MICHAEL NISTOR
Country Manager, DHL Express Oman

Go that extra mile

One of my favourite or best advice that I have been given was from one of my previous managers in DHL Express called Matt Daniels …and he mentioned once that “There is no easy way to success however hard work always pays off in the long run.” Being with DHL-Deutche-Post group over 10 years now in different countries around the Middle East and being part of the commercial department, the above line taught me the importance of discipline and consistency in our field of work. This is one of my key messages cascaded to all DHL Muscat employees… we have to continue the long lasting DHL Express legacy and always go an extra mile and fantastic results would never stop showing. 

ABDULAZIZ AL BALUSHI
CEO, Ahli Bank

Every crisis is an opportunity

Throughout my life I have been inspired by my family, friends, colleagues and competition. Learning is a never ending process in one’s life and one can learn different virtues from different people. For this reason, I have embraced many role models and many mentors, both in my career as well as in my personal life. All great advices have not only been from older and wiser heads but also from young and inspirational executives who have years of experience and feel for the market. To me, books are another important source of inspiration and insights on business challenges and opportunities. I have also been immensely benefited by attending executive management programmes. I do believe that my principles and approaches to career and life have been influenced to a great extent by many sound advices which I have received from many sources. Some of these principles that have guided me over the years and more so during the crisis period are:

 
Every crisis is an opportunity. Today’s challenge is tomorrow’s opportunity and you always come out stronger out of adverse situations. When you see an opportunity, take a stand, take risks and assume full responsibility.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but rather the action required to achieve a goal.
 
Always be prepared to take the big chance when it comes along but before you act do your own due diligence systematically and meticulously. Business decisions are all about future results; it is certainly not about the past and very little about today. To be successful, one must have a feel for the markets (knowing when things are changing and when public opinion is starting to change). I look at my role in conversion of a single product mortgage financing bank (Alliance Housing Bank) to a full fledged commercial bank (Ahli Bank) in this context. A right step at the right time.
Finally, never forget the “Big Picture” while taking decisions, whether in career or in life.

BRIAN D P BUCKLEY
General Manager & CEO, Oman LNG

Accept responsibilities with courage

The two pieces of advice I most remember were given at the beginning of my adult life and some years later as I climbed the corporate ladder. As a young adult, my father’s advice was: “Do not demand your rights, rather accept your responsibilities with courage and purpose.” Heavy words for a young person, but they did instill in me a sense of service and a willingness to accept challenges not for myself but for others. They were also wise words as, like many young men at the start of adulthood, I was in need of guidance on how to channel my passion for causes and impatience to right the world’s wrongs. My father’s advice helped me focus in my early life on learning and understanding, thinking deeply about challenges, identifying solutions and on how to persuade others to support me in their implementation. I also learned the value of mistakes and how essential it is to take responsibility for these, too – and not to blame others!

Years later I received timely advice from a Shell colleague on the transition from management to leadership: “Management is about resolving problems, leadership is about providing others with the space and courage to resolve problems.” In this transition the most difficult instinct to bring under control was my appetite for identifying and championing solutions to increasingly complex problems. I learned the importance of corporate values, of listening with respect and of supporting others find creative and effective solutions in their areas of management responsibility. I also learned that these solutions were invariably more successful through ownership than any solution I might have proposed on my own.

PAUL SHERIDAN
Managing Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte & Co, Muscat Office

Go to Oman

The best advice I have had was in 1983 from an ex-military friend of my father from Wales who, when asked if it would be sensible for me to go to Oman for my first job, post-qualification.He said: “Well I spent a number of years working as a doctor in Saudi Arabia in the 1960s. It was a tad hot but generally a helpful experience and Oman is close, and similar to Saudi so I advise you to go.” Clearly he had never been to Oman (it’s more than a “tad” hot) but I followed his advice and have never looked back. On reflection, even better advice came from a friend who advised me to marry my wife, Samiya, although if I hadn’t come to Oman in the first place I doubt we would ever have met so I’ll stick with the Welsh doctor. My career and personal life have been inextricably linked with Oman ever since. Management practices? As my partners and colleagues will tell you, I just make them up as I go along and in my view this is often the best way.

HUMAYUN KABIR
General Manager, Business Banking, NBO

Have an open mind

Keep an open mind. There are many sides to a story,’ I was given this advice ages ago by Sister Mary Frances Delaney, my O Levels English teacher. The advice was administered in the context of an essay where I failed to recognise the utterly biased viewpoint of the writer and jumped to a narrow and premature conclusion. The expected ridicule from my loving classmates ensured that her words left an indelible mark on my memory!

Trying always to keep an open mind has helped me both in my personal and business life. It has taught me to be inquisitive, analytical, reflective, and patient before reaching conclusions. I however, still have to continue reminding myself that even that particular conclusion is subject to change should new facts and information emerge. This is the hard part and I am not sure how well I succeed...

In other ways, the advice has helped me not to react to seemingly shocking news or opinions. I try and wait to get the full picture before freaking out – just kidding! Being a bit of a globe-trotter, the advice has also helped enrich my understanding and appreciation of the customs and cultures of the societies I have had the privilege to live in.

Finally, and very importantly, I feel the advice helps me take my time before I make judgements about people irrespective of the opinions of others. At work especially, when I take on a new role, my approach is to keep an open mind towards my new team and give them a fair chance to succeed before making any drastic changes. This approach flies in the face of some macho ‘shoot first ask questions later’ management theories but, honestly, I would rather listen to Sister Delaney!

RADHA MUKHERJI
Executive Director, DDB Oman

See things from their perspective

The simple advice that has influenced my way of doing things in my personal and professional life came from my mother. A calm voice of reason to an angry little girl all set to do battle on a now trivial, but then all-consuming issue. ‘What if you were on the other side?’ she asked, making me trade places and in so doing, understand a diametrically opposite perspective. In my professional life, this has been invaluable advice that I follow and pass on. All too often, we are quick to cry foul over a client injustice, but feel perfectly justified in doing the same to our suppliers. Love a pat on the back ourselves but withhold expressing appreciation. It is so easy to fire off an angry e-mail decimating someone, unmindful of the irreversible destruction our words can cause. Pausing to imagine I am the recipient instead of the sender almost always makes me hit the ‘delete’ key. It holds me back from ever using harsh words with subordinates because I know just how crushed I would feel were I at the receiving end. In day to day work, trading places helps me streamline client presentations by anticipating objections. In my personal life too, this advice has taught me not to say things I wouldn’t like said to me. It has helped my anger management, to the extent that today not many even know I have a volatile temper! There isn’t a moment in life when this simple advice isn’t applicable. I recognise that even if I occasionally fail to follow it.

