Author: Murali
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Path to Product paved with Directional Roadmaps
In the technology industry we often create products. Products solve one or more customer problems. Starting from the Customer Problems and needs, working back, and inferring what may help solve problems is important. Often companies do extensive surveys – quantitative and qualitative – to understand the needs and formulate plans. However, sometimes any number of…
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A house to dwell – buy or build?
Several of my friends and family know that I had moved around a few houses in the past 20 years. We bought and sold a condo, a house, rented in the middle, bought and remodeled an old house, and separately had built a brand new house. All these moves and changes had taught me a…
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Build as a step to handle changes
A few weeks back I wrote about Change as an opportunity in disguise. A few questions came up including: What next? What are we to do with an opportunity that shows? How can I use Change to help me grow? Aren’t we supposed to create things? Aren’t we supposed to enjoy life? Great questions! Change provides…
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Supplies for Cub Scouts Camping
Thanks to my son who is in the Cub Scouts, we go camping once or twice with the local Cub Scouts troop. The camping experience is much better when we are adequately equipped. We are preparing to go on the Winter camp at Camp Sheppard near Mt. Rainier. It is going to be good. It…
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Bike Ride up a mile
Four springs back, in May 2018, one of my friends suggested I join him on the Ride The Hurricane bike ride. The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is located in the beautiful Olympic Mountains in the Northwest USA. At about a mile above the sea level, it was a 12 miles long climb at 5-8% gradient…
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Advice for startup founders: Periodic Investor Updates
Context The executive leadership team at big companies often have to do quarterly report outs to the board of directors and investment community. Often they have the luxury of full service departments (finance, communications, project management) to help them prepare for the same. Not just at big companies, such a model is valuable for the…
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Reading maketh a man, woman, … tips for better reading
Yesterday I was talking with a relative of mine. He was concerned about the reading skills of his elementary school kids. I recall having the same concerns a few years back when my kids are in the elementary age as well. Good news, in the past ten years I had observed my kids gradually read…
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2019 Summer Internships
Yes, it is snowing outside on Feb 3rd in the Greater Seattle Area. White snow is a lot of fun. Soon it will be spring and then summer! Inside the house I observe my teenager working on her homework. Much like her there are 100s of high schoolers are preparing for a bright future. Hands…
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Change – an opportunity in disguise
“Change is everywhere! Change can be outside you! Change can be inside you! Change is always happening! … Remember, Change is everywhere!” So read the note about Change in my 3rd grader’s notebook at his school. We had gone into the class room for the usual curriculum evening to learn about what the kids…
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Book: “Grit” – encourages one to persist and persevere
Often I carry books to read in the flight. But this Monday I did not have any book to read. And there was a 5 hour flight ahead of me. Browsing through the stores, I found this book – Grit. It was compact and encouraging. I was thinking through challenges my son had to go through…