Harish Lakshman, Chairman, Rane Group, emphasized that individual growth acts as a catalyst for success, and that it requires investing in both mental and physical prowess.
As you prepare to step into the next phase of your life, the question arises: How do you begin your career on the right foot? The transition from academia to industry presents both opportunities and challenges, and how you approach it will lay the foundation for your long-term success.
Clear Vision
The first is the power of a clear career vision. It serves as a road map, guiding your decisions, actions, and efforts in a focussed direction. Without a vision, it’s easy to drift aimlessly, moving from one opportunity to the next without purpose or fulfilment. Moreover, a clear vision fuels motivation and resilience. The vision itself may not be perfect, and when you look back in hindsight, you may think, “Maybe I should have had a different vision.” However, not having a vision is worse than not having the best vision. When you know where you want to go, obstacles become part of the journey rather than roadblocks. You understand that setbacks are temporary, and you have a bigger picture in mind.
Passion & Discipline
While any successful career begins with a vision, it is passion that drives you. It keeps you motivated through challenges, makes your work meaningful, and transforms effort into excellence. Passion is the spark that turns your vision into reality. However, passion alone will not guarantee success.
The key is to combine this vision and passion with discipline—the discipline to grow, adapt, and innovate continuously. Discipline will keep you on course. While passion gets you started, it is discipline that will ensure you follow through. It’s the daily commitment to learning, growing, and refining your skills, no matter how tough the journey becomes. In career building, these three elements work together: vision, which sets the destination; passion, which drives the journey; and discipline, which ensures you keep moving forward, step by step, towards your success.
The Best Investment
Have you ever wondered what the most important investment you will make in your life is? It is not the financial markets or property, but yourself. Success, whether personal or professional, often stems from growth that begins within. Your individual growth acts as a catalyst for success, and that requires investing both mentally and physically.
The job market of today is evolving rapidly, and employers are looking for more than just technical knowledge or managerial skills. Innovation is increasingly recognised as the currency for the future. It gives businesses a competitive edge and offers effective solutions for governance.
A successful transition into the professional world hinges on your ability to navigate and master digital technologies. Digital literacy is no longer just a desirable skill; it’s a fundamental requirement across all industries, including those traditionally lagging in digital adoption, like the automotive world. Proficiency in using technology, including software applications, digital tools, and online platforms, will be essential for your success. I’m not talking about Instagram.
Equally important are your communication skills. Being able to communicate effectively will enable you to build relationships, collaborate with colleagues, and present your ideas persuasively to senior management. This is crucial in any profession.
EI: The Key Differentiator
Another very important asset to invest in is emotional intelligence. Understanding and managing your own emotions while empathising with others can significantly enhance your interpersonal relationships and career prospects. The ability to work as part of a team and contribute to shared goals will prove invaluable. Usually, the managers who climb the ladder the fastest are the ones with the highest levels of emotional intelligence, rather than just straight intelligence.
The world and institutions demand collaboration more than ever before. If you make others successful, they will reciprocate. So, it’s not so much about how balanced you are, but about how well you balance with others that will ensure your success. Most importantly, learn to embrace change. In an age of rapid technological advancements and shifting industries, the professionals who thrive are those who can evolve, learn new skills, and stay ahead of the curve.
Finally, to facilitate a successful transition, I encourage you to network actively. Building relationships within your industry is key to opening doors and seizing opportunities. Remember, the journey doesn’t end here. Continuous learning and adaptation will be essential for your long-term career success.
Learning is a Journey
This brings me to another essential value. Never think that learning is completed once you graduate. In fact, I want to emphasise that learning is a continuous process, and the importance of continuous learning in your job is even more critical than in college. In college, you spent years mastering your craft, honing your engineering and management skills, but understand that it doesn’t end there. In many ways, it’s just the beginning. Technology will evolve, and new challenges will emerge. The most successful among you will be those who are not afraid to keep learning, stay curious, and adapt to the changing landscape.
I like this quote from Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, and learn as if you were to live forever.” This mindset emphasises that the journey of learning is lifelong, and that each experience can deepen your understanding and broaden your perspective.
Have a Growth Mindset
Develop a strategic and growth mindset. In the early stages of your career, I urge you to focus on developing a few core competencies in a specific function or area—it could be marketing, finance, operations, or technology. Mastering a specific domain gives you a strong foundation on which to build your career, boosts your confidence, and enables you to provide tangible value from the start. It helps you navigate the complexities of the workplace with direction and clarity. In addition to knowledge, the mindset you carry with you will set you apart. You have the power to shape your own future through your choices, leadership, and approach to challenges.
