TQM
Being successful without a degree
Being successful without a degree
Ramiya Bhas, TNN
As kids, everyone dreamt of making it big, starting with the right kind of education. One always took pride in suffixing their name with degrees like LLB, Phd, MBA, etc. But what happens when you stop studying and skip college? Does the dream of making it big in today’s corporate world, obsessed with academic qualifications, come to an end? If you are one of the many who think the answer to this question is yes, then you are wrong!
Success does not come with a degree hanging on the wall; it comes with sheer determination and hard work. And the most famous drop-out success story happens to be that of chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates, who dropped out of college to start his own software company. Meet three individuals who dropped out of school/college and have proved with nothing but sheer dedication and persistence by their side, they too can be successful without a degree in hand.
Travelling Through
What do you expect a seventh standard dropout to do in life? If you are David Patrao, you would start a business at the age of 27. “I left school after I completed my seventh standard mainly because there was no motivation left in me to study further. Also at that time, my family was going through a crisis and the responsibility fell on us children to do something for the family,” recollects Patrao.
Once out of school, Patrao didn’t have many choices in life. So he came to Mumbai in a hope to fulfil his dreams. “I struggled a lot till I was 27. It was at that time I realised that I needed more than just a dream to make it big,” he says. He started his business with a three-wheeler tempo, which he used to transport vegetables. “In a couple of years, my business doubled because of the people I worked with,” he says.
However, right at the peak, things fell apart for Patrao. “The oil and gas industry was facing certain problems and at that time, my business got hit rather badly. There were certain government red tape issues for us and I faced certain union problems because of which I had to close down my business at that time,” he explains. But instead of losing hope, Patrao took up the challenge of doing something else. “At that time I decided to start a travel business as I had the available finance and the right kind of contacts,” he adds. Today, Patrao runs MER Travels and has a fleet of vehicles to his credit.
Does this prove that you don’t need education to be successful? “I wish I had completed my studies and got a proper degree in business or finance as I would have had better knowledge about how a business should function. I realised I had made a mistake back then by not completing my education. I hope people today aim at getting a degree in their hands,” he says.
Click ‘S’ for success
He was a run-away from Kerala, with nothing in his pocket but a few rupees and lots of hope. That’s all P Vishwanath came with when he was 16 who had just managed to pass out of tenth standard after a second attempt. “I had nothing when I came and the one thing I missed most back then was a degree behind my name. My reason for not trying harder was not that I didn’t want to but the circumstances through which we were passing were rather terrible. So I took it upon myself to do something worthwhile and I ran away from home,” he says.
When he came to Mumbai, he faced the crisis of not knowing the language and having proper education. “For four years, I had no job and I survived on nothing. Eventually, I got a small job; selling calculators, which didn’t pay enough. But I stood my ground and started working with electronic typewriters and copiers. Who knew that dealing with machines would be so profitable?” he asks.
But he didn’t stop at calculators and typewriters only, he moved to bigger things. “I realised that there were better things in manufacturing other than these two items and that’s when I started saving money to go to Germany. However, since I did not know the language, I spent a long time learning English.” Once back from Germany, he learnt about plastic cards and started a revolution. Today, his company is an “Arsenal certified contact less card manufacturing company”.
But with success, there is always wishful thinking. “I realise this now that the troubles I had faced would be nil if I had the right educational background. I still wish I could go back to school and complete what I had once left behind,” he explains.
Fastened Success Back in the ’60s, a graduate with a science background had potential. Vincent Fernandes could have been an engineer, a doctor or anything he wanted. Instead, he dropped out of college and decided to get a job. “I had completed my 11th grade in science and instead of going further with my education; I came to the city and began working at that time, as my family was going through financial and emotional crisis,” recalls Fernandes. Once here, he started his quest for employment. But initially, all in vain. “Eventually, I took up a helper’s job in a manufacturing company,” he recalls.
However, Fernandes realised that his dream was much bigger than that and he had to start looking for better options. Slowly, he started learning the tricks of the trade and bought a small company, which was going into losses. This was just the beginning for Fernandes as from there on he went to start his own company.
“For me, my hardships started when I quit my education. When I wanted to set up my own business, I faced a lot of problems from banks as they refused to give loans,” he explains. “I still regret the fact that I quit my education. But my experience has taught me what I think could not have been taught in books or management classes.” Fernandes now is the proprietor of ‘Precision Industrial Fasteners’, which has been operational for more than 15 years. As they say successful people are quick to forget about the past and the future is where ‘it’ is.
‘It’s vital to connect with yourself’
‘It’s vital to connect with yourself’
Viren Naidu, TNN
Shailja Dutt, Founder and Managing Director, Stellar Search and Selection Pvt Ltd speaks about her love for dance and the eagerness to solve crosswords!
Mantra
I think it is vital to connect with “yourself” and find the time I call ‘ME TIME’ – my time away from work, home, responsibilities, chores and duties – to do the things I enjoy and those that energise me to go back to work and my kids completely recharged. Several professionals with very hectic schedules and tenuous work-life balance will probably share the same thought. Eventually, when you have worked hard to achieve your goals, you must play hard to enjoy!
Dance
I have always loved to dance. A couple of years ago, I thought it would be fun to learn to Tango, and ended up learning Salsa, Cha Cha, etc. I attended classes with my younger brother but unfortunately, now I do not get the time. Personally, I think both business and dance are about passion and being nimble on your toes!
Art
I have been singing since I was a child and have been often complimented on having a great voice. So, after having kids and after taking my business to the next level, I thought why not train my voice? My guruji would come home to give lessons and even though I haven’t performed professionally, my friends are always being regaled by impromptu my performances.
