in the age of the internet: remote work from home !

We are thinking of implementing a remote workplace where people work from their own homes /places and come together only when needed.

-few things to think about

Voice over IP system ( every worker has to be linked with at least 256kbps connection) and their special phone (or computer) acts as a communication tool. The server could be an “astreisk” open source VOIP system in linux. (free)

A special online time log system which logs time for your projects and makes you basically efficient.
(we are still trying to find one which suits our purpose).

Everyone has to have a backup system for electricity outages (which is notorious in Nepal.) Recommend usage for laptops.

An online project management system such as the free open source ProjectPier system.

An online client invoicing system (such as Freshbooks).

and every employee gets paid directly to their bank account.

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Don’t forget to add more suggestions !!!

Top ten frustrations with human resources (experiences)

so here goes the list for the frustrations with dealing with “un-professionals”, while running Digital Max Solutions

1) People take the job as a training first - execution of their responsibilities second(they are less inclined to feel responsible for their jobs.)

2) ‘Grass is greener on the other side’. is killing us. Competent manpower hard to retain for more than a year.

3) Some people work hard to impress you during the early months of their career with you, and then once they win your trust, start slacking off noticeably (intentionally /unintentionally). Am i missing something here?

4) YOu would have to invest most of your resources on infrastructure management, insurance and backup/security of the infrastructure, leaving not much resources for human resources trainings and career development.

5) Work ethics is rudimentary for most people with less than 5 years of experience. “Diligence” is in short supply amongst a wide array of young professionals in Kathmandu. Again, the current brain drain is accelerating, with it, the thinking that, “life is easy out in foreign countries” is solidifying in the young generation.

6) Constant Distractions in Kathmandu seem to affect an employee’s morale more negatively than on work. Young people are more disturbed by not being able to comprehend or able to find solutions to the complex reality of Nepal.

7) Not many people are interested in questioning themselves and their bosses about the career direction/chart. (blindly following whatever is given to them or wherever they are led). Very few are inspired enough to make a career path.

8 ) Common sense (highly undervalued and extremely deficient amongst upcoming IT professionals in Nepal).

9) “The grass is greener on the other side” thought is ingrained, plastered, super-glued !

10) “Because of My family” is the primary excuse for all deal breaking, ties-breaking decisions, some of the employees make. I have rarely seen one own up to their responsibilities cleanly. Those that have owned up, i have only abundant respect for them.

Again, this applies to most professionals i have met while running DMS and talking with other entrepreneurs in Nepal running companies in Kathmandu.

I will try to write how i have tried to counter these issues in a later post (hopefully soon).

The thing about thinking big, staying small.

When one wants to start a new venture (specially the young ones) , i recommend this :

a) Do what you like to do. (seriously!).
b) Stay small (as small as you can.) Reasons, managing people and the environment around us are one of the hardest thing to do. It drains our creative energies and refocuses our energies to mundane tasks of administrating, managing and whim of other’s emotions.
c) Instead, improve your own image (brand, value, worth) by carving out a niche and concentrating on becoming the best at that niche. i.e if you are the best at making “circular breads” and enjoy making it, stick to it and become the best at it. You will find enough loyal customers as you build your brand.
d) Now Stay small, think big . concentrate on how you or you and your small team can think big while staying small. You make a bigger impact this way. Don’t let that ego of you persuade you otherwise.

“if you are looking for a job, join a one person company, if not, join a small organization”
and hope you will enjoy the ups and downs !

Ujw

so you think you are special…

so you think you are special??

here is a thought: On your next job application….,

DON’T SEND RESUMES/BIO DATA WHILE APPLYING.

Don’t. ((full stop there))

Instead: (As Seth godin writes and I wholly endorse it )

“How about three extraordinary letters of recommendation from people the employer knows or respects?
Or a sophisticated project they can see or touch?
Or a reputation that precedes you?
Or a blog that is so compelling and insightful that they have no choice but to follow up? “

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2123/27146996

as usual check out Seth article…its his idea. i wholly endorse it.

I get a lot of my inspiration from “that wise guy”.

Career driven or not?

I see young people that i interview (almost on a daily basis) have a problem in commiting to thier career.

Most Young nepalis i have met, seem more preoccupied with their family and their family affects their decision to such an extent, that they seem more than happy “half time”, even if that meant lower pay and lower career growth opportunity.
which means lot of holidays, and Nepal’s atrocious number of government holidays. (2nd highest in the world, last i recall!)

Career comes behind family and i believe this impeds one’s growth professionally specially when you are raw and need career experience to grow.

What say?
Career or Family?
I don’t see balance for fresh young people trying to start working in any industry.

I see no sense of urgency to succeed young. As if they are fine to take their time to achieve something, which is alarming to me. This way, a company’s growth is stunted, as it relies on its bright people to push it up.