MURTADHA IBRAHIM AL JAMALANI
Board Member, OMAN Reinsurance Company

Follow basic principles

Firstly, in fact. I am brought up in very religious, faithful and moderate family in Muttrah. My late mother was very particular about being disciplined – she was always ensuring that we pray on time, attend school regularly, help people and be patient. My mother was always very specific. She insisted that we spoke the truth and did not take anything without permission even if we were starving or desperate for help. Secondly, this disciplined upbringing has helped me in my career. For instance, attending school on time, helped me to value the importance of time management in my career. Even now If I am late for an appointment due to some reason, I always communicate it to the respective party.

Truthfulness has helped me to be transparent and to fulfill my promises and to deliver. Not taking or doing anything without permission has helped me to develop the habit of taking prior approval or permission, consent or getting things ratified from the authorised individual or corporate. If one sits back and looks at management practices followed by corporates i.e. companies article and memorandum of association and corporate governance, one realises that these are basic values of human life which one develops at home first before introducing them in companies.

CHANDRA LAHIRI
Group Managing Director, Muscat Hills

People come first

Ahappy, well looked-after team is far more productive and creative than an army of slaves – a fairly obvious insight but one that is rarely implemented or given more than lip-service. It was a seminar by the legendary Tom Peters that I attended some years ago that opened my eyes to the true meaning of his statement that the greatest possible resource of any corporation (or person) is a human resource. Nothing else counts, without people-power. Every inspirational company in the world is marked by the outstanding care and concern it lavishes on its human capital. People in organisations like Apple, Google, Infosys, Southwest Airlines are so obviously happy and joyful that they cannot but be highly productive and creative. Such companies are repaid for their people-care many, many times over in the consequent success of their businesses. However, it is clear that people or team orientation has to be genuine, credible and go beyond motherhood statements in corporate presentations. If a team works well together and enjoys doing what it does, it is clearly visible to customers. Exploited slaves, on the other hand, just await an opportunity to escape, and cannot be expected to deliver quality or commitment. Treating people with care and courtesy pays off even in one’s personal life – it’s a remarkably small world after all ! A prime example of a people-caring organisation locally is Muscat Hills, whose stated credo, framed on its walls, clearly lays down that its people come first. Bravo!

MAHESH RAO
General Manager, AATCO

Believe in yourself

The best dvice which I have ever got is from my father Pathmudi Shashikanth Rao. He retired as regional sales manager with Godrej & Boyce Mfrg Co Ltd and continues to have an active mind and involvement/influence in my progress. His advice has been really very simple: “Do your duty assigned to you to the best of your abilities, believe in yourself, remain humble and trust in God…your efforts will certainly be recognised or rewarded in due course”. This simple tenet is heard so often from so many other quarters as well, but frankly some or most people find it quite difficult to put this in practice in their daily work and life. I try my best to adopt this in my daily interactions with my family, friends and colleagues/sub-ordinates. It does not matter if I am fallible and fail once or few times…what is important and matters most is how I can get up the next day and try to follow the principle that day, every day being a new day!

JOAKIM KLINGEFJORD,
CEO, renna

Simplicity and clarity help results

Ten years ago, I attended a conference where the speaker concluded his session by asking the participants to reflect on what is meant by the 19th century saying “less is more.” From that day on wards, the phrase stayed with me and I considered it as my own personal mantra. It was the notion that through simplicity and clarity one can get more accomplished in less time, with less effort, and with infinite opportunities that captivated my attention. This has assisted me tremendously in my career and I have tried to execute the idea of this profound saying through our day to day work at renna, where our main focus is on the little things that matter the most to our customers.

renna’s mission revolves around simplicity, straightforwardness and transparency, enriching our customers lives through ‘sharing the moment’. Offers such as free credit, free customer care and early off peak hours with no fine print, are all the little and simple promotions that can go a long way to solidify customer satisfaction and loyalty. Here less is definitely more.

MICHAEL G W ARMSTRONG
Partner in Charge, KPMG Oman

Think Before You Act

The best advice i ever got must be the guidance that I received from my then regional boss, Mike Rake, who went on to become the global chairman of KPMG International. Whilst it relates to life in general, and I imagine has been relevant since time began, it is particularly relevant in today’s electronic modern age. It boils down to the old adage: “Think before you act” and, to bring it up to date in terms of modern technology: “Think before you press the send button on the BlackBerry”.

It is only too common in today’s world for people to expect professional advice by “return email”. I think that it is particularly important when one is under stress or is inclined to react emotionally to a given set of circumstances, then one must reflect as to whether one’s initial impulse and gut reaction is the most appropriate response. All too often the “reply” one would send following the receipt of an email that causes an emotional reaction proves to be very different in the event one “sleeps on it”. I would suggest that in 90 per cent of the time, one would heavily edit the initial response after a good night’s sleep. I think that not only is this an excellent advice in terms of one’s professional life, but in one’s personal life too – particularly when you have two teenage children!

So whilst this advice appropriately relates to the modern world of BlackBerries, it has been applicable since the beginning of time. Indeed the concept of “Seeking the facts before providing insight” underpins one of KPMG’s Global core values. I believe that following this advice has enabled me to avoid many potentially embarrassing and costly situations and, accordingly, I shall be forever grateful to Mike Rake for his casual comment which I remember to this day.

NILESH SAMANI
General Manager, OUA

Never avoid a problem, face it

Inspirations/advices are very important tools of success in personal and professional life. Everyone has a mentor or role model in their life, who motivates them to forge ahead and attain success. A person very close to my heart, my teacher, my guide to all situations, a personality I always look upon at any junction of my life has been my father. He has been the best advisor in my life. His words of wisdom still linger in my heart and have left an impression in my mind.

