GRIT : It will win the future | Amit Raje | TEDxSISTec Bhopal

Quick Overview

The speaker asserts that 'GRIT'—a combination of passion, perseverance, serendipity, courage, teamwork, focus, endurance, and resilience—is the essential quality that will determine who wins the future, drawing from his own experiences building an R&D lab in Bhopal.

Key Points: The core message is that 'GRIT' (Passion + Perseverance + Serendipity + Courage + Teamwork + Focus + Endurance + Resilience) will win the future, emphasizing that passion alone is insufficient for entrepreneurial success. The speaker shared his personal journey, including a difficult period after the 1984 Bhopal incident, which involved working in a 'deep red' facility and facing setbacks like a fire in the lab. He highlighted the necessity of establishing an Industrial Research, Design & Development (IRDD) Lab recognized by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) in Bhopal. The speaker recounted starting the company in 1999 after his education, emphasizing the initial struggle and the need to 'dare to go solo.' He pointed out the importance of building a team so strong that the leader is not immediately identifiable, as shown in a picture of his current team. The speaker stressed that entrepreneurs must endure hardships and that mistakes are expected, but one must not be timid about big dreams. The presentation concluded with a visual summarizing GRIT's components and a final slide showing a scenic landscape with 'Thank you!'.

Context: The presentation, titled 'GRIT: It will win the future,' is delivered by Amit Raje at a TEDxSISTec Bhopal event themed 'Idea to Impact: Echoes of the Future.' Raje uses his personal journey as a first-generation technopreneur, detailing early struggles, including surviving the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984, to build his company and R&D lab, ultimately advocating for the critical role of 'Grit' in future success.

Detailed Analysis

Amit Raje opens by thanking the audience and setting the theme: moving ideas to impact, focusing on 'ideas to impact' and the 'echoes of the future.' He recounts his personal history, starting with watching TED talks during the COVID lockdown, which inspired him to share his journey. He reflects on the early days of his company, which began in 1999 after he returned from his Master's studies in Power Systems and Electronics in the US (1991-1995). He mentions the difficulties of starting up in Bhopal, including working in a challenging environment where they had to 'clear the mess' after a fire in their lab, illustrating the need for resilience. Raje introduces the concept of GRIT as the key to winning the future, defining it as a combination of Passion, Perseverance, Serendipity, Courage, Teamwork, Focus, Endurance, and Resilience. He shares an early photograph of his parents, who founded a company in 1982, and a photo of his current team, noting the importance of building a strong team where leadership isn't immediately obvious. He also references the challenges of building an R&D lab recognized by DST and the importance of encouraging young technical entrepreneurs in cities like Bhopal, not just Bangalore. He concludes by urging the audience, especially students, to embrace risk, cultivate GRIT, and not fear making mistakes, as setbacks are part of the journey.