How to Motivate Your Employees in 3 Easy Steps

One of the most difficult components of being an effective manager is not only learning to keep your employees organized and on task, but to truly know how to motivate employees as well. Unfortunately, not every employee is naturally willing to go the extra mile in their everyday efforts, and many times this is because they don’t feel a sense of ownership in their work.

However, employees who do take ownership of their work and who feel as though their work truly matters are much more likely to be motivated and feel engaged while on the job.

If you can increase the level of engagement that your employees have with their everyday tasks within the workplace, you can start seeing the overall productivity of your entire department increase almost instantly. While the reasons to motivate employees are clear to most managers, finding ways to actually get team members engaged in their work is often far more difficult.

No matter how much training or talent you have on your team, engagement is one of the most powerful tools that any team member, and any business, can have. Here are three of the most effective ways for managers in all types of fields to effectively motivate their employees.

1. Focus on Company Impact: Avoid Talking About Financial Results

One of the most substantial ways to start motivating your team members is to change the way you talk about your company.

The truth of the matter is that while shareholders often care about a company’s financial performance, most employees don’t have as much of a rooting interest in the financial results of their organization. This is particularly true when employees do not see a direct correlation between their salary and the financial success of the company.

In order to get employees truly engaged in the company, many successful managers have found that team members are often motivated more by the impact that their organization has on the world around them instead of the financial success of the company. In fact, many studies have found that the younger employees who make up today’s workforce often embrace more of this mindset. With this in mind, managers looking to motivate their team should focus more on the impact the company has on society than its financial stats.

Taking this approach in team meetings and in all employee-manager interactions can help inspire a more natural engagement from team members.

2. Focus on the “We” Mindset

Many times, when managers notice an unmotivated employee, they instantly start looking for the issue within that individual team member. However, when managers place blame on an employee or ask, “Why are you doing this?” they’re often only discouraging their employees, not motivating them.

This can make withdrawn employees feel even more withdrawn. It is important to remember that many times when employees are not performing as normal, there is a reason behind it, and typically it is because the employee feels unappreciated.

In order to keep employees engaged in what they are doing or your company and keep them motivated, start approaching on the ‘we’ mindset while working with team members. Issues should be approached as “What can we do to help?” and “How can we remedy this problem?” Doing this avoids the issue of placing blame on an employee, and it also gives team members an opportunity to reconnect with their company.

Struggling team members that are approached with the ‘we’ mindset instead of the ‘I’ mindset are also likely to jump in and fix any issues with their performance right away. This is because they often feel as though their actions more severely impact the team instead of just their individual standing within the company.

3. Spend More Time Inspiring and Less Time Micro-Managing

Many times, busy managers spend so much time attempting to micro-manage and control the efforts of their employees that they forget to inspire their team members. Research has revealed that individuals who work for leaders they find to be inspiring are often more committed, productive and satisfied. They are also more likely to stay in their jobs.

While it can be difficult to take the time to try to inspire others instead of managing the work they do, leaders who take this approach often form closer relationships with their employees and have more focused, more motivated and committed team members working under them. Inspire those around you and pay close attention to the message you deliver. The results may surprise you.

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10 inspiring quotes on entrepreneurship, for and by entrepreneurs in Asia

Have you ever sat through a lecture in your schooling days, and found that you were only able to recall just a line or two of what went on? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could just skip all the other things and get to the good parts?

Or, as popular Singaporean radio station Gold 90.5FM used to say frequently, “hear only the good stuff”:

Good news – that’s exactly how inspiring quotes work. By condensing the finest pieces of advice into nuggets of wisdom, they are like drugs for the mind, providing young Padawans of any trade and craft with the boost they need. And it wouldn’t be too far off base to argue that entrepreneurs in particular need – and indeed, crave – such inspiration the most.

Is it any wonder that almost any entrepreneur in the world has heard of Steve Jobs, and more importantly, his famous call in 2005 exhorting Stanford graduates to “stay hungry, stay foolish”? Such quotes about entrepreneurship stick with founders and makers, bringing them through the roughest and toughest times.

But rather than refer to heroes from far flung countries in another part of the world, it’s far more comforting and relatable to hear it from sources nearer to home. That’s why we have gathered 10 inspiring quotes on entrepreneurship, for and by entrepreneurs in Asia.

1. Jack Ma, Alibaba

 In his last speech as CEO of Alibaba:

A lot of people complain about yesterday. We have no power to change yesterday. But this very day, 30 years later, is what we can control and decide. Change yourself, take baby steps, and stay determined for ten years. I thank the times of change and everyone’s complaints. Because when everyone is complaining, that is your chance, an opportunity. It’s only in times of change that someone can be clear of what he has and wants, and what he needs to give up.

2. Mark Chang, Jobstreet

His advice to once-budding Malaysian entrepreneur, Khai Yin, who is now the founder of GoodPlace.my:

I know only of the ‘kerbau’ (buffalo) way, that is, to work hard and wait for the rain.

3. Firdhaus Akber, Streetdirectory

After being ousted from the company he founded, and fighting a lawsuit, Firdhaus knows what he’s talking about when he advises entrepreneurs to be resilient:

Entrepreneurs need to understand that they may not be successful on the first time. Most aren’t. One needs to learn to pick themselves up and try again when they fail. What I learned from my Hong Kong investors was their nonchalant attitude towards failure. Why be so concerned about failure? If you fall down, pick yourself up and try again. Just keep trying, there’s no one who will fail forever.

4. Patrick Linden, Dealguru Holdings

Advice is great, but Linden knows well the value of listening to the right ones:

It is important for entrepreneurs to stay firm to what they believe in. And if you need advice, go to the right people who have been there and done that rather than those who don’t fully grasp the reality of entrepreneurship.

5. Terry Gou, Foxconn

No matter how much success you achieve, Gou thinks that you should never ease up:

I never think I am successful. If I am successful, then I should be retired. If I am not retired, then that means I should still be working hard, keeping the company running.

6. Le Hong Minh, VNG

To be successful, Minh believes you should be working on what matters most to you:

You need to love your work, and work hard at it. To do that, you must pay attention to your priorities at the moment. Constantly ask yourself, ‘what is the most important thing to you right now?’

7. Sachin and Binny Bansal, Flipkart

The journey to a billion dollars begins with the first customer, according tothe Flipkart duo:

Perseverance and hard work are very important. The core of any business is to earn money. You have not done your job well until you find a stranger who is willing to open his/her wallet to give you money for the services/products that you are offering.

8. Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT

Pangilinan believes that honest, hard work is essential to success:

The abiding lesson is that enduring long-term wealth, especially for self-made people, really comes from doing the right thing—no shortcuts, no corruption—and earning it the right way.

9. Masayoshi Son, Softbank

At an age where most typically choose to retire, Son still exhorts budding entrepreneurs and businessmen to think far into the future:

Do not limit yourself to thinking in the present. Think above and beyond. Do not be bound by this age; aim to create a new age that will delight people throughout the world.

10. Yoshikazu Tanaka, GREE

The “Mark Zuckerberg of Japan” says that getting started is half the battle won:

“I think the number one advice I can give is — you just have to start it. Just get your feet in the water and do it. I learned a lot from just trying it out.”

25 power women and their inspiring stories

Their passion for work, their excellence on the job and the change they have wrought has taken them to the top of their game. They are changing the rules every day. Meet 25 power women and their inspiring stories.

Keep it real: Vidya Balan
34, Actor

Because: She has toppled the all dominating hero, reducing him to a supporting role in a male dominated film industry. Because she transformed from Sabrina Lal in No One Killed Jessica (2011) to Silk in The Dirty Picture(2011), despite people telling her playing Silk wouldn’t be worthy of her.

Because she pushed big dorky glasses over her nose, let her stomach hang out in rolls over her jeans and displayed enough cleavage to give item girls a complex, and the audience loved her through it all.

Because she is doing it again, as a pregnant woman desperately searching for her missing husband in Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani, and is already the toast of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ambitious Ferrari Ki Sawaari even though she appears for one item number, Mala Jao Dya. Because she has come a long way in accepting herself as she is, size zero or not.

Through the looking glass: “The birth of my twin niece and nephew Ira and Rohan, my sister’s children, was the highlight of my year. Of course both No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture did well and I couldn’t have asked for anything more professionally.”

Passion first: “I love listening to classical, Hindustani and Carnatic music. I am just passionate about everything. About reading, watching films, about people, places, my work, about my prayers, food, exercise.”

The social network: Kirthiga Reddy
40, Director Online Operations, Head, Facebook India

Because: She heads the India division of the world’s largest social network with over 800 million active users. Because since Facebook set up an office in the country in 2010, the user base went up from eight million to over 40 million people in less than two years.

Because India is Facebook’s third-largest market and has an average growth rate of more than one million people per month. Because Facebook users represent the youngest and most attractive market segment in the country.

Through the looking glass: 2011 was an important year for her as she strengthened Facebook’s operations in India, which included building a team, as well as making an outsized impact in the serving of global users, developers and advertisers.

Culture first: “From hackathons to new traditions like Bollywood dancing, culture was the fabric that wove us together. Through our community initiatives we touched the lives of over 1,000 million students and we also leveraged Facebook to support NGOs like Olympic Gold Quest, which grooms the next league of Olympic champions.”

On the Radar: She wants to maximise the Facebook India vision to drive global user, developer, and advertiser success through bold innovation, operational excellence and leadership. “My personal goals are to lead programmes to mentor the next generation of women leaders and trek to the Everest base camp,” she says.

Show stopper: Ekta Kapoor
36, Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefims

Because: 2011 was a banner year with five film releases, the most successful of which was the critical and commercial success The Dirty Picture, which grossed over Rs 114 crore. Because despite being written off in 2008 after the saas-bahu bubble burst, Kapoor came back with a bang with big screen releases like Love, Sex aur Dhokha, Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai and Ragini MMS.

Because her production house Balaji Telefilms had a sales turnover of Rs 151 crore in 2011. Because from gifting her favourite writers money to buy a car, to throwing chairs at her staff in rage, she plays the role of the larger than life diva with elan.

Through the looking glass: “It’s all about adaptability,” says Kapoor, “I was a creative through and through, when my CEO told me to calm down and focus on what’s good for business.” Balaji’s latest TV offerings have matured in nature and are low on drama. “I sensed there was an audience for slice-of-life narratives, and luckily it’s struck a chord,” she adds, referring to Bade Achche Lagte Hain and Kya Hua Tera Wada, both aired on Sony.

On the Radar: Her big-screen releases for 2012 are an interesting mix: the gripping crime drama Shoot Out At Wadala and a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai.

The Lesson: Her formula is never play to the gallery-for either critical acclaim or box office success. “If you’re doing that, you’re doing it wrong,” she says.

Fresh start: Renuka Ramnath
50, CEO and Managing Director, Multiples Alternate Asset Management

Because: As the head of ICICI Ventures, she was dubbed the queen of private equity for managing funds of around Rs 9,200 crore. Because she quit at the peak of her career in 2009 to start her own venture. Because her start-up is now a Rs 2,025 crore private equity fund, backed by top Indian and global institutional investors.

Through the looking glass: “The feeling of building an institution and then coming out of it alone made me feel like a bird whose wings had been clipped. I was desperate to fly but couldn’t because I didn’t have my wings.”

On the radar: “We are primarily eyeing mid-sized private companies where we can pick up majority stakes and our aim is make long-term growth investments,” says Ramnath. The firm is looking to build a portfolio of 12-15 companies over the next three years and close deals in the range of Rs 200-250 crore along with its investors.

Moving on: Being an entrepreneur has its ups and downs. She likes the freedom since she can hire who she wants, pay them accordingly and chase deals she likes.

Start-up star: Meena Ganesh
48, CEO and Managing Director, Pearson Education Services

Because: Every time she sells a bright idea for a princely sum, she’s ready with the ‘next big thing’ in IT services. Because after the sale of Customer Asset, an international call centre to ICICI in 2002, she recently sold TutorVista, an online tutoring service she co-ran with husband Krishnan, to UK-based Pearson for a cool Rs 577 crore. Because under her, Pearson operates and manages 27 schools country-wide.

One love: Ganeshandher husband married in their early 20s, and have learnt to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses when working together. “It doesn’t stop us from arguing though. But that’s what keeps things interesting,” she laughs.

Class apart: Kareena Kapoor
32, Actor

Because: She’s second to no hero when it comes to her asking price or endorsements. Because she starred in the two biggest releases of 2011,Ra.One and Bodyguard, the latter being the biggest hit of the year and grossing over Rs 100 crore in its first week alone.