The best piece of advice he gave me was “Never avoid a problem; face it.” Avoiding problems only delays the pain and agony but facing it at once helps you to work on it faster and better. I advice my colleagues not to have sleepless nights by carrying over problems or by trying to avoid them. I have always focused on my dad’s mantra and his words have helped me face challenges in all areas that I have worked on. As the general manager of OUA, I have often been confronted with issues, which need to be tackled with professionalism. At such times, my father’s advice and his mantra has worked miracles for me.

SHIRISH M GUPTE
Managing Director & CEO, Integration Capital & Trade

Test and question assumptions

Trust your instincts and trust your partners and team mates – this was the advice that I got from my gurus. I have always been instinctive in decision-making both in my career and life. I have never wasted time in glancing back before doing anything and have trusted my partners and my team and that trust has always been justified. My boss at Kirloskar Brothers told me once to test and question all assumptions. I try to dig deep into what I am working on and try to instil the same habit in my colleagues. This is very important in the business environment of today where one does come across a lot of half baked proposals. We follow the practice of team meetings and debriefing so that the entire team knows what is happening and where we are heading. The responsibility and authority levels are clear to all and generally decisions are not interfered with. This has led to the feeling of ownership amongst everyone and eventually we hope to transform this feeling into actual stakeholding. A farewell memento given to me from my team at Kirloskar Brothers reads – take a risk, take a chance, learn to fly, learn to soar. This gave me the added strength to take on certain risks in my career. My parents always told me to give your best and keep working hard, results and success will follow. I have always been known to be a very diligent and hard worker even in the most trying circumstances and more often than not it has paid dividends. My wife tells me to be humble and give credit to the team. I have been working on being humble and encouraging my team mates.

SALEM ISMAILY
CEO, OCIPED

Mutual consultation is vital

The following verse from the Holy Quran was the most influential element on how I conduct my affairs as a manager. Those “who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation (shura)” Quran, (42:38). Furthermore the book of Michael H Hart that ranked the Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him) as the most influential person in the history of the world made me eager to know the reason of his choice.

Active as a social reformer, diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator, legislator, and military leader, what kind of leadership style did he use? Will it be still valid today? Those were the questions in my mind that made me embark on a jihad for knowledge on leadership. I then decided to conduct a research on corporate culture and leadership styles in Oman by investigating over 800 successful business executives on how they conduct their businesses. To my surprise over 75 per cent of them use leadership style by consultation (Shura). Shura is essentially a parallel to the democratic principle of management style, having analogous aspects and about the same tendency and direction. It is based on three basic precepts. First, that all persons in any given society are equal in human and civil rights. Second, public issues are best decided by the majority and therefore management by consultation ensures inclusion of all concerned. And third, that the three other principles of justice, equality and human dignity, which constitute Islam’s moral core, and from which all Islamic conceptions of human and civil rights is derived, are best realised, in personal as well as public life, under shura governance. This process guarantees inclusion of all involved and reduces the risk of opposition. However the process can be time consuming.

MOHAMMAD AL FAREI
General Manager, Zeenah Group

Focus on one thing at a time

Over the years I have benefited from a lot of great advice. The best advice my parents ever gave me was to go to college. Considering that I was not keen to pursue my further education and I wanted to drop out, this was not the easiest advice to follow.

And the best career advice I ever received was from my mentor H E Mohammad al Zubair in the summer of 1997. He convinced me to pursue my career in the private sector at a time when I was offered a full time and well paid opportunity with one of the government organisations. I was very unsure about dropping what many Omanis would consider the opportunity of a lifetime and continue my career in the private sector, especially with the majority of the advice I received from family and friends was to take up the government post! But I took the advice of His Excellency and it was a decision I have never regretted. Making that decision has given me the opportunity to meet and work with great-minded people whom I owe so much for sharing their experience and wise advice.

The best business advice was also something my mentor taught me – and that is to do one thing at a time and focus and fight off the temptation to be distracted. This is by far the best advice I have learned and has proven to be highly successful in planning both personal and business objectives, by knowing exactly where you want to go and focusing on it.

NABEEL JAWAD SULTAN
Director, Jawad Sultan Enterprises

Create a solid foundation

You must create a solid foundation for the downside risk, at the same time aim to achieve better than the best.” This advice was from my financial management professor at the University of San Diego. I later realised how profound this advice was as I progressed in my career and got into the ‘real world’ after my academic education. Though this advice was given in the context of investment and financial management, its application is a must for all aspects of our lives. In business, one must always look at the potential risk of a venture, investment or a project with a far greater scrutiny than looking at the reward. If the rest of the things are taken care of then the reward will always take care of itself.

Investing in the stock markets requires a detailed analysis of how the market can turnaround and head towards an opposite direction and wipe out investors. In the world of business and investments, any financial catastrophe can take place and I do not need to support this with any examples since we are living it right now. Investors with a strong foundation always survive, reward oriented investors vanish. In life, any tragedy can take place, a solid foundation means that no matter what, you will get back on your feet and continue your journey forward. Creating a solid downside foundation is one part of the coin, the other part is aiming to achieve better than the best as this is what will make you have a purpose in life and move on.

S K VIRMANI,
Managing Director, Bahwan Engineering Group

Distinguish between ambition and greed

The best advice I got when I was still very young was from my father – a medical doctor – and not a businessman. He used to tell me time and again, – “Acquire the ability of distinguishing between ambition and greed,” whenever I would insist on a particular toy or equipment or clothes and try to copy my friend or a neighbour. He was very patient while giving reasons – never stopping me from dreaming or in any manner affecting my dream. He used to say, “ambition is what is achievable with your means, balance is all greed.”

Till I was 30, I never understood its relevance in life or I rather thought my father was trying to give me a lecture as his own personal economy had limitations. I learnt it the hard way. The Indian Company viz Voltas (TATA Group) for which I was working till 1977 before coming to Oman came out with an instalment scheme for window air conditioners for its employees. I thought “great – I can afford to pay the instalment while I sleep in comfort.” Within three months my wife started complaining that my salary finished by the 20th of every month! I had not calculated, foolishly or due to blindness created by my greed, that I had to pay electricity bills to afford the comfort! I had to sell off the air conditioner owing to the electricity bills. I had entered greed zone! The border line between ‘ambition’ and crossing into greed zone varies from person to person, family to family, company to company and even country to country. The advice has helped me immensely in my personal life, family life and in leading the company.

