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.
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by Rakesh Singh
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CDET 13MAR15
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