Deep Roots Potent Legacy-All

Deep Roots, Potent Legacy by Praful Contractor Published by Remik Group Praful Nivas, Panchvati, Ahmedabad - 380006 Created by, V RAMANUJ communication www.vramanuj.com ● [email protected] ● +91 8320 69 2778

“ When there is scorching heat amid the unrelenting summer, finding a Banyan Tree is a delight for a road side traveller as it provides the much needed respite. Shri Praful Contractor was that Banyan Tree, to his Family, Relatives, Team Remik and to all the stake holders who have gained infinitely through their association with Remik and with Shri Praful Contractor.”

About... Deep Roots, Potent Legacy Shri Praful Contractor, founder of “Group Remik” management journey that “Remik Family Members” and Stanford University Alumnus, was a born were privileged to take with Shri Praful entrepreneur. Business was not merely an act of Contractor…and the odyssey still continues with him profit generation for him; rather it was all about quietly inspiring and guiding us every step of the way leaving a legacy. It was about - contributing to the from his heavenly abode. society at large in some positive manner through offering the best products and services; providing For us it will always remain an honour to be blessed employment and taking care of people's physical, with spending countless hours with such a legendary social and spiritual needs; being socially responsible yet extremely down-to-earth and humble and setting the highest standards of business and personality lovingly called 'Prafulbhai' by all his professional ethics. contacts. This booklet, encapsulating his lifelong learning on the Forty First Anniversary of Remik, is We, the “Remik Family” consider ourselves truly but a small personification of our adulation and fortunate to have multiple opportunities to interact gratitude. with him and gain a first-hand understanding of many a management lesson that have stood us in We earnestly hope that the lessons shared in this good stead while taking “Group Remik” from book, based on the experiences of our Founder, Shri strength-to-strength. “Deep Roots, Potent Legacy” Praful Contractor, will guide others when faced with is a compilation of thoughts, ideas and practices that challenges… Making it a valuable referral source. Shri Praful Contractor shared with us through his one-on-one dialogue, his write ups in our in-house Many people have played a pivotal role – directly or bulletin “SETU” as well as the innumerable notes indirectly – in the realization of this dream project. which he was habituated to scribbling on various We wish to thank each and every one of them. papers. He had also written several articles in diverse journals the gist of which has been covered in this Only “Deep Roots” can ensure “Potent Legacy” and publication. This small book is a quint-essence of the “Remik”, the organization lovingly set up by Shri Praful Contractor, is privileged to have both. Remik Family August 2019

1 Be A Loyal Employer 22 One Step At A Time 2 Invest In Your Team 23 Networking Makes A Difference 3 Procras na on…the Biggest Obstacle To 24 There Is Never A Permanent Des na on 25 Thou Has A Right To Ac on Alone Success 26 Have Faith In Your Course Of Ac on 4 Never Take Your Customer For Granted 27 Challenging Assignments Test The 5 Every Moment Is An Opportunity To Excel 6 Would You Like To Remain A Cog In The Wheel? Organiza on's DNA 7 Always Be In A Preparatory Mode 28 Persistence Is The Key To Market Dominance 8 Don't Be Afraid Of Failures 29 Both Contribu on And Success Are Equally 9 Be Transparent And Put Your Best Foot Forward 10 Conflicts Are Inevitable Important In Business 11 Always Challenge The Status Quo 30 The Best Is Yet To Come 12 Competence Encompassing Floor To Corner 31 Take Care Of That Which Is Not Obvious 32 Decisions, Ac ons, Postmortem Office 33 Not A Mere Clerk But An Ambassador 13 Brand Recogni on Is Important 34 Observe The U lity Value To Dis nguish 14 Are You Prepared To Face Uncalled For Between A Fad And A Trend Con ngencies? 35 The Future Which Has Already Taken Place 15 Future Is As Uncertain For You As It Is For A So- 36 Your Team Constantly Watches You 37 Retreat For The Team called Expert 38 Don't Love Your Product So Much That You 16 Keep Your Cool 17 You Are The First Ambassador Can't Give It Up! 18 The Organiza onal Budget Is Not A Mere 39 Instead Of Adver sement Trust The Word-Of- Sta s c Mouth 19 Staff Needs The Ceo's Assurance 40 Your Best Source Of Success Is Human 20 Is Our Best Really The Best? 21 Are You Really Prepared To Change? Resources 41 Don't Be In A Denial Mode

