Today was a sort of Deja vu for me as I waited outside a school where my cousin was busy filling up ovals with dark pencil, for a seat in one of the prestigious medical college in India. I recalled how some 6 years back, dad had waited similarly outside a similar looking school as I raked thru the length of question paper , pondering quite helplessly as to why did Newton sit under that goddamn tree. Same script, different actors, thats life for you.
While I waited outside, I finished a book which was in bookmarked for some time now. Its a book by Kishore Biyani, an autobioography actually (yes I know may be a bit early but then he has his reasons). Its titled “It happened in India.” What follows is a short review of it in candid terms.
Thru out the book KB talks about understanding the customer is his forte and he wants his customer base to be as large as possible. I agree now. He did the same thing with the book. priced at Rs 99 (well within reach of a common man), written without any words which’ll make you rush to oxford dictionary, bold, big font text for easy readibility, filled with anecdotes to keep the reader amused and interested and focus on theory of “if you will than you can”. The book talks about KB’s journey and is filled with accounts from his colleagues and his family members.
However there are some drawbacks which make it less than an amazing read. the content is not very intellectual ( I know its for a wider TG but still), KB delves more on stories and how hez a man of great ambitions and resolve and ethics. He could have cut down on some of that to talk more about the strategic decisions taken within the confines of the board room. Also the book, although very subtly, constantly derides and ridicules MBAs as “fancy degree holders” who know nothing about ground realities. Well to me ( I am an MBA, if some one has forgotten that fact) its just total Bull Shit (couldnt find a better word to describe my feelings). Somehow the book potrays that if you want to be connected to the customers and do good business, show a finger to data, throw out the consultants and never ever think about going to any college. Its rubbish I would say. OK ! I agree with the consultant part !
The worst thing about the book is the manner in which it is printed. Every second page has an anecdotal account by some friend talking about the great abilities of KB. Its a nice try to make sure the reading is not a mundane and linera experience. However the publisher I thought forgot the old saying ” too many cooks spoil the broth”. after first chapter it gets really irritating, especially when KB is doling out some gyaan about retail and then suddenly you have some eulogising him and you totally lose the context.
Having said that, there are some nice pointers in the book, about business, about making decisions, about making mistakes and above all about holding on to your principles.Some of them are:-
- once you are in business, take no shit and give no shit.
- Allow your employees to make mistake. The only way to learn a business is by making mistakes, by destroying capital that you built after countless number of sleepless nights. The pinch will make you do it allover again with greater agility and determination.
- Once you have made a mistake, accept it and get out of it fast. Dont put bad money after good money. (one of the most important things I learned from the book)
- The deciding factor between winning and losing is “understanding of the customer”.
- Treat ppl who work with you with respect
- and finally… get out of your bloody shell of hubris and start learning things. then unlearn them to relearn new things. Thats actually how you stay on top.
Overall I would say Rs 99 well spent. Definitely worth a read. however 10 years down the line I would like to read it once more, to see how things finally shaped up for KB.
rohit
