A businessman and his choices

One of the best advises that I have is that as a businessman I should know what I am doing. Setting up a business is a roller coaster ride, driven by a lot of emotions, desires, past experiences etc. A businessman or an entrepreneur has to give his attention to so many factors that often among the operational and financial factors the fundamentals of the business go for a toss. Making plans sticking them and being aware of the way things are moving require a lot of mental strength and mental coolness. Setting up priorities and sticking to them is the key here.

The best real example that comes to my mind is of 27th October 2008. This was the time when Terrorists have attacked Hotel Taj in India and made the guests hostage. The whole of the World was under shock every news channel was covering the minute by minute details of the happenings outside the hotel. Under these circumstances Mr. Ratan Tata hold a 2 hours meeting of the Board of his subsidiary company ‘Tata Capital’ on 29th morning and take many important decisions including changing the top management of the company. A normal person here will pas his time in worrying over the problem and be on the spotlight on every channel. But Mr. Tata is highly mature to understand that he can not make much difference in the proceedings of the rescue operations as the required defence teams are doing their work and he should simultaneously give his focus to other important issues. The point is not that he was not disturbed or worried. I am sure he must had been under a lot of stress. The point is that he understood that his fretting over the problem will not help in any way and moreover will derail his other projects. The kind of mental strength that he shows at such occasions is exemplary.

The same kind of understanding of business priorities and decision taking acumen is required from top officials of every company. To keep the team on the right track requires a comprehensive understanding of the business, an eye of detail for defining priorities and strength to make right decisions at the right time.

A businessman has to have a very clear understanding of his job. Because he is like the engine of the train if he lose his sense of direction his whole team, his business will get out of the track…..

Attack is the best defense.

Often success rests on destroying the enemy’s ability to attack. After an accident, the person who starts shouting first immediately occupy the dominating position. In a relationship dispute, the person who show tantrums earlier achieve a higher position and makes the other person listen and thus gets an advantage. In chess, no matter what dire situation you are in but if you can find one way of having the opponent’s king under stress you immediately get a hold on the game. In every field the fact ‘ Attack is the best defense’ is tried and tested.
I think it happens because an attack from the opposition quickly change our mindset, we start acting defensive, our goal shifts from winning to saving.

What do you think ?

The choice between an easy option and the best option

Checking people’s random activities on face book is easy, reading newspaper is easy, going through tweets is easy, giving advice to others is easy, watching sports being a spectator is easy, doing a 9 to 5 job with less responsibility is easy. Tough is to take a bold stand and post it on face book, tough is to consistently write a blog, working hard and becoming a player who actually plays in the middle of the field is tough, starting one’s own business and giving employment to others is tough

The irony is that we like to have the benefits of acting tough but we lack the courage and commitment to act tough, whenever choice comes we choose the easy way over the best way. I wonder y ?

The most important personal selling skill called: Persuasion.

A Job interview, A sales pitch, An important deal, A life time opportunity etc. In several such important life changing scenarios and in some other important moments we need the approval or support of another person to get what we want. Most of the times, our most important and desired thing means nothing for the other person whom support we need to achieve it.

The same is the case with our problems, they are our problems not others, so others don’t feel our pain points. That project, that sale, that girl, that job may mean everything to you but nothing to the other person who need to be taken along in order to get it done. In such crucial times we often find ourselves helpless and constantly ask ourselves that what should I do to impress that person. The challenge here is to influence that other person to achieve your goal or to solve your problem. The name of the game here is to move his attitude from ‘I don’t give a shit’ to ‘I would love to be a part of it’

This is the most needed skill in a business executive and still its no been taught in our management education. May be because no one has a magic formula or solution to this problem.

I accept even I don’t have a magic formula for this problem. But I strongly believe that the skill of taking people along towards a focused goal is a key attribute of a leader. To generate passion in your team, allies and non team members require much more than a single magic formula. Still you and I, ya we both can try to find out the possible ways of solving this problem. Here are some possible ways that come to my mind, I would really appreciate if you can some points in the comments section.

The principle of Logic

Logic sells like hot cakes. If you are able to show clear benefits or better ways of getting things done, you have done your job. Logic has a high appeal and it quickly influence the target’s mind.

The act of Persistence.

The most commonly used technique used by other people to achieve this is through persistence. Today salesman keep calling you under a hope that one day you will give up and will finally buy their product. You must have seen boys/ girls who keep following others in a hope that one day the other individual will feel the love that they have for them. I agree this technique work but not always.

The principle of Solid research

Today every person is running after something. Some of them want money, some want fame, some want to make a difference, some people live to prove something to someone. The task for you here is to find out the way by which your work can help that person in fulfilling his/her desires. It requires solid research and openness to get in to his shoes and see things from his perspective.

Offer a direct offer

Several times we don’t have the time for research, to know the needs of the other person. Here we rely to get favors by fulfilling the basic desires of the target. Bribing is the common practice under this solution. A start-up company can give equity to people they want to employ. Giving expensive gifts, doing big big favors can also work wonders for you.

