5 Important Things that will make you SUCCEED Big Time
Any SUCCESSFUL career is always a haphazard thing of hits and misses

The question came out of the blue when I had least expected it.
But it deserved an answer, for my sake and for everyone who can learn something from me.
Some time back, I was officiating the annual induction program for an enthusiastic group of management trainees who had been freshly recruited in my organization as part of the corporate expansion strategy. These trainees were the brightest of minds, hand-picked carefully from prestigious management campuses across the country, to be groomed as future leaders of the organization.
As the sessions reached the fag end of its journey, with its usual potpourri of role plays, question and answers and practical tips, a participant, sitting on one of the back benches, stood up and asked quietly-:
“Sir, I have been following your achievements closely for a very long time, much before I joined this organization. In fact, every hotshot project executed by you speaks volumes about the immaculate planning and the rock solid dedication which has been your unique trademark of success.
These very traits, I believe have led to your meteoric rise from a trainee to the most powerful person in the organization. You are the role model for countless youngsters like me and this fact cannot be overstated.”
He paused while I wondered where this conversation could be leading to.
“If you get a chance now to go back and start your career afresh along with us, what would you like to do differently or in a better way? We would love to get those invaluable life lessons to get us started on the right foot.”
A pregnant silence filled the room with 50 plus eyes eagerly watching me with bated breath. I took a long pause, collected my thoughts, sipped some water and started:
“A very pertinent question, Anand. No career can ever be perfect and that includes mine also. In fact, my career has had more misses than hits and the only reason, you are able to perceive me as “successful” is because I have been able to hide my misses rather too well. But that is learning and life is always a learning curve of sorts.”
“To answer your question, here are top 5 things, I would love to do better if given a chance-:”
Save your paychecks for a rainy day.
The trajectory of your career will be largely based on how you decide to spend your initial paychecks. You’ll be tempted to spend it on getting a nicer car, upgrading your clothes, and going out to fancier restaurants.
While these aren’t necessarily bad things — you deserve to treat yourself every once in a while — you might want to think about spending your money on knowledge instead. It’ll not only give you the greatest return on investment but also be the one thing that lasts over time.
I learned this the hard way when I got an opportunity to do higher education at a prestigious institution. I did not even have enough money to fund one semester of the course.
I had to beg and borrow from my relatives and friends to complete the course and that left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. What is the use of earning when I cannot even support myself? Always remember fun is fun as long as it does not affect your future. Once it does, it becomes an irreparable blunder.
If you want to GROW, be DISPENSABLE
Everyone wants to do great work and I am no different. I used to spend hours in perfecting my work and making sure that “100%” perfection is achieved in all my deliveries.
In fact, I loved micromanaging my team members to such an extent that “I used to do all their work” rather than “teaching them how to do”. Any work from anybody within my team has to follow my exacting standards and if that means, I need to stretch, I was game for it.
I got the fruits of my labor during my appraisal discussion.
“Ravi, you are the most valuable asset in the team. I know this new opportunity is a perfect fit for you, but we need to plan your movement carefully so that there is no impact. Don’t worry we will see it next time.”
The “next time” took ages to come.
Always remember, if you want to aim for higher things, you need to get yourself freed from lower things. Create and mentor a successor in place who can take over from you. Don’t aim for two minutes of fame, always target to exceed and realize your true potential.
Don’t Burn Bridges. They will Haunt you
“Ravi, you are the best”
“Ravi, you are awesome “
“What can we do without you.”
Unadulterated appreciations like this at frequent intervals fueled my arrogance and inflated my ego. I would pick up fights and arguments with my superiors at the drop of a hat and would threaten to quit if “things don’t happen my way.”. The only reason my superiors tolerated my behavior was because of my expertise and my “indispensability”.
But they brought me to my knees in other ways.
I was “passed” over for many opportunities because of my “attitude” problem. Everyone wanted my “work” but no one thought me “fit enough” to move to the next level. Fortunately, I realized this quite early in my career and was able to make suitable amends, but what I lost was someone else’s gain and that regret still haunts me.
Humility is the first prerequisite to success. Your expertise does not give you the ticket to be arrogant and egoistic. Stay humble, Be Helpful as you never know who can be your next savior in your career.
Build your social capital. You need it more than talent
I joined the corporate world with a single misjudged agenda- “Do great work and People Will Flock to you,”. This also happened but the only mistake I did was that I could not “take care” of them.
I was always “busy” in my own world and would brusquely reject any request for help with “I have no time for this.” or any such abrupt phrase. This eroded my social capital and created a negative image of “aloofness” and conceit”. It took me a long time to break free of this image and win people back.
Always remember, you need to focus on giving first without expecting anything in return. This might mean checking in with someone you met at a networking event via social media or over email every few months to see what’s new with them. Or, setting aside time in your calendar to regularly have lunch with team members.
The person you meet today could be an employee you want to hire, a potential business partner, or even your future boss. Treat every relationship as a lifelong relationship as you never know, what surprises, life is having in store for you at the next bend.
Health is Wealth. Always prioritize it.
Lord Buddha has rightly said -:
To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
Health is the foundation that accelerates everything in your life, including your career. It elevates your creativity, energy, and grit to get through the inevitable ups and downs you’ll experience.
For far too long, I struggled to advance in my career because I was neglecting my health, both mental and physical. This led to having less willpower and discipline during my day and thus being less productive over time. Fortunately, I arrested this downward spiral well in time to prevent any disastrous consequences.
Prioritizing your health isn’t just a one-time task. It actually has to take priority over everything you do. That means scheduling it into your daily routine, making investments to buy the right food and exercise regularly, and even giving up other bad habits.
Bringing it all together
People always say “a successful career is 90% hard work and 10% luck. “I have a different take on it. I believe “a successful career is 50% hard work and 50% learning and correcting your mistakes.”
Ups and downs are a part of one’s career, and this totally depends on how you take it. You can either be knocked down by the negative things, or you can take it in a positive way and learn from it. Even after so many years, I still feel like a novice, at the beginning of my career. There is always a little new every day and I am still learning as I go.
As Carlton Fisk has rightly said:
It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.

