Book Reviews :Business Biographies

Well, It is natural to be curious about those extra-ordinary people who manage not just tens or hundreds but literally thousands of people all over the world. Over last four months, I have specifically devoted some time to reading biographies of these people. Here are some which I would recommend strongly.

1. My Years With General Motors :Alfred P Sloan

I read this one, because Bill Gates recommended it… and rightly so! This book is all about turning a medium-sized company into a global conglomerate... and crushing competition on the way. Even though it dates back to pre-computing days, the ideas and experiences are equally useful even today.

2. Iacocca- An Autobiography : Lee Iacocca

This guy was fired from post of Vice-President by Henry Ford. He took up the reins of the bankrupt Chrysler Corp and brought it back on the track.

3. Odyssey- From Pepsi to Apple : John Sculley

He handled to extremely diverse companies with equal success, PepsiCo and Apple Computers. You get the feel of what intense competition in US industry means.

4. Made In Japan : Akio Morita

It gives a deep insight into the business logic of the Japanese people .

5. Jack - Straight from the Guts : Jack Welch

Though an auto-biography, it is entirely focussed on the author's experience as Chairman & CEO of General Electric for 20 years. Written in an unconventionally down-to-earth language, the book imparts some useful management lessons. As Welch says, there's only way... manage 10 people as best as you can, and inspire them to manage 100.

6. Business Maharajas / Business Legends :Gita Piramal

Both these books are particularly recommended because they discuss the lives of almost all the major Indian industrialists, such as Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis, Godrej, Walchand, Mafatlals and others. Marathi translations of both books are also available and are equally good.

7. Board Room : Achyut Godbole

This is the only business-biography in Marathi that I have come across. It gives brief life-histories of almost all international biz leaders, right from Rockefellers and Fords To Gates.

8. Creation of Wealth- The Tata Story: Russi Lala

This excellent book details the rise of the Tatas, right from Jamshedji Nasarwanji Tata to Ratan Tata. It focuses on the chronological buil-up of the Tata biz empire, various companies & institutions founded and the working styles of various chairmen. The book compels one to appreciate the legacy of Tatas.

9. JRD - Mee Paahilele [ Marathi ] : By D R Pendse

Mr Pendse was chief economist to JRD and his book gives an insight into the life of a legend. Marathi language needs more books of such kind. We are so fascinated by success- stories of West, that we tend to be-little or completely ignore the giants among Indians.

I am looking forward to autobiography or a biography of N R Narayan Murthy.

Then there are two more books, which are not biographies, but are written by two of most successful entrepreneurs of our time.
1. Business @ Speed of Thought : Bill Gates

It describes what Gates calls a digital nervous system, by giving examples of how a number of organizations, such as Marriott, Boeing, Dell, etc. have made successful use of it.

2. Only The Paranoid Survive : Andy Grove

It sums up my own philosophy very succinctly.... only those who are always worried about competition overtaking yourself are in a better position to tackle it successfully.

Yours,

- Gautam.

Hospital Manners

Hi,

Well, Pals, we all talk abt table manners, party manners, dressing manners, this manners , that manners. But what we need to cultivate the most is some hospital manners. Here, I have put together some points from the experience that I have had.

1. If you are not directly related to the patient, either thru family or thru office, do not visit him/her at hospital. You can always pay a visit when he/she is discharged.

2. If are a close family member, do not hesitate to ask abt financial matters. Your help might not be needed, but allow them to make the decision. Don't make their minds urself. With the costs of hospitalization today, I think it doesn’t hurt to have some extra money close-by.

3. I see no reason why one should take kids to the hospital… and infants ? oh God !

4. It is customary to take along fruits, or biscuits etc. It's a good practice. but I would suggest this : If you are visiting in morning, how abt taking a newspaper along ? and if you are visiting in evening, a magazine like "India Today" would be the right choice. I observed that a patient just doesn’t know what to do with the empty time on hand.

5. If you have any objections regarding treatment, never voice them in patient's presence. You can talk with relatives outside.

6. A hospital is not a place to flaunt ur medical expertise, unless you happen to be a doctor… and even if you are one, I think it would be better practice to talk with the patient's doc rather than with the patient.

7. We say we must keep the patient happy, make him/her smile as much as we can, etc.Yes, agreed. But some people just overdo it. The very fact that someone is hospitalized means something is wrong. I don't think that cracking jokes, roaring laughter, slapping each other on the back, showing camaraderie is a proper thing to do in a hospital. There might be other people around with serious problems.

Well, this what I can think of off-hand. I would be glad if you could add to it.

Yours,

Gautam.

Chaand Fir Niklaa ...

Hello,

Well, a couple of days back; I just couldn't get myself to sleep. So I took a chair and went out on the terrace. It was pournima and the moon was shining with its full splendour.

Looking at it, a thought came into my mind...We see only the same side of the moon, right? Then this moon must be the same sight which Shivaji Maharaj must have seen, so would have Einstein, Napoleon, Vivekanand,...

The same moon will be visible to Bill Gates and Lata Mangeshkar

…..and this is the same moon which Jayant must have seen during his life

... and this must be the same moon which will be visible from 'her' house.

All these people might be away from me in space and time, but there is one thing which makes some kind of connection between us.

The moon.

Yours,

Gautam.