How sheer grit, determination and commitment to a dream can help write one’s own fortune

The world looks at a successful man in terms of the size of his achievement. The money he makes, the car he drives, his position in an organization. Outwardly visible signs of success. But that’s not success itself. The true test of success lies in the journey – the path that got you there in the first place. I grew up in Tuticorin, a place with calm shores and where the sea famously has no waves. Perhaps that is where I get my inner calm from. And the strength to face life’s difficulties with equanimity.

I remember Tutirocin vividly. I remember studying for my exams, under the beach lights, making up for the lack of electricity in my home. Living in a one room-kitchen flat, you could say that I had a difficult childhood, but it also built in me a certain grit and commitment.

My father was a truck driver but he dared to dream. He was determined that there would be an engineer in our family. And silently, the rest of the family rallied behind him, their hopes pinned on me.

My effort paid off and I got into the college of my dreams. But often, it is the small things that blindside you. While leaving for college, I realized that I didn’t even have a bag to carry my belongings. My sister-in-law gifted me a suitcase, predicting that one day this would help me come up in life. I have that suitcase even today. A talisman, and a constant reminder to me never to forget where I came from. During campus recruitment drives, I borrowed footwear, taking turns with my friend Kalidas to wear his shoes for the interview. It is this encouragement and moral and financial support from my family and my friends, that kept me strong, helping me weather my circumstances.

During campus recruitment drives, I borrowed footwear, taking turns with my friend Kalidas to wear his shoes for the interview. It is this encouragement and moral and financial support from my family and my friends, that kept me strong, helping me weather my circumstances.

Growing up in humble origins can teach you a lot of things. I learnt the value of money and of saving for a rainy day. I became idealistic and prudent with money. I idolized Abdul Kalam, and began to appreciate the things I had instead of fretting over the ones I didn’t. Perhaps it is this appreciation of my good fortune that saw me spending time educating students who had limited means.

These are the values that guided me when I started procurement for JSW. There was a lot of instability in the market at that time. Once, the iron ore prices went up to 10X the normal, and I received instructions from Mr. Jindal to not buy at prices higher than Rs.1200. Still, I took a calculated risk – buying about 7 lakh tonnes for Rs. 1250. My investment paid off when the Supreme court banned trading in iron ore soon after, and we found ourselves with a deal already signed that gave us the legal right to buy that material. Years of experience at learning to value money and dealing with uncertainities had turned me into a seasoned professional.

In the course of my career, my wife and I completed an MTP program by IIM- A organized by JSW. Another dream come true. For much of my life, I had considered this unattainable, my financial circumstances determining what I thought I could achieve.

As the Executive Vice President, Bulk Raw Materials and Corporate Strategy, JSW Steel Ltd., today I have achieved far beyond what I thought possible. Yes, one would have limited means and a difficult upbringing. But how you view them is entirely up to you – you can fret and fume. Or, you can challenge yourself, be resilient and committed to a dream.

After all, it is the roughest of seas that make the finest sailor!