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53 years since <keyword id="17991" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="James-Bond">James Bond</keyword> was introduced to the world with the 1962 film Dr. No, we’ve all come to know him as the most chiseled, most car- chase-loving (or boat- or rickshaw- or tank-loving) and the most freakishly ageless spy the world has ever known! 
 
But turns out, he’s more than just a glitzy superstar on screen sipping a shaken vodka martini — there’s actually much to learn from this international man of mystery. 
 In honour of his cinematic fame, we thought we’d look back and see what <keyword id="3314340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="career-lessons">career lessons</keyword> we can learn from him. His undeniable resilience is just one of the things to admire about him, here are the some other lessons to take from him: 
1. Always dress like a gentleman 
 
 
How we dress is always a major part of the first impression people make when they meet us, and even a genius wouldn’t get past a first interview in ill-fitting clothes and too much unkempt facial hair. 
 
2. A Failed Plan doesn’t necessarily mean Failure. It's the Way to Success! 
 
 Failure leads to Success. Heard of it? Cliche as it may sound, it's true. And James Bond lives by that. So use the applied formula for a great <keyword id="6359968" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="career">career</keyword>. 
 
3. Remain Calm in all Situations 
 
 
This is one skill we can all learn from Bond and benefit in all areas in life! Remember, When in a business setting or during an argument, the first person who lets their emotions overtake them automatically loses. You will notice how he keeps his composure during conflicts or tense discussions. Ace it, my friend! 
 
4. Be a techno-geek. It helps. ALWAYS! 
 
 
Being a technology freak always helps in times of need. So, say your boss has already given you two delay warnings and is waiting for that crucial presentation you are working on. But well you are travelling and your laptop crashed! Now, what? What do you do??? 
You pick your phone, Google topic.ppt, find a relevant one and download it. Now you open it in the Microsoft Office App, tweak it's content in and layout mobo powerpoint so that it looks like you made it all. Save and tap the Send button! 
 
15 minutes and you are sorted! ;) 
 
5. Learn to Take Risk in life 
 
 
Life is no fun if there's no risk in it. If you are avid watcher of Bond's movies, you know what risks mean, don't you? So, kick out that corporate 9-7 job and plunge yourself into a startup if you believe in it. The risk will be worth it in the end.. 
 
6. Never Give up no matter what 
 
 
The world may come down on you, but you do not give up. In your career, there will be several times you find yourself at crossroads, you will find a decision going wrong a 100 times and as a result, dissatisfaction a 1000 times. But like they say - NOPE, YOU CANNOT GIVE UP. Be that turtle in the TURTLE-RABBIT story our parents read out to us in childhood days. 
 
7. Be particular about things like Bond – Vodka martini Shaken, Not stirred. NEVER 
 
 
So, do every job you are expected to do IN THE PERFECT WAY. If you are a BOND lover, there's nothing called imperfect in your dictionary, mind you. Don't let him down. 
 
 
8. Protect what you love 
 
 
There's not just a Career lesson here, but a life Lesson. While Bond can be ice cold, as part of his job – he also often shows us that it’s okay to lend that strength to others and share in their pain during time of need. This includes friends, colleagues, family, and a partner in a relationship. If the person around you doesn’t feel as though they can talk to you about their problems or concerns, your overall communication will fail and take that relation with it.

7 Career Lessons You Can Learn from James Bond

“Do you know why I hired you? I always hire the same girl—stylish, slender, of course… worships the magazine. But so often, they turn out to be—I don’t know—disappointing and, um… stupid. So you, with that impressive resume and the big speech about your so-called work ethic—I, um—I thought you would be different. I said to myself, go ahead. Take a chance. Hire the smart, fat girl. I had hope. My God. I live on it. Anyway, you ended up disappointing me more than, more than any of the other silly girls.” —Miranda Priestly 
 Yes, we all remember the stunning <keyword id="3314341" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Miranda-Priestly">Miranda Priestly</keyword>, played so exquisitely by <keyword id="6399841" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Meryl-Streep">Meryl Streep</keyword> in <keyword id="85843" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Devil-Wears-Prada">Devil Wears Prada</keyword> - a movie that shares countless life and <keyword id="3314340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="career-lessons">career lessons</keyword> by way of style, humor and storyline. She gave us one of the scariest bosses we had seen in a long time, but she was also terribly misunderstood. She was constantly judged, underestimated, and undermined by her peers and managers. But the film wasn’t all drama. It was one of the most insightful Hollywood movies. Let’s look at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/45-Biggest-Career-Mistakes-of-Your-Life/articleshow/51699438.cms">some of the most important lessons </a>we can take from this masterpiece: 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/9-ways-women-can-take-charge-of-their-careers/articleshow/51452734.cms">ALSO READ:​9 ways women can take charge of their careers</a> 
 
Your boss is going to ask you for ridiculous things. 
 
Miranda: I need 10 or 15 skirts from Calvin Klein. 
 
Andy: What kind of skirts. 
 
Miranda: Please bore someone else with your…questions. 
 
You are always supposed to be two to three steps ahead of your boss. 
 
