CAMPUS TO CORNER ROOM PRACTICAL STEPS TO BE THE 'MOST COVETED EXECUTIVE'

SUNJOY PODAAR

Copyright © Sunjoy Podaar All Rights Reserved. ISBN 979-888629176-6 This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. While every effort has been made to avoid any mistake or omission, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that neither the author nor the publishers or printers would be liable in any manner to any person by reason of any mistake or omission in this publication or for any action taken or omitted to be taken or advice rendered or accepted on the basis of this work. For any defect in printing or binding the publishers will be liable only to replace the defective copy by another copy of this work then available.

I dedicate this offering to my parents for bringing me up with the right morals and values, and the unconditional guidance and support and to my wife for believing in me and for being always there, again unconditionally.

Contents Preface

vii

Acknowledgements

ix

Prologue

xi

1. Straight From The Campus

1

2. What Are You ?

4

3. Your Being

14

4. Build Qualities

23

5. Must Do’s

31

6. Chapter 6

40

Part 1 7. Capabilities

47

8. Take Care To…

52

9. Meetings

55

10. Your Team

58

11. Manager & Seniors, I.e. Bosses

64

12. Specialities

69

13. Last But Not The Least

83

Part 2 Part 3

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Preface Human life is a Quest for Excellence – excellence in experience of every aspect of life. Every person wants to be ‘The Best’ and wishes to experience ‘The Best’. Everyone is the Hero in his/her life and everyone wants to live his / her life to the best possibilities. Sadly, the advice and guidance to do so, is not readily available to all at them at right time. As a result, we stumble across life, encounter highs and lows, victories and losses and make something of our life. Every parent helps their children to build on from what they have already learnt. In this way the relay Quest for Excellence of Life for the Human race and for the planet gets to the next level. In the same way, Masters have tried to give us learnings from their own learnings, so that we may take it forward. This title, the first in a Series - "Quest to the Summit" is an attempt in the same breath. To provide the insights, learnings, guidance to young people joining a corporate life, so that they do not have to each go through the same tribulations without guidance. This is my attempt to leave footprints on the sands of time !

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Acknowledgements This book would not have been possible without the presence and guidance of Zubin@genius trainers. My various colleagues, teammates, Bosses and Senior Leaders, all have contributed in my career journey and a little of each is what I am and what this book has. A big shout out to them - folks, thank you for being you, and letting me be Me. Thank you, Poonam, for your love, for being ever supportive and always encouraging me to give of my best in all endeavors while you manage the home front. Thank you, Anshul and Pranshu, for the joy and learning you brought me in your childhood and for now providing such stimulating environment by keeping on challenging me to keep up my quest for perfection in all spheres of life. To my parents, for the upbringing you gave me, for being always there whenever I needed support and guidance. , my furry bundle of joy, Zephy, for wiping off all my worries and troubles with your loving licks.

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Prologue If you want the best from Life, you have to give your best to Life. You can’t act to be healthy, it happens because of certain actions you do, certain ways you live your life; similarly, Success happens because of certain actions you consistently do, certain ways you live your life.

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CHAPTER ONE

Straight from the Campus You’ve aced that interview in the Campus Placement round and are gung-ho at having been selected by one of India’s respected corporates at a fancy package. Subject matter theory, you have it well under control. The extra-curricular has also given you the aptitude to try out the irregular, do things on the go and to think of the larger good. Agreed, you also faltered in between, but they did accept your answers in those interview rounds, so the experiences and the learnings, must be real. Heck, they nodded even when you listed out your weaknesses camouflaged as strength when asked to list weaknesses. You were successful in skipping over the little bit of on the side deviations that you so brilliantly steered clear of in the interview rounds. Your discussions prowess is well rewarded through making it past the GD round on day 1 itself. So, all in all, you are feeling proud of yourself, and rightly so, you deserve it. Why is there then, an iota of apprehension? You’ve handled many a challenge in the school and college and will similarly do so, when they arise during the job. Right? Confidence is there, but…. Damn, why does the niggling 1

CAMPUS TO CORNER ROOM

concern need to rear its head so quickly. There are still few weeks before you have to join. Plus, you’ve already worked in similar Corporates during the internship stints. Ahh !! now the realization dawns. There were similarly well qualified people in the companies during the stint. They all seemed so intelligent and were so difficult to beat in a conversation, yet, each one of them was stressed. They stressed over their increments, their promotions, the perks, the next week meetings and the next day call with the Boss. Meeting the targets and deadlines was always a race. You remember the experienced lot there, some who had progressed well and others who had not. What did they talk about? Boss’s favorite. Yes, that’s the key. You decide you need to become the Boss’s favorite. Oo La la ! the stress is gone. You got the mantra. Yippee !!! How to prepare yourself for sure shot Corporate Success? How to become Boss’s favorite? What is this, Google dev throws up some ideas, but while it all sounds good, how to get there is still a grey area. You decide to meet up with some people in the Industry and seek their inputs. After a couple of weeks you are nearer the joining date and nowhere near the clarity. Have got abstract sounding terms but the methodology eludes. Be Yourself, Work Hard, be dedicated, work with intelligence, under promise over deliver, all these are rained at you in umpteen meetings with seniors, elders and mentors, however, how to get these together eludes you. This is where this book comes in handy. This book gives you simple, practical things to do, and lists down the Do’s and Don’ts of scaling the ladder of Corporate Success smoothly in a simple and doable manner. Yes, there are simple Do’s and Don’ts for a steady and consistent growth 2

SUNJOY PODAAR

path in your Corporate Career. Some of these will seem like clichés, however, these have been put together basis the study of many a successful Corporate Careers. Eager? So, let’s get on with it.

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