BOOK REVIEW : THE PROFESSIONAL
Introduction
1. The book “THE PROFESSIONAL” is written by SUBROTO BAGCHI: an
Indian entrepreneur and business leader. This book reveals the ways of
conducting one’s career with both intelligence and integrity. This book is
indispensible because it equates professionalism with an inspirational
capacity to serve with total integrity. The Professional is a book that is
sine qua non for men and women alike, who are in leadership roles in
the reset world.
About the author
2. Subroto Bagchi (31 May 1957) is an Indian entrepreneur and business
leader apart from being a business author.
3. Bagchi was born to Makhan Gopal Bagchi and Labonya Prova Bagchi in
Patnagarh, Odisha, where his father was a small-time government
servant. He grew up mostly in the tribal districts of Odisha, moving from
place to place because of the nature of his father's job.
4. He studied Political Science at the Utkal University. In 1974 he
underwent training with the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army and
successfully completed the 5 mandatory jumps to earn the "Para
Wings". In 1975, he was adjudged the Best NCC Cadet of India at the
Republic Day Parade in Delhi where he was awarded the Prime
Minister's Cane Honor.
5. He started his work life as a clerk in the Industries Department of the
Government of Odisha in 1976 after giving up his post graduate studies.
After a year of working there, he qualified to be a management trainee in
DCM in 1977 where he worked for the ensuing 5 years. In 1981, he
entered the computer industry and worked for a number of computer
companies between 1981 and 1999 in various functions like sales,
marketing and operations. His longest stint was at Wipro where he
became the Chief Executive of Wipro's Global R&D before working for
chairman Azim Premji as corporate Vice-President, Mission Quality. He
left Wipro in 1998 to join Lucent Technologies. He left Lucent a year
after to co-found Mindtree in 1999 along with 9 other co-founders.
Mindtree is a $500 million, Global IT services company with
approximately 16000+ people. It is listed at the National Stock
Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange in India
2.
Publication
(a) Year of First Publication – 2009
(b) Publisher – Penguin Books
(c) Price – Rs 499
(d) No of Pages – 239
About the Book
6. This book defines a professional and then gives the recipe to become
one. The ability to work unsupervised and the ability to certify the
completion of one's work differentiate a professional from someone who
is simply professionally qualified. Becoming a professional is a journey
undertaken by a person who observes his own behaviour and actively
guides it as he is exposed to different opportunities during the course of
his career. Its the difference between obtaining a degree and living the
education
7. The book is divided into parts that discuss among others, integrity, self
awareness, professional qualities, managing volume and managing
complexity. It contains a total of 60 chapters that are extremely well
articulated and cover a broad spectrum of business from law to
medicine to finance.
8. The author has beautifully defined the qualities of true professionals and
the attributes that separate them from the merely competent. These
include:
(a) Suffer no false attractions It's always tempting to take the
path of least resistance, but true professionals can separate the genuine
from the phony.
(b) Know when to say no True professionals are not afraid to
say no to things that are not worth their time, their energy, or their
creativity.
(c) Take the long view True professionals understand that
every action, decision, and relationship, no matter how small, can have
a lasting impact. derived the two sides of his personality, a true fighter
3.
and a true head of his family, he had so much to prove to his family
and his men.
9. The book lays out the premise upon which all business should be
based. If every person entering the business world would read this book,
absorb its message and apply its wisdom, they would be set to prosper
in terms of financial wealth, reputation and self respect.
Recommendations
10. The author has brought out the whole picture of being professional in
such a way that the reader can understand and visualize the every
phase of it very easily
11. The rich varied experiences of the author make it more interesting
and easy to understand.
Conclusion
This book can be very helpful for readers who aim to be prospective
professional leaders and achieve personal ambitions. This book very
clearly shows that how crystal approach to life should be and is a must
read for anyone looking for a clarity in this blurry world.