Know The Key People 
 
You should always know who the key, very important people are in the place you work — even if you just got started on the job. 
 
Don’t expect to be praised all the time 
 
Andy: I don’t know what else I can do, because if I do something right, it’s unacknowledged, she doesn’t even say thank you. But if I do something wrong? She is vicious. 
 
People will recognize passion and earnestness, but they will also see when you’re just going through the motions. 
 
Never be unprepared for meetings 
 
Miranda: Why is no one reeaaaaddddy? 
 
It’s the worst impression you can give about yourself to your boss. It’s one thing no boss will forget. So don’t do it! 
 
Find a mentor 
 
Andy is quite lost in the beginning at work and quickly seeks guidance from Nigel. Though he gives her some tough love, he ends up being the best mentor she could ever ask for. So, find your GURU. 
 
Know Your Stuff 
 
Don’t just look the part, be the part. Know your stuff without anyone having to ask. 
 
Dress the part 
 
Regardless of how you feel about it, you will be judged before they know your name. Every time you get dressed you’re sending signals to people, whether those signals are “I don’t give a shit about how I look” or “Look at me I’m fabulous.” 
 
Either Quit Your Job or Do it properly 
 
Andy: I don’t know what else I can do, because if I do something right, it’s unacknowledged, she doesn’t even say thank you. But if I do something wrong? She is vicious. 
 
Nigel: So quit. 
 
Andy: What? 
 
Nigel: Quit. I can get another girl to take your job in 5 minutes. 
 
There is always someone else that can do and wants your job. Don’t whine about it. 
 
Pay Close Attention 
 
Like it or not, understand it or not, the greats are great for a reason. When given the opportunity, learn from your the people you work with. 
 
Work-Life Balance 
 
Don’t lose what matters, while you are pursuing your dreams. You will regret it! 
 
Your Leadership Reflects Attitude 
 
Emily: I know. I’m so sorry, Miranda. I actually did confirm last night. 
 
Miranda: Details of your incompetence do not interest me. 
 
The manner in which you lead is entirely up to you. Remember your leadership reflects the attitude of those you lead. 
 
Never Lose Sight of Your Core Values 
 
Andy -“I don’t think I’m like that. I couldn’t do what you did to Nigel, Miranda. I couldn’t do something like that.” 
 
Miranda - “You already did. To Emily.” 
 
At the end of the day your values should drive your decision. Keep your core values.

12 Career lessons you Must Take from The Devil Wears Prada

Teacher's Day special: Essential money lessons to teach your kids

Your <keyword id="6355569" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Job">job</keyword> can be a great teacher if you pay close attention to it. Hence, BI India lists down a few <keyword id="1599955" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-lessons">life lessons</keyword> that we feel our jobs have taught us. Check them out. 
 
Be mature 
 
No situation in life can be dealt with immaturity. A job teaches you to not be impulsive while taking important decisions regarding your business. And this stands true for every situation in life. 
 
Keep your conscience clear 
 
If you are honest to your job, you grow well professionally. Similarly, being honest in life is extremely important because that is what will help you grow as a person. At the end of the day, be it in a job or any other aspect of life, if you keep your conscience clear, you can enjoy peaceful slumber. 
 
Don’t take anything for granted 
 
This is probably one of the most important lessons that one can learn from a job. Look around and you will see many people who were laid off. Sad it may sound, just like a job, nothing is permanent in life and one cannot take it for granted. 
 
Keep your expectations low 
 
You don’t expect your colleagues and other people around you to be telepathic to your work needs. Similarly, don’t expect your family and friends to be telepathic to you needs. Ask what you need. And in both cases, you have to keep your expectations low. Simple! 
 
Bid adieu 
 
One often bids adieu to a job when it stops contributing to the professional growth. Apply the same logic in life. If there are things that don’t help you grow, you know it’s time to say bye-bye to them.

5 life lessons to learn from your job

There’s a lot to learn from <keyword id="4673997" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tom-siebel">Tom Siebel</keyword>’s personal and professional life. Founder of C3 IoT, Siebel was gorged by an elephant in Tanzania and underwent 19 surgeries to be able to fully walk again. Siebel founded <keyword id="1393968" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Siebel-Systems">Siebel Systems</keyword> in 1993 and sold it to Oracle for $5.8 billion in 2006. In 2009, he founded C3 IoT, an IoT platform and applications company. Soon after he founded the company, Siebel was gored by an elephant. But, this incident did not stop Siebel from inventing. In the Fortt Knox Podcast: rich ideas, powerful people, Siebel said one should always keep moving. During the podcast, Siebel said he had 19 reconstructive surgeries and relied on an electric wheelchair to get around. He kept looking for a doctor who could help him to make real progress. "I would go visit physicians, and they would explain that they're going to have to remove my leg, and I'd say OK, you're fired,” he said. After all the search, he called the maker of the device that was holding his leg together and went to a doctor who had experience in installing it. There are multiple lessons to be learnt from Siebel’s life. Here are 3 most important takeaways from his podcast:

This billionaire entrepreneur shares 3 advices on how to keep inventing

After a rather disappointing Batman vs. Superman, and the hype around <keyword id="390601" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="suicide-squad">Suicide Squad</keyword>, I had high hopes from the movie. With characters never seen on screen before, this rather unique Hollywood flick is about super-villains, and not law-abiding citizens. 
 