42 Do You Hire People More Talented Than You? 976 Arouse Passion 43 Ensure That Your Body Language Sends Out 77 Share Your Premoni on 78 Liaising Posi ve Signals 79 Subordinate Yourself 44 Do You Con nually Raise The Bar? 80 Look Afresh At Your Vision And Mission 45 No Disparity Between Short-term And Long - 81 Wake Up Calls 82 Ac on Taken Reports Term Principles 83 Effec ve Communica on 46 Profit Is The Cost Of Staying In Business 84 Iden fy The Customers First... Not The Other 47 A Well-fed Employee Is A Priority 48 The Knowledge Trap Way Round 49 You Need A Word Of Dissent Now And Then 85 Luck, Charisma And Pedigree Only Help You 50 Is Argument Unpalatable? 51 Back To School Ini ally 52 Create A Conducive Work Environment 86 The Engaged Leader 53 Rela onships That Last 87 Small Things – Big Repercussions 54 Your Errors Are More Closely Watched 88 Management Is The Prime Mover 55 Fringe To Mass Takes Time 89 Your Core Customers 56 Nip It In The Bud 90 Dis nc ve Value Proposi on 57 Harness The Talent 91 Focus On Your Mee ngs 58 The Cohesive Force 92 Management By Walking Around 59 Hand Holding To Transform 93 What Is Your Business? 60 Do Not Micromanage 94 It All Comes Down To… 61 Customer's Ac ons Count More Than Their 95 Focus On The Fundamentals 96 The Pyrrhic Victory Words 97 Personalize It 62 All Things Are Created Twice 98 Customer And Consumer 63 Management As Facilitator 99 Avoid Knee-jerk Reac ons 64 Delight Your Customers 100 Deep Roots And Potent Legacy 65 Take Failure As A Process 101 Think Outside The Box 66 The Outsider View 102 Bo leneck Is At The Top Of The Bo le 67 Earning Trust 103 Maintain Discipline At Any Cost 68 Relentlessly Search For New Markets 104 Ask What You Can Do For Your Company 69 Own Up 105 Lack Of Market Knowledge Leads To 70 Focused Philanthropy 71 All Are Equal For The Head Complacency 72 Be Forgiving 106 Ostrich-like A tude Is Pathe c And 73 Ensuring Flawless Performance 74 There Cannot Be Ad-hoc Decisions Problema c 75 Prac cal Knowledge 107 Our Mul -faceted Personality 108 Be Comfortable With Different Convic ons

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BE A LOYAL EMPLOYER Loyalty is always a two-way street. Genuine loyalty can only be earned when you create a win-win situation. While an employer offers a job opportunity and livelihood; an employee offers his skills, hard work, time and energy. Along with these, an employee can also share his enthusiasm, commitment and loyalty – subject to the employer earning them! At “Remik” there are several employees who have been part of the organization right since the company's inception. They are not treated as employees, but rather as family members. The company ensures the well-being of their families and a certain basic standard of living. The company stands with them when they face unforeseen emergencies, medical or otherwise. Through such repeated acts on the part of the management, these employees now know deep within that their employer would be with them always. When a sense of ownership is evoked amongst the employees, the outcome in terms of achievements for the company is extraordinary. This is how loyalty is earned by Walking the Talk… “Employee loyalty begins with employer loyalty. Your employees should know that if they do the job they were hired to do with a reasonable amount of competence and efficiency, you will support them. - Harvey Mackay

