FMCG Brands Online Today

by Rajiv Jadhav

We live in a world inhabited by millions of brands, each fighting for our attention. With media fragmentation on the rise, wily marketers try to leverage each and every resource in an effort to get consumers to take notice of them. Their arsenal includes (not restricted to) new product launch buzz, media advertising, product packaging and shopper marketing initiatives. Thus, the average person is bombarded by approximately 30,000 messages a day � that�s 1,250 messages an hour and 20 messages a minute! [1]

The world has indeed changed. Marketers are beginning to come to terms with the fact that brands do not reside atop shop shelves or in cute commercials � but in the minds and hearts of consumers. Evolved marketers are increasingly embracing the concept that true brand ownership lies with their consumers and not with them. This motivates them to consistently make their brands relevant to their target audience by increasingly being seen at popular venues like social networking communities. Here visitors can very often engage with the brand in a way that they consider interesting by creating content around it and discussing it intensely through numerous forums and blogs. Consider the My Space phenomenon. The community boasts of having over 106 million registered users[2] and is one of the oldest & most popular online communities worldwide. Marketers are quickly leveraging its voracious popularity (amongst teens, tweens and young adults) as a strategic marketing tool. For instance, boosted by a significant ad buy on MySpace to support the May 2006 movie release, X-Men 3 garnered 3.2 million friends on its profile. Other mainstream brands have (with much success) entered and created a niche for themselves on Myspace; each garnering numerous friend additions (Impressions, involved exposures) like Nike Soccer (43,000 friends), Jack-in-the-Box (1.64 Lakh friends), Honda Element (43,159 friends), Aquafina (16,302 friends) and mobile telephony giant Cingular Wireless� Cingular Sounds (38,108 friends).[3] MySpace seems to be starting a trend by driving adspend on social networking sites. eMarketer estimates that marketers will spend $280 million on social network advertising in the United States in 2006. The largest chunk of that spending will go toward MySpace, which eMarketer estimates will generate $180 million in U.S. ad revenue this year. eMarketer projects that ad spend will increase to $1.9 billion by 2010. This rapid growth assumes that marketers will embrace the one-to-one-to-many style of marketing that social networking makes possible. The figure also reflects aggressive growth projections that Wall Street analysts have set for MySpace.[4]

All of us know that the most potent form of advertisement is a personal endorsement/referral from a friend � since the motive to disburse the information has no commercial underpinning. It simply stems from a unique experience (good or bad) which a friend wants his peer to be aware of. This process of message transfer/communication is termed viral communication since it is akin to a cold virus transferring from one person to another or the way a computer virus spreads with every forward. Marketing initiatives are becoming more and more personal. Marketers realize that consumers are constantly talking about them and that a certain sentiment if established strongly enough could either make or break them overnight. It wasn�t that long ago (September 2003, to be precise) that the Niestat brothers created a web hysteria with their expose on Ipod�s battery replacement policy (or lack thereof) with IpodsDirtySecret.com which hosted a film that documented their experience with iPod customer service. They forwarded that web address to 30 of their friends which resulted in 300 hits by the end of that very day and over 40,000 the next day![5] The movement was so powerful and so profound that it got national news coverage and extremely bad PR for Apple � who was then forced to change its battery replacement policy within 2 weeks of that story breaking. What�s amazing about this is that, this was an act of love, not hate! The Niestat brothers were so in love with the iPod & Apple products that they thought Apple�s response was very �un-apple-like� especially since they had remained loyal to the company during its choppy past.

Marketers are beginning to recognize this and have begun to start thinking about ways and means to motivate consumers to evangelize their brand (positively) amongst their peers. Axe which woos young males with the simple yet unignorable proposition of guaranteeing female attraction is, in our opinion, on the forefront on consumer engagement with various initiatives that include Vixens (sexy models doing silly things), Evanandgareth.com, TheGameKillers.com (dealing with people that stifle the attraction game-play) all housed on TheAxeEffect.com has gone far in establishing and re-establishing Axe�s dominance in the minds of young males when it comes to deodorant fragrance choices. It is the ONLY obvious choice since consumers recognize that Axe truly understands what�s really important to them and constantly strives to deliver that in the most engaging and entertaining way possible. Evanandgareth.com is an interesting case study, wherein two everyday young males were asked to tour America and write the playbook on how to seduce women and document their daily experiences on their video blog. Needless to say, numerous people followed the mis/adventures of the duo which led to numerous repeat visits to the video blog site and active discussions on the site�s numerous visitor-created forums. Other brands like Philips Norelco, Nestea Ice are not that far behind in the race to innovatively engage and entertain consumers. They do this by: a) creating content and properties that are relevant and hip to their respective target groups and, b) create an environment that nurtures community building - where consumers may freely discuss issues that are important to them through various blogs and message boards housed on the site. The sites motivate visitors to register (in order to participate in the host of activities offered on the site) and evangelize the site amongst their peers so that they may join them in that unique experience. These initiatives all go way beyond the product/brand giving the effort a sense of vastness and credibility since the end result expected is not sales but customer engagement. Thus the consumer is so taken in by the brand�s attempt to understand his evolving world, address his latent, (at times) unarticulated needs that he totally buys into the brand at very emotional, intimate level which would never have been possible by being exposed to a TV/Radio commercial or Print/Outdoor advert.

