Bouncing back from failure isn’t easy, but some people do, as an Economic Times on Sunday cover story shows this week.
The former journalist and Union minister, Arun Shourie:
WHEN I FAILED: “I am the only editor to be dismissed not once but twice from The Indian Express. The first time, Indira Gandhi, put such pressure on [Indian Express owner] Ramnath Goenka that even a tiger like him made a goodwill gesture out of me. But he did call me back and I was delighted to go back. But then he had a series of strokes. Those who were trying to swallow the company thought that S. Gurumurthy and I would be the obstacles. And therefore, they first removed me, and then Gurumurthy.”
WHAT I LEARNT: “My first learning is never look back. Or else you will suffer the fate of Lot‘s wife [in the Book of Genesis, Lot’s wife ignores the advice of the angles not to turn back when fleeing the city of Sodom, and turns into a pillar of salt]. My second learning: put your difficulties to work. There are very few difficulties that cannot be put to work. This is easier if our goal is inner growth. Third: always have three careers going at the same time. And carry each one lightly.”
Also read: The sad and pathetic decline of Arun Shourie
Arun Shourie: ‘Intolerant. Abusive. Dictatorial’
A columnist more powerful than all media pros
IJR 