A person is not poor if he has no money, but is certainly so, if he has no dreams. Dreams give you the freedom to envision just about anything you wish for. In dreamland, there are no barriers, no obstacles – your mind and imagination can stretch even to the stars. To have the freedom to dream is an exhilarating feeling that enthuses and encourages. But dreams are simply starting points.
Having discovered your dream, chisel it. Work as a sculptor who has a chunk of marble before him, and in his mind he beholds his finished creation. As you chip away the rough edges of absurdity and impracticality in your dream, you will see the contours of your goal emerging, slowly but surely.
Let the dream illuminate the roadway leading to your goal. Contemplate the path that must be taken. Understand the practical aspects of your journey. Familiarize yourself with the terrain, take time to study and understand the nature of possible impediments along the way. Realize that all impediments are surmountable, every problem comes with a solution – your job is to find that solution. Some problems may seem very daunting and even after a lengthy search, may not yield readily to a solution. But never give up. Do not give ear to people who say it is impossible. Look at every outstanding figure in history, and what do you find? All of them dreamt the seemingly impossible, and with faith, tirelessly worked towards their destiny.
Put everything down on paper. Define it as clearly as you can. Micro-planning involves large-scale and long-term activities like bidding for projects, expanding market share, collaborating with other companies, etc. Micro-planning means strategizing and structuring activities around targets, namely, working out the minute details.
Continuity is the most essential factor. Something that looks difficult now will actually turn out to be very simple later on. Patience and perseverance are inseparable virtues. Keep chipping away, keep trying, and the results are bound to be positive.
Pay utmost importance to reliable team. Putting together a splendid team – one that will work with you towards the destination – is your responsibility. Team building is always an ongoing process and the team needs to be trained, conditioned and inspired to implement the plan. Communicate your vision to your teammates and thereby make your vision theirs. Next, delegate powers to them appropriately in order to enable them implement your plan. This is an art which requires time, patience and understanding.
With power comes the corresponding degree of responsibility. Keep in mind the welfare of not just the business, but also of employees and by extension, their families. Even in trying circumstances, never make your team members feel as if they are part of a losing proposition.
Transparency fosters an atmosphere of trust in an organization. Where there is transparency, team members feel free to come up with good ideas. Good ideas are the mother of revolutions. Transparency also means keeping your goals clear and visible. Transparency eliminates deceit, allowing truth to be seen.
Once the project has left the harbor and is sailing smoothly towards its destination, the captain still needs to supervise. At this stage, other projects can be planned, executed and supervised simultaneously.

/>Everything must be accomplished to perfection in accordance with one’s capabilities and strengths. Sometimes the results may go against the projections because certain external factors are beyond one’s control. Never mind. Your karma is to go on. If you keep doing good, something good will definitely come back to you.
Indian management has grown by leaps and bounds because of the positive effects of globalization. Earlier, there was a nonchalant chalta hai attitude prevailing due to lack of competition. The liberalization and globalization process introduced world-class players whose products could far outweigh local products on the quality scale and who value customer service. Thus, we were forced to introspect and change for the better.
Cherish or change. Parivartan hi sansar ka niyam hai. This has been taught to us for generations. If you look at the history of corporate houses, only those with strong R&D departments have been successful. India is a storehouse of knowledge, but we don’t recognize this till it is acknowledged and praised by the West. There is an urgent need for Indians to reconnect to and research our ancient knowledge.
Today, all possible knowledge is available practically at our fingertips. So, one must keep learning for continuous improvement and to stay ahead. The end of the road for yourself and your business can be in sight - the day you start thinking that you know everything.
The writer is Chairman, Priyadarshni Academy, Mumbai
(Extracted from “Success is Our Birthright” by the author)