Mind Over Money: Discipline, humility, and dal-chawal: Ganesh Mohan of Bajaj Finserv AMC on his Everest base camp trek
In a world driven by deadlines and high-stakes decisions, mental clarity often feels like a luxury. But for
Ganesh Mohan
, Managing Director of
Bajaj Finserv AMC
, it's a necessity—sharpened not just in boardrooms but also at 4,000 metres above sea level.
In this edition of Mind Over Money, Mohan takes us through his transformative journey to the
Everest base camp
, where every step became a lesson in grit, every meal a moment of gratitude, and the majestic mountains a reminder of humility.
As he reflects on how the rigours of the trek mirrored the challenges of leadership, Mohan shares how staying grounded—sometimes with just a bowl of dal-chawal—can power extraordinary
mental resilience
. Edited Excerpts –
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Q) Thanks for taking the time out. As the managing director of a fast-paced asset management company, how do you maintain your mental well-being amidst constant demands and decisions?
A)
For any leader today, a key mental well-being priority is about managing and maintaining balance.
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This balance spans multiple areas - between diving into the details versus being able to zoom out to see the big picture; dedicating chunks of time to daily firefighting versus long-term strategic thinking, as well as between being fully hands-on versus having time to disconnect and recharge.
This is even more so in a business like ours, where the markets have their own daily ups and downs. To be able to successfully manage your mental well-being in such an environment, you need to be able to compartmentalise your thoughts, time, and efforts.
Creating time boxes for specific types of activities, being fully immersed in whatever you do at any time, as well as having interests outside work that allow you to recharge yourself, are all critical to maintaining mental well-being & effectiveness at the workplace.
After doing all the above, if I am still stressed about something, I ask myself a simple question, "Will this issue matter to me in five years' time?'
In most cases, a perspective like that can help address a lot of what seems like an insurmountable problem at the time.
Q) You mentioned Indian classical music has been a part of your life since childhood. How does music help you stay centred and mentally calm?
A)
I believe that
classical music
(whether Hindustani, Carnatic, or any other form) strongly aids mental development and connects at a very subtle level with our mental energy.
Appreciating classical music requires you to have patience and discipline. It requires you to practice regularly and go through a rigorous structure to improve your own understanding and ability.
All these traits help build mental resilience and a more centred approach, which naturally extends into your daily life as well.
Q) Trekking to the base of Mount Everest is no small feat - how did that experience challenge your mental toughness and shape your perspective?
A) The Everest base camp trek taught me fundamentally about two critical things - grit and gratitude. The grit part is obvious since it requires extensive training ahead of the trek as well as significant endurance while on the trek.
Waking up at 5 AM every day to practice as well as walking over 15 km every day on an uphill trek are not easy at all and build tremendous mental fortitude. But the true gift that I received from the trek was that of gratitude.
When you come face-to-face with the imposing presence of the mountain, you realise that you do not climb and conquer it, but rather you navigate it with discipline, respect, and humility - one step at a time.
At altitudes above 4,000 m, life is stripped down to its essentials, and you learn to appreciate what you have been given. A bowl of dal-chawal or even a tin shed for shelter feels like a luxury up there.
Above all, it helps you adapt to tough environments with a smile that you can see perennially on the faces of the sherpas who guide you.
Q) In today's high-performance work culture, what advice would you give professionals and leaders about protecting their mental well-being?
A) As I mentioned above, a key aspect of mental well-being is about maintaining balance. I believe we all lead four lives. The first is physical life, which is about the body and maintaining its fitness.
The second is about our mental life, which is about constantly learning and challenging our mental boundaries. The third is about our financial life, which is about ensuring that we have the resources to do what we need in this world.
The fourth is a spiritual life, which is about how we connect to a greater purpose beyond ourselves. I would advise every professional and leader to consider what they are doing to improve aspects of each of their four lives.
It is important for us to regularly pause and ask ourselves: What are we doing to lead better lives in each of these four dimensions?
Q) Do you consciously build mindfulness or reflection time into your daily routine? If so, what practices help you disconnect and recharge?
A)
Absolutely. For me, mindfulness means fully engaging and immersing myself in whatever I am doing at any point of time. I try to minimise distractions and exclusively channel my thoughts on one specific area at a time.
Beyond that, on a regular basis, I try to mentally challenge myself through puzzles like sudoku and crosswords. I also try to run 3-4 times a week & meditate occasionally.
Q) How important is it for leaders to model healthy mental habits for their teams?
A) People see what you do far more than listen to what you say. Hence, it is more important for you to role model behaviours that enhance mental health and mental well-being for your team.
Particularly post-COVID, mental health has become a significant challenge for many people in the workforce, and it is up to us as leaders to bring it to the centre stage by displaying the right behaviours.
I have also found that high-performing teams often laugh together and have a lot of fun working with each other. It is a good idea to inject some humour to lighten the mood from time to time. A mentally strong team will be ready to face and win many more battles along with you.
(
Disclaimer
: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
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