A successful career begins with understanding your industry and the specific function you are entering. Early in your career, it’s easy to focus solely on your immediate responsibilities—completing projects, meeting deadlines, and performing your role efficiently. However, beware of the trap of tunnel vision. If you focus only on your current task, you might miss the bigger picture of your industry or organisation. To avoid this, I encourage you to actively broaden your perspective.
Let me share an example from my experience in the automotive industry. Traditionally, this sector was driven by mechanical engineering and manufacturing efficiencies. However, today we are experiencing a digital revolution in the form of electric vehicles and autonomous driving. AI-powered systems are reshaping the landscape of our industry. Companies that clung to their traditional roles, like producing engines and transmissions, are now at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, those who embraced change, expanded their knowledge, and adapted early have emerged as leaders in the industry. Whether it is Tesla in the US or Ola Electric in India, they are classic examples of this.
Keeping a finger on the pulse of industry trends is vital to remaining relevant. Ask yourself, what are the drivers in my industry? What do companies expect from professionals in my field? By using your core competence as a tool to understand and align with industry expectations, you will not only excel in your role but also develop a strategic mindset that sets you apart from others. This is the kind of attribute that senior leadership always looks for in young managers.
Be Open to Opportunities
While it’s important to have a vision, being open to new ideas and opportunities can lead to better outcomes. Your willingness to learn new things and step outside your area of expertise will become one of your greatest assets. This mindset, one that embraces growth and innovation, will empower you to stay ahead in your career. Make sure you volunteer for projects and offer to take on additional responsibilities beyond what your role asks of you.
Share your insights. Don’t be afraid to present your ideas and suggestions and demonstrate initiative. Show that you are proactive and willing to go the extra mile to take risks and get the job done.
Build Great Habits
As you take on your first roles, remember that your success will depend on the habits you cultivate. Focus on building habits and hobbies that align with your passions. Engage in activities outside of work that will enrich your life, foster creativity, and open new avenues for professional growth. Whether it’s a hobby, volunteering, or learning a new skill, these experiences can enhance your adaptability and broaden your network.
Refuse to Quit
The life ahead of your career is going to be full of challenges, and most days you will face more problems than celebrations. So, I want to share a personal reflection when I speak of mindset. I’m reminded of an experience that shaped my thinking. I took up long-distance running many years ago as a way to push my limits, both physically and mentally. There’s one unique thing about long-distance running: it’s easy to start, full of energy and optimism, but as the miles stretch on, and your legs grow tired, your breathing becomes laboured, and you’re faced with a choice—to stop and take the easier path, or to push forward, trusting that every step gets you closer to the finish line. Life, much like long-distance running, is all about endurance. There will be times when you hit a wall in your career or personal life, where progress seems slow and the obstacles insurmountable.
But if there’s one lesson I have learned from both running and life, it’s that those who succeed are not necessarily the fastest or the most talented, but those who simply refuse to quit. Whether in your professional or personal life, you will face moments when quitting seems like the only option, but I encourage you, in those moments, to dig deep, keep moving forward, even if it’s one small step at a time. Remember, the journey is often more important than the destination.
Live by Values
The last message I want to share with you is on leadership. In my career spanning over two decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with many successful managers and a few exceptional leaders. One thing I’ve learned is that living by a consistent set of values is incredibly demanding. There will be times when you find yourself at crossroads, facing conflicts between what you know is right for success and what resonates with your own beliefs, which may sometimes be more pragmatic. There will always be pressure to take a quick fix or a shortcut decision.
I encourage you to establish your own set of values and always commit to living by them. This is even more difficult in an environment like India, where the external forces are very challenging, but this difficulty is a necessary step if you wish to stand out and be a true leader.
Finally, remember that academic excellence does not always equate to overall success in life. It’s vital to approach success with humility and equally important to learn how to handle failures gracefully. As you strive for success in all your endeavours, aim to cultivate an all-around personality with a wide range of interests. Strive for a 360-degree perspective on life, valuing all dimensions rather than prioritising one over the other.
Let me summarize with a thought. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. Every choice you make, every challenge you face, and every opportunity you embrace will shape the person you become. As young graduates stepping into the world, you have the chance to carve your own paths. Don’t just have career goals. Set goals that give you a balanced, successful life. Balance means ensuring your health, relationships, and mental peace are all in good order. Remember that success is not just about climbing the ladder. It’s about shaping your own path, taking ownership of your future, and finding joy in that journey. So take action, stay curious, and build the life you’ve dreamed of. The future is yours to create.
