(Source: Excerpts from the Leadership Essential Series brought out by McGraw-Hill Education titled “Dhirubhaism” and authored by A. G. Krishnamurthy of Mudra). Please buy the book. It is very inspiring & motivating.
Dhirubhai Ambani was born on 28th Dec 1932. Son of a school teacher in a remote village Chorwad in Gujarat.
After completing matriculation, leaves for Aden at the age of 17 to work at A. Besse & Co.
Nine years later, returns to India and sets up Reliance Commercial Corporation, a trading venture. Trades in spices, and then into yarn.In 1966, begins textile manufacturing. From textile manufacturing, he takes up yarn, polyester, petrochemicals, oil & gas, oil exploration, … over a period of time.
Bhagwad Gita states, ‘The actions of a great man are an inspiration for others. Whatever he does becomes a standard for others to follow’. Dhirubhai’s life exemplified this.
His corporate philosophy was: Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best. Ideas are no one’s monopoly. He believed that limitations were only in the mind.He used to tell his team always, ‘it is difficult but not impossible’.He used to tell his team, ‘dream with your eyes open’.
A vision has to be within reach, not in the air. It has to be achievable.
He was an arm-around-the-shoulder leader.He was always inviting people into sharing their thoughts and ideas, rather than shutting them out. If he learnt that there was value in their point of view, he would instantly embrace it, discarding his own, without any feelings of remorse.
This was one of his great qualities which most people find difficult to practice.‘We must learn to trust. For several centuries, Indians have been brainwashed to distrust other Indians. This saps national energy. Distrust kills initiative. Distrust compels people to maneuver and manipulate.
Trust and transparency stimulates entrepreneurship.’He had a tremendous capacity to learn. He has very sharp instincts too, which were no doubt backed by years of reading, studying market trends, careful listening and his own honed capacity to forecast, ….
At any given time, he was more familiar with the ins and outs of a project than most of his team. Even though he ventured into areas he had no prior experience in, he was pretty confident of his ability to learn.Once he was confident about his homework, he would venture out boldly, into completely unknown terrain with nothing short of, than the daring of an explorer.
He believed in the unusual theory of providing supply to create demand.He believed in speed and efficiency. He was constantly and swiftly upgrading technology, coming up with innovative schemes to raise money from the markets, ploughing it back into his plants and increasing capacities, … all at the same time.
Believed that a bad product will not only scare away all his clients and customers, it will actually drive them to his competitors. And, if it happens, one is signing one’s death warrant, businesswise. But on the other hand, a good product is like one’s personal ambassador who will forge long-lasting relationships with one’s clients and customers.
‘If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow’.
‘Money, is the value of your product. It is not and can never be a product on its own’ (except for RBI, may be).
‘Give your team a proper environment. Motivate them. Extend them the support they need. Each one of them has infinite source of energy. They will deliver. Bet on your people.’
Orbit Theory of Dhirubhai. ‘Growth has not limit in Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it, you can do it’.
‘Hope is the most powerful weapon. Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties and convert adversities into opportunities. Don’t give up; courage is my conviction’.
His advice to young entrepreneurs was not to accept defeat in the face of odds. To challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. He believed that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneurs will be the key to India’s transformation in the new millennium.
PS: The ‘foreword’ and the ‘preface’ are also worth reading.Dhirubhaism --- by A. G. Krishnamurthy – Apr07
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