SELF HELP
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SUCCESS “MANTRA”
How to “succeed” in your career
Tips by Vikram Karve
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PROLOGUE
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Tips on “How to Succeed” are best written by “Failures”.
If you have failed to succeed – in hindsight – you can introspect – and
discover why you “failed” – and – why others “succeeded”.
I am a “failure” – I have “failed” in almost all aspects of life –
personal and professional.
That’s why I keep giving “tips” in the numerous “self-help” articles I
write on various aspects of life – and try to enunciate them in my fiction
stories too.
As far as my Navy Career was concerned – I was “passed over” for promotion
– or – to put it metaphorically – I “fell by the wayside”.
So – let me “pontificate” on “how to succeed in your career”.
Though I learnt this “truth” the hard way in the Navy – I feel this
applies to all professions and organizations – civil, military, bureaucracy,
academia, corporate, business – even politics.
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IS PERFORMANCE THE KEY TO SUCCESS…?
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I thought that factors like performance, diligence, professional
competence, hard work, delivering results etc. were the key to success.
I was wrong.
My classmates, my course-mates, my shipmates, my work colleagues, my
juniors, and, even my seniors – they will vouch for my professional
proficiency, work competence, sincerity, ingenuity and consistent performance.
In fact – even after I was superseded for promotion – and I had no
external motivation to perform well at my job – I performed superbly and
delivered results in whatever job I was entrusted with.
However – on the whole – it can be said that I “failed” in my career –
since – in the navy (and military) – getting promoted to high rank is the only
measure of career success.
It is, therefore, quite clear that performance does not guarantee
success in your career.
Then – what is the key to success…?
The answer – “Patronage”.
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PATRONAGE
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When I observed those who had “succeeded” – I realized that most of them
had powerful “patrons” who helped them rise in their careers.
Some “patrons” were unashamedly visible – and – in some cases the
“patronage” was more subtle.
I have observed – that in all walks of life – having a “patron” is a
much more effective way to success than conventional ways like diligence,
competence and performance etc.
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(A “patron” is someone higher than you in your organization who can help
you rise in your career)
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So – if you want to “succeed” in your career – you must acquire a
“patron” as early as possible in your career.
Professional Competence and Performance alone (without “patronage”) may
not be sufficient to guarantee “success” – but – if your job performance is
excellent and you have a strong “patron” too – then it is a winning
combination.
Yes – the combination of “Performance + Patronage” will ensure great
“success” in your career.
However – sometimes – mere “Patronage” can help you rise in your career
– as I have observed in many cases.
So – if you want to succeed in your career – wherever you are – you must
acquire a “patron” as early as possible in your career.
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HOW TO ACQUIRE A “PATRON”
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When you join an organization – the first thing you must do is to
acquire a “patron”.
As I said earlier – a “patron” is a person higher than you in the
organizational hierarchy who can help you rise in your career.
So:
1. Firstly – your “patron” must be at a higher position than you in the
organizational hierarchy
and
2. Secondly – and most importantly – your “patron” must be in a position
to help you rise in your career – your “patron” must have the power and clout
to help you in your career.
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Sometimes – to start with – your boss may be a suitable “patron”.
Or – if your boss himself has no clout in the organization – or – is
“out of favour” with the “top brass” – then your boss may a liability as a
“patron”.
You need to find the best “patron” who can help you rise in your career.
Once you have done your “research” and found out a suitable “patron” –
you need to “motivate” the “patron”.
There is a saying:
“An unmotivated patron is no patron”.
Your “patron” must have something to gain by helping you.
On the other hand – your “patron” must have something to lose by not helping
you.
What is it that you can give your “patron”…?
How can you “motivate” your “patron” to help you…”
Think about it.
If you observe – you will see many examples of how people “motivate”
their “patrons” – some “pleasant” – and some “sleazy” – some “bizarre”.
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Dear Reader – please don’t confuse “patronage” with “friendship”.
Friendship is different from the relationship between a patron and his
protégé.
In friendship – there is no “quid pro quo” – you help a friend without
expecting anything in return.
In the patron-protégé relationship – there is always a “quid pro quo” or
some mutual benefit to both – tangible or intangible. It is transactional
relationship.
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BE “FLEXIBLE” IN CHANGING PATRONS
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You must have your antennas up and ears to the ground about the fortunes
of your “patrons” and be adept at changing patrons – if the need arises.
Suppose you realize that your “patron” can no longer help you rise in
your career – you must “dump” him and quickly find a new “patron”.
Remember – if your “patron” falls out of favour with the “top brass” –
you may be “victimized” – if you are branded as being in his “coterie”.
Or – your “patron” may leave the organization – or be transferred.
You must be adept at switching patrons when the need arises.
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(In the Military/Navy – your boss is “useful” to you as long as he is
writing your ACR – so – it is wise to practice “ACR Patronage”…)
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HAVE MULTIPLE “PATRONS”
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“Patronage” is “synergistic” in nature.
The combined effect of multiple patrons is much more than the sum of individual
effect of each patron.
This is because all your patrons will discuss your “qualities” among
themselves and this will reinforce your “spoken reputation” which will greatly
help your career prospects.
Also – having multiple patrons makes it easy for you to dump a patron
who has ceased to be useful to you.
One has to be ruthless – there is no concept of loyalty in patronage.
I had said earlier that “patronage” and “friendship” are different.
Loyalty is important in friendship – but – in patronage it is “quid pro
quo” – tangible or intangible.
There is no “ethics’ in patronage – it is only “utility value”.
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PATRONAGE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
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If you look carefully – you will observe that patronage is the key to
success in most walks of life – politics, business, corporate, industry,
academia, bureaucracy, even in the military.
Blood Relationships – or acquired relationships via marriage or
acquaintance [old-school-tie, alumni, institutional and regimental loyalties,
caste, creed, linguistic, social and regional groups, same-place-types, similar
interests groups (golf, racing, hobbies etc.)] – these types of “Nepotism
Patronage” seems quite prevalent.
If you have a parent or “blood relation” as a patron it is good –
otherwise you can marry the daughter or son of a “top brass” in order to win
his “patronage”.
You must have seen some “sleazy” and “slimy” ways of winning “patronage”
– and some “debauched” and “immoral” ways too.
I shall leave this to your observation and imagination – and I shall not
bore you with my “pontification”.
However – in a subsequent blog post – I shall tell you about some
bizarre and unique ways of acquiring “patrons” – that I observed during my long
Navy Career.
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VIKRAM KARVE
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