Puzzle
Solving the crossword has become a habit. Before, I go to sleep, I have to finish the daily crossword in the newspaper. I have been doing that for years now. But in Sudoku, I am actually finding my feet and my son is better than me.
Style
To me pursuing an interest is a priority as is work and family. I also learn Spanish and do Yoga a couple of times a week. Though my days are hectic, I have never missed a single important event in the life of my children or my family.
Transforming idea into a product
Transforming idea into a product
Mahul Brahma, TNN
It was a bit of ‘jealousy’ towards a classmate that made Phani N Raj a businessman. School time memory of a student who had personalised clothing and stationery continued to be etched strong in his mind till much later, making him leave his PricewaterhouseCoopers job and start the branding company eYantra. “He was from the US and his cap, pencil box, T-shirt, everything had his name on it. I yearned for such personalised stuff, but there was nothing in India then to meet my demand.”
This got him thinking until he arrived at an idea to set up virtual stores where buyers can choose personalised stuff and get them delivered at their doorsteps. Mr Raj is one of the very few with the entrepreneurial spirit who have managed to be lucky enough to convert an idea into business. But most people end up thinking and discussing their bright ideas, but stop short of converting them to prototypes. Experts say there is a set of easy steps that could help any one to nurture a thought and take it forward to see if the kernel of a viable business is contained in it.
Look for it
The first thing, of course, is to remain alert to the sights and experiences one comes across, because big ideas may be lurking in the most unlikely corners. For Shalabh Sahai, who co-founded the volunteering service MITRA, it all started at the college canteen over tea.
He had been trying to understand why there was a communication gap between individuals who wanted to volunteer for social service and the groups that were organising such efforts. “It became our favourite topic of discussion at the canteen,” he says. Thus arose an idea for setting up an online exchange for volunteers.
It also helps to jot down an idea to see if it stands the test of time. A great idea may not sound all that great, when considered a day later. An idea is just of a few words long. Only when you sit down and pen it you realise the real picture. It is crucial to go into the details.
You need to ask yourself the right questions — what is the compelling need it fulfils, who will benefit from it, is there demand for it and who will fund it? Preparing a business model answering these questions is vital, says Mr Sahai. The answers will tell you whether to pursue the idea or drop it.
Read the market
An idea from a rookie entrepreneur would be worthless if the product or service doesn’t have the prospect of demand in the market. Industry associations, websites, journals and professional agencies can all help, but an innovator needs to have well-defined ideas on whether a market exists. This is but the first step to gain confidence that an idea can work.
If the demand picture is hazy or non-existent, one should have the courage to drop the idea and move on to other things. Sometimes, ideas emerge from necessities. When you have too many projects to handle and too few people and you can’t be at the office 24×7.
Emails and phone calls may not be sufficient to handle the complexity of the work. Sahil Parikh, founder and president of Synage, came up with a solution for his office — Deskaway. A software program that helps execute projects online. “The concept was new in India, but I was sure if it is a hit in my office it will be in the market,” says Mr Parikh.
Ideas can be ahead of their time
Latent demand doesn’t immediately translate into a viable business opportunity and some ideas, attractive as they seem, might simply be ahead of their time. But there are people who have stuck to their business and made it a success in due course of time. An idea who time is yet to come need not necessarily fail, but the entrepreneur must be able to envision the trend of the future that might make it succeed.
“I thought of specialising in cyber law and starting cyberlawcollege.com, when even the concept of internet was new,” Bangalore-based consultant Naa Vijayashankar (Naavi) says. “An idea ahead of times is not accepted well,” but perseverance pays. “Now, I have become a specialist in cyber law by default. So, you need to wait for the right time to come and don’t lose faith in your idea. Believe that if not today, five years down the line, it will click,” he says.
When criminal lawyer KS Kohli wanted to start a seven-day cabin crew training for airlines, everyone thought he was crazy as all other institutes offered full-year courses. But, he knew that Indian skies were going to be opened up for competition and there would be a surge in the need for flight crew. He stuck to the idea and built a successful operation, branded Frankfinn.
Customise to market needs
The aim should be to gain a general sense of the type of customer your product or service will serve. Identify your clients well enough so that you can modify your product as per their need. If the business is designed to serve the domestic market, it should have that flavour. “People work differently in different countries. So, it is very important to give Indian touch to your product,” says Mr Parikh.
eYantra’s Mr Raj says that he moved over from personalised stuff to corporate brand recall after the internet bust and it worked. MITRA’s Mr Sahai agrees: “We start as novices so we should never be too rigid. We need to learn and adjust our ideas to changes and be open to modifications.”
It is also important to hear people out. Because sometimes your business idea may come from the person you least expect it from, just casually, even over beer. M Sanjay Kanth, CEO, founder, ESS Solutions, was originally in the medical transcription business. But, the industry was losing its sheen. He knew the president of a title company based out of Baltimore. That person told Mr Kanth that there was refinance boom in the US which has resulted into a huge backlog in terms of production.
Incidentally, his brother M Sujay Kanth, who is now the COO of ESS, happened to be in US to explore business opportunities. They took up this opportunity. This was their first break. “Initially, we had no clue of what was going on and it was very hard to grasp. We took it as a challenge and Sujay got trained in their office for about 40 days after which we started the transition to my India office from 2004,” says Mr Kanth.
Sell the idea to investors
Money is often the biggest bridge that a first-time entrepreneur has to cross. It is important to sell the concept to potential investors. The startup should also detail a proper plan of how much money needs to be raised and how it would be spent. Projecting cash flow milestones will become easier if the homework to understand the demand had been done. There are also investment bankers who help you get venture capital against a ‘success fee’ i.e they will only charge you if you get funding.