India is not that far behind when it comes to virally powered marketing ideas. Brands like Clinic All Clear, Axe (ComeToAxeland.com), Colgate Max Fresh (MaxFreshClub) and Sunsilk (SunsilkGangofGirls.com) are making serious headway with engaging and delighting consumers in way that are fresh and new to the Indian market. Clinic All Clear�s (CAC) MakeYourMoves.com is like a virtual flirting game where one can choose between moves (on the opposite sex) and watch the outcome of their choices in a prerecorded video window. The product integration is not apparent and the entire activity seems geared to entertain and to help visitors realize that CAC truly understands the psyche of its target audience. In just five days after launch the site had received 5000 registrations, 2 lakh user sessions of 18 minutes each and 1.4 million page views. By the end of the first five weeks registrations more than doubled to over 1400, and there were a total of 3.2 million page views, of which 77,000 constituted unique visitors.[6] The site has other audio visual components like Paris Hilton�s latest music video as well as the ability to make a movie with its desi flavored movie maker which when produced can be voted on and discussed on a highly active blog. Till date over 5000 movies have been made online and the site has had over 3.8 million hits.[7] Colgate launched its foray into this new media with Maxfreshclub � a community site launched on Valentine�s Day, promoted the viral and topical �Max Muuaah� by which a user could send an e-kiss (of varying intensities!). Over 2000 �muuaahs� were sent on Feb 14th alone. �Crystal Quest� and Crystal Challenge� had users hunting for/ collecting the cooling crystals to drive home the brand message. Over 1 lakh unique users (60 percent in the age group of 21-30 � core brand target audience) came to the site over a 3 month period and spent an average of 9 minutes.[8] Sunsilk gang of girls � India�s first ever all girl community online has also tasted success with over 2 lakh members, over 20,000 gangs being created and the site boasting of over 150 million hits. The site is powered by blogs, numerous forums, games and syndicated content.[9] Even categories that do not lend themselves immediately to viral ideas like travel services (MakeMyTrip.com) and financial services (TATA-AIG Maharaksha) are jumping on to this bandwagon in a big way. MakeMyTrip.com created a buzz with its highly entertaining virals (Sita haran, Ram-Lakshan, Chidiya Udi, The Moving Train) that communicated the site�s ability to offer the best travel deals online. The virals took about 2-5 days to gain popularity with the effects diminishing in about ten days to two weeks. The entire campaign reached about 250,000 unique visitors.[10]

Gone is the era of �out of sight = out of mind�. Today�s awareness mantra seems to be more like �out of mind = out of sight� since consumers are more likely to engage products/services that they perceive to be receptive to their evolving tastes, habits and preferences and who delight them right through the purchase-consumption and post-purchase process. We live in exciting times. The rules of the game have changed significantly. The lines between what is marketing and entertainment have blurred. It�s all about entertainment now, since, it�s only when brands entertain consumers with their engagement initiatives that the consumer recalls both the experience and the brand that powered that unique and is then motivated to draw others into the fold to share in that experience to make it bigger not only for himself but for himself AND others as a group. The concept of �one� just got bigger. What�s key today is individuals and their leanings towards the communities they build, their participation within them and the way they evangelize them to constantly create richness and visualize a better, more informed and involved world.

[1] Src: Fortune Magazine: �Excuse Me, Please, Do You Mind If I Sell You Something?�,

by Anne Fisher, June 21, 1999 http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/06/21/261693/index.htm

[2] Src: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySpace

[3] Src: Imedia: 5 Brands make their mark on Myspace, by Nanette Marcus http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/11010.asp

[4] Src: iMedia: MySpace drives Ad Spend, By: Debra Aho Williamson http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/10656.asp

[5] Src: Fox News interview Jan 9, 2004 http://neistat.com/pages/press_holding/fox.htm

[6] Src: iMediaConnection: Creative Showcase http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/11315.asp

[7] Src: Clinic Al Clear flirts with the consumer, June 17, 2006 http://www.indiantelevision.com/mam/headlines/y2k6/june/junemam71.htm

[8] Src: Media2win: Building online destinations with a difference http://newmedia.agencyfaqs.com/the_net_at_work/18.html

[9] Src: exchange4media: Sunsilk Gang of Girls strikes the right chord with 150 million hits, September 30, 2006

[10] Src: Marketing Sherpa: Viral Hall of Fame 2006 http://www.marketingsherpa.com/vas2006/6.html

11 Things You Ought 2 Know About Me

1. We live in a world made up of a multitude of heterogeneous peoples. I think Humanity is the one element that binds us together. Being able to relate to people irrespective of diverse culture and creeds, in my opinion, is important for our collective harmony and growth. This belief has been reaffirmed over the years post conversing with a diverse set of peoples over the World Wide Web.

2. Fantasy dominated the early, formative years of my life. I was very taken in by Superman and his ability to be super. This inspired me to try to be super in my own unique way. The creation of 'Rajivness' - an eternal state of being abundantly pleased with the self.

3. Music is my passion and an integral part of me. I was humming Roxette's - She's got the look; one day, when a couple of people around me joined in each singing in his own style. The melody in the fusion that resulted was fascinating. The way a tune got through to a heterogeneous set of people and had the exact same (joyous) effect on each individual amazed me.

4. Learning about the world cultures fascinates me. Chatting one evening on the Internet, I met a girl from Sofia (Bulgaria) and initiated conversation in her native tongue 'Zdrasti! Kak si? Hello! How are you?' The connection that was created amazed me. I learnt that people are most receptive when spoken to in a language most familiar to them.

