Wisdom about how to live life from the
King of Code? Seems hard to believe but Rajesh Setty of Sunnyvale, Calif., is one computer
wiz who’s seen the larger picture and knows just where the geeks fail by trying to squeeze
their entire world on to a computer monitor. He’s the author of several business books
including Beyond Code: Distinguish Yourself in 9 Simple Steps and he’s a blogger at Life
Beyond Code and Openlogue.
In his book he shares tips on how to succeed not only in cyberspace, but
also in the larger world, and though it’s written for technocrats, Setty has had calls
from non-technical people including doctors, priests and lawyers who have found the book
helpful for them too.
Setty, who is from Bangalore and worked in Malaysia, Hong Kong and
Singapore before settling in California in 1997, has always been a technology writer. But
he wrote his first murder mystery when he was 9 and had it published at 13. After that, he
wrote six books on different subjects before he was 16, all of which were published.
However,
there was not enough money in writing and so he took on a technology career and through it
has met hundreds of people whose language is code. When he was in management, he realized
that many of the codewallas suffer from not understanding that there is a life beyond
code. Setty, who is 36, is married, has a child and has started several successful
multimillion-dollar companies, including Cignex Techologies.
One of the bits of advice he gives is to increase your likeability factor as likeable
people have a much greater chance of success, and conversely unlikable people are more
likely to fail. "I tell this to people and they look at me as if I’m an alien or
something! They feel about themselves: ‘I’m so smart that I should be likeable!’
They keep thinking that it’s their skills or looks or talent that make them likeable.The
secret however is how you make people feel about themselves that makes you likeable."
He admits his book is not rocket science, but has common sense advice that people can
implement in their lives. As a successful entrepreneur who writes about entrepreneurship,
he says, " I really want to live what I write." So how is his own
likeability factor? He laughs, "I try my best to make sure that I add value to
everyone I speak to."
TOP TEN TIPS TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
1.
//Focus on ROII.(Return on Investment for an Interaction)
Time is precious for everyone.
Ensure that you provide the highest value for anyone investing time in an interaction with
you.
2. //Keep the promises you make to
yourself.
Making promises to yourself is easy. Keeping them is very hard!
3. //Set right expectations
The first step in trying to
exceed the expectations is to set them right in the first place.
4. //Set higher standards
Raise your standards higher than the
general norm and watch miracles unfold!
5. //Avoid complacency at all costs!
There is nothing like
maintaining the status quo. You are either falling or rising.
6. //Commodotize your work at regular intervals
You don’t
have to wait for someone else to commodotize your work.
7. //balance home runs with small wins
Home runs are great.
But small wins are important too!
8. //Think!
Set aside time to "Think." Most often
thinking is done in parallel to other activities.
9. //Never take people for granted
Would it be any fun if
someone took you for granted?
10. //Ask the right questions
Answers help. But, it’s not
always the answers that matter.
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