Every individual gets a message – if he or she is prepared to listen to the inner voice or feeling or what some call the sixth sense or the third eye – as and when one is entering the greed zone. Applying this principle all-round, our company has grown from a mere 14 people to 10,000 plus – with unparalleled diversification in 33 years – always improving our performance. According to me Oman is following this principle in implementing its own ambitions for the country without copying anyone or entering into greed zone.

My father is 92 years old and still serving his patients every day. He does not run the air conditioner I provided for his bedroom in Delhi – we can afford it economically, but he says he shall remain healthy without one! That gave me another example, that ‘ambition and greed’ principle can be applied outside of economic examples. ‘Health is wealth’ and he never entered greed zone to destroy his health!

JOHNNY OOMMEN
Head of Operations, BMW / MINI / Rolls-Royce, Al Jenaibi International Automobiles

Excel at what you choose to do

The best advice that I ever received was from my father, T K Oommen, an accomplished sociologist, who told me during my early days of schooling: “Feel free to choose what you want to do in life, but excel at it. And for this, you must love what you do.” He is himself a fine example of this, given that he emerged from an extremely modest background to scale enormous heights in his profession, so much so that not only has he been awarded numerous times for excellence in the field of social sciences, but also received one of the highest honours from the government of India, the Padma Bhushan in 2008 for his contribution in the field of education.

Even though I was unable to appreciate the full import of his words at the time, today I truly believe that to have obtained at a young age the distilled wisdom that only age and experience can give you, was a truly wonderful gift. The truth, though, is that I did not heed his advice initially, as is illustrated by the fact that I chose to dabble in various professions (journalism, advertising, entertainment, etc.) before settling down in the automobile business (where I have been only for a little over a decade). This piece of advice has taught me to really differentiate between what one loves to do as opposed to taking up what might be in vogue or succumbing to peer pressure, more remuneration, and so on. In my present role, my endeavour has been to place the “right” people in the right job not just because of their skill set, but to also understand what drives them and how enthusiastic they are in doing that job, so that today I believe we have a team that is mostly comprised of people who love doing what they do.

M K JANAKI RAMAN
General Manager, Bahwan IT

Control costs

Advices are available for free but only valuable advice makes a difference in life. I should refer to two very important advices in received in my life. One is from my father and the other is from my wife. My father, late Kasiviswanathan, was a businessman and had several decades of experience in a variety of businesses. I have participated in his business and have had occasions to be with him and learn from his experience. His outstanding advice to me was – in business you should learn to control the purchase price and expenses. If we can control and reduce these two we can be successful in business as the rest is not controllable by us. In today’s market scenario it is the customer who controls the selling price. With stiff competition around we will never get to enjoy a decent margin and this situation is used by customers. Hence if we need to succeed in business and keep our heads above water, a control on purchase price and expenses is mandatory. This will determine the success or fall of an enterprise. This advice has come in handy and I have managed to increase bottomline with this principle. My wife J Suganthi is a social worker and she advices me to treat others as I would like them to treat me. This is very valid. Sometimes before I react or respond to a situation I imagine for a while on the planned response as if the other person is responding to me. Such a thought has helped me balance my actions and be a successful person. I am a socially active person and this advice has helped me win many well wishers in both my professional and personal life. This allows me to empathise in a situation and take an objective view of the circumstance. If we respond without giving a thought to the after effects, it could be sometimes suicidal. This proactive thought helps avoid such conditions and creates satisfying situations.

ABDULLAH AL JUFAILI
Director, Intilaaqah, Shell Development Oman

Align career with your motives

Ihave been blessed to be surrounded by people that offer relative and valuable advice throughout my life. Whether it’s in my childhood, school, college or during my career. I can’t think of one single advice being the best. As all of them in some way have made me the way I am today. However, the most recent advice that I have received was from my mentor. Allow me first to say that my view of an advice is a message intended to make positive change to the recipient. It has to be honest, relevant and timely. One can’t really sum up the advice that I have received in a single line, simply because it could be interpreted as being very general. Nevertheless, this is what he told me “Understand your motives and choose a career path that is aligned with your motives.” He requested me to read a book titled Why Did I Do That? by George New and David Cormack. I believe that understanding your own motives is very important. Not everyone is going to be a millionaire, neither a leader. Some of us may choose to be social leaders. It all boils down to what is it that keeps us interested. I have not finished reading the book, but I am sure when I do that I will have a better understanding of my personal motives and that would play a role in my next career choice.

ROSS CORMACK
CEO, Nawras

Always ask ‘what is in it’ for the customer

I am always grateful to receive advice from customers, colleagues and family members, although I would hasten to add, not all at once!

Nawras has always encouraged feedback and that often leads us to receiving advice from our customers which I assure you we sincerely welcome. Within the Nawras family we are all living the customer experience so that we can deliver the products and pleasingly different services that our customers really want. If customers feel that we could do something in a better way, I am delighted to say they don’t hesitate to tell us, giving us their advice either through our people in a Nawras Store or by talking to our customer champions or via the website. We care for customers which is why we invite this dialogue and act on the valuable information we receive.
 

ALI KHAMIS AL ALAWI
Founder & Managing Partner Al Alawi & Co, Advocates & Legal Consultants

Never give up

The best piece of advice that I ever got is to never give up. I think one has to have patience in life, lots of it, never cease to make adjustments where improvement is possible but, above all, one should never give up one’s chosen path and pursue it resiliently. I have seen many people embarking on a new idea with the hope of making it big with a snap of their hand. Experience has taught me that it is hard work that is rewarded in the long run. So if I was asked to give my best advice, then I would encourage everyone never to give up and assure them that it is only with a strong vision, unstoppable determination and sheer hard work that each of us will be successful. It is determination that has led me to realise my ambitions and I hope that my statements here push all readers to pursue their ambitions and give them the motivation, courage and resilience to overcome any obstacles they may face along the way.

