Butterflies

I can spend a lot of time telling everyone who cares to listen about all the things I am excited about and looking forward to in my impending new gig (I think I already have been doing that!). But the real story is probably hidden away in all the things I am nervous about, the issues I hope I will be able to handle well.

Its probably not fashionable to talk about the butterflies in one’s stomach, but in the interest of transparency, here are three key ones.

1. India — I am expecting to feel a bit frazzled for at least six months. I suspect the dissonance in ways I am used to and how some things operate in India will be new for me (no, I have never worked in India before), and I suspect that my naivety will show. And no, this is not a typical I am too good for a still-developing-turning-out-to-be-amazing country. Its mostly that I have not really operated in India before. Hence, the learning curve on top of the learning curve of a new role/team/location etc.
2. Culture — One mistake that a lot of folks make when moving from one system (read Bay Area, Google, US etc) to another (read Motorola, India, Mid west, Flipkart) is that they try to recreate their home systems in the new place. I think that is really stupid. The idea is not to build a Google in India, or a Bay Area in Bangalore. The idea is to build a Flipkart in India, a global world class product and tech company that retains the nuances and charm of its origin. I hope I can balance that in my new endeavor. And have the humility to learn from the locals as much as teach some of the principles that I hold dear to myself.
3. Team — This is sort of universal but true. You always have a crew of new people around you in any new gig. Can you collectively move to a higher level? Can you integrate? Can you bring in even more talent and create a storied, thoughtful, world class organization? I think we are off to a good start, but I will not know till I am on the ground and working with the folks directly.

Notice how I never mentioned core product strategy in this list. Well, you better have a core you are good at and I suspect that one is mine! These other things… they are the butterflies in my stomach, a sprinkle of nervousness. I have never gotten on to the stage without feeling a tad nervous, and for most part, it has only made me operate at a higher plane. So bring on the butterflies! They usually hover around good things.