SPOILERS ALERT! 
 
The world’s most dangerous criminals are brought together to build Taskforce X – a suicide squad. Think of French Foreign Legion on steroids. I only enjoyed Will Smith’s Deadshot and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. 
 That said, here are the top 4 leadership <keyword id="3551632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="lessons-from-suicide-squad">lessons from Suicide Squad</keyword>, the movie. 
 
<a href="https://images2.alphacoders.com/705/705679.jpg">Image Source</a>

4 Startup Lessons from Suicide Squad

<ul><li>As the year draws to a close, it is important to pause and reflect.</li><li>We speak to industry leaders about the year gone by and a few lessons they learnt from 2021.</li></ul>It was during the peak of the pandemic in 2020 when doctors across the world were still trying to figure out what the novel Coronavirus is, I lost my grandmother. Shortly after, my father tested positive for the virus. His oxygen dropped to 78 mm. We struggled to find a bed for him and found a hospital 50 kms away. He was still mourning the loss of his mother, fighting a deadly virus, struggling to form sentences but he had a huge smile on his face when I taught him how to video call on WhatsApp. He was there for two weeks but those weeks definitely felt like a decade to me. I had the nurse's number on my speed dial, I called her first thing in the morning to ask, "How is my father breathing today? Has his oxygen picked up?" She would respond patiently, "Yes, we are doing our best." To escape from this, I buried myself in work, binge-watched violent movies to numb the pain I was actually feeling. After we heard the news that he is coming back, we decorated the house. I put up some fairy lights, made a rangoli, bought his favourite sweets -- Kaju Katli. After all, we were welcoming Ram back into his home right before Diwali. It took me a while to process the horrendous month that I had spent. Thankfully, I had a very supportive team at work. I remember texting my editor a week later, "I will be submitting my story late today, I am too anxious and panicked." She responded, "Sure, take your time, Karuna." So, if 2020 was about self-isolation, making sure our older family members stay safe and prioritizing their physical health, 2021 taught me the importance of mental health. After months of working from home -- away from our loved ones, seeing the country battle a deadly virus and our medical industry getting crippled, 2021 was all about healing from the storm. It was about finding comfort in little wins and reminding ourselves that we are all in this together. Change can be scary, sure, and not knowing what the future holds is scarier, but resilience is stronger. As we enter a new year with a lot of uncertainty yet again because no one knows what variants COVID-19 will throw at us, it is important to remember that we have survived the worst. By now, we know what works and what doesn’t. The impact of 2020 and 2021 will be felt next year too but remember to take care of yourself first if you want to be able to show up for other people too. And most importantly, double mask up, people! Here's what our industry experts learnt from the rollercoaster year that 2021 turned out to be: <keyword id="1193084" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rana-barua" source="Orion">Rana Barua</keyword>, Group CEO, <keyword id="7001513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="havas-group-india" source="Orion">Havas Group India</keyword>: <div type="image" title="Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India" msid="88587279" hostid="261"></div> The pandemic has completely altered our perspective of what the future should be. CEOs across the world have redefined their leadership skills based on this reality. If the pre-pandemic stage was all about merging the technology trends and diversity with an added edge of GenY disrupting the way of working; the post-pandemic world is now ushering in the dynamic social age. The upcoming era will be a lot about meaningful relationships within the gamut of the collective human experience, and the bedrock of this will be the trust factor. So, the one leadership lesson that I will cherish from 2021 is the greater meaning of ‘trust’. It has taken a new meaning in my life. And if we were able to sail through the last two years, it is only because I 'trusted' my teams to display unprecedented resilience and commitment. And that trust converged into amazing results. As the leader of this organization, I knew my teams 'trusted' me that I will do everything in my power to navigate them through this storm. And I must say we have a lot to be proud of as it has yielded positive and encouraging results. Dr. <keyword id="248570" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-goyal" source="Orion">Sandeep Goyal</keyword>, Managing Director, Rediffusion: The pandemic has taught me the power of resilience more than anything else. So many of us personally, and so many businesses have suffered such severe setbacks in the past few months - yet we have been patient, we have persevered, we have buffeted challenges, we have overcome. My belief is that true adversity brings out hidden reservoirs of grit, determination and ability to confront even insurmountable challenges. It is when you discover your real friends. It is when you discover your inner strengths. You also discover the power of love; power of caring; power of sharing; power of prayer. The pandemic has helped each one of us to emerge stronger. It has helped us to realise how finite life is and how we must value all that we have: our health, our happiness, our family, our friends, our relationships … even our work and livelihoods. I hope the pandemic goes away soonest. But the learnings it has bestowed stay. Challenges are a part of life and standing up to them is the true test of every human. Anil Nair- CEO, VMLY&amp;R India: For most of us, the pandemic was a bolt from the blue. It forced us indoors, changed a lot of our behaviour and also made us introspect about the fragility of our existence. For me, personally, the biggest learnings were