Because despite being paired opposite the Khan power trio, she’s played her roles with trademark spunk, and refused to be overshadowed by the hero. Because after delivering duds like Jeena Sirf Merre Liye (2002), and LOC Kargil (2003), Kapoor has reinvented herself as the most versatile female lead in the industry. Because she’s one half of a celebrity couple that never give the shutterbugs a day off.

Through the looking glass: Kapoor admits that she was never good at academics and films were always her first option.”I couldn’t have done anything else. There was no fallback,” she claims.

On the radar: In 2012, Kapoor’s shedding her girl-next-door image to take up meatier roles, be it as a Pakistani spy in beau Saif Ali Khan‘s home production Agent Vinod, a prostitute inAamir Khan starrer Talaash or as Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine. She also has 14 brands to endorse and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s untitled project with Ranveer Singh.

Building blocks: Pia Singh
41, Wholetime Director, DLF Ltd.

Because: She is the wholetime director of the largest real estate developer in India with a market capitalisation of Rs 45,000 crore. Because the group has a consolidated revenue of Rs 10,144 crore and a consolidated profit of Rs 1,640 crore in 2011.

Because she brought the mall culture to the country by introducing top-of-the-line malls, which delivered superior value to the best of the national and international brands. Because under her leadership, DLF became the largest mall developers in the nation. Because she also helped set up the entertainment division of the company.

Through the looking glass: She went on a sabbatical and spent the last two years tending to her children. “Exciting new avenues are being structured and planned, which will soon be executed,” she says.

Wild child: When not working, one can find her trekking in the mountains. “It’s challenging and that is the reason I love it, it adds colour to my life,” she says.

Movie buff: Her inclination towards films is not new. During her student days she pursued a short term filmmaking course at the New York University, after majoring in finance from the Wharton School of Business, Pennsylvania, USA.

Her own person: Kiran Rao
38, Filmmaker

Because: Despite the luxe baggage of marrying a Bollywood A-lister, Rao has carved out a niche as one of India’s few mainstream female directors. Because in an industry where scripts are written for men, by men and directed by men, she’s created a space for unconventional plot-lines with her directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat (2010).

Because the film was a critical success and considered for a nomination in the best non-English film category at the 2012 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.

Because Rao as a producer, has thrown her weight behind neo-urban narratives like Taare Zameen Par (2007), Jaane Tu … Yaa Jaane Na (2008) and Delhi Belly (2011). Because her first solo production, Peepli Live (2010) was nominated in the World Cinema Competition at Sundance in 2010.

Through the looking glass: Rao admits that films weren’t her first passion. It was a gradual process of appreciation, and once she’d decided on making them, she never looked back. “I resisted instincts that told me to tone it down, and thats what made making Dhobi Ghat such a rich, creative experience for me,” she says.

Current passion: Motherhood. With husband Aamir, she welcomed their son, Azad Rao Khan, born via an IVF procedure in 2011.

Revolutionary road: Kiran Bedi
63, Social Activist

Because: She has stepped beyond the traditional role assigned to women and set a benchmark of courage for others. Because her stand against corruption put her at the forefront of the neo-nationalist anti-corruption movement in 2011. Because her drive for social justice goes beyond her uniform. Because she was India’s first female police officer.

On the radar: “The year 2011 passed by fighting against corruption by way of an effective system in place which does not exist so far. 2012 would be a natural sequel to what was sown and invested during the time,” she says. Her focus in the days ahead is to prepare with Team Anna, a compelling ground for an effective Lokpal at the centre and Lokayuktas at the state level.

Successful living: “Convictions, beliefs, value for time and for personal growth and constant contribution for others. These things drive and sustain me.”

Through the looking glass: “When I look back, the fondest memory of my career in the Indian police service was when I conducted a meditation programme for prisoners at Tihar Jail in 1994. That set in motion everything that was to come later in life,” she says.

The lesson: She outraged politicians with her public enactment of their hypocrisy. “I did not apologise for my actions. I believed in them.”

The muse: Neha Kirpal
31, Founder-director, India Art Fair

Because: As founder-director of the four-year-old India Art Fair(IAF), she’s become the face of the contemporary art market in India. Because her vision paved the way for the entry of blue-chip galleries like White Cube, Hauser and Wirth and Lisson from the United Kingdom into the country, turning India into a hot global destination for artists and gallerists.

Because from the time of its inception in 2008 the fair has attracted a total of 2,60,000 visitors, and the number of galleries exhibiting has grown from 34 to 91, with 50 per cent international participation. Because she finally broke even at IAF 2012, after three consecutive years of making losses where stalls did brisk business of upto Rs 3 crore per work of art. Because she had the courage to invest in this bold idea when art markets were crashing worldwide.

Through the looking glass: Kirpal began in 2008 with a humble bank loan of Rs 60 lakh and a lot of criticism. “Nine out of ten people told me that an art fair in India would fail miserably. The success of the fair is validated by the fact that some of my biggest critics are now my most enthusiastic supporters,” she says.

Inspiring artist: Kirpal admires the abstract work of Alwar Balasubramaniam. “I like the tease of the idea. The idea behind the art should tell a good story,” she says.

Retail heaven: Ashni Biyani
26, Director, Future Group

Because: She is the heir apparent to the Future group that is leading the retail revolution in the country, with a group capitalisation of Rs 5,900 crore. Because Big Bazaar now has 150 stores across 90 cities. Because she is managing the planned Rs 300 crore investment to open 30 more Big Bazaar centres by June 2012. Because she is in-charge of Future Ideas that helps come up with strategies to boost sales.

Through the looking glass: In 2008, within two years of her joining, the retail market in India took a major hit. She remembers it as a difficult time, even though it prepared her for life ahead. “If you believe a problem is temporary, you come out of it stronger,” she says.

Fashion forward: Her passion is handbags. Fendi and Birkin are her absolute favourites.

The powerhouse: Shikha Sharma
51, Managing Director and Chief Executive Office, Axis Bank

Because: She heads India’s third largest private sector bank, and has recently been reappointed managing director for another three years. Because since she took charge in 2009, Axis Bank’s performance has been admirable with a reported profit of Rs 942 crore for the quarter ending June 2011, a 27 per cent increase year on year.

Because she revolutionised the private insurance sector as the head of ICICI Prudential, crossing 2,00,000 policies within two years and earning a premium income of Rs 280 crore. Because after her exit from ICICI, Sharma came back twice as strong with Axis, commanding a pay package of over Rs 2 crore a year.

