Hari / Pickyourtrail

Exceptional writing in this ad for Forest Essentials, by the agency Talented! Before I even get to the crux, I couldn't help marvel at the minor nuance thrown in - the daughter-in-law (Arjun's wife; we don't hear her name, but she is addressed with a lot of love as 'beta' and 'bachche'/'child') first calls her 'Aunty' and then 'Sorry... mummy', signifying that she's newly married and is still adjusting to the new home's rhythm. It's a small, almost fleeting detail, but it is lived-in details like this that add a rich texture to any writing. And then the crux: "Is it efficient to keep yourself on hold?" lands so beautifully - not as a talk-down from the mother-in-law, but as a genuine question worth asking. And it seems to come from—again, 'lived-in'—experience! The context the mother-in-law gives from her own life is not some high-funda logic. It is a remarkably simple and relatable anecdote. The closure is pure gold: 'Kabhi kabhi, hum kyun bhool jaate hain ki hum par hamaari khud ki bhi toh zimmedaari hai?' (Why do we often forget that we have a responsibility towards our own selves?). The only minor quibble that sprang up spontaneously while I watched the ad for the first time was that the tea-related anecdote makes the ad look like a tea brand's ad! The anecdote, combined with the last shot where they are both seen enjoying their cup of hot tea, that is! And guess what? Taj Mahal tea did precisely that - "Din ke ek cup chai, khud ke saath ho jaaye" (Come meet yourself, over a cup of tea)! See: tinyurl.com/tajnirali #advertising #marketing #creativity

A couple of months ago I got an incredible opportunity to sit with the stalwarts of online travel - @DeepKalraMMT of Makemytrip, @alokebajpai of Ixigo and @HariPyt of Pickyourtrail - and chat about the future of the industry. We addressed important questions like "how much influence do influencers really have?" and "why don't middle managers book their own travel?" besides trivial ones like the role of AI in travel. Check out the full conversation below (link in comments).

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The Ministry has issued the following directions through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): 1. Minimum 60% of seats on any flight to be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access 2. Passengers travelling on the same PNR to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats 3. Carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments to be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations. Airlines shall also bring out clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets. 4. Strict adherence to passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and denied boarding 5. Prominent display of passenger rights across airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters 6. Clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to ensure wider accessibility and awareness The Ministry of Civil Aviation remains committed to enhancing passenger experience, ensuring transparency, reducing grievances and upholding the highest standards of safety across the aviation ecosystem. @RamMNK @mohol_murlidhar @samirsinha69 @AAI_Official @DGCAIndia @Pib_MoCA pib.gov.in/PressReleseDet…

An experience selling consumer products in the countryside where you don't speak the language or even understand the competitor landscape is one of the best lessons you can learn as a young graduate as @HariPyt articulates here.

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From winning Gold Medals in Physics to mastering German….@HariPyt isn't your typical founder. He’s a "Sutradhar," the one who pulls the strings behind the scenes to make the magic happen. In Episode 4 of Revamp, we sit down with the man behind @Pickyourtrail to uncover: - How to bootstrap when the rest of the world is burning VC cash. - Why MS Dhoni is the ultimate case study for startup leadership. - The passion for travelling that fueled a global travel disruptor. - Surviving the setbacks with radical transparency at work culture. The IIMB community knows his energy. Now, the rest of the world gets to see it. At Revamp, we don’t just talk about change; we dissect the anatomy of the Pivot. Whether you’re embarking on a new journey, switching careers, or overhauling your mindset, your next great reinvention begins here. Link in Comments.

Building in a volatile industry like travel is a risk many avoid. @Pickyourtrail is the prime example of how to thrive while the rest of the world navigates geopolitical shifts. Our guest on the 4th episode of @Revamp0fficial is @HariPyt, is a force of nature. Having known him for almost two decades, @sreejan_c and I know his secret: a deep love for the craft he picks up, whether it's consumer experience or mastering the German language. This would be a great podcast for: - The younger generation to learn how to bootstrap in the experience economy, rather than just spending on it. - The IIMB Community as they get a chance to relive that classic Hari energy we all remember. We wrapped the session by handing him Piyush Mishra’s “Tumhari Aukaat kya hai.” The title humbled him, but the story inside is one I know he’ll appreciate. Episode drops tomorrow!