about empathy , patience and celebrating small wins. Genuine empathy for the other, be it your spouse, neighbour, co-worker or stranger. The need to put oneself in their shoes and feel for what they might be going through in these trying times. And the patience to be able to slow down and deal with situations calmly rather than the ‘runaway’, ‘winner-takes-all’ attitude and pace that we were used to in pre-pandemic times. Lastly, to be able to celebrate ‘small wins’ and to live in the moment given the overall uncertainty that the pandemic continues to cast over us. <keyword id="3609466" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aditya-kanthy" source="Orion">Aditya Kanthy</keyword>, CEO and MD, DDB Mudra Group: The one thing I have missed most and will try not to take for granted ever again is the simple pure joy of meeting people. Like really meeting them. Not on a call, not on a computer, not as a block on the calendar. So much of the fun at work came from being together in the same space. The banter. The unplanned conversations. The energy. So much of the learning and inspiration as well. We lost something elemental and beautiful. I want that back. I miss it. Equally, I learnt how much more we need to do to listen to each other more deeply. The stuff we read off each other, the non-verbal cues. The comfort of a safe environment where one can be heard without judgement. That was gone. There’s also the realization that, perhaps, the old ways were inadequate. When we’re back together, we need to design ways without assuming that everyone is comfortable expressing themselves in the same way. We need to do more to create that space. This is what I have missed and what I have learnt. My hope is to enjoy coming back together again in 2022 and doing so in a way where each of us can be heard. Ashish Khazanchi, Managing Partner, Enormous: The pandemic was a true test of character of people, teams and organisations. While there certainly was a big drop in businesses and toplines, what was at stake was organisations' humanity. People in organisations everywhere dealt with the kind of uncertainty they never were faced before. Uncertainty of livelihoods, careers and sanity amidst surmounting work pressures. The better organisations, in my opinion, made sure that their people were taken care of at least as much as their businesses. When the specter of lockdowns was a little bit behind us, we saw a simple trend both in terms of people and companies. The ones with initiative thrived even in the midst of a terrible external situation. Anyone who did not take easy ways out, like the typical bottomline managers do, by cutting costs rather than working on newer avenues of organisational growth, are going to be the true hero companies of tomorrow. They've tasted success and now when the tides are turning, they're going to be unputdownable. 2022 will see business return to near normal, I would predict the number of pitches to go through the roof from about March. The ones with the best people and processes and creative products, will win 2022 by a mile. Ramanuj Shastry- Director and Co-founder, Infectious Advertising: <div type="image" title="Ramanuj" msid="88597292" hostid="261"></div> 1. Compassion is everything- Never forget we are a people’s business. Always remember that everyone today is under a lot of stress. A kind word and a patient ear will take you far. 2. Treat everyone as adults - Remote working is only possible when all team members behave like mature adults - fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. Treat everyone as adults - delegate, do not micro-manage and don’t breathe down their necks. They will surprise you pleasantly. 3. Hire Talent from everywhere - We are no longer slaves to geography. Celebrate this new-found freedom by hiring talent from literally anywhere. It will add new voices and new perspectives to your narrative. 4. Be nimble and effective - Clients value these two qualities in tough times. Don’t waste their time and their money. They will stick by you through thick and thin. 5. Spend most of your energy on culture - The culture is the unquantifiable ‘Everything’ - the life force of an organisation. Culture is the ethos - the unsaid but universally accepted codes of what’s ‘done’ and what’s ‘not done.' The culture of your company should take most of your time. And it’s more than worth it. 5 things I learnt as a person: 1. Reinvest in relationships- It took a pandemic for me to take a long, hard look at my relationship. And I realised that I have taken a lot for granted. Money won’t buy you your loved ones. Spend time with them. 2. Take care of yourself - Eat well, exercise and sleep for eight hours. You will enjoy life a lot more if you are fit. 3. Be kind to yourself- I am less critical of myself today than I was in 2019. I am comfortable in my skin and happy where I am. Could I have done better? I don’t know. And I don’t care. 4. Invest in yourself - Learn a new skill. Learn a new language. Take up new hobbies. Add new facets to your personality. Reinvent yourself. Be interesting. 5. Practice Gratitude - You are on a piece of rock whipping around a burning star at nearly 40 times the speed of a bullet. Appreciate the miracle . Be thankful for just being alive. Varun Duggirala - Content Creator, Podcaster, an Entrepreneur and the Co-Founder - The Glitch: If 2020 was about survival, 2021 was about reflection and revival. We've all reflected on the time that has passed and moved towards the time that will come. Because there cannot be a return to business as usual, but rather a move towards understanding how we need to change how we operate as professionals, businesses, leaders and human beings as we work towards a world that understands its new reality. We're all on a path of accelerated change in every aspect of our work and life. This rapid pace requires us all to understand the status quo with total clarity before we take each step (even though each step seems to bring with it a whole new set of changes). 2021 has given us many a moment to take a pause and reflect (something we should all do more often) and drive towards a better future.

