Look, the clock is ticking. Life is too short. Too precious to reinvent the wheel or squander your potential.

That sentence captures the only reason you need to pick up this book.

Let me expound on this.

Each of us is unique but we are really not that different as we think (though our ego tells us we are so special). Which means that there is a ton of common career issues and that should be a huge relief. Because then you don’t need to break your head to find solutions since someone has already been through different versions of Heaven and Hell and picked up a few valuable tips along the way.

People tell me I’ve had an interesting life so far. There is the 30+ year-long career doing an unusually diverse bunch of stuff — accounting, auditing, financial analysis, industrial banking, property development, teaching, mentoring, coaching and entrepreneurship — and going all the way from lowly articled clerk to high profile Managing Director. This career growth came with its share of successes and screw-ups.

Then there are the extreme adventure gigs — I’m a high-altitude mountaineer and long-distance cyclist and I’ve nailed many peaks and also failed miserably at a few adventures.

So, I’ve had the benefit of experience.

But, experience alone means jackshit. You only get wiser if you are relentlessly curious, think deeply, can be honest with yourself and have a strong sense of humility. Yes, it’s tough but no pain no gain.

Which brings me to the crux.

The fact is that Planet Earth is overloaded with highly qualified and uber experienced folk who are rubbish in the triple wisdom — have a dim idea of who they are, can’t manage themselves well and are middling at managing others. They rose up the ranks powered by mostly technical skills but now that’s far less important. They have entered their comfort zones but what got them here most certainly won’t get them there and what will take them further are some tough behavioral changes.

I should know all these as I used to be part of that vast tribe before I saw the light. The harsh reality that I was far from the leader that my company and my people desperately needed finally sank in and that triggered a massive change in my attitude.

That’s what this book is about. Transformation.

The above may describe your story as well. In which case, well done on picking up this book. You’re curious and that’s really the first step towards being a Leader which is about acquiring the aforesaid wisdom and not just some fancy sounding title, a fat salary, a swanky office and/or a sizable budget or team.

This book has four chapters:

• Chapter 1 – ‘Knowing Yourself’ is about self-awareness and finding out the best and the worst in you. It’s the foundation for everything that follows.
• Chapter 2 – ‘Managing Yourself’ is about developing and controlling yourself emotionally and professionally. This you can do once you know yourself.
• Chapter 3 – ‘Managing Others’ is mainly on how to lead people and how not to be a jerk manager. Also, you can manage others only after you manage yourself.
• Chapter 4 – ‘Managing Transitions’ is about navigating through that confusing (but also potentially liberating) stretch when you realize that you’ve been stagnating in your comfort zone.

If you’re stuck and you’ve an open mind you will find this book relatable, practical and inspirational. You will recognize your weaknesses and your strengths as you go through the book. The book will make you confront and recognize the areas that need improvement. Overall, it will be your de facto guide to success. You may even find it a fun read.

Either way, I am keen to know how this book landed since writing is such a one-sided exercise and I’d like to hear from you (especially your stories). You can write to me at Binod.shankar@gmail.com or message me on LinkedIn and I promise not to take too long to reply.

Onwards and upwards.