All I need is a Haircut
“A Pakistani drinking an Indian Beer in Bangladesh” this was the introductory line used by one of our professor*. Till date it’s the simplest and most adept definition of globalization I have come across. This one liner conveys more or less everything which Thomas Friedman conveys in his 600 page epic. In either case the message is simple the world fast shrinking, cultures are diffusing, and old rules are rewritten at rapid pace.
Hollywood is not far in this. Watched Babel over the weekend, apart from having Brad Pitt in the most unglamorous role, the movie almost runs on the central theme of globalization. The movie itself has 4 different tales running parallel and totally disjoint only to be linked at the end. An American is shot by a Moroccan kid who uses this gun licensed under a Japanese hunter. A maid who baby sits the two kids of the American and gets entangled into a legal mess for being an illegal immigrant. How ever the storyline is quite simple, unlike Syriana where you needed a deeper understanding of oil cartels.
“Changes come at a cost. The new clientele eroded the old. There was a time when ten thousands would come to Stamford. Six thousand of them would be up for a fight. The rest came to watch a fight. Now people just want to go to the game so that they can say” – ‘Look I’m cool. I go to Chelsea.’ When I get up to sing, they say, sit down.’”
This is a quote from one of Chelsea greatest fan Alan Garrison. I don’t exactly concur with this fan, but do believe that football at Stamford Bridge is no longer played for the passion of game. A team run by an oligarch with all the money in world, the meanest manager who has an assembly line of players picked up at astronomic transfers. If someone were to make a case study for b-school studying on the topic of globalization, Chelsea would be the club to pick. I am not sure if they have anyone except for John Terry from within the England representing the club.
The week has been an overdose of globalisation. Here is the story that put me thinking…..
I make a reservation; go to the saloon 10 minutes prior to the appointment only to be told about this 20 minute wait. Finally when I get on to the seat, I am bombarded with these crazy options, clipper or scissors, straight or blended, short or medium, shampoo or cream? I felt like I am going through this expert system designed to give the near perfect solution. Guess what I got…a Baby Cut (That’s how Paula explained my cut).
So, I spent close to an hour, went through this rubic’s cube, pay 15 dollars to get a baby cut. How I wish I could outsource this, technology please help bridge this. Perhaps my neighborhood haircut uncle can do a video conf and explain this stylist how to go about the simple task without asking too many questions?? Is NRN listening..there seems to be an oportunity for outsourcing...
*prof happens to be shyamal roy who teaches economics at iimb and is the best in business.
Hollywood is not far in this. Watched Babel over the weekend, apart from having Brad Pitt in the most unglamorous role, the movie almost runs on the central theme of globalization. The movie itself has 4 different tales running parallel and totally disjoint only to be linked at the end. An American is shot by a Moroccan kid who uses this gun licensed under a Japanese hunter. A maid who baby sits the two kids of the American and gets entangled into a legal mess for being an illegal immigrant. How ever the storyline is quite simple, unlike Syriana where you needed a deeper understanding of oil cartels.
“Changes come at a cost. The new clientele eroded the old. There was a time when ten thousands would come to Stamford. Six thousand of them would be up for a fight. The rest came to watch a fight. Now people just want to go to the game so that they can say” – ‘Look I’m cool. I go to Chelsea.’ When I get up to sing, they say, sit down.’”
This is a quote from one of Chelsea greatest fan Alan Garrison. I don’t exactly concur with this fan, but do believe that football at Stamford Bridge is no longer played for the passion of game. A team run by an oligarch with all the money in world, the meanest manager who has an assembly line of players picked up at astronomic transfers. If someone were to make a case study for b-school studying on the topic of globalization, Chelsea would be the club to pick. I am not sure if they have anyone except for John Terry from within the England representing the club.
The week has been an overdose of globalisation. Here is the story that put me thinking…..
I make a reservation; go to the saloon 10 minutes prior to the appointment only to be told about this 20 minute wait. Finally when I get on to the seat, I am bombarded with these crazy options, clipper or scissors, straight or blended, short or medium, shampoo or cream? I felt like I am going through this expert system designed to give the near perfect solution. Guess what I got…a Baby Cut (That’s how Paula explained my cut).
So, I spent close to an hour, went through this rubic’s cube, pay 15 dollars to get a baby cut. How I wish I could outsource this, technology please help bridge this. Perhaps my neighborhood haircut uncle can do a video conf and explain this stylist how to go about the simple task without asking too many questions?? Is NRN listening..there seems to be an oportunity for outsourcing...
*prof happens to be shyamal roy who teaches economics at iimb and is the best in business.
posted by Sunil B at 11:31 AM
2 comments