Lessons 2021 taught our advertising leaders

<keyword id="3660" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dalai-Lama">Dalai Lama</keyword> has been the symbol of simplicity, happiness and peace to the whole world. His smile has uplifted the spirits of the disheartnened, his eyes have shown the way to the lost ones and his words have led the path to <keyword id="427561" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="world-peace">world peace</keyword>. His life tells the tale of torture and courage. 
 
One cannot learn enough from this great symbol of peace and harmony. Here are some timeless life lessons from the great monk's life. 
 
(Image credits: Curejoy)

Leadership lessons from the life of Dalai Lama

It’s hard to believe that movies about mafia bosses and gangsters that are usually about massive bloodshed and over the top drama can provide any kind of positive life lessons but ‘<keyword id="170918" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="godfather">Godfather</keyword>’ is not just another mafia film, it’s a legendary gangster saga we have all come to love and it is in fact loaded with endless life lessons on how to handle almost every tricky situation you may encounter at work or home. There’s a reason why the protagonist of the movie <keyword id="4186925" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="don-vito-corleone">Don Vito Corleone</keyword>’s words have found place on innumerable posters that the fans can’t get enough of. Let’s look at a few instances from the life of Don Corleone to learn some significant life lessons, starting with the moment when he reminded us what a great leader means and how can one lead an empire: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer Movie scene - This was what Don Vito Corleone had taught to Michael Corleone in their old mansion which was taken over by Pete Clemenza and Frank Pentangelli. Michael had said to Frank,"I've learnt many things from my father in this room. He told me keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/8E7Y8yi8pGdxe">via GIPHY</a> The devil is always in the details. Always keep a watchful eye on your enemies and play life’s “game of chess” with precision, dedication, and tact. Always hold your ground and never burn bridges, no matter how much you might dislike someone. Don't let anyone outside family know what you are thinking Movie scene - Even though Vito Corleone refused <keyword id="3791440" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="solozzo">Solozzo</keyword> the proposal of investing in narcotics business, his son Sonny who disapproved of his father's decision, ended up showing his frustration in front of Solozzo. The outsider saw a weakness in the Corleone family and sensed the difference in opinion among the family members. He decided to use that weakness to his advantage. <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/59ViMF8Xlaoak">via GIPHY</a> Never frivolously share your personal information/secrets with anyone you don’t fully trust, especially at workplace. It may come back as a huge disappointment to you. Make an offer nobody can refuse Movie scene - Don Vito Corleone was visited by his godson, the singer Johnny Fontane. He asked for Vito's help to secure a film role that would boost his fading career. The head of the film studio had previously refused to give Fontane the part, but Don Corleone stood by his side. His words to Johnny were - "Act like a man. I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/26h0pkvcgnFIpvU1a">via GIPHY</a> Leaders negotiate with confidence. They make their strongest and best offer in the worst times. They have deep human insight. They already know what rivals are looking for, and hence are able to put their best foot forward. A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man Movie scene - Vito asked his son Michael if he gets enough time with his family. His gesture reflected that his family was always above all for this gangster. He wanted the same for his son too. No matter how many times he tried to keep himself away from his family, the best times in his career came when his sons and his wife were beside him. He protected them while he was alive, and left behind a legacy after he died. <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/7olZK8e3NP35C">via GIPHY</a> Great leaders have always displayed compassion and love for their dear ones. History is testimony to the fact that rising up the ladder professionally while ignoring your family can never bring you real success. Regardless of the circumstances you may face at your workplace, family should never take a backseat. Establish friendships out of respect, business, and trust Movie scene - Take a moment to read Don Corleone words - “Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.” <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/X41ww4YUwvG5q">via GIPHY</a> You cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends. The friends you have around you (professionally or in your social circle) will help influence who you are becoming every day. So, surround yourself with people who embody the qualities you value. Most importantly, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Not once did Don Corleone look back on any decision he made. He may have failed, but he never lost faith in himself and in his ability to overturn circumstances which were not in his favour. When in self-doubt, remember his words - If you doubt your power, you give more power to your doubt... (Image credit: Tumblr)

Leadership lessons from the movie Godfather

After raising funds for two startups – Freeallmedia.com and Playallgood.com – Jordan Glatt has amassed a treasure trove of best practices, among them, the importance of communicating your passion. 
 “Like all of us in life, investors don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” says Glatt, who joined <keyword id="852310" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="YPO">YPO</keyword> in 1994. He shares five tips to help position you for success during the fundraising process. 
 
1. The Story Matters 
Investors want to know the genesis of the idea, how you got involved and why. It is during the telling of the story that the investor is gaging your passion; if you are not enthused why should they be? 
 
2. Ask for Advice Not Money 
Initial meetings with investors are easier if you engage them based on their knowledge and not simply as a checkbook. In my experience, when you ask for advice, you get money and when you ask for money, you get advice. 
 
3. The Company You Keep 
Your first investor is your most important. The better their reputation and track record the easier it is to attract other investors. No one wants to be alone in a deal; investors want to feel like part of the club. 
 
