Sonia Golani: What After Money and Fame?

At the start of a new year, in an increasingly business dominated and minded world, best-selling author Golani seeks the answer to a very pertinent question, ‘What After Money and Fame?’, in her new book entitled as such. The owner of a well-established recruitment firm, Golani’s critically accredited work features a variety of huge South-Asian names. Spanning an array of notable professions, from the world’s 405^th richest man and head of the Godrej Group – Adi Godrej - to prominent artists such as Kavita Seth – the beloved singer of Bollywood and Hindi cinema – she delves into their respective experiences, and provides an accurate exposé.  ‘We are watching with immense joy,’ the inquisitive author writes in her introductory address to What After Money and Fame: Conversations with India’s Rich, Famous and Powerful, ‘as our children graduate from prestigious engineering and medical colleges and liberal arts universities in India and around the world. As these young boys and girls step into the real world, they have mighty aspirations and big dreams (…) On the other hand, another generation has been contemplating what we have achieved after completing three quarters of our working life, and at what price. Looking back and discovering an exhilarating mix of achievements, missed opportunities – situations that could have been avoided (in hindsight), sacrifices made, we are thinking of how to make the best of our remaining work life and thereafter.’

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Looking to form a powerful intergenerational bridge was significant in Golani’s research as it had foundations in the big answer:  “what all high-profile interviewees undoubtedly had in common”, she shared with us, “was their desire to give back, once they had achieved a certain degree of reputable and materialistic satisfaction,” and this in turn indicated that it was not a set destination or timely accomplishment that defined success, but the more elusive and eternal quality of an open and connective mind. To epitomise this, Golani gave the philanthropic examples of Godrej, Ajay Piramal and Amit Chandra – to name but a few - whose entrepreneurship and civic principles are defined through a combination “of good ethics and relationships with people as well as their hard work.” Golani also states in her introduction, on research into the common thoughts of people in their later years that they’d often wished to: ‘have the courage to live a life true to themselves, not worked so hard at the expense of family and friends,’ and regretted ‘not travelling enough.’ Introspection must then work alongside the corporate values to equate to a meaningful life. With What After Money and Fame? being Golani’s fourth investigative literary exploit – the first two looking at how successful women balanced their home lives and the board room, and the stories of the lives of those who dared pursue unconventional careers -  Golani herself is an inspiring role model for living what she teaches.

Please elaborate a little on the findings of your book?

Yes, I feel goodness does rule the human mind as the ultimate yardstick, more so once material goals have been achieved. Across my four books, I’ve met and talked with 63 movers and shakers, the high-achieving individuals and when you ask the question What After Money And Fame, to the super successful, the common response is their wish to be a good human being. In terms of business practice and models they believe conducting this ethically not only grows you spiritually, but your financial health too – it becomes an organic extension. You can only gain. Giving back is a huge part of communal duty as stated in scriptures known for their wisdom, like the Bhagavad Gita. When you’re doing good - whether it’s through service or charity - you will receive as much as you give. We should endeavour to be a better person each day in terms of higher qualities of the mind and spirit.

For this reason and as a fortuitous affirmation of this philosophy, What After Money And Fame finds a place on MENSXP’s ‘8 books to make yourself a better person in 2017 alongside some of the best international books.’

You did study liberal arts history as a student and will be more than well-versed by now on social structure and the ordering of society. Can your findings on the satisfaction of material needs as a catalyst for being good be extended to a desire to eliminate social inequality?

People need to have enough to provide their families decent living, medical care and their children a good education. However, it is important to remember that while there may be an end to need there is not to greed, and that’s the main issue. My book does address social inequality, but philanthropists, even though they wish to, alone cannot affect a mass change. There needs to be large scale governmental intervention and individual resolve to do better – no matter which strata of society is concerned. Having said that, philanthropists consider being wealthy is a blessing, andbelieve it’s always right to give back: for our children and for a healthier society which will result in great benefits forthe health of the  generations to come. 

Reviewers are raving about the specific ‘existential’ questions your book addresses. Please elaborate?

There are many, but a key one is: how do you stay motivated after you reach the threshold you had set for yourself. a certain stage? Rashesh Shah, the CEO of Edelweiss Group, one of India’s leading diversified financial services conglomerates, talks about continuous learning and growth as a personal motivation and the larger motivation for business coming from the satisfaction of creating value adding jobs. This is the response to the conundrum of simply passing from orbit of achievement to another, for essentially eternity – an idea expressed by As per Narayana Murthy, ‘it is important to define larger and bigger goals as we go from one orbit of achievement to another.’ Adi Godrej also believes that ‘in a business however big you may be, growth is extremely important. If you don’t grow well, you’ll perish.’ For Jayant Sinha, service is the highest religion and that is his key guiding force as an individual and also as a politician. Another key existential question the book addresses is how much is enough?  It will never be enough unless you’re absorbing your journey and going through an inner process according to Anu Aga. ‘Enough is not so much in the physical things but in your head and heart’, she says. For Chandra true satisfaction came from giving away 90% of his current income on a regular basis to causes close to his heart, a path he has been following for several years now inspired by his idol, the famous American billionaire and philanthropist, Chuck Feeney.

What are the common pitfalls that ensnare people in the chase for money and fame?

People usually lose the balance in this chase as they normally they do not pause and ponder What After Money And Fame. Individuals have to realize that even after all the fame and money, it’s important to exercise restraint for your own good. Over-indulgence is harmful – ‘you can’t eat money and you cannot take it with you. If you realize that fact, you will know your priorities very well’, say Dr Naresh Trehan, the renowned cardiologist covered in the book. You must pay heed to the intuitive and spiritual needs in life. Simple habits help you become a master, not a victim of your money. On the other side of it, developing an aversion to work after you have achieved enough is destructive too. We need concrete goals and ambitions to fulfil us and to keep ourselves healthy -  physically, intellectually and spiritually; it’s about striking the right balance.  

Who do you think would most benefit from your book?

From millennials to the middle-aged, everybody can learn from these conversations.

What was a personal revelation for you while putting together this book?

I was influenced by the immense faith expressed by the twelve luminaries covered in the book in the eternal values of gratitude, generosity, humility, service and hard work.

Your personal success seems mirrored in the title trajectories of your book; what will your goal be in this, your ‘final layer’ of achievement?

Thank you. You are being generous in saying so. I pray to the Almighty to choose me as the channel for the creativity the God wants to see in this world. With submission and humility to the divine inspiration, I wish to keep writing and giving my best to newer ideas. Since What after Money and Fame, I’ve experienced that I am far less stressed as my perspective has changed. Perhaps I can produce a work that emerges from this new-found equilibrium!

Mr Adi Godrej’ speaking on Sonia’s book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPPj-sGxSA

https://www.facebook.com/Sonia-Golani-540641522725335/