When embarking on a new task, there’s always some doubt… because it’s new, because we haven’t done it before, because there is a sense of nervousness…
However, the best thing to do in this situation… is just to do it.
Like Nike, Just Do It.
Remove the doubt. Give it a go. Does not matter if you make mistakes. That’s how you learn.
Last week, I was on a work trip in India.
I had a great time – met the team, the wider Tech team, some of our vendors and partners and other staff. All in all, it was time well spent.
I went with particular items I wanted to discuss with the team and wanted to listen to them – about their concerns, issues and anything on top of their mind.
I did all of that. And whilst doing it – learnt alot. I wanted to share some of those learnings,
I’d like to share, in my next blog post – things I learnt as a Leader. Which I think are applicable irrespective of where your team is based.
Most important element was that I learnt so much – which helps productivity and moreso, the team to ask questions. Remember, be curious…. not judgemental.
Following on from the lasat blog post aboutt the Post Office. There’s two parts I wanted to look at… one being, is it really what we need moving forward and secondly, the human cost element.
Today, I’ll focus on the tech side of things.
Bal, what do you mean the tech side of things? – we know it was Horizons.
Yes… we know that the system was at fault. I won’t necessarily go into what could’ve happened and what could’ve been done. But let’s look to the future in the sense, do we still need the Post Office?
The Post Office has seen a downward trend for a while. People not posting letters (rather more folks are emailing), other parcel companies doing a slightly better job and most of all… what is it that we really need from the post office?
Yes, some of the older folks will post christmas & birthday cards to loved ones.
Yes, some folks need the post office to send off letters such as passport renewals etc.. under ‘recorded delivery’.
Yes, some folk need the post office to pick up some stationary, envelopes, etc…
But… looking at the next generation and some of the younger folk – do they send cards or is it all e-cards these days? – but moreso, meeting up. They’d rather go to the person, spend some time with them then return – plenty of statistics show since covid, people want to spend time with loved ones.
To be fair, the gov.uk site is good and clear. Easy to renew your passport online – along with other official documents.
Let’s be honest… when was the last time you bought an envelope or some stationary from a shop? (If I was to guess, it’s probably Amazon!)
So then the question remains… do we actually need the post office?
The Royal Mail will come to your house to pick up any letters (or parcels) you need posting.
Then let’s look at the post office employees… there’s been a downward trend since 2014
Let’s combine everything together…
So the question is, do we really need the post office?
Happy New Year!!! I’m not going to ‘hope’ you have a wonderful 2024… I would like you to have a wonderful year with lots of special moments.
I say that because I’ve just finished reading the book, ‘Power of Moments’. Really good book… explains about moments that occur and breaks down a moment to understand why it’s a moment and why moments are important & memorable.
So plan big for 2024
Plan lots of moments.
Lots of fun in whatever you decide to do.
I’m going to be sharing a lot more on my blog this year… 2023 was busy for a variety of reasons but I’m more committed in 2024… will be sharing more about technology in everyday life. But also, what is happening in the world and how we can better people (off course, with a tech twist).
With that, make some big plans and go for it…
Well, a fair few folk have been asking me, Bal – what’s the best present to get loved ones this Christmas?
Well there’s so much to choose from these days! Honestly, there were lots I recommended last year which would be still valid for this year – but nevertheless, since you’ve asked, I will share my Top Five Christmas Gift Ideas for 2023/
First up for the body..
We’re sitting down alot these days – and with that, our backs are not what they used to be. We’re not stretching and whilst most of us are members of the local gym, how much do you actually use it and how many of you actually stretch?
With this back massager – it sits on your chair and helps soothe those back muscles. Now you can get some that add heat – which is a good idea during this time of the year!
Next up, for the mind… (well, more the brain)
Our brains need exercising! And whilst we can look after our bodies, what about our minds? well, there’s alot of mind exercises and meditation you can do… however, remember the brain training on the old Nintendo Wii?! Well, there was a reason why it was so popular! It was because we need to exercise our brains! Otherwise… you know what happens when you don’t exercise!
You can download them onto your phone or tablet, and/or even better still – there’s a fair few on youtube (you will have to pause whilst you work answers out). You might be thinking.. Bal, how’s a link on youtube for brain games a gift? – well it is if you pay for an annual subscription for youtube!
Next up… exercise the brain but learn something new!
Reading – it’s important. We want to read, and some like physical books some e-books. Either way, great christmas presents – you can buy the latest inspirational book or a great fiction book. Either works… as long as it’s something they like.
You could go one better… and get a kindle for someone who loves to read all the time – with that, you often get some free books they can read.
