Life Lessons on turning academic failure to obscene success from: Ashok Ramachandran

Ashok Ramachandran is the President of Schindler (India/South Asia) has been listed in the Economic Times 40 under Forty as one of the brightest corporate leaders in India under the age of 40. Believing in the process of chasing obscene success, Mr. Ramachandran considers himself as a blessed father and a lucky husband.

Born in 80`s to a Tamil family of Thiruvanthapuram, Mr. Ramachandran like a quintessential Tamil boy pursued engineering from SRM Institute of Scinece and Technology (2002) and later moved abroad for masters in Industrial Engineering from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia (2006). This real life transformer revamped consistent failing modules and dream of becoming a singer into charismatic President (India/South Aisa) of world`s leading providers of elevators, escalators and moving walks Schindler that is spread over 100 countries around the globe. He has served Schindler for 13 years in Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei before becoming the President of Schindler in India/South Asia.

Apart of me and Mr. Ramachandran being Indians and failing modules. we share the vision to flourish after obtaining masters abroad. Let us learn the mantras of he learnt during his university days as an international student and migrant employee that assisted him accomplishment of success. Personally, these hacks are very relatable and shall be useful for any and all students.

1. Live alone

While he moved overseas with his best friend, they used all the money they had for advance and rent of the house. This is where he believe to have learnt importance of money and knowledge of financial management. As, when he engaged in odd job at an Indian food joint for part time work and earned a $100 (AUD) he realized the efforts made to earn that amount thereby recognizing the importance of it. While he did not feel like spending the money, nevertheless sent half to his parents. Moreover, while spending each $1 (AUD) he learnt the art of financial management whereby he could save some even during month ends.

In my view, this has been one of the greatest and most important lesson in my life as well. While I have learnt the art of spending money cautiously, my consumption pattern transformed from greed to need. Much like preferring to cook at home over eating out, buying frozen food over fresh, focusing on products that make life easy over ones that make myself look glossy and so on.

Further, Mr. Ramachandran strongly recommends experiencing the independent style of living for all students as he believes to have learnt most important skill in life, people skills. Confirming that upon sharing house with friends who just like him had never performed household chores leading to ill-managed household. While bringing the house together and managing members to contribute as per delegated errands in rota he claims to learn the pragmatic and profitable people skills.

Personally, we can share houses with both our own group of friends and complete strangers however, certain housemate shall be certifiably taxing. Dealing with such challenging personalities on a daily basis has not only engraved in me the art of functioning with people but also shaped into being emotionally intelligent and patient.

2. Bring the "WoW" factor to stand out

Mr. Ramachandran was well versed of the different appearance, nationality and dialect he possessed. Hence, during initial days at Schindler (Australia) as quality engineer/management trainee he endeavored in standing out as a new hire. In doing so, he undertook a practice of offering help to his management team at the headquarter office where he was posted. Mostly, being laughed at or turned down or not being taken seriously he continued with the unconventional style persistently. Luckily, one one of them did and his risk of social situation was successful giving him access to networking and popularity amidst the management of the company. As he despised being behind the computer and doing only his job as that shall tag him as a part of the crowd and providing extra than one is expected to in his eyes is always cherished.

In my opinion, this was definitely a daring and flagrant idea of putting oneself out there. However, it is one of the most successful ways for him. This also reminds me of my father`s saying in "Beta 2 min ki besharami aur zindagi bhar ka aram" meaning my dear child if you are able to act shameless/daring for 2 min it can lead you to a lifelong comfort/happiness. Besides, each its own is always more authentic and appreciated.

3. Any experience is good experience

Mr. Ramachandran suggests obtaining any experience however small in life to be gathered by students. Falling back to his personal experience of serving for 3 weeks in one of the fashion events at Melbourne, as a member of Clean Events a global company that provides staff for cleaning up venues after an event takes place, where he picked up empty beer bottles which not only paid him handsomely but also gave him the 'real life thappad'.

In my view point, such odd jobs are taken by all and mostly every international student across the globe including myself. Further, it does give us the reality check and value for: all the contributions made by our family members on us, humility, modesty and kindness. It definitely builds in us the character and personality that could lead us to achieve success and manage it is obtained.

4. Be your own marketing manager

Mr. Ramachandran firmly encourages new bees to be their own brand ambassador in any organisation they become a part of. In fact, such should not be limited to knowing and building relationships with their peer group or immediate colleagues but also should extend to all levels of the organisation. Such capability of fostering network, gift of gab combined with excellence in craft shall be a blessing in climbing up the corporate ladder.

Considering his own experience at Schindler he expresses an example of himself making an effort during the lunch hour to sit with a new group every day learn about the diverse culture despite being called out at as trying to suck up to people by his fellow Indian fellow colleagues. This helped him build an enormous office support.

Another, such example is that during the time in Australia while working in quality department where his job profile involved to rating colleagues that amounted in bonus for them. In doing so, he found one of the colleague facing challenges with paper work despite being amaze-balls at his job and started helping him before the audit. In little time, the colleague started doing it for himself. However, Mr. Ramachandran made an exceptional bond that supported him especially when he became the branch manager for the very time in Queensland office.

Personally, I totally live by his point of view that CEO of a company has 500 or more employees to contact to, however any employee just has one CEO. Therefore, rationally its more convenient for employees to head up and make an effort to communicate with the CEO.

5. Skills> Formal Education

Mr. Ramachandran not only is a perfect example of skills being more valuable over formal education. In fact, he understands formal education is extremely outdated version of obtaining success. Besides, adheres to the fact that success can be realized 70% by skills. 20% by networking and 10% by formal education. Moreover, curiosity leads to best learning and implementation of knowledge.

Guess he is the best living example of such reality in life just like Rabindranath Tagore and which I totally support it.

Special Credits:

Essential mention to Mr. Ashok Ramachadran for permitting me to write this article. Also, a special thanks to him for taking the time to reply to me. Though the reply was a genuine, honest and respectful denial for his time. However, I feel obliged and grateful that my 2nd blog post did at least reach to the legend I always wanted to write about.

Reference

Life Lessons on turning academic failure to obscene success from: Ashok Ramachandran

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