The Power of Alternatives: How to Never Stay Down | Anil Somani | TEDxBRAC

The speaker, a successful individual with achievements from IIT Bombay and IIM Ahmedabad, drives a Jaguar, wears a Rolex, and lives in a posh New Delhi colony, wishes to share his journey. His father emphasized education, leading him to a boarding school where he felt like an outsider due to his background and introverted nature. Initially struggling academically, he faced humiliation when he couldn't read his own essay, a moment that fueled his determination to learn English. Despite not excelling in sports, he developed introspection and identified his strengths: a flair for numbers and keen observation. This led to academic success, graduating from school and pursuing engineering. He secured an impressive 63rd rank in the IIT entrance exam, which boosted his confidence. Choosing IIT Bombay, he transformed from an introvert to an extrovert during his five years there. After IIT, a natural progression was a Master's in the US. However, his father's financial difficulties and business collapse prompted him to return to India. He took over his father's struggling business, which had only 12 rupees in its account. Within a decade, he built it into a successful distribution channel. Later, he ventured into pharmaceuticals, but faced challenges with Chinese dumping, leading to the factory's shutdown. Starting again with a small team, he resolved to prevent future closures. He learned the "power of alternatives," forging alliances with drug majors like Ranbaxy Laboratories. This collaboration eventually led to Ranbaxy buying out his plant. With his children grown, he moved to New Delhi in 2007. Driven by a desire to give back, he co-founded an MBA college, POSTIMER, with former IIT friends. Despite facing accusations of being a fake college and a drastic drop in student numbers, he again utilized the power of alternatives, secured approvals, and now chairs the college with 800 students. He finds immense satisfaction in shaping students' careers. His key learning is not just hard work, but the ability to introspect and understand oneself, identifying strengths like observation and a flair for numbers. He sees life as a series of "orbit jumps," constantly moving to a higher level beyond competitors' reach, a skill he learned and encourages others to develop for true success.