Learning lessons
In his final speech as Nokia’s CEO, Stephen Elop famously said, “We didn’t do anything wrong, but somehow, we lost.” This statement became a symbol of how even established giants can fall if they fail to adapt to the changing times. Nokia, once the world leader in mobile phones, dominated the global market with durable devices and unmatched brand loyalty. However, the rapid rise of smart phones changed the game. The company underestimated the shift from keypad-based phones to touchscreen devices and failed to embrace modern operating systems like Android. Instead, Nokia chose to partner with Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, which never gained enough popularity to compete with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Another major factor was the slow pace of innovation. While the competitors were introducing advanced features, sleek designs and strong app ecosystems, Nokia was still focused on hardware durability and basic phone functions. This created a gap between consumer expectations and Nokia’s offerings. Nokia’s fall is now a classic business lesson – success today does not guarantee success tomorrow. Adapting quickly, embracing innovation and understanding consumer needs are essential for survival in a fast-changing industry. The same holds true of life in general.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Suicidal tendencies
Approximately 70% of those who commit suicide provide some clues about their intention. Also referred to as ‘suicidal ideation’, indications towards suicidal tendency can range from a mere mention to open admission. Family history, long-standing illness, repeated stress and bereavement in family are important risk factors that drive a person to pain and hopelessness. Having access to kill oneself is also a huge risk factor besides substance abuse disorder (SAD). On September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, it is important to remember that everything on this earth can be prevented, and suicide is not an exception. It is always good to directly start a conversation with those contemplating taking their own lives with compassion and empathy, taking care not to further push them to the brink. ‘Talk with them; don’t argue with them’ is the familiar refrain. The mountains of problems men and women carry with them are only supposed to be climbed, not run away from.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Beaches or open air zoo
Most of the beaches in South Goa now resemble an open air zoo, an animal farm if you will. Dogs, cows, bulls, buffaloes and the occasional goats roam on the sands, they are the masters of all they survey. These beings pose not only a perennial danger to beach users but they also sully the pristine sands. The government’s apathy to the situation and lack of will even at the panchayat level to remedy the state of affairs is hurting tourism and is making visitors literally flee Goa. After all who would want to be bitten by a dog or gored by a bull while on a vacation? It is my earnest request to the government to take the bull by the horns literally before tourism becomes history.
Rekha Sarin Trehan, Benaulim
Malls near bus stand
Nearly a decade and a half after the ambitious plan to transform the Margao bus stand into an ultra-modern bus terminus, the initiative has now reportedly been revived by floating a fresh tender. Margao is in dire need of a state-of-the-art transport hub that will serve the commuting people of Salcete and South Goa at large. It is learnt that the government has reportedly proposed to allocate prime land to a private player under PPP mode to set up shopping malls and hotels in lieu of building the bus terminal and in the process may have compromised the bus stand infrastructure. It appears that the government has prioritised the development of shopping malls and hotels over addressing the core objective of constructing a modern and efficient bus terminal. It is pertinent to note that having shopping malls near bus terminals can have several disadvantages. Malls generate significant traffic and when combined with a bus stand, this can lead to severe congestion and gridlock, slowing down both, bus services and general traffic flow. The presence of a large shopping mall can negatively impact small, independent businesses in the area, potentially leading to their decline or closure. Malls can become crowded and overwhelming, making the shopping experience difficult, especially for the elderly or people with mobility problems. Shopping malls require vast amounts of space, often leading to the destruction of natural habitats and the replacement of open areas with concrete and parking lots, diminishing local green spaces. Large malls consume significant energy and resources for lighting, heating and cooling.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
