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Some Impressionistic takes from the book Some Impressionistic takes from the book Some Impressionistic takes from the book Some Impressionistic takes from the book Dr. V. Raghunathan’s Dr. V. Raghunathan’s “ D “ Don’t on’t Sprint print the he Marathon” arathon” By S.Sekar [email protected]

Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

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Page 1: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Some Impressionistic takes from the bookSome Impressionistic takes from the bookSome Impressionistic takes from the bookSome Impressionistic takes from the bookDr. V. Raghunathan’s Dr. V. Raghunathan’s

“ D“ Don’t on’t SSprint print tthe he MMarathon”arathon”pp

By [email protected]

Page 2: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

About the AuthorV.Raghunathan’s first career was an academic- as Professorof Finance at IIM- Ahmadabad for nearly two decades, untilearly 2001. His second – a corporate one- started in 2001, first

About the Author

y p ,as President , ING Vysya Bank for four years and then withGMR Group- an infrastructure major. He is currently CEO,GMR Varalakshmi Foundation . Also since 1990 he has beenan Adjunct Professor at the University of Bocconi, Milan,j y , ,lecturing on behavioral finance Has published over 400 academic papers & popular articles

& seven books Author of the best seller ‘ Games Indian Play’ why we are Author of the best-seller Games Indian Play – why we are

the way we are ( Penguin 2006) Stock exchanges, Investments & Derivatives ( Tata McGraw

Hill 2007 )Writes a guest column in ET, Mint and Times of India Blog

and is a busy public speaker Has probably the largest private collection of old and ancient

locks in the country , has been a cartoonist with a nationaly ,daily, and has played chess at all India-level

Page 3: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

PreludeAs proud and ambitious parents, we often push our children totheir limits and to excel in ways that may help them achieve

l b t th i t i t d

Prelude

some early successes- but may sap their stamina to endurethe more difficult challenges of life. Our obsessive rush to getour children off to a good start overlooks the fact that in life, asin a marathon, an early lead hardly matters, but being toointent on the blind dash, we deprive our children a normalchildhood and hence of many life-skillschildhood and hence of many life skills.This book reinforces the above line of thinking and quotesseveral examples of average people who achievedextraordinary success because they were not sprinting themarathon!

Happy ReadingHappy Reading

Page 4: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

If you are like most professionals in a hurry…If you are like most professionals in a hurry…You probably want:

to be the first one to get promoted, to get that best rating at work year after year that coveted postingp g that next promotion

And

you do probably do not recall when you spent a whole day withyour family last, oryour family last, or when you last helped a less fortunate man on the street

Page 5: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

And if you are like most parents…y pYou expect no less & probably more from your childYou are a prouder parent if your child were among the top

performers in the class & outside itperformers in the class & outside itYou tacitly expect your child to top at everything, crack that

mathematic Olympiad, captain the school cricket and football team…

May be you also drive your kid from school totuitions to swimming classes to tennis lessons.

Organize the kid’s summer vacationOrganize the kid s summer vacationmeticulously, and

Compare the kid favorably or unfavorably toother kids

And hope the kid would also win thespelling bee, crack all the 3-letter national

other kids

entrance tests and maybe also walk onwater!

Page 6: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

I Lif R ?Is Life a Race? It needn’t be, it shouldn’t be and it isn’t but if so why do most educated parents make their kids do what but if so, why do most educated parents make their kids do what

we listed in the last slide? Why do they Push them so hard, hopingto give them a good start? So maybe it is regarded by most as arace after allrace after all…

But if life is a race at all, it is a Marathon , not a Sprint…

Oprah Winfrey – famous talk-show host & also aMarathon finisher, maintainsMarathon finisher, maintains

“ Running is the greatest metaphor for life “Oprah was referring to the metaphor of running

marathon & not the sprint!marathon & not the sprint!

Page 7: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Sprint vs. Marathon

Sprint Marathon

Sprint vs. Marathon

Sprint Marathon

Involves a short run Marathon is a long haulIt is a flat and a straight Stretch Involves twisting and turning tracks with ups and

downs

All about strength and energy It’s more about Stamina and mental strengthEnd is always in sight End is hardly in sight for most part

A good start is very important A good start hardly mattersIt’s largely about competing with others It’s more about competing with self

Highly competitive Greater sense of camaraderieO l i i tt C l ti th f ll it lf i ti f iOnly winning matters Completing the race successfully itself is satisfying

Page 8: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Which of the following child would you prefer? A Child that has

A good grasp on subject Has the ability to internalize knowledge and apply to life

Which of the following child would you prefer?

Has the ability to internalize knowledge and apply to life But unable to reproduce or regurgitate the learning during examination, which may

compromise the grade OR A Child

That can pick up a subject superficially Have an excellent short term memory & reproduce the lines

iin exams Score the highest grade

Often As parents ideally we may like the first option As parents, ideally we may like the first option But end up promoting the latter option in our kids Are we hung up on examination performance ? Do we regiment our lives & also those of children? Do we expect from Children, what we failed to achieve ourselves?