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INVEST IN YOUR TEAM \"You are only as strong as your team\" is an oft-quoted phrase in the corporate world. But, unfortunately understood and implemented only by a handful of organizations! A loyal employer attracts loyal employees. An employer must continuously seek to invest in the skill development of his team. Be it through training programs or hands-on experience. At the same time, the organization must ensure physical and mental well-being of its employees. Such continued efforts will strengthen the team's faith in a leader. This must be supplemented by creating a forum, which works on building the interpersonal skills of the employees. This acts as glue in connecting the team. Today pay-packages play a pivotal role in the decision-making process especially in the case of young employees – who are looking out for a quick ROI! Hence, it is necessary to highlight the intangibles with the tangibles, to all the employees, which makes them realize that there is much more to working, in this team. Loyalty must be commanded, not demanded. “The team with the best players usually does win – this is why you need to invest the majority of your time and energy in developing your people. - Jack Welch

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PROCRASTINATION… THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO SUCCESS Procrastination is basically a lack of confidence to take a decision and act on it. Many players of the professional world are in the perennial habit of repeatedly assessing a given situation to the best of their ability, yet hesitant of commitment and action. It is this dangerous habit of procrastination, which delays action, making a situation critical. The ironic part is that, although the doer may be nearer to perfection, with the moment to act having passed, the opportunity to achieve success is lost. Despite possessing analytical abilities, one fails to achieve concrete results. So, the best course of action is to gather operational information and act on it at the earliest to propel movement towards the goal. The fine-tuning can then be an on-going process. So, this approach of informed decision-making and quick action, will usually lead to sure success. “ You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again. - Benjamin Franklin

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NEVER TAKE YOUR CUSTOMER FOR GRANTED One may be more knowledgeable about opinion, sincerely looking into his one's business than one's customer is – complaints, promptly responding to him however, never take him for granted. The and ensuring that he gets the best value heaviest damage that one can cause to for his money: all these are small but business is to hold the customer in assured steps to ensure - loyalty; contempt. A smirk as a response to his overlooking of minor conveniences and; opinions and comments regarding your good word-of-mouth publicity on the part products and services may irretrievably of the customer. demoralize the customer. The very moment that a customer feels that the On another note companies should not company does not respect his opinions, become complacent and take for granted his bruised ego and fallen self-esteem will that slot of customers which regularly buys push him to switch his loyalties or worse their products and doesn't negotiate price bad-mouth the company! and quality. On the contrary the customer's faith should motivate Always remember that respect begets organizations to roll out even better respect. Respecting a customer and his products and services. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. - Bill Gates

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EVERY MOMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL The \"Desire to Excel\" in every single thing that bar further and remain a market leader or one does has to be a way of life. Every activity lower it and recede to oblivion lies totally with conceals a hidden choice – one can either you. There are only two alternatives - either pursue the task in a routine mechanical way creep towards mediocrity or soar to the which one is accustomed to; or one can do it pinnacles of excellence. innovatively with a touch of creativity and strive to further better one's performance. This Just \"being good\" is not enough to survive in is precisely how great companies and this competitive world…one needs to move remarkable products are built. from \"good\" to \"great\". This is achievable only when one is habituated to giving the best to Complacency is the biggest curse to whatever one does. excellence. A laid-back life sets into motion the process of stagnation. And shortly one Remember that what is \"great\" today, will be finds the organization lagging behind its considered only as \"good\" tomorrow. So, in competitors; and lethargy in snapping out order to achieve greatness tomorrow, one from it, may bestow the tag of \"has been\" to needs to strive for being \"outstanding\" today. one's organization. This approach will enable one to achieve lofty goals and reach heights, which may seem Always strive to continuously better your insurmountable at present. products and services. The choice to raise the “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill

“A company is people … employees want to know… am I being listened to or am I a cog in the wheel? People really need to feel wanted. - Richard Branson 6