PHILIP STANTON
Managing Partner, Oman, Ernst & Young

Consult your colleagues

Having thought over various advice I have received during my career, the best and most useful for me has been “Consulting your colleagues often is a strength, never a weakness”. I have often found that colleagues with less experience provide the best ideas and solutions. Here are some others which have helped me personally.

Work productively throughout the day Take care of important and urgent matters immediately when you come to work Don’t read newspapers at work, read them at home Take breaks during the course of the day especially for lunch Put aside an hour to return phone calls and e-mails Make a list at the end of the day of the most urgent matters that need to be attended the next day and leave it on your desk Let everybody in the office know your schedule, so that everyone knows when to book time Go home at a reasonable hour and try not to talk about work Some people ‘work to live’ others ‘live to work’ and I would like to believe that I am among the former

NAILESH K. KHIMJI
Director, Khimji Ramdas

Share your experiences

The Best Advice that I ever got is – Share experiences! Don’t give advice!’

This is part of the training we must undergo whilst joining a forum as a member of the EO (Entrepreneurs Organisation) or YPO (Young Presidents Organisation). What it means is that when someone approaches you with an issue or a situation, don’t undermine the person by giving advice. i.e avoid the sentence “I think you should…” Share your experiences instead, good and bad both. i.e “I (or a person I know) had a similar situation, and did (so and so) and the result was (so and so)…”

Hence the person can decide which direction he/she would like to take all the while keeping their self esteem intact!

This helps you to respect others and vice-versa…

ESSA MOHAMMED AL ZEDJALI
Chairman, Muscat Press and Publishing House

Build castles in lands far and wide

One learns many lessons in life that go on to shape the course that it takes. Some of these lessons are learnt from the advice we get from our elders, friends and well-wishers. The best advice I ever got was from my grandfather and it has served me well throughout my life. Once he told me: ‘Build castles whenever and wherever you go abroad’. What my grandfather actually meant by castle was not a building but a friend. He always considered a good friend like a castle which can help you and protect you when nothing or nobody can.

I recall an incident in 1991 when I travelled to Sweden with a close friend. Soon after reaching there we got the bad news that the mother of my friend was hospitalised. We cancelled everything and wanted to fly back home. To our horror there was no flight available till next day. Seeing our plight, a friend in that country quickly chartered a three-seater plane to make our immediate return possible. Recalling my grandfather’s advice I became convinced forever that a friend in need is a friend indeed. I got the chance to meet that friend after a long time when he recently came to Oman as part of the official delegation and felt the same warmth. I have benefited from this piece of advice from my grandfather and made friends wherever I have gone. I would like others too to do the same. After all, as Oscar Wilde once said, the best thing to do with good advice is to pass it on.

M SUDHAKAR REDDY
General Manager, Al Habib & Co

Have constancy of purpose

“In Today’s World, To Stay where you are, you have to run” by Alvin Toffler, is the best advice that I have got in life. “Change” is the word that one must adapt too in this fast moving world. No organisation or individual can sit on their laurels and expect progress. You have to change and move really fast with time, as every day you discover new things being invented and being applied in your day-to-day life.

Thus both in your organisation and in your personal life, seek changes and improvements that will make the organisation more profitable and also bring about beneficial changes in your own personal life. Inspire everyone in the organisation, family and friends to stay up-dated on all relevant matters and automatically you would be instrumental in bringing about changes for yourself and others for the betterment of people close to you. Preach the above message whole-heartedly and lead your team by setting examples, personally. Automatically your subordinates will follow as they see benefits for themselves when they adapt to changes that bring about self and organisational improvements. Personally I have improved performance by making use of the computer professionally, inspiring others to learn the very best use of the same; making known to people the mistakes I have made and the repercussions of the same, so that it is not repeated by others; to make best use of my time in my profession and spend quality time with my family; always keep your ears and eyes open to implement even small changes that improve operations and quality of life for the operators.

S SERDAR TOKTAMIS
Acting Group General Manager, Zubair Automotive Group

Take a measured approach

As a proud Turkish national I always used to demonstrate the attributes of my countrymen in business with a fearless and hot blooded approach to dealing with people that could sometimes be expressed as reacting too quickly in a short-tempered manner. I used to get very enthusiastic and perhaps too excited about issues.

So probably the best advice I ever got was from my boss when I worked in the automotive business in Saudi Arabia. He was a Malaysian, very experienced, and said that to be a better manager and business leader I needed to make changes to my attitude. What he meant was dont be confrontational and to take a more measured approach in meetings. Even if I did not agree – take my time to respond. Consider what was being said and then come back with a calmer, more measured approach to the issue and business challenge.

At the heart of his advice was to make sure I did not just react quickly – but took a more considered and proactive approach to the way I did my job. A more softer, more debating and inclusive approach to the way I worked. That is an advice that has stayed with me throughout my time in Saudi Arabia and since moving to Oman I continue to use the advice he gave me every day. His advice – and I am still in regular contact with him – steers the way I manage business today and helps in ensuring I can get the best out of the people I work with at all levels through the Zubair Automotive organisation.

CYRIL PIAIA
CEO, Muriya Tourism Development Company

Strike a work-life balance

The best advice that I ever got was from Brian G Dyson, the former president and CEO of Coca Cola. He said that in life we are all playing with five balls. These are as following -- the first one is work, the second is family, the third is health, fourth is friends and the fifth is the spirit (mind). The work ball is like a rubber band, so everytime it is thrown on the ground it bounces back. But the family, health, friends and spirit are like glass balls. While juggling them in life, if one misses any one of these they fall down and there is a chance that they may either break or get bruised. So while work is important it is equally important to take care of your family, health, friends and spirit. Work hard, but play hard too and occasionally take a break from work. Actually, they are linked to each other, if one looks after one’s family and health, it translates into more energy at work. This is an overall work-life balance that we all need to achieve. I am trying to emulate this in my life, but it is not easy. If I see people working late at night or over weekends in office, I tell them to go home and spend time with their family and relax, because if they lose their family, health or spirit then they cannot work anymore.