But, there is another way in which entrepreneurs get going. They first start a small establishment, may be in a garage with a bit of furniture, and ramp up as the business builds itself. Frankfinn’s Mr Kohli started his business Frankfinn Medico Infoservices by borrowing Rs 40,000 from his friend. But, when the right time came, he used his own fund for starting cabin crew training business. Remember, the customer must eventually “pay” for your business. Everybody else is waiting to get paid. Loss-making as a business virtue perished with the dotcom bust.
Start now
All the risk you have taken by giving up your cosy job or turning down a big offer has finally paid back. Well, once things are in place just get started. Your idea is now a viable business proposition and has a funding. So, what are you waiting for? “It is very important when starting out is to be mentally prepared for a different journey filled with uncertainty and excitement. This entrepreneurial journey will teach you more about yourself than you would have ever known doing anything else,” says Mr Parikh.
TOP 10 TRAITS of HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE – That You Can Learn! – by Philip Humbert
TOP 10 TRAITS of HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE – That You Can Learn! – by Philip Humbert
These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now!
1. They work hard!
Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.
2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn
They study, ask questions and read – constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!
3. They network
They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co-workers and bartenders. They don’t have to be “the life of the party”, in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.
4. They work on themselves and never quit!
While the “over-night wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!
5. They are extraordinarily creative
They go around asking, “Why not?” They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, “I’ve got it!” They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!
6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility
Incredibly successful people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes – Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase and a President “shouldn’t” do that! Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.
7. They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective
Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.
8. Extremely successful people live in the present moment
They know that “Now” is the only time they can control. They have a “gift” for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don’t waste time, they use it!
9. They “look over the horizon” to see the future
They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!
10. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly!
When an investment isn’t working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond.
7-point action plan for Successful Investing
7-point action plan for Successful Investing
2007-10-01 15:13:17 Source : Moneycontrol.com
The financial markets turmoil caused by the sub prime issues in the US mortgages market is one more reflection of a grim reality of modern times…uncertainty is here to stay and the destabilizing impact on the markets has been increasing with time. Be it geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, asset bubbles and their consequent corrections, a host of events contribute to making the modern financial system extremely volatile. The global linkages of capital and investors mean that the correlation between geographies and asset classes has become stronger. Hence investors have to be smart and vigilant to ensure that the short-term mood swings of the markets do not unhinge their long-term financial plans and welfare.
So what is the prudent method to adopt in such times?
We have a 7-point action plan for investors:
1. Understand Yourself:
This is the starting point and is especially essential in such times. Start from the beginning – Assess your risk appetite, your time horizon and your financial goals. This will help you to understand if your current portfolio allocation is in line with your particular situation. In bull runs, the assessment of risk appetite gets inflated, while in bear markets, investors underestimate their ability to take on risks. Similarly, if you are investing for your retirement in 20 years as a financial goal, stock market gyrations over the next 3 to 5 years are irrelevant. After assessing these three parameters, look at your earning, saving and hence investment potential. Based on this you will have an idea of your ideal asset allocation…how much money to put in stocks, bank deposits, gold etc. And no better time than times of turmoil to spend a few critical moments evaluating what you have, where it’s located and where the holes in your investment ship may exist.
2. Understand the Risk Reward Equation:
So called safe investment options like Bank deposits, while giving steady returns, lead to erosion of purchasing power due to inflation and taxes both. At 5 % inflation, Rs 1000 today will be worth only Rs 230 in ten-year time. Over the last 27 years, while inflation averaged 7%, 1-year bank deposits, the most popular category, gave before tax returns of 7.5 %. Similarly, what costs Rs 1000 today, at 5% inflation, will cost Rs 1629 in 10 years time.
Stock markets give superior, inflation-adjusted returns, but in the short term they give a roller coaster ride. Hence its critical to understand the nature of each asset class, the type of returns, the risks associated with it and the optimal time horizon for them. If you are asking, “Is this a good time to buy”, you are on the wrong track. The question to ask is, “Will this investment / financial plan help me meet my long term goals?”
3. Understand Markets:
In the short term, stock markets are influenced by sentiments, while in the long run fundamentals are the key determinants. What is certain is that the stock market is a volatile animal, marked by euphoric highs and depressive lows. Indian markets have historically had a decline of 10% or more about once every two years. Even in the greatest bull market we have ever seen, from 2003 to 2007, there have been sharp declines. That’s the nature of the market, even in good markets we have declines, and trying to predict its direction over the near term is an exercise in futility. Since 1979, we’ve had 18 corrections – or drops – of 10% or more. Investors who understand the fundamentals of the market don’t panic or pull out when the cyclical declines take place.
4. Understand Long Term:
Over the last 28 years, the Indian stock market has yielded a compounded annualized growth of 20% per annum as reflected in the BSE Index, which has moved from 100 in 1979 to 17,000 in September 2007. Similarly, in 1992, from a market capitalization of Rs 160,000 crore, the Indian markets have moved up multi fold to a market cap of Rs 45 lakh crore in 2007. If in 1992, we knew our money would go up 28 times roughly in the next 15 years, all Indian investors would have put their entire savings in the stock market. However, we are happy in locking our money for 15 years in PPF accounts giving 8% assured returns. What is needed is an understanding that if you invest for the long term, i.e. for 10 years or more, the chance of making a loss is nearly zero, while the upside is many times that of other “safer” investment options. This understanding of what is truly long term is critical for financial health, and will lead to investors having peaceful sleep in times of high volatility.
5. Understand Diversification:
Diversification has and always will be the most critical component to investing wisely.
Keep funds equivalent to 6 months of expenses in a liquid fund or savings account. Use insurance to cover the risk of dying young, not as an investment vehicle. And diversify your investments into a wide range of equities, bonds, gold, real estate and other asset classes.