4. Temper Expectations 
If there was ever a time not to over-estimate success, this would be it. You can have a perfectly successful start-up but when expectations are missed, everyone’s attitude towards the deal begins to sour. It is more fun to beat the plan than to miss the plan. 
 
5. Communication is Key 
Be careful to not just send the good news; an honest appraisal of the good and bad will gain credibility. Every investor knows success is never a straight line, so don’t claim it is. Instead, explain how you have dealt with the challenges you’re facing and remember that most investors are investing in management first, ideas second. 
 
This article was brought to you by YPO’s Deal Network 
 
(YPO is a global community of chief executives dedicated to becoming Better Leaders through Lifelong Learning and Idea ExchangeTM. The YPO platform provides more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.ypo.org.)

5 key fundraising lessons

At a time when the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ecommerce">e-commerce</a> and IT industries are reaching heights at lightning pace, young entrepreneurs with great business acumen need a platform where they can compare notes and egg each other on to do better. 
 
Such platform was provided by TiE Mumbai’s ‘Smashup’, which captured the pulse of new generation <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=startups">startups</a>. 
 
The IIT Bombay campus, the venue of the event, was buzzing with new ideas and refreshed zeal as the event saw over 900 attendees with 11 of India's most successful names in among entrepreneurs, multiple accelators, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=venture+capitalists">VCs</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=angel+investors">angel investors</a> since last 5 years. 
 
There were no big VCs making tiring speeches nor there was any suited-booted crowd. The audience heard plenty of startup tales​, experiences and lessons​ from​ some of​ the most successful startup founders in the city, with rapt attention. 
 One of the major highlights of the event was ‘first 365 days of an <keyword id="6359301" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Entrepreneur">entrepreneur</keyword>’. First one year of any startup decides the life of an entrepreneur. 
 
The panel called up <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=entrepreneur">entrepreneurs</a> who had successfully passed first 365 days in their <keyword id="6362513" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Startups">startups</keyword>. From experiences and insights, we have zeroed on 10 things that are important for startups. Take a look 
 
Building perception 
During the first year, business analysts rule that three out of 10 startups expire, never to be revived. And if the first 365 days don’t have smart learners leveraging on the lessons learnt, half of those startups eventually bite the dust. 
 
Brand value 
Fix your brand and platform with clarity. Do you want to be in the virtual world of internet, or ride the mobile wave and be an app? Most of the successful startups have been through umpteen iterations and phases of correction and have survived the test of time and volatile business atmosphere. 
 
Hire fast, fire fast 
Like MyDentist founder Vikram Vora says, it is time to “Build the right perception, know your audience, hire fast, fire fast.” 
Time is crucial, but so is the collective spirit and sharing similar passion. If someone in the team is not working and meeting the desired expectations, part ways immediately. It may leave you with a smaller team and result in overburdening. Do it now, and thank yourself later. 
 
Analyse-learn-analyse-set it right 
The initial 12 months is that magical time when you are going through phases of self-doubts, learning and steering ahead; all happening at once. Make sure to take some time out to analyse where you are headed, and set the mast in that direction. Not reading vital signs through this phase can be hazardous for the business. 
 
Read data, learn fast 
Learn from other people’s mistakes. But, remember, you need to apply them only after understanding its relevance to your business. 
Aseem Khare, the founder of TaskBob, says data is god. “You should be extremely data focused. Real life learning from experienced entrepreneurs help more than reading books. For a considerable amount of time, the work should be much more than you can handle.” 
 
Factor in problems 
Anyone who has ‘been there and done that’ knows that problems crop up at regular intervals and at most challenging times. Have Plan B ready, but also factor in some problems so that you ‘fight’ them well ahead of time. 
 
Lean isn’t mean 
When you are doing business with people from different walks of life, it is better not to reveal all your secrets. Cut the losses. Forget cheap clients. Build a lean product to save time and resources till you seal the deal. 
 
Sachin Bhatia of Truly Madly has a very valuable suggestion. He says “Be ready to sell your ideas to stakeholders efficiently and convince them. Go out, connect with the masses and figure how to make business viable.” 
 
Control expenses 
Thinking big doesn’t mean spending big. Keep expenses down till you get someone to invest and grow big. Startup time isn’t about partying harder every weekend. Pay decent salaries and keep the fire burning till you can have your period of glory. 
 
Be your own salesman 
Hold on to your dreams and live them every moment of your life, till you see them getting to a space where they were meant to be. When you do branding, make sure you have all the ingredients to make it a success. Follow your instincts and be your own salesman. Let the world see your passion. 
 
Live life as well 
You are not just your dream. You are a social person. Remember to cut that work related umbilical cord and socialize. It does good to your soul. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Here are 10 things that can help your startup sail in first 365 days!

Starbucks’ Howard Schultz has a communications degree, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield majored in philosophy, and YouTube’s Susan Wojcicki studied history and literature. But how did those liberal arts lessons and skills transfer to the business world? 
 We asked five successful chief executives—all members of <keyword id="852310" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="YPO">YPO</keyword> and none who were business majors—to share the leadership lessons they leveraged on their way to the top. 
 
