rkumar
May 27th, 2003, 11:18 PM
A very inspiring, interesting and thought provoking speech by Azim
Premji At the 37th Annual Convocation
IIM, Ahmedabad.
"While change and uncertainty have always been a part of life, what
has been shocking over the last year has been both the quantum and
suddenness of change. For many people who were cruising along on placid waters,
the wind was knocked out of their sails. The entire logic of doing business
was turned on its head. Not only business, but also every aspect of
human life has been impacted by the change. What lies ahead is even more
dynamic and uncertain. I would like to use this opportunity to share with you
some of our own guiding principles of staying afloat in a changing world.
This based on our experience in Wipro. I hope you find them useful.
First, be alert for the first signs of change. Change descends on
every one equally; it is just that some realize it faster. Some changes are
sudden but many others are gradual. While sudden changes get attention because
they are dramatic, it is the gradual changes that are ignored till it is
too late. You must have all heard of story of the frog in boiling
water. If the temperature of the water is suddenly increased, the frog realizes
it and jumps out of the water. But if the temperature is very slowly
increased, one degree at a time, the frog does not realize it till it boils to
death.You must develop your own early warning system, which warns you of
changes and calls your attention to it. In the case of change, being forewarned
is being forearmed.
Second, anticipate change even when things are going right. Most
people wait for something to go wrong before they think of change. It is like
going to the doctor for a check up only when you are seriously sick or
thinking of maintaining your vehicle only when it breaks down. The biggest
enemy of future success is past success. When you succeed, you feel that you
must be doing something right for it to happen. But when the parameters for
success change, doing the same things may or may not continue to lead to
success. Guard against complacency all the time. Complacency makes you blind
to the early signals from the environment that something is going wrong.
Third, always look at the opportunities that change represents.
Managing change has a lot to go with our own attitude towards its. It is
proverbial half-full or half empty glass approach. For every problem that
change represents, there is an opportunity lurking in disguise somewhere.
It is up to you to spot it before someone else does.
Fourth do no allow routines to become chains. For many of us the
routine. We have got accustomed to obstructs change. Routines represent our own
zones of comfort. There is a sense of predictability about them. They have
structured our time and even our thought in a certain way. While
routines are useful, do not let them enslave you. Deliberately break out of
them from time to time.
Fifth, realize that fear of the unknown is natural. With change
comes a feeling of insecurity. Many people believe that brave people are
not afflicted by this malady. The truth is different. Every one feels
the fear of unknown. Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to
manage fear without getting paralyzed. Feel the fear, but move on
regardless.
Sixth, keep renewing yourself. This prepares you to anticipate
change and be ready for it when it comes. Constantly ask yourself what new skills
and competencies will be needed. Begin working on them before it
becomes necessary and you will have a natural advantage. The greatest
benefit of your education lies not only in what you have learnt, but in
working how to learn. Formal education is the beginning of the journey of
learning. Yet I do meet youngsters who feel that they have already learnt all there
is to learn. You have to constantly learn about people and how to
interact effectively with them. In the world of tomorrow, only those
individuals and organizations will succeed who have mastered the art of rapid and
on-going learning.
Seventh, surround yourself with people who are open to change. If
you are always in the company of cynics, you will soon find yourself
becoming like them. A cynic knows all the reasons why something cannot be done.
Instead, spend time with people who have a "can-do" approach. Choose your
advisors and mentors correctly. Pessimism is contagious, but then so is
enthusiasm. In fact, reasonable optimism can be an amazing force multiplier.
Eighth, play to win. I have said this many times in the past.
Playing to win is not the same as cutting corners. When you play to win, you
stretch yourself to your maximum and use all your potential. It also helps
you to concentrate your energy on what you can influence instead of
getting bogged down with the worry of what you cannot change. Do your best and
leave the rest.