Consider gold and other precious metals. Historically, precious metals such as gold have been considered a ‘safe haven’ in times of economic, financial and geopolitical instability.
After you have covered yourself across the standard asset classes, all you need to do is to re-balance your portfolio on a quarterly basis and hang on tight. The bottom line is to have a well spread out, responsible plan for your investments and know what you own and why you own it.
6. Understand Time and Timing:
Remember that time in the market is important – not timing. Even diversified investment portfolios can lose ground in a bear market. At that time, it’s easy to be tempted to sell all your stocks and funds, and move to cash or bank deposits to wait for better times. All you have to do then, the reasoning goes, is move back into stocks on the day the stock market begins its recovery.
The problem is, nobody knows when that day will be. And if you miss getting back in at the right time, you can lose a huge portion of the upside. If you were investing at the highest point of the Sensex every year since 1979, you would have made around 19.6% compounded annual returns till 2007. On the other hand, if you were a financial wizard and invested at the lowest point of the Sensex every year since 1979, you would have made around 20.2 % compounded annual returns till 2007.
7. Understand SIPs: Invest in Bad Times and Good
One of the best ways to invest regularly is rupee cost averaging through a systematic investment plan or SIP. This involves investing the same amount at consistent intervals, such as once a month or every quarter. With this approach, you don’t have to try to guess which way the financial markets will move – and you won’t be waiting around for the perfect time to buy while the market gallops away. Even though SIPs can’t guarantee a profit or protect against a loss, they help you to take advantage of a down market by ensuring you end up buying more shares or mutual fund units when the price is down.
Market volatility is a fact of life, market decline are natural. By astute financial planning and asset allocation, investors can position themselves to ride out the waves towards financial security and success. This is as relevant in raging bull markets as they are in times of despondency. Following the above 7 Action Plan increases the odds of success manifold for the astute investor.
– Ajay Bagga
The author is CEO of Lotus India Asset Management Company.
Money Wise
Money Wise
21 Oct, 2007, 0000 hrs IST,Aman Dhall & Dheeraj Tiwari, TNN
Sunday ET spoke to industry leaders across segments to find out about their first nest eggs. ET tracks how these bosses managed their money, right from college days to the early stages of their career.
RESPECT FOR MONEY
Today, he may be managing one of the country’s largest insurance company. But for Gary R. Bennett, Managing Director & CEO, Max New York Life Insurance, success didn’t come on a silver platter. His success story is no less than a motivational book which speaks volumes on how can one survive and build a future against all odds.
“I learnt it from the book of life and life taught me some interesting financial lessons,” he says. Respect for money is what he feels is the first and the foremost lesson to be learnt when it comes to managing your finances. “I was on my own at a young age of seventeen.
I worked in a clerical position at a custom agency during the day to run my household and I doubled up as security guard in a hospital at night, to save something for future. Those were the hard times and it taught me the respect for money. I built inch-by-inch, accumulated wealth and at the age of 24, I was able to buy my first house,” he says.
According to him, one must have courage to dream, review and renew one’s goals and each one of us has the ability to make our dreams come true. “I never forget those years of struggle that laid the foundation for my financial success. And I am still building inch-by-inch for a better tomorrow,” he sums up.
MANAGE YOUR RESOURCES
Bijou Kurien, CEO, Reliance Retail, may now be spearheading the retail growth of the country but it was during the college days where he learnt to manage his resources effectively.
“I lived in Bangalore during my college life. Life as a student was an experience – dreams and aspirations, always running ahead of resources,” he recalls. Kurien feels that unlike today, in the ‘70s, diversions were few and music was the food of life. “Movies were fewer and viewing costs were reasonable. Food was limited to a few hang-outs on Brigade Road and Residency Road, which have given way to the glittery malls of today,” he says. Kurien finds a co-relation between the heady college days and the present economic jargons — “I had a frugal allowance. Personal discretionary capital expenditure had to be met out of savings in my revenue expenditure. Family could be depended on for other major capital purchases.
Financial planning was limited to a week, till the next handout. Budget allocation was driven by the head but spent by the heart. External commercial borrowings were limited to forgiving friends. But at the end, fiscal deficit was within reasonable limits.” But all in all, Kurien feels that managing your finances during the student life is an enriching experience which helps you both in your personal and professional life.
SET PRIORITIES
He handles the serious business of gaming. As COO, Zapak Digital Entertainment, Rohit Sharma feels that like a game one has to chalk out a strategy for success when it comes to financial planning. “At the early stages of the career a person generally doesn’t have a long term view of his investment plans and most investments are done with a short term gain in mind.
I feel it is important to prioritise at an early stage on both immediate and long-term return,” he says. Sharma in the early stage of his career started with investing in long term tools such as insurance. “Also being part of the booming real estate economy I invested in property, whereas most people tend to invest in property at later stages,” he reveals.
He feels that his However my decision to invest in real estate market in NCR at an early stage in his career has given him very high returns. “During my early days as a professional we did not have very successful returns on investments in Mutual funds, but I feel that in the present economy young professionals should invest in mutual funds (with 3-years window) and that get yield high returns,” he adds. Sharma emphasise that the basic thumb rule for investments should be to always stretch yourself more than you actually invest. It always pays in the long run.
ADD THE FUN ELEMENT
It’s all about enjoying life. That’s what Kajal Aijaz, CEO of DT Cinemas learned about handling finances when she was in college. Aijaz believes that managing money is not at all a difficult task if the fun element is attached to it.