How to Problem Solve 
 
“The arts have helped me to think in an abstract way, and my technical training has encouraged more exploratory problem-solving. These two combined were essential to solving a major safety problem in the health care space.” —Dan Daniels, founder, CEO and chairman of the board of Daniels Health; Degree in biological science 
 
How to Build a Great Team 
 
“When I’m asked about business and how I run a company without any experience, I tell them, ‘it’s not about business; it’s about people.’ When I interview (job candidates), I always ask ‘what’s your story?’ because that’s what I care about. Then I try to tie their story in with the story of the company.” —Rob Granader, CEO and founder of MarketResearch.com;Degree in English and a former journalist 
 
How to Articulate Vision 
 
“While I was unable to code my first few products myself, I was able to articulate a vision for what we were building to investors, customers and prospective team members. That skill was probably more important to my success than software engineering chops would have been.” —Charles Thornburgh, founder and CEO of Civitas Learning; Degree in political science 
 
How to be Resilient 
 
“When auditioning there are a lot of knock backs and you learn to listen, adapt, improve and try again and again. When you are performing you give 100 percent no matter what, even if you think it’s not possible.” —Emma Reynolds, founder and managing director of The Reynolds Group and a former professional dancer 
 
How to Think Outside the Box 
 
“We often use the expression ‘think outside of the box. What can be more outside the box than a philosopher managing a company? When I meet prospective clients and they learn that I’m a philosopher, it brings a smile to many faces.” —Kobi Tadmor, managing director of Turnowsky; Degree in Philosophy 
 
(The article is contributed by YPO, a global community of chief executives dedicated to becoming Better Leaders through Lifelong Learning and Idea ExchangeTM. The YPO platform provides more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.ypo.org.)

Leading From The Liberal Arts: 5 Essential Lessons

<keyword id="6494550" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dussehra">Dussehra</keyword> calls for big celebrations and is regarded to be a time to take a fresh perspective of life and marks the beginning of new things. As you spruce up for Dussehra puja this year, how about looking at your <keyword id="103937" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="finances">finances</keyword> in a whole new way? In fact, Dussehra has some precious <keyword id="2510823" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-lessons">financial lessons</keyword> that you can implement to have a better grip on your finances and plan for a better future. 
 Here are four <keyword id="25456" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-planning">financial planning</keyword> lessons that you can learn from the festival of Dussera. 
 
Cast away your bad <keyword id="44647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt">debt</keyword> 
Dussehra is a festival that marks the victory of good over evil. And in finances, debts are considered evil. Win over this evil. If you have too much of credit card debt and are perilously close to reaching your credit limit, focus all your energies towards the repayment of this kind of debt. This is a debt of the worst sort and can be the real enemy of a financial plan. Not only is it a high cost debt, as you pay a steep rate of interest on it, it will also impact your credit score negatively over the longer term. 
 
Lead a life of financial self discipline 
Lord Rama advocated a life of “Dharma” meaning one has to be upright and responsible in life. The same principles are applicable to your finances as well. If you are an important earning member of your family, you must apply financial discipline in a manner that you take care of your family’s needs not just at present but in the future as well. 
 
This means, you need to save wisely. Just like Lord Rama, didn’t deter in living a life of frugality when it was required of him, you too must learn to live in less than you earn. This will help you save enough for future needs, like education of your children, health and other emergencies, and most importantly have a comfortable and stress-free retirement. 
 
Protect your finances 
Dussera is a time when the Hindu faith is renewed in the divine promise that whenever there is evil prevailing on earth, a saviour will be born to protect humanity. You too should take a cue from this message and learn to protect your finances. By protection, we mean, you should have enough life, health and asset insurance. Mostly, people get so caught up in growing their portfolio that they keep insurance the minimum. On the contrary, it should be the other way around. You should first assess insurance needs of your family and then invest the surplus in other instruments to maximize your gains. 
 
It’s a time for new beginnings 
Dussera also signifies doing away with the old and getting a new lease of life. Apply this principle to your finances as well. If you don’t have a proper financial plan chalked out according to the short-term and long-term financial goals you have in life, there isn’t a better time to begin! 
Dussera is a time of joy and hope, so make this Dussera an occasion of immense joy as you vow to approach your finances from a new and fresh perspective. 
 
Rajiv Raj is the Director and Co-Founder of <a href="http://www.creditvidya.com/">www.creditvidya.com</a>

Four Financial Panning Lessons That Dussehra Brings Forth

‘For the one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for the one who has failed to do so; his very mind will be his greatest enemy.’ 
 This is one of the powerful statement <keyword id="3198" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lord-Krishna">Lord Krishna</keyword> said while sharing teaching of <keyword id="3038102" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shrimad-Bhagavad-Gita">Shrimad Bhagavad Gita</keyword> to <keyword id="6359315" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="arjuna">Arjuna</keyword>. Interestingly, this statement which was relevant then makes a lot of sense even today. The only difference is that the lessons of this preaching must be picked up by young <keyword id="53533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="entrepreneurs">entrepreneurs</keyword>, who we see as<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Thinkers/Thinkers-50-Devdutt-Pattanaik-asks-why-bother-with-a-very-Indian-approach-to-management/articleshow/47083915.cms"> today’s Arjuna</a>. On the eve of Janamashhtami, which marks the birthday of Lord Krishna, today, we bring to you few <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Decline-of-the-Mughalrule-Lessons-modern-businesses-can-learn/articleshow/48268765.cms">lessons</a> that young <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/5-Important-Lessons-Learned-In-20-Years-As-An-Entrepreneur/articleshow/45706914.cms">entrepreneurs </a>can learn from him.

