On his Secrets to Success
Ahousehold name, Nawaloka is a brand that has decades of quality and trust behind it. Known primarily as the first full-fledged private hospital in the island, the brand has expanded and grown through the years.
The Sunday Times team were eager to meet Mr. Harshith Dharmadasa, the third generation of the well renowned Dharmadasa family, and find out what his secret to success is.
A humble man, Mr. Dharmadasa is a person who doesn’t give himself the due credit. “I don’t know whether I have any unique attributes; but I think there are some traits and values, which have guided me in my family and Business life” he said as we commenced the interview. “The never give up attitude; this is something that I have developed over the years from my Father and Grand Father who have truly been two amazing mentors and Role models.”
It’s Not the Failures that Matter
Mr. Dharmadasa explained that through the years he has faced challenges but they equipped him to grow stronger. “I never accept a loss or non-achievement as a failure, though I would love to win all the time as all would. But things don’t go the way we plan all the time and in such instances I am not a person to get discouraged, I study where I went wrong and have that as a lesson learnt and get my team to look at things more positively. As my Grandfather once told me; it’s not the failures that matter, but how you pick yourself up and move forward, character is what matters most.”
“I always tend to look at different ways to get to where we plan and alter the Course accordingly till I get to the end result without being rigid. I feel I have the ability to get the best out of my team in most situations” Mr. Dharmadasa emphasised that it is important to be pragmatic and flexible in order to succeed. He stated that rigidity is often the downfall.
Identify Goals and Work Towards Them
“True satisfaction for me in Business is when I know that I have achieved what I have planned to do; I have my life goals, yearly goals, monthly goals and daily to do’s. I truly believe that all undone work leads to stress that will play up and affect work and Life balance. I don’t forget on good days to congratulate my Team who make it all possible and I encourage them with the thought that though we have achieved a certain goal we should strive to do better next time on” he said. Mr. Dharmadasa stated that however, satisfaction when distilled is doing the utmost through the roles of Son, Husband and Dad, the MD of the company to give back to society.
Getting Priorities Right
A family man, Mr. Dharmadasa stated repeatedly that he cherishes the time spent with his family. “I love spending time with my family” he reiterated enthusiastically. “I have realized that kids grow fast; therefore I try my best to spend as much time as I can with them. This is something that I was used to as a kid with my father, mother and siblings; and I do know what an important role that this has played in my overall development. I want my kids also to have this bond within the family. I love moments of solitude, and these are the times at which I reflect and plan many new and vibrant projects. “
Mr. Dharmadasa also mentioned that he spends ten to fifteen minutes per day to reflect on his goals. He also finds time to watch movies and go to the gym. “This has helped me to have a balanced level of energy to handle the entire day. Though this may seem like a tough thing for many, it has become a ritual for me and this has become a part of my leisure, and I do look forward to this time too” he said.
Work – Life Balance
“I have tried hard to find my perfect balance, but I do know that I have managed to come a long way to come within the right balance. Being the eldest of a third generation family line that has been very successful in business for almost eighty years in Sri Lanka, I was blessed with valuable insights and one such recollection is when I started working at a very young age; my Father would say to me – if you can strike a balance with work and personal life, you can achieve anything and I have tried to stick to these principles and advice” he said with a smile.
“My biggest advice is to curtail digital devices and Social Media if you want to have the right balance. I think it’s the commitment to Family, Relations and Friends that matter most in Sri Lanka” Mr. Dharmadasa explained.
Always the family man, he said that it is important to always show gratitude to your parents for raising you to be who you are and be thankful to your spouse and children for making the household peaceful for you to do your work in office with a free mind.
Be Content
“Be content. If you can develop this quality you will not yearn for things that would kill you prematurely. If you learn to be content you can find peace and satisfaction at home and not have to look beyond thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. Be content and you will sleep peacefully and have a blighter and sharper mind ready to go a full day with renewed energy. Know that your greatest enemy is your ego, never forget to keep it in control” he said.
The Secret to Success
Humility is a trait that can be seen in Mr.Dharmadasa continuously. Even though the country as a whole pays tribute to his success, he thinks otherwise.
“I haven’t come to a point of realization that I am successful completely, I feel I am on the right path and with the course I am following I will be successful. My ultimate success is when I have become the level Five Leader as Jim Collins rightly puts it; doing it all with humility and the right succession planned out.”
Mr. Dharmadasa throughout the interview explained that he is who he is today because of his father and grandfather. He also thanked his team for the support given to keep the flag up high. “It’s all about the people management, and that I have learnt from the best and that’s my Father. He has been the single most influential man in my life and he has guided me through the ‘University College Nawaloka and the course been - Practical Aspects of Business’. For this I am ever indebted and grateful to this great human being.”
Service, Quality and Delivery
“I always believe that there are no shortcuts in life. I am passionate about what I do and I always want to be ahead of the competition when it comes to service, quality and delivery” he said.
Message to the Youth – “You don’t have to be the largest fish to win but the fastest”
“The world is progressing at a very rapid pace, and complacency with one qualification is not going to be the order in this dynamic corporate environment. You don’t have to be the largest fish to win but the fastest.”
Mr. Dharmadasa stated that the best advise that he can give is for people to begin your career with a clear goal on how you want to go in for a retirement and plan with the end in mind. He emphasized the need to inculcate the ability to work in a team, stick to a high ethical mindset and be professional.
“The world is very competitive and the corporates are thirsty for good employees. Always strive for a balanced fulfillment and a better quality of life and not just on pecuniary fulfillment. Always try to associate people who will take you in your long career path and stay away from the rest” he said in conclusion Mahishka Samarasinghe