Self Made High Achievers (Secrets of the Success Book 3)

This book has been written for executives, corporate leaders, consultants and students.
The aim of this book is to once again to underline the fact that it is not necessary to be born to great wealth or to have attended the right schools or had the right connections to be a success. The requirement is hard work, the right attitude, integrity and a belief in oneself. This book, as has the two others before this – Achievers in the World of Finance and Corporate Leaders - has been written in the hope that students, executives and others will be inspired by these ordinary persons who have been able to leave behind their footprints on the sands of time.

During the last fifty years there have been many entrepreneurs who built their empires literally from thin air. This book is about some of these people – people who are icons in their own lifetime. They have been creators of wealth and employment. They have, in their own way and in their areas of expertise, won recognition. Yet they have never permitted success to intoxicate them. They remain approachable. They are often shy. They are not bloated by their success. They are good human beings.

The choosing of the individuals featured in this book has not been easy. We have many achievers and to choose a handful of them is difficult. The ones featured here are unique in that while they have achieved greatness, they have not forgotten their past, their beginnings or their friends. Many others have. I have also purposely not written of those one sees once in a century like Dhirubhai Ambani or Mittal or Narayanmurthy. Those featured are persons such as you who have by harnessing their energies realized their dreams.

The cord that binds those featured in this book is their values and their optimism against all odds. Each one of them compels you to want to emulate him/her. They are all leaders.

Normally, writings on business leaders centre around their achievements and their companies. These articles pontificate on various theories and eulogize their achievements. My intent in this book is to iterate that these are normal human beings, with likes and dislikes, virtues and shortcomings – persons like you and me. Therefore this book reveals a more personal, more human side to these persons - of their struggles, their passions, their management philosophies and their dreams. They give their personal opinions on things that matter. They tell you what makes them tick.

While speaking to these diverse men in diverse fields I was struck by the commonness of their thoughts. Their industries differ. They come from different backgrounds and have been influenced by different persons. Yet they are similar.
1 They were not afraid to follow their dream and do that which they are passionate about.
2 They take risks.
3 They empower people.
4 They believe in teamwork.
5 They care for people.
6 They work very hard.
7 Integrity and truth are very important to them.
8 They keep an open mind and are always in the quest for knowledge.

This vindicates that the traits to success are similar and that by emulating these individuals, success is not beyond one’s reach.
The author Raghu Palat is one of India's leading business writers. He has written over 40 books on investments, banking, communication and management skills.