5. My interest in culture extends beyond our universe. The warmth and care that some of these evoke is truly remarkably. I do not believe in goodbyes. To close friends I say live long and prosper.

6. Embedded in the depths of what moves me are the virtues of Valor and Courage. To persevere in the face of adversity, even when no hope seems in sight and to emerge victorious (bruised, but not broken) is outstanding in my opinion. The movie 'Gladiator' occupies a special place in my mind and heart. It inspires me to persevere.

7. One of my favorite words is 'why'. Many people think it is trivial and childish. I guess they don't share my fascination with discovery. I think questions are more important than answers. They cause discomfort since they challenge popular belief, but they are also the harbinger of change and very often, introduce a new era of learning and improvement.

8. Michael Jordan once said that man was meant to fly. This inspired me greatly. The act of doing the unthinkable with grace and style even for a few brief moments is exhilarating. Improving my ability and pushing my limits is an enduring goal in sport and life.

9. I savor individuality. It is both refreshing and provocative. It helps keeps things alive and interesting. It is that one thing that gives us identity and a feeling of self.

10. During a group meeting late one night, when we were unable to analyze a case study a quarrel erupted since the submission was due in a few hours. I found the entire situation amusing and laughed out loud. The quarrel paused. I drew the group's attention to their childish antics. Everyone burst out laughing. After that, everything seemed much clearer and we were able to crack the assignment and do a good job as well. It was interesting how a little humor could so rapidly turnaround the entire situation.

11. At age 6, to check if a lizard could swim I let one in a soda bottle, only to watch its fatal drowning My curiosity for things has sobered down over the years and I'm still fascinated with the unknown and the undone.

TO BOLDLY GO -(an essay)

To Boldly Go..

"When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one; but in doing so you're not left with a handful of mud either." .....Leo Burnett, Chicago 1926.
This has been my credo ever since I graduated college in Mumbai in 1997. I have always had a curious bent of mind and have enjoyed probing the undiscovered and the undone. I have found this process to be enriching, enlightening, and at most times, rewarding in some sense or the other.

For sometime now, I have had a fascination with communication- it excites me to think of the effect a message may have on a disparate set of people and how people's needs and wants may be influenced in favor of certain goods and services. I have always enjoyed and found challenging, the process of communicating effectively, creatively and in an engaging fashion with a wide variety of people. My "audience" has widened exponentially to include not only my parents, friends, and teachers, but also business associates, colleagues, clients and their customers.

I think it would be pertinent to briefly reflect upon my experiences in India, in the field of marketing communications prior to my arrival in the US. I completed my undergraduate studies from the University of Bombay in Bombay, India, majoring in Accounting and Finance. As an undergrad, and a high-schooler before that, I've always had a creative bent of mind. A trait and a personality type that I didn't think would really be the right fit for what I thought was the extremely dry profession of Accounting (however, with all the creative things happening in the Accounting profession these days, maybe I was too quick to judge). Upon graduating college I was fortunate to land a job at BDDP, a prestigious advertising agency in Bombay. I worked at BDDP for two years on the Nilfisk-Forbes account in both creative and public relations account management. As a trainee copywriter I was involved in the creation of two internal communication films for Eureka Forbes Silver Circle Club and International Sales Division respectively. As a Junior Account Executive I specialized in Internal Corporate Communications. Through this experience I learnt that in order to further my career I would need to get a Management degree. I enrolled into the MBA program at Welingkar's Institute (affiliated to Temple University, PA) in Bombay and specialized in Marketing. Graduate school was a great experience for me. Being able to choose an area of concentration and focus completely on it was an extremely motivating and rewarding experience. The experience molded me into a true team player and helped me to develop leadership skills.

Being born under the sign of the Water Bearer, my Aquarian traits of originality and inventiveness, I believe, lent itself to the field of communications. My experiences in advertising taught me a lot. Whilst at Saatchi, Y&R and D'Arcy (on various projects) I learnt the importance of research in the communication creation process - specifically Usage & Attitude (U&A) studies. Since communications are meant to be liked before they can be persuasive, the advertiser must understand the psychology of his audience. Working at these esteemed organizations exposed me to some very interesting techniques like, qualitative and quantitative studies, dip-stick surveys, focus group discussions and customer behavior observation.
The idea that effective communications needed to be entertaining and engaging was driven home through my experiences working on Philips CE at Euro RSCG and with Leo Entertainment at Leo Burnett. At Euro RSCG a copywriter asked my opinion about a television commercial he had created for Philips Automotive Lighting; the ad started on a lonely deserted highway with sounds of a car engine drawing closer and closer. When the sound was at its loudest the moon above was seen (illuminated) and then disappeared as the sound of the car engine faded. This sequence of events looped twice in the commercial before the product window appeared, followed by the 'Lets Make Things Better' tag line. I recommended him to loop the sequence thrice as I thought this would clarify the message without losing the intended subtlety. As predicted by me - the commercial won Silver at the 2001 NY Festivals.

