Bigger or better? In love and politics

Seth Godin is perhaps the most read author on business and marketing today. He blogs at http://sethgodin.typepad.com. Direct and simple and always making you think.

In his last post (Infinity- they keep making more of it), Seth talks about how most businesses are better off focusing on getting better (improving their products, processes, customer centricity..) rather than focus on getting bigger. How, in our quest to expand our market, sell to more customers and gain exposure to as many people as possible, we end up becoming all things to all people, losing the “edge” that gained us a loyal following initially.

This has parallels in our personal lives as well. How much time do we spend in deepening the existing bonds and cementing our current relationships? Do we make time for our family as often as we possibly can? Do we spend time with friends, pursuing common hobbies and interests?

One loving wife? Or many girlfriends to love?
None of our politicians are getting better; they are all getting bigger. Their “open-ness” to forming alliances with just about anyone has meant that we have now the marxists breaking bread with Mayawati and Jayalalitha. However, all alliances are temporary and will last only till the election results are declared. There are only a limited number of certainties in this election: about the politicians who will not work together, ever, come what may. These unlikely pairings include:

Mayawati and Mulayam, Mamata and CPM, Congress and BJP, Karat and Manmohan Singh.
Most other pairings are possible.
Notice, dear voter, how transient is their love for even those they have been in a formal alliance for more than 4 years? Laloo and Congress is a case in point. Or Naveen and BJP.

Dear citizen, are you being loved or being used?

We the people: summary

Elections are coming and by all accounts, this is the most dispiriting times for elections.

Economy in dire-straits presided over by a PM who is looking after 20 other ministries. Oh wait! He is at home after getting his internal plumbings fixed while the nation wonders who is doing his job. Talk about autopilot or 5 men at the wheels.

The way I read it is this, folks.

Congress wants the PM to lead it into the elections and win it for them. After that, they want him to fade away; Rahul Baba is waiting.

BJP wants is putting its best Ramsevak forward. All of 82 years old, RK Laxman’s inspiration for his “Common Man” has been prince in waiting for such a long time. Advani’s challenge is different from that of Manmohan. BJP may not be planning on Advani fading away after winning the elections and as a result there is no one clearly earmarked as a successor. Shouldn’t there be?

If you are uncomfortable, like me, with the alternatives, then Behenji is avaialable to take your vote.

As a nation, we have already proven that the post of the PM can be done by anyone, thus sending out a strong message of inclusiveness/ empowerment.. heck, we have had Deve Gowda as a PM and now we have Pratibha Patil as a President.

Jai Hind!