Sunday, March 22, 2015

BUSINESS PERSONAL SPECIAL ..................5 lessons Running taught me about business

5 lessons Running taught me about business


My love for trekking, hiking and walking has existed since I was a teenager. I still fondly recall my first trek to Pindari Glacier during my college days; my chance meeting with a large group of aggressive langurs which sent shivers down my spine; crossing the creaky wooden bridge over Pindari River with missing timber pieces and not to forget the guard at Phurkia who claimed to have seen Goddess Durga. Even today if I am visiting a new city, I prefer to walk around.
My tryst with running was a chance event.Running and I were never buddies. To keep pace with my children while they were cycling on Marine Drive, I had little choice but to run. That's how it all began. Now having completed 5 half-marathons and achieving my best timing of 2 hours 10 minutes, I have always drawn lessons from running into business:

Lesson #1 Set Targets; go at your own pace
I began long distance running in 2007. I started with short runs and then gradually extended my running time to help me complete the half marathon. While running, I set my own targets based on my daily routine, practice and fitness. My focus has always been to better my earlier performance and never compare with my running friends. Running requires me to listen to my body. Running has helped build endurance. Endurance has enabled me to achieve my targets; it has helped overcome all sorts of pains, physical limitations and mental barriers; and it's no different in business. Clients are like targets, some easy to win and some really difficult to crack. Ears-to-the-ground and sheer endurance has helped me win over most clients in my career. Contrary to running, I track my competitors in business. However, I prefer to focus on delivering what clients want. A quote from Jeff Bezos best captures what I believe in: “If we can keep our competitors focussed on us while we stay focussed on the customer, 2 ultimately we'll turn out all right“.

Lesson #2 Maintain discipline
While preparing for marathons, my routine includes jogging 3 to 4 miles twice a week and a long run on Sunday mornings. Winding up early on Saturday nights and avoiding drinks is part of my regimen. This discipline ensures that my body gets used to an exercise routine and my mind sets expectations for my body to deliver. Further it reinforces the actions I need to take to deliver these expectations. I have often seen runners join groups or hire trainers to help build discipline and rigour into their routine. If you are one who needs help to discipline self, retain a trainer or join a running group. In business, focus and discipline are paramount to achieving any result.Whether in running or at work, my advice is that if you are not self-disciplined, seek help in disciplining yourself for achieving your goals. For me self-discipline works best. I must share something that I read on self-discipline: “Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.“

Lesson #3 Choose a companion
To initiate yourself into running, you may need company of either music or friends. For 3 me, music works best but I occasionally run with my son or my friends. Music or a slow conversation tends to distract my mind from pains and aches and helps build endurance.In business too, self-help books, my friends and colleagues are my companion and form my sounding board. I repose trust and faith in my colleagues. I have witnessed that teams tend to look after themselves, motivate each other in times of need and build strong resilience when faced with obstacles. I have seen amazing results achieved when teams have worked together. Indians love cricket and we have often seen that a superb innings or bowling spell wins a game. However, for the country to win the World Cup, the entire team has to put up a winning performance.

Lesson #4 Convince yourself; the best motivator is you
Henry Ford said “Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably 4 right“. This is very true for running. I have come across runners from varied backgrounds including some who have overcome serious illnesses to run. What can describe Fauja Singh, a British Indian runner completing Toronto Waterfront Marathon at the age of 100? My belief helped me migrate from Dream Run to Half Marathon at the age of 39.My conviction is the single biggest motivator for me, my family and my colleagues at work.I believe that positivity in thinking rubs off on your family and team members. Success in business also follows a similar path.
I have taken up new challenges several times in my career; switching from equity to debt capital markets and project finance to leveraged finance to proprietary investing to restructuring and then start an investment banking and project finance outfit in my current role. Let me share that the foodie in me wants to start a fine dining restaurant one day...

Lesson #5 Introspect and Celebrate
In 2013, I was rocking my neighbour's son when I suddenly had a back ache. I was advised to stop running. I started walking but brisk walks led to recurrence of back pain.I was advised total rest for most part of last year. I have recently begun running again.My running and stretching pattern has now changed. Earlier, I did stretching exercises only if I had time after each run. Now I make sure that I do these exercises thrice a week and after each run. I run only if I have rested well. I always reward myself after each good run. I love sweets and samosas and my regular run makes me eligible to enjoy these treats. At work too, well planned strategies and our conviction may not work. Such situations demand introspection within self and with our teams. Also, successes need to be celebrated as it reaffirms faith is good action and demands more of that. Above all, when we celebrate we make sure that we have rewarded ourselves for our past actions and need to restart again. Every celebration of our achievement reminds us not to live in past glory but to start all over again.
Remember, one run can change your day, many runs can change your life! Running has taught many lessons to me. However, if I were to pick one, I would echo what Buddha said: “The mind is everything. What you think, you become.“ CD
The author is Group Head, Investment Banking, Capital & Commodity Markets at HDFC Bank.
by Rakesh Singh

 CDET 13MAR15

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