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People

One of the better business books I have read is "Good to Great". Excellent read for anyone, not just entrepreneurs. The key message in the book that I understood was that the most important thing that will make a company stand out and be extra ordinary is the people. It sounds like common sense but you will be surprised as to how many businesses out there forget this cardinal rule. The right kind of people at the right places will get things done and nothing else can replace that. No amount of training, education can substitute having the right person at the right job.

There was a time when I used to try to understand the world, specifically other people, through my lens. If someone did something which I did not agree with, or which I found extremely repulsive, I would beat myself over how could that person do that? Why can't he or she think like I do? I mean, its so simple but why can't they see it..etc.etc. You get what I mean. Thank god I got over that phase. Now, I accept people for who they are. Doesn't mean that I have to agree with them or even tolerate them - I just accept them. And I accept the fact that we are all very different to each other. Sure there are people who are like me and think like I do, but for every such person there are thousands (or perhaps millions) who are very different. Their mind works in a different way and it makes no sense for me to try to understand it or predict or rationalize their actions. It would be like trying to find a place in Singapore using a map of Malaysia. Won't work.

So going back to my initial point - the key is to find the right kind of people. Sure it is possible to change people if they are willing to. I am not saying it can't be done. But it is a much more difficult way to do things and there is no guarantee that they will change. This applies to life as much as business. It is much easier, safer and generally smarter to just find the right person instead of trying to change another one. I have struggled with this in the past (I would always want to hold on to things, to people, to employees and try to change them). But like I said, a much smarter thing to do is just find the right kind of person. It will save you a lot of trouble. And will enrich your life, grown your business like nothing else can.

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