On the radar: The focus is on investment in infrastructure, small businesses and retail. Sharma is keen on developing a model to target rural markets, which she calls the markets of the future.

Through the looking glass: The turning point in Sharma’s career was when she was given the opportunity to lead ICICIs life insurance business in 2000.

Sweet spot: Despite her busy schedule, she finds time to learn classical singing.

In equal measure: Naina Lal Kidwai
54, Executive Director and Country Head, HSBC

Because: She heads India’s division of HSBC with deposits of close to $12,000 million. Because despite the sovereign credit crisis in the Eurozone, under her leadership, the pretax profit rose by 22 per cent to $813 million in 2011. Because she was the first woman to enter the world of investment banking.

Because she is the first woman vice president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Because she is a non-executive director on the board of Nestle and a member of the Audit Advisory Board of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

On the radar: She is currently looking ahead to work on environmental aspects, and take the performance of HSBC India to another level.

Successful living: “If you work with passion and enjoy what you are pursuing, you will find a solution to life,” she says.

Work-life balance: People often told her about the difficulties of managing both a home and career. “But if I had stepped away, listening to that, it would have reflected on all women. My whole experience was to show how to do it,” she says.

The write aesthetic: Chiki Sarkar
34, Publisher, Penguin India

Because: She heads the largest English language trade publisher in the subcontinent with over 200 titles every year and an active backlist of over 750 titles. Because at just 29, she was the editor-in-chief of Random House India. Because the Oxford educated Sarkar has an exquisite taste in literature, great networking skills and a fine sense of marketing.

Through the looking glass: “I knew becoming publisher of Penguin would be a great move for me in every way but felt very emotional making the decision. Leaving Random House India was like leaving a baby. It was bittersweet,” she says.

The rule book: Sarkar believes that there are four rules that every publisher ought to follow; be discerning, what you say no to is more important than what you say yes to. Edit the book properly, worry about how it looks and really care about your authors.

The strategist: Aruna Jayanthi
49, CEO, Capgemini India

Because: In 2011, Jayanthi was promoted to the rank of CEO for Capgemini India, whose global revenues for last year were an impressive $12 billion. Because at Capgemini India she was part of the core team that initiated the company’s off-shore capabilities.

Because she moved quickly from being global head of delivery for outsourcing to being named CEO. In her new role, she manages and mentors a growing workforce of over 36,000 employees.

On the radar: Jayanthi spends 25 per cent of her time in leadership initiatives. “The challenge initially was to convince clients of the off-shore business model. Now it’s about achieving scale of operations without losing out on the fundamental DNA of the organisation, on the quality,” she adds.

Family ties: “I try and spend as much time as possible with my ten-year-old daughter Tara.”

The frontrunner: Chanda Kochhar
51, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Bank Limited

Because: She heads India’s largest private bank with total assets of Rs 4,062.34 billion and recorded a profit of Rs 51.51 billion in 2011. Because this year the bank expects to maintain its net interest margin (a measure of lending profitablity) at 2.6 per cent, at a time when most lenders have reported a drop because of a hike in RBI interest rates.

Because besides being on the board of ICICI Bank, she is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry, US-India CEO Forum and is a member of the Board of Governors of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Because she topped the Fortune India list of most powerful women in business in 2011.

Secret to success: Staying calm in difficult times and focusing on the task at hand. “My passion lies in the pursuit of excellence. Can I do it very well, better than others,” she says.

Work life: Balance Kochhar has balanced her family life and hectic work schedule for three decades now. “You often feel as if you are walking a tightrope,” she admits.

Penny wise: Chitra Ramakrishna
46, Joint Managing Director, National Stock Exchange

Because: She is one of the architects of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which is amongst the world’s biggest and most efficiently run securities exchange boards. Because under her, the NSE has become a transparent market ecosystem that reaches out to more than 1,500 locations in the country.

Because last year, the NSE made a profit of Rs 860 crore under her leadership. Because in 2011, she was a top contender for the spot of the next chief of UTI Mutual Fund, the fourth largest fund house in the industry.

Behind the scenes: She believes in hiding behind her success. Always media shy, action, she says, speaks louder than words.

Successful living: Honesty, she says, is the best policy. It works for her at both work and home.

Mass appeal: Sneha Rajani
41, Senior Executive VP and Business Head, Sony Entertainment Television

Because: Ever since she became the business head of Sony Entertainment Television(SET) in 2011, she has repeated the success of the IPL on SET Max. Because Sony has moved from number four to its current number two position with gross rating points (GRP) of 227 as of February 2012, and beaten long term rival Colors.

Because she has brought contemporary fiction shows back with a mature story line. Because under her leadership, SET earned Rs 200 crore in advertising revenues, almost double the income of 2010, from Kaun Banega Crorepati alone.

Through the looking glass: “It was a gratifying year. After an extremely long wait, we saw a change in our flagship brand Sony. It was the most satisfying moment of my career.”

On the radar: “We want to consolidate on what we have built and grow further.”

In her blood: Deeksha Suri Murti
32, Executive Director, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group

Because: She’s one-third of the power trio set to inherit The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, India’s largest privately owned hotel company which owns 16 luxury hotels and made a total profit of Rs 405 crore in 2011.

Because despite the recession, the group hasn’t shied away from a phased investment of Rs 2,500 crore in the development of Lalit properties across the country over the next two years. Because Suri is spearheading the group’s entry into the mid-scale market of budget hotels with the new chain The Lalit Traveller in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

On the radar: “I am passionate about HR initiatives but I’m being groomed to understand every aspect of the business,” says Suri, who’s now spreading her wings to different sectors like revenue, sales, security and organisational development.

Hot tip: She’s a fitness freak and walks everyday for an hour.

Great expectations: Schauna Chauhan Saluja
34, CEO, Parle Agro

Because: She heads the over Rs 1,500 crore FMCG giant Parle Agro. Because she has expanded her company’s global presence by exporting to 20 countries. Because last year she added Appy Fizz and Frooti successfully to that global portfolio.

Because she understands innovation and used Twitter to manage the company’s inventory, also making Hippo snacks a success story. Because she refuses to stop until she lives her dream of making Parle the number one FMCG company in India.

On the radar: “We have also started to aggressively expand globally. Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Africa, Gulf nations and even some markets in Europe are part of our immediate global expansion plans. It goes without saying that the rest of the world is being targeted as well, at as aggressive a pace,” she says.

