Lessons learnt in an MBA class

These are not the typical lessons that are related to course but things which my professors told in class and found a resonance with me. They are in no particular order.

1. It takes less than 5% of the people to change any industry
2. Diversity Diversity Diversity!! that is what makes Harvard so successful. Have a diversified outlook and be with diversified people
3. Great leaders work on people management issues while mediocre leaders work on the nuts and bolts of the business
4. Managers just show how to get things done, but great leaders get smart people to work for them and manage them
5. During recession, invest in R&D , people management and advertising. Don’t cut back on discretionary spending. In fact look at this crisis to acquire other run down companies.
6. Don’t do what you are expected to do.. break the rules
7. Go and do the stretch exercise that GE followed
8. Be humble
9. Try and fail, but don't fail to try
10. There will be better people than you, more accomplished than you, may end up getting a better packet than you but that should not let you down!! Keep trying.
11. Learn from your peers- I am currently learning trading from one of my batch mates :)
12. Be confident , if you are not then fake it !! This is what MBA is all about
13. Learn these things for sure — Statistics ( will haunt you till the very end), Presentation (your life depends on it) and “It depends” ( The answer for every question )
14. Ask!! Ask for what you want, ask for help but be polite
15. Take risks
16. People are your assets — Invest in them
17. Its never to late to do an MBA