Page 9: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

On Bringing up Children… Shaping a Child’s personality

Parents have to be a marathon coach & not a sprint coachWe need to understand certain basic differences between long-term & short-term

orientation in life

On Bringing up Children…

Well begun may be half done – But that’s more so in a dash True a long-distance runner cannot start the run with a

orientation in life This will help us to shape our own life & Children’s attitude to life

True, a long distance runner cannot start the run with afractured or sprained ankle

However to run a marathon, an average start is good enough,unlike in a sprint

It’ th ith Child t d ll i lif It’s the same with Children – to do well in life, an averagestart in life that gives a child ample scope for an all-roundgrowth is enough. Fancy schooling, far out performance,excellence in every field may feel good, but have little bearing

l t f d h i fon long term performance, success and happiness of anindividual

Desire to excel This is not right to say that a desire to excel is not a desirable trait to impart Excellence should come more from the desire excel one’s own performance rather than

from a do-or-perish kind of attitude

Page 10: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

On a Successful life What does success mean ?

Making as much money as possible?

On a Successful life…

About being as famous as possible? About being as powerful as possible?

Thomas Wolfe – American novelist “You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become

uninterested in money, compliments or publicity! “Money fame or power are consequences of Success and not goalsMoney , fame or power are consequences of Success and not goals

of success

Paris Hilton is famous Paris Hilton is famous Do we want our daughters to adopt her as a role model ? Can she be really called successful , even if she is well known ? Can her lifestyle be a route to anyone’s happiness?y y pp Is happiness key to success or success the key to happiness?

Page 11: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

On Reading

Reading provides for continuing education whether rich or

On Reading…

Reading provides for continuing education whether rich orpoor , employed or unemployed , royalty or pauper

Parents are the role model for children – if they do not seeparents spending any time ever in a bookshop or library,reading books, it is less likely the kids will learn to makereading a habit.reading a habit.

This also applies to professionals – smile and shoeshinemay be useful , but without reading there is no learning

Page 12: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

What can Parents do as marathon coaches?

Encourage children to read, and awaken in them a sense of curiosity, ad i t k t l & t fi d t

What can Parents do as marathon coaches?

desire to know, to learn & to find out Instill in them a love of learning, by encouraging them to learnWhat they want to learnWhen they want to learn How they want to learn At a pace that suits them best At a pace that suits them best

Allow sufficient autonomy to the child for reading, as long as what thechild reads is not unhealthy

Learning is something children do NOT something done to children Learning is something children do, NOT something done to children Provide an environment which is conducive for learning Move the focus from teaching to learning

Page 13: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

What Children like & What works on themWhat Children like & What works on them… Children

A l f Pl• As a rule, prefer games, Playand hands-on tasks overstudies

• They mostly live in the present• They are curious about a wide

f thirange of thingsIndirect influences are more

likely to work on childrenlikely to work on childrenChildren aren’t afraid of

working hard

Page 14: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Dislikes of Children to bear in mind while shaping them…p g Children

Dislike excessive words Are deeply fearful of examinations - because examinations evaluate themp y Have an inbuilt fear of failurePushing them hard for a better future goes against the grain of childhood, as

children live in the presentDislike concentrating on a narrow range of activitiesForcing them into regimented extra curricular activities goes against the grain

of child hood and their sense of adventure

Excessive discipline stunts theirimagination & mental growthg g

Putting children down severely for theirfailures rarely works in the desireddirection

Page 15: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

SomeGreat

Marathoners

Page 16: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy- Dr. Reddy’s LabsA person who has put India’s Pharma industry on the Global

map

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy Dr. Reddy s Labs

Son of fairly well-to-do turmeric farmer from a villageTadepalli – A.P

He studied in a local school before moving on to a Juniorcollage in Guntur & an average village boycollage in Guntur & an average village boy

He scored 59.16 % in the State board & then went to AndhraChristian college in the same town for B.Sc. In Chemistry.

Unsure of his performance dropped out to appear again inUnsure of his performance dropped out to appear again insupplementary.

The only anxiety Dr.Reddy’s parents even showed was tomove Anji to his Grand Ma’s place for his primary schoolingj p p y g– due to the reason his father did not want the 8 year oldchild crossing the Krishna river every day .

Anji was fairly mischievous with whole lot of friends , oftentti h l t i d l i k ith hicutting school prayer to indulge in some prank with his

friends

Page 17: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy- Dr. Reddy’s LabsRemarkable about him – Sharp memory and general

reading

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy Dr. Reddy s Labs

He had a wide circle of friends whom he was genuinely fondof & spent most of his time with them

He is not a sprinter by far shotHi l f l h d bi d hi lHis love of languages came handy – combined his language

skills & some “ smart working” helped him getting throughthe exams

With his PhD – Joined IDPL in 1969 – 6 years learning bulkWith his PhD – Joined IDPL in 1969 – 6 years learning bulkdrug manufacturing led him to explore drug making byhimself

1976- Dr.Reddy founded his first company –Uniloids Ltdy p y1980 set up the Standard Organics and the flagship of Dr.

