Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

Physical to Digital… Part Deux!

In my last blog post, I spoke about how Whatsapp for Business can help your business or organisation prosper in the digital world.

Many, after reading that, did ask… but what about emails, Bal? – Surely people want to check you out on the world wide web and email you.

Yes…. and no.

Yes, you need a digital presence. So if you can have a simple website – then yes – do it! In fact, it depends what your business is – your target audience, etc… but yes… build a simple website.

As for emails….

That’s right – they are pre-Corona! Yes you can use emails, but less and less people are using emails. It’s all about the Instant Messaging. The quicker you get a reply, the quicker you can make a decision and the quicker you can make that sale or engage with the customer.

I was on the O2 website the other day. Looking at some deals. And up pops a box… would I like to talk to someone… with an option for Whatsapp! – how cool is that!!

So… if you haven’t got a website – then yes, you should have one – and provide instructions with how to contact you immediately!

So, your website is your business shop (you could call it that). People come there for information, understand and maybe order something. In addition to the shop – what else do you have physically? – because we can turn that into Digital!

Now – your website should be the front door to your business shop. If they want to browse products – then in my opinion you have options here and the best way to showcase these would be via social media rather than on your website.

Instagram. Product Photos. We’ll talk more about social media in future posts but if you aren’t on Insta, you’re missing out big time…

So in summary…. it’s a big NO NO to emails. It’s a big YES YES to having a simple website, instant messaging and getting onto social media to showcase your products!

Now… I appreciate, many folk will be doing this – but you’d be surprised, how many are not. In future blogs, I’ll talk about digital signatures, online payments, and thinking of the digital capabilities that are available…. that can help you! (Yes… everything from AI to robotics).

Categories
Uncategorized

Bal’s Friday Thought…

One of the things I’m usually informed is, that my communication skills are good. My ability to communicate (at all levels) and more importantly, to break something complex down and simplify… is a good skill.

I usually see it as an opportunity to tell a story….

Categories
Uncategorized

It won’t be pretty…

When you’re starting something, following your passion…. anything, it can be extremely difficult.

There’s people asking you, have you got a business plan? What’s your strategy? Who are your customers? Etc…

Whilst these are very important questions – there’s a phrase that you shouldn’t forget….. Progress over Perfection!

Get started. Find your customers (have an idea first who/where they could be!)

40 years ago, Rob Strasser, Nike’s first marketing head, put out this internal memo called “Principles.” Quite incredible just how little the company has wavered from these since….

What are your principles? – if it helps, I would recommend you read, Business for Punks! – great book!!

With this… you may be thinking, Bal…. what’s your passion and what are your principles?!

Great questions….. I have a few passions, all of which I’m progressing with, from Food (Bal’s Bakery), Football (which I enjoy – and am coaching a team!) and….. well, there’s a few more I’m working on, and will share more soon!

Categories
Uncategorized

5G? – Yes…but what about 6G!?!

Most of us…. are on 4G. That’s right, check your phone, and we’re usually connected (if we’re not living rural) on 4G. This means a quick connection and higher download speeds than the old 3G connectivity.

But there’s a need for speed!

We’re consuming more and more data! And for that data to be consumed, we’re running out of patience. We need it to be quicker. Faster.

Whilst the UK has embarked on 5G connectivity….

That’s right folks…. the government of South Korea has confirmed plans to carry out a 6G trial in 2026, according to a report by Business Korea. The South Korean government is anticipating the service to be commercially available as soon as 2028 or 2030.

The country is expected to spend approximately $169m over the course of five years to develop this technology.

But Bal… how fast will that be?!

The trial aims to achieve 1Tbps in data transmission speeds, which amounts to roughly five times faster than 5G and latency reduction to one-tenth of current 5G services.

FIVE TIMES FASTER THAN 5G!

To put this into context. 5G is to be 10 to 20 times faster than 4G. In theory, 5G is likely to reach speeds that are 20 times faster than 4G. 4G has a peak speed of 1GB per second; 5G could theoretically achieve speeds of 20GB per second.

Ok… here’s an example of speed;

So…. you can only imagine how quick it’ll be on 6G.

So be ready… get everything connected…. because speed won’t be an issue.

Categories
Uncategorized

iOS14

So…. iOS14 is out for Apple users!

For those who haven’t used it or been able to test it – now is the time for you to download and install on your mobile and iPad devices! Now – I will apologize to the many readers who are on Android – I will try to share some Android updates, but as I’m many things Apple…. I just had to write up about this!

Now there’s a lot of great features that are available. My daughter has been able to…

  1. Add Widgets – (according to her – it makes it look nicer!) Practically, it helps you get the information you want, quicker.
  2. Added Steve – Steve is a dinosaur game – which you can play whilst on the homes screen (a 2D dinosaur running game) – reminds me a lot like Snake…
  3. Personalising the phone to make it a Tangled theme… now instead of writing about this, here’s a photo of it…

Obviously – with point 3, you can have it to any Theme you want – more so… I think there’s a lot more flexibility with what you can do.

Now, there’s a lot of practical features also… best explained in this video…. Enjoy!

Oh… and don’t forget to download Steve. I’ll pass your thanks onto my daughter.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bal’s Friday Thought…

It’s all about action. It’s all about getting stuff done. It’s ok to talk/dream, however – would suggest you… Plan – Do – Check – Act!

