🔭 First Impression: Exploring Grafana Mimir 

            ... After Years with Thanos!

Not an observability( OE ) purist, but I do appreciate system(s) that tells me how my pets and cattle are doing - So , let's just say  I do and have to keep my eyes on the metrics.

After relying on 'Thanos' for scalable Prometheus metrics for quite some time, I recently built a prototype using Grafana Mimir—mostly to satisfy my curiosity.

What I expected to be a familiar experience turned out to be a surprisingly strong contender for how we think about metrics at scale.

We historically leaned on Thanos for its modularity and open standards, but once your platform grows beyond a certain point, things like compactor bottlenecks, sidecar sprawl, and query performance start to hurt and you notice where the seams show.

So I took Mimir for a spin. Here’s what stood out—first-hand:

1. Query Performance - impressive 

Mimir’s sharded querier and query scheduler did a great job slicing large queries, preventing slowdowns. In Thanos, we’ve had to be more tactical with query shaping—Mimir handles that more natively.

2. Cleaner Architecture, Fewer Moving Parts 

The decoupling in Thanos brings flexibility—but also complexity. Mimir felt more “batteries-included,” with centralized compaction, consistent ingestion behavior, and better internal coordination.

3. Multi-Tenancy Built-In 

We serve multiple product lines and environments. Mimir’s first-class tenant isolation and fine-grained limits gave us confidence we could scale without teams stepping on each other’s toes.

4. Operational Efficiency 

Rate-limiting, resource usage policies, and native object storage integration? Much easier to configure and reason about compared to stringing together CLI flags in Thanos components.

 

❓The BIG Question :

Is Mimir better than Thanos?

In many ways— YES , if your scale and complexity demand it Or If you're hitting the "metrics ceiling,"  Mimir is worth your time. But I wouldn’t call it a replacement for every scenario. Thanos remains easier to plug into an existing Prometheus setup and is still a great option for teams just getting started or managing smaller environments.

PS: If you're evaluating observability platforms at scale, it’s worth giving Mimir a serious look. Happy to chat if you’re navigating a similar shift.

#GrafanaMimir #Thanos #Prometheus #Observability #SRE #DevOps #CloudNative #MetricsAtScale #EngineeringLeadership

 

Expand your network at ease : Six Degrees of Separation!

PC: Psych2Go

Did you know that you are just six connections away from any person on this planet?

Imagine this , you wanted to connect to some influential figures or role models like -  'Elon Musk,' 'Giorgia Meloni,' 'Kamala Harris,' or even 'Donald Trump' , they are just 6 handshakes away?  Yes - how wonderful right ?

Any two persons in the world can be connected by around six people.This concept is known as "six degrees of separation". Studies suggest that through a chain of "friend of a friend" connections, you can reach anyone in just six hops, also known as the 'six handshakes rule!'

This idea highlights the incredible potential of networking.

Your network is one of your greatest assets. It can unlock new possibilities and propel your career forward.

For engineers and professionals, this means that the person who can offer you your next big opportunity, provide valuable advice, or collaborate on an innovative project is closer than you think. Don’t hesitate to expand your network for all the right reasons.

Reach Out: Don’t be afraid to connect with people who inspire you or who you think can offer guidance. A simple message can start a meaningful conversation.

Build Relationships: Engage with your peers and seniors, attend industry events, and participate in online communities.

Be Open: Embrace new connections and opportunities that come your way. Each handshake, virtual or real, can open new doors.

Start connecting today!

#Networking #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Engineering #marketing #management #digitalmarketing #creativity #startup #socialnetworking

 Chinese Whisper & Rope Slams:

>>How do we combat the Chinese Whisper effect in our organizations?

>>How do we ensure “rope slams” reach the tail end?

In this world of excessive data , visuals and narratives , you are just a click away to learn more about the above, so I would rather cut some fat and keep it short :) 

The “Chinese Whisper Game” teaches us how crucial it is to communicate in a direct and unambiguous manner in order to avoid misinterpretation and guarantee that messages are received and processed with integrity.

 On the other hand “Rope slams” ( Imagine a  Gym workout )  highlights the necessity of constant effort to maintain momentum and guarantee that instructions are properly carried out at every level.

In my recent book “Focused Minds” , I made a statement - “Engineers are orbiting around the task instead of landing on them”.  They might not be the ‘Cause’ but an ‘Effect’ , and it could have a trenscending effect and could apply to any professional. 

Is this because the top to bottom message stream is getting diluted when it comes to “mission & vision” statements of an organization and also the “rope slams” are losing their intensity ?

In any F.U.D situation my advice to any F.U.D affected individual would be -

1. Watch out your empty mind.
2. Watch out what you are consuming ( News / Gossip / rumors and also food )
3. Rise above from your peripheral activities and keep your eyes on the ball.
4. Ensure you are operating at your next level, trust me - its would bring out your v2.0
5. Take regular D.O.S.E !!

