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To Dentsu’s Ashish Bhasin, the biggest leap will be to still go back to college, at Harvard or Oxford
Life is about taking a quantum leap to break the everyday routine and do something extraordinary. Be it work, relationships or family, people are always looking out for newer experiences that enrich their lives. However, breaking the wheel of your daily routine is usually not an easy task. People are so caught up in their monotonous schedules that they forget to turn their “Why’s into Why nots”.
&flix, the English movie channel from ZEEL, urges people to leap out of the ordinary as it celebrates its first anniversary. &flix believes in #EverydayLeaps that allow you to break away from the monotony and do something enthralling, every day. The Hollywood movie channel with its massive library of biggest blockbuster movies showcases a world of unlimited possibilities enabling viewers to #LeapForth. The channel brings its viewers closer to horizon of new experiences, new journeys, hence inspiring them to break away from the regular and #leapforth into something that they have never done.
Bringing the same experiences of unlimited possibilities, &flix caught up with industry stalwarts to know about their biggest leaps.
&flix spoke to Ashish Bhasin, CEO- Greater South and Chairman & CEO- India, Dentsu Aegis Network, to understand his idea of #EverydayLeaps, the possibilities and leaps that have been crucial in his journey till date. He clearly mentions that advertising is not easy, and one has to be continuously at the top of his game to grow and achieve the next level.
Your idea of #EverydayLeaps is…
I just love my work and when that happens, in some ways both work and pleasure become one. This is what keeps me driving towards achieving my goals.
To avoid getting stuck in the rut, your secret sauce to leaping forth into a world of unlimited possibilities is…
Though it’s easier said than done, but maintaining balance is key! If you enjoy your work, you always get the balance right. I hear a lot of people talk about work-life balance, I believe the answer to that question is different for different people. When work is your passion, then the line between work and life balance blurs. You should have a higher goal in life or a mission or something that you are aiming for, which is more than just the ordinary and routine. As long as you have that in mind and you are ambitiously working towards it, there will always be something driving and pushing you.
One superhero you relate to is…
My Father is my Superhero. I learnt a lot from him. He had the right balance of courage, determination, a sense of achievement and love for his family. The way he balanced the principles and the values he adhered to is something that I have always looked up to. I hope that in a small manner I can emulate some of it.
That one superpower that gets you going is…
I think it is hard work and resilience. I think what people do not realize is that advertising is a tough business. You cannot just be good one day, but you have to be at your best and top of your game every day. I have been working for 30+ years with equal enthusiasm and energy. The day you are not hungry for learning more in business, I think that you should hang up your boots.
Marvel’s Venom has shown the world that sometimes it takes a little bit of bad to do some good. Your meaning of embracing your inner evil for a greater good is…
When you are in a leadership position, you have to take some hard decisions that you know may hurt some people and end up making you unpopular. But your instincts know that it is for the larger good. Hence, right decision making is a duty, which no leader can escape.
Your biggest leap in making the person that you are today is…
I believe that it does not matter what you do. What matters is that you be the best at whatever tasks you take in your hands. I have always been very competitive by nature. At a very early stage in my career, I realized that I had the ambition to be at the top of the game and decided to be the best in my profession and industry. I am not sure if I will ever achieve that, but it keeps me going. The hunger, desire and ambition have always pushed me to be better every day.
For you, the possibilities that lie beyond what meets the eyes are…
I did not have the resources and opportunity to study in a global institution like Harvard or Oxford. I studied from the best ones in India though. I always wanted to go for advanced learning in such global institutions but never got time or opportunity for it. Maybe one day I may still land up there!