This is not the mantra of a #workaholic. I had the opportunity to listen to an inspiring keynote by Dr. Sandeep Chennakeshu. He started with the story about James Jerome Hill—a name I’d never heard before. Curious, I googled James Jerome Hill while Dr. Sandeep began sharing details. As James’s journey unraveled, I was drawn in: Who wouldn't love the 'Once upon a time...' moment? Hill’s life was a string of challenges: He lost an eye and his father at an early age. But that didn’t stop him. He took on odd jobs—bookkeeping, land surveying, and managing grocery store supply chains. Yet, each role shaped his #perspective, his #skills, and his #resilience. What struck me most was Hill’s motto: Work + hard work + intelligent work + more work. At first, it might sound like the mantra of a workaholic, but it’s not. It’s the formula for reaching your true potential, conquering your fears, and creating a lasting impact—not just in your career but in every area of your life. Dr. Sandeep wrapped it up with two powerful truths: 💎 Conquering your fear is the first step to victory. 💎 Step out of your comfort zone to develop the technique and temperament, and be truly tested. This keynote reinforced the work ethic and attitude I believe in and reminded me of the power of perseverance. Whether you’re running a business, learning, or parenting, success comes from working tirelessly, pushing past fears, and embracing challenges head-on. Thank you, American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association, #Dallas Team for including this true gem on the agenda of #cATEAlyze2024 Arun Kumar | Sriram Krishnan | Lena Kannappan | Ram Nagappan | Prakash Narayan | Karthik Rangarajan | Prabakaran Murugaiah | Venkatesh Sadagopan | Venkata Krishnan Ganesan #InspiringKeynote #JamesJeromeHill
Great speech by Dr. Sandeep Chennakeshu and solid breakdown here Priya Kartik! The bridge between hard work and intelligent work really sticks with me. To me, it’s about working to figure out what works, testing the limits, and then doubling down intelligently on what drives real results—while always staying open to learning and growing. Simple but powerful.
Great advice from Dr Sandeep Chennakeshu. It’s a powerful reminder that true success comes from intelligent hard work and stepping out of our comfort zones , fearless. Thank you Priya Kartik for capturing and sharing this inspiring experience .
What an inspiring reflection, and beautifully shared! I also had the privilege of attending this conference and hearing Dr. Sandeep's powerful keynote. James Jerome Hill’s story really struck a chord with me—his journey highlights the importance of resilience and the power of combining hard work, intelligence, and persistence to reach our fullest potential. The insights on overcoming fear and stepping out of our comfort zones were particularly impactful. It’s a great reminder that true growth happens when we challenge ourselves, take risks, and embrace discomfort. Thank you for sharing your takeaways—I’ll be carrying these lessons with me in both my personal and professional journey as well. #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #Leadership
Beautiful summary of Dr. Sandeep's talk ! Thanks Priya. Since the time I got introduced to Mr. Chennakeshu (former CTO of Ericsson, former President and CTO of Sony-Ericsson, former President of Blackberry) a few years ago, I have become one of the big fans of him. Please don't miss reading his 1st book "Your Company Is Your Castle".
Very informative
Author, Business Transformation Veteran & Technologist
1wThanks Priya for your generous endorsement of the talk. It was a privilege to attend and speak at the event.