The 37 year-old, daughter of an Indian Foreign Services officer, feels that today’s youngsters have wrong notion that fun without money is not possible. “During our college days, I remember we were always short of money. But there was a healthy spirit to enjoy life whatever come may,” she says. An Economics graduate from Jesus & Mary college of Delhi University, she remembers being surrounded by collegiate who used to come in cars and spend on luxuries.
“I used to walk around a lot especially if distances were a few kilometres, a virtue almost missing in today’s youngsters. I always believe that money is not important but fun part is. You should always enjoy whatever work you are doing. If you can do that, earning money won’t be a problem because it teaches you the art of enjoying life,” she says.
For her, budgeting was like learning the art of handling a business. “Majority of the money I spent was on travelling by auto rickshaw. Travelling comfortably was always important. Many a times, I compromised on my food just to make it sure that I travel safely,” she says. Kajal believes that it’s not about being satisfied — one should definitely aspire for more but shouldn’t forget to enjoy the moment.
How to become a courteous cell-phone user
How to become a courteous cell-phone user
19 Oct, 2007, 0503 hrs IST,
A cell-phone is a double-edged sword. While it has revolutionised our lives and made us a truly “global village”, you have to admit that it can be an irritant. Hark back to that grating ring-tone in the middle of a film or play. Like everything in life, there is a correct way to use that ubiquitous device.
Tips to make you a courteous user:
Business Meetings:
Before starting a meeting, put the phone in a silent mode or let your voice mail take the call. Generally, the person you are with takes priority over the one who is calling. If you are expecting an important call, inform your business associates ahead of time, step outside when you receive the call and keep it brief.
Ring Tones:
Although customised ring tones offer you a chance to express your personal style, they are inappropriate for business meetings.
Voice Mail:
During movies and music concerts, activate your voice mail.
Use Discretion:
Very often, one overhears intimate and confidential matters being discussed loudly on the cell phone, which is a strict no-no. Also, holding up the cashier queue while you are multi-tasking & taking your friend’s suggestion on the color to buy is rude.
Volume Control:
On the street, in the elevator, one hears people yelling into their phones. If you are unable to hear the caller, either move to a quieter area or one that offers better connectivity. In buses and trains, if people two rows away are staring at you take the hint — you are too loud.
Road Safety:
Hands-free reduces the risk but for longer conversations, pull into a parking area.
On Airplanes:
When the crew instructs to switch off the phone, resist the urge to make that one last call. Wait till the plane comes to complete halt before calling your chauffer.
Blackberry:
Suppress the urge to doodle or answer a quick email in a business meeting. Respond only if the matter is extremely urgent. Put the device in your bag, leaving it on the table is distracting when it receives a message.
‘Life wants us to win’
‘Life wants us to win’
Vijay Dandige (Contributor)/ KHALEEJ TIMES 21 October 2007
Renowned leadership guru Robin Sharma who is in Dubai speaks to City Times about how small daily improvements over time can lead anyone – be it a CEO or a gardener – to achieve great success in life
THE GURU wears a black trouser and a black shirt — as is his style. At 43, he has a lean athletic body, not an ounce of fat anywhere, the result probably of his love of sailing, skiing and trekking in the wilderness.
And that, coupled with a ready smile and a shining shaved head, gives him the appearance of a cool regular guy. ‘I’m just an ordinary person,’ as he says, and which, in fact, he is.
But that apparent ordinariness itself may just be the secret behind Robin Sharma’s phenomenal global popularity as an expert on leadership and personality development. He has written about 10 bestselling books, including the internationally acclaimed ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’.
His Sharma Leadership International (SLI), a globally recognised leadership development firm, has clients like GE, Nike, BP, NASA, IBM, Microsoft, FedEx, KPMG, General Motors and other big names. Even at the venues of these industry giants, Sharma, the success coach, gives his presentations and seminars, donning a plain trouser and a shirt, shunning any hint of formality or pomposity. He has worked with FORTUNE 500 executives and celebrity entrepreneurs for over 10 years with exceptional results. In an independent survey, he was ranked as one of the top 10 leadership gurus in the world. His ideas on self-mastery and organisational excellence have helped millions in over 35 countries.
Robin Sharma is currently in Dubai as the invited guest of Channel 4 Radio Network to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the radio station. ‘To mark this milestone, we always wanted to do something different, that touches the lives of our listeners and guests who are partners in our success,’ said Ravi Muni, Group Head, Finance & Audit of Channel 4 Radio Network, which belongs to Al Murad Group and was the first English radio station in the UAE. ‘We thought what could be more apt than having Robin Sharma, who is teaching millions how to be successful, to celebrate our own success.’
The famed mentor will speak on the success practices of the world’s best performers to invited guests at the Channel 4 programme on October 23 at Park Hyatt Hotel. Of Indian origin, Robin Sharma, who grew up in a small town in Canada, spoke with City Times about his success philosophy.
Just what is the secret of your boundless enthusiasm?
I love what I do. I think the secret of passion is purpose. And if you look at anyone who is successful in business and in life, they have found something that moves them. Not at an intellectual level but at an emotional level. And that’s passion.
So, you are one of the lucky ones to find work that you love…
I think we all are lucky. Even if you are a manager in a corporation or driving a taxicab, we all have the opportunity to find meaning in our work, the opportunity to make it different. Most of us are being too busy being busy that we forget about the value we could add in the contribution we can make to the work we’re doing right now.
According to your teaching, can anyone change his or her own life?
Absolutely. That’s one of my most prized values that there are no extra people on the planet. And every single one of us has greatness within us. We all can show leadership, excellence and can derive great joy and inner peace by doing the right things.
What is the most debilitating thing you have seen that holds most people back?