Successful living: “As a leader my biggest strength is that I love what I do. I am a team player and work closely with my team towards achieving our business goals. Since my core area of focus is in operations, I have a keen eye for detailing. I believe in leading by example.”

Role model: “I admire Warren Buffet because of his beliefs and his way of doing things. It’s not just for business but also society at large.”

Brand value: Lynn De Souza
52, Chairman and CEO, Lintas Media Group

Because: She heads one of the largest media agencies in the country which had a 17 per cent growth in revenue in 2011. Because she is one of the few women to head several industry bodies, storming into the male dominated AAAI (Advertising Agencies Association of India) as its vice president for the year 2010-2011. Because she plays a significant role in the media dynamics of the nation.

Through the looking glass: The big stories for Lintas Media Group for 2011 have been retaining the Rs 300 crore Sony Electronics account in India, which moved to OMD, a global media agency, in the rest of Asia. The agency also got itself the HUL and Nokia outdoor business, by completing its acquisition of Aaren Initiative Outdoor. The company also won 23 new accounts, including four digital additions in 2011.

Women first: On a personal note, Lynn has launched the Inter Public Group’s Women’s Leadership Network in India with an aim of improving gender balance in leadership levels in IPG companies.

Animal lover: A qualified veterinary nurse, she started and now chairs the Goa Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She also manages a veterinary hospital and animal shelter in Goa.

Power play: Nirupama Rao
52, Ambassador of India, United States of America

Because: She was the first woman full-term foreign secretary in India’s history. Because she has been given the task of transforming Indo-US ties. Because she is the diplomatic channel through which all agreements from outsourcing to counter-terrorism flow. Because she has served in key diplomatic assignments like China and Sri Lanka. Because she was also the first woman spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Successful living: “Never let success or the impressions of it go to one’s head. Find solutions to the challenges that life throws your way and always strive to be your yourself,” she says.

Top gear: Harshbeena Sahney Zaveri
50, MD and President, NRB Bearings

Because: She heads NRB Bearings of net worth Rs 219 crore, which had a turnover of Rs 466 crore in 2011. Because she is the brain behind building in-house technology for auto parts. Because NRB designed the bearings for the dual clutch automatic transmission for the global launch of Ford Fiesta in 2011.

Because NRB provides cutting edge products for the next generation of two-wheelers, automobiles and trucks for big fish like Volvo and Mercedes, apart from almost every Indian manufacturer.

On the radar: Latest automobile engineering for the global launch of the next generation of Audis in 2014.”I’m confident of hitting Rs 1,000 crore within the next three years. By 2020, we’re targeting a billion dollar growth mark and we’re on track,” says Zaveri.

Succesful living: High benchmarks help. “We target the best clients in the world first. And then we plan meticulously.” Despite losing two years to the recession, Zaveri continued on her business model of innovation instead of a cost reduction drive.

Money wise: Archana Hingorani
45, CEO and Executive Director, IL&FS Investment Managers Limited (IIML)

Because: She heads one of the oldest and largest private equity fund firms in the country. Because when she took over in 2005, IIML’s private equity was barely $300 million compared to $3.2 billion now. Because IIML manages funds of major Indian banks and institutions.

Through the looking glass: “2011 was challenging for me as our business was affected by recession. It’s almost like the year did not exist because of the challenges we faced,” she says. But this taught her to plan meticulously and reach her goals as a fund manager.

On the radar: This year will see her raising $500 million and planning exits from previous investments.

Successful living: “Success is the ability to show results and use your team to deliver through consensus driven management.”

Art of living: Kiran Nadar
60, Chairperson, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art

Because: She refused to be a trophy wife and became the face of philanthropy in the country instead. Because she heads the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), a free museum in Delhi which has created a site for confluence of art and not to earn quick commission. Because she has consistently worked towards educational reforms through Vidyagyan, an initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation to empower individuals, and the Shiv Nadar University (SNU).

Because she works with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation that sponsors the education of poor Muslim girls in the most backward districts of Uttar Pradesh. Because she was named the hero of philanthropy among several others by Forbes Asia in 2010.

On the radar: In the next two years, she is looking forward to an acquisition of space for a museum beyond KNMA. “We are looking forward to a joint venture with the government and are hopeful that the best works out for us,” she adds.

Successful living: “My achievements in life have always had the force of determination behind them. They have never been half measures in life for me,” she says.

Passion for life: Nadar is a national level bridge player and has even represented the country in tournaments abroad. She is also a keen sports enthusiast.

50 Famous People Who Failed at Their First Attempt at Career Success

I loved this post.  It tells the stories of “50 Famously Successful People Who Failed at First.”  These people come from all walks of life.  But they shared one characteristic in common — the commitment to their own career success.  I am very happy to repost it here….

50  Famously Successful People Who Failed at First

Not everyone who’s on top today got there with success after success. More often than not, those who history best remembers were faced with numerous obstacles that forced them to work harder and show more determination than others. Next time you’re feeling down about your failures in college or in a career, keep these fifty famous people in mind and remind yourself that sometimes failure is just the first step towards success.

Business Gurus

These businessmen and the companies they founded are today known around the world, but as these stories show, their beginnings weren’t always smooth.

1. Henry Ford: While Ford is today known for his innovative assembly line and American-made cars, he wasn’t an instant success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke five time before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.

2. R. H. Macy: Most people are familiar with this large department store chain, but Macy didn’t always have it easy. Macy started seven failed business before finally hitting big with his store in New York City.

3. F. W. Woolworth: Some may not know this name today, but Woolworth was once one of the biggest names in department stores in the U.S. Before starting his own business, young Woolworth worked at a dry goods store and was not allowed to wait on customers because his boss said he lacked the sense needed to do so.

4. Soichiro Honda: The billion-dollar business that is Honda began with a series of failures and fortunate turns of luck. Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation for a job after interviewing for a job as an engineer, leaving him jobless for quite some time. He started making scooters of his own at home, and spurred on by his neighbors, finally started his own business.

5. Akio Morita: You may not have heard of Morita but you’ve undoubtedly heard of his company, Sony. Sony’s first product was a rice cooker that unfortunately didn’t cook rice so much as burn it, selling less than 100 units. This first setback didn’t stop Morita and his partners as they pushed forward to create a multi-billion dollar company.

6. Bill Gates: Gates didn’t seem like a shoe-in for success after dropping out of Harvard and starting a failed first business with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen called Traf-O-Data. While this early idea didn’t work, Gates’ later work did, creating the global empire that is Microsoft.

