A Masterclass in Professional Success

Lulu Raghavan’s latest book, Go Further, Faster sets a gold standard for professional insights. Raghavan has successfully detached her writing from the hordes of generic motivational mumbo-jumbo with empirical insights and a holistic approach. In an era of outrageous professional pressure, the book serves as a guiding light for professionals young and old. It acts as a strategic guide that goes beyond ideas; thanks to the numerous first-hand examples from her professional experiences.

Lulu Raghavan, whose LinkedIn profile calls her a Brand and Design Evangelist, is Landor’s President of APAC. An industry giant, Raghavan has been associated with Landor for over two decades and has released her book at a critical time. Her name at the footer of the book cover hints at guidance and mentorship, something that hundreds of young professionals are in search of today, owing to the ever-increasing competition. But their search can stop here, at least momentarily. The book is divided into four parts, and in their totality, they ‘set up’ an aspiring person. Raghavan begins the book with the question “Why do you want to work?” and perhaps, by the end, leaves the reader with an answer.

The first portion of Go Further, Faster delves into the holy trinity of our beings, mind, body, and soul. What do such topics have to do with working long hours you ask? Apparently, everything. Through first-hand experiences, anecdotes, and many references, she has handed the key to self-discovery to the reader. From simple topics such as breathing or physical fitness to more nuanced topics such as ‘Management of Your Mind,’ Raghavan has covered them all. She even has some interesting insights – referring to a time when she used to yawn a lot, she says that she later learnt that one of its many causes can be stress and anxiety. The book also includes writings of leaders from various professions who act as a supplement to her thoughts and ideas. Some of it can be quite interesting to readers, such as the portion written by author and nutritionist Madhur Ruia on taking care of the body.

Go Further, Faster goes beyond the realms of the work life, it tries to capture the spirit of a complete human in its pages. A commendable portion in this regard is under the Soul subsection where she talks about the importance of having good personal relationships too.

In today’s time and age, when ordinary people are becoming overnight superstars, the need for branding is of utmost importance. Raghavan writes in the pertinent chapter, Promote Yourself, “Personal branding is no longer a luxury but an essential element in the toolkit of every aspiring professional.” In this portion, she has generously negated all misguided notions on personal branding, and has explained its advantages. Towards this, she asks the reader to Discover, Define, Design, Deploy, and then Deliver. Interestingly, she guides her readers through the Johari Window, a psychological model that represents a person’s self-awareness and understanding of their relationship with others.

Often, we are in awe of successful individuals who continue their learnings and aspire to know more. Lulu Raghavan confesses that she only got into the lifelong-learner mindset when she was mid-career, and that is one of her biggest regrets. The Evolve Yourself segment of the book is a timely reminder to those who are going to be climbing the ladder of success. Here, Raghavan floats the idea of ‘humbition,’ a blend of ambition and humility. Another key aspect mentioned that may strike the reader is the idea of helping others as one rises. It certainly paves the way for a more inspiring work environment.

As a writer who has already set a lasting impression in the readers’ minds by this stage of the book, Lulu Raghavan ends the book with some ‘Handy How-Tos’ that are the finishing touches to this professional guide.

Go Further, Faster takes you further into the seriousness of being a highly respectable professional, and promises to erase the many fears that hinder professional growth. This is for those dewy-eyed aspirants who want to shine in this competitive battleground, it’s your turn now.