NASDAQ began on 24 Aug 2023.
See how modern media links the two. Neither is fake but they are used cunningly to create a buzz.

The heading loudly suggests a co-relation but quietly omits to reveal it.
Objective achieved - sensation by mere suggestion.
Long live the freedom of press!!

Better.com shares plunged at the opening bell and fell so quickly that trading was halted four times in its first 30 minutes of trade.

24/08/2023

The world’s most precious commodity in 2023, is an envelope-sized computer chip priced $40,000 or INR 33 lacs a piece.

Now that's an exceptional price tag for a computer processor. Even if you have the cash, good luck getting your hands on one. The half a million H100s expected to be made this year are already sold out.

Saudi Arabia had ordered some 3,000 H100s.

Almost all of the chips are being snapped up by the richest companies in the world: Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta are believed to account for the vast majority of demand.

In our dynamic world change is the only constant. But some changes lead to stable patterns or trends that last for noticeable time. The semiconductor chips and their growing importance as well as demand is one such pattern that gives us an idea of the emerging "New Normal."

A glittering, envelope-sized chip is at the centre of a global race for intelligence

24/05/2023

Pet Rocks!! Crazy but True.
In 1975, an American advertising executive called Gary Dahl came up with a unique idea to make money.

Have you heard of Pet Rocks? This is a story of a product becoming viral in 1975 - two decades before advent of internet and three decades before idea of viral products or ideas.

Dahl was living in Los Gatos, California, and still worked in copy editing. While at a bar with friends in April of 1975, their discussion veered to the effort involved in taking care of pets, Dahl, joking, told them that his pet rock required little to no care.

Dahl soon decided that he could turn the idea into a profitable novelty. In the weeks that followed he wrote a 36 page instruction book, He bought stones from a building yard and placed them into specially made boxes with breathing holes. He named them Pet Rocks - audacity of the man!!

He sold his pet rocks for $3.95 each. He got two people to invest in the product, and purchased "Mexican beach stones".

Dahl began selling the rocks in August, and two months later was reportedly selling 10,000 a day, in the lead-up to the holiday season.

He sold an estimated 1.3 to 1.5 million rocks. The craze made Dahl a minor celebrity; it was widely covered in the media, he was on *The Tonight Show* twice, and received so many calls he later said he “taught my P.R. guy to impersonate me so he could also answer my calls.”

The fad only lasted about half a year, and by February 1976 the rocks were not selling well, but that was enough to make Dahl a millionaire.

Crazy ain't it??

19/05/2023

Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?
Is it different when it comes to Women?

This article appeared nearly 10 years ago, advocating that women can be better leaders because of some of their inherent qualities. Since then the number of women in management positions has been steadily rising.

The author had then argued that whether in sports, politics or business, the best leaders are usually humble — and whether through nature or nurture, humility is a much more common feature in women than men.

Arrogance and overconfidence are inversely related to leadership talent — the ability to build and maintain high-performing teams, and to inspire followers to set aside their selfish agendas in order to work for the common interest of the group.

Unfortunately there isn’t much difference in observed behavior of female executives when compared with those of male executives. Most of them are just as aggressive, abrasive and arrogant as their male counterparts.

Leaderless groups have a natural tendency to elect self-centered, overconfident and narcissistic individuals as leaders. These personality characteristics may not be equally common in men and women. And yet....

We have applied the same yardsticks when evaluating women executives in leadership roles – encouraging them to mirror the toxic alpha male behaviors.

Why are so few women in management positions? The popular explanations range from women just aren’t capable of being leaders to women just don’t want to be leaders. According to the author, however, the absence of women in leadership roles has less to do with women themselves and more to do with...

29/04/2023

Breaking the Chinese Stranglehold
In 2017, 81% percent of rare earth elements worldwide were sourced from China.

High-performance magnets, used in wind turbines and electric vehicles, are vital for building a zero-carbon economy.

Currently, the best permanent magnets available require rare earth elements.

Even if the name "rare earth" sounds unpromising, these elements aren't quite as rare as they may sound.

To date, China has a near monopoly on global production.

As geopolitical tensions with China increase, there are concerns that the rare earth supply could be at risk.

A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has discovered a potential replacement for the current method for making high-performance magnets without using rare earth elements.

A team of international researchers has discovered a potential new method for making high-performance magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicles.

28/03/2023

ARE WE HEADED TO A JOB APOCALYPSE ??

ChatGPT, an AI conversationalist, has dazzled users with its passable impression of a human interlocutor. Other “generative” AIs have been conjuring up similarly human-like texts, images and sounds by analyzing reams of data on the internet.

Last month the boss of IBM forecast that AI will do away with much white-collar clerical work. On March 6th Microsoft announced the launch of a suite of AI “Co-Pilots” for workers in jobs ranging from sales and marketing to supply-chain management.

Excitable observers murmur about a looming job apocalypse. How likely is it?

The West suffers from too little automation, not too much

27/03/2023

ARE WE HEADED TO A JOB APOCALYPSE?

ChatGPT, an AI conversationalist, has dazzled users with its passable impression of a human interlocutor. Other “generative” AIs have been conjuring up similarly human-like texts, images and sounds by analyzing reams of data on the internet.

Last month the boss of IBM forecast that AI will do away with much white-collar clerical work. On March 6th Microsoft announced the launch of a suite of AI “Co-Pilots” for workers in jobs ranging from sales and marketing to supply-chain management.

