Advertising: Nike Dream Crazier

In September 2018, #Nike launched the Dream Crazy commercial narrated by Colin Kaepernick featuring athletes from many different sports. The campaign had its share of controversies, featuring lot of backlash on Twitter, but that did not stop Nike from being persistent and continuing with their campaign.

https://lnkd.in/eJp5k6e 

The Dream Crazy film ended with the shot of Serena Williams who had won 23 Grand Slam titles, had become a mother in 2018 and had come back to win another title, showing her grit, her stamina and her determination.

Nike has now gone a step further with their latest 'Dream Crazier' film, which once again ends with Serena Williams, but here, the entire film is narrated by her while we see shots of women athletes in different #sports who were called crazy for doing what they did till they proved the world wrong! The film starts with Serena saying "So if they want to call you crazy, fine. Show them what crazy can do." and ends with the lines 'It's not crazy until you do it. Just do it.' Extremely powerful, with the background score helping in building the momentum. 

#advertising #communications #dreamcrazy #dreamcrazier #serenawilliams

                                      

Mindset for Success

Have you ever looked at successful people and wondered what they are doing right?

Or have you ever thought what unsuccessful people are doing wrong? 

Here is ‘The Success Indicator’ by author, entrepreneur, coach Mary Ellen Tribby that tries to give an insight into the behavioural aspect, mindset and attitude of successful people and unsuccessful people. 

#PictureStory 21 : Irony

'Another one bites the dust'. Those were the first lines that came to Yashika's mind as she saw the lavish set-up. Business was booming for her since the last four years, after she made a small change in her approach. She had been a portrait photographer for many years, which didn't pay her well but she got lot of satisfaction in her job. Today, as she looked at the guests arriving at the venue, a gamut of emotions were running through her. It was her own divorce that led her to become a wedding photographer in order to improve her financial security and today she was smiling at the irony.

Pic details: Clicked at a friend's wedding in Delhi, India sometime in 2014

#PictureStory 20 : Illusion

"You are lying to me. I don't believe you. India isn't how you described it to me - a number of small villages with thatched huts, men wearing Dhotis and turbans and lot of dry land all around" said Stephen to Ryan

"I am not lying to you Stephan. That is how India is. Trust me. I was there two months back and not years back." replied Ryan

"How do I trust you? Sameer has just sent this picture along with other pictures of Gurgaon in India and it is no where close to what you told me!" countered Stephan, thrusting the photograph under the nose of Ryan.

"Gurgaon is an illusion, my friend and not a true representation of India. It is a cocoon of corporate houses, career-ladder climbing white collared workers with six figure salaries, a real-estate fair where every day each one claims to be a building taller than the previous one and a society more beautiful than anyone built before. If you want to see the true and various hues and dimensions of India, then you just need to go 100km away from Gurgaon in any direction. Don't fall for this illusion that Sameer is showing you, to get you to invest those hundred million dollars in his company." spoke Ryan with a knowing smile.

Pic details: Clicked from the fourth floor of my office in Gurgaon, India in Sept'15

#PictureStory 19 : Opulence

What is luxury for others had been basic lifestyle for Snehamika for 26 years of her life. International travel, designer brands, seven course meals were a part of her regular ritual. She knew when she was marrying Harish, that opulence is a word and a feeling that she won't experience any more and her regular brands would now only be heard of.

Love is blind wasn't more true than today as she took that step from her household to the house that she would make her home.

Pic details: Clicked at Hotel Leela in Gurgaon, India in Sept, 2015

#PictureStory 18 : Painting

Michael's exhibition used to be a sell out every time. With every passing year, the value of his paintings started increasing and now each painting was sold for millions of dollars. Michael would take six months to complete a painting and people would wait for his next one. It reached a stage where he started believing that there has been no one better than him and there won't be anyone better in future.

Till one day... when he was flying and looking for inspiration and he looked out of the window. He realised that the Creator makes the most beautiful paintings every minute and it keeps changing colours and landscape after every few kilometres. This was enough for his ego bubble to burst and his humility to return.

