Chennai: “Life is a marathon race, not a sprint. It is about becoming better by the day, not overtaking others. There will be ups and downs. Don’t fear downs, and do not turn your confidence into arrogance. Enjoy the journey,” said Tata Sons reappointed chairman N Chandrasekaran, while delivering his convocation addressed at SAI University in Chengalpet.“It applies to both sports and life. It is all about the willingness to put in the effort to prepare, and not about winning. Understanding what it takes to win is crucial,” he said. Stating that he himself is a runner, a hobby he took up 18 years ago, he advised students to run for themselves with a clear target in mind.Chandrasekaran said the world was full to its brim with possibilities, though it was rapidly changing, disruptive and was increasingly becoming AI-led. “It may be unnerving to read through the negative stories about job losses due to AI and so on. But a number of new sectors are opening. The art of the possible is becoming clear every day with AI and it is going to throw up so many things we have not imagined today. New industries will come up in the next five years, but we may have not even know their terminology yet. And India is in a very strong position. India’s economic growth will be unparalleled in our own history and in any part of the world,” he said.Chandrasekaran urged the young generation to keep learning and use social media to their benefit. “Make sure you read, watch and listen to what you choose to,” he said.“Pressure is a privilege,” he said, quoting tennis legend Billie Jean King. Pressure would be a constant in one’s life ever since passing out of college and that youngsters should learn to enjoy it all through their life, he said. To deal with the pressure, Chandrasekaran cited Tanzanian marathon runner Juma Ikangaa’s quote – the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.