7. Harland David Sanders: Perhaps better known as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, Sanders had a hard time selling his chicken at first. In fact, his famous secret chicken recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant accepted it.

8. Walt Disney: Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn’t last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

Scientists and Thinkers

These people are often regarded as some of the greatest minds of our century, but they often had to face great obstacles, the ridicule of their peers and the animosity of society.

9. Albert Einstein: Most of us take Einstein’s name as synonymous with genius, but he didn’t always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.

10. Charles Darwin: In his early years, Darwin gave up on having a medical career and was often chastised by his father for being lazy and too dreamy. Darwin himself wrote, “I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect.” Perhaps they judged too soon, as Darwin today is well-known for his scientific studies.

11. Robert Goddard: Goddard today is hailed for his research and experimentation with liquid-fueled rockets, but during his lifetime his ideas were often rejected and mocked by his scientific peers who thought they were outrageous and impossible. Today rockets and space travel don’t seem far-fetched at all, due largely in part to the work of this scientist who worked against the feelings of the time.
12. Isaac Newton: Newton was undoubtedly a genius when it came to math, but he had some failings early on. He never did particularly well in school and when put in charge of running the family farm, he failed miserably, so poorly in fact that an uncle took charge and sent him off to Cambridge where he finally blossomed into the scholar we know today.

13. Socrates: Despite leaving no written records behind, Socrates is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of the Classical era. Because of his new ideas, in his own time he was called “an immoral corrupter of youth” and was sentenced to death. Socrates didn’t let this stop him and kept right on, teaching up until he was forced to poison himself.

14. Robert Sternberg: This big name in psychology received a C in his first college introductory psychology class with his teacher telling him that, “there was already a famous Sternberg in psychology and it was obvious there would not be another.” Sternberg showed him, however, graduating from Stanford with exceptional distinction in psychology, summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa and eventually becoming the President of the American Psychological Association.

Inventors

These inventors changed the face of the modern world, but not without a few failed prototypes along the way.

15. Thomas Edison: In his early years, teachers told Edison he was “too stupid to learn anything.” Work was no better, as he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive enough. Even as an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. Of course, all those unsuccessful attempts finally resulted in the design that worked.

16. Orville and Wilbur Wright: These brothers battled depression and family illness before starting the bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of failed prototypes, the brothers finally created a plane that could get airborne and stay there.

Public Figures

From politicians to talk show hosts, these figures had a few failures before they came out on top.

17. Winston Churchill: This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom wasn’t always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.

18. Abraham Lincoln: While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Lincoln’s life wasn’t so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and returned a private (if you’re not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn’t stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed business and was defeated in numerous runs he made for public office.

19. Oprah Winfrey: Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of the richest and most successful women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get to that position, however, enduring a rough and often abusive childhood as well as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was “unfit for tv.”

20. Harry S. Truman: This WWI vet, Senator, Vice President and eventual President eventually found success in his life, but not without a few missteps along the way. Truman started a store that sold silk shirts and other clothing–seemingly a success at first–only go bankrupt a few years later.

21. Dick Cheney: This recent Vice President and businessman made his way to the White House but managed to flunk out of Yale University, not once, but twice. Former President George W. Bush joked with Cheney about this fact, stating, “So now we know –if you graduate from Yale, you become president. If you drop out, you get to be vice president.”

Hollywood Types

These faces ought to be familiar from the big screen, but these actors, actresses and directors saw their fair share of rejection and failure before they made it big.

22. Jerry Seinfeld: Just about everybody knows who Seinfeld is, but the first time the young comedian walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually jeered and booed off of the stage. Seinfeld knew he could do it, so he went back the next night, completed his set to laughter and applause, and the rest is history.

23. Fred Astaire: In his first screen test, the testing director of MGM noted that Astaire, “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Astaire went on to become an incredibly successful actor, singer and dancer and kept that note in his Beverly Hills home to remind him of where he came from.

24. Sidney Poitier: After his first audition, Poitier was told by the casting director, “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” Poitier vowed to show him that he could make it, going on to win an Oscar and become one of the most well-regarded actors in the business.

25. Jeanne Moreau: As a young actress just starting out, this French actress was told by a casting director that she was simply not pretty enough to make it in films. He couldn’t have been more wrong as Moreau when on to star in nearly 100 films and win numerous awards for her performances.

26. Charlie Chaplin: It’s hard to imagine film without the iconic Charlie Chaplin, but his act was initially rejected by Hollywood studio chiefs because they felt it was a little too nonsensical to ever sell.

27. Lucille Ball: During her career, Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn’t feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.

28. Harrison Ford: In his first film, Ford was told by the movie execs that he simply didn’t have what it takes to be a star. Today, with numerous hits under his belt, iconic portrayals of characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and a career that stretches decades, Ford can proudly show that he does, in fact, have what it takes.

29. Marilyn Monroe: While Monroe’s star burned out early, she did have a period of great success in her life. Despite a rough upbringing and being told by modeling agents that she should instead consider being a secretary, Monroe became a pin-up, model and actress that still strikes a chord with people today.

30. Oliver Stone: This Oscar-winning filmmaker began his first novel while at Yale, a project that eventually caused him to fail out of school. This would turn out to be a poor decision as the the text was rejected by publishers and was not published until 1998, at which time it was not well-received. After dropping out of school, Stone moved to Vietnam to teach English, later enlisting in the army and fighting in the war, a battle that earning two Purple Hearts and helped him find the inspiration for his later work that often center around war.

Writers and Artists

We’ve all heard about starving artists and struggling writers, but these stories show that sometimes all that work really does pay off with success in the long run.

31. Vincent Van Gogh: During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting, and this was to a friend and only for a very small amount of money. While Van Gogh was never a success during his life, he plugged on with painting, sometimes starving to complete his over 800 known works. Today, they bring in hundreds of millions.

32. Emily Dickinson: Recluse and poet Emily Dickinson is a commonly read and loved writer. Yet in her lifetime she was all but ignored, having fewer than a dozen poems published out of her almost 1,800 completed works.

33. Theodor Seuss Giesel: Today nearly every child has read The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham, yet 27 different publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

34. Charles Schultz: Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip has had enduring fame, yet this cartoonist had every cartoon he submitted rejected by his high school yearbook staff. Even after high school, Schultz didn’t have it easy, applying and being rejected for a position working with Walt Disney.

