Irrationally Passionate – Jason Kothari #BookReview

Book: Irrationally Passionate
– My Tunraround from Rebel to Entrepreneur
Author: Jason Kothari
Publisher: Harper Business (An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

As a one-time aspiring entrepreneur, a reader and a dreamer – This book was quite an interesting read and an eye opener.

WHAT it takes in ‘reality’ to make a business successful?

I love reading books written by the people themselves, as those insights are second to none, and this book is no exception. Jason Kothari has shared his journey in a well written and flowing format.

As the man behind the turn arounds of ‘failed businesses’ Valiant entertainment, Housing.com and Snapdeal and numerous others – This book was quite an interesting read of his struggles, his RESILIENCE and the STRATEGIES (yes, I know I have written these in CAPS – and once you read this book you will understand why).

Struggles –

“Life is Messy. So is Business.” – True words! I would go so far as to say, those of us doing jobs too feel the ‘mess’ of the business we are part of.

Jason has had an interesting upbringing. His Indian values deep rooted (the nostalgia pieces will take you back in time and have you nodding in agreement for those bygone times) and his global exposure from a young age and the discrimination he faces, all have added up to the person he became.

I have always wondered how exactly our choices and hobbies from childhood really shape up who we are – This book answers that question for me.

I appreciate how he has not sugar coated his truth. Were there challenges? Yes! He could have taken any path – Offcourse Yes! And what made the difference? Innocuous conversations!

Even in the Business strategies he devised and successfully executed, it was the numerous conversations he had – In LISTENING mode that made all the difference.
You will need to read the book to know more!

Resilience –

Resilience is Essential – So essential, that Jason has devoted a chapter to it.

Throughout the book the one theme that emerges is the Resilience of Jason and everyone else in his ecosystem, but most importantly, Jason.

This was quite an eye opened for me, because I wonder if faced with the same intensity of setbacks and failures and disappointments, would I have hung in there? Or thrown in the towel and moved back to the safe and known and dependable?

Strategies –

If you ever read about the housing.com fiasco and its turnaround – THIS is the man behind it, and here is the story of HOW he did it!

The author, Jason Kothari has openly written about what he did, why he did it and the results that achieved – A mini lesson in strategy! And as I realised by the end of the book (actually somewhere in the middle itself), Strategy is EVERYTHING! It can change the direction of the tide – that is how important it is, and that is how difficult it is too!

As essential as it is knowing going in what you need to accomplish, it is just as important to know when it is time to move – such a fine line to know when you are still passionate and when you are still the big gun adding the value to take that business to that next level.

It is rare to read about a Leader who is sensitive to the founders, directors and also the legions of people who make up the teams below them.

Did he have to take tough decisions? Yes! So do you and I in our own sphere of work/management. However, what is appreciable is that he always told people what was going in, and that level of transparency, despite claims by corporates is still rare.

The one thing that did not fit for me personally, was the fact that Jason and his team exclusively focused on WORK.

While I understand that their roles of research, thinking, strategizing and executing were imperative to the survival of those businesses, the fact that they did so to the exclusion of sleep and a personal life is unpalatable to me.

I know a business is your baby, and you want to do everything possible to ensure its health and prosperity. But then where does balance go?  And while for some, once the tough times are over, they move into a more sane schedule and life and can regain work-life balance, but in the case of Jason and his team, they just move on to the next crisis, the next business needing their assistance to

And the answer lies in the title of the book itself! Jason Kothari IS Irrationally Passionate about what he does, and there lies his Joy and his Balance and his choices for the life he has made and is succeeding at.

He continues to serve in prestigious roles – on boards, in advisory capacity, and in the future, who knows that magic Jason will bring to the business world!  Stay tuned!

Here’s to reading books which make sense and help us learn & think!

Get your copy of Irrationally Passionate Here and Kindle Here.