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BOOK REVIEW: Connect the Dots by Rashmi Bansal




The three fascinating words which we use in our daily dogmatic lives, but are still unaware of its true meaning, in true sense. Why is this so? Because these words are overheard words. What are these words for whom I am giving so build up?  JUGAAD, JUNOON & ZUBAAN which appear and creates a stark presence in Rashmi Bansal's second bestseller Connect The Dots.............

The change makers mentioned in this book doesn’t have an MBA degree to cash upon their success, but they have something bigger than this degree; BELIEF IN THEIR DREAMS. PLACED at a very affordable price of Rs.150, the knowledge it gives is PRICELESS.

These are the three fundamentals on which Rashmi Bansal has written an extremely inspiring book on 25 entrepreneurs, who have been broken, battered, grilled, painted blue at times and God, o, God, they have subverted every pain and agony into a relished memory along with agog grit to turn things into fortunes. This is her second book after, STAY HUNGRY, STAY FOOLISH .
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I have read many books and never ever I was so much inspired to write a book review; but as the cover page of her book: connect the dots , gives us the insight of the book with the word ‘inspiring’, I would say, I was inspired to write a book review.

For those who have ‘heard’ but not ‘read’ the book, should and must read the book, but there is a statutory warning; read it only if you are willing to change the way you look at things around you and far from you, for you will realize that life is no bed of roses for anybody who decides to chase his dreams, albeit you are accompanied by prodigal passion.

JUGAAD section consists of entrepreneurs who have ‘no formal training in business’ but ‘they learnt by observation, experimentation and application of mind. Because ultimately, business is not rocket science’. The success stories of DOSA PLAZA, VETA, SU KAM, FEM CARE PHARMA, ORIENTAL CUISINES, BVG(BHARAT VIKAS GROUP), TANTRA T-SHIRTS, LASERSOFT INFOSYSTEMS & CASHURDRIVE.

The stories of these mavericks are so thrilling and intriguing only because it shows their immense enthusiasm to learn something which is not their technical forte, but obvious ‘passionate’ forte. What serves as icing on the cake for this book is the small, but the best section: ADVICE TO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, wherein an iota of their valuable experience is given to young and needy wannabe employers and dream chasers.

These people have done those things which were considered impossible by others and in some cases, by themselves. To suffice and substantiate this line, I would quote what Suresh Kamath, founder of Laser soft Infosystems had to say in the advice section, “People say business cannot be run on ethical ways, you have to be dishonest. That is wrong- we can do everything in the right fashion and still be successful.” Such a meaningful line is this!! This man took it as a challenge and by putting his wit coupled with hard work, proved everyone that things can be done in ethical ways too. Only a fool can’t get inspired from this.

JUNOON section consists of entrepreneurs who are ’driven by a particular idea, or passion. Something which is different, ahead of its time. These ventures are about making that dream, a living reality’. The success stories consist of CROSSWORD, POLITICAL EDGE, SHAKTI SUDHA INDUSTRIES, FLANDERS DIARY, REWA ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY, HAATHI CHAAP & TRIKAYA AGRICULTURE.

THE LAST SECTION of this informative book is ZUBAAN: where ‘creative people needed a platform to express them. When the talent is unique, platform must be created. And in doing so, artist too becomes an entrepreneur’. What is titillating about this uncanny section is that people here had a naïve hobby and they had an unmatched predilection for it, so much that it strongly persuaded them to be indifferent to their ‘actual’ ‘technical’ background and break the cocoon only to justify their justness to their hobby. Cool isn’t it!! We all have hobbies, but even on short notice we fail to fathom to carve something out of it and make it a source of bread along with divine peacefulness of mind and heart. What we crave, is to be novae riche and live in a gold cage all throughout our life, with shallow happiness and pacifying self satisfaction, but hardly live a simple life and enjoy the delectable & satisfying bread.

These people have rightly chosen a life of less pelf but tremendous placidity. Adoring them is inevitable but taking up the cue and changing our orthodox thinking is rare.
While reading the book, one almost forgets the biggest inspirational story. Who is it? It’s none other than the author herself, Rashmi Bansal. 

She rightly mentions that her passion and interest was and is writing. I will tell you why it’s an inspiring one. Imagine the time when an IIM-A graduate discovers and makes p her mind to do something with her writing hobby, what would she have done? Pen down a psychological thriller, suspense story or a stupid cupid campus novel or some serious intellectual novel which would be, indubitably a jargon for many to digest. Did she do it? No!! Reason is simple; her passion didn’t let her follow the same obsolete route. Instead she chose to write about a topic which was left untouched even after a very long time.

Viola!! She did it. She showed a different style of writing through her book; INSPIRATION, by not asking preaching people to follow any trite of decorum, but by asking them to set it for themselves. Glad to feel the different style of writing.

I read her first book sporadically, because I hated the fact that they all were IIM-A alumni and was taken by surprise that these exceptional erudite didn’t have any dream before pursuing MBA from such a prestigious institute. They were thus ‘compelled’ to conceive a dream only because life seemed boring to them, working for some MNC.

Nonetheless, the ultimate verdict is: MUST, MUST, MUST READ. I only wished to be entrepreneur before reading it, but now, having read this book and expanded my cognizance, I badly want to work upon my idea and edifice new realm of my life………………..

Cheers to CONNECT THE DOTS………………


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