At Leo Burnett, my main account was The Hallmark Entertainment Channel. At the time Hallmark was making its foray into the ultra-competitive S.E. Asian and Australian satellite television market. I was given the responsibility for the promotion of their movies and television programs. Through certain tactical and strategic efforts we were able to increase the channel's viewership significantly over a six month period. My most memorable and challenging campaign was the StarTrek Voyager campaign. This was an edgy outdoor, radio and internet advertising campaign. Keeping in mind the content of the show, I put together a unique on-ground event concept that was intended to be pilot tested in India's key meters. I envisioned a 'Be a Captain for a Day' campaign that allowed members of the public (present on site) to sample the show. A truck was designed to resemble the starship USS Voyager. We set these trucks up at key locations (hang-out spots) in the city. People were invited to enter the back of the truck - where the bridge of the ship was recreated. Sitting on the Captain's chair, a person would play a simulated videogame, with all the thrills of having the ship toss and turn, just like on the show. If the participant completed the game successfully, he/she would be given a certificate that stated he was deemed fit to enter Starfleet Academy and to tune in to Hallmark Channel weekdays from 9 to 11 pm for details. This 'stunt' generated both interest in the show and awareness, while skillfully plugging the show's name, network and show times in a seamless fashion.

Working in India fulfilled my short-term goals of entering and learning the dynamics of the field of advertising. However in the long run it was my goal to broaden my horizons and look toward a more global landscape. Keeping this in mind I decided to look State side. I enrolled in the New Jersey Institute of Technology and decided to develop a technical skill set that I think is critical in this day and age. I did a MS in Management specializing in eCommerce. After completing this program, however, I realize that in order for me to make a foray into the US ad world I would need the backing of a reputed communications school. One that has a well-recognized program and an influential alumni circle. Thus hath my travels brought me to Emerson College.
Emerson will help me to broaden my horizons, which, for the most part have been acutely national in the Indian context, to international and global dimensions. The wealth of knowledge that I possess through living, studying and working in India coupled with my unique educational background (BCom - Accounting, MBA - Marketing, MS - Ecommerce) will both enrich and enliven the experience for all the program's participants. Specifically, I hope Emerson, will help me strengthen and fine-tune my skills to equip me to meet the challenges and demands of working in the US. I hope to be able to leverage the one-year, which it takes to complete the Master of Arts in Global Marketing Communication & Advertising program, into a lifetime of "grabbing stars".

My PASSIONS:

I am very passionate about Star Trek. I feel very strongly that Star Trek holds the key to the progress of our species. Star Trek has shown us excerpts of a future that's not so distant where the people of earth are united and work toward one cause a common cause the progress of mankind the exploration of how man can reach his full potential. The technologies that Gene Roddenberry shared with us in the early 70s have all slowly but surely been realized ? flip communicators, mini-discs, sliding doors and Artificial Intelligent computers that respond to verbal commands. Scientists in Australia have achieved some success at teleportation they have been able to transport one tachyon particle from one location to another in a lab. Years from now people may not giggle or laugh when the phrase - beam me up Scottie - is heard since teleportation will be a reality. Star Trek has fueled our imagination. It has given us all hope that nothing is impossible and that when we 'boldly go' there is no final frontier.

Advertising gyan from the book - The Lasker Story

1. Advertising = News, it is this ?News? appeal which advertising should have, which informs it?s audience of something new & that it is deserving of their reading attentions.

2. Advertising = Salesmanship in Print :- The ad must sell itself effectively to it?s reader, just as a saleman would, to a doubting, skeptical prospect. i.e. firstly informing the target of the product; that it is new in the market, it?s benefits & uses, how these would accrue to the user etc. thus generating a certain level of interest in the mind of the prospect for the product.

3. ?The Reason Why? : Is vitally essential to any successful copy. ?Why should the target avail of this product and this product only, as opposed to its closest competitors. This ?reason? should be eloquently & articulately related in the copy, in the most simplest form ? for maximum impact.

4. Negative Usage : in copy is a strict ?No ! No ! ? people buy the product for what it is & not for what it is not. When you tell them what the product is not they still don?t know what the product is. Thus, a wasted effort.

5. An Agent was expected to ?Merchandise? i.e. to make his copy interesting & responsive.

6. Never go to the extreme of suggesting that the target is actually in need of the product because of his current position / predicament / situation eg the washer 1900 ad. The usage of the word ?enslaved? did not gel well because, though this fact might have been true, the target subconsciously denied this fact of being reduced to that level of servitude / slavery, plus there was no news element, ?Reason Why? reasoning coming through.

7. The best way for people to appreciate the product was to appreciate the person behind the product.? ? Claude Hopkins' thoughts with reference to Chrysler Motors (& Lee Iokoka) ad campaign.

8. A picture should be used only when it told the story better than the copy could.

9. An agent should never be the inspirational genius behind a business. (i.e. he on the management) An agent should never be involved with a client?s business to such an extent so that he loses the ?outside? perspective he once had & then fails in his primary objective of understanding the pulse of the market.

10. ?What may appeal to the manufacturer the most, may appeal to the consumer the least & vice-versa?. It is thus the agent?s job to identity that factor which appeals to the consumer the most & treats it accordingly in the copy. So that the target may find something he needs/which appeals to him, in the copy eg Schlitz Beer ? which said that the bottles were cleansed in a very high temperature steam to prevent the fermentation of the beer.
The trick is to have / develop a flair for being sensitive to what the consumers will react favourably to and to know what will not work. In order to develop this flair, you would need a great deal of experience- which upon hitting you will initiate a reaction from you (based on instinct), which empowers you with the power of selectivity ? to infer out of that experience ? that which will aid you in any given situation.

11. L & T?s Philosophy ?? Common sense about all things, scores uncommon results in advertising.? Common sense is often the basic formula used in successful advertising. One also may be inspired by the essence evoked from award winning ads.