RICHARD P RUSSELL
Managing Director & CEO, Blue City Company 1

Practice makes you lucky

I can’t really say if this is the best advice that I ever got, but it has certainly stuck with me. One of my very first bosses told me that “If you had to choose between being “rich”, “good looking” or “lucky”… choose “lucky” every time; and then he followed with the comment “and the more practice you get the luckier you become”.

I offer this advice because I truly believe that we all need a little luck behind us to get a window of opportunity; and then we can greatly leverage that little piece of luck by being educated in our field of work to be able to know what to do when the opportunity actually presents itself. I would offer that it is necessary to learn the basics and continue to grow your knowledge from that foundation. As your knowledge increases your chance for ‘luck’ will also increase.

In the business world one needs to be practiced and prepared to position oneself to make the most of every possibility that comes thereafter to the benefit of each party. In my view, this means to be prepared for any potential outcome by being completely up-to-speed on the issue at hand. If one is as informed as possible, this knowledge can be used to find a win-win position for each party. It is complete nonsense to think that a one sided agreement is any form of agreement at all. We all have the ability to make our own breaks and this can be accomplished by being prepared. One can be prepared through experience gained from “practice”.

DAVID CRICKMORE
CEO, Amouage

Never go for short term gain

Never go for the short term gain, rather always try to see the total picture to appreciate the long term benefit and if you can’t afford to do something, wait until you can afford it. Never accept second best. My parents always taught me the value of good quality and the fact that the cheapest is not always the best. They also taught me patience which was reinforced when I worked in Japan and had to sit through many interminably long meetings seeking to bring together a consensus agreement to a knotty issue or a costly business solution. I suppose my whole career after I left law has been in luxury goods. Until today, I still remember the first merchandise director I ever encountered when I became a management trainee in Liberty of London, Mrs Pennington. To a boy straight out of law studies and practising in articles, she was a frightening, powerful, hugely knowledgeable woman who I respected for her amazing take on things. It was she who told me never to accept second best, even if it meant having to wait longer.

I therefore cannot mention one person but have to recognise all those who have influenced me throughout my career spanning 30 years to date. The message however was always the same: Wait for the best to come. It will always prove to be the better option in the long run, and ultimately even cheaper. In business, I have pursued this philosophy by not allowing expansion to run out of hand and not over stretching the business and cash flow. It would be very easy for example with Amouage now becoming widely recognised internationally to reduce the price and to pursue much higher volumes by selling to a lower tier of retail operators.

Price is often the only barrier to increasing sales in for example the USA – a potentially huge market. If I reduced the retail price by 50 per cent I could immediately win huge increases in sales volume and we would become aligned with the so-called “masstige” products like Chanel or Dior fragrances. We would increase our turnover dramatically. The volume increase would easily cope with the loss of margin and the business would probably be profitable as long as the volume held up. The problems are however that I would have to increase my capacity at the factory significantly and bring in more people to cope with the demand. Things would be great you might think. For the first two years, we would be making good sales. Cashflow would be under strain as we would have to buy so many more raw materials but we could probably cope. Staff would increase to double our current complement and we would be hailed for employing more local employees. By five years, we would see the brand elsewhere in all other markets begin to suffer as the customers who are our current loyal consumers and who believe they are buying something truly special and unique in Amouage, a true niche brand, would be sick of seeing it everywhere and worn by everyone.

In ten years, unless we could maintain the volumes by spending huge sums on global advertising campaigns, we would probably have quit the market entirely as our band would have declined to such a great extent and it would no longer be possible to rescue it and take it back up to the top end. One thing I have learnt is that it is very easy to take a brand downmarket and to chase the dollar but in the long term, it will destroy a luxury niche brand, never able to climb back up to its previous positioning.

VAIKUNTH RAMASUBRAMANIAN
Managing Director, Commercial, Saud Bahwan Group

Be humble, devoted to customers

The best advice I ever got is from Robin Sharma and my wife. Robin Sharma’s advice is professional while that from my wife is personal. Robin Sharma says, Your organisation and you are most vulnerable when you are most successful. Success actually breeds complacency, inefficiency and worst of all “arrogance”. So what should one do?

“The more successful your organisation and you become, the more humble and devoted to your customers you need to be. The more committed to efficiency and relentless improvement you need to be.” I try to the best of my ability in my corporate life to follow this and make sure that complacency and arrogance has no place in my life. In our company, we concentrate all the time on the customer’s needs and see how to fulfill his requirements in the best possible way. My wife says that as we get more and more electronically connected, we become less and less connected emotionally. Everyone wants to be connected emotionally whether he or she expresses it or not. So what should one do. To listen to someone intently is the best way to honour the person and to develop a deep and lasting human connection. This should be done with a positive mind set, high self respect, internal peace and a strong spiritual connection. When your family life is happy you will perform better at work. There is no point in being successful but sad. As my wife says, ‘Life is a celebration. So enjoy every part of it.’

NARU KESHAVJI
Jt Managing Director, Naranjee Hirjee & Co

Keep progressing till you reach your final goal

I got my best advice from my late father. He always used to say- If you want to be a good and successful businessman always maintain a low profile and continue moving upward fast without anyone noticing you.

It is not essential to mention to anyone what one is doing. Keep on progressing till you reach your final goal. This advice has stood me in good stead throughout my life.

SHABIR M AL YOUSEF
CEO, Oman Investment & Finance Co

Have a daily action plan

The best advice that I ever got is to keep a ‘Daily Action List,’ ready always and this has helped me both in my personal and professional life. I got this sound advice from my brother, Dr Mohamed Bin Musa al Yousef and I have been following it since the last six years.

“Action List” precisely refers to the “Things To Do”. Once the Action List is ready, the same can be updated every second day and can be reviewed periodically, say on a weekly basis. Also for any new thing which I remember, I make it a point to immediately enter it in my mobile phone or to call my personal assistant to include it in the “Action List”. This practice has helped me immensely in not forgetting anything, segregating ‘short term’ and ‘long term’ goals, not stressing the brain, being more focused, completing tasks within a fiven time schedule, and increasing productivity.