Next up… get some good aroma’s around your home
Smells are important.
They can help you ease, relax and/or concentrate (depends what you’re doing). These can come in the form of oils, candles, bath salts, etc…
I’ve been using particular candles I got from Camden market – which are really good! You can buy different oils that help you with different things… relaxing, concentration, etc…
And onto my last gift idea.
This one’s different.
It’s the gift of time.
Now being honest, we’re so busy… do we really have time for friends and family. Whilst you’ll spend it with them, hows about doing something in particular with them. You can search on Etsy for ideas and cards with things to do with friends. But honestly, make a list of things you’d like to do with who and do it.
Sounds a little crazy, but say you want to do a carvery with a good friend… buy a carvery gift card for them, and tell them you want to have an evening out with them. Alternatively if you want to go cinema with someone. Buy a cinema gift card for them – and tell them, you want to go with them. The actual date you can work out later…but the thought of spending time with them is there.
Who’d have thought. As a technology advocate, I’d be suggesting you switch your tech off for a while?
Well… I am.
Bal… are you going crazy?
No, not in the slightest. I am noticing that we are ever so becoming more and more dependent on technology – and yes, we’re surrounded by it. But I’ve written/blogged about it before. We should always take a break from it. And there’s some method behind the madness (of what I’m suggesting!)
Firstly, when you take a break from the tech – you’ll appreciate it more when you come back to it.
Secondly, when you take a break from tech – and when you come back, you can be more focussed on what you need that tech to do or what you want from it. Make it work for you.
Thirdly, when you take a break from tech – you’ll notice other things. What I mean about this is – you won’t be scrolling and seeing a device – when you look up you may notice something different, something unique, something that then gives you an idea! (you may need to return to tech to then progress – but take that break).
We now have smart cars, smart homes, smart tv’s, smart watches, smart… well, everything is becoming smart! And that’s with the advancement of technology. Which is great. Because it’s meant to be quicker and easier to do things. That’s what smart means, right? – the smarter something is, the quicker or easier it is to do something.
But I’ve noticed that whilst there’s alot of talk about AI (Artificial Technology) – we’re very reliant on technology to do the basics for us or become, dare I say it… lazy (er).
I’m sat at my macbook writing this blog. I’ve not written for a long time. Yesterday, I met a friend of mine – Craig. We had a coffee. No device in sight. For an hour. It was great. We had lots of ideas and things we want to do. The great thing then was, we picked up our phones, made notes. Productivity. On your mobile phone, you can see what you have used your phone for… productivity, social media, etc… Have a look at the data – and what it’s telling you.
Data-led decisions can then enable you to be more productive.
Data-led decisions can then help you be more adventurous.
So, maybe it is time to switch off for a while – take a break and look out the window for inspiration.
I was recently watching some videos on Instagram. And there’s one that I’ve watched many times – and I love it. I usually refer to it on many occasions when I’m talking to others.
I’ve even written the first part of it, on my chalk board at home!
There’s so many takeaways you can have from the simple message. I take away that no matter what you’re planning, looking to, etc… focus on today. It’s similar to the book – The Power of Now. Focus on the now, the here and enjoy it. What you do today will help you in the future… that’s why enjoy the present moment.
And if you’re thinking… Bal, that’s great – but what is the rest of it?
Well, here you go… Enjoy!
I was speaking to someone today, whom had asked me – should I get an electric car?
My answer… there’s a few things you need to consider.
You see, it is quite simple – but the above questions really will help you. In fact… the first question is quite essential.
Then I was asked… are EV’s the future?
Now, that’s a great question.
The current push is on EV’s.
Remember when they said diesels are the best and we should all be driving them.
Well… there’s other options and who knows where this could go.
The other options are…
Hydrogen – like the Toyota Mirai
Ok, this is a cut-away image that shows what’s behind a hydrogen car – but the essential thing is, it’s an option away from electric.
Power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine
Now what’s the difference between these, electric and petrol?
Any other cars to consider?
Yes!
e-Fuel.
eFuels are produced with electricity from renewable sources, water and CO2 and are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. eFuels can be used in existing infrastructure and thus decisively and affordably reduce CO2 emissions
Porsche are leading the way with e-fuels, but we’re still a way off from having it all readily available. But there’s hope we can keep alot of our current cars as is… maybe.
So in all reality, with the ban coming in 2030 (ban of selling new petrol or diesel only cars – you’ll still be able to get hybrids), the optionsa are limited and with the push, as mentioned earlier, to electric… the option would be electric or hybrid.
So with that I leave you to prepare yourself, have a charger installed at home and start thinking more about your journeys.