**Glossary: 

F.U.D = Fear , Uncertainity & Doubt

D.O.S.E = Dopamine , Oxytocin , Serotonin , Endorphin. 

RCA - Root Cause Analysis

An important step in finding the root causes of issues or occurrences that happen within a system or organization is root cause analysis (RCA). It entails extensively examining the issue or occurrence to determine its root cause and creating workable solutions to stop it from happening again in the future. 

We'll talk about why RCA is important and how it may help organisations in this blog.

You will also get a sample RCA template at the bottom of this blog post 🏆

1. RCA helps identifying the underlying root cause of problems:

The main advantage of RCA is that it aids businesses in locating the source of issues. Organizations are able to determine the underlying reasons of a problem or incident by doing a detailed analysis of the issue. With this knowledge, businesses can create solutions that work and deal with the problem rather than just the symptoms. This lessens the possibility of the issue recurring in the future and aids in preventing it from happening again.

2. Promotes continuous learning &  improvement:

RCA promotes continuous improvement by identifying areas where the organization can improve its processes or procedures. It enables organizations to learn from their mistakes and develop better methods to prevent problems from occurring. This approach helps to build a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone in the organization is encouraged to identify areas for improvement and work towards enhancing the organization's performance.

3. Reduced  costs:

RCA assists organizations in avoiding irrational costs related to reoccurring issues by locating the source of problems. Repeatedly correcting an issue can be expensive in terms of both time and money. Organizations can prevent problems from recurring and lower the cost of correcting them repeatedly by addressing the problem's core cause.

4. Promotes a proactive approach:

RCA advocates taking a proactive stance while fixing issues. It enables businesses to foresee possible issues and take steps to stop them from happening. Instead of waiting for an issue to arise and then responding to it, businesses can create proactive measures that address the underlying causes by determining the problem's root cause.

5. Enhance organizational performance:

By identifying the root cause of problems and implementing effective solutions, RCA helps to enhance organizational performance. It improves the quality of products and services, reduces downtime and disruptions, and increases customer satisfaction. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity, greater efficiency, and improved profitability.

In conclusion, RCA is a crucial procedure that enables organizations to pinpoint the source of issues and create workable fixes to stop them from happening again. It encourages continual improvement, lowers expenses, encourages taking preventative action, and improves organizational performance. As a result, it is a crucial tool for any organization that wishes to increase productivity, maintain competitiveness, and accomplish its objectives.

Sample RCA template:

LINK :  DOWNLOAD HERE 

Shark Tank India - The Good and the Bad

"Shark Tank'' is a popular television show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful investors, known as 'sharks' a.k.a 'investors'.  We also get to see some ultra-wealthy and successful entrepreneurs as the Sharks and understand their point of view and opinions.

 For people who dream of being an entrepreneur, Shark Tank gives them hope. They can learn more about how to pitch, what investors are looking for, and how to prepare and pitch their ideas. On the other hand It also encourages viewers to keep trying for their dreams as they watch others reaching for theirs.

After a captivating and successful Season :1  , currently Shark Tank India season : 2 is certainly drawing a lot of traction. Here are some of the pros and cons of the show:

Positive aspects:

1. Inspiration: The show can be inspirational and motivate aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own businesses,  as it showcases their efforts to turn their ideas into successful businesses.

2. Exposure: The show provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain exposure for their businesses, which can lead to increased sales and investment.

3. Networking opportunities: Appearing on the show can provide entrepreneurs with valuable exposure and help them make connections with potential investors.

4. Valuable feedback: The sharks provide valuable advice and feedback to entrepreneurs, which can help them improve their business ideas and strategies.

5. Educational: The show can be educational, as viewers ( irrespective of any age group )  can learn about different business models, marketing strategies, and negotiation tactics.

Negative aspects:

1. Pressure: The pressure of appearing on a national television show can be intense and  overwhelming , and entrepreneurs may feel nervous or stressed while pitching their businesses.

2. Unrealistic expectations: The show can create unrealistic expectations about what it takes to start and grow a successful business, leading some entrepreneurs to become discouraged when they face real-world challenges.

3. Stereotyping: The show can perpetuate stereotypes about entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners.

4. Unrepresentative: The show may not be representative of the experiences of most entrepreneurs, as the process of getting a business off the ground is often much more difficult and time-consuming than what is portrayed on the show.

5. Negotiation: The negotiation process on the show can be challenging, as the sharks are known for being tough negotiators. Even a brilliant idea can lose a good offer due to lack of negotiation skills. A good negotiator must understand when to push the bar and when to stop and accept the offer. There is a saying “When the emotions are HIGH , the intelligence is LOW”

Overall, "Shark Tank" is a show of ‘celebrated ideas’ and ingenuity alongside heartfelt stories in addition to being one of the  currently most entertaining TV shows for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in business and entrepreneurship. 

"Shark Tank" has received positive reviews and has been praised for its ability to showcase entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.However, it is important to keep in mind that the show is a reality TV program and may not always accurately reflect the realities of starting and running a business.