As soon as I joined OIFC in February 2009, I set this practice amongst the management team and I review their Action Lists on a weekly basis. Initially, there were complaints because people were not used to this practice but over the last one year, everyone has realised that this practice makes life much easier because of its benefits and it helps every one to be more focused, to prioritise things and be more target oriented.

VIRENDRA AGARWAL
CEO, Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co

Take ownership of your workplace

Istarted playing golf at a very young age, and in those days I was privileged to play with senior leaders from the industry. A close friend of mine, V K Singh, had got onto the board of Britannia Industries as an executive director at the age of 37, which in those days made him a star. The advice he gave me to build my career was “Treat your work place as if you are the owner”. A simple few words but much more profound than they appear at first glance. This has been my guiding principle for the past 25 years, and most interestingly, I have found that when I think like that, the owners actually treat me like a owner.

ABDULRAHMAN AL BUSAIDY
Group Executive Officer, Jet Airways

You never get poor by charity

The best advice I got in life was from my late beloved mother which was, “You’ll never get poorer by giving to charity.” This advice helped me in my career by making me sensitive to others and by always adopting a win-win approach, which has resulted in successful long term relationships. In my personal life, it helped me to be a better human being by sharing God’s blessings with the less fortunate; the more I shared the more God gave me. This advice made me advocate social responsibility in the companies I worked for, which resulted in my employers contributing to charitable causes.

HH SAYYID FAISAL AL SAID
COO, Brand Oman Management Unit

Do what is right and not what is easy

The best advice that I have ever got is – Do what’s right not what’s easier. While faced with a choice one is tempted to go in for the latter option, but it is essential that we resist the temptation and choose the right path. Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles he/ she has overcome while trying to succeed. Saying that something is not possible is the beginning of failure.

NAVNEET KASBEKAR
CEO, Al Kamil Power Company

Be responsible for your actions

It’s not always easy to remember all the advices one has received in one’s life time and then pick up the best. From the moment one becomes aware of his surroundings he starts getting advices on what he has to do and more importantly what he has not to do. The list of negative advices outnumbers the positive ones. I am tempted to remember the most obvious advice given by all parents to their young one of my time, i.e., ‘work hard, do your duties and the fruits of your efforts will follow’.

Nevertheless, the most important advice that I got was from my father. His advice was: never ever consult palmists or fortune tellers; instead take well-informed decisions and be responsible for your actions. Fortune tellers sap the decision-making ability of a person. The man then starts walking with crutches... a thing he does not need. He lives a miserable life of dependence. It’s not that all my decisions have scored a bull’s eye. However, in my every success and failure I see my own decision-making ability being tested and for me, this is what matters. Consequently, I never seek a fall guy. And what about a successful decision? To be proved right is a very satisfying moment, it’s sheer happiness. My father’s advice has strengthened my decision-making ability and for this I will always be indebted to him.

MOHAN R SIPPY
Managing Director, Sunrise International

Think Positive

The subject you have chosen this time needless to say will help so many in their life. I have been in the retail industry for more than two decades in Oman and in UAE. During my college days I got the following advice from my father – Think positive and be positive! Following his advice I have changed my thinking and found this not only increases one’s energy but also reduces mental strain. There are so many incidents in life when one has to face challenging situations but if one has a constructive approach one can conquer the situation.

P CHANDRASEKHR
Group General Manager, Jawad Sultan Group of Companies

Demonstrate integrity, credibility

There is nothing called as one best idea since I believe there can be no one fit for any given problem or issue. However, I greatly regard the words and pontifications of Ram Charan, the celebrated Harvard Business School professor. He says that in challenging times it is important to demonstrate personal integrity, to maintain personal credibility and to resist temptations to cut corners while carrying out unpleasant tasks like downsizing. These have been highly inspirational for me to continue my responsibilities on a day-to-day basis. Speak the truth more often. Gather information — from customers, from your customer-facing employees and from sources outside the firm. Another aspect I would like to borrow from Charan is management intensity. This can be defined as deep immersion in the business’s operational details and the day-to-day competitive climate the business is facing, along with hands-on involvement and follow-through. Times have been challenging for most of us and we too are no exception.

Given the general flux the biggest challenge is to get your numbers correct when you don’t know how your accounting period is going to end. Most of us are already talking about recovery and some of the banks and large companies have shown encouraging year-end results for 2009. But, for most of us it has been quite daunting. At Jawad Sultan Group we constantly believe in creating new avenues and assets so that these bear fruits in times to come.

VIVEK C PANDE
CEO, Life Style Group, Khimji Ramdas

Help others achieve greatness

Whilst almost everyone knows of Dr Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” very few are aware of his “The 8th Habit – From Effectiveness to Greatness”. It was a spiritual journey going through the book and I was deeply influenced by its thought process. The leadership challenge he talks of is firstly about finding your own voice and then inspiring others to find their voice and to achieve organisational greatness in the process. This is done through focus and execution. Focus embodies the modelling and pathfinding roles, whilst execution relates to the aligning and empowering roles. Pathfinding involves creating with others a common vision about your priorities and the values by which you will achieve your priorities. Execution relates to aligning goals and enabling systems for results. Releasing passion and talent, clearing the way before them and then getting out of the way – that’s empowerment. In short, the way to achieve greatness in life is to help others achieve greatness. It is such a noble and profound idea that I have been consciously working on it relentlessly in the last five-odd years. I feel it has helped me, my team-members and the organisation, I work for quite significantly and even in personal life and with friends. It is a journey without an end but one which is satisfying and rewarding.

L R RAGENDERAN
General Manager, Towell Auto Centre’s Parts division

The success principles

I was looking back to the past years in my life and in my career and tried to find a single answer to this question and honestly it was not too easy. This is mainly because there were many people who have influenced me in one way or other in different phases of my life and I have tried to follow many of the good tips that were convincing to me to see if it works for me. This would include CEOs of companies I worked or admired, few sports personalities, professional trainers, parents, and my wife and select few colleagues.

If I were to select one I would go for Jack Canfield. I had an opportunity to attend a one day seminar conducted by him in Oman and have been closely following his, “The success principles” since then. These principles are simple to follow but highly powerful and really practical. I have been using this book and similar books as a personal reference guide for the last seven years and would be happy to say that I have benefited from this in my personal life and also at my work. His principles on goal setting, building strong core team, reject rejections, taking 100 per cent responsibility, taking actions, ask–ask-ask are the ones that have really helped me.