I’d say it is doubt and behind it one single emotion: fear. And if you fight for your excuses in life, you get to own them. And no great business and no great life has been built on a foundation of excuses. The point is: most of us are afraid to change. Most of us are afraid to realise we have amazing potential. It actually scares us, because with that great potential comes responsibility.
And does your philosophy apply to anyone, irrespective of their present position in life, whether a waiter or an executive?
Absolutely. I’ve a simple philosophy: lead without title, grow where you are planted, be great within your circle of leadership, whether you are a waiter or a taxi driver or a general manager. We all have a circle of leadership or a certain area that we can influence in, shine within, be excellent within, be enthusiastic within. And the funny thing is, the waiter who is great within his circle of leadership actually gets to expand that leadership and eventually can start living his dreams.
My books are published by Harper Collins, whose worldwide CEO started as a secretary. But she was a brilliant secretary. And that led her to the next position and the next and the next. We forget these things. What we do is say, ‘I’ll be excellent and change when I become a manager in this company.’ But that’s missing the point. The point is, be excellent as a mailroom clerk or be excellent as a secretary… whatever.
What about simple uneducated people, like labourers, can they change their lives? And what are the things they could do to achieve that?
Why not? First of all, we become who we drink coffee with. So if you drink coffee with mediocre people you’ll become mediocre. If you drink coffee with people whose life you want to live, you’ll become part of their conversation. You’ll start thinking like them. Their stardust must rub off on you, even at an invisible level.
And how do you build a great career and great life? One day at a time. There’s a very simple formula: small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results. It’s the daily improvements that most people don’t do but could do that over a time amount to greatness or mediocrity.
How crucial is goal setting in this process?
It’s mission critical. Most people spend more time planning the summer vacation than they do planning their careers and lives. Most people have what I call the ‘lottery mentality’. They think that if they do the same things every day, five years from now somehow they are going to win the jackpot, they are going to find success at work, true love, great health, a great life. How do you get to greatness professionally and personally? You plan it. Clarity precedes mastery.
Can you give a simple example of how to plan?
Take a sheet of paper and write about how you want to be remembered when you’re no longer here. In other words, your philosophy. Then write the 5 things that need to happen between now and your deathbed for you to feel your life is successful. Then bring that back. Write down your 1 year goals, 90 days goals and 30 days goals. Every morning take 40 minutes and review these goals. And pretty soon, you will start achieving your goals. Goals give you hope. Goals also give you inspiration, energy and momentum. I constantly write my goals. I take pictures and glue them into my journals, to make me see my goals vividly. That centers me.
According to you, what is the biggest challenge business people face in Dubai?
I think in Dubai one of the biggest challenges business people face is that they get caught up in the noise. And it’s easy to spend the whole life getting caught up in the noise rather than reflecting on what is most important. There are priorities. And how many people get up every morning and actually intentionally focus on these priorities. Not many.
What is your advice for people in Dubai who have no time or inclination to do these things?
I’d say we all are blessed with 24 hours in a day. The greatest leaders in business and in life actually find time to think. Even if it’s 60 minute while the rest of the world sleeps. They find time to write in their journals, to review their goals professionally and personally, to read. We all can find sixty minutes in a day. But most people get seduced into being busy being busy. And that’s where the discipline of leadership comes in. Pull back from the noise. I suggest get up at 5 o’clock in the morning and spend sixty minutes. Make that your Holy Hour. And the paradox is: that’s not a waste of time. This will make you so much more productive at work, more successful, happier and healthier. It will make you more money.
The essence of your teaching is: we all can change our lives, we can shape our destiny etc. But what about one incontrovertible element: luck. You may do everything correctly, but if you don’t have luck, success will elude you. Do you agree and what have you to say about it?
This question is so profound and exciting to me because I have spent hours and hours on this question. I’ll answer it in one line. I believe that human beings have enormous personal power, abilities and potential to create the lives they want. But that’s not everything and that’s your point.
And I summarise my life and this is just the philosophy I live by: do your best and then let life do the rest. So, just because we may not have total control over the way our lives are going to unfold, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our part: being excellent, setting goals, reading, being loving people etc. But once we have done that, then wherever life leads us that’s when you say, ‘Let go, let life.’
Can you tell us about your new book, The Greatness Guide?
Most people know me for The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. The Greatness Guide is a practical book, with 101 lessons telling people how to be more successful at work and in life. In the book my whole message is: you can create a world-class life and career and business by starting today. And anyone can get to those things by small daily improvements which over time give fantastic results.
How can normal people inject passion into whatever they are doing?
To quote Oliver Wendell Holmes, ‘Any calling can become great when greatly pursued.’ For instance, a chef in a restaurant has a choice. He can say, ‘All I am making is food,’ or he can say, ‘Through my work I get to create delicious meals which create unforgettable memories for people.’ So, it’s all how you approach your work, approach your life.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership is not about title. It’s not about where you sit. It’s about what you do. Leadership is a way of being, it is a philosophy. Taxi drivers can show leadership, teachers can show leadership, students can show it. Because leadership is simply an attitude and behaviour. The hallmark of leadership is lead by example. High level of integrity, finish what you start, commit to daily never-ending improvement, commit to being the best in the world in what you do, keep your promises, innovate where you are. But remember, there can be no greatness without integrity.
What has your own success taught you?
Humility. Nothing sells like success. The day I start believing our press releases, the day I fall in love with myself and what people tell at my book signings, I’m in trouble. So, success has taught me that the more successful one becomes the more humble should one become. The more I learn the more I realise I have to learn a lot more.
What you teach has been told, in essence, since millenniums, by scores of inspirational coaches and gurus. Why do you think you are so successful?