35. Steven Spielberg: While today Spielberg’s name is synonymous with big budget, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing. Thirty-five years after starting his degree, Spielberg returned to school in 2002 to finally complete his work and earn his BA.

36. Stephen King: The first book by this author, the iconic thriller Carrie, received 30 rejections, finally causing King to give up and throw it in the trash. His wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, and the rest is history, with King now having hundreds of books published the distinction of being one of the best-selling authors of all time.

37. Zane Grey: Incredibly popular in the early 20th century, this adventure book writer began his career as a dentist, something he quickly began to hate. So, he began to write, only to see rejection after rejection for his works, being told eventually that he had no business being a writer and should given up. It took him years, but at 40, Zane finally got his first work published, leaving him with almost 90 books to his name and selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

38. J. K. Rowling: Rowling may be rolling in a lot of Harry Potter dough today, but before she published the series of novels she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced, trying to raise a child on her own while attending school and writing a novel. Rowling went from depending on welfare to survive to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through her hard work and determination.

39. Monet: Today Monet’s work sells for millions of dollars and hangs in some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Yet during his own time, it was mocked and rejected by the artistic elite, the Paris Salon. Monet kept at his impressionist style, which caught on and in many ways was a starting point for some major changes to art that ushered in the modern era.

40. Jack London: This well-known American author wasn’t always such a success. While he would go on to publish popular novels like White Fang and The Call of the Wild, his first story received six hundred rejection slips before finally being accepted.

41. Louisa May Alcott: Most people are familiar with Alcott’s most famous work, Little Women. Yet Alcott faced a bit of a battle to get her work out there and was encouraged to find work as a servant by her family to make ends meet. It was her letters back home during her experience as a nurse in the Civil War that gave her the first big break she needed.

Musicians

While their music is some of the best selling, best loved and most popular around the world today, these musicians show that it takes a whole lot of determination to achieve success.

42. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart began composing at the age of five, writing over 600 pieces of music that today are lauded as some of the best ever created. Yet during his lifetime, Mozart didn’t have such an easy time, and was often restless, leading to his dismissal from a position as a court musician in Salzberg. He struggled to keep the support of the aristocracy and died with little to his name.

43. Elvis Presley: As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Elvis has become a household name even years after his death. But back in 1954, Elvis was still a nobody, and Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, “You ain’t going nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck.”

44. Igor Stravinsky: In 1913 when Stravinsky debuted his now famous Rite of Spring, audiences rioted, running the composer out of town. Yet it was this very work that changed the way composers in the 19th century thought about music and cemented his place in musical history.

45. The Beatles: Few people can deny the lasting power of this super group, still popular with listeners around the world today. Yet when they were just starting out, a recording company told them no. They were told “we don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out,” two things the rest of the world couldn’t have disagreed with more.

46. Ludwig van Beethoven: In his formative years, young Beethoven was incredibly awkward on the violin and was often so busy working on his own compositions that he neglected to practice. Despite his love of composing, his teachers felt he was hopeless at it and would never succeed with the violin or in composing. Beethoven kept plugging along, however, and composed some of the best-loved symphonies of all time–five of them while he was completely deaf.

Athletes

While some athletes rocket to fame, others endure a path fraught with a little more adversity, like those listed here.

47. Michael Jordan: Most people wouldn’t believe that a man often lauded as the best basketball player of all time was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Luckily, Jordan didn’t let this setback stop him from playing the game and he has stated, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

48. Stan Smith: This tennis player was rejected from even being a lowly ball boy for a Davis Cup tennis match because event organizers felt he was too clumsy and uncoordinated. Smith went on to prove them wrong, showcasing his not-so-clumsy skills by winning Wimbledon, U. S. Open and eight Davis Cups.

49. Babe Ruth: You probably know Babe Ruth because of his home run record (714 during his career), but along with all those home runs came a pretty hefty amount of strikeouts as well (1,330 in all). In fact, for decades he held the record for strikeouts. When asked about this he simply said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

50. Tom Landry: As the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Landry brought the team two Super Bowl victories, five NFC Championship victories and holds the records for the record for the most career wins. He also has the distinction of having one of the worst first seasons on record (winning no games) and winning five or fewer over the next four seasons.

The common sense point here is simple.  Successful people commit to taking personal responsibility for their career success.  They set high goals and do whatever it takes to achieve them.  They also react positively to the people and events in their lives – especially the negative people and events.  In this post, I told the stories of 50 well known people who ended up being wildly successful and well known.  Let them be an example for you the next time you feel like giving up.

Personal Motivation Stories Be a Part of this Great Community of Dreamers

Motivation for dreamers is largely built around my own personal motivation stories. There are many lessons on life, success, achievement, motivation and dreams that I have learnt and seen from my experiences in life. Most times these experiences are not unique or extraordinary in any way. But what makes them different is the lessons I drew from them.

So I got to thinking that it’s not a good idea to simply share my own experiences, insights and perspectives. Each one of us has learnt something that has made a real difference in our own lives. Why not create a community in which other people can share their experiences and thoughts on life, success, motivation, achieving your dreams and living a fulfilling life. Hey, why not just create a community where people could simply encourage one another, in whatever way possible. Then everyone can contribute positively and everyone can be an agent of positive change and influence.

I believe there is great power in numbers and diversity. I am only one person, but if others like you joined me, we can achieve so much more.

Let’s be all we can be – together.
Let’s make a difference – together.

So make your contribution to this great cause and join this great community of dreamers

Nelson Mandela’s best quotes

Nelson Mandela, whose successful struggle against South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation and discrimination made him a global symbol for the cause of human rights and earned him the Nobel Prize, died. He was 95.

Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has died. During his long life, Mandela inspired countless individuals. Here is a collection of quotes that personify his spirit:

1) “Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.”

2) “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

3) “If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man.”

4) “I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”

5) “Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”

6) “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”

7) “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

8) “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

9) “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

10) “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

11) “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

12) “Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.”

13) “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

14) “I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days.”

15) “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

Former South African President Nelson Mandela holds the Jules Rimet World cup beside Capetown Archbishop Desmond Tutu, at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on May15, 2004. (Photo: Franck Fife, AFP)

10 SUCCESS STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO QUIT PURSUING THEIR DREAMS

1. MARK CUBAN

Until 25, a bartender at his own bar.
Currently the Dallas Mavericks owner, entrepreneur and billionaire.

2. SUZE ORMAN

Until 30, a waitress.
Currently a finance guru, best-selling author and motivational speaker.