The journey still continues and I feel that I am still learning new things and adopting what is good for me.

LUJAINA MOHSIN DARWISH
Joint Deputy Managing Director, Mohsin Haider Darwish

Utilise every opportunity

After finishing my education at Sultan Qaboos University, I started my career in the university itself. I wanted to make my mark as a successful career woman and I plunged wholeheartedly into the job. Those were still early days for me and I realised that as a women I would have to work extra hard to prove myself in this male oriented world.

It was during these days that my father sat down with me to advise me about the best way to build my future. He told me to widen my horizon and look at every possible opportunity which came my way. He asked me to leave no stone unturned in my quest for success. If we equate each stone as an opportunity then we can take a good look at it, turning it over and over to determine whether it is worth keeping, discarding or filing for the future. His advice was that if I let an opportunity slip past me someone else would find it, pick it up and succeed.

This advice has stayed with me all my life. I have learnt to focus on my objectives, making sure that no aspect is neglected or left half way through. This has enabled me to move ahead as a businesswoman who has not only attained success herself but has also supported other women to achieve recognition in life.

AJAY GANTI
CEO, Al Seeb Technical Establishment (SARCO)

Knowledge acquisition is the key

The best advice I ever got in life is from my father who always says, “I would want you to be well educated rather than being well qualified as knowledge acquisition even if it is through experience or exposure and any source would ensure a definitive growth for any individual both personally and professionally.” This advice has helped in inculcating a greed for learning giving me a distinct advantage in my career growth. I have always been prone to asking questions like “why?, how?, what? etc.” and have never succumbed to presumptions, inhibitions and reservations. Though I was not an academic person I continued to learn from the experiences and learning of knowledgeable people and the environment around me. On the personal front this advice has made me a more satisfied soul imparting a sense of satisfaction. I have been using this as a key management tool by creating a knowledge pool within the organisation so that we keep on ideating and create a universe which is beyond the competitive space. We have always tried to fight the opportunity rather than competition and have succeeded. We always try and grow to our level of incompetency so that our learning quotient is subject to pressures for continuous growth.

KRISHNA KUMAR GUPTA
CEO, AlAnwar Holdings

Stoop to conquer

The best advice that I have ever got was ‘Stoop to conquer’. This was not exactly an advice to me but was told to me in the context of how a successful industrialist advised his snotty CEO who came from the public sector. I found this was particularly relevant to me as I had also joined the private sector as a CEO of an investment bank at a young age of 40 from a public sector bank, State Bank of India (SBI). The public sector generally makes its executives rigid and arrogant as these organisations operate like semi-government departments. In my case, I had all the circumstances to make me a ‘swollen head’ as I had risen very rapidly in an institution that had enormous competition for promotions and right postings as pyramid becomes narrower as you move up the ladder. I was different from my peers even in the bank as I followed a marketing approach in pursuing my professional career though my employer was not very marketing savvy at that point in time.

I used this advice to my fullest advantage in my professional and personal life. At times, circumstances demand that you have to give-in to the demands of your clients, employees, spouse or children that seem unreasonable but it helps to get much larger gratification in future. With this advice I always keep winning the war at the end even if it requires losing a few battles.

S DURGAPRASAD
Director & CEO, Bahwan CyberTek

Be humble in success

The best advice that I ever got is from my guru and mentor Sri Mylai Guruji Sundararam Swamigal, a philosopher par excellence. “Be bold in what you stand for and humility and simplicity in success”, though this appears simple had a profound impact on the way I looked at life around me. The advice changed my outlook towards my personal and professional responsibilities.

Being bold in what one stands for, calls for the highest level of integrity in every walk of life; passion for success against all odds; and total accountability. Humility and simplicity in success, calls for keeping the feet firmly on the ground; success shared; and responsibility towards the eco system. These instilled integrity, passion, shared vision, commitment to CSR while not doing much ado about one’s achievements. I found perfect synergy with Bahwans, who are an embodiment of outstanding performance, commitment to social cause while being absolutely noble and simple.

The performance of Bahwan Cybertek (BCT) is a true reflection of our journey. BCT is among the largest software houses from the region with a workforce of more than 1,200 and solutions delivered across four continents and 20 countries.

BCT has been recognised by the Dubai government, Oracle, Red Herring, Nasscom for innovation and Deloitte for the third consecutive time.

Passion for success, belief that today’s business’s need to create to lead, led us to innovate for our stakeholders and to focus on creating value for them and the community at large.

S GOPALAN
CEO, Reem Batteries & Power Appliances Co

What cannot be cured must be endured

OER has chosen a very interesting and innovative topic for a business magazine! The best advice that I ever got was from my father, which is “What cannot be cured must be endured”. This phrase has a much deeper meaning than what is read first. It basically conveys the following:

Every problem need not have a solution.

Every problem has to be confronted and not run away from.

When you do endure a problem, you will ultimately come out with a solution.

Having been involved in the ‘turnaround of sick companies’ several times in my career, I have come across such situations quite often and have benefited immensely from the above advice. Some people, especially at senior levels hate facing problems that seemingly looks intractable and often pull up their subordinates for coming up with problems rather than solutions. This advice has however taught me to face problems and avoid brushing under the carpet of problems that appear difficult to tackle and consequently enabled me to overcome them. Even in my personal life, it has developed in me a lot of tolerance and helped in strengthening relationships.

HANS ERLINGS
CEO, Galfar Engineering and Contracting Co

Do not take things at face value

Istarted my career as a scientist working in the field of expanding knowledge in materials science. In science it is easy to get carried away with new theories or fancy calculations. The advice here was to analyse all information from different angles and only use it if you had verified its correctness using a number of totally different methods.

This advice has helped me in not taking any information at face value. It forces you to really know what you are doing and at the same time gives you peace of mind with respect to the decisions that you take.

This advice is most usable when there is a high degree of uncertainty. I have used it in estimating cost, risk assessments, oil field development decisions and I use it on a daily basis for anything that has a high cost or can give a significant positive opportunity.