12 ? The miracle of advertising is that when applied in a common-sense way, brings forth magical results . Common-sense has the uncommon quality of attracting immediate response.?

13 The province of an advertising agent is to gain 2 points for the client:
~ entrenched leadership
~ consistant earnings
He must not sacrifice anyone for the other.

14 No advertiser can make a success of a manufacturer who would not be successful without it. i.e. unless the product is inherently of merit & ?in time? will catch on as being dependable & trust worthy ? the manufacturer would be successful; but would take a little longer without advertising.

15 There is no advertising agent who can make a man stand-up, if he does not know his own business. ? The ad man is just an able helper in communicating to the various publics, the message of the manufacturer?s product if the manufacturer does not know to conduct his business, then no ad man can do that for him.


16 Then again, no advertiser can succeed so well without, the advertising expertise of an agent - the flair of the agent to know what?s ?in? & what's ?not? with the mass public.

THE OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW.

Moving Thoughts

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting
the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will
know how to be grateful for that gift.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often
times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one
which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch
and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it
was the best conversation you've ever had.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it,
but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until
it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that
they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it
to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in
yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to
like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to
forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth;
even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it
takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that
makes your heart smile

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that
you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be
what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance
to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough
trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough
hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it
hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of
everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along
their way.

Happiness lives for those who cry, those who hurt, those who
have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can
appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.
Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you
can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and
heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you
was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who
is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Quotes on Creativity and Originality

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.
Mary Lou Cook

Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple.
Charles Mingus

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns to look at things in a different way.
Edward De Bono (adapted)

Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative

vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.
Sir Cecil Beaton

The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail.
Edwin H. Land

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Oscar Wilde

I invent nothing, I rediscover. Rajivness

The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd.

The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.
Alan Ashley-Pitt

The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.
Arthur Koestler

Quotes on Criticism

Brilliant people talk about ideas. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people.

A sneer is the weapon of the weak.
James Russell Lowell

A critic is a legless man who teaches running.
Channing Pollock

Criticism is the disapproval of people, not for having faults, but having faults different from your own.

Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it.
Sam Rayburn

To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard

All my life people have said that I wasn't going to make it.
Ted Turner

Those who discourage your dreams have most likely abandoned their own.
Rajivness

Rajiv's Pearls of Wisdom

He is the atheist,
who does not believe in himself. .............. Rajivness

Don't submit to stupid rules

Be yourself and not a fool

Don't accept average habits

Open your heart and push the limits............Michael Cretu - Enigma

My VISION

When you reach for the stars...

you may not quite get one

But in doing so...

you're not left with a handful of mud either.........- Leo Burnett, Chicago 1926

My Credos

What the mind can conceive....

....the body will achieve

- a Rajiv Original

What we do in life..

....echoes an eternity.

- Gladiator (scripted by John Logan)

How Sexy is your Name

According to studies, the first letter of your first name reveals your sexual identity

A - You are not particularly romantic, but you are interested in action. You mean business. With you, what you see is what you get. You have no patience for flirting and can't be bothered with someone who is trying to be coy, cute, demure, and subtly enticing. You are an up front person. When it comes to sex, it's action that counts not obscure hints. Your mate's physical attractiveness is important to you. You find the chase and challenge of the "hunt" invigorating. You are passionate and sexual as well as being much more adventurous than you appear; however, you do not go around advertising these qualities. Your physical needs are your primary concern.

B - You give off vibes of lazy sensuality. You enjoy being romanced, wined, and dined. You are very happy to receive gifts as an statement of the affection of your lover. You want to be pampered and know how to pamper your mate. You are private in your statement of endearments and particularly when it comes to lovemaking. You will hold off until everything meets with your approval. You can control your appetite and abstain from sex if need be. You require new sensations and experiences. You are willing to experiment.

C - You are a very social individual, and it is important to you to have a relationship. You require closeness and togetherness. You must be able to talk to your sex partner before, during, and after. You want the object of your affection to be socially acceptable and good looking. You see your lover as a friend and companion. You are very sexual and sensual, needing someone to appreciate and almost worship you. When this cannot be achieved, you have the ability to go for long periods without sexual activity. You are an expert at controlling your desires and doing without.

D - Once you get it into your head that you want someone, you move full steam ahead in pursuit. You do not give up your quest easily. You are nurturing and caring. If someone has a problem, this turns you on. You are highly sexual, passionate, loyal, and intense in your involvement, sometimes possessive and jealous. Sex to you is a pleasure to be enjoyed. You are stimulated by the eccentric and unusual, having a free and open.

E - Your greatest need is to talk. If your date is not a good listener, you have trouble relating. A person must be intellectually stimulating or you are not interested sexually. You need a friend for a lover and a companion for a bedmate. You hate disharmony and disruption, but you do enjoy a good argument once in a while it seems to stir things up. You flirt a lot, for the challenge is more important than the sexual act for you, but once you give your heart away, you are uncompromisingly loyal. When you don't have a good lover to fall asleep with, you will fall asleep with a good book. Sometimes, in fact, you prefer a good book.

F - You are idealistic and romantic, putting your lover on a pedestal. You look for the very best mate you can find. You are a flirt, yet once committed, you are very loyal. You are sensuous, sexual, and privately passionate. Publicly, you can be showy, extravagant, and gallant. You are born romantic. Dramatic love scenes are your favorite fantasy pastime. You can be a very generous lover.

