'Learn to grind, there're no shortcuts'

There are a lot of things that management school taught me and a lot it didn't. And while I am sure the stuff they teach keeps getting better, I have to hold up the mirror to ourselves and say that many a time management graduates display a streak of exaggerated self-importance and sometimes an attitude that they could do without.

Don't get me wrong. I am all for bringing aggression to the party. But it works only when there is some substance backing your attitude.

My advice is not to shun the less glamorous jobs. Look for the sweatshop within the organisation. That's where you will learn the nitty-gritty of the business. And not necessarily the air-conditioned comfort of the head office.

That is how you will learn about your organisation, about the true nature of work, and the dignity of the many, many tasks that go into building great enterprises.

You need to earn your spurs before you ride that horse. There really is a long time for you to grind and learn, before you are given more and better responsibilities.

A different benefit of the same 'learn to grind' theory is, when you rise in your career, you will know when you have the responsibility, of what's right and what's wrong. It will make your task of spotting errors, sometimes fatal ones, easier and faster.

Another good thing I notice about the young Indian is his desire to win. The rags-to-riches stories of 20-somethings abound. My only submission is, perhaps you should look at what you will want to compromise with in your quest for quick success. Win. But play fair to win.

There is even in today's world much to be said for honesty, integrity and sincerity of effort. And it's a potent combination when values are backed by hard work. There really isn't a shortcut to success.

I always remember what my first boss told me. He said "Always do what you find enjoyment in." A management degree need not restrict you to careers only in operations, finance, HR or marketing. The fact really is, if you enjoy what you are doing, you will do it well.

Ashutosh Khanna is Chief Operating Officer, Grey Worldwide. He graduated from Mumbai's K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research in 1988.