WOULD YOU LIKE TO REMAIN A COG IN THE WHEEL? Today, with the great strides that \"Management individual. Four words that would define one's Science\" has made, every minute aspect of rise to the top stratums of business exclusively e m p l o y e e p e r f o r m a n c e h a s b e c o m e reserved for the Policy Makers are - Sincerity, measurable. Technology enables easy access Loyalty, Commitment and Talent. of minute information like tapping of computer \"A cog in the wheel\" is an employee who is keyboard to judge employee performance; and content with discharging tasks assigned to him time card machines to capture employee entry and lacks initiative. He can never take a broader and exit times. perspective that he is in the company to do So, does this reduce an employee to being a something out of the ordinary in order to change mere cog in the wheel? Management has now the organization's fortunes for the better. He necessary means and expertise to micro- simply does his 10-to-5 job and returns home measure employee performance and link it to and is only bothered with being paid at the end remuneration. But YOU can be different. There of the month. And on the other hand are is a thin segment of employees in the top employees who move beyond their defined job echelons - who are paid handsomely for less role; whose mere presence instils confidence arduous tasks like decision making; whose and enthusiasm in the team; who always come intellectual assets rather than finger speed are up with transformational thoughts and ideas to taken into account; whose out-of-the-box better the organization. thinking can ensure great fortune and a quick Just remember… those employees who are turn-around for the company. functionally necessary can be replaced, These people are on the other side of the because the market offers a varied option of spectrum. While they formulate policies, the them…But those who have made the company mere cogs in the wheel toil to implement these an innate part of their DNA are rare, policies. indispensable and irreplaceable, because the The choice, to remain a mere cog in the wheel, company resides in their thought, breath and or become a person whose presence is blood. irreplaceable for the company lies with the

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ALWAYS BE IN A PREPARATORY MODE In order to remain a \"Market Leader\" one company buried in the debris of market needs to be continuously \"well prepared\". upheavals. Albeit, challenges do not come every day, but then neither do they come with prior Armed forces regularly conduct certain announcement! And only the fittest company combat practices irrespective of the need. will be able to survive the storm of challenges, The reason being – the army needs to always emerge unscathed and rule the market. be well prepared for any emergency. They are There's an apt phrase in Hindi, \"Mauke pe constantly on their vigil, restraining enemies chaukka\". Meaning that one needs to be from even daring to think of attacking them! prepared to hit a square drive or a six as such an opportunity will come at the blink of an eye! An organization too needs to envisage probable market scenarios and then prepare One word which all must guard against is itself with regards to effective actions in case \"complacency\". When the going is good, of such an exigency. This is the true meaning human tendency is to take things for granted. of the phrase - to always be prepared. No need is felt for honing our skills and keeping ourselves fit; and then suddenly, The \"mock-drill\" is equally relevant for when hit by an avalanche we find our organizations as it is for the defense forces. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. - Abraham Lincoln

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DON'T BE AFRAID OF FAILURES No organization has ever been born with the DNA that it would never fail. In fact the moment one ventures into a business, raises stakes and steps into unchartered territory; the inherent risk of failure sets in. The biggest obstacle in the success journey for any organization is the mind-set to avoid failure at all costs. There is hardly a wrestler who has emerged a champion without bearing several scars. In spite of the fact that one may possess - the best brains in the team, state-of-the-art resources, ample funds, unmatched product know-how – yet, there will always be several unknowns which would strike the organization out of the blue leading to an unavoidable failure. However a positive downside of this failure is that it transforms every unknown into a known entity. A failure makes one realize and accept that this can happen to the organization and consequently one is better prepared for similar occurrences. Every failure comes with a lesson. The problem is that since time immemorial we have been hard-wired to avoid failure, because during the ancient times, every failure was associated with a fatality, a death or worse extinction. However in the modern times we need to look at failure as something, which helps us hone our capabilities and design our future successes. But for this one needs to take calculated risks. “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure. - Abraham Lincoln

