Success is Notional – Build a home or build a brand; it’s on you at the end of the day, which is the lead actor in any journey, any action. Remember, we need to brush our teeth daily, use the bathroom daily, put in the same effort day in and day out, whether building a home or a brand. Once the home is ready, we need to maintain it, clean it, hire staff, delegate.
- The key is to be able to delegate, and that comes from trust. To trust others, we must trust our own capabilities.
- Never chase success. Just make each day productive and better than the previous day. There is no end timing; it’s not a time-bound test paper and needs to be graded. No pressure.
- Your concept/ project/ product must have a purpose. Always ask can others benefit from this? If the answer is yes… then never forget why you began the project.
- Faith is everything. Never give up. Somehow money will come if you have all the above three points in order.
How was your University time?
We had mandatory commission bill riots during my college days, and colleges were closed for over 6-8 months. I had a friend’s wedding in London to attend, and they all wanted me to carry beautiful Indian suits to wear for India’s wedding. I launched my suit business that year but gave it up after two years as I wanted to do an MBA and get married and have a baby. I never gave up. I restarted from where I had left after 22years after my daughter grew up.
Of course, I moved with the changing time and started a venture which satisfied me as a customer first. My daughter and I are lactose intolerant.
What was your first job or nuggets from jobs you had that helped you get to where you are today?
My first job was at Ever Ready Batteries during my MBA, and that job taught me never to give up. Union Carbide had caused a huge loss of life in India with a catastrophe famously known as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, and they were banned in India. Still, they wanted to fix things, help families and came into India yet again as EBC. I learned early in the day what competition meant as I was lucky to have witnessed Duracell and Eveready’s healthy fight.
How did you prepare for the interview?
I always follow the fourth point – Faith and i wear confidence more than clothes.
Can you provide some book recommendations?
Philip Kotler was My Gita then, and now My Gita is by Dev Patnaik, and not to mention I have dabbled into writing in my free time, and my book is available on Amazon “without the gazing mirror.”
Things are changing very fast in the industry; how do you keep yourself updated. Please list techniques or newsletters, podcasts, events, etc.
Honestly i stay away from news. Listen to your inner voice while creating products especially if you are wanting to innovate.
Any advice about CVs?
Fortunately its the video call world. CV should be one paragraph about you and your achievements.
Advice for someone looking for a job?
Chase an industry which you enjoy the most. If you can be one of the customers then its that much easy and it all rolls.
Why do you think you were selected among other candidates?
My confidence and mostly i have been a customer first then an employee.
Lessons from jobs that you couldn’t get.
I got them all as i live with faith.
Tag few friends/colleagues whose story you would like to see them share their story.
Aneesha Madhok My Daughter