5 skills young entrepreneurs can learn from Lord Krishna

Unless you are a hermit who keeps away from the social media bandwagon or have been living under a rock these past couple of months, it’s unlikely that you have missed the videos of countless people across the world dumping ice cold water over their heads in the name of <keyword id="2510822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="ALSIceBucketChallenge">#ALSIceBucketChallenge</keyword>. Whether you are compassionate about this cause yourself, or are one of those who abhors the idea of wasting water in the name of charity, there are some fantastic <keyword id="2510823" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="financial-lessons">financial lessons</keyword> from this unique challenge, which you can apply to your financial portfolio for better gains. 
 The ALS <keyword id="2478614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="ice-bucket">Ice Bucket</keyword> Challenge is perhaps the most successful Internet memes of our times, which has created awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease that damages the ability of the brain to control muscle movement in the human body and ultimately leads to one’s death. 
 
One cannot deny the fact that the #ALSIceBucketChallenge has been a great leveller, bringing the likes of ex-presidents, high-profile business owners, movie stars and commoners on the same page. Thanks to this Internet sensation, the ALS Association received a staggering amount of $100 million by way of donations and that may, in the days to come, result in groundbreaking research that can arrest the progress of this disease. 
 
If you are scoffing by now, thinking that this is a far-fetched possibility, and the #ALSIceBucketChallenge was more an exercise in vanity than charity, we still have a compelling reason for you to read on. You can actually take four valuable lessons from this unique challenge that will enhance your portfolio gains. So here goes: 
 
Keep it simple 
The main reason why the ice bucket challenge worked was that it was incredibly simple to understand. If you were nominated by a friend to take the ice bucket challenge, all you had to do was to take a bucket of ice water and dump it over your head on camera, pledge a small donation to the ALS organisation and post the video on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag. 
 Alternatively, if you declined the invitation, you had to make a donation of $100 to the organisation mandatorily. If you took the challenge, you could nominate three other people to follow suit. Likewise, when it comes to making <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword>, make a deliberate attempt to keep it simple. Don’t invest in products that are either too complex in structure or are incomprehensible to you. Apply the basic rules of diversification of simple products across asset classes to your portfolio and you are pretty much sorted. 
 
Strike when the iron is hot 
Even if you have not participated in the challenge yourself, you are likely to have seen numerous friends, acquaintances and celebrities participating in this challenge and grabbing eyeballs. Similarly, many times the macroeconomic conditions present opportunities in the market. While it is not always advisable to flow with the tide, as a prudent investor, you should not let such opportunities pass. When conditions are apt, you may either grab some low-hanging fruit or book profits in an investment, and deploy the funds elsewhere for better gains. If you are a silent spectator, you may just miss the bus. 
 
Keep your eyes on the goal 
At the heart of the ice bucket challenge, however quirky it might have been, lay a very important issue – it was about creating awareness about a fatal disease and make contributions towards an organization that is dedicated towards its research. Likewise, whatever actions you take, you should never lose sight of the financial goals you have set for yourself. You may have to review your plan time and again, depending upon your circumstances in life or the change in economic conditions, but all your actions should be directed towards meeting the short, medium term and long term financial goals you have set for yourself. 
 
Do not imitate blindly without judging the consequences 
The ice bucket challenge faced severe criticism for having wasted tonnes of water where there are teeming millions in underprivileged countries, who do not have access to a bottle of clean drinking water in a day. To avoid such situations, people used bath water in their bathtubs or used water that could be reused in the garden to water their plants or like Matt Damon, who claims he is committed towards saving drinking water, went to the extent of using toilet water to perform this challenge! 
 
While you do not have to go to such extents and are grossed out by the idea, the lesson to be learnt here is not to imitate the actions of others just to be a part of the bandwagon. As much as much you need to make the most of market opportunities as we pointed out earlier, you need not do just as others are doing. You may not need to make as big a profit booking that some of your friends may be doing and making small tweaks to your portfolio may just be good enough for you. At the end of the day, each person’s life goals are different so no ‘one size fits all’ approach is going to work. 
 
So, as you can see, the #ALSIceBucketChallenge while it was for a worthy cause and has provided some hope for ALS victims, it has also given us important lessons on how to handle our financial portfolio in the wake of an opportunity. So even if you have not participated in the challenge, by taking these lessons you will surely stand to gain in the long run. 
About the author: Rajiv Raj is the director and co-founder of <a href="http://www.creditvidya.com/">www.creditvidya.com</a>

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