Winning Stroke

In an interview, Harsh Binani, Co-Founder, Smartworks opens up about his personal preferences, life and much more

If not in the current profession, you would be?
I’d be a professional singer.

One tune you always hum.
Don’t worry, be happy-Bob Dylan

One book to read when you want to motivate yourselves?
Zero to One: How to Build the future, by Peter Theil

One dialogue of a movie that motivates you or you like the most.
“Don’t ever let someone tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period. All right?” – Pursuit of Happiness

The place you never been to and always want to go?
I have always wanted to go on an expedition to Antarctica, for the breathtaking and spectacular landscape, freezing temperatures, wildlife and a challenge hard to resist!

An animal that signifies you & why?
I can most relate to a horse, for its kind, free and dependable characteristics.

A movie character you most resemble or resonate with?
Inspired by Abhishek Bachchan’s role in the movie, Guru, in which he portrayed the role of Dhirubhai Ambani

Choose one from each below :
Marvel or DC – Marvel
Batman or Superman – Superman
Tom or Jerry – Jerry
Chacha Chaudhary or Super Commando – Chacha Chaudhary

If your life was to be turned into a movie who would you like to play your part?
Akshay Kumar

Luck or Hard Work, What do you think weighs more in defining a successful person? Hardwork

One best decision you ever made.
Staying within my comfort zone makes me nervous. I’m glad to have followed my intuition and decided to move out of Kolkata early on post completing my high school to follow my dreams to pursue an MBA from Kellogg, worked with McKinsey for over five years and ultimately started Smartworks, my own venture with my brother in law, Neetish Sarda.

A strategy that you always use to take your decisions in personal or professional life?
Always think long term.

Whose advise you seek when in dilemma?
My older sister as she is unbiased in her approach and helps me carefully think through the pros and cons in every situation.

What has been your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement is yet to come however I am extremely proud of having started Smartworks, a coworking space for offices. Within a span of two years, we managed to bootstrap and expand to nine cities and 14 centers across India.

One thing that you want to change in yourself.
Spend time on my fitness regime

A line said by your closed one that you never forget.
The game isn’t over until you quit.