Defensive v/s Offensive v/s Dual

Defensive v/s Offensive v/s Dual


A day ago, I got turmoiled in a controversy over the Defensive v/s Offensive.
Sometimes, there is a feeling that one should be offensive and take more risks. On the other hand, if it goes wrong, then the person is to blame for being offensive and risking his "way of life".
As usual there are multiple positive and negative points to each of them

Let's take each with plus (++++) and minus (----) points and then take few examples for the same in "Indian" context.
1. Offensive
++++
(a) If succeeded, you are the star. You get a lavish lifestyle
(b) You become an icon.
(c) You think in a "different" direction

----
(a) The chances of being "Phunsukh Wangdu" in 3 idiots is rare. Not to talk about the proportion of people coming to Mumbai to become film star 20 years ago.
(b) If gone, you might be tempted to earn money/name/fame by "evil" section of the society.


2. Defensive
++++
(a) You stay on the ground knowing your realities.
(b) You are never "offsight" for few days/months/years.
(c) You stay "satisfied".

----
(a) You are always the one, who sticks to time as you are catching "Mumbai local train".
(b) Your thinking never goes to extreme. Only satisfying something "above" basic needs.
(c) Life is a daily routine, where you do something to earn/spend/save money.
(d) You look for more "Retirement" plans.


3. Dual

You are both Defensive and Offensive. You ensure while playing risks, those risks are "calculated". Or even if you play risk, you or your family members are not in dark about it. Your base is always strong (it could be family/money/education).
++++
(a) You have a strong base, so a proper kick up can make you the "charmest" in the world.
(b) You are very focussed on the thing you do. It is NOT necessary that you succeed in everything, but don't give up trying
There are hundreds of people, who failed but then learnt - Book

Examples of dual

1. Cricket - IPL
Initially, BCCI was giving very less amount to the players and there were only 2 formats - Test and ODI. But there were lot of "good" Ranji players, which could not play even a match in ODI. Nothing was being done. But as ICL (sponsored by ZEE) came up with 20-20 format, BCCI launched IPL. So they had original Test and ODI (being defensive) and also a new format IPL (offensive). It may happen that revenues/profits from IPL (new offensive) may exceed that of Test and ODI.

2. Football playing
To win football, both defense and offense is needed. Defence is to ensure that competitor do not ensure his victory by your loss and Offense is to ensure that you continue keep on trying the opposite. Whichever team has good offense and defense (and good luck), the team wins.

3. Software - Google
Google came up with Google Search in 1997. First it ensured that Google Search is fastest and widest. Then it ensured that it acquired/tied up with good sites like social networking sites. (Playing Defensive).

Then it realized that continuous R & D (or new applications are required). It has to be offensive. So it is trying to eat up the share of other companies, may be Microsoft Office (Google Docs/Presentations), Apple (Android) etc.

But while going offensive, Google always ensured that there is NO LOSS of users/customers who are using "Google Search". They are not shifted to different search like Yahoo/Bing.

Failed Examples
1. Yahoo - Played Defensive
Yahoo (at one time) had the best search engine. It had a very good share. But it was always playing defensive, just managing to secure its own market of "search". So there were failed talks of Microsoft acquiring Yahoo. But now they had started being offensive (offering more products)

2. General Motors
At one moment, it was pride for any human to have GM car. But in US, the gas was cheap and there was no inflation. GM was playing defensive. It didn't focus on R & D for other cheap alternatives. So today again GM is in offensive mode, with putting more money in enviornment-friendly, cheap technology.


I cannot quote any example of any company which was being offensive and failed for the sole reason that I prefer "success".

So this is the reason, I feel that playing the "dual" role is more important than being separately defensive or offensive

Enjoy !!

Adhir Garg

M-Factor In Life : y = m*x + c for success -Part 1 Career

What is y = m*x + c and M-Factor

Our life stands on this simple straight line equation.
For those who is not aware of this explicit equation of straight line, please look the following links.

http://thesaurus.maths.org/mmkb/entry.html?action=entryByConcept&id=2949
http://www.mathsisfun.com/equation_of_line.html#Countrynote

In brief,
for y = m*x + c
c - Some constant for the straight line
m - Slope of the line
x - always varies
y - final output dependent on the above 3 variables.

Let's relate this equation to few of the general things that exist

In this series the first is Career:

Career :

Take the example of changing the job from company X to company Y with reference to line equation:

a) c is the constant i.e. what you would have from company X. That covers your resume, your qualifications, your experience in your field say sales/engineering. This is assumed to be remaining constant while company Y hires you.

b) m is slope of your life. It is dependent on lot of factors e.g. time, your output efficiency, your skills developed in the time. For example your performance in the first few months in company Y would indicate the slope. It is not only performance, but minimum time taken by you to learn/grasp and apply new ideas and prove yourself.

The company can directly hire you seeing your resumes and your background verification, but they look to this M-Factor, so that how would the performance of yours would be leading to aligning of goals of the company Y. How much time would you take to be PRODUCTIVE? This I refer as M-Factor.

c) x is time variable, which decides the net output y. If your m is very high i.e. you are highly productive from day 1, then slowly your m would decrease. You need to take measure so that the product m*x always increases to a particular level. Obviously there are other personal/professional factors which we never have to forget.

d) y is the final output that you are delivering. This y should be always increasing. When there is a jump from company Y to company Z, then c for company Z should be y.


Mantra for success in Career :

1. Ensure that c for the next company is the y of previous company. Don't change your languages/learning frequently. e.g.

(a) If you had a experience of QA for last 5 years, then changing job of development profile in the next company might lead to decrease in the next value. c decreases
(b) If you are working on windows platform for last 10 years, it does not make any sense to you to jump to Linux platform. Remember hobby might NOT fill your stomach and pockets :)

2. Join the company where you see the value of m is high.
Ensure that y >> c.
We know that x (time) always increases, so your goals (for next few years) should be such that you achieve the desired "y". Your m factor should be such so that you can achieve the goal. The goal could be anything like Salary in FY 2010, my assets in year 2010, my knowledge in 2010, my friends/relatives in 2010 etc.

3. To ensure a big high in M (M Factor), you need to update your skills. It could be anything like going for higher education (Masters) or addition in your professional profile (like Membership/Languages) or Social domain (Your family/friends). We are all aware that lots of guys do join MBA so that the skill set increases or their career takes a jump.

Obviously you need to look at all factors to ensure your success in your career..

Best of luck in your career !!