3. HARRISON FORD

Until his 30s, a carpenter.
Currently, well, you know – actor and producer.

4. PEJMAN NOZAD

Until his 30s, a rug dealer.
Currently, one of the most successful angel investors in Silicon Valley.

5. MANOJ BHARGAVA

Until 30, a taxi driver and monk.
Currently, billionaire entrepreneur & founder of 5 Hour Energy.

6. J.K. ROWLING

Until 31, a single mom on welfare.
Currently, British novelist best known as the author of Harry Potter – the best-selling book series in history, which eventually became the best-selling movie series in history.

7. ANG LEE, FILM DIRECTOR

Until 31, a jobless house husband.
Currently, the first Asian director to win an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Best Director, and is the only director to win both the Golden Bear and Golden Lion multiple times.

8. AMANCIO ORTEGA

Until 30, a shirt shop helper.
Currently, the fourth richest person in the world & founder of Zara.

9. MARY KAY ASH

Until 45, sold books and home goods door-to-door.
Eventually became the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics and one of the most influential businesswomen in American history.

10. RAY KROC

Until 52, sold paper cups and milkshake mixers.
Eventually became the founder of McDonald’s and built it into the most successful fast food chain in the world.

So I hope you’ll be inspired by these 10 people who made the decision to keep pushing. There is no time limit and they didn’t take the conventional path towards success – each story is different, and I truly do believe that everyone has a shot. Don’t ever give up

Nothing is impossible!!!

Inspiring career stories of famous people for students

Some of us think that one is lucky if one is born in a business family so that after graduating one can straightaway take over the family business. That is not always the case as the following examples show:-:

One of the most interesting vocation stories are with respect to Henri Ford. Ford’s father was a farmer who wanted his son to follow him in his own footsteps. However young Hernri’s heart was with the motor engine and similar things with which he tinkered. After furious arguments with his father, he left to chart his own course to create history by becoming one of the world’s richest entrepreneurs. The lesson to learn here is that one has to see where one’s spontaneous inclination lies and then have the courage and conviction to back is up.

Much later in life, Henri Ford brought into ford a person who could concentrate on all other areas except for manufacturing which was Henri’s forte. Henri ford was regarded as a business genius in his time. This shows that even geniuses have to indulge in complimentary synergies- supplement their own strength and complement their weaknesses.
The other example is that of Akio Morita who became Sony’s Chairman. Though he did not have any arguments with his father, being the eldest in the family, he was expected to take over the family business of brewing sake, a Japensese drink. However, Morita’s interest lay in electronics which is where he went. He created one of the world’s biggest companies in partnership with another person.

In one of Dale Carnegie’s books there is the example of one person whose father has a laundry business. His father was ashamed of his son because he had no interest in work and was lazy and indifferent. However the son wanted to become a mechanic and used to do that work endlessly. He pursued his heart and went on to become chairman of Boeing.

Thomas Edison had no father’s business but he used to work 18 hours a day and yet say that he didn’t work in his life as it was all fun.

The best example in recent times is the richest man in the world, Mr Bill Gates who left his Harvard studies midway to follow his heart and that is what made him the richest man in the world. This would obviously not happen with everyone but what one has to learn is to know exactly what one wants to do. Sometime back, Bill Gates made Steve Ballamer CEO and designated himself chief software Architect to focus on his real love, software design. This is similar to what Henri ford did.

Another example is Michael Dell who had a passion for selling computers and competing with IBM which led to the formation of Dell corporation while he was only 19.

It would not be out of place to mention an Indian story. Alyque Padamsee, the former chairman of Lintas has written a book called “The double life”. In that he describes how he used to do advertisements for money which used to fund his real passion which was theatre. He had to sacrifice a lot of social life for this “double life” but this story clearly shows that one has to follow one’s heart more than one’s head for the choice of one’s career.

It can be concluded that passion alone determines what one should or should not be doing because it enables one to overcome all obstacles.

5 Inspiring Indian Entrepreneurs under 20

Age is not a limit nor an exception to realize your true potential or the way you want to live your life. There are entrepreneurs who realize that they do not fit the cubicle job system at a later stage in their life and thus reverted to starting their businesses and then there are some who realized that the only way for them is to start their own business and be their own boss. Today, we have compiled a list of 5 Indian entrepreneurs under 20 and are their own boss.

 

1) King Siddharta

At the age of 19, King Siddharta who came from a backward sector in Northern India and his friends started organizing small competitions and events among teens. They earned by charging a little fee to gain entry into these competitions. Today Siddharta organises conferences called Createens that gives the young students an opportunity to learn about blogging, entrepreneurship etc. Also, he is now a speaker, author and a magazine publisher. He writes an e-magazine called Friendz for teens and also has written a book about spirituality and science and how they are connected. The book is called Bhagvad Gita & The Law of attraction.

 

2) Arjun Rai

Finding his entrepreneurship skills at the very early age of 7 by holding garage sales and selling stuff from his house and later selling the flower from the weddings, Arjun transformed into a COO of an online advertising firm pretty quickly. Still thristy, Arun now heads a brand new venture called Odyssey Ads which caters to the specific advertising needs of the 21st Century.

 

3) Farrhad Acidwalla

Starting at the age of 16 by borrowing 500 bucks from his father for buying a domain name and started building a web community particularly devoted to aviation and aero-modelling. After the website took off, he sold the community for a pretty high return. Today, he is the CEO of a web development, marketing, advertising and branding company called Rockstah Media. Despite being a very young company of 1 year, it has it’s own team of developers, marketers and designers across the globe.

 

4) Ankur Jain

Having the entrepreneurship skills in his genes, the son of Naveen Jain, founder of Infospace and Intellius, Ankir started his venture Starnium at the age of 12. Now, along with a group of his collegemates from Wharton, Ankur has started Kairos, a society for budding entrepreneurs still in college. They stand to empower the young pioneers who will push the world forward through entrepreneurship and innovation.

 

5) Shravan Kumaran and Sanjay Kumaran

Perhaps India’s youngest entrepreneurs, these 14 and 12 year old techie brothers are the founders ofGo Dimensions, an app development unit they founded in 2011 in their home in Chennai. Over the years, they have developed eleven different apps that are available on the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play Store. THe apps have received more than 35,000+ downloads.  The two have given various presentations as IIM-B as well as at a TedX conference.

Know any inspiring entrepreneurs under 20? Let us know.