Ninth, respect yourself. The world will reward you on your
successes. Success requires no explanation and failure permits none. But you
need to respect yourself enough so that your self-confidence remains intact
whether you succeed or fail. If you succeed 90 per cent of the time, you
are doing fine. If you are succeeding all the time, you should ask yourself
if you are taking enough risks. If you do not take enough risks, you may also
be losing out on many opportunities. Think through but take the plunge. If
some things do go wrong, learn from them. I came across this interesting story
some time ago:
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he
decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway it
just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his
neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and begin to shovel
dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and
cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well
and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that fell on
his back, the donkey was doing some thing amazing. He would shake it off and
take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top
of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and
totted off! Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick
is too not to get bogged down by it. We can get out of the deepest wells by
not stopping. And by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Tenth, in spite of all the change around you, decide upon what you
will never change: your core values. Take your time to decide what they
are but once you do, do not compromise on them for any reason. Integrity is
one such value.
Finally, we must remember that succeeding in a changing world is
beyond just surviving. It is our responsibility to create and contribute
something to the world that has given us so much. We must remember that many
have contributed to our success, including our parents and others from
our society. All of us have a responsibility to utilize our potential
for making our nation a better place for others, who may not be as well
endowed as us, or as fortunate in having the opportunities that we have got. Let
us do our bit, because doing one good deed can have multiple benefits not
only for us but also for many others. Let me end my talk with a small story I
came across some time back, which illustrates this very well.
This is a story of a poor Scottish farmer whose name was Fleming.
One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for
help coming from a nearby dog. He dropped his tools and ran to the dog. There,
mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and
struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the boy from what could have
been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse
surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and
introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you, "said the nobleman." Yes," the farmer replied
proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take your son and give him
a good education. If he's anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be
proud of you." And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from
St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become
known through- out the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the
discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with
pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. This is not the end. The nobleman's son
also made a great contribution to society. For the nobleman was non
other than Lord Randolph Churchill. And his son's name was Winston
Churchill.
Let us use all our talent, competence and energy for creating
peace and happiness for the nation."
-------------------------------------
Enjoy reading it friends.....Rajendra
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*.
Premji At the 37th Annual Convocation
IIM, Ahmedabad.
"While change and uncertainty have always been a part of life, what
has been shocking over the last year has been both the quantum and
suddenness of change. For many people who were cruising along on placid waters,
the wind was knocked out of their sails. The entire logic of doing business
was turned on its head. Not only business, but also every aspect of
human life has been impacted by the change. What lies ahead is even more
dynamic and uncertain. I would like to use this opportunity to share with you
some of our own guiding principles of staying afloat in a changing world.
This based on our experience in Wipro. I hope you find them useful.
First, be alert for the first signs of change. Change descends on
every one equally; it is just that some realize it faster. Some changes are
sudden but many others are gradual. While sudden changes get attention because
they are dramatic, it is the gradual changes that are ignored till it is
too late. You must have all heard of story of the frog in boiling
water. If the temperature of the water is suddenly increased, the frog realizes
it and jumps out of the water. But if the temperature is very slowly
increased, one degree at a time, the frog does not realize it till it boils to
death.You must develop your own early warning system, which warns you of
changes and calls your attention to it. In the case of change, being forewarned
is being forearmed.
Second, anticipate change even when things are going right. Most
people wait for something to go wrong before they think of change. It is like
going to the doctor for a check up only when you are seriously sick or
thinking of maintaining your vehicle only when it breaks down. The biggest
enemy of future success is past success. When you succeed, you feel that you
must be doing something right for it to happen. But when the parameters for
success change, doing the same things may or may not continue to lead to
success. Guard against complacency all the time. Complacency makes you blind
to the early signals from the environment that something is going wrong.
Third, always look at the opportunities that change represents.
Managing change has a lot to go with our own attitude towards its. It is
proverbial half-full or half empty glass approach. For every problem that
change represents, there is an opportunity lurking in disguise somewhere.
It is up to you to spot it before someone else does.