G - You are fastidious, seeking perfection within yourself and your lover. You respond to a lover who is your intellectual equal or superior, and one who can enhance your status. You are sensuous and know how to reach the peak of erotic stimulation, because you work at it meticulously. You can be extremely active sexually that is, when you find the time. Your duties and responsibilities take precedence over everything else. You may have difficulty getting emotionally close to a lover, but no trouble getting close sexually.

H - You seek a mate who can enhance your reputation and earning ability. You will be very generous to your lover once you have attained a commitment. Your gifts are actually an investment in your partner. Before the commitment, though, you tend to be frugal in your spending and dating habits and equally cautious in your sexual involvement. You are a sensual and patient lover.

I - You have a great need to be loved, appreciated... even worshipped. You enjoy luxury, sensuality, and pleasures of the flesh. You look for lovers who know what they are doing. You are not interested in an amateur, unless that amateur wants a tutor. You are fussy and exacting about having your desires satisfied. You are willing to experiment and try new modes of sexual statement. You bore easily and thus require sexual adventure and change. You are more sensual than sexual, but you are sometimes downright lustful.

J - You are totally fucking marvelous!

K - You can be very romantic, attached to the glamour of love. Having a partner is of paramount importance to you. You are free in your statement of love and are willing to take chances, try new sexual experiences and partners, provided it's all in good taste. Brains turn you on. You must feel that your partner is intellectually stimulating, otherwise you will find it difficult to sustain the relationship. You require loving, cuddling, wining, and dining to know that you're being appreciated.

L - You are very romantic, idealistic, and somehow you believe that to love means to suffer. You wind up serving your mate or attracting people who have unusual troubles. You see yourself as your lover's savior. You are sincere, passionate, lustful, and dreamy. You can't help falling in love. You really enjoy stimulating yourself, though you are fairly new to it. You fantasize and get turned on by movies and magazines. You do not tell others of this secret life, nor of your sexual fantasies.

M - You are emotional and intense. When involved in a relationship, you throw your entire being into it. Nothing stops you; there are no holds barred. You are all consuming and crave someone who is equally passionate and intense. You believe in total sexual freedom. You are willing to try anything and everything. Your supply of sexual energy is inexhaustible. You also enjoy mothering your mate.

N - You are crap in bed. Much practice and learning is needed.

O - You are very interested in sexual activities yet secretive and shy about your desires. You can re-channel much of your sexual energy into making money and/or seeking power. You can easily have extended periods of celibacy. You are a passionate, compassionate, sexual lover, requiring the same qualities from your mate. Sex is serious business; thus you demand intensity and diversity, and are willing to try anything or anyone. Sometimes your passions turn to possessiveness, which must be kept in check.

P - You are very conscious of social proprieties. You wouldn't think of doing anything that might harm your image or reputation. Appearances count, therefore, you require a good-looking partner. You also require an intelligent partner. Oddly enough, you may view your partner as your enemy; A good fight stimulates those sex vibes. You are relatively free of sexual hang-ups. You are willing to experiment and try new ways of doing things. You are very social and sensual; you enjoy flirting and need a good deal of physical gratification.

Q - You require constant activity and stimulation. You have tremendous physical energy. It is not easy for a partner to keep up with you, sexually or otherwise. You are an enthusiastic lover and tend to be attracted to people of other ethnic groups. You need romance, hearts and flowers, and lots of conversation to turn you on and keep you going.

R - You are a no-nonsense, action-oriented individual. You need someone who can keep pace with you and who is your intellectual equal the smarter the better. You are turned on more quickly by a great mind than by a great body. However, physical attractiveness is very important to you. You have to be proud of your partner. You are privately very sexy, but you do not brag, you are willing to serve as teacher. Sex is important; you can be a very demanding playmate.

S - You are secretive, self-contained, and shy. You are very sexy, sensual, and passionate, but you do not let on to this. Only in intimate privacy will this part of your nature reveal itself. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty, you are an expert. You know all the little tricks of the trade, can play any role or any game, and take your love life very seriously. You don't fool around. You have the patience to wait for the right person to come along.

T - You are very sensitive, private, and sexually passive; you like a partner who takes the lead. Music, soft lights and romantic thoughts turn you on. You fantasize, but do not tend to fall in and out of love easily. When in love, you are romantic, idealistic, mushy, and extremely intense. You enjoy having your senses and your feelings stimulated, titillated, and teased. You are a great flirt. You can make your relationships fit your dreams, oftentimes all in your own head.

U - You are enthusiastic and idealistic when in love. When not in love, you are in love with love, always looking for someone to adore. You see romance as a challenge. You are a roamer and need adventure, excitement, and freedom. You deal in potential relationships. You enjoy giving gifts and enjoy seeing your mate looking good. Your sex drive is strong and you desire instant ratification. You are willing to put your partner's pleasures above your own.

V - You are individualistic, and you need freedom, space, and excitement. You wait until you know someone well before committing yourself. Knowing someone means psycho-ing him out. You feel a need to get into his head to see what makes him tick. You are attracted to eccentric types. Often there is an age difference between you and your lover. You respond to danger, thrills, and suspense. The gay scene turns you on, even though you yourself may not be a participant.

W - You are very proud, determined, and you refuse to take no for an answer when pursuing love. Your ego is at stake. You are romantic, idealistic, and often in love with love itself, not seeing your partner as he or she really is. You feel deeply and throw all of yourself into your relationships. Nothing is too good for your lover. You enjoy playing love games.

