The Expression Hub

“Legends are not defined by their success, but by the impact they have on the lives of others.”

-Anonymous

On 9th October 2024, a shocking news shook the foundation of the corporate world. The news was that the great Indian industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata had breathed his last in the famous hospital of Breach Candy due to age-related medical conditions. The man who was the former chairman of the conglomerate Tata Group was an inspiration to many which includes me as well. So, when this news broke out, I just went numb and could not digest the fact that the man who was my ideal as well as a person whom I looked up to in all aspects was no longer alive. Though, he might have left us, but he did teach us a lot of things through his work as well as by character.

Following are some of the life lessons that I learned from my idol who will hopefully continue to inspire me and guide me as I undertake this journey of life .

Lesson 1: Always aim for excellence – Excellence is not being the best but it is doing your best. Ratan Tata sir taught me that no matter, how small a work might be, it should be done with full integrity and dedication. And when you do that on a continuous basis, you do become an inspiration to others to put their best foot forward in each and every thing you do.

Lesson 2: Always be ethical in your conduct- Amongst all the business groups, Tata Group is a group that is synonymous with the qualities of integrity and ethical leadership. Ratan Tata sir ensured that Tata Group never ever lowered their standards in ethics and treated each and every stakeholder of its with respect and fairness.

Lesson 3: Foster trust and teamwork within the organization : This was made possible by highlighting the importance of a very important quality of an organization that is teamwork. When you empower people to take their own decisions as well as give them the freedom to take on the challenges and innovate, you are bound to be surprised by the level of output you are going to receive from your team members. Also, ensuring a sense of accountability amongst your team members is going to get a lot of results. It is very easy to put the blame on others but if we try to empathize and help our team member come up with a solution, this is going to benefit us in the long run.

Lesson 4: Embrace change: It is aptly said, change is the only constant in life. Ratan Tata sir successfully navigated his business through many transitions and was able to integrate new technologies and trends easily. And as the world changes its pace at a rapid pace, it is necessary to adapt. After all , one can either swim or die.

Lesson 5: Be sustainable- For many, climate change might be a farce. But, there are changes which are being witnessed in the environment. And environment is a topic which is really close to my heart. So, I do try to inculcate environment friendly practices wherever I can. This is because there ain’t a planet B.And I personally feel that everyone should integrate these practices. If not for us, at least we can make the Earth a better place for our future generations.

Lesson 6: Be empathetic and compassionate – One of the most defining traits of a great leader is the ability to be empathetic and compassionate . Everyone has their own battles to fight as well as are dealing with some or the other internal struggle. One need to be professional while climbing the corporate leader . But , a human touch while climbing the corporate leader can lead one to have an enriching experience as well as a better job satisfaction.

Lesson 7: Walk the talk—I have always noticed that people who walk the talk command the maximum respect, even from their worst enemies. This is because they are authentic in their thoughts, words, and deeds. They do not feel the need to seek external validation, but they listen to their hearts. So, question your topmost authority if you feel something is not fitting into your ethic system. This will make people around you respect you even more.

Lesson 8: Be humble and grounded- People always look up to the people who irrespective of whatever heights they have achieved keep their feet grounded. Humility is a trait that is really highly underappreciated but essential. After all, success can go to one’s head very easily. We must not let success go to our heads as it eventually leads to our downfall at some point of time. Be proud of the work you do, but do not let the achievements go to your head. After all, success is a very lousy teacher.

Lesson 9: Talk Less, Do More and always be true to your word- God has given us one mouth and two hands and two legs. The reason is simple- we are supposed to do more and talk less. But often, we do the opposite. So, maybe we can learn the same from the man who was an introvert but always delivered.

Lesson 10: If you take a decision, make sure to make it right- A lot of times we are faced with situations, where we are not sure whether the decision taken by us is correct or not. But Ratan Tata sir took a decision and made sure that the decision taken by him was correct. This quality speaks volumes about him as this enabled him to take risks and close some of the most successful deals in his career.

Lesson 11: Always give back to society- If you look into the contributions Ratan Tata sir made through his business group, very few corporate leaders can boast of how much they have given back to society. From the budget-friendly Nano to building hospitals to cater to cancer patients and pets to providing help during the difficult times – that man made sure that he always gave back to the society in some or the other form. And that according to me is the true essence of success. It is not the amount of material possessions you possess, but the amount of difference you make in other people’s lives.

I can go on but if I do, I think I might run out of space. There is so much that this man has offered throughout his life that only words will not suffice to pay tribute to this legend. I do pray to God that wherever he is, he will continue spreading his light and will always guide us through the legacy he has left. If you have any thoughts to share about this great man, do feel free to share the same in the comments section.