Fourth do no allow routines to become chains. For many of us the
routine. We have got accustomed to obstructs change. Routines represent our own
zones of comfort. There is a sense of predictability about them. They have
structured our time and even our thought in a certain way. While
routines are useful, do not let them enslave you. Deliberately break out of
them from time to time.
Fifth, realize that fear of the unknown is natural. With change
comes a feeling of insecurity. Many people believe that brave people are
not afflicted by this malady. The truth is different. Every one feels
the fear of unknown. Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to
manage fear without getting paralyzed. Feel the fear, but move on
regardless.
Sixth, keep renewing yourself. This prepares you to anticipate
change and be ready for it when it comes. Constantly ask yourself what new skills
and competencies will be needed. Begin working on them before it
becomes necessary and you will have a natural advantage. The greatest
benefit of your education lies not only in what you have learnt, but in
working how to learn. Formal education is the beginning of the journey of
learning. Yet I do meet youngsters who feel that they have already learnt all there
is to learn. You have to constantly learn about people and how to
interact effectively with them. In the world of tomorrow, only those
individuals and organizations will succeed who have mastered the art of rapid and
on-going learning.
Seventh, surround yourself with people who are open to change. If
you are always in the company of cynics, you will soon find yourself
becoming like them. A cynic knows all the reasons why something cannot be done.
Instead, spend time with people who have a "can-do" approach. Choose your
advisors and mentors correctly. Pessimism is contagious, but then so is
enthusiasm. In fact, reasonable optimism can be an amazing force multiplier.
Eighth, play to win. I have said this many times in the past.
Playing to win is not the same as cutting corners. When you play to win, you
stretch yourself to your maximum and use all your potential. It also helps
you to concentrate your energy on what you can influence instead of
getting bogged down with the worry of what you cannot change. Do your best and
leave the rest.
Ninth, respect yourself. The world will reward you on your
successes. Success requires no explanation and failure permits none. But you
need to respect yourself enough so that your self-confidence remains intact
whether you succeed or fail. If you succeed 90 per cent of the time, you
are doing fine. If you are succeeding all the time, you should ask yourself
if you are taking enough risks. If you do not take enough risks, you may also
be losing out on many opportunities. Think through but take the plunge. If
some things do go wrong, learn from them. I came across this interesting story
some time ago:
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he
decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway it
just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his
neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and begin to shovel
dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and
cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well
and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that fell on
his back, the donkey was doing some thing amazing. He would shake it off and
take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top
of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and
totted off! Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick
is too not to get bogged down by it. We can get out of the deepest wells by
not stopping. And by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Tenth, in spite of all the change around you, decide upon what you
will never change: your core values. Take your time to decide what they
are but once you do, do not compromise on them for any reason. Integrity is
one such value.
Finally, we must remember that succeeding in a changing world is
beyond just surviving. It is our responsibility to create and contribute
something to the world that has given us so much. We must remember that many
have contributed to our success, including our parents and others from
our society. All of us have a responsibility to utilize our potential
for making our nation a better place for others, who may not be as well
endowed as us, or as fortunate in having the opportunities that we have got. Let
us do our bit, because doing one good deed can have multiple benefits not
only for us but also for many others. Let me end my talk with a small story I
came across some time back, which illustrates this very well.
This is a story of a poor Scottish farmer whose name was Fleming.
One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for
help coming from a nearby dog. He dropped his tools and ran to the dog. There,
mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and
struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the boy from what could have
been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse
surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and
introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you, "said the nobleman." Yes," the farmer replied
proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take your son and give him
a good education. If he's anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be
proud of you." And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from
St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become
known through- out the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the
discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with
pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. This is not the end. The nobleman's son
also made a great contribution to society. For the nobleman was non
other than Lord Randolph Churchill. And his son's name was Winston
Churchill.
Let us use all our talent, competence and energy for creating
peace and happiness for the nation."
-------------------------------------
Enjoy reading it friends.....Rajendra
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*.