The principles of leadership, greatness and fulfilling life have been the same for five thousands years. I’m not going to set about trying to change that. As for my success, it’s probably that people see me as an ordinary person. They can relate to me. They read the books and they hear the speeches and say, ‘Well, if he can do it, I can do it.’ Secondly, I think my message is really relevant. So, people say, ‘He’s not saying I can’t have a Ferrari. He’s not saying I can’t have a nice meal and make lots of money. He’s actually saying if I can do these things, I can have that but there is another piece that needs to be attended to as well. Thirdly, my message is so simple. Fourthly, the books are entertaining, they’re full of anecdotes, stories. So people have fun while reading them. And having fun is a crucial part. It’s really important, as you build greatness in your career and in your life, to make time for fun everyday.
What give you the greatest satisfaction?
The greatest satisfaction is I was not born into this. The greatest satisfaction is I am small town kid who got lost along the way, who discovered the ideas that I now share, apply them in my whole life and get to do what I get to do. I am not different than anyone else.
How do you recharge your batteries?I am a great believer in massage. Secondly, I make time for silence every day. You sit in silence for 20 minutes and go deep, and it is very renewing. I recharge myself by reading great books, on leadership, on travel, on design, travel, art. I am very lucky I spend time with fascinating people. Their stardust rubs off on me. I exercise. What is the point of being the richest person in a graveyard? And I must journaling. I write in my journal every day. There are few things as powerful as recording your life journey, your insights, your learnings, feelings.
Barring financial problems, purely on a human level, can any business, even a small one, turn itself around? Of course. And it can start with a single person, with a single staff. How was the Taj Mahal built? One block at a time. A company that is in trouble through small daily improvements over time can end up in a whole different place. Ultimately, you can change your life with one idea. You can change your life with one meeting with a person who says something that revolutionises the way you see the world. So, if a company gets one idea, maybe it is planning, maybe it is treating people with respect, maybe creating a value for customers rather than thinking of getting their money.
Robin Sharma’s definition of success…
Success means being comfortable in your own skin, living life on your own terms, achieving balance in being successful in your career and successful in your world. There is great pride in achieving, but that is not all of it. Success is also being successful as a human being.
What Robin Sharma really wants people to know…
I’m the most ordinary man. I grew up in a town of 2000 people. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I read voraciously. I’m curious about life. I’m always learning. Sometimes I write 25 pages in my journal in one day. I’m a student of leadership and of life and, with that awareness, I can do what I do. I have many weaknesses that I am trying to improve each day. I have many doubts, many fears…
On creativity
Life wants us to win. We just have to get out of our own way. Everyone has just as much creativity as Salvadore Dali or Picasso. I truly believe that. You may think I have a special creative gift. I don’t. I have just tapped into the well spring of creativity that resides in every single one of us. And one of the ways I learnt to get to that creativity is to be silent and to go into wilderness and to make time for silence.
The big picture
The big picture
19 Oct, 2007, 0000 hrs IST,Jacob Cherian, TNN
At a popular party venue just outside Delhi, about 3,000 had been asked to gather one evening four years ago. They were the employees of Daksh, a business process outsourcing firm, and they were a little perplexed.
No speeches, no presentations and none of the usual gobbledygook unleashed in motivation camps. They were just being shown short clips from a range of Hollywood films: Pretty Woman, Titanic, Gone in 60 Seconds and Mighty Joe Young.
What the then-CEO, Sanjeev Aggarwal, was trying to do was to communicate with his large team what he wanted from them to build the organisation.
From Gone in 60 Seconds, he highlighted the need to set a target (steal 50 cars) and accomplish it within the allotted time (three days).
In Pretty Woman, the clip showed Julia Roberts’ character getting ill-treated by a store keeper, but later treated with respect by the manager of a hotel. By showing this, Daksh wanted its employees to treat everyone properly, irrespective of status.
A Titanic scene in which the music troupe keeps on playing even as the giant ship is sinking, demonstrated to the employees devotion to customer service comes first.
On that one evening, Aggarwal succeeded in communicating his vision across his company, without having to resort to motivational posters around the office. The unique experience also stayed in the minds of the employees, helping them constantly remember the lessons.
Very often, a startup puts together a team and people are attracted to it because of the excitement of being part of a startup, a bigger paycheck or even a stake. They hear what the target of the company is, but they are not sure what it stands for. While a vision is set for the company, the values need to be put into place as well.
A business leader needs to articulate the corporate vision clearly so that the organisation’s progress towards its goals can be effectively monitored and employees are empowered to take decisions on the move. “Someone once said that leadership is not about leading from the front. It’s like herding cats; you have to herd them from the back. If you are at the back then the ones in front have to know where they are heading. The paradigm where leaders assign tasks is gone. Sharing the vision helps people make decisions on the fly. They can take decisions in the appropriate direction without feeling lost about it,” says Alok Mittal, managing director of Canaan Partners.
Some like Laura Parkin, executive director of National Entrepreneurship Network, believes that a team wouldn’t even be formed without sharing the vision. “The only reason anyone would join a startup is if they see the same vision as the entrepreneur,” she says.
There are entrepreneurs who hesitate to share their vision with the rest of their startup team, worrying they may share too much and lose the idea to someone else. Some may simply be unable to articulate the long-term goals for the company. “Many entrepreneurs are poor communicators. Though they see the light, they are unable to share it,” says Mr Aggarwal, who is now the managing director of Helion Ventures.
For the tongue-tied entrepreneur, help is now available from industrial psychologists, corporate trainers and motivational speakers who can help her/him voice it. One such person is Uma Arora, the founder of Idam Learning. Quoting from her experience, she cited the case of a startup firm that had been growing slow and losing people.