Pic details: Clicked in the skies between Mumbai and Delhi.

#PictureStory 17 : Imagination

"So what is the best part about Salil that you like?" asked Sonali to Radhika

"Salil has a lovely view of the simplest of things in life. His imagination is beautiful. The other day I asked him how the weather is and he replied ' The sun hasn't been kind on us lately, behaving like a strict teacher. The rains are feeling shy like a demure Indian bride who has just been married to a guy who she doesn't know too well. And the winds are behaving like a gruff, old man who wants to be left in the corner and doesn't want to have a conversation with anyone.' It is this style of his, his analogies and play with words that I love the most about Salil" said Radhika and started smiling.

Pic details: Clicked near Mysore, Karnataka in June, 2015, while standing on a rickety, wooden bridge.

#PictureStory 16 : Rains

Let the colours speak their own language. Let the shades of green come alive and dance and rejoice to the sound of rain drops. Let every leaf feel the joy of the first showers of the season.

Let the humans enjoy this face of nature from their balconies and from their cars. Let the paper boats come out and create their own paths and take their own journeys.

Let this monsoon bring with it a plethora of emotions!

Pic details: Clicked in Saket, Delhi in June, 2015

#PictureStory 15 : Time Man

He always wanted to stay ahead of time. He believed that time is something that can easily be conquered and controlled. He wanted to be the master and wanted time to be his slave.

What he forgot was that time is not money that can be collected, hoarded or accumulated. In his crazy quest, he didn't realize when time overpowered him and stole his identity.

Pic details: Taken at the Oberoi Hotel in Gurgaon, India in June 2015

Retail: Starbucks opens its biggest store in the world

In a time, when #brands are struggling with their retail space, trying to maximize their returns per square foot and wondering whether brick and mortar still makes sense in the digital world, #Starbucks defies all convention and goes forward with a massive store launch in #Tokyo.

 It is not yet another cafe, but rather a #retail theater! It's an experience, and the moment you give #consumers not just a physical product but also an emotional experience, you have a winner on your hands. 

Calling it a 'Roastery' is a way to premiumize the Starbucks brand further. It not only acts as a brand amplifier but also as an #innovation lab where new menus, products and designs can be tested out before being rolled out at a larger scale.

The #coffee space will continue to get more exciting! 

You can read all about it the link below:

Starbucks opens it biggest store in Tokyo

#PictureStory 14 : Greed

When human greed,
overtakes nature's need,

natural calamities then happen indeed!
We only realise when human lives bleed.
Don't only read,
Do something, I plead.

Pic details: Clicked in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014 before the earthquake

#PictureStory 13 : Ritual

It was an annual ritual. She would come and meet him after staying away for months. They would kiss and embrace on their first meeting and stay together for many days. Their union brought happiness all around.

Till the time would come...the time for her to leave once again. Every time that she would leave, she would cause a wedge in his heart but also create a longing for him, wanting to meet her again. This is how the relationship between raindrops and the earth was, and every reunion of theirs was announced to the world with the petrichor - the beautiful smell caused when one touched the other!

Pic details: Clicked at Phuket, Thailand in 2014

#PictureStory 12 : Indulgence

They had their backs to each other. He kept turning and stealing glances at her every now and then. There would be times when she would also look towards him but then look away.

She thought that she was fooling him but he kept playing all along, just so that she felt happy about this trick of hers. This was his way of indulging her, even if it meant smiling only from a distance at her. A smile that she couldn't see. An indulgence that she couldn't feel.

