To the outside world, my father would be a reasonably successful man. His is more of a rags-to-riches story where he started off in a family of 7 siblings with very limited means to today running a successful IT establishment in Goa and living a very comfortable life.
After one of our training programs recently, a participant walked up to me and asked me whether I see myself as a successful corporate trainer? That got me thinking. What does success mean to me? What’s my measure of success? Is it the volume of training programs we manage every month? Or the number of companies that we work with? Is it the satisfaction / happiness that I derive from my work that makes me feel successful? And who am I successful as compared to? To a struggling entrepreneur? Or to Narayana Murthy and Richard Branson?
To the outside world, my father would be a reasonably successful man. Having started off with absolutely nothing and being one of seven siblings, he had a tough childhood. But determined as was, he decided to turn stuff around. Worked really hard, earned a scholarship for his Masters Degree in New York, got himself a job at IBM and ended up in a senior position in the company. Unlike most Indians who move and settle in the US, my father decided to come back to India and turn entrepreneur. Started one of the first IT establishments in Goa – City Computer Resources. It’s been almost 21 years and I can proudly say that he along with my mother have managed to run the business profitably and live a comfortable life.
Years back, my father was working on a large IT deal with some Government authorities. The deal involved certain favors being granted that would make Anna Hazare frown. After exploring the deal, my father decided he didn’t want to be a part of the transaction as he would not be comfortable with it. I was really pissed off with my father. I wanted him to do it, suck up to the authorities, and basically do whatever it takes to bag the contract. But he didn’t. He said “Swapnil, in the future if you would like to do it, I will have no problems and will totally support your decision. I know this is how Business happens in India. But it’s something I am not comfortable with. And I won’t enjoy doing business that way.”
Now, years later I realize the importance of what he said.
My Point:
- Have your own definition of success. Have your own dreams and aspirations. Don’t let someone else’s definition of success design yours. It’s very tempting to do something because everybody else is doing it. Most people are busy living by somebody else’s definition of success. My friend, Aristo Coutinho is an aerospace engineer. Spent a lot of money getting a good education. The job prospects in his area of operation are limited and don’t pay as much as IT. He could easily choose to do some run of the mill IT job, but he defines success not by the car he drives but by the difference he makes to the world of science.
On the other hand, my friend Chetan Zaveri is a Business partner at the iconic Gujarat Sweet Mart. Chetan’s definition of success revolves around improving Gujarat Sweet Mart’s profits. He is focused in this endeavor and will toil as hard as he needs to, to make that happen. He does not care whether science makes any progress. But he has ear marked the car he wants to drive 3 years from now.
Two different yet equally important definitions of success.
- Do work that is congruent with your personality: Some people are extremely good at lobbying and swinging complex government deals. That is a special art in itself. But if your personality is not congruent with that, don’t do it just because someone else is doing it. That will make you unhappy. This unhappiness will result in failure in that line of business in the long run.
As professionals, one of the most important things to do is know yourself. Know your values. Know what you stand for. Know what you are comfortable with. Maybe my father’s decision did not add to our business bottom line. But my dad knew that for that little extra money, he would have to do stuff he was totally uncomfortable doing. And for him, being a ‘Happy Professional’ was more important than being a “slightly – Richer Professional’.
Right now as I write this column, after having worked at his office from 9 to 6, having had dinner with his family and after watching a game of IPL, my father is asleep. I can assure you of one thing. The man sleeps very peacefully. Has done so for most of his life. That is my new definition of success.