Review of 'An Idiot, Placements And IntervYou' (English)

Just I want to share my views after reading this book 'An Idiot, Placements And IntervYou' by Toffee

Ordinary Book but I have some reservations!

Overall below average book. It seems the author is 'inspired' by Chetan Bhagat and the 'Idiot' came in title itself. I am a professor and regularly gift books(self help kind) for all my top performing students to encourage and inspire them. This time while selecting such books, this title was noticed by me in Flipkart and without any hesitation I ordered. Once, I have gone through the book, I felt I did a grave mistake. The author intention is good, the methodology and techniques to crack Quant, GD and PI are good. But the way he want to tell the readers is absolutely wrong.
After reading this book, any student aspirant can assume like this!

1. One need not be regular in studies, even a lazy person who realizes at the end can achieve miracles ( this sends a wrong signal to the lazy persons who are a majority in this world )

2. One needs to sip VODKA whenever he/she is in trouble. Thanks to 'Three Idiots' The trend started by them!

3. One can achieve success by shortcuts! I could have given five stars, if the above three are eliminated (even though it may be true with the author himself) which gives a wrong signal to the future aspirants!! Flipkart also should not encourage this type of stuff !

How International Cities are built?

This is a typical parking bay in a suburban Bangalore gated community complex, where you can see a mini-India. Metro or International cities are not built by hatred but by acceptance beyond region, religion, caste, community or language. More you accept more you grow!!  

Weekend Learning !

A message I received and wanted to share with you.

Leadership Lessons from Life !

Learning comes from most unexpected sources! Didn’t realize I would come across one while enjoying Filmfare awards on a Sunday evening. Taking the liberty to share with you all, as I feel many of these apply to what we do/should do, as leaders.

 Hindi movie “Queen” won the Best Movie award at the 60^th Filmfare awards, the most reputed movie award in India. The director Vikas Bahl came to collect the shining trophy & I thought he would get onto thanking many people, as every award winner does. He narrated a story instead…as Vikas started making the movie, his father asked what does a director in a movie. He asked Vikas:

 

“Do you operate the camera?” – Vikas said “No…the cameraman does that”

“Have you written the story?” – Vikas said “The storywriter wrote…”

“Did you do the casting?” – Vikas said “No, the casting director did…”

“So what do you do J…?” – That really made Vikas think what he actually does in the movie, as a director…!

 

One day at the shoot, Vikas’s father came to see the work. He was hoping that Vikas would at least say “Lights, camera, action!”. Vikas didn’t do that…the clap assistant did. One of the scenes didn’t go well & Vikas was about to say “Cut it..” but the cameraman also having felt the same about the shot said “CUT IT” ! The one thing he was about to do also didn't happen J.

 

But when the movie made with just $ 2 Mn budget, no Big Production houses to back it & no Big star cast, swept the box office with $ 15 Mn+, got rave critic reviews for story, performances & direction, Vikas reflected & asked himself…”What did I really do in the movie”. And the answer he got from himself was – that he had put the best team together which resulted in this huge success!!

 

Lessons I interpret from the story:

1.      A true leader recognizes the efforts put in by everyone in his/her team & gives them the credit in the moments of success!

[Lessons: 1. A Leader doesn't win a battle by self – teamwork does…every team member’s role is important to success; 2. Build the team smarter than yourself]

 

2.      One may have the best team in place…but it takes the leader to have the vision & goal in insight, to lead the team in that direction, to make everyone believe in the goal. Vikas’s directorial capabilities played a huge role in bringing out the best out of each team member…however, he remained humble!

[Lessons: 1. Have a vision & the conviction to get everyone to contribute towards goal, 2. Stay Humble]

 

3.      One doesn’t need all the luxuries (budgets, star cast etc.) to make a successful venture. David Vs. Goliath happens in real too!

[Lesson: Our entrepreneurial spirit to fight during the adverse conditions, our passion for what we do, & staying focused  + the lessons mentioned in above points can help us succeed J.]

Just like Vikas,  I also introspected myself and found that, I didn't do anything new or special individual efforts during all my successful tenures as principal. Where ever I could built up 'Team Work' which includes active & supportive managements we were successful and where we couldn't do I failed! 

If a leader creates a successful team and the credit should go to 'Team' but if he/she fails in building up team, the failure should be borne by the leader only!

This applies to any leader (Let it be a PM, CM, CMDs, CEOs, Director, Chancellor, VC, Principal)

Hope you enjoyed it.