The MobileStore's Himanshu Chakrawarti answers 15 questions in 15 minutes

Himanshu Chakrawarti, CEO, The MobileStore answers 15 questions in 15 minutes.

1. What is your job like?
Treadmill set, locked at a high speed.

2. What’s the smartest business idea you have ever had?
In my first job at Lakme the thought that a tropical country like India needed sunscreen lotions/creams. There were none at that time.

3. And the most embarrassing?
Too embarrassing to speak about.

4. Who has been your biggest influence?
Warren Buffett—-wealth creation, simple living, genuine philanthropy and the belief that wealth can’t be inherited but needs to be earned.

5. How important is money to you?
Money is to survive, plan for security and to travel. Beyond this, it holds no charm. However, wealth creation for business that I handle is very important.

6. What is your most important work ethic or maxim that you practice every day?
Hard work, straight talk, transparency and honesty. Everything else can be managed.

7. What does your secretary think about you?
Unmanageable.

8. Has your personal life suffered due to work?
A fulfilling work environment adds to the quality of personal life and relationships.

9. How do you want to be remembered by your colleagues?
Someone who worked with us to help us realise the potential of what we are capable of.

10. What are your working hours?
I reach office before 9.00 am and leave at around 8.30 pm.

11. What is the most valuable memento in your office?
The farewell poster from my colleagues at Landmark. It says, “Thanks for the Landmark years.”

12. Does retirement scare you?
Retirement is far away. Ince I retire, I can read all the books that I keep buying and you can see me at the golf course on weekdays.

13. Have you ever been tempted to start out on your own? What really tempted you to start on your own?
Many times but never actually took the plunge. The urge to create something of my own was the main driver.

14. What do you hate the most at work?
Insincerity.

15. How do you unwind?
Sports, watching soccer and travelling. Can’t survive without my daily dose of reading and movies.