Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is one of the most successful businessmen in India. He is the chariman and managing director of Reliance Industries, and one of the richest people in the world. His father Dhirubhai Ambani was a visionary who made a name for himself from scratch and on hos own. Like every father, Dhirubhai too gave many pieces of advice to his son Mukesh. The latter once said, “My father said if you want to become an entrepreneur you will have to figure things out on your own. Only managers are told what is to be done, not entrepreneurs.” Come to think of it, it is an important lesson for anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur.
What does the quote mean?
The quote sends out a very important message. It is that entrepreneurs are the ones who think ahead, decide what needs to be done and how things need to be done. They are the ones who tell managers what needs to be done and the latter simply follows instructions.
The quote serves a reminder that an entrepreneur operates differently. Nobody hands them a roadmap. Nobody tells them what to do next. They have to look at a problem, trust their instincts, and find a way forward on their own. With all this comes full accountability, ownership and responsibility of their decisions.
When Dhirubhai Ambani must have told this important and fundamental lesson of entrepreneurship, he must have done so with the intention to prepare him for what lies ahead. He was telling Mukesh that if you want to build something of your own, you can’t wait for directions. You have to be the one who figures things out, makes decisions, and takes responsibility for what happens next. To truly understand what the quote means and then implement it in your life, one needs to make a major mindset shift.
How is the quote relevant today?
- More and more young Indians want to start their own businesses, but some of them wait for someone to guide them how to go about it. The quote highlights that to build something, you need to trust on your own instincts and develop the attitude of taking initiatives.
- Many aspiring entrepreneurs also think like employees. They look for approval and guidance at every step of the way, forgetting that they are the ones who need to be sure of what they’re thinking and planning for the future.
- The startup culture in India is booming, but the biggest barrier is often self-doubt and indecision.
- People are increasingly seeking mentorship, but true entrepreneurship requires independent thinking.
- In a world full of noise and advice, the ability to figure things out on your own is a rare and powerful skill.
- Those who wait to be told what to do will always work for those who do not.
Lessons from the quote
- You truly become an entrepreneur when you stop waiting for instructions.
- The ability to figure things out on your own is not a skill you are born with, it is the one you build and hone over a period of time.
- Taking ownership of your decisions, including the wrong ones, is what separates leaders from followers.
- Your biggest mentor can sometimes be the problems in front of you.
- Clarity does not always come before action, sometimes it comes because of it. So, don’t be afraid of failures in life.
- The entrepreneurial mindset is not reserved for business owners, it is a way of approaching life.
Tips to follow the quote
- When you face a problem, try solving it on your own. Trust your calibre and your instincts.
- Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan to begin. Just take initiatives and be at the forefront of things.
- Take small decisions independently every day. This is how you can build the muscle of self-reliance over a period of time.
- Read about how successful entrepreneurs solved problems nobody had solutions for.
- Embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it, because it is where the growth lies.
- Surround yourself with people who push you to think, not just people who give you answers.
- When you make a wrong call, own it, learn from it, and move forward.
- Remind yourself every day that figuring things out is not a burden, it is the privilege of building something of your own.