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BE TRANSPARENT AND PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD As an organization one can sell the product by focusing on superficial features like – packaging, outer glow and the immediate impact, which the product creates. But it is only after the customer uses the product for a couple of days does he realize that it has many drawbacks. Hence, although one has sold the product and increased the profits yet one's credibility has undergone a severe beating. On the other hand, if the focus is not on the glamour quotient, but rather on ensuring great utility value for the customer – the latter may not be initially impressed by the packaging and the smooth talks of the sales staff; but post purchase and use of the product, he will realize what an apt decision he has made in buying the product. This will also nurture the credibility of the organization. Such customers stay loyal to the business because they know that they are dealing with an organization where being transparent is a watch-word. Always share with the customer everything, which he wishes to know about the product and then let him take a decision regarding the product, which will be - well considered and well thought out. Remember, mere gloss without substance will earn short-term gain and long- term pain. “ Transparency doesn't mean sharing every detail. Transparency means providing context for the decisions we are making. - Simon Sinek

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CONFLICTS ARE INEVITABLE One deals with people in business and wherever people are involved, conflicts are bound to occur. Every individual looks at a situation from his own perspective which may be diametrically different from the perspectives of other individuals and hence a conflict will occur. Successful business people, instead of getting stymied by such conflicts, utilize them to have better decision-making and arrive at consensus. In fact many times conflicting views help in avoiding wrong decisions. Colleagues in the boardroom should be provided with complete freedom to fearlessly offer their divergent views. Let them be able to loudly proclaim that the emperor has worn no clothes – i.e. have the freedom to challenge the views expressed by the boss also! Only then will real and healthy discussion take place which, will further help in consensus building. A quick look at the history of innumerable companies, which are non-operational today, reveals one common reason for their failure namely – the tunnel vision of their leaders who always thought that only they were right. “For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument and debate. - Margaret Heffernan

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ALWAYS CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO A simple thought – What would others say? – is a major hurdle as it prevents us from taking various actions that may culminate into business triumphs, new innovations or creation of new standards. Right from birth the herd mentality (to do things in the traditional time- tested way) is inculcated in us with our parents and elders instructing us not to behave in a certain manner, as it would embarrass the family and us. Owing to this restrictive culture many potential inventions and innovations die without seeing the light of the day. Do you really want to make a difference? Then even though you have ideas, which may sound a bit bizarre, just go ahead and implement them. Who knows, something introduced by your organization may become a norm tomorrow and may be fully embedded in the psyche of people over the years to come. Inventors are very often those rare people who have the temerity to challenge the status quo. It is organizations like these that give us innovative products like – the iPod and search engine Google and social media platforms like Face-book, Instagram and Twitter. So let your organization have the guts to challenge the status quo. “ Challenging the status quo takes commitment, courage, imagination and above all dedication to learning. - Marshall Ganz

“I was never given any hand-outs. I started at the bottom and was very good at finding people who knew more than me and learning from them. - Simon Cowell 12

COMPETENCE ENCOMPASSING FLOOR TO CORNER OFFICE A successful entrepreneur mandatorily needs to have total competence that encompasses floor to corner office i.e. right from the work that is done at company's floor level i.e. on the assembly line, to the policy making that takes place in the corner office. This is precisely the reason why most patriarchs ensure that their children start working on an assembly line and thereby understand - fundamental processes involved in preparing a product, the ingredients that go into making the product and efficiencies that are required. The learning process continues as this next generation of entrepreneurs move from department to department and only when they gain complete know-how about the intricacies of their business are they given their seat in the Board room. Only an entrepreneur, who has gone the whole hog, would instantly understand if something is amiss in the business and have it promptly rectified. He is like a conductor of a symphony orchestra whose ears are so fine-tuned that even if a single musical instrument, out of dozens of instruments, is not in harmony; he quickly detects the discordant note and has it corrected. Ensure that your next generation acquires competence that encompasses floor to corner office...