Subtle impressions:

We humans have a tendency to do tit for tat. The good part here is that we also remember and return favors. Today we all exist in form of images in other people’s mind. Our interaction with people leave a mark in other people’s mind and that image plays a major role in determining their decisions. Taking small positive actions for others can help us in receiving positive vibrations and thoughts from them. Believe me these positive vibrations travel very fast and help us in a number of ways. For example if you recommend someone on a social networking site then you have a high chance of getting a return recommendation and even if you don’t get it you are sure of getting admiration and support from the other individual .

There are number of other small and big actions that help us form a team to get what we want.

Among all the best way to get it done is to spread your passion in to others, to synchronize your beliefs with their beliefs, overall it means to encourage involvement, participation and contribution. All your efforts can have a high impact if you are authentic and have a genuine intention.
But again it is much easier said than done !!

It’s possible…

Yaahhh, u got it right, its possible. You can do that, you can get that, you can be yourself, all those big fantasies of yours can turn out to be true. From that small want to that biggest dream of your life, everything is achievable. I know what you are thinking, you might be saying ‘bullshit- all this is theory and I have read that in several so-called motivational books, but life is different, its tough, it’s not that easy’ but i am not negating any of your point dude, i agree that getting that thing may be tough, but am just saying is it is POSSIBLE.

I believe that our mind has a special way of acting, it first form a belief and then look for facts and arguments to stick to that belief. In any given situation if you formed a belief in the beginning that it’s not possible then rest assured it’s surely not going to be possible. Now for a change, be a little different. This time form a belief that yes its possible, it can be done and simply see how our mind comes with several ideas to make it possible.

I think that in our education we missed one most important subject called ‘ Possibility thinking’. Ok leave all this gyan, just try to remember your last big wish, something that you wanted to do, it could be anything which you wished to do but for that you need to get out of your comfort zone. Now ask yourself did you get that thing. I am sure that if you belong to the majority of people like me, then you don’t even tried for it. You let it go, after giving a simple excuse to your own self. You might not have even checked the door, it could have been open…..( If the case is different in your case, then please accept my salute !! )

I have heard it several times from different people saying, what can be done now ? nothing..they say its gone and then I see it going. But I have also seen some people in my life who say that it can be done. Giving their best shots then I have seen them actually doing it with style.

Activities like visiting a shopping mall, sitting idle for some times in cafe shops, inspecting a public place, conversing with any human being alive are the basic rights of all human beings and need no effort and daring. But now just stand outside a well-built mall, or a decent coffee shop. If you observe closely you will find that a lot of low middle class people like drivers, small industry workers, etc never even come close to such places. They never dare to speak to higher authorities, I asked why ? The answer I got was simple, they have formed a belief that these places are not for them. They have made a strong opinion that they belong to this place and reaching to that place is not possible for them, and in this way they suffer all their life because they lived in an impossible world. Like them we too have created several closed doors for ourselves and this is the time when we need to kick on those doors and check, are they actually closed ? Remember the possibility of those doors to be open….IS POSSIBLE

The process of becoming a quality blogger.

Many people today start blogging and within days expect hundreds of visitors, number of comments and appreciations. When in reality this does not happen their posts become less frequent and finally they stop blogging.

In every learning process, quality execution comes with time and consistent practice. Many skills require patience as the most important attribute, blogging is one of those skill. But it does not go well with our fast paced generation as we just want quick results.

By the medium of this post I would like to make those people and myself believe that blogging is a long term investment. The returns it produce are first for our own self and then for others. When we write we tend to think better, our thoughts become structured, we broadens our imagination, develop a perspective, and overall we become self aware.
Consistent writing with a feeling that someone will be reading our stuff oblige us to express our feelings in the best possible way. In this process we evolve as a writer and one day we find that our blog is recognized by several people across the globe. But mind you this process takes time, it does not happen overnight, and you will realize it better when you read the archives of the blogs of your favorite bloggers. I just read the old posts of my ideal Seth Godin, and i can clearly sense the improvements in his posts on monthly basis. Here is the link for your reference.

The point is I want to make is simple, you may not be a great blogger but with blogging you can become a great person.

Reality…….Gap…….Desired life

There is a gap; no its a big gap. The gap between where we are and where we want to be. A gap between what we do and what we want to do. Precisely its a gap between reality and our desired world.

Most of us want to be rich, most of us desire a healthy physique, most of us want most of the things that most of us never get Ya its funny and strange but true. Also most of us accept the reality, compromise with what they get and try to live happily. Some of us keep running for our desires, but don’t put the best efforts to achieve them and keep cribbing. Few of us realize the difference between the reality and their dreams and pursue the journey with happiness.

