One of the most important ingredients for running a successful startup is to build a stable and a values-based culture. The culture of any entity is the fabric that binds all the stakeholders with the entity. One of the best qualities that a startup can inculcate in its employees is the need to be actively involved in the service of society.

All of us live in society and utilize its benefits but are we giving back something to the society?

Are we being an instrument in making our society and our country a better place to live in?

You might think that these are not the critical questions that a startup needs to ask itself. But it is critical for building a great culture in a startup. All the better if you build a culture where the employees take the lead in conducting social service programs, actively supported by the company.

I am very happy and proud to say that there is an example of this model, which is the COACH (Compassites On A Cause for Help) program at Compassites. The COACH program is totally employee-driven, so we call it an Employee Social Responsibility (ESR) program. The COACH program is conducted once a quarter and a group of employees (called the “Samaritans”) led by a COACH Manager (The COACH Manager is an employee from a non-managerial cadre who has the potential to become a manager in the near future).

The quote below summarizes the spirit of the COACH program:

“We can do no great things; only small things with great love” - Mother Teresa

At Compassites, if the daily work is food for the mind then the COACH program is food for the soul. COACH has enabled all of us to realize how fortunate we are in the midst of so many under-privileged people. It has made us count our blessings and made life more worth living…

Wishing you a very happy new year!

Another new year is here, opening doors with rays of hope and sizzling opportunities for those who are optimistic and wanting to achieve something in life. It’s the season to set resolutions.

Going beyond wishing, I would wish to share a simple model called ‘Aim2Accomplish’ - A structure for a startup. I believe that this would be useful to achieve the set resolutions or any new initiative.

1. Aim
Articulate the dream by providing objectivity.

Aim = function of (Objectives, Direction)

2. Activities
The identified goals/objectives are broken down to a set of activities that needs to be performed. At this stage you need to answer the question
‘What should be done?’

Activities = function of (Tasks, Performance Metrics Definition)

3. Agenda
It’s the ability to define the schema for the identified activities.

You need to answer the following questions:
* When will the work be done?
* Where will the work be done?
* Who will do it?

Agenda = function of (Delegation, Responsibility)

4. Action
It’s the ability to systematically perform an activity. It’s the execution of the plan.

Action = the function (Process, Efficiency)

5. Accomplishment
End result or the real outcomes of an action. Accomplishment determines the success factor of an initiative.

Accomplishment = function of (Response, Results)

6. Analyze
It’s the ability to compare the set objectives which are measurable with that of the accomplishment.

Analyze = function of (Measurement, Effectiveness)

“Our Aim should be to Accomplish” - Naveen Lakkur