Introduction
Welcome to The ContraMind Code.
The ContraMind Code provides you with a system of principles, signals, and ideas to aid you in your pursuit of excellence.
The Newsletter shares the source code, through quick snapshots, for a systems thinking approach to be the best in what you do.
The Code helps you reboot and reimagine your thinking by learning from the best and enables you to draw a blueprint on what it takes to get extraordinary things done.
Lights Out
by Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann
Lights Out by Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann is a brilliant account of all the things that led to General Electric's fall from grace. And mind you, General Electric had been considered as one of the most valuable companies in the world since the 1980s.
Both Thomas and Ted provide an insider’s view of what happened at the company and the events leading to this downfall. They give a detailed insight into the culture, decisions, and accounting that eventually caught up to GE in a gigantic way. Most importantly, however large or invincible it might seem, every company is bound to fail if its businesses are not managed from the first principles.
The Power of Connecting, Brands and Strategy
Sunder Madkshira currently serves as the CEO of Rezolve in India. He has held leadership roles for over 26 years in Sales and Marketing with companies such as Adobe, Hindustan Unilever, VISA, SAP, WIPRO and Infosys.
In this conversation, he talks about the evolution of marketing as a currency for engagement, how exposure to multiple cultures shaped him as a leader, lessons learnt from teaching students at leading business schools, understanding the role of technology in brand building, constraints faced by marketing leaders, what CEOs want from CMOs amongst various other topics.
Listen to this entire episode on:
The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding
John Wooden was a legendary American Basketball coach and won critical acclaim for his leadership, having created a legacy not only in sports but also extending to business, personal success, and organisational leadership.
In this excellent video, he defines success in his own words as “Peace of Mind attainted through self-satisfaction in knowing you made an effort to do the best of which you are capable of.”
He also says, “Don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses, get out there and whatever you are doing, do it to the best of your ability!”
Being Djokovic – Mastering the art of dealing with adversity
Looking back at the Lights Out book and in a deeper sense of what is success, as explained by John Wooden, managing adversity or setback with integrity and grit is essential. The recent French Open helped us reflect more on these issues.
Never in tennis history was there a player who had this vicious feeling of not being accepted, both by the fans and crowds, greater than Novak Djokovic.
Just look at some startling facts:
When he reached the French Open Quarter-Finals in 2022, he had done it for consecutive 13th straight time, which even Rafael Nadal may not be able to match.
He has played 100 matches at the French Open in a single major tournament for 15 years, which only Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, and Rafa Nadal have achieved in tennis history!
Novak has spent the most weeks as world No. 1, a record total of 372 weeks.
A career win record of 83.1%
Won over 87 titles
Won 20 Grand Slams
The great John McEnroe hit the nail on the head when he said: “No other player has had to deal with more adversity [than Novak],… This guy has turned lemons into lemonade more often than any player in the history of tennis….”
So, what does it take for you to be a champion in anything you do?
Opinions are fragile. Only success stands the test of time.
Both at work and in our personal life, most of us look for continuous validation in everything we do - being accepted, appreciated, and recognised by others– be it the company you work for or colleagues you work with. When it is hard to come by, we take the easy route – looking for a new job, changing roles within a company, starting afresh in a new city or country, changing the industry, changing careers, changing managers, etc.
But, do things change for the better? Mostly no.
Handling not being accepted is an art that we must inculcate in us. It helps us develop a fighting spirit inside us. Taking the path of least resistance or looking for approval indicates a fragile mindset. To cut the noise around us and keep doing what we believe requires tremendous tenacity and inner belief. Your purpose and mission at the core must be rock-solid.
What non-acceptance or adversity does is it makes you more disciplined and determined. Take, for example, Djokovic’s daily punishing routine. He does training for 14 hours every day, including practising every morning and afternoon, lifting weights, running or riding a bike and lots of mobility work. Also, exhaustion was his problem, which he overcame with a strict diet plan and being self-aware of what foods he was intolerant to. The noise outside didn’t matter, but the regimen made him a champion.
So, here are the key questions you have to find answers for:
What’s your method to sound-proof yourself?
What’s your training regimen? Remember, office and specific projects at work are matches, but how do you prepare before these matches every day is what you need to think or reflect on.
What’s your benchmark, not what others see or believe? Do you have one thing that helps you excel and be the best in what you do?
Do you win your mental matches and championships every day – both at work and on the personal front, irrespective of the noise around you?
Some of the lessons we learnt from this week’s mission:
Never compromise on your first principles as a company or as an employee. Over time any compromise made catches up over time irrespective of the size and value of the company.
If Marketing needs a seat at the centre of the table in a company, it needs to get more strategic and aligned to the firm's business strategy. Marketing is not about doing a TVC or an Advertisement or Managing Social Media.
In a more profound sense, success is an internal benchmark knowing that you have given it your best shot and effort. Separate the results and outcome as those are not in your control.