(Premji shared this nine point formula to make continuous transformation possible during the annual convocation of IIM Kolkata recently)
Achievement
Begins with a Dream
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji feels people who succeed most in their careers are
those who can constantly transform themselves
Have a Dream
--------------
You have got to have a dream. Dreams are very powerful internal motivators.
Great achievements are created twice—first in the mind and then in a concrete
form. The most exhilarating part of being young is the ability to dream. As one
grows, one may realize that not all of them are achievable. But never turn
cynical. Aging is not adding on years. It is parting with one’s dreams. Use
your experience to reshape your dreams and adapt them to changing reality but do
not stop dreaming. I cannot think of a single transformation or achievement,
individual or social that did not begin with a dream. Dreams not only help us in
seeing things before they happen, but they also give us the passion and energy
to make them happen.
Walk that Extra Mile
--------------------------
Stay on course even if you stumble. When everything seems to go wrong, you can
either give up or you can let misfortune transform you into something stronger.
The difference between great achievement and mediocrity is not extraordinary
talent or intelligence, but perseverance. In fact, dreams and perseverance make
a winning combination. In 1972, a chartered plane, carrying a Rugby team crashed
in the Andes. After a week-long futile search, the rescue team gave up thinking
that all of them must be dead. The passengers after waiting for many days to be
rescued, decided to help themselves since nobody else was going to do it. Two of
them volunteered to cross the mountains on foot to reach the green valleys of
Chile and bring back help. It was a walk of more than 50 miles. But they did it
and came back to rescue their fellow passengers who managed to survive in the
mountain 70 days after the crash. The core of heroism lies in the ability to
walk that extra mile. As long as you can do that, you will never be defeated.
Be Natural
--------------
Do not be afraid to admit your ignorance. While it is important to project what
we are good at, we must be equally candid about areas we do not know enough
about. The seeds of learning were sown by the great philosopher Socrates who
said "All I know is that I don’t know." Today, knowledge is
multiplying at such a rapid rate that it is impossible for anyone to know
everything. But if we can develop an index system by which we at least know with
whom or where the knowledge is available, we have achieved quite a bit! And
there will still be areas which we will be unable to tap. The important thing is
not to hide behind a false front. People will respect us for our honesty, if not
our wisdom.
Look Beyond Success
--------------------------------
Think about what you will take on next rather than about what you may be letting
go. Too many people are so enamoured by the legacy of success in their current
roles that they are afraid to look further. This can lead to inertia. If we
linger too long on past success, we will miss out on the opportunities that lie
ahead of us. We must learn to look at change as an exciting adventure rather
than a disruption. New avenues for learning always lie just beyond the shade of
our comfort zone.
Excellence is the Key
-----------------------
Pursue excellence in whatever you do. Excellence cannot be forced through a
process nor guaranteed by a certificate. It comes from an all consuming passion
to do one’s best. It needs an eye for the smallest of details. When
differences become small, it is the small things that make the difference.
Excellence is a habit not an act.
Be Positive
------------
While you must take your careers seriously, do not take yourself too seriously.
You have to laugh and find humour everyday. This will help you to keep issues in
their perspective. Being cheerful is an attitude. Not only will it help you to
reduce your own stress, but a positive attitude is contagious. It can do a lot
to elevate the moods of people around you and recharge you to take one more shot
at the problems facing you.
Take Turn in Leading
-------------------
Contribute in every situation. The only way to keep learning is by contributing.
You do not have to be the leader every time. When a formation of birds flies
over long distances, each bird takes its turn in leading. This ensures that no
bird gets too tired and yet the formation keeps moving at a certain pace. Every
person is important. It doesn’t matter whether you play the violin, the flute
or the drums; you are still part of the orchestra. Leadership is not about
exercising power as much as it is about contributing. This will happen when we
realize that leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility.
Focus on Your Talent
--------------------
We must know what you are really good at. Rather than trying to be everything to
everyone, we must focus on areas where our talents truly lie. A talent can be
defined as that skill which we not only enjoy learning but which we can also
learn rapidly. We need to work at honing our talent and smoothening the rough
edges. But exceptional performance usually comes from doing what comes naturally
to us.
Finally, always play to win. Winning is not about making the other person lose.
It is about stretching yourself to your own limits. Once so stretched, you will
realize the true extent of your potential. Ultimately, transformation is about
reaching and utilizing not only your potential but those of others who work with
you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Premji shared this nine point formula to make continuous transformation possible
during the annual convocation of IIM Kolkata recently
