Behind the Scenes: An Author’s Journey from Business Management to Writing Books

1. Tell us something about your background. & When and how did you start your writing journey?

My background: I am from a small town in Tamil Nadu where I did my schooling. I subsequently did my Bachelor’s in Engineering from the University of Madras and after a few years of working, followed it with the Master in Business Management (MBM) from the reputed Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Manila, Philippines, My industry work experience of over 25 years was primarily in Marketing and General Management in small and medium enterprises where I had hands-on experience in field selling and Product Management. During the later part of my career, I got into academics. During my years with the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai, I was involved in offering the Executive MBA by distance learning, of the Open University Business School (OUBS), UK, to working managers in India. This is what inspired me to take to writing.

3. What is your book all about? What prompted you to write this book?

My books form part of what I call “Basics of Business Management series”. Starting with a Basic Guide which summarises all the major concepts and practices in the field of Business Management, the rest of the books cover major concepts in each functional area. I have two more books to be completed as part of the series. I feel that today’s managers need to develop the capacity to look at their organisation’s business holistically and understand the interconnectedness of all functions. This should help them appreciate how their individual actions affect the whole business and take their decisions accordingly. While there are innumerable books on each topic in great detail, these books act as a summary of these concepts and give a holistic view of business. Written in simple language, they are easy to read and understand. This should lead them to go into depth in any topic of their choice for further study.

5. How was your pre-writing experience? What urged you?
6. How was your writing experience? Smooth or bumpy?
7. How much did your publishers contribute? Did they ease the process for you?

As I had prior exposure to the subject matter, I had no problem starting my writing adventure or during the writing process. The involvement of my publishers was limited, primarily providing support in promoting the books

8. What is the reaction of your family and friends to you writing this book?
My family, especially my wife Lakshmi, was a great source of encouragement throughout the writing process.

9. Mention the people who supported you in this journey.

I received valuable input from close friends and colleagues, including Prof. James Paul Neelankavil (retired professor of Hofstra University, USA), Mr. V. V. Mohan (retired senior bank officer from SBI and other leading banks), and Prof. G. Balasubramanian (Professor of Finance at the IFMR Graduate School of Business).

10. How is your book going to impact the readers?
My books aim to provide a holistic understanding of business management concepts and practices, enabling readers to make better-informed decisions and take a more comprehensive approach to their work.

11. How do you deal with negative comments if any?

Negative comments are a part of the writing process. I take constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve my writing.

12. Who are your literary mentors and role models?
My literary mentors and role models include management gurus like Peter Drucker, Michael Porter, and Tom Peters.  (Late) Prof. C.K.Prahalad (Late) Prof. Ramachander, my boss , Director in IFMR.

13. What are your upcoming writing ventures?
I have two more books to be completed as part of the “Basics of Business Management” series.

14. Any piece of advice for our aspiring writers
For aspiring writers, my advice would be to write every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It’s also essential to read widely and hone your craft continually

1. Get stated. Once you put your pen on the paper or type first words in your laptop/PC, ideas will flow.
2. Work to a schedule and deadline. Only this will ensure progress..