Gaurav Mehta

My son shouted from the washroom..
((( Dad )))

I was on a call, I ignored
He shouted again, much louder ((( DAD )))

I went upto him
WHAT?

He: I forgot my towel outside. Pls pass it to me

Me: Why didn't you take it before going in. We are also busy doing our stuff. You should have taken it earlier. Why this carelessness?

He: Dad, pass me the towel first. We can talk about this later.
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If a team member comes to you
With a mistake/problem in hand

Help them solve the problem first
You can scold them later (if at all)

Be a reasonable boss
Not a Nitpicker

#MyGrowthJourney
#Leader

I left my very high paying job..
& came back to India to zero

with no job in hand and
no prospects in sight

and to top it all, it was
right at the onset of covid in early 2020

Fetching senior roles take time
Besides, not many were hiring too

2 weeks of chasing lot of HR's
& I knew it was not going to work

I adopted a different strategy

I knew my strengths and
I chose to play on them

I started cold messaging founders
NOT asking for jobs, BUT instead
telling them what they should do

How they should
- create financial processes
- focus on FP&A
- outsource routine tasks
- have better, tax efficient structures
- create financial tracking in the system

I shifted the focus from ME and what I needed, to what THEY needed and how I could help them get there

Within 4 days, 2 founders responded back
and agreed for a meeting

Right after one meeting each
both offered me roles

and since I was immediately available
it was cherry on the cake

I declined one of the founders
& asked the other one to send me the offer

Unfortunately covid cases started rising
and the worst came true

The day I was expecting to receive the offer
the investor asked to hold all hirings
to save costs during unforeseeable covid times

It felt so close, yet so far

This time I again kept my focus on
ONLY WHAT THEY NEEDED

I offered to still join them
but instead I proposed them

to pay me only a small consultancy fee
and not full salary
& I will still do all the work I promised

The idea sailed with them
& I joined as a consultant

But once I was in the system
I was sure, it was just a matter of time

& post 3 months of consultancy
I was again offered the full time role
which I graciously accepted

When you are jobless or
when you are in dire need
don't let it block your perspective

Think from their perspective &
then assess how can you add value.

Build your conversation accordingly

It can be demoralising
It can be daunting
But remember this narrative

Its not ME
Its always THEM
What can you do for them?

You will find your way through :)

#MyGrowthJourney
#JobSearch

Never hire a team member recommended by your boss.


While it may seem an obvious choice. Your boss had worked with this person in the past. Knows their performance. Knows their work style. But this can turn out to be your biggest trap.

What will happen is

You will lose control over your own team dynamics. You won’t be able to manage them freely. You will hesitate to give feedback or take action because of the hidden power play.

And the worst case, the person will report more to your boss than to you.

It’s a political liability.

Build your team. On your terms.
Even if it takes much longer.

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If you are a finance manager, senior manager or a controller, come and find career tips, suggestions and conversations here : nas.io/gaurav