(from : National Academy of Engineering)

1. Electrification

2. Automobile

3. Airplane

4. Water Supply and Distribution

5. Electronics

6. Radio and Television

7. Agricultural Mechanization

8. Computers

9. Telephone

10. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

11. Highways

12. Spacecraft

13. Internet

14. Imaging

15. Household Appliances

16. Health Technologies

17.Petroleum and Petrochemical Technologies

18. Laser and Fiber Optics

19. Nuclear Technologies

20. High-performance Materials

They even had initial order booking details for their product with people signed up with a notional money towards booking. Incidentally, this notional money was good enough to qualify as 20% of their investment to raise the next 80%. All they missed was “experience” of any kind of professional work!

All five people on the review board were really shocked to see the maturity of the idea, detailing and the passion these “kids” demonstrated. But, it was too difficult to believe this will work. Masters of several successful ventures and great risk takers of their time, found it difficult to see through this budding idea! Not to disappoint these kids who have been running around for a while, they decided to offer 10% of the ask, as a grant!

Pleasantly surprised as well as clueless on the next steps to raise the remaining fund required, these kids huddled for 15 mins. They were not keen on knowing why they were rejected the funding, nor any advice to go forward. Instead, they announced their decision to take the grant and not raise the remaining fund!

It was now the turn of VC team to be surprised!

Kids had a simple math worked out to show how they will realize their dream – Use the money they had collected from order booking and add this grant to make 1/4th of the volume required, to bootstrap and continue the chain. They believed if customers liked their product, they will get more of them sign-up, build a network and move forward….

It’s obvious that

New knowledge is filtered through existing knowledge, whether or not it is accurate!

But these kids had designed the product for their community – which they knew well, connected personally and priced it as if – they would buy for themselves! Currency of the knowledge ruled their decision!

They were immersed in their thought, idea and the work they set out for… This, I guess gave them the speed of thought, perseverance and the courage to go against so called conventional wisdom!

Wishing them great time in their journey….

~

I was backstage to meet the artist making her 100th appearance on the stage. She was fully nervous. Trying to breath normally. Working hard to keep the composure. But it was visible. Very much – loud and clear that she was waging a war on fear – fear of failure! It looked odd for a performer with such a big reputation and accolades from all over the world… but it was the true picture…

Fear does not go away. No it does not even rest! The artist, the teacher, the soldier and every worker live by the same code of conduct! The battle must be fought anew everyday, if you wish to perform!

~

Had an interesting learning today when I took my son to the school for the AIPMT qualifying exam. This being an important national level entrance test qualifier for all those aspiring Doctors, the tension was in the air. Kids pressed for time due to ongoing schedule changes in their Pre-University Course were rushing with their parents and the admission tickets.

Two teachers at the gate were verifying the admission tickets and finding that every 3rd student had one issue or the other – no attestation on the photograph from their graduating school or a gazetted officer or no photograph at all. Though there was a fine print declaring this mandatory need, it was so common to see high percentage of non-compliance.

It is quite natural to send back these students not complying to the requirement. Kids were nervous, parents were down with shame of not taking care of this aspect and really helpless though some of them were authorized signatories themselves!

Then came the school principal smiling and assuring positive spirit through her gesture. She asked all kids to pool in around a desk created to get the attestation after verifying the records. She had a photographer stationed to take and print the same for those missing the photo on the admission ticket. It was so reliving for kids and parents alike. Every parent thanked her and offered to pay for the photo.

Flatly refusing the money and with her charming smile, she said “I know what I am doing. It is my job to ensure that all kids who prepared so well get to do well without any procedural issue. I’m doing this just to remind myself that it is important to own my job than just do it mindlessly. If you make a promise to do the same in your lives, I have accomplished my mission! Thank You!”

She truly influenced several hundred next generation citizens while transforming the current ones with such a subtle approach of demonstrating the value of owning the job!

~