Talk wise

In this world of cut-throat competition, Sharma’s self-mastery books have many takers. In the 10 years, he has churned out as many guidance books.

“My clients are spread across 60 countries. Nearly 80 per cent of them are big companies,” he says.

Yet, Sharma is not keen on creating a generation of leaders. He probably believes in instilling leadership qualities in moderate doses.

“Every leader doesn’t have to be a CEO. Leadership can happen at any level. Employees should emerge responsible in their respective groups,” he says.

When he talks, Sharma doesn’t appear very different from his smiling avatar on his books’ cover-with a clean-shaven shining pate and his usual black shirt. He appears at peace too.

But that was not the case a decade ago. “It was my quest to find the real meaning of success and happiness that led to writing my first book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari,” he admits. This successful lawyer published the book himself which has changed many lives since, including his own.

However, his conquering of the world has not been total. There is still a community of readers who staunchly stay away from self-help and guidance books. How does Sharma plan to sell his book to them? His answer is stoic: “My goal is not to convert those who are not open to changes. I don’t judge them. They are probably the people living in fear, not ready for growth.”

The meltdown has many of Sharma’s clients panicking. “Stick to your fundamentals, your game-plans,” is what he tells them. Then he goes on to add: “Leadership is not shown in easy times.”

This ‘life coach’ follows it up by saying, “Rough seas make better sailors.” Such fire and brimstone sentences keep cropping up in our conversation.

But not as much as they appear in his books, which are very smart repackagings of Oriental wisdom and philosophies. Some are very familiar and pithy theories of good living retold.

Sharma, the propagator of leadership qualities, does admit that all these lines are not original. Some are inspired by the books of philosophy, leadership and autobiographies that this voracious reader has been lapping up for years. The rest can be attributed to his life’s experience.

At home, the self-help guru is happy to share leadership with his two children. Sharma, who was divorced 10 years ago, considers children to be the greatest teachers, heroes.

After conducting a leadership seminar, hosted by FICCI FLO, last week, the author of Indian origin also launched his book The Greatness Guide II, a sequel to his The Greatness Guide in Mumbai. Next year, the leadership expert is eager to share more tricks of achieving success with his upcoming The Rockstar and the Butterfly.