creating excellence public

Valuing Excellencesupreet@oberoi.com

Why are we here?

What is a Business?

An endeavor that creates a series of financially profitable transactions

Anything “else” is just an activity

This is an Activity

This could be a Business

Creating a Business is easy…

… but building a sustaining one is tough

Gain position of dominance

Create sizeable profits

Protect and expand base

Creating differentiation is the key

Q: How can you be different?

Do something you know is relevant, but others do not know (yet)

Better yet, do something that will change the world!

Achieve something for which people will fall in love with you

Achieve something that very few can

A: By gaining Excellence

What does Excellence get you?

Builds a culture of success◦ Tentative efforts lead to tentative results

Earns loyalty – customers & employees

Attracts excellent people

Protects your business◦ * You get to send thank-you notes to competitors

Makes you enjoy the journey

Defining Excellence

Brilliance in approach – cunning, bold, cowardly, and breathtakingly brilliant

Hard work & Passion ◦ You need to lose sleep over it

Critical thinking and Adapting◦ Be visionary, but be willing to adapt your vision◦ Challenge authority, but learn from them◦ Keep a smile, but be cynical

Above all, … Winning!

Does your team have Excellence?

Do you have a jaw-dropping offering?

Do people who test your product end up hugging you?

Does your team argue a lot?

Can a team 3x your size from Bangalore build the same product?

Do you have a manager (“business person with no provenskills”) in your team?

Are you driven insanely by a vision?

How do I gain Excellence?

(my) Tips for Excellence

#1 – Join the company of Excellence◦ Be flexible on personal chemistry

Aim to be the best in what you do◦ That (sometimes) requires being insanely competitive

Stand out of the line◦ Either you will come out as a fool, or as a genius

When possible, be the second mouse◦ Learn from the mistakes of the “leaders”

Think “customer”, not business

Hire the Best… (and make a promise to never compromise)

Learn from Competition

Have a plan for Profit… (before you write your first line of code)

Build a world-class Product

An offering is a manifestation of a brilliant team put together, working in unison towards a cunning and a well-laid plan

Attitude determines Altitude

A great student does not make for a great leader

Beware of the PhD syndrome◦ Remember, you were trained to critique, not to inspire

Develop a CAN DO attitude◦ Get small victories to develop confidence

Having a believable, yet a compelling visionbecomes the key

Summary

Gaining success is like a game of golf

You have the right ingredients, but:◦ you need to build upon it◦ the world is becoming more competitive◦ doing business in Silicon Valley is demanding

Setting a culture of excellence in your professional life will (seamlessly) bring it together

The results from Excellence will bring innovation, profits, and seed funding…