ct 21 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)
Passion, Hard Work, Discipline Can Take you Places: Anjan Chatterjee
Anuradha Himatsingka
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Kolkata:
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For Indian hotelier and founder of Speciality Group of Restaurants Anjan Chatterjee, a PhD is not a degree. It means passion, hardwork and discipline. This recipe alone helped the 56-year-old restaurateur win the `Most Admired Food Service Personality of the Year' award at Food Forum India 2012 the largest congregation of global and Indian food retailers, manufacturers and organisations in the Indian food business.“I feel, you can achieve anything with passion. My passion for gourmet cuisine found its expression in the restaurant Only Fish, which I started in 1991 (later renamed Oh! Calcutta) in Mumbai,“ he told a packed hall of some 250-300 management students attending an ETYL BSchool programme held at Indian Institute of Management Calcutta over the weekend.
Chatterjee said the degree in hotel management from Indian Institute of Hotel Management and later a degree in marketing from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies introduced him to the wonders of “five-star food services at a non-fivestar price“. A stint with Taj Hotels and later in advertising with the Anandabazar Patrika further polished his business sense.
Chatterjee asserted that he can, in enthusiasm and spirit, beat a 12year-old kid hands down even at 56.“I am charged 24 X 7 charged with new ideas. It is this energy which helped me to be in the leadership position and manage some 5,000 people coming from different socio economic classes,“ he added.Conceding that most of them were highly educated and well versed with management philosophies, Anjan touched upon Jack Welch and the 4Es of leadership.
“Even after being in business for some 21 years, I do not rest on my laurels. Nobody can be secure. Even the best of the brand needs to re-brand and re-energise itself. You need to be energetic. Have enough reserves in your cells to inspire others around. I travel 16-18 days in a month. Sleep 4 5 hours a day and travel within India or overseas. My standing instruction to all air hostesses is DND: Do not disturb. It is my sleep time.“
Chatterjee, who has been awake since 3 am for a meeting with his core team on the launch of a new brand, had a brainstorming session followed by another meeting, was not disoriented in the least.
Failure, Anjan feels, brings the person down and compels one to rethink. “One should not be afraid of failure. I have had my share of failures, some of which the world is not aware of. I failed in accounts during the catering course that I took up. I sat for the exams again and cleared it.I can share one more of my mistake. I opened a Mainland China in Borivali in the north-west section of Mumbai dominated by Gujaratis. I had to shut it down and very few in the business know this failure,“ he revealed.
A keen observer and good learner, he regularly scribbles whatever he learns during the day in a book called `Book of Lessons'. He, however, feels one should learn from others' mistakes. “Everybody has to go through this learning curve personally , psychology and emotionally ,“ he adds. It is this attitude and constant feedback from his core team and daughter, Arshita, and son, Avik that is driving Chatterjee to keep thinking of something new.
Chatterjee said the degree in hotel management from Indian Institute of Hotel Management and later a degree in marketing from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies introduced him to the wonders of “five-star food services at a non-fivestar price“. A stint with Taj Hotels and later in advertising with the Anandabazar Patrika further polished his business sense.
Chatterjee asserted that he can, in enthusiasm and spirit, beat a 12year-old kid hands down even at 56.“I am charged 24 X 7 charged with new ideas. It is this energy which helped me to be in the leadership position and manage some 5,000 people coming from different socio economic classes,“ he added.Conceding that most of them were highly educated and well versed with management philosophies, Anjan touched upon Jack Welch and the 4Es of leadership.
“Even after being in business for some 21 years, I do not rest on my laurels. Nobody can be secure. Even the best of the brand needs to re-brand and re-energise itself. You need to be energetic. Have enough reserves in your cells to inspire others around. I travel 16-18 days in a month. Sleep 4 5 hours a day and travel within India or overseas. My standing instruction to all air hostesses is DND: Do not disturb. It is my sleep time.“
Chatterjee, who has been awake since 3 am for a meeting with his core team on the launch of a new brand, had a brainstorming session followed by another meeting, was not disoriented in the least.
Failure, Anjan feels, brings the person down and compels one to rethink. “One should not be afraid of failure. I have had my share of failures, some of which the world is not aware of. I failed in accounts during the catering course that I took up. I sat for the exams again and cleared it.I can share one more of my mistake. I opened a Mainland China in Borivali in the north-west section of Mumbai dominated by Gujaratis. I had to shut it down and very few in the business know this failure,“ he revealed.
A keen observer and good learner, he regularly scribbles whatever he learns during the day in a book called `Book of Lessons'. He, however, feels one should learn from others' mistakes. “Everybody has to go through this learning curve personally , psychology and emotionally ,“ he adds. It is this attitude and constant feedback from his core team and daughter, Arshita, and son, Avik that is driving Chatterjee to keep thinking of something new.