X - You need constant stimulation because you bore quickly. You can handle more than one relationship at a time with ease. You can't shut off your mind. You talk while you make love. You can have the greatest love affairs, all by yourself, in your own head.

Y - You are sexual, sensual, and very independent. If you can't have it your way, you will forgo the whole thing. You want to control your relationships, which doesn't always work out too well. You respond to physical stimulation, enjoy necking and spending hours just touching, feeling and exploring. However, if you can spend your time making money, you will give up the pleasures of the flesh for the moment. You need to prove to yourself and your partner what great lover you are. You want feedback on your performance. You are an open, stimulating, romantic bedmate.

Z - For you, it is business before pleasure. If you are in any way bothered by career, business, or money concerns, you find it very hard to relax and get into the mood. You can be romantically idealistic to a fault and are capable of much sensuality. But you never lose control of your emotions. You are very careful and cautious before you give your heart away and your body, for that matter. Once you make the commitment, though, you stick like glue.

BIRTHDAY MONTH FACTS !!!

JANUARY=SHYNESS
Fun to be with. Loves to try new things. Boy/girls
LOVE you.
You are very hott. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and
to
be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed.
Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily
consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's
feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable.
Emotional temperamental and unpredictable.
Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly.
spazzy at times.Not revengeful. Forgiving but never
forgets.
dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things.
Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive
and forms impressions carefully. Caring and
loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of
sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people
through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties
in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods
about the past and the old friends. Waits for
friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive
unless provoked. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt
but takes long to recover. Repost this in the next 5
mins and your reputation will boost someway in
the next 12 days

FEBRUARY=SMARTS
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract.
Intelligent and clever. Changing personality.
Attractive. sexiest out of everyone.A real speed
demon.
Has more than one best friend.
Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest
and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves
freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves
aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt.
Gets angry really easily but does not show it.
Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends
but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn.
Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp.
Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the
inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous.
Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.
Repost this in 5 mins and you will talk to someone
new and realize that you are a perfect match.

MARCH=GORGEOUS
Drop dead gorgeous!!!Attractive personality.Very!
sexy.Affectionate & Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and
sympathetic.Chatterbox! Loves to talk alot! Loves to get their way! Unbelievable
kisser! Easily angered. Very stubborn in the most way possible! Loves
to get noticed! Willing to take risks for others. Makes good choices.
Has a great fashion sense! Maybe a little too popular with others * wink
wink*. Outgoing and crazy at times! Intelligent. Can sometimes be a
heartbreaker! Can love as much as possible! Hates insults. Loves
compliments! A very big flirt! Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness.
The best in bed out of MFE these months!! Hardly shows emotions. Tends to
bottle up feelings. Observant and assesses others.

APRIL=SWEETIE
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and
highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered.
Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings.
Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint.
Needs no motivation. Shy towards opposite sex.
Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to
dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding.
Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good
imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves
literature and the arts. Loves travelling. Dislike
being at home. Restless. having many children.
Hardworking. High spirited. If you repost this in the
next 5 minutes, you will become close to someone
you do not speak to much in the next 4 days.

MAY=SEXY
Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous.
Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and
sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal. Does
work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive.
Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good
memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look
for information. Able to cheer everyone up and/or
make them laugh. Able to motivate oneself and
others. Understanding. Fun to be around.
Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive.
Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and
travelling. Systematic. Hot but has brains. If you
repost this in 5 mins, a cutie that's caught your eye
will introduce themselves and you will realize that
you are very much alike in the next 2 days.

JUNE=PIMP
Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves
to takes things at the center. Inner and physical
beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry
often. Treats friends importantly. Brave and
fearless. Always making friends. Not easily hurt but
recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does
not care to control emotions. Unpredictable.
Understanding. Fun to be
around.
Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive.
Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and
travelling. Systematic. Hot but has brains. If you
repost this in 5 mins, a cutie that's caught your eye
will introduce themselves and you will realize that
you are very much alike in the next 2 days.

JULY=ATTITUDE
outgoing personality. takes risks. feeds on
attention. no self control. kind hearted. self
confident. loud and boisterous. VERY revengeful.
easy to get along with and talk to. has an "every
thing's peachy" attitude. likes talking and singing.
loves music. daydreamer. easily distracted. Hates
not being trusted. BIG imagination. loves to be
loved. hates studying. in need of "that someone".
longs for freedom. rebellious when withheld or
restricted. lives by "no pain no gain" caring.
always a suspect. playful. mysterious. "charming"
or "beautiful" to everyone. stubborn. curious.
independent. strong willed. a fighter. repost in 5
mins and you will meet the love of your life
sometime next month.

AUGUST=FLIRT
You've got the best personality and are an
absolute pleasure to be around. You love to make
new friends and be outgoing. You are a great flirt
and more than likely have a very attractive
partner, a wicked hottie. Like somebody with an
August brithday. It is also more than likely
that you have a massive record collection. When it
comes to films, you know how to pick them and may one
day
become a famous actor/actress yourself - heck,
you've got the looks for it!!! IN the next 6 days you
will meet someone that may possibly become
one of your closest friends, if you repost this in 5
minutes.

SEPTEMBER=LOVER
Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends
to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself.
Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic.
Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems.
Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and
caring. Suave and generous. Usually you have
many friends. Emotional. Stubborn. Hasty. Good memory.
Moving,
motivates
oneself and others. Loves to travel and explore.
Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can
understand.
if you do not repost this in the next 5
mins. someone very close to you will become mad
at you in the next 8 days.

