Lessons of success

With his latest book Dream With Your Eyes Open Ronnie Screwvala, a first-generation entrepreneur and pioneer of the media industry in India, has offered an insider’s account of what it takes to start, build and scale businesses in India. In an exclusive chat with Swati Rai this self-effacing, media shy entrepreneur, philanthropist and author, shares what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in 21st century India

Ronnie’s early days, in front of the camera and on stage, inspired him to pioneer cable TV in India, and build one of the largest toothbrush manufacturing operations before starting UTV — a media and entertainment conglomerate spanning television, digital content, mobile, broadcasting, games and motionpictures, which he divested to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Newsweek termed him the Jack Warner of India, Esquire rated him as one of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century and Fortune as Asia’s 25 Most Powerful.

In his book he details his vast experiences and the myriad lessons learnt from more than two decades of building some successful (and some not-so-successful) businesses, bringing clarity to a quickly changing business landscape and making an impassioned case for the role of entrepreneurship in India’s future.

In essence, Ronnie hopes to demystify failure, inspire success, raise ambitions and help people think big. According to him the book is about, ‘it can be done’ and not about ‘I did it’. “It’s all possible. Just dream your own dream-and when you do, dream with your eyes open!” There you have it, one of the original, 100 per cent modern-day Indian entrepreneurs saying like it is, on entrepreneurship, successes and misses, gender equality in the current century business context and on Media matters.

Here’s what he has to share on different aspects shared in his book:

On his mantra for success

Aiming for the stars while keeping your feet firmly on ground. I believe there is no other way to achieve success. You are bound to face many challenges in your life and if you don’t stay rooted in reality, if you don’t keep your mind sharp and your eyes open you will run into trouble inevitably.

While you dream big, you always need to stay real and practical with your feet on the ground. This book aims to give the readers a perfect blend of the 30,000-foot view when you’re flying and thinking big, and the ground view, when you’re walking the talk and making it happen.

On making the book readable

I have shared my career in arc headline form, not because this book is about my career per se, but rather to offer a point of reference. In each chapter, I draw on anecdotes that connect my real life experiences, both good and bad, to the book message. For me, this book is all about demystifying failure, inspiring success, raising ambitions and dreaming big. The simple narrative is a conscious effort to be able to reach out to all and something everyone can identify with and in an effort to evangelise entrepreneurship, as I believe that it has the potential to drive India’s growth story.

On the importance of planning and discipline

Discipline is critical and cannot be compromised. You need to keep a lazer sharp focus in everything you do. Planning is integral as well but as an entrepreneur you will always be faced with unplanned situations what is critical along with planning is the ability to think on one’s feet.

On being good boss and a good human

I do not believe that all bosses are bad and therefore hated. Many of them are great mentors and others are collaborative. Just because you’re having a bad day with your boss does not mean he/she is hated. A company’s greatest asset is its culture. Organisations are about people and leaders/management needs to understand and value that. If you have a culture of openness with your employees, if you communicate effectively and frequently, if you are respectful and courteous, if you value people’s time like you want them to value yours…you are unlikely to be a boss who is hated.

On gender bias

Neither entrepreneurship, nor leadership for that matter is gender specific. And in this 21st century we are looking at a great equalizing taking place. I have seen great leaders/colleagues as women in the social and business sector.

On being true to oneself

As an individual being yourself is absolutely critical and especially when we live in such a fast changing environment.