Satyabroto Banerji's Page

Would this amount to sacrilege?

I nearly threw the message away. An exhibition seemed a century away. It would not do for the Internet-savvy to be seen at such a do.

"Let me go for old time's sake". I mulled over the idea of attending.

A call from a dear friend sealed the matter. "Please come over and look in at our booth". It was a request beyond refusa… Continue

"Can you cut back on this?"

You can bet your life the question was really a suggestion. I had booked an entire Cyber-Cafe with multiple work-stations for an entire week-end. My accounts people were aghast at the size of the invoice I had landed-this for something that seemed to have nothing to do with the core business of serving a farming community.

You… Continue

"What if the retailer does not know how to use the Internet?"

It was tempting to use an expletive, but better sense took hold of me.

"Enter the order on his or her behalf".

My colleagues were satisfied with this response and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Internet classes available all over India. I cannot afford to sit in judgment over fellow-citizens who finished school before this Millennium dawned. It makes sense to lend a helping hand to each person willin… Continue

The siesta interregnum was welcome. The contents of the telephone call less so.

My potential (huge) client was full of it:

"The logistics are impossible".

"Our people are just not ready for this".

"It's fine if you can make something simple".

"Your proposal is not clear".

I was ready with a diatribe on the imperative for a pioneering spirit to go with a novel internet retailing venture. However, I kept my lips firmly shut, and agreed to rejoin the issue at a future face-to-face meeting.

G… Continue