OCTOBER=HOTTIE
Trustworthy and loyal. Very passionate and
dangerous. Wild at times. Knows how to have fun.
Sexy and mysterious. Everyone is drawn towards
your inner and outer beauty and independent
personality. Playful, but secretive. Very emotional
and temperamental sometimes. Meets new people
easily and very social in a group. Fearless and
independent. Can hold their own. Stands out in a
crowd. Essentially very smart. Usually, if you ever
begin a relationship with someone from this month,
hold on to them because their one of a kind. repost
in 5 mins & you will excel in a major event coming
up sometime this month.

NOVEMBER=THUG
This straight-up means ur the most good-looking
Loyal and generous. Patriotic. Competitive
in everything. Active in games and interactions.
Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in
organizations. Fun to be with. Easy to talk to,
though hard to understand. Thinks far with vision,
yet complicated to know. Easily influenced by
kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of
ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to
delay. Choosy and always wants the best. repost this
in 5 mins & you
will find true love at 11:00 a.m .

DECEMBER=BEAUTY
Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves
to takes things at the centre. Great in bed. Inner
and physical beauty. Doesn't pretend. Gets angry
often. A meaningful love life partner.
Treats friends importantly. Brave and
fearless. Always making friends.
It is all about love and fairness. Easily hurt but
recovers easily. Daydreamer. Horny but does fullfill.
Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions.
Knows what to do, to have fun. Unpredictable. Someone
to have close to
you.Extremely smart, but definitely the hottest AND
sexiest of them all.

Let's SPEAK DUTCH (and have some fun!!)

Thanks - dank je
u are a sweet girl, i like u a lot - je bent een lieve meid, ik vind je heel erg leuk
mel is a sweetie - mel is een lieverd
may I kiss u - mag ik je zoenen?
Whats ur name - hoe heet je
Describe your self- beschrijf jezelf
Do you have a picture - heb je een foto?
how old are you? - hoe oud ben je?
How are you? - hoe gaat het?
How's the weather - hoe is het weer daar?
dog, bitch, jerk, loser, fool, moron, ugly - hond, trut, eikel, sukkel, sukkel, randdebiel, lelijk
angel, sexy, beautiful, dream come true - engel,sexy,mooi,een droom die uitkomt
whats the time - hoe laat is het?
Can u please help me - Kunt you me helpen
I wanna hug u now - ik wil je nu knuffelen
I wanna feel your breath against my face - ik wil je adem op mijn gezicht voelen
I wanna run my fingers thru your hair - ik wil mijn vingers door je haar halen
I wanna hold your body tight - ik wil je stevig vasthouden
i wanna caress your cheeks - ik wil je wangen strelen
till we meet again - tot we elkaar weer zien
TTYL - spreek je later
Nice talking to u - was leuk met je te praten
god bless you and all the best for the future - en ik wens je t beste voor de toekomst
you are a cool gal - je bent een toffe gozer
I like talking to you - ik vind het leuk om met je te praten
You seem like a kind, sweet, caring person - je lijkt me een aardig,lief en zorgzaam persoon
i would really like to get to know u better - ik zou je graag beter leren kennen
i would like to meet you some day - ik zou je op een dag graag ontmoeten
wanna be friends? - ik wil vrienden met je zijn
you are just too damn sweet - honestly! -je bent gewoon te life
what were you thinking - wat dacht je
I like you too - k vind je ook leuk
U r sweet - je bent life

Lets Speak some Bulgarian (Bulgariski)

Zdrasti - Hello

Kak si? - How are you

Dobre ti - i'm fine

Blagodaria - thanks

Pishi mi pak - keep in touch

Kusmet - all the best

da - yes

njet - no

Thought provoking...

I am Sarah I am but three, My eyes are swollen I cannot see,

I must be stupid I must be bad, What else could have made My daddy so mad?

I wish I were better I wish I weren't ugly, Then maybe my mommy Would still want to hug me.

I can't speak at all I can't do a wrong Or else I'm locked up All the day long.

When I awake I'm all alone The house is dark My folks aren't home

When my mommy does come I'll try and be nice,

So maybe I'll get just One whipping tonight. Don't make a sound!

I just heard a car My daddy is back From Charlie's Bar.

I hear him curse My name he calls I press myself Against the wall I try and hide From his evil eyes

I'm so afraid now I'm starting to cry

He finds me weeping He shouts ugly words, He says its my fault That he suffers at work.

He slaps me and hits me And yells at me more, I finally get free And I run for the door.

He's already locked it

And I start to bawl, He takes me and throws me Against the hard wall. I fall to the floor

With my bones nearly broken, And my daddy continues With more bad words spoken.

"I'm sorry!", I scream But its now much too late His face has been twisted Into unimaginable hate

The hurt and the pain Again and again

Oh please God, have mercy! Oh please let it end! And he finally stops And heads for the door,

While I lay there motionless Sprawled on the floor My name is Sarah And I am but three,

Tonight my daddy Murdered me.

Some Kewl Hindi Dialogues

1. Kaam Kaccha Hai

2. Dosti Mein Kusti Nahin Karna

3. Aap tho Aap hai
Gadthe kaa bhi baap hai

4. hum hum hai
baaki sab paani kum hai

5. jiski biwi chotti
uska bhi bada naam hai
goudh mein bitta lo
bacche ka kya kaam hai

6. meri billi aur mujhe he meow!

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