Pic details: Clicked at Gardens By the Bay, Singapore in April, 2015

#PictureStory 11 : Boundaries

"It's been four months since I have known you. I have crossed two boundaries already." said Karan

"What boundaries?" asked Gayatri

"The boundaries that exist around you! The first boundary is 'Boundary of Acquaintaince', which can accommodate many people. The second is the 'Boundary of Comfort', where you give access to only a few. Thanks for allowing me to reach there." said Karan

"Haha! You seem to have figured me out quite well in four months! Is there any other boundary?" Gayatri laughed

"Yes. The 'Boundary of Love'. There is space for only one person there, and currently that space is occupied. That's a long distance from the boundary that I am at." said Karan while looking into the distant sea.

Pic Details: Clicked on the Phi Phi islands in 2014

#PictureStory 10 : Handsome

"Do you think I am handsome?" asked Nathan while tucking his shirt and trying to hide the little paunch that had started emerging.

"It depends on who you ask" said Melanie casually, while brushing her hair and looking in the mirror.

"That's not the answer to my question." said Nathan while looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Women who think that their prettiness is lesser than your handsomeness will find you handsome and vice versa. It is all about relativity." continued Melanie

"What do you thin Melanie?"

"I think I am quite pretty, Nathan" smiled Melanie

"You are smart and sassy. That's why I am with you Melanie" smiled back Nathan.

"I know. Now let's leave for the party Mr. Handsome." laughed out Melanie

Pic details: Clicked in a hotel room in Phuket, Thailand in Aug, 2014

#PictureStory 9 : Staircase

Today the staircase looked empty and abandoned. But every step of this staircase had a story to tell, each of them had witnessed many moments of joy, celebration, agony, pain and various other emotions.

These steps had felt the delight in the footsteps of an elated kid running up and down and it had also seen the nerves of a young bride walking down with trepidation.

The staircase had always been the silent witness in the transition of one emotional stage to another in a person's life. Today, the staircase was missing those footsteps.

Pic Details: Clicked in the lobby of Hotel Palladium in Mumbai, India.

#PictureStory 8 : Threshold

He stood at the threshold of life. He had to make a choice now - whether to step in or stay outside. His heart knew the answer but his ego stood its ground, making his feet feel heavier than they really were.

Pic Details: Clicked outside the Jain Dadabari at Mehrauli, Delhi in Nov'14

#PictureStory 7 : Melange

A melange of colours, interwoven to create poetry.
They hang up in the air, bringing alive the festivity and creating a unique hue during the Festival of Lights - Diwali.

Pic details: Taken in Select CityWalk Mall in New Delhi, India in Oct 2014

#PictureStory 6 : Riot

Let the clouds pass by. Let the sea call out to them. Let the sun create a riot of colours. And just feel lucky to witness this magic unfold in front of your eyes!

Pic Details: Clicked at the a Bang Tao Beach in Phuket in August, 2014

#PictureStory 5 : Clouds

As mountains and with our peaks, we thought that we stood tallest amongst all! That was our pride.

But today, as these planes fly above us, we accept with all humility that it is stupid to ever think that there is no one above you, because that is when you will be proven wrong.

Pic details: Clicked on a flight from Kathmandu to Delhi in Sept, 2014

#PictureStory 4 : Solitude

Today the kids have not come to play. All of us stand in solitude. We are not sure whether to enjoy this rain and great weather or to miss those kids and their laughter who find joy in hanging around us.

Pic Details: Clicked at Lavasa, India in July, 2014

#PictureStory 3 : Fiery

They say humans have mood swings. I say I have far more mood swings than humans. I change mood every month, every day and sometimes every few hours too!

Don't even attempt to understand my mood. You will fail miserably. Today I show you my fiery mood!

Pic details: Clicked on a flight from Phuket to Bangkok in Aug, 2014

#PictureStory 2: Fairy tale

I am not a part of any imagination or an illustration from a kid's fairy tale. I am a place that exists. Very few people visit me and I prefer it that way.

Pic Details: Clicked in Brugge, Belgium in 2012.

#PictureStory 1: Stability

As clouds travelled in one direction and cars travelled in another, it was the tree that stood its ground showing how life can move to and fro, but it is the stability within that allows you to face it all!

Pic details: Clicked at Worli Seaface, Mumbai