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BRAND RECOGNITION IS IMPORTANT The brand recognition of an organization begins right from the moment a customer touches base with your organization - either in person or through telephonic or email enquiry. It is rightly said that first impression is the last impression. The first response from the team should evoke confidence in the customer that he has approached the right people. The next step is offering him - best products or services; whatever information he asks for and the assurance of impeccable after-sale services. Post the entire process; the customer must be contacted to check if he is satisfied with the products or services. These small but meaningful steps will not only ensure that he becomes a loyal customer, but also set up a positive brand image in his mind with regards to the organization. “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is. - Scott Cook

ARE YOU PREPARED TO FACE UNCALLED FOR CONTINGENCIES? The organization pays a heavy price for the arrogance of the leader. Leaders should never blindly presume that contingencies being faced by other organizations would never be faced by their organizations. Ensuring simple precautionary measures like - insurance cover is in place; safeguard norms are being meticulously observed; fiscal rules and regulations imposed by the government are not being overlooked etc. – are the need of the hour. Not observing these precautionary measures may cost the organization dearly in case of an untoward incident. Take the case of an earthquake grazing to the ground a skyscraper resulting in loss of multiple lives and assets. In such a scenario it is the builder who finds himself behind the bars owing to his predilection for flouting the norms of earthquake- resistant construction. “ By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - Benjamin Franklin 14



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FUTURE IS AS UNCERTAIN FOR YOU AS IT IS FOR A SO-CALLED EXPERT Whenever faced with a dilemma, Indians are in the habit of resorting to astrologers who are supposed to know through their expertise what would happen in the future. The future is as uncertain for an astrologer or a management pundit in an Armani suit, as it is for you and me. In fact the tendency to heavily rely on these so-called-experts is a deterrent for acting on one's instincts and taking calculated risks. Every New Year rings in market predictions from many management gurus… And retrospection a year down the line, reveals that hardly a handful have come true! So leaders must never hesitate to go ahead with the new product, implement the innovative business idea and introduce new strategies - if their instincts tell them that the same would click. Indulging with soothsayers may jeopardize the organization's prospects. While instincts, on the other hand, are a result of one's past experiences and hence definitely more reliable! “The future is no more uncertain than the present. - Walt Whitman

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KEEP YOUR COOL A businessman, while dealing with various stakeholders including his customers, cannot afford to lose his cool and retaliate. His customer may come and shout and use unpalatable words about the product; however a responsible businessman needs to keep calm. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said that the customer is always right. In such a scenario what one needs to focus on, is, dispelling the doubts and misunderstandings the customer may have. And only when one is cool and calm, can he offer reasons and arguments to an irate customer and make him look at things from the organization's perspective. An irate customer, wrongly handled, is an unnecessary loss of a customer. The psychology of an angered customer needs to be understood. Being angered by one aspect of the product, he starts looking at all the other aspects of the product with the same angry and flawed vision. Moreover with his anger backed by his ego the thrust is on proving that he is right and his anger is completely justified. In case a friend, colleague or spouse accompanies him then there's all the more reason for him to demonstrate his superiority by proving himself right by-hook-or-by-crook! Under these circumstances one needs to pamper his ego and very tactfully make him understand that his anger is baseless. Telling an angered customer that he is wrong, ensuring at the same time that he does not feel wronged, is an art in itself and it requires tremendous efforts to master the same…with the first step being maintaining one's cool. “You can handle anything if you think you can. Just keep your cool and your sense of humour. - Smiley Blanton

