C2 Workshop's E-Learning Blog

Freedom To Fail !!!

It is that time of the year when corporates queue up at colleges to recruit (or rather, shortlist and book!) students for their organisations. And placement activities at campuses are at their zenith.

As is the norm, the smart students are spoilt for choice as far as job offers are concerned. In a not-so-cruel twist of fate, it is the students who are finally left with the arduous task of deciding which organisation they should join. The fact that these offers are from some of the biggest Indian and multi-national companies only adds more layers of confusion to the already perplexed young minds.

Last week i had the opportunity to address students of two of the premiere colleges in the city. My mission too was to attract the VERY BEST brains to join my organisation, C2 Workshop. On the face of it, C2 didn't stand a chance against the giants we had to compete against. But we offered something to the students that most organisations did not... or maybe, were even scared to offer... the FREEDOM TO FAIL!!!

C2 has consciously built a culture where team members are encouraged to think, experiment, ideate, and innovate. And risk-taking forms the very essence of these activities. As we all know, fear is one emotion an explorer does not pack in his bags when he starts on his journey to unchartered territory. So how can we ever discover anything new if our minds are hounded by demons of failure?

Going by the response we received from the two colleges, i am delighted to see that the students too believe in our philosophy... that the FREEDOM TO FAIL is infact, the greatest freedom a creative mind can ever ask for. After all, failure is the mother of invention!

On seeing Thomas Edison fail repeatedly in his quest for inventing the first long-lasting electric light bulb, one of his colleagues asked Edison if he felt like a failure. "Not at all. Now i definitely know more than a thousand ways how NOT to make a light bulb.", Edison replied. A few days later, Thomas Edison brought light into our lives... forever!

(Ravi Pratap Singh, Co-Founder & Director, C2 Workshop)

Redwood Awards - Honoring Attitudes

Exhilaration!

Just this word would suffice to define the mood that permeated this year's "Redwood Awards" at C2. The entire team rejoiced the grand success of the 'Redwood Awards', in yet again recognizing lofty minds. The winners…

Alex and Hari, the winners for COMMITMENT: Late into the night, these two minds are invariably glued to their computer monitors, checking for any glitches in the content. This unflattering requirement could be done full justice to, only if one internalizes commitment. These 'intern-turned-staff' talents epitomize this great trait.

Himanshu, the winner for DEDICATION: By and large, everyone is dedicated to his/her work. But, the level of dedication is what differentiates the great from the good.

Himanshu is dedicated not just to what he has to deliver, but to what the organization needs to as well. The designer's attention spreads way beyond his ambit, to oversee other areas of the project, just to ensure things are fine. This is a rare trait to come by and C2 has been quick to spot the Redwood for Dedication.

Monica, the winner for FLEXIBILITY: Would anyone agree to let his/her profile keep changing? Definitely not, for the simple reason that this would affect their career prospects.
 
It's refreshing to find someone who places her heart in just doing her best in whatever comes her way - a one-in-a-million trait. Monica has kept herself so flexible so as to be called in for anything that needed her attention. And, by that special attitude, she becomes C2's Redwood for Flexibility.

Nirmal, Nirmal Ranganathan & Santhosh, the winners for INITIATIVE: It doesn't take any great effort to spot those rare minds that possess the habit to take initiatives. "Why not do this additional stuff that'll help the organization?" is a question not many would ask. Understandably, everyone is engrossed into what s/he needs to deliver at the end of the day, 'cos, that's what is expected of them. But, those who deliver on something that's not expected out of them are a special lot.

By the same reason, these three minds become C2's Redwoods for Initiative.

About the Redwoods:

The Redwood Tree, a veritable giant, completely dwarfs you at first sight. Growing from a seed no bigger than that of a tomato, it reaches heights of 367 feet (the height of a 35-storey building). Around since the Jurassic Age, with an average life expectancy of nearly 2000 years, its roots go OUT (not down) 900 feet, interlocking with the soil and roots of other trees. Disease and pests have failed to conquer it, making it evergreen.

Initiated in 2006, the Redwood Awards is based on the premise that "Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude". It recognizes employees who stand tall among giants in terms of their attitudinal skills including commitment, dedication, motivation and initiative.

C2 launches the I'mpossible!!!

C2 Workshop firmly believes that work done with passion would always be rewarding, more so, in terms of job satisfaction and self-fulfillment.

Going by this belief, C2 caringly nurtures a work culture that creates a conducive ambiance among its team members, to vigorously cultivate this passion.

In yet another gesture to manifest this deep-rooted conviction, C2 has initiated the "THE I’M POSSIBLE AWARDS", to acknowledge and reward those passionate minds, that make the impossible, possible.

On 12th July 2011, C2 celebrated the successful completion of two of its highly challenging projects, by honoring the respective team members with the I’mpossible Awards.

Congratulations to all the winners!!! 

IDeas Incredible @ C2 Workshop

We, at C2 Workshop, are driven by passion. And, are upbeat about avenues that add fillip to this drive. 

i2@c2 is one such initiative taken by the instructional designers for the instructional designers at C2 Workshop.

These informal, yet insightful, interactive sessions see the inquisitive minds coming together, to discuss ideas that have the potential to turn incredible, just by the virtue of being shared and brainstormed.

This page collates excerpts of all those incredible sessions. They're authored by the respective instructional designers who lead them.

A well-deserved break

C2's multimedia team recently took off to Kodaikanal (a hill station in South India) for a well-deserved break.