Cars will be around. Don’t think, in the UK, we can do without them. As much as you try to say use other transportation modes… the problem is, trains are expensive and cars can often still work out as a viable option…. not in all cases, but majority.
Well, it sure has been a while! – I know… apologies. It’s just, it’s been super busy recently and I haven’t been able to dedicate the time I’d like to my blog. I’ve made a promise to myself (after a few people asked me why I’m not blogging anymore) that I will blog more.
Bal, where have you been and what you been doing?
Well… I was over in Nashville, USA for a week for the first week of May, then I was at the Gartner conference (in London) for a few days. And I’m not sure if this is a reason or not, but my Nottingham Forest needed a huge win against the table topping (until Man City took over), Arsenal… and Forest being Forest, beat them – which meant they’re in the English Premiership for another season!
So now I’ve a little more relaxed, I’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham next Sunday (June 4th) at around 6.30pm (but look out on my socials for the exact time) to talk about Tech! – that’s right, back to my, every two months’, BBC Radio interview where I’m asked what’s the latest and what’s happening.
Whilst there’s so much going on… honestly, everything from AI (ChatGPT) – if you’ve not heard about that, I’ll blog about it very soon! to all things robots and how the world is going to be taken over by bots!
However, what’s even more important than all that is what Mr Musk is up to…
Elon Musk’s brain-chip firm says it has received approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to conduct its first tests on humans.
The Neuralink implant company wants to help restore vision and mobility to people by linking brains to computers.
It says it does not have immediate plans to start recruiting participants. Mr Musk’s previous ambitions to begin tests came to nothing.
So what is Neuralink, Bal?
Neuralink hopes to use its microchips to treat conditions such as paralysis and blindness, and to help certain disabled people use computers and mobile technology.
The chips – which have been tested in monkeys – are designed to interpret signals produced in the brain and relay information to devices via Bluetooth. Experts have cautioned that Neuralink’s brain implants will require extensive testing to overcome technical and ethical challenges if they are to become widely available.
So whilst the reasons makes sense… the question is, what also will these chips do and once we all have them in our brain!
Now its website promises that “safety, accessibility and reliability” are all priorities during its engineering process. Its initial aim was to start planting chips in human brains in 2020, in order to honour a pledge made the year before. It later vowed to get started in 2022 – so safe to say there’s been delays, but it’s definitely coming!
So I’ll wrap it up today with the question… would you have a microchip in your brain?
Now, how we listen to music has changed alot.
From the trusted vinyl, to cassettes, to cd’s… to (remember minidisc?) and then we could save music files on our ipod/device and more recently, being able to stream music… from our favourite streaming provider.
I’ll be honest – not sure what will be next. I think there’ll be an element of AI – that’ll be able to sense your mood and behaviour and play something applicable from your playlists without you having to select something. So whilst AI will play something for us, at times we want to be in charge and select what we want. And with that… recently, vinyl’s have been selling. And selling quite well!
No longer just a niche hobby for dads and hipsters, vinyl is experiencing a major resurgence in mainstream music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) annual revenue report, vinyl records outsold CDs in the US last year for the first time since 1987, selling 41 million units against 33 million for CD.
Vinyl record sales have consistently increased over the last 16 years which is crazy thinking how streaming services have become the norm! This is all according to the RIAA report published on Thursday, now accounting for 71 percent of all physical music format revenue. The growth margins here aren’t trivial, either — while physical formats as a whole increased by 4 percent, earning $1.7 billion between 2021 and 2022, vinyl sales alone accounted for $1.2 billion, experiencing a 17 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year!
Wondering what is going on here…. well, there are several factors driving the vinyl revival. Many audiophiles claim the format provides a warmer, more authentic sound compared to digital. Nostalgia also plays a part for those who lived through the golden age of vinyl, but younger generations are driving sales too, praising the format’s tangibility and artwork. Artists for the Gen-Z and millennial demographic made up a significant number of record sales in 2022. Taylor Swift was the highest-selling artist last year, selling almost 1.7 million vinyl records alone! Wow!
So… whilst many of us have gone digital with our music needs – there is a growing number of folk who prefer the old, warmer sounds of a vinyl record. Though… whilst that is nice at home, you won’t be able to play it in your car… something, that for sure is a hobby.
And it’s these non-digital type of hobbies that are on the increase. Yes – there’s an element because it’s mainly for the music, but it’s also covers, the artwork, the material with the vinyl, and so much more. It’s holding that physical product in your hand.
In conclusion – we’ll continue to stream most of our music, because of it’s flexbility but.. there’s an increasing sense of enjoying our music. And that’ll be mainly via vinyl.