Beyond just a ‘Suggested Reading!’

Last week, I was running around the Great Lakes resource center ‘jobless’ – looking for a great read! A month ago, Subroto Bagchi, one of the co-founders of Mind Tree, had visited our campus at Manamai and delivered a guest lecture in an auditorium that was filled to the brim – a rarity nowadays, but the man commanded such respect! And so, it happened that at the same time, I found the book Go, Kiss the World, written by Mr. Bagchi in our Resource Center. For long that book has been on my reading list and has remained there, but now, I decided to pick it up and give it a read!

For a week, the book lay on the table and yesterday on the return journey on Cauvery Express from Mysooru (one of the most boring in the near past!), I completed reading what has been one of my “best reads” over the past one year. My acquaintance with Mind Tree was when Andy moved on from IMR Global (now CGI), to Mind Tree in its Banashankari office. Heard lots of positives from him before he moved on and then heard about how it is now from Harsha who works from its Global Village HQ on Mysore Road.

On the book now, I like the way Mr. Bagchi has put his childhood, his younger days at DCM, his days at Wipro and finally the Mind Tree days into words. Coming from a value-driven family and moving on to establish one of India’s largest VC funded IT firm is a great story to read about. There are some points of the book that I felt were worth mentioning for those of you who haven’t had a chance to read it!

– When most mid-level managers look for a job, they look for jobs in Corporate Strategy, say closer to CEO in a cabin! But nobody asks for the dirty work to interact with the masses and build leadership. No one wants to make a difference in what hurts an organization! – So True

– The first rule to manage is to Listen. – Goes well with what O’Toole says in another good read – Leadership A to Z.

– Perception is the reality in this world – If I can quote myself ‘I perceive therefore I am’

– Have the grace to accept negative public opinion

– There are no A Teams and B Teams, there are only different kinds of leaders who make the teams what they are

– No decision is without risk, take time to think through, then you take very few regrettable decisions

– Fight all battles based on principles

– Once you decide to be unhappy with something, even a small irritation becomes a great annoyance.

– When you make the choice, you also choose the consequence

– One thing we as today’s leaders must never forget – Open your heart before you Open your mind, Open your mind before you open your mouth

The book goes on to explain each of these points and the difficulties faced in life and how it was overcome in a clear and a crisp manner and is a clear example of how Life teaches you to be a high performer. Mr. Bagchi winds up the book with useful lessons he learnt in life:

– Its all in the mind, as is your will, so is your act
– The power to receive is far more important than the power to give, to get first you must give
– Life is a constant negotiation
– Marginal person is important
– Passion is what passion does
– The power of resilience
– The key to happiness is not money, look beyond yourself! (Dunno… I have been trying this ;))
– Real men say sorry! and finally
– Self doubt is positive!

He also talks about networking and how important it is for the growth of an individual or an organization.

But what impressed me the most of the lessons was the slipper slope of over-achievement. Mr. Bagchi, in the book argues that over-achievement comes with a price tag, if it is not handled, things may spin out of control. I agree! – Completely. High achievers have a problem of setting standards for themselves and expect everyone to follow them – Legitimate, but unreasonable. This leads to a tendency of high achievers getting frustrated with the system pretty much sooner than the rest. May be its time for every one to realize not everything around you can be changed by you. You can do it only if you can influence others. Just take charge and get things done.

While I leave it here, I think you all, who are reading this blog, must pick a copy of the book as well. Its insightful and interesting and offers lots of lessons to learn for young leaders. Somehow I have had more people now screaming in my ear that Its all Sales that matters. The book does that as well.

The author re-iterates I think in every page – Do what you love to do! Something that takes me to what I am doing now! I want to do what I love to do. I am sure many agree with this.

I am sure that it will remain an inspiration for many to Go, Kiss the World.