Categories
Uncategorized

I Challenge you… (without challenging you)

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know I’m reading the book titled ‘think like a monk’, by Jay Shetty. It’s a great book! – thoroughly recommend it. It’s really got me thinking (whilst I’ve been reading it)…. about values, passion, etc…

And only the other day, did I see the below…

How awesome is that! Talk about passion!! Ferrucio had no desire to build a super car, but being told that he’s all about tractors and knows nothing about super cars… it was a challenge! The fire, the passion to prove someone wrong came out and Ferrucio built a super car!

It’s like that in life – when was the last time you were challenged?

Doesn’t have to be directly challenged. But in a situation. Where you thought to yourself – right, must do something.

The question then is, do you actually do something about it?

More often than not – we don’t have the resources, money, time, etc…. but aren’t these just excuses?

I’ve once used the phrase on my Friday Thought, ‘Knowledge is Power’. And then… as Pirelli go on to say… (and I often repeat it….), “Power is nothing, without Control”.

In this context – it’s all about what you can control. Doesn’t mean you HAVE to control it. If there’s something out of your control – there’s not much you can do, and you don’t have the power to. But… if it’s within your control… then you have the power!

Ferrucio made tractors. He had control of a factory that made tractors. He had the power to adapt. Gained some knowledge on super cars – bought in the right people, and started to produce super cars.

What can you control? – maybe you need to look around and think, what is within your control, and what would you like to change?

I was recently speaking to my Sensei. I mentioned to him, the football coaching was going well, explained that I’ve passed my FA Level 1 and got the coaching badge. Thinking about Level 2. Explained, what the different levels (up to 5) mean. I said… I can’t do premiership on Level 2 (then inserted a laughing emoji!)

His reply… “… but there’s nothing stopping you in doing all the levels, and then doing the Premiership, right?”

Damn! He’s sooooo right! There is nothing stopping me.

I can control which FA Badges I do. I then can have the power to coach at various levels, achieve the results…. through learning and gaining more knowledge.

What are you in control of, and have the Power to do?

Categories
Uncategorized

Tech to help with Mental Health

With a new lockdown on the horizon – many cities, like England’s second biggest city, Birmingham, is going into a ‘lockdown’ from Tuesday.

I appreciate this will have a huge affect on many folks mental health.

There’s many people who have been isolating and not going out…. there’s many who have been sensible, and there’s many who have no choice but to go to work/school, etc… however there’s been an increase in new cases, and therefore new measures are coming in place to control the spread of Covid-19.

Now – one area that is being talked about is mental health.

It’s not easy. If you’re at home. Not in your usual environment – talking, and meeting people (this includes family and friends).

To be able to talk – can be difficult. However, there is technology that can help you.

Introducing you to Replika. An AI (Artificial Companion) that will talk to you, get to know you and talk to you.

That’s right. Whenever you wish to talk – you open the app and start to text away. They’ll learn about you over time, and the Intelligence will be able to converse with you – like a good friend!

Now – nothing can replace the real conversation with real people – but technology is advancing so quick – that AI is able to learn about you, hold a conversation and ensure you’re ok.

It’s important to talk – and thoroughly recommend, if new measures are introduced in your area or community – please do look after your mental health.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bal’s Friday Thought…

Often it’s hard to break cycles. When you’re stuck in one…. you’re stuck. But are you? Well…. yes, and no.

You’re stuck because you may not have the right support network, the right comments/motivation, the right ambition & desire… to break from that circle. The key thing is you’re not stuck. You can break free…

I saw the below from Humble the Poet (which by the way, has some really good books out) – and I’ve slightly modified it… Go, Break The Cycle!

(Also… I shared this on my Insta Story… follow me, I’m @mrbalbansal on Insta)

Categories
Uncategorized

Floppy still being used!

Last week, I was with my uncle (socially distancing). He was working on his computer – inputting some information into an excel file. He then wanted to attach the excel file to an email, send it to someone who then will receive the information and can make changes and update a central excel file they have with the information being shared.

I suggested – why not put the excel file in a shared location (Dropbox, Google-Drive, etc…) and then no need to email, everyone can work on it – and everyone can see the changes and what’s being done.

“That’s too complicated, it’s easier to do it like this”.

It’s always easy when you know how.

Then, it was suggested if the file is too big, they should use a usb stick and put the information on that and share it with whoever needs it.

Made me laugh. Looks like we’re going backwards rather than forward! I bet airlines get their updates via pigeon carrier – LOL! (close – they use Floppy disk…… what?!)

That’s right. The Boeing 747 receives it’s critical updates via the old 3.5″ Floppy Disk!

Navigation data aboard Boeing 747-436 airliners is updated via a 3.5" floppy drive. The aircraft were built in the late 1990s

Ask they would say in rhyming-slang, “Can you Adam and Eve it?!” – which means, can you believe it?!

These bad boy aircrafts were built in the 1990’s and not much has changed.

Boeing 747-400 - Wikipedia

There’s still 414 of these in the skies (well, operational…) as of June 2020.

Now… whilst writing this, many of the younger generation will be asking, what is a ‘floppy disk’?… It’s a small plastic device, that slots into a drive and holds information. Not alot of information. Just to add.

The hot new archaic music format is 3.5” floppy disks

Ok… you know how much 1GB is, right? – below shows how many floppy disks you would need to equal 1 Gigabyte…

How Many Floppy Disks Would It Take To Equal 1 Gigabyte? - Page 12 - TechRepublic

Just imagine the number of floppy’s required to provide critical updates.. how time consuming it must be for the engineer!

Why am I sharing this…. to learn how we can be quicker, easier and simpler when the need to share or transfer information is. And help the older folk amongst us…