Reddy’s lab in 1984Became the first Asian company every outside Japan – list

on the NY stock exchange

Page 18: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy

Dr. Reddy did not have a grand start in lifeDid t t t th lif f it

Dr.Kallam Anji Reddy

Did not start the life from cityHe wasn’t a conventionally brilliant studentDid not study in a fancy school college or universityDid not study in a fancy school , college or universityFirst job was not with an MNCHe did not job hopj pConcentrated on learning the ropesEnjoyed every act of readingJogged along at a steady pace, took time to reflect & timed

it well

Page 19: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

G.M.Rao- He who learnt from his failures A person who all his life competed only with himself Probably learnt much more from life than from school

G.M.Rao He who learnt from his failures

Born in 1950 in Rajam – Srikakulum district of AP , thirdamong the seven children

An average middle class family – Parents having small gold& di b i& trading business

Clearly the boy had far from a grand starting point Early schooling was in government school – a local Telugu

medium institutionmedium institution Fairly a bright & active boy, albeit somewhat naughty Neither excelled in Telugu nor English Th b f il d hi SSLC & f th d hi The boy failed his SSLC exams & father made his

peremptory declaration – “ No further studies” At this crucial juncture in his life came a remarkable teacher

– Damiri Venkata Rao – who motivated him to complete theDamiri Venkata Rao who motivated him to complete theSSLC

Worked hard and passed SSLC 422/500 – 84.4 %

Page 20: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

G.M.Rao- He who learnt from his failures Rejected by Loyola college – Vijayawada, he went to a college in Bobbli for PUC Worked hard & topped the college PUC with distinction

G.M.Rao He who learnt from his failures

Obtained 12th rank in provisional selection for BE – Andhra University Did well in academics & would help his friends in whatever way possible. This popularity drove him to contest college elections to become Secretary

Through all this, one characteristics remained, alarge circle of friends & he was a people’spersonperson

Mastering the art of “ Making friends &influencing people

First failure as an adult – unable to bag the A.Pgscooters agency for vizag

Second failure – buying out an oil mill – salestax problems – leased out the mill & trucks

Interviewed by a ferro-alloy company for a job –he was rejected

Page 21: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

G.M. Rao To consolidate our findings

Not a spectacular start in life

G.M. Rao

The boy came from a rural background – educationally backward district Family indifferent to academics Went to an unknown school & experienced little discipline or control at home No clarity on what he wants to do

Flip side Fundamentally nice and responsible youngster One who is very bright & strong sense of adventure One who is not easily fazed by failure & one who is made by his failures Sustained hard work ( is an act of faith) & people’s man( ) p p One who is never wanting in efforts One who is not infallible , but is quick to get up & move on GMR is still a learner & a man of detail Never competed against others

Page 22: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

F li ht d iddl l f il iEla R.Bhatt- From an enlightened middle- class family inSurat.

Father –successful lawyer & Mother was

Ela R.Bhatt

active in women’s issue Ela never topped her school or college Might have been in the top of 10 percentile Might have been in the top of 10 percentile Never unduly pushed in driving herself very

hard Overall value system was shaped by her

highly principled father As child she developed sense of fairness & As child she developed sense of fairness &

highly sensitive to any form of exploitation ofthe underprivileged

After a brief career in Government she took After a brief career in Government, she tookit upon herself to found SEWA

Page 23: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Ela R.Bhatt- SEWA Ela is the founder of SEWA ( Self employed

women’s Association) has a membership of6 87 000 women

Ela R.Bhatt SEWA

6,87,000 women The members are

Vegetable & garment vendors In-home seamstresses Head loaders & Construction workers Bidi roller, Paper pickers, Incense stick makers

SEWA is the largest organization of its kindfor poor working women in the sub-continent

Ela became a founder member of “ The Ela became a founder member of TheElders” – along with the likes of NelsonMandela & Bishop Desmond Tutu to tacklesome of the most challenging problems insome of the most challenging problems inthe globe

Page 24: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Ela R.Bhatt- The Power of Value Her life’s work would earn her a Ramon Magsayaay award

Ela R.Bhatt The Power of Value

Honorary doctorates from Harward &Yale

Padma Bhushan Padma Bhushan Membership of the Planning

commission Rajya Sabha membership

These milestones are just happened asshe ran the Marathon in pursuit of hermission

None of these marked the destination of None of these marked the destination ofSprint

Page 25: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

The Last wordThe Last word Take a long-term view of life whether one is a child, a

parent or a professional S i t t h h t b M th ill t h Sprint may teach you how to buy; Marathon will teach

you how to build Sprint may motivate you to take ; Marathon will teach

you how to giveyou how to give Sprint may be about how to win; Marathon will probably

also about how to lose Sprint may be driven by desire to be ahead of others;p y y ;

Marathon is about being ahead of oneself Sprint may make you rich; Marathon will make you a

person of substance Achievement means different things to Sprinters vis-à-

vis Marathoners Achievement in sprint is about winning , where as in

Marathon it may be more about completing the courseMarathon it may be more about completing the courseitself

Page 26: Don\'t Sprint the Marathon

Hope you enjoyed thisThank You