But why, why are most of us so compromising, why do we accept the status quo and don’t give our best efforts and get rich, and get that physique and get that girl/boy friend, and get that car, and that job etc.
May be it is because of the kind of upbringing we have, as we are taught to pursue stability, to play safe, to avoid risks, to avoid opposition, to be socially accepted, etc. I think this is the time when we need to bring change in our lives and fill this gap. It is the time to move on and create a better future for ourselves and for our society.

Do we avoid putting our best effort ?

One of the basic lessons we have learned in our childhood is ‘what one harvest is directly proportional to what one invest’. Our efforts and our commitment level towards our work determines the level we reach in our lives.
Whether you are an actor, lover, chef, leader, lawyer, blogger or in any other profession the more pains you take, the more you invest, the more you understand; the better would be your life. Simple isn’t it ?

But today when I retrospect and look around inside my self and in my circle of friends I find that we are not committed to get what we want, some of us are not even committed to find out what we actually want from our lives. The people who do ( may be you ) are enjoying their life. But people who evade effort and responsibility for actions are waiting for a miracle, cribbing about the recession, or are producing several other excuses for their plight.

Answer one simple question: Is earning a substantial income post MBA difficult ? I assure you that the answer is no. But in the market you will find several well-educated graduates who are ready to do any kind of job for a needed good pay package and a recognized brand name. There are several other people who are trying their best and can’t even find a job. Then there are others who are not able to perform better in their work. They are depressed, frustrated, confused, and are looking for your help and sympathy. Now let’s do one more activity; simply ask any of these people one simple question. That did they tried their best ? Did they gave their best shot ? Did they listed down all the alternatives and taken the pains of taking a decision and gave their best shot in executing their chosen plan. I again assure you that the answer is no. Most of the time of this group of people is spent on concentrating on what they don’t have instead of finding out what they want and putting efforts to get what they want.

I don’t know why, but many of us are in love with the easiest option available, and in the above case the easiest option is to sit down and crib instead of putting needed effort and taking charge to improve the circumstances. Actually it’s not our mistake, we are not taught to take charge, we have never learned the art of taking control, we have imbibed the art of ‘Taking Care’.

Lets take the second group, this group is highly talented, is earning sufficient income and are fulfilling their major needs. But they too are stuck, they are successful but not happy. They are not happy because they feel that they are not using their full potential.

Here we have lofty dreams, we feel that we have the ability but we are not ready to put our best efforts in fulfilling our dreams. We need quick results. We hate the word risk. We are skeptical of travelling the distance of effort between what we deserve and what we desire. We prefer a safe and easy job, we need comfort and the real world have made us skeptical of our own self, we too have started loving the status quo.

Someone has very rightly said the origin of most of our problems is the difference between what we desire and what we deserve. So for getting what you desire please put your best efforts and enter the third group of happy people.

The power of determination.

Do you love playing any game ? As a player can u remember a match where you determined to win and you actually won that game. I do. I love playing cricket and I can never forget a match when the opposition score was very high and batting second I have to achieve an almost impossible target. But I wanted to win that match, no matter what !!!! I still remember what I communicated to my inner self that day, I made myself believe that I can win and subsequently ordered my mind to do whatever it can to fetch that match from the opposition. You know what, I won that match.

I had a strong desire to win, I played with dedication and most importantly I think that my strong determination and belief made me win that match.

In life also many of us have big desires, they may also be committed to put their best efforts but what differentiates a winner from a looser is the power of determination. This power comes from the strong belief that you can and from the peevishness of keep running irrespective of the nature of obstacles. The power led us to rise every time we fall by the time we reach our destination.

Can you associate any of your life’s win with this power ? Can you recall any of your pursuit for which you kept fighting steadfastly till the time you actually get it. Whenever I see a winner I can easily sense this power. We win big fights when we say to ourselves, that we want that thing NO MATTER WHAT, and this is determination

Our life and that chance….

A chance is an effort, an attempt to dare and try something out to fulfill one’s wants and desires. Several times in life we face with people and things we like and we feel a wish to talk to them or get something. What happens to the very next moment determines how we view our lives and the self. Most of us instantly say to the self…let it go..with excuses like it’s not achievable, difficult to get or we may not be sure that if we actually need it.This instant decision is affected by several factors but majorly by our upbringing. It depends on all those earlier ( if any ) attempts when we tried. It stems from that ice cream that one wanted to eat and parents didn’t allow or from that pretty girl from another section in school with whom one never got an opportunity to interact. I depends on our experiences, circumstances and many other factors.

But now, now when we are grown up and can decide on what is good for us and whats not, then why don’t we take chances ( strive for ) for things which will surely make our life better. That job, that boy/girl, that car, that lifestyle etc. Now why do we sigh and say ‘let it go’ to things we like. Think about it, and next time when you feel a desire don’t suppress it. For once, portray a belief that its achievable and your mind will give you several ideas to fulfill that wish of yours. From now onwards I will take chances, even if I don’t fulfill my desire I have a great fulfilling feeling that..I GAVE IT A SHOT…I TRIED..I TOOK A CHANCE.