“After examining this company closely we realised that they all (team members) hadn’t arrived at a set of values and that their visions were purely in numeric form. They goal was to gain a certain market share, but we didn’t see any vision of what the quality of the company was. There is very often an excessive focus on numbers and not on what kind of company it should be,” she says.
“What I find among today’s entrepreneurs, and there are exceptions of course, is that when we dig deep enough, we see that their vision is simply to raise the valuation and sell it off,” she points out, continuing, “If this is the case then you have to learn to speak two languages. One for your confidantes and core team, and the other for your employees.”
For the entrepreneur with the big picture dreams, the vision and values can be etched in stone. For retail chain Subhiksha, it has remained “Be the largest player in the market we operate in and give the consumer the lowest cost.”
Subhiksha is now 920 stores-strong. “Instead of sharing the vision, co-own the vision,” says R Subramanian the founder of Subhiksha. Their vision and values was set back in 1996 when the six member core team set sail.
“If you get the core team into the formulation process, then it becomes our idea and not my idea. Here the team sets the goals, the values and works backwards from there,” says Mr Aggarwal. In 2000, Daksh asked the members of the 25-member core team to make presentations on what it the values of the organisation should be. At the end of the day the funnelled it down and handed it to the human resource department to make it into posters and cards to be distributed.
Sometimes the vision and values change and entrepreneurs must be ready to face it. They can be purists and decide to stay true to their original plan. Or they could evolve with the market for higher gains. “Our initial mission statement was ‘build exceptional customer relationships by leveraging India’s high quality, cost effective intellectual capital.’ In 2000, we thought that India would be the place from where we would deploy our services. We eventually discovered we could deploy our services from Mexico and Philippines as well. So we had to modify our mission statement,” says Mr Aggarwal.
In the case of a large organisation, hitting upon the right vision could be a day-long process that involves numerous people, a clubhouse, a buffet lunch and PowerPoint presentations. For a lone entrepreneur or small team, this could happen at the coffee shop on a paper napkin. “There are a lot of personal styles involved in communicating a vision. But first of all you (the entrepreneur) have to be clear in your head. Clarity and brevity is essential. If the entrepreneur were to write down their vision, if it is longer than even a 150 words, then it is too long,” says Ms Parkin, NEN.
The vision is a mix of numerical targets, values and big picture plan. These automatically set up a monitoring system. ‘’How you do’ and ‘what you do’ is a derivative of ‘where you want to go’,” says Mr Subramanian. Ms Parkin says: “We ask people to envision what their success looks like, and then work towards that.”
Aggarwal and Subramanian had the courage to think out of the box and disseminate their vision innovatively and effectively. As a result, the companies they founded have grown beyond their peers and broke their own targets. Great companies don’t just get the big picture right, but also hang it on the wall for everyone to see.
MBAs’ guide to lasting fulfilment
MBAs’ guide to lasting fulfilment
By Della Bradshaw
It is a rare business school programme that invokes in its participants a similar fervour to that experienced in a revivalist religious meeting. But this would appear to be the case with Srikumar Rao’s elective course, Creative and Personal Mastery.
Now in its third year at London Business School, the course has also run at Columbia , New York, and may soon become part of the MBA programme at the Haas school at Berkeley.
Prof Rao, a businessman more than an academic and armed with practical experience rather than research, is one of a new breed of business school teachers. They eschew number-crunching and regression models in favour of personal issues.
“It is designed to get [students] to think about things rarely acknowledged in business schools. What makes me happy? What makes me happy at work?” Most people, he says, “don’t have a clue” about such things.
Many, however, would accept Prof Rao’s hypothesis. “When putting in long hours, if you don’t get a deep sense of fulfilment at work, you’re wasting your life.” His solution? “Your ideal job isn’t something that exists; it’s something you can craft.”
Just how to do that is at the core of his programme, which receives gushing praise from many students. “The technical skills that I learn at school will only get me so far and will one day be obsolete,” says Nick Wai, a recent LBS graduate. “What I learn in CPM, however, will help me build a foundation not only as a business person, leader even, but more importantly as a human being.”
Natasja Giezen, another London MBA, says the course teaches the “why” when most business school courses teach the “how”. She believes MBA students are the ideal target audience. “At business school we all think a lot about what we want from our future and this seems to fit in seamlessly.”
Prof Rao says there are four main planks to the course: learning techniques to spark creativity; helping students find their purpose in life; learning how to be most effective; and how to find balance in life.
Many university strictures have been rewritten. Students hand in written work when they think it is ready rather than to a deadline, and they have to make a public commitment to do something for their peers. A weekend retreat is included in the programme.
Prof Rao’s advice on landing a job flies in the face of many careers service dicta. You are most unlikely to find your ideal job straight out of business school, he says, so accept the “least worst” job you are offered.
As for interview techniques, he recommends that the aim should be to find out whether the company is one you want to work for, rather than trying to impress the interviewer.
Once you have your first job, you can start turning it into the job you want, he says. One piece of advice he gives is to focus on the good things about the job and then set the target of increasing the proportion of the job that is the good stuff. An element of learning should be involved in the process.
Prof Rao’s own work record includes experience in both the academic and the business worlds. His own MBA is from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and he has consulted for several blue chip corporations and taught on the corporate programmes of companies such as Bell Atlantic.
He also has a PhD in marketing from Columbia Business School and is no shrinking violet when it comes to promoting the programme he teaches. Students queue to learn about the course, he says, and it is the only business school programme with its own alumni association.
What differentiates the course from a self-help manual, however, are the mental models and long-term exercises the professor sets. MBA students are often labelled the most “me”-centric group on the planet. The obvious enthusiasm of past and present participants, who are undoubtedly some of the smartest cookies around, sets this programme apart.
http://www.areyoureadytosucceed.com
The Financial Times Limited 2007
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