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YOU ARE THE FIRST AMBASSADOR The CEO of an organization is the first and speaks there on behalf of the ambassador for all the stakeholders. organization. Remember, people at large do Customers interacting with him will form their not see you as a separate entity from your opinion about the organization. The way he organization. conducts himself at work will work as a role model for his team who will blindly imitate him By and large, the customer, vendor, - and this collective behaviour will reflect on government department, etc. first come to the organization itself. know about the organization through their contact with the CEO. So one needs to create While merits of the products that the a lasting impression by the way he dresses, organization manufactures or services that approaches, introduces, talks and conducts the organization provides are important, it is himself. One needs to be especially careful of equally important how the CEO comes across what one commits. Remember that a person to the people who buy the products or and his organization are evaluated by the services. Therefore it is essential that - one is commitments he keeps. well groomed; one's public persona has impeccable credentials; the office is As people know the organization through the immaculately smart; and one makes his CEO, he reflects the organization and is its presence emphatically felt at various forums live image. This, then, makes him its first ambassador. “To the customer YOU are the Company. - Shep Hyken

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THE ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET IS NOT A MERE STATISTIC The organization's budget has to be used as a compass to move forward. It reflects various projections for the year ahead. There are organizations where the budget-making exercise is taken merely as a formality which has to be carried out at the beginning of the financial year and then the document is lost among the maze of innumerable files. A properly used budget can help the organization navigate the way forward and ensure that things are moving in the right direction as envisioned in the beginning of the year. Regularly referring to the budget, enables one to carry out various course corrections along the way and ensure that one arrives at the same destination which one had planned a year back when the budget-making exercise had been carried out. This is one document, which the CEO must keep a watch on, along with other documents that reflect sales figures, production figures etc. “A budget is telling your money 'where to go' instead of wondering 'where it went'. - Dave Ramsey

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STAFF NEEDS THE CEO'S ASSURANCE The CEO cannot be everywhere on all fronts. It is the team that represents the organization, be it a sales pitch, negotiation with product vendors, conversing with government departments and authorities or dealing with HRM issues. It is therefore extremely critical that each staff representing the company has full assurance that the CEO of the organization backs his decision. It is only on the basis of such an assurance that a team can take bold decisions on various fronts that would ultimately help the organization to grow. What needs to be made amply clear at the very outset is that certain limits in decision-making should never be trespassed. There is a well-known quote, \"Amidst the uncertainties of war, every soldier is entitled to one certainty…that he will not be forgotten or abandoned.\" Do ensure that the team is not abandoned to fight the battle, which had been taken up by them on behalf of the organization. “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients. - Richard Branson

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IS OUR BEST REALLY THE BEST? We have the habit of putting in certain amount of efforts and then whatever the derived result claiming that we had done our best and now we are ready to live with whatever results we have achieved. This is not the attitude of a winner. In fact we had not done our very best… as we had not actually - pushed ourselves the hardest or; put in the maximum toil, tears, sweat and blood that the job needed. In fact somewhere midway we lost the winning spirit and left the job half done. To give our best means - to be prepared to walk that extra mile and not to rest even there; to be prepared to walk even further if circumstances demand; not to relax or rest until we achieve those stupendous results that we had envisaged for our organization. World-renowned sprinter Usain Bolt has broken his own 100-meter sprint record repeatedly …beating oneself is what is called giving it the best. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - Thomas Edison

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ARE YOU REALLY PREPARED TO CHANGE? Most of the entrepreneurs continue to live with new way of doing things; moreover the so many of their prejudices. Post ten; twenty sensitive ego of the senior management or fifty years of continued success prevent an organization from becoming organizations are home to certain settled resilient. norms. It is assumed that these are iron clad rules following which the organization would Wise entrepreneurs know that timely shifting continue to thrive irrespective of whether the of gears is a mandate for continuing business surrounding environment changes or not. for generations down the line. Kumar Mangalam Birla cannot afford to conduct the One however needs to remember that all business operations of the Birla Empire in the changes are subtle in the beginning. Most same way as the patriarch Ghanshyamdas organizations are not resilient enough either Birla used to do. to notice these subtle shifts or to modify their business operations accordingly. Gradually For this the first step which entrepreneurs these changes become more-and-more need to take in both their professional and noticeable, however one has become so personal lives is to discard their prejudices comfortably entrenched doing things in the old and pre-conceived notions way that one does not want to adapt to the “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. - Socrates

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