Excitable observers murmur about a looming job apocalypse. How likely is it?

The West suffers from too little automation, not too much

22/03/2023

SCRAM !! GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
The Risks of Chilling in Your Comfort Zone
The Hidden Dangers of Getting Too Cozy

You know that feeling when you're snuggled up in your favorite spot, binge-watching your favorite show, and everything feels just right? That's your comfort zone. And while it's perfectly okay to chill there every once in a while, spending too much time in your cozy little bubble can actually hold you back.

Your is that space where you feel most at ease, in control, and secure. It's like a cozy little bubble that you've created for yourself, filled with familiar routines, people, and experiences. Sounds great, right? But beware—this bubble might be doing more harm than good.

Staying in your comfort zone for too long can lead to some not-so-great consequences. Here are some of the risks that come with playing it safe:

1. No Growth, No Glow
When you're not pushing yourself to try new things, you're missing out on opportunities to learn, grow, and become the best version of yourself. And let's be real, who doesn't want to glow up? Embrace new experiences and challenges to level up in life.

2. Say "Bye" to Being Resilient
By avoiding challenges, you're not developing the resilience you need to bounce back from setbacks. Life isn't always sunshine and rainbows, so it's essential to learn how to deal with tough times and come out stronger.

3. Creativity? What Creativity?
Sticking to your safe zone can stifle your creativity and problem-solving skills. By not exposing yourself to new experiences, you're limiting your ability to think outside the box and come up with fresh, innovative ideas.

4. Lonely Times Ahead
Staying in your comfort zone can also shrink your social circle. If you're not stepping out and meeting new people, you might be missing out on some amazing friendships and connections.

So staying in your comfort zone might feel safe and comfortable, but it comes with a hefty price. You risk stunting your personal growth, limiting your success, stifling your creativity, and ultimately leading a less fulfilling life. So, go ahead and challenge yourself, embrace the unknown, and see just how amazing life can be when you step out of your comfort zone.

21/03/2023

COMFORT ZONE is a Deadly Place to Be In - And yet difficult to leave !!
If You’re Not Outside Your Comfort Zone, You Won’t Learn Anything !!

Embracing challenges like delivering a speech, navigating networking events, or addressing a colleague can be daunting, yet essential for career growth.

🌟 Step out of your comfort zone by:
1️⃣ Admitting your hesitations;
2️⃣ Acknowledging and utilizing your strengths;
3️⃣ Diving in headfirst.

🌊 Remember, it's okay to stumble - it's all part of the journey to self-improvement! 💪

"

Public speaking. Attending a networking event. Confronting a coworker. These are uncomfortable tasks, but sometimes need to be performed for us to grow professionally. So how do you move out of your comfort zone? It’s simple: be honest about your excuses; recognize your strengths and take advantag...

18/03/2023

AUTHORITY v/s APPROACHABILITY

I find young business leaders often struggle at balancing authority with approachability.

Being a leader isn't just about having authority, it's also about being approachable to your team. Striking the right balance between approachability and authority is crucial for effective leadership.

Remember, being approachable doesn't mean sacrificing your authority, and having authority doesn't mean you can't be approachable.

As a leader, it's important to listen to your team, be empathetic, and lead by example while maintaining a sense of authority.

How do you balance approachability with authority as a leader? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

"

18/03/2023

Maximize Your Potential as a Leader: Tips for Receiving and Implementing Feedback

As a leader, it can be challenging to receive and implement about your performance. However, sourcing feedback regularly is good for both you and your . Here's how to get and leverage the feedback that can help you become a better leader:

• Read the room. Look for negativity and frustrations and use them as opportunities to change how things are done.
• Avoid "yes/no" questions. Ask open-ended questions about how you can make your team's life easier or what you could start or stop doing to improve their working day.
• Guide your sources. Prompt your sources with specific questions or topics.
• Really listen to a response. Work on actively listening to all responses and understanding what people are really saying.
• Find a mentor. Look for someone who works at a similar level or in a different department.

To implement feedback:

• Take it as neutral information. Think of feedback as not being about you but as a data point that can help your team perform better.
• Double down on your good points. Listen to your team and keep working to cultivate those strengths.
• Figure out a response. Identify a path forward and communicate it to the person who raised the issue.
• Identify what a "win" looks like. Make a change if you can see the end result.
• Keep sourcing and implementing. Bake feedback sourcing into how you do things.

Feedback is a driving force for improving your skills - and taking that next step in your career.

16/03/2023

WORK SMARTER AND FASTER - or perish!!!

DID YOU KNOW

Morgan Stanley has been using GPT-4 since last year.

It used GPT-4 to create a chatbot that advises its own wealth advisers even while they advise their clients.

Basically, the bank trained GPT-4 on thousands of papers published by its analysts on capital markets, asset classes, industry analysis and more. Now a wealth adviser can look at an analyst’s note to advise a client on the performance of certain companies and their shares.

Supported by the power of GPT-4, advisers can now do in seconds what they used to do in half an hour. It enables them to assist more people more quickly.

About 200 staff at the bank have been using it daily,

What are the long-term consequences? It’s too early to predict.

But use cases such as above suggest that it will usher in a new era